These sufferers often enjoy the recognition and their power
over others immensely. They say impressive words and are emotionally unfettered in many
areas. One gentleman enjoyed hovering around potential disciples in restaurants. He
would stare into their eyes and intone: "Do you know who I am? Look at me. Don't you
recognize me? I am your spiritual master." Due to his other activities, police asked
him to leave town.Another sufferer was sure he was the reincarnated Jesus Christ and
that people were trying to crucify him before he gave his message. He spent much of his
time avoiding his "pursuers."
Unfortunately, mental illness can increase in the lives of those who have deep inner
conflicts and who seek to escape reality on the path of higher consciousness rather than
find themselves. Some people use the
abstract vocabulary of higher consciousness to justify their own opinions and validate
their inner images as spiritual truths.
What people with extensive inner conflicts think and see can be totally split from
reality. In prayer, contemplation, or meditation, an imbalanced sufferer can, with the
images of his subconscious mind — and contorted emotional nature — see whatever
he wishes to see. Such an unfortunate individual may "hear" from within
convincing but untrue prophecies or proclamations of his greatness, superiority, or world
mission.
