Do you consistently use spiritual practices or mindsets to elevate your state?

In this conversation, Ben and Mitra explore the subtle ways we can use spirituality as an escape route from our inner work rather than a path toward it. Ben opens up about his own journey through spiritual bypassing—how his pursuit of elevated states became a way to run from the parts of himself he was afraid to face. Together, they reveal how even our most beautiful spiritual experiences can become obstacles when we use them to avoid the messy, uncomfortable work of being human. If you've ever wondered whether you're truly growing or just getting really good at spiritual avoidance, this episode offers both gentle wisdom and practical tools for honest self-inquiry.

What You’ll Learn:

• The "rubber band effect"—how chasing spiritual highs while avoiding difficult emotions creates tension that eventually snaps back harder
• Why spiritual knowledge becomes dangerous—how learning the language of inner work can trick you into thinking you've done the work
• From rejection to curiosity—the practical shift that transforms scary emotions into workable information about yourself

If you’re someone who ….

• Reaches for spiritual practices whenever uncomfortable emotions arise; or
• Has learned a lot about spirituality but still struggles with the same daily patterns; or
• Suspects you're using spiritual knowledge to avoid rather than face difficult feelings

…then you’ll want to be sure to listen in on this episode. Enjoy!

Chapters:

00:00 : What Is Spiritual Bypassing?

00:32 : Ben's Story of Inadequacy and Fixing

02:52 : The Danger of Guru Attachment

04:01 : Why We Outsource Our Inner Work

05:55 : Learning the Language vs. Doing the Work

09:09 : The "I Know" Trap

10:07 : When Spiritual Practices Stop Working

12:31 : The Rubber Band Effect

12:55 : Big Shadows and Rejection

16:44 : Even Enlightened Teachers Are Human

19:36 : Making Friends with Your Shadows

22:58 : The Shoulding Trap

25:03 : Sitting with What Shows Up

Links :

Learn more about Mitra’s self-coaching program: https://mitramanesh.com/

Social Media:

@mitramanesh_ (https://instagram.com/mitramanesh_)

@bendadbin (https://instagram.com/bendadbin)

@theinnerview.live (https://bit.ly/4f61J0Q)

Join our mailing list:

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Keywords :

Ben Dadbin, Mitra Manesh