“Okay,” you might be thinking, “so the project of self-improvement is largely unrelated to the project of spiritual awakening, but it couldn’t possibly undermine the awakening process, could it?” Yes, it could. Let me explain. What exactly is this best version of themselves that people want to be? All too often, it’s a socially conditioned figment

idealistic and romantic. People tried to use spirituality to “get high” and to experience extraordinary states of consciousness.