What is Enlightenment Sickness?

[James Swartz]

Enlightenment sickness means that the ego co-opts the knowledge of non-duality (self). The knowledge of non-duality (satya), when properly integrated, ought to humble the ego into submission by realizing that it is, in fact, only apparently real (mithya), an epiphenomenon that has no independent existence of its own.

However, the ego is sly and extremely tricky. Its entire purpose is to cement itself and to create a better, firmer, more solid sense of identity. When an immature, unqualified, super-active (rajasic) mind is exposed to Vedanta, the potential exists for disaster: the ego will try to create a new identity for itself based on self-knowledge, I call it a narcissistic super-identity.

This ‘spiritual super-ego’ can be far more dangerous than a regular ego, because it misinterprets and distorts the spiritual teaching for its own ends. Such an ego is still under the sway of samsara, and still seeking wholeness in the mithya world, but it now does so under the guise of being ‘enlightened’ and whatever superiority it believes this confers.

[James123]

16 minutes ago, James Swartz said:

Enlightenment sickness means that the ego co-opts the knowledge of non-duality (self). The knowledge of non-duality (satya), when properly integrated, ought to humble the ego into submission by realizing that it is, in fact, only apparently real (mithya), an epiphenomenon that has no independent existence of its own.

However, the ego is sly and extremely tricky. Its entire purpose is to cement itself and to create a better, firmer, more solid sense of identity. When an immature, unqualified, super-active (rajasic) mind is exposed to Vedanta, the potential exists for disaster: the ego will try to create a new identity for itself based on self-knowledge, I call it a narcissistic super-identity.

This ‘spiritual super-ego’ can be far more dangerous than a regular ego, because it misinterprets and distorts the spiritual teaching for its own ends. Such an ego is still under the sway of samsara, and still seeking wholeness in the mithya world, but it now does so under the guise of being ‘enlightened’ and whatever superiority it believes this confers.

İt is easy to identify, if you are in love that's enlightenment. 

[Butters]

Doesn't this apply to everything in life? The moment you think you got something you really are a fool.