This reminded me of something about my exN...

"In dealing with my Ex-Narc (before I knew he was a Narc) and his weird entourage, I kept on saying to myself: "They're acting like a bunch of addicts!"

He totally had a bunch of young men that worked for him that were "in love" with him. They looked up to him and talked about him with such adoration that it was creepy. He always came up as a topic of conversation b/c he was just "so interesting". He also "mentored" the most attractive women at work (by paying them special attention or giving them perks) under the guise they were talented and hard-working. To be fair, they were, but he only did this with the attractive women, since he would then be associated with the image of them.

It all makes sense - he surrounds himself with people that "love" him and make him look good, so he can be constantly supplied (addicted).

Sooooo transparent and pathetic now that I understand.

And he has a total lack of spirituality, which he actually is aware (or so he said). Before we parted, his big thing was to be more "in the now", being more "mindful", and breaking down his Ego so he can find his true Self... He talked all about going back to Buddhism and meditation, etc., but like another member posted below, whether he did become more spiritual or not, I don't know for sure, since I am in NC. However, I recently heard something about him by accident, and from that piece of information, it would appear he is still more fixated on his image than his inner self.

Sooooo predictable - he is a Narc and he probably will never change. All words and no action.

please get going on the 'spiritual lack' aspect of the PD's. Think it would be a really worthwhile subject to explore.
I know for myself, that I was lacking in that are of my 'self' when I cam together with mine - in fact that is one thing that drew us together more than anything.
Both having huge interest and supposed knowledge of all things spiritual and yet the irony, for me at least, is that the whole experience triggered a genuine spiritual awakening in me - one I had been tip - toeing fearfully around the edges of the whole of my life.
I was very drawn to spirituality - and the pain of relationship - it's nature, its ending etc took me on a trip I would have run a mile from if someone had been able to tell me where I was about to go !
I would love to know his experiences on a spiritual level in the aftermath (if there were any - he was already on the path) but of course, with NC this will forever be an impossibilty.
Who knows - maybe this is one of the main reasons we have these relationships - to show where there is deep spiritual lack and to get us into shape.
I know for sure all the aspects are linked - now in our society that has broken down old constructs of security ie : one family of origin that you stay with by hook or by crook until leaving age etc - we are trying to find new ways to be and live that do not depend on these crumbling constructs - our spiritual lives can be sorely lacking too.
I am getting a little lost but I know what I am trying to say - and going deeper into this debate I think would be enormously helpful and no doubt eye - opening.
Bring it on !!!