Spiritual Superiority Complex is the Worst Complex
This means dropping comparisons, dropping the need to be ‘higher’ or ‘better.’ The spiritual path isn’t about hierarchy or superiority. It’s about honesty with ourselves and others. That honesty frees us from the cunning traps of the mind. It lets us become whole.
I was talking to two of my friends on call last week.
The three of us met some 15 years ago and now living on three different continents.
Now all three of us were catching up with one another, how is it going and so on.
The unmarried one started talking about astrology, the married one started talking about numerology. Then the two of them advised me that I should change my name slightly to increase my chances of success in life.
One of them said that he started performing poorly in life when a word got added to his name at 12.
The second one said that due to his birthdate numbers adding up to 8 (unlucky), he faced so many struggles in life.
I was just listening to them.
Back in the day, I would have scoffed at them, calling them childish.
But now, not only because I believe in astrology but also because I’m open to every possibility and reasoning, no matter how stupid it sounds to the rational mind, I listened patiently without judgment.
Still, a haughty voice inside me was telling me,
Look, these two friends are still on the 'lower' realm of existence by talking about material success, fame, and becoming a millionaire. And look at me, above all this. I 'aspire' to be a whole explorer. Such a 'noble' goal!
That holier-than-thou attitude.
I’m superior to them! I’m at the highest hierarchy of self-transcendence! I am this! I am that!
How foolish, pretentious, and childish of me!
The mind is very cunning
It's so cunning, explorers, so cunning that my mind can't even tell you how cunning!
It’s easier to be straightforwardly ambitious for material success than to aspire for spiritual success.
At least material ambition is more honest.
When ambition stops, real success blooms.
I mean it!
Why?
Because 'aspiring' to spiritual success is paradoxical—true spiritual growth doesn’t come from chasing status, achievement or anything.
When ambition stops, real success blooms.
It happens of its own accord. You can't force it. Mind can't force it.
What others have said
Blaise Pascal wrote: “Man is neither angel nor beast, and the misfortune is that he who would act the angel acts the beast.”
C.S. Lewis wrote: “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
Thomas Merton:“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.”
Saint Augustine:“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
One suggestion to me and you
Be authentic and real,
Be courageous and hence vulnerable,
Be an indivisible and a whole individual.
This means dropping comparisons, dropping the need to be ‘higher’ or ‘better.’
The spiritual path isn’t about hierarchy or superiority.
It’s about honesty with ourselves and others.
That honesty frees us from the cunning traps of the mind.
It lets us become whole.
And that is the truest success.