Behavioural And Psychological Adaptation To Society... (2)

In truth there are probably more people than not - especially in the West - who take an unhealthy comfort from thinking that their being something other than the social norm is something of a badge of merit. It is not. It is incredibly easy for people who are so-inclined to speak of 'freedom', but yet in reality for themselves to be intolerant of any dissent. There is no place whatsoever in the contemplative life for such self-deception. Emptiness and the denial of one's ego is the only safeguard to this.