Thanks for the comment!
You’re not the only one to mention this.
This is my answer to an earlier questioner:
“I agree I may have made it a little too convoluted as I intend to write an entire article about this. I could have possibly tried to fit too much in.
Personally, when I was younger I was searching for purpose unsuccessfully. Spirituality seemed to hint at the potential for enlightenment and finding purpose, so I pursued that for clarity on my place in the universe.
New-age spirituality has its own philosophy and metaphysics that ends up affecting people’s behaviour in ways that aren’t always positive. In my view, it has ideas that go against forming an individual and instead focuses on unity and being.
It’s great for balancing out people who can’t stop doing, achieving or over-valuing the material — but for people trying to find their way in life it doesn’t provide much in terms of a defined life path. This kind of help seems to be more so in the realm of entrepreneurship and self-development.
The notion of self is different here.
In Buddhism there is the realisation of ‘Anatta’ which means the ‘non-self’ that is at the core of what you are. Which is nothing tangible. No soul. No personality.
In my experience and context, this insight was not at all helpful for me to develop who I want to be and how to live in the modern world, because in my impression, it devalues becoming anything and rather is focused on unbecoming.
This is all very confusing when trying to find out who you are and then realising you are nothing or ‘pure consciousness’. The conclusion it seems is to drift along in the universe at one-ness with it. “Ride the wave”. Out of balance this is the philosophy of the drifter or hippie and that lifestyle certainly isn’t for everyone.
Contrary to this nothingness I believe we have innate potentials that we have a responsibility to. That at the core of us there may indeed be some substance that we ought to express; and it was depth psychology rather than spirituality that helped me determine that and in turn motivated me to become a person and live my life.
A bit long-winded but hopefully that clarifies.”
There may be some subtle things I may change about that answer, but it gives the general perspective.
