"We are seeking enlightenment?," we seem to ask. "Well, just watch how spiritual we can be!"

The problem of our ego is that it grasps onto our drive for enlightenment as a means to retain its dominance over us. "We are seeking enlightenment?," we seem to ask. "Well, just watch how spiritual we can be!"

identifying this process as the "the shadow self" , warns that " WE will not willingly loosen our ferocious grip on existence."

"Since the shadow has been your sole co-pilot in life for seeking a secure sense of self we will not abandon it for the smoke and mirrors of another foundation that we sense but are not sure is real.

The ensuing internal struggle to free ourself from the grip of the ego will submerge us in many self-deceptions in which we will firmly believe we are progressing toward the spiritual mountain top,But many of your practices and behaviour(s) on close examination will reveal the shadow in disguise and control.

Utilizing the concept of 'love' as an example - a concept which along with 'compassion' is universal to the world's great wisdom traditions - illustrates the process of how the "shadow self" of the ego subverts even these most lofty of emotions and ideals.

While love is at the core of all religions and spiritual traditions, its near enemy version abounds. "I love you" are three little words that are easy to say but much more difficult to genuinely mean or live. Hidden behind affirmations of love can be self-serving egoism, attachment dependency.

Love that is truly spiritual is unconditional and selfless, But in practice, how often does it mean "I will love you only if you return love"? All too frequently we hear about "love" that quickly morphed into hate and even violence when it was not reciprocated.