It's not a pet peeve, but I certainly understand what you're saying.  I think it's something that a lot of folks have to go through - the proving of the existence of the supernatural by physical proofs.  So much to choose from, whether it be physical or more cerebral.  But the true journey still awaits.  It is a slog.  Yes, there are wonderful highs when things all come together for the moment and we can appreciate how beautiful life is.  Even when it's not....

But a slog it is.

There is something called The Promises that is usually read at each AA meeting.  "If you are fearless and thorough in working the steps, you will meet some of us as you trudge the road to happy destiny."  The happy destiny he refers to here is enlightenment (Bill Wilson, the founder).

I see a lot of myself in some of the younger ones.  I came in real cocky maybe 14 years ago - and the Bums gets to take full credit for filing down my rough edges.

Instant gratification, usually empty or comes with a hidden price.

My pet peeve is My Way is Best-itis', taken to the level of constant trolling.  We all love our various paths, most go through a mad crush period for'em, but too much creates backlash.  An even worse variety is My Way is Best, all other suck. 

I see chronic hypnosis in daily life.  Whatever manages to pierce it is usually craved.  It was for me.

I recall a third eye experience while walking through a mall near christmas one year, when I could see the filters people project from within their sleeping state and how they overlayed everything perceived.  It was like seeing the dust covering citta, only the dust wasn't dust, in my vision is was like a cylinder around folks, a screen of projection that overlayed anything perceived with personal projection.  If I didn't pass into that cylinder, I remained invisilbe to them.  If I did pierce the cylinder, they would react to me... but not to me personally, they would react to the filter that overlayed, or projected onto me like a film projector.

I lived in hypnosis and trance for decades myself and looking back, it took quite a jolt to cut through it.  Many of my former pursuits were eventually revealed not to bring awakening but to further fuel greater trance.  When awakening began, only then did I begin to sense the depth of my former sleep.

Thankfully, waves rise to the point they can no longer sustain themselves, so with enough time spent in hypnosis, sleeping in a walking trance, I seem to have reached a saturation point and perhaps this was the catalyst to awaken (in spite of the desire to continue that coccoon of dampening trancelike hypnotic wading through life).

I think those peak experiences early on, are craved and interpreted as progress as they pierce the perpetual trance hypnosis palpably and that is a possible reason folks feel those are the only experiences that bring progress.

Time will tell.  Keep walking a path and it will eventually reveal source, even if that is at the point of death.

As to the Sheriff mentality... I'm over it.  Self appointed Sheriffs policing threads, jumping on newbies and telling them what and how to practice.  Crapping on anything unfamiliar, or non-lineage... browbeating and fear mongering exploration.  I get they operate, thinking they are protecting folks, but it feels more like they are assuaging their own fears and projecting them and then fighting their own projections by berating folks.

Posted by: @silent_thunder

As to the Sheriff mentality... I'm over it.  Self appointed Sheriffs policing threads, jumping on newbies and telling them what and how to practice.  Crapping on anything unfamiliar, or non-lineage... browbeating and fear mongering exploration.  I get they operate, thinking they are protecting folks, but it feels more like they are assuaging their own fears and projecting them and then fighting their own projections by berating folks.

Are you saying I have to stop browbeating and fear mongering?

It is often clear when beginner mind is present even in the most intricate communication.

It is also often clear when pride has obscured this.

Often times it is a mix of hormones and momentum - some recover and some do not.

Im always reminded of the sirens calling out from the island to join them (in trance).

When I get into sheriff-mode I over post, get too clever, too cutesy and it rarely ends well.  I make enemies, things get cliquish.  Not that I don't fall into it but these days I'm trying not to. 

Worst of all, I don't leave my problems in the 'net.  Instead I spend time in the real world strategizing cleverness or fuming.

Posted by: @thelerner

Worst of all, I don't leave my problems in the 'net.  Instead I spend time in the real world strategizing cleverness or fuming.

Don´t we all.

This isn't so much a forum/online issue but more so a general one. Basically the people that say they are open minded but don't understand what it means to have an open mind nor do they practice it.

I find, after decades of experience, when I get into Sheriff mode, most often... the Sheriff shoots himself.

My biggest spiritual pet peeve is that people on the path often stop using their brains. Get too caught up in "feeling stuff" be it energies, or just feeling good. In order to follow a teacher and learn stuff one has to use ones brain too, use common sense. It is especially crucial when examingning the teacher and the path. Is it legit? Or is it just someones' ego trip that I am getting caught in? Is it really crucial for my enlightenment to have sex with a teacher? And most probably, why do I do this? Is it just another "hobby" or some other way how to make myself look good, spiritual and clever? For me it is the latter I am afraid, but hey it works I look really good and etc. now. ? 

Anyway, while feeling can be a good indication, people who feel energies and auras just seem bit funny to me. I have noticed an interesting thing and that is that those people always mention that they feel energies. I am a vegan. 

Posted by: @miroku

he problem is mostly when practitioners mistake these perceptions or hightened sensitivity to them as the goal of practice. At least in case of buddhism. It can be quite a long detour from the path.

Ah yes! I agree 100%. Often people chase these milestones, and lose sight of the goal. 🙂