This is the title of chapter 6 in J Krishnamurti’s book ‘Commentaries on Living 1’. In this chapter he encourages us to be self- aware. He discourages us to follow any spiritual master. And, he further reiterates that when spiritual masters live in a different country and the pupil lives in another – then this leads to an illusion and self-deception of the pupil.

He says spiritual bodies and organization headed by spiritual leaders are just exploiting our need for gratification. There is a beautiful quote in the essay which goes like this, “Reward in any form is extremely gratifying, especially a so- called spiritual reward when one is somewhat indifferent to the honors of the world. Or When one is not very successful in this world, it is very gratifying to belong to a group especially those by someone who is supposed to be a highly advanced spiritual being, for then one is part of a team working for a great idea, and naturally one must be rewarded for one’s obedience and not for thee sacrifices one has made for the cause.”

If we reflect on his statement we realize it – need for joining spiritual/organized religions is our need to deceive ourselves – our need to be rewarded for what we think is our achievement or our need to get rewarded from others for what we think is our success, either way it is our illusion.