The commodification of spirituality

 


The Commodification of Spirituality: How Sacred Wisdom is Being Packaged, Sold, and Diluted

By Prof. Dr. Arshad Afzal | Mystic Wisdom Hub

In a world where everything is for sale—from dreams to dignity, from silence to stillness—spirituality too has not escaped the marketplace. Once hidden in the breath of prophets and the solitude of sages, sacred wisdom today is rebranded, rewrapped, and redistributed as a product. Branded candles promise enlightenment. Mass-produced crystals guarantee healing. Algorithms now predict your spiritual destiny, and influencers sell “authentic” wisdom at discounted prices.

But can the sacred be sold?
Can that which is eternal be commodified?

Our blog—Mystic Wisdom Hub—does not seek to sit on a pulpit nor to moralize like the old guardians of dogma. We speak in the hushed tones of seekers, of scribes who still believe that truth must be whispered to the soul, not screamed into the noise of the crowd. And so today, we ask: what happens when spirituality becomes merchandise?

The Hollowing of Meaning

When spirituality enters capitalism, its soul is often the first casualty. What was once a practice of self-emptying becomes a means of self-promotion. Humility is replaced by branding. Silent contemplation is swapped for performance. Words like “energy,” “karma,” and “awakening” are hijacked—slogans without roots, mantras without meaning.

Every tradition—from Sufism to Zen, from Kabbalah to Vedanta—carries initiatic depth, veiled in paradox, designed to pierce the ego and humble the heart. But in the marketplace, the subtle becomes surface, the depth becomes digestible. The seeker is now a consumer, and the guru—too often—a marketer.

The Mirage of Quick Salvation

In earlier epochs, awakening required decades of discipline. It demanded retreat, surrender, silence, and a wrestling with one’s own shadow.
Now? A weekend workshop. A self-help course. A “quantum jump” meditation bundle.

This fast-food mysticism soothes the surface but avoids the abyss. It seduces the seeker with quick relief, but not lasting transformation. The soul longs for still waters, not spiritual spectacle.

Resisting the Sale of the Sacred

We must reclaim spirituality from this glittering bazaar. Not by shouting, not by condemning, but by remembering.
Remembering that the greatest truths arrive not on TikTok but in tears.
Not in a masterclass but in a moment of surrender.
Not from influencers but from inner voices.

True spirituality is not viral—it is viral-resistant.
It walks barefoot in the dust of prophets.
It sits beside a dying stranger and sings the name of the Beloved.

The Way Forward

Let us not commercialize the Divine. Let us not cheapen the chalice that once overflowed in the hearts of mystics. Instead, let us return—to silence, to simplicity, to sincerity.

Mystic Wisdom Hub stands not for products, but for processes.
Not for possession, but for presence.
Not for performance, but for pilgrimage.

We do not promise answers. We offer a lantern.
And sometimes, all the soul needs is light enough for the next step.

About This Blog

Mystic Wisdom Hub is authored by Professor Dr. Arshad Afzal, former faculty member at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The blog is dedicated to exploring mysticism, esoteric teachings, divinatory sciences, and spiritual truths across traditions.

Blog: mysticwisdomhub.blogspot.com
Twitter/X: @DrArshadAfzal1
Email: arshadfzal2001@gmail.com

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