Are You A Spiritual Window Shopper?

In the last 5-10 years the search for meaning in our lives has taken on similarities to visiting a shopping mall. Never before have we seen such an array of teachers all saying they will bring ever-lasting happiness and proclaiming their path is the way to Nirvana, that they have the only or the best teachings, that if we do this we will be free, transformed, changed for ever, happy as never before, fulfilled, enlightened. We can even become a teacher or master within a few days: we once received notice of a Guru Training program where we can become a guru in two weekends, after which, the brochure assured us, we are guaranteed to receive endless adoration, wealth, fame and happiness or our money back.

Put together a great interest in all matters spiritual with a fair amount of money, plus a love of stardom as seen in the adoration of all things Hollywood, and the result is a huge plethora of New Age 'stars'. We were recently sent an invitation to a conference on Altered States of Consciousness: Enlightenment, Entheogens, Shamanism and Peak Experiences. There are forty-six headlined speakers, all of whom have endless credentials, books, teaching centers and followers, and all of whom will speak for just one or two hours each in a five day period. Subjects range from The Humpty Dumpty Trajectory: Cracking Open Consciousness, to How to Tell Your Friends From the Apes, Gender-Specific Altered States of Consciousness and, thankfully, The Miracle of Ordinary Awareness.

At the MindBodySpirit Festival in London England, there is a huge range of speakers offering subjects as diverse as Attract Your Past-Life Soulmate NOW!, The Secret Tibetan Red Egg Cure, Discover Your Secret Chakras, and Learn What Planet You are From. And that's just on the first day. Later on you can learn spiritual laws for ascension, teach your DNA to listen to your higher mind or, if that doesn't work, at least you can learn how to bend spoons.

When people are in need they will often try anything. They are susceptible and easily vulnerable to outside influences. When ego-centered or strongly persuasive people say they can help save them they believe it. There would appear to be three main reasons why someone goes window-shopping for a spiritual teacher:

1. Life does not easily satisfy our needs. We get something but always want more. More becomes the mantra. But from constantly wanting more materially and emotionally, we then apply the same principle to spirituality: more teachers and techniques must be better than just one, surely?

2. Like the musk deer in India that has a beautiful smell in it's anus but looks throughout the forest for that smell, so we look for happiness outside ourselves and come up short because whatever we find never lasts. This is the truth of impermanence: happiness comes but happiness also goes. Not wanting to believe this, we continually search for that elusive promise of foreverness, and we search for it wherever we can.

3. Everywhere we look we find flyers on bulletin boards advertising how each can help save or heal us, promoting different teachers and methods which are the BEST. Each is more enticing: surely this one will finally solve all those nagging difficulties in my life? Or maybe it's this one?

Where is all this taking us? How do we find our way through such a maze of offerings? Many of the above subjects may have something wonderful to teach us, but what can we really learn in an hour or two or even a weekend? When we dig for oil we have to dig deep to reach it. If we dig too many different holes we will never get to the source of the oil. In the same way, if we guru hop and shop too much or learn too many techniques we will never get to the essence of the teachings. Does this sound like you? Are you a spiritual window shopper?

This blog is a chance for you to do a reality check. Are you being taught to listen to your own wisdom and to be self-empowered or is someone telling the way it is? At what point do you stop and are simply still? Do you need to go shopping or do you need to look within your own mind and heart for what you know to be true? Do you have any stories to tell, as it could be helpful to others?

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You can pre-order a copy of our book at: BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World. It will be published Nov 3.

 

Come see us at our booksignings: the Boulder Bookstore, Boulder Colorado on Nove 3, Powell's in Portland Oregon Nov 11, Barnes & Noble in Seattle on Nov 13, and Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side, New York. November 16th.

****

Ed and Deb Shapiro’s new book, BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors such as Marianne Williamson, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Beckwith, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jane Fonda, Jack Kornfield, Byron Katie, Ed Begley, Jean Houston, Russell Bishop and others, will be published Nov 3 2009 by Sterling Ethos.

Deb is the author of the award-winning book YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND. Ed and Deb are the authors of over 15 books, and lead meditation retreats and workshops. They are corporate consultants, and the creators of Chillout daily inspirational text messages on Sprint cell phones. See: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

 

 

Follow Ed and Deb Shapiro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edanddebshapiro

Comments

[tapeatsbill]

Quiet the mind and grow the heart.

Another really good post. I'm either too lazy or too simple to do much window shopping. I do about three meditations that work well for me and that's it.

For me its more about the FEELING than the intellectualizing and verbalizing.

Love you two and hey did you ever get the card I sent you via your publisher?

Love ya,

Bill

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Great card our publicist did eventually send it. It was opened as she wasn't sure where it came from. she was kind

Wonderful card thanx

your meditation is the best bet

Bees come to honey ... enjoy your inner honey through meditation!

In joy,

Ed

[tapeatsbill]

Meant what I said in the card. You two are doing important work and always lift me higher.

BB

[DrJenniferHoward]

HuffPost's Pick

Dear Ed and Deb,

Thank you for this blog! Spiritual teachers and methods of the above mentioned subjects like enlightenment, altered states of consciousness, mind-body-spirit awareness, etc do have many wonderful things to teach us but it takes many years to study and learn. It is my belief that there is no quick fix or quick path to integrated transformation. Someone can have a “peak” spiritual experience early on in their lives that can be an inspiration for them to continue along their spiritual journey. However, to be fully anchored in the sense of enlightenment and deeply embedded in no self, along with having your emotional issues integrated takes, yes, digging deep, patience, steady practice and grace.

Dr. Jennifer Howard
http://www.DrJenniferHoward.com

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Dr, Howard,

You say it well:

Spiritual teachers and methods of the above mentioned subjects like enlightenment, altered states of consciousness, mind-body-spirit awareness, etc do have many wonderful things to teach us but it takes many years to study and learn. It is my belief that there is no quick fix or quick path to integrated transformation. Someone can have a “peak” spiritual experience early on in their lives that can be an inspiration for them to continue along their spiritual journey. However, to be fully anchored in the sense of enlightenment and deeply embedded in no self, along with having your emotional issues integrated takes, yes, digging deep, patience, steady practice and grace.

Joyfully,,

Ed

[Lizzypie]

HuffPost's Pick

Ed & DEb,
Your blog this week reminds me of my Teacher, the late (great) Chogyam Trungpa. In the early days of his teaching, back say 20 or so years ago, he would refer to "Spiritual Materialism" (He wrote a book by that name - Cutting through Spiritual Materialism). We (his students) naturally assumed that he was talking about everyone else in the spiritual supermarket. - only to realize later on, as we matured (and with great amusement!), that he was primarily referring to us - his own students!!

Thanks for the blog

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Lizzypie - I was there and got the T-shirt

Trungpa was zi best.. he showed us the mind and it's games best.

He cut through all our shit and he was outrageous in every possible way. His book Shambhala is a classic.

He coined American Buddhism.

Ed

[CR46]

Ed and Deb,
I hope you are having a wonderful retreat. Trying to get the rest of us to listen to our inner selves must be quite the job :). Please take time to enjoy each other.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

CR46 Thank you so much. I am happy each time I open to our HP and see you here. You are one of my favorites.

Let me be clear it is a working retreat. We were to be in Hawaii lovingly working on a book project but Hawaii came to us. We are joyfully writing. So now I can connect with you.

But asap we will got to a special place (in Hawaii) and be still) We do meditate every day.

Ed

[PresidentRobertBooth]

I only like window shopping.

I hate buying things unless I really need them.

I like window shopping because I simply like to look at things displayed in shop windows with shining lights and revolving tables. The products look so much nicer that way than they would in the dumpster I live in

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

PRB

I never know whn to take you seriously

you have a profound sense of humor.

are you talking about the figuritive dumpster or literal one?

Enjoy the journey,

Ed

[khanti]

Pt.2
When I started working, I travelled by public transport so every night coming back, while walking in between bus stations, I get to see many homeless and misfortunate people. Some begging for a pittance and sleeping by the five foot way. Every night I came home with a heavy heart from all these sights.
It was much later when I got to read the life story of the Buddha that the Buddha also experienced this sadness when he came out fro his palace and saw people suffering. It is call compassion.
So you see what you become spiritually eventually depends on your pervious budgeted budget.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Om mane padme hum

May all beings be happy and free from suffering!

[khanti]

Pt.1
A lama spend a life time chanting verses and in the next life he is born as a Tulku without remembering a single verse. But if you read him the same verse or if he hear the same verse it will bring familiarity to him.
A young reverend who is now an abbot in one of the bigger temple in US told me of this story. He was a contract supervisor before becoming a monk. While working in an island he fell very sick and was taken to a hospital. After recovering he decided to visit Thailand for a holiday. It was there that he visited a Buddhist Temple. He said, “ When I saw the monks in the temple I felt very peaceful and decide this is the life for me.”
Many years ago I heard a young lady talking to a friend, her voice was very familiar to me as if I have known this voice for a long time. At that time I didn’t even get to see her face properly. She is now my wife of 25years.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow khanti thanks for sharing your delightful heart story

I met Deb through a friend and we went to England and married in 6 months.

We are now married 23 years. We wonder who were those people.

Wea re all passing... coming and going and sharing our journey with another

In joy,

Ed

[Wong Kong]

Dear Ed & Deb the comments I made are not important but the purpose is useful.. In the comments are four stories. Two are sound consciousn­ess(hearin­g) based and two are seeing (sight)con­sciousness based. Perhaps in your retreat you may wish to contemplate on the 12 Dependent Origination and see how those stories fall in. You can also draw through your own experiences to realize the 12 D O.
The young reverend I mentioned is Rev. Ji Ru. Check him out at :-
http://www.maba-usa.org/OurTeacher.html

In this short life time of mine I have the good Karma to meet and learned from so many Buddhist monks from all the three mainstream sects of Buddhism and from various countries too. I see the Buddha Dharma taught in various forms and interpretation but all carrying the same essence and meaning. Different forms to reach all kinds of people. Compassion is the nectar of the Buddha Dharma.
I have some time left and I am still waiting for your book. What is real is for me is the Teachings of the Buddha and my duty to help others on the journey.

Much Metta

[khanti]

Sorry to have confused you Ed & Deb I have mixed up my face book name with my comment to you.

[yoyo22]

Hi Ed and Deb.I dont have to window shop for religion I have that though I do not always put it to good use. I window shop for Peace Health and Happiness.
We all have our own G-d to answer to, even non believers have to answer to their own conscience.
So everyone is looking for something.
Happy New Year to you and your's. Love YoYo

[yoyo22]

Hi Ed and Deb I do not window shop fpr religion I know what I believe in.
I window shop for peace health and happiness I guess I shall go on shopping and learning.
G-d is with us no matter what religion we belive in.
A Happy and Healthy Year to you and yours. Love YoYo

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

My sister yoyo - although you are my sisters best friend you are like a sis to me

shopp inside and play outside

it is inside yourself you will find the jewel's of happiness and peacefulness.

Happy New Year,

Shalom,

Ed

[BarkingUnicorn]

1. Every honest, true thing is simple.
2. Every apparently simple thing is not honest or true, necessarily.
3. The more complex a thing is made, the less likely it is to remain honest or true.
4. If you cannot identify simple, honest truth in a complex thing, forego it.

By these rules you can evaluate everything from people to food supplements to shaving razors to religions or metaphysical products and services. They will never fail you, and can spare you much suffering.

From my upcoming Sunday sermon at Denver's Metaphysical Research Society; here's the rest of the working draft:

http://barkingunicorn.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/kindness-the-sovereign-simple-remedy/

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

BarkingUnicorn,

I love the simplicity

Ed

[nigel-brain]

i question everything, i don't shop for material things, therefore i don't have much, a small stuffed bunny and a few bones, things you gave me...
but am loyal and loving-- unconditionally loving-- really-- guess you already why they call me doG.

sure i live in the moment..., --but all of those moments weave themselves into a my beautiful life. i try to do so much for every being in my life. i am so in tune with my spirit, my spirit shoots out through my eyes and the wag of my tail...

i can smell your emotions you know-- when you are sad i will come and comfort you with kisses. it can be painful but i will will wait for you when you leave me... sometimes i cry, because i miss you so... i have a sense that life is short, because i'm always wondering when you leave if this might be the day you don't come back... every moment is so important in this life... i wonder for all the years that humans have been demesticated; why didn't we teach you better. we will just have to keep trying...

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

nigel-brain

Blessed are the people who don't take themselves seriously for they shall feorever smile

Laughter is the best medicine.

Life is a precious gift,

Ed

[Social Construct]

I window shop religion and spirituality, but for reasons that I find within my own consciousness that do not include wishful thinking on my part. I am atheist in mind and body with an appreciation and deep respect for my fellows following a path that I do not walk but can observe from my own. My faith rests solidly in other human beings, collectively and individually, and the great potential for good that is within. Whether one's path that leads them to the good is spiritual, intellectual or any combination, I am always enlightened, awed and educated by each and every example that I find.

Oh, and I thoroughly enjoyed reason #2. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't intended in this fashion but it made me think of how many of us, myself included more times than I want to admit, go around with our heads in a dark place searching for wisdom. lol

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

SC

even an atheist believes in something

the fact you say you are an atheist reveals you belief

I am an Undo

I practice Undoism

Jesus, Buddha and all the others who woke up are Undoists

for me

ISIMS are now WASIMS

[nailinpalinnow]

"Like the musk deer in India that has a beautiful smell in it's anus but looks throughout the forest for that smell, so we look for happiness outside ourselves and come up short because whatever we find never lasts."

What the heck? This is the craziest metaphor ever...caught my attention though and made me laugh!

[Social Construct]

lol. Me too! All sorts of mental imagery there.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

for me the musk deer story is significant.

we all have the greatest gifts of all within us Infinite PEACE, BLISS, and UNCONDITIONAL HAPPINESS

yet we spend our lives looking for this in the world

if you have entered into this inner treasure than you don't need to even think about it. But if you look for this in the world you are like the musk deer.

It's up to you!

I have met very few people who have conquered their monkey minde minds. Lucky for you both.

In joy,

Ed

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

come out of your mind and into your heart

see without effort

This is one of the most loved and popular teachings

go within and see your true self

forget your mental imagery

Let peace and joy be revealed

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

nailinpalinnow

so glad you got some fun out of it!

Enjoy the journey,

Ed

[DamaskinosWasRight]

HuffPost's Pick

+

Greek Orthodox myself ....

Love thy neighbor seems like a good approach

However I always respect the beliefs of others and love to hear their views.

+

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

DWR

thanks for your comment

you are spot on

LOVE is the way,

Peace,

Ed

[DamaskinosWasRight]

Thank you !

[khanti]

It is good to window shop a bit without firm committment before getting the most suitable religion to suit your needs.
I was brought up in a school run by the La salle Brothers and my first encounter was Christianity. My headmaster was the late Brother Bernard who ran the school. So I got to read the new and old Testaments and also got to hear bible stories during moral instruction. Somehow I was not interested in religion and was more interested in playing soccer. Never got converted. Never got any goals either as I was playing in the fullback position.
Playing soccer was easy top make friends, Buddhist, Taoists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and the ever popular Sikh fellow. We never talked about religion but when you are in the same team we are all brothers. It was soccer gods and nothing else.
Since young whenever I come in touch with seeing people suffer I felt a deep compulsion to help them. I didn't know why I was like that until I started to work met even more of unfortunate people. That would be another long story how I came to Buddhism.

[subs99]

> It is good to window shop a bit without firm commitment before
> getting the most suitable religion to suit your needs.

That was me for a while. Then I tried to find out what "my needs" were. But then that raised the question, "Where exactly do my 'needs' come from?" I found the answer to that, which then inevitably led to the question, "Who is the me who is asking all these questions?" And that led to The Answer.

The motivation for this inquiry is a mystery. Perhaps you will find the motivation to seek.

The Answer is what Buddhism is meant to teach...

[khanti]

Actually what suits us also has something to do with our previous lives cultivation.
Our Paramis from the previous lives will be with us. That is why in the present life we always ask questions when ask to believe. So this is why I mentioned that atheist make good Buddhist. That is the cultivation of Panna from the previous lives. When we see suffering we feel for those in pain and that is Compassion.
People are drawn to Buddhism on their own accord because of their previous lives cultivation. The Ten Perfections are always synomous with unselfishness, compassion, moralty and all that is good.

Much Metta.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

after all my years training in India and having the good fortune of being with some of the worlds great ones. I have realized I am an Undoist .. Buddha, jesus and others were Undo's

ISMS are now WASIMS

what is real for YOU?

Ed