Page 489 - Bodhayanti Parasparam Vol 6

“A few are so born who confuse dhal for boiled rice and take great pleasure in this confusion”
devotion. Yet he may claim or think he is truly devoted. The problem is not this confusion, but the certainty one has granted to oneself to not even feel this confusion. Curvatures are easy to develop in such confused minds as one's attention then turns towards protecting such false pretenses on account of selfishness and ego that alone is in attention. He states further that it is nearly impossible to bring back on the path those who have gone away from their dharma, their duty. Even Master can be helpless and be despaired should be something very very serious for us
to ponder.
The message particularly applies more to trainers who are given the onerous responsibility to help others in the path.
If spirituality is understood as becoming more and more selfless, then selfishness is the opposite of it. Ego, by definition is self centered and is thus capable of arresting our progress at any point if the willingness to let go is not there. The whole world around us is of egos and individuality and we have been taught directly and indirectly over the years how to protect it and nurture it. Add to this the bind of intellect or Manomaya kosha. We have a tendency to intellectualize which by itself may not be wrong but certainly causes a hindrance when we grant it a certainty of our own, a finality of our own. This one claims as his knowledge. One nurtures and protect this because possession of this presumed knowledge defines him. It is like a castle one has built in which he is comfortable and would not like to break it. One thinks highly of himself and the world around will also have enough people to make him feel so. This is a trap we need to be beware of. If one believes more in this presumed knowledge which is nothing but ego, chances are he will use means to bolster his egoistic position than applying his will for the spiritual benefit of others. Not even being
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