According to Eastern and Western Teachings, common sense is the only criterion for evaluating any learning, including spiritual learning. Many believe that the material and spiritual worlds are on opposite sides of the Great Pendulum of the Universe. That the Universe, deviating towards the material, obliges us to abandon everything spiritual and, leaning towards spirituality, loses connection with the material.

Meanwhile, philosophers and mystics argue that materiality and spirituality in the sense in which they are known to ordinary people are one and the same thing. This is clearly reflected in the fact that the amount of energy available to man must be expended equally in solving issues related to physical existence and in satisfying the spiritual aspirations of the subtle human structure. There is no need to expect spiritual revelations and clarity from an individual if there is chaos and confusion going on in his everyday life: disorder at home and in the workplace, problems with health, finances, social connections, etc.

At the same time, the impulses of the human mind in search of answers to the intangible secrets of the surrounding world are as natural as the desire to satisfy physical hunger. Now we are talking about mental hunger, about the exploration of the subtle creative nature of man, which requires food just as much as the physical body. It is stupid and unwise to deny this fact. In his spiritual quest, a person tends to join interest groups that may be perceived as strange and incomprehensible by “ordinary” people.

But how to understand whether the interests of this group are true, and whether it is a sect with a tyrannical and totalitarian bias❓

To answer this question you need to use common sense. Common sense is the ability to clearly and clearly see the source of a situation, the logical connections and direction of events. Any spiritual interest should not separate a person from his everyday life and his responsibilities, which he assumed when embarking on the path of socialization.

To put it differently, a person must remain adequate, which presupposes his full responsibility for what is happening to him or her, a clear understanding of the expediency of what is happening and, most importantly, the ability to respond to a changing situation without harm to himself or others.

To check whether you are in the right spiritual community based on your interests, try to imagine how representatives of this “spiritual community” might relate to your close people in your life: relatives, colleagues or friends. If there is a gap and lack of any connections between your associates and loved ones, then most likely you are not on the right path, you are in an “exotic” or dangerous environment and you are wasting your time.

Spiritual quests must be inseparable from ordinary everyday life and come into contact with it gently and carefully. This is how changes for the better come into life. The guiding instrument in this case is the common sense of a person.

Here is what Manly Palmer Hall writes about this in his book “A Word to the Wise”:

Avoid all beliefs that go beyond reason. In most cases, the simplest principles are the most valuable. Calling on all your wisdom and insight, carefully and comprehensively consider all claims and promises that seem to deviate from the basics of common sense. Don't try to live in a world ruled by invisible beings. In truth, there is only one being who cares for you, and that Invisible Being resides at the source of your being. Do not fill the atmosphere with fear and do not allow others to rob you of your peace of mind with insidious threats or convincing-sounding promises. It is not bad to know everything there is to know, but it is even better to evaluate knowledge and accumulate those facts that have a direct, constructive effect on your hearts and minds.

Your happiness and freedom are in your hands. And common sense shines as your guiding star.