7 human behaviours that block the path to enlightenment

Enlightenment, the ultimate form of connection with the divine, and of course, inner peace, is hard to achieve. Only a select few are able to achieve enlightenment, leave their desires of the world, and live a life knowing the all-truth of existence, hoping to attain moksha. And as the path to enlightenment is difficult, not everybody is able to achieve it in life and is always being thrown from one bad habit and behaviour to the other. So if you wish to improve this state, here we mention some common human behaviours that block the path to enlightenment.

Hatred is one of the most destructive emotions a person can ever have. And this hatred does not just lead to harm to the fellow, but also harm to the self. Having feelings and emotions of hatred can mess with a person emotionally and mentally, and the things people do with hate, need no mention. But in the long run, hatred just lands people in an endless cycle of negativity, and when you have even a speck of hatred for others, the resentment consumes you, not letting you have the space and energy for love, peace, and acceptance.

Another barrier in the enlightenment journey is fear. Fear of the fellow man, or making others fear you, is one of the worst things a human can do for it blocks their chances of doing something worthwhile. It makes you sit in a cocoon, not wanting to get out and grow as a human, and thus one can never have an open mind this way. To grow spiritually, you need to question things, experience things, and embrace and accept things. So if you are on the journey to enlightenment, let go of the fear.

It is fear that creates doubt, and it is doubt that stops you on your tracks, from the bad and the good too. And doubt, especially self-doubt, weakens a person’s ability to be truly enlightened. Doubt makes a skeptical mind grow and then leads to inaction and confusion. In fact, many people start questioning their own spiritual journey, feeling unworthy and incapable of achieving enlightenment.

Looking down upon others, judging them, or feeling superior to them in any form is a very normal human emotion and behaviour. But this disgust, be it for money, riches, material possessions, or anything, is one of the biggest blocks in enlightenment. When you perceive other people as lesser to you or unworthy of your time, you disconnect from the essence of humanity and spirituality. And as a truly enlightened person sees all beings as equal, this disgust for others creates division, making you negative and arrogant.

Even a famous shloka from the Bhagwad Gita says ‘Anger, greed, and lust, are the 3 gates to hell’. And thus greed and lust will never let you be truly enlightened. It is greed and lust that ties people to their material selves, to the earthly desires, and thus becomes a roadblock in the journey. Be it the need and greed for wealth, or the lust for power or sexual relations, unchecked desires always blinds people and stops them from achieving true enlightenment.

We live in a material world and consumerism drives people today. Be it in relationships, or jobs, or even in everyday life, where we see profit, we tread that side. But the problem is that people who constantly look for profit, miss the deeper meaning of life. This mindset leads to exploitation, manipulation, and the inability to experience genuine connections with people. And enlightenment is about giving, not just taking. A person obsessed with profits cannot truly attain enlightenment.

The human ego can never be satisfied and pride can never be ‘fed too much’. But both of them create a false sense of superiority, which makes you not want to change or improve yourself through the discomforts and blocks. When people believe they are always right or better than others, they close themselves off from learning, and the arrogance makes them want to make their own paths. So if you really wish to walk on the path of enlightenment, you need to let go off ego and realise that true wisdom will come from within and from others.