Ever heard about spiritual bypassing?

[Geoff-Allen]

Greetings fellow earthlings!

I trust your time on the forum is an enjoyable one. If not - go and do something completely different!

Have you heard the term "spiritual bypassing".

I had not - until this page popped up in a recent search -

Spiritual bypassing describes a tendency to use spiritual explanations to avoid complex psychological issues. The term was first coined during the early 1980s by a transpersonal psychotherapist named John Welwood in his book Toward a Psychology of Awakening. According to Welwood, spiritual bypassing can be defined as a "tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks."

As a therapist and Buddhist teacher, Welwood began to notice that people (including himself) often wielded spirituality as a shield or type of defense mechanism. Rather than working through hard emotions or confronting unresolved issues, people would simply dismiss them with spiritual explanations.

What Is Spiritual Bypassing?

Enjoy your day!

 

[sun rise]

That makes sense to me.

I'm aware of a trap in believing in reincarnation. And that can be written as "I'm the way I am because of my karma so there's nothing I can do about it. My next life will be better."

The psychological level has to be mostly dealt with before seriously looking at spiritual issues. Of course things come up, but without a firm foundation, the higher aspirations can't really be realized.

 

[Rye_P]

It's an easy way out, and people tends to like easier stuff.

 

[shunyadragon]

It's an easy way out, and people tends to like easier stuff.

. . . but it is not a way out. Something like band-aids for cancer.

 

[Rye_P]

. . . but it is not a way out. Something like band-aids for cancer.

You will be surprised, dear.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I'm aware of a trap in believing in reincarnation. And that can be written as "I'm the way I am because of my karma so there's nothing I can do about it. My next life will be better."

I suppose even if some one is born in not so advantageous conditions, even then there is a lot that one can do. We have reports of people overcoming their situation and shining.Some ones present situation, by chance, or by effects of karmas, does not bar the person from doing better. Pessimists will give up their arms quickly, the tough carry on.
indians who studied hard and succeeded - Google Search

 

[Windwalker]

Spiritual bypassing describes a tendency to use spiritual explanations to avoid complex psychological issues. The term was first coined during the early 1980s by a transpersonal psychotherapist named John Welwood in his book Toward a Psychology of Awakening. According to Welwood, spiritual bypassing can be defined as a "tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks."

As a therapist and Buddhist teacher, Welwood began to notice that people (including himself) often wielded spirituality as a shield or type of defense mechanism. Rather than working through hard emotions or confronting unresolved issues, people would simply dismiss them with spiritual explanations.

Oh yes, I'm very familiar with the term and what it is. Are you are familiar with the Buddhist terms of the far-enemy and the near-enemy? The far-enemy is the obvious foe. It is the exact opposite of the desired goal. For instance the far-enemy of a path to enlightenment, is apathy and indifference or outright defiance. The far-enemy is easy to identify and recognize.

But the near-enemy is one that masquerades as the desired goal, when in reality it takes you away from it. It lulls you into thinking you are on that path by allowing you to tell yourself you are doing what you should be doing, when in reality you are actually avoiding the path. The near-enemy of the path of enlightenment, would be a zealous religiosity, for instance.

Spiritual bypassing is exactly as this person, and others I have read have said. A person prays to God to save them, goes to church, does their devotions, or whatever form that takes, yet they avoid the hard work of growth. Always hoping for happiness in the afterlife, is bypassing facing what you need to to do in this life in order to find that happiness.

"I meditate 6 hours a day!," yet has that person faced his inner demons? You cannot bypass cleaning house, purifying that which you cling to in the dark corners of your psyche and emotional body by using religious practices to escape that work. It is much more insidious than the far-enemy of indifference, because you use to it lie to yourself you are doing the work, when you are really still just avoiding it.

 

[sun rise]

I suppose even if some one is born in not so advantageous conditions, even then there is a lot that one can do. We have reports of people overcoming their situation and shining.Some ones present situation, by chance, or by effects of karmas, does not bar the person from doing better. Pessimists will give up their arms quickly, the tough carry on.
indians who studied hard and succeeded - Google Search

I agree. Your attitude is also how I feel about avoiding the trap.