Detachment
Detachment does not mean we don't care about what is
going on in the world. Detachment does not mean coldness
or hardness. It just means we learn to stand back and
observe for a moment. Detachment gives us that 'space of
time' to create a measured response and not to be
overruled by habitual reaction.
Criticism
When I do something, there's sure to be some criticism
that comes my way. But I am not always able to take it
in the right spirit. I tend to give a lot of
explanations and excuses to others and myself. When I
give excuses in this way I finish the ability to learn
and so I am not able to experience constant progress.
Whenever I am faced with criticism I need to reinforce
my faith in whatever I am doing. When I am sure of
myself, and the task that I am involved in, I will be
able to learn from whatever the others tell me. I will
no longer give excuses but go on bringing improvement to
whatever I am doing.
The Art Of Stepping In And Stepping Out In Relationships
For any activity, or relationship to remain peaceful and
successful, we must know how far to step in and how far
to step out. It is like a gardener who sows seeds at the
right time, steps in to plant and water them and then
steps out of the picture to allow nature to carry on
with her work. However, from time to time, he steps in
again to see if there is enough water, if any insects
are attacking the plants, if any food is needed. His
role is to find the appropriate space for the potential
beauty and uniqueness of the seeds to emerge; he does
not create the flowers but facilitates their expression.
The gardener does not step in too much; that would be
called interference. After planting the seeds, he does
not demand an immediate result; he does not dig them up
next day to see if they have sprouted. He plays his
role, fulfils his duty, but lets go because he
understands the blooming of the flowers is not dependent
on him. Nor does he let go too much. If he did, then the
plants would die from lack of care, or the insects and
weeds would destroy them. He does not let go so much
that he isolates himself from the process. Instead, by
knowing when to step in and when to step out, he creates
a respectful partnership or relationship with nature.
Tomorrow we shall apply this example to real life
relationships.
Soul Sustenance
Injustices
And Suffering In The World – Applying The Law of Karma
(Part 2)
An understanding of the laws of action reminds us
that whatever we give we get, and whatever we get is the
result of what we have given. When we apply this
understanding into our awareness while we watch apparent
injustices in the world, it reduces our outrage,
lessening our pain. It's not that we sit passively and
allow people to bring about suffering upon others, but
it helps us to see that the greatest or highest
contribution that we can make, to both the victim and
the sinner, is to help them remember who they are and
help them rise above their anger and fear towards each
other. Only in this way can we help them to liberate
themselves from an exchange of energy that has perhaps
been going on for centuries.
But before we can effectively do this for others, it is
necessary to try and do it for ourselves. Instead of
taking the law into our own hands (the desire for
revenge and justice), we can benefit everyone around us
by first understanding and living ourselves according to
the invisible laws of cause and effect which define all
human relationships. Sometimes this is referred to
as 'practice what you preach, and it often requires
moments of reflection before action in order to judge
the consequences of any path of action. This capacity to
stop, reflect and consider, in a state of mental calm
and with clear intellect, is an essential characteristic
of all effective leaders. It is also what makes us all
potential leaders in life, every day, who can bring
about world transformation through self transformation.
Message for the day
Flexibility makes problems into teachers.
Expression:
Flexibility enables us to move with time, slipping
through life as gently and strongly as possible. When
problems do come, instead of stopping with fear, we will
be able to learn from them and move on, experiencing
constant progress.
Experience:
In any problem that we are faced with we need to remind
ourselves that the situations around us will not remain
the same, things might get worse too. If we are able to
be flexible now we will be able to adjust ourselves to
any kind of situation that we might be faced with in the
future too.