The Science of Spiritual Narcissism.

They also found suggestive evidence that the augmented self-enhancement of the yoga practice played a key role in the well-being benefits of yoga through increases in self-esteem. Some psychologists have pointed out that the self-enhancement that occurs through spiritual practices can lead to the "I'm enlightened and you're not" syndrome and spiritual bypass, by which people seek to use their spiritual beliefs, practices and experiences to avoid genuine contact with their psychological "unfinished business." In one set of high-powered studies, Jochen Gebauer and his colleagues looked at both yoga and meditation practices. FEATURES A purported benefit of mind-body spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation and energy healing is that they will help "quiet the ego", providing an effective antidote to the exalted self. [Extracted from the article]