the mind and spiritual growth

Spiritual transformation is very difficult.

The mind is a very complex organ, bent on its own self-preservation, security and comfort. The brain’s primary purpose is to protect the organism. Once we see this to be true, then many other things make sense.

1. For instance, the brain is an expert tweaker. We can see self-protection occurring in religion and spiritual growth. Often, what we think is spiritual growth is actually a slight modification of the thoughts already present.
2. But the brain is also a great illusionist. It can be busy tweaking, adjusting and modifying, all the while convincing itself that it is actually changing, that it is actually being transformed. The brain gets some delight in thinking it is on the radical edge while holding the moderate middle.
3. However, the brain has the amazing ability to be transformed. It has the profound capacity to come into something totally new and full of benediction. We can experience a deep peace when the mind is free from the past and disordered thought.

Much of religion and spirituality is employed in the service of keeping our minds busy modifying their thoughts to conform to the set standard. They are also very busy engaging our minds in believing that they are growing and making progress.

This is why spiritual transformation is very difficult.