Enlightenment: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

When you feel the optimism of today's spiritual community, you are left with the impression that the sky is the limit. You hear people brainstorming about their spiritual development index, you hear the theme that a massive spiritual break-through is just around the corner, and kind of everybody in my discussion forum at the Personal Development for Smart People expects to be enlightened within this life-time. I hope this is true, but I am honestly not sure. Read some spiritual books from the early 20th century and you hear a similar optimism, only be executed by two brutal world wars. Or do you remember the Hippie movement in the 70s, only to be followed by a wave of materialism in the 80s and 90s. Keep the fire burning inside yourself and light as many fires in others as you can, but don't hang your hat on any widespread social trends would be my motto. When it comes to enlightenment the old rule probably still applies: one soul at a time!