A Fistful of Sand

Art by Lim Chung  Hee In the modern world, many identify as spiritual seekers. They read sacred texts, attend teachings, and speak of awakening, love, and truth. Yet the depth of spiritual transformation does not lie in seeking alone—it lies in consistent, courageous practice. It is possible to be a devoted seeker and still harbor deep fear, resentment, pride, and attachment. It is even possible to nurture disrespect for one’s own teachers—those who represent the very wisdom one claims to revere. When this happens, there is a fundamental misunderstanding at play. One has confused spirituality with religion, and practice with identity. The Danger of Identity-Based Religion When a person identifies with a religion rather than embodying its truth, they wear their spiritual path like a badge, not a mirror. They conflate knowing doctrines with knowing reality. This creates an ego that is harder to detect— the spiritual ego . Cloaked in conviction, this ego believes it already knows...