I used to know the minister of a church in Chicago. She had a saying that she used often: "If you spot it, you got it." This was a concept that was new to me and I found it interesting. In yoga we say, "You can only see that which you are relative to." No matter how we express this concept, it simply means that if we/me/you find ourselves judging another person, we are only able to see that aspect of their personality because we ourselves possess that exact same attribute. "If you spot it, you got it."
Have you ever found yourself in a family situation where one of your relatives seemed, let's say, particularly irritating? Perhaps you found that person to be controlling and critical. Or maybe @ your place of work there was or is one person in particular that you feel the entire organization would be better off without? Do you find that this person disturbs you to the point that you go home running the behavior of this individual over and over in your mind until you are completely distracted thinking about them? Did you ever wonder why? Did you ever find yourself blaming them internally for the irritation in your own mind? I think you see where this is going. It's not about them.
As we meditate we begin to see things more clearly. We judge less. When we do find ourselves judging, we are able to observe the workings of our own mind and notice what the mind likes to attach itself to. And then we can ask the question, "Why is my mind attaching itself to that thought-form?" We learn. We let go.
Every single being that comes into our lives is there to teach us. It's not an accident. They are there for a period of time, however long that period is. I am a being living in a human body. If you are reading this then probably you are a being living in a human body, too. Humans are mirrors. They show us what we need to see and understand in ourselves. Do we see compassion? Generosity? Kindness? Do we see ignorance? Anger? Cruelty?
One of the finest teachers I have ever known was not a human being. She was a little brown dog with soft, fat feet and floppy ears. She taught me forgiveness. She had a love forcefield as large as a city block. She knew how to meditate on loving-kindness and she taught me the value of the transcendental. In her I found that my heart center could open and that I could give and receive love unconditionally, freely. I learned patience. I understood contentment. Through this small, perfect teacher I learned all these things. Because I saw these qualities in her, I became aware of them in myself.
Blessings, blessings everywhere. Blessings, blessings everyone.
Deepest Shanti,
S.
Have you ever found yourself in a family situation where one of your relatives seemed, let's say, particularly irritating? Perhaps you found that person to be controlling and critical. Or maybe @ your place of work there was or is one person in particular that you feel the entire organization would be better off without? Do you find that this person disturbs you to the point that you go home running the behavior of this individual over and over in your mind until you are completely distracted thinking about them? Did you ever wonder why? Did you ever find yourself blaming them internally for the irritation in your own mind? I think you see where this is going. It's not about them.
As we meditate we begin to see things more clearly. We judge less. When we do find ourselves judging, we are able to observe the workings of our own mind and notice what the mind likes to attach itself to. And then we can ask the question, "Why is my mind attaching itself to that thought-form?" We learn. We let go.
Every single being that comes into our lives is there to teach us. It's not an accident. They are there for a period of time, however long that period is. I am a being living in a human body. If you are reading this then probably you are a being living in a human body, too. Humans are mirrors. They show us what we need to see and understand in ourselves. Do we see compassion? Generosity? Kindness? Do we see ignorance? Anger? Cruelty?
One of the finest teachers I have ever known was not a human being. She was a little brown dog with soft, fat feet and floppy ears. She taught me forgiveness. She had a love forcefield as large as a city block. She knew how to meditate on loving-kindness and she taught me the value of the transcendental. In her I found that my heart center could open and that I could give and receive love unconditionally, freely. I learned patience. I understood contentment. Through this small, perfect teacher I learned all these things. Because I saw these qualities in her, I became aware of them in myself.
Blessings, blessings everywhere. Blessings, blessings everyone.
Deepest Shanti,
S.
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