The Sacred and the Material: Beyond the False Divide

Transcending the false choice between spiritual growth and financial abundance

"Is pursuing wealth a spiritual failure?"

This was the question I was playing with in my mind as I watched the sun rise over La Petite Provence in the mountains of Sapucaí Mirim this past Saturday morning. I was thinking about a conversation I had the previous night over dinner and a glass of wine with Carolina.

We were discussing our wealth activation challenge that started this week, and it led to a conversation about the disconnect many spiritual practitioners have with money and wealth.

"There's a lot of spiritual practitioners that have money challenges," I said to her. "They don't want to charge much for their work, then they judge people who do charge more. They stay stuck in this cycle of barely making ends meet."

What fascinates me most is how much ego is actually caught up in this position—ironically, the very thing many spiritual teachings aim to transcend.

The False Divide

When we look closely, there seem to be two primary positions in the spiritual-material relationship:

On one end, you find those born into a cycle where money isn't a concern, allowing them to devote themselves completely to altruistic means, whether through birth, or through a phase of life that generates extreme wealth. Think of someone like Michael Singer who, through various circumstances, can serve without financial worry, and offers free programming 3-4 days per week at Temple of The Universe in Florida.

On the other end are those who acknowledge their material reality honestly—recognizing that in order to serve effectively, their own needs must be met first.

"Your ability to help is diminished if you're not taken care of first," I pointed out to Carolina. "The more I understand this dynamic, the more I feel it's like a joke—it's the worst form of delusion."

What I find particularly ironic is how this stance is actually driven by ego—the very thing many spiritual practitioners claim to be working to transcend. It's their attachment to an image of how a "spiritual person" should be that creates the problem. They have a fixed idea that spiritual people shouldn't care about money or material success, and this very belief becomes the biggest obstacle to their ability to serve others effectively.

"It's their ego creating an identity around being 'spiritual' that actually prevents them from having the resources to help more people," I explained. "If they truly wanted to be of service, they'd put themselves in a sustainable position first by embracing enough of the material world to create stability. Then they could serve from a place of abundance rather than lack."

The delusion runs deep here. By rejecting the material realm in the name of spirituality, they're actually limiting their impact and service—which is supposedly their highest aim. This isn't about greed or materialism. It's about honesty with ourselves and others.

I should be clear though—I don't claim to have it all figured out. I'm not some advanced spiritual practitioner with all the answers. I'm sharing my perspective from my very human viewpoint, complete with all its limitations and blind spots. There are certainly things I don't know that I don't know, and my understanding will likely evolve as I continue on my own path.

What I'm offering isn't absolute truth, but rather observations from my own journey and the patterns I've noticed in working with entrepreneurs who wrestle with these same questions. I'm not interested in setting myself above anyone else—we're all figuring this out together.

The Nature of Our Existence

This isn't about justifying greed or excess. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche warned about "spiritual materialism"—using spiritual concepts to strengthen the ego rather than transcend it. We can just as easily become attached to our spiritual identity as to our material possessions.

But here’s the simple truth: we exist in physical bodies. Our presence here is inherently material. To reject the material nature of existence while living in a physical body creates a fundamental contradiction that generates suffering.

As Carolina observed, "Your body is proof that this is material."

This isn't about justifying excess or mindless consumption. Rather, it's about acknowledging the reality of your experience without judgment. The problem isn't having desires or enjoying material comforts—it's becoming identified with them, believing you are what you possess.

"There's nothing wrong with desire," Carolina said. "There's nothing wrong with having things. It's just if you think you are the things you have, that's the problem."

The Judgment Paradox

What I find most telling is where the strongest judgment comes from in this equation.

In my experience, those most vocal about the "evils" of charging money for spiritual work or living comfortably while teaching spiritual principles are often those struggling financially themselves. There's a certain righteousness that comes with this position—as if financial struggle somehow equates to spiritual purity.

Meanwhile, those living more abundantly typically aren't bothered by how others choose to live. They're not attached to proving their spiritual worth through material sacrifice.

"I would argue that there's more judgment from the spiritual communities about people living a material life than the other way around," I said to Carolina.

"Because the materially-focused people don't care," she replied. "That's the irony—they're not attached. People living a more material life aren't typically judging the spiritual folks. They're just living their experience without worrying about how others perceive them."

This is the paradox—those desiring to transcend ego and attachment are often more judgmental and attached to their identity than those they criticize. The people focused on material success typically aren't spending significant energy judging spiritual practitioners for their choices. They're simply pursuing their own path without the need to prove their spiritual worth through criticism of others.

The Historical Perspective

This conversation reminded me of spiritual teachers throughout history who understood the relationship between material support and spiritual work.

Yogananda, for example, was able to travel extensively during a time when international travel was incredibly expensive. He maintained centers in California and reached countless people with his teachings—all supported by wealthy benefactors.

"How could that be wrong?" Carolina asked. "He wouldn't have been able to reach the people he did in the early 20th century if he wasn't supported financially."

Mother Teresa, often held up as an example of selfless service, was one of history's most effective fundraisers. She understood that to serve at scale, material resources were essential.

The Dalai Lama, while living relatively simply, has never suggested that material support for spiritual work is problematic. In fact, he emphasizes the importance of "right livelihood" that sustains both oneself and benefits others.

Beyond the False Choice

What if the entire premise is flawed? What if the division between spiritual and material is itself the problem?

In my work with Sacred Business Flow, I've seen how this false divide creates unnecessary suffering for heart-centered entrepreneurs. They feel torn between their calling to serve and their need to sustain themselves.

The truth is, these aren't opposing forces—they're complementary aspects of a whole life. The material world isn't something to transcend; it's the very medium through which we express our deepest values.

When we reject our material nature in the name of spirituality, we're not being more spiritual—we're denying an essential aspect of our existence. And paradoxically, this denial creates attachment to a narrative about what spirituality should look like.

The Path Forward

So what's the solution? I believe it starts with radical honesty about where you are in your journey.

If you're in a physical body, in a world that operates on material exchange, then acknowledge that reality without judgment. Recognize that your ability to serve others effectively is connected to how well you care for yourself.

This doesn't mean pursuing wealth as an end in itself. Rather, it means creating a relationship with material resources that supports your highest expression and service.

As Carolina put it:

"The goal is to be in complete alignment with your nature."

Whether that means living simply or abundantly isn't the point—what matters is the alignment, the honesty, and the absence of judgment toward yourself and others.

The Middle Way

Perhaps the wisest approach is neither attachment to wealth nor rejection of it, but a middle way where material resources are seen as one aspect of a full life—neither defining your worth nor diminishing your spiritual authenticity.

This middle way requires discernment rather than dogma. It asks us to continually examine our relationship with both the material and the spiritual, ensuring that neither becomes an escape from the other.

Because ultimately, the most powerful position isn't rejecting the material in favor of the spiritual, or vice versa. It's recognizing that in this human experience, they're two expressions of the same fundamental reality.

Everything is connected—the spiritual and the material, the self and the other, the individual and the collective. When we honor this connection, we can create lives and businesses that serve at the highest level, without the unnecessary suffering of a false divide.

With appreciation,

Phil

P.S. You can read all previous editions of the newsletter here, and you can upgrade your subscription here.

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What’s next?

Carolina and I are ready to support you in creating a business that aligns with your heart's calling. Here's how we can help:

1. Discover Your Sacred Business Alignment (Free): Take the Harmony Map Assessment and read our Sacred Business Manifesto to understand where you are on your path and how to move forward with clarity and confidence. Perfect for entrepreneurs wanting to understand how everything in their business connects.

2. Read the Sacred Business Manifesto (Free): Learn the core principles of building a Sacred Business through our founding story and framework. See how we transformed our approach to business by understanding that everything is connected.

3. Sacred Business Network: Connect with heart-centered entrepreneurs who understand that success comes from alignment. Monthly connection circles, community workshops, and ongoing support through our private community space. Get the encouragement and collaboration you need to grow.

4. Join Our Next Implementation Challenges: Action-focused programs like the Sacred Business Planning Rituals Challenge and Substack Growth Challenge help you create real momentum in specific areas of your business. Free for Club members, discounted for Network members. Be sure you are subscribed to be notified when the next one is offered live.

5. Sacred Growth Club: A complete support system with weekly embodiment classes, live coaching calls, writing circles, and expert workshops. Designed for entrepreneurs ready to build sustainable success through proven practices while staying connected to their purpose. Includes full access to the Network and all challenges.

6. Be The Flow Coaching (1:1): Personal guidance combining strategic business planning with energy alignment work. Weekly coaching sessions plus full access to Sacred Growth Club benefits. Ideal for entrepreneurs seeking deep transformation and sustainable growth in their business.

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Table of Contents: Your Complete Guide To The Sacred Business Ecosystem

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