The Growth Mindset Definition and the Myth of the Spiritual Seeker

The world is obsessed with the idea of becoming. We are told from birth that we are incomplete, like a half-finished sculpture waiting for the final stroke of the chisel. In this constant state of wanting, we encounter the popular growth mindset definition, which suggests that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. From the perspective of the separate self, this is perfectly valid. The body-mind lives in a world of challenges; it learns to walk, it learns to speak, it navigates the complexities of relationships and survival. There is a natural movement toward refining our resources and understanding the world around us. We face the challenges life throws at us, and we adapt. This process of self-improvement is simply what the body-mind does until the moment it ceases to be. It is the movement of life itself, and there is nothing wrong with it. However, a subtle trap appears when the separate self takes this growth mindset definition and tries to apply it to what we call enlightenment or awakening. We begin to treat the absolute as if it were a mountain peak to be climbed through effort, or a skill to be mastered like playing the piano or learning a new language. We imagine that if we meditate long enough, or sit in enough silence, we will eventually reach a state of permanent peace. But who is it that is trying to reach this state? Who is the one practicing? When we look closely, we find that the "seeker" is just another thought, another movement within the very presence we are trying to find. Silence is not a practice. It is not something you "do" to get "there." Silence is what remains when the separate self stops looking for an exit. You might find that sitting in silence or participating in a group of like-minded individuals makes the body-mind feel more comfortable or regulated. That is fine. It is part of the natural care for the body-mind's well-being. But comfort is not enlightenment. There is no ladder leading from the person you think you are to the totality of what you already are. A wave does not need to practice "ocean-ness" to become the sea; it already is the sea, even while it takes the temporary form of a wave. The frustration many feel in spiritual circles comes from the endless "spiritual talk" and the inflation of the spiritual separate self. We get tired of the apps filled with guided voices and New Age music because they reinforce the idea that there is a "you" who needs to be guided. They suggest a journey where there is only a standing still. The separate self loves a journey because a journey implies time, and time allows the separate self to feel like it is achieving something. But the absolute is not in time. Conscious presence is not something you gain; it is the screen upon which the entire film of your life is projected. Whether the film is a tragedy or a comedy, whether the character is "growing" or "failing," the screen remains untouched, unchanged, and already complete.