The reality-based sense of cosmic significance needs to be distinguished from this-worldly, here-and-now importance - especially in this world where cosmic significance is not just denied but regarded as a literal impossibility.
There is a corrupting snare for anyone who discovers the reality of his own spiritual significance; which is in becoming convinced that he can promote the same insights in others "if only" he had more influence, wealth, status or whatever. The vision arises are parlaying worldly- into spiritual-success.
This is also a problem for genuine feelings of cosmic significance - in that they seem often to lead to worldly grandiosity - such as when the spiritual becomes worldly, when the spiritual leader develops a business, a following, formal disciples, a "cult", or even a religion.
This was not always a wrong turn; because in the past there was not such a strong distinction between institutional and spiritual reality - but now the institutional is inexorably mundane, and powerfully corrupting; as may be observed in all of the Western churches.
Published on March 06, 2025 23:06