SPIRITUAL SUPERMARKET

The study of spiritual materialism is very important. Some people
tell you to hold your breath, and you'll feel blissful. Some people
tell you to breathe out, and you'll feel blissful. Some people tell
you to eat a carrot right now! Some people say, "Stand on your
head." Some people say "Sit, then stand on one foot, then lie down
on your back and have a good massage." Or swim in cold water and that
will help you. Swim in hot water -- that will help you. Reading
this might help you. Say these few words over and over to
yourself. Or shout your words; project out. Dive in. Dive
out. Wear certain clothes. Get a certain hair cut. Do certain eye
gazes. People suggest all sorts of things, which is what's known as
the "spiritual supermarket." All these trips have been laid on the
poor Americans. We could call this spiritual democracy. It doesn't
particularly help. However, America remains a great field of
spiritual fertility. Fertile situations occur constantly, all the
time. Trying to work with this American mentality and bring it
together with the Buddhist tradition of orthodoxy, at the same time,
creates a good balance.

Edited from an unpublished transcript VIEWING AND WORKING WITH THE
PHENOMENAL WORLD, a seminar at Naropa Institute, Talk One, June 10, 1976.

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used
by permission.

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