Escapism

"We do not say, 'Escape into the moment. There is no future,' because this is merely irresponsible."

"You can be fully present and find temporary escape from your worldly burdens and conflicts. But difficulties will continue."

"The personal side is all about fear and survival. It knows that it cannot overcome the forces of nature and that its fight to survive will in time be overwhelmed, and so it seeks comfort and escape."

"The personal side is fundamentally concerned with survival. Once it has made sure it has enough food for the body, enough clothing and shelter, it goes about seeking approval, for that is its desperate need, which is also based on survival. It is very needy. It has great anxiety about life because it is temporary, and it faces annihilation or infringement from so many different sources that it cannot account for them all. Therefore, it is fundamentally fearful and unhappy. To allay its unhappiness, it seeks for stimulation and escape. It does not want to know, for Knowledge is fearful to it. Knowledge represents pain and loss and a threat to its survival. The personal side is not evil; it is only helpless. It cannot function on its own because it is like a child."

See also

Escape

Spiritual bypass

Further study

• Wisdom from the Greater Community, Book 1, Chapter 22: Escaping Suffering

• Wisdom from the Greater Community, Book 1, Chapter 25: Escaping Fear

• Greater Community Spirituality, Chapter 19: What is religion?