Adapted from a Meeting with John Sherman in Santa Monica, California on July 10, 2005.
In times like these, in crazy times like the times we live in now, the whole spiritual context can come to be seen, seemingly justifiably, as self-indulgent. The world is in flames, as if it has never been in flames before. The activities of the human beings are insane, murderous, inexplicable, and irrational, as if this has never been the case before. In times like these, it is quite common and quite to be expected that the mind will present beautiful justifications for stepping away from matters that are spiritual; beautiful justifications for continuing the outward-bound energy of individual consciousness, such as, "It is self-indulgent for me to be concerned about my internal spiritual well-being, my eternal happiness, when all around the world people are blowing each other up." It is not only self-indulgent; it can seem quite risky. I mean, "My God! If my attention is inward, what can happen? Who is that next to me on the bus?"
