Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism

Chögyam Trungpa's groundbreaking modern classic exposing the most subtle trap on the spiritual path—the ego's ability to co-opt spirituality itself for self-improvement and self-aggrandizement, offering instead a radical vision of genuine liberation through letting go of the self rather than refining it.

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987), Tibetan Buddhist meditation master and founder of Naropa University, published Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism in 1973, introducing Western seekers to a provocative critique of how spiritual practice can become another form of materialism. Trungpa fled Tibet in 1959, studied at Oxford, and became one of the first Tibetan teachers to present Buddhism in thoroughly Western terms—direct, uncompromising, and psychologically astute.

What you'll discover:

• Spiritual materialism—how ego converts even spirituality to its own use
• The three lords of materialism: physical, psychological, and spiritual
• Self-deception on the path—collecting teachings and experiences as spiritual credentials
• The difference between ego's journey and egolessness
• Surrendering rather than achieving—the path of letting go
• The guru-student relationship and spiritual friendship
• Meditation as the practice of being rather than becoming

Trungpa's central insight is devastating in its simplicity: "The problem is that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality." We approach the spiritual path hoping to improve ourselves, accumulate wisdom, achieve enlightenment—but this very approach reinforces the ego we're trying to transcend. True spirituality, Trungpa insists, isn't about becoming a better self but recognizing the essential emptiness of self altogether.

What makes this book essential is its unflinching honesty about spiritual self-deception. Trungpa doesn't offer comfort or techniques for self-improvement—he exposes the ways we use spirituality to avoid genuine transformation. His teaching is both compassionate and ruthless, acknowledging our sincere aspiration while cutting through our subtle games. The path he describes isn't about accumulating spiritual experiences but about surrendering the one who seeks them.

Nearly fifty years after publication, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism remains startlingly relevant. In an era of spiritual consumerism, wellness culture, and self-optimization, Trungpa's critique feels more urgent than ever. His teaching influenced generations of Western Buddhist teachers and continues to challenge anyone on the spiritual path to examine their motivations with radical honesty.

Perfect for: Students of Buddhism and Tibetan meditation, readers interested in non-dual spirituality and ego transcendence, those practicing meditation and mindfulness, seekers questioning their spiritual motivations, readers of contemporary Buddhist teachers, anyone interested in psychological and spiritual self-deception, and contemplative readers ready for teachings that challenge rather than comfort.

This paperback edition presents Trungpa's complete classic—featuring a new foreword by his son and lineage holder—essential teachings on spiritual materialism that remain as fresh and challenging as ever.