The great and rare mystics of the past . . . were, in fact, ahead of their time, and are still ahead of ours. In other words, they most definitely are not figures of the past. They are figures of the future.
Ken WilberRead
What is it in you that brings you to a spiritual teacher in the first place? It's not the spirit in you, since that is already enlightened, and has no need to seek. No, it is the ego in you that brings you to a teacher.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The search for a spiritual teacher stems from our ego, not from our enlightened spirit.
This quote by Ken Wilber emphasizes the idea that our quest for spiritual guidance originates not from a place of enlightenment, but rather from the ego's sense of lack or desire for growth. The enlightened part of us does not seek out teaching, as it is already complete; thus, it is the ego that drives the pursuit of a spiritual teacher, revealing our underlying motivations and attachments.
Themes
SpiritualityEgoEnlightenmentTeacherGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the quest for personal development, this quote can illustrate how motives often come from our ego.
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It is flat-out strange that something-that anything-is happening at all. There was nothing then a Big Bang, then here we all are. This is extremely weird.
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