Some very interesting revelations are re-emerging into focus. It would appear people are quick to become upset when they suspect another of foul play. And how often do people accuse others of wrong-doing? Or even subtler, how often do people become angry when they can not understand why a person is behaving differently- or why something was left unattended? It is a lack of understanding that stirs emotions like doubt, anger, fear or jealousy. It seems so obvious yet most people experience this regardless of ones physical age. Typically, it happens when someone in your social-circle has steered off the course from 'expected' or desired behavior. Sometimes we don't realize the desires or expectations we've placed on others until we are confronted with the emotions previously mentioned.
Meditation is helpful because it allows us to take a step back and recognize when we're crossing undesirable territory. Same with Sufism, LO1 and 'non-dualistic' teachings. A quick example I can give is when a coworker accused another employee of not working. Little did this person realize that the one being accused of not working was actually working just as hard and a new element was introduced into the environment which would cause delay in completing the assigned task. Because these workers were not together at the time the new element was introduced, when one came to check on the other and saw work had been left unfinished- she assumed the other was not working. Before waiting to receive more information her emotions coupled with an exhaustive day caused her to lash out. Let's say that new element was having multiple new customer's demanding time and energy which would otherwise be spent completing the assigned task. If the young lady but held her tongue or communicated in an effective manner, such revelations may have released her from the attachment of a negative emotion. Understanding works like a salve in this way.
Well. You would think that only one person is at fault when these moments occur but life is a mirror and with the example previously mentioned, both workers ended up accusing the other of not working. It turns out, a new element was introduced for both parties. One had to deal with new customers while another had to deal with a completely different department at a last minute request. Both had checked in on the other at some point and saw something other than what they expected, both attached to a negative emotion allowing it to fester throughout the day where an assumption was made about the other for a lack of real data.
It is that lack of data and the assumptions that delight the Ego, when we forget there's a bigger picture and think life revolves around the little i. Yes, all kinds of merriment(suffering) occurs. What we're owed. What we've had to endure. What you should be doing. I've experienced this kind of thing not just with the example given above but also with friends and family. Myself guilty of poor behavior and attaching to an all consuming negative wave. As I've said, it sounds obvious- like we should know better... lest you've been hit with a bout of 'Spiritual Amnesia' which occurs when you're most comfortable and think you've got it all figured out. Heheheh. Oh gosh. Life has a way huh? Well, the amount of energy behind this theme has been so strong that I am even able to see it in todays Saki. I thought it worth sharing and adding this entry as my personal take-away based on my current environment and the opportunities therein.
I would like to add... Some relief has been given. Lately I can take a step back and watch before I completely succumb to the stirring emotions. Doing so has quickly brought missing data to the fore dispelling the illusion my Ego has placed before me. I can't always guarantee relief will come quickly... So... Now we have some insight archived... Who knows, this may be a post for my self in a future setting or just a cautionary tale for anyone going through similar. ~Namaste~
Volume XIV - The Smiling Forehead
Part II - The Deeper Side of Life
Chapter XIX
The Soul, its Origin and Unfoldment
Is it not amusing to think that the foolish person disagrees more with others than the wise? One would think that he knows more than the wise one. The wise one agrees with both the foolish and the wise; he is ready to understand everybody's point of view. It may not be his idea, his way of looking, but he is capable of looking at things from the point of view of others. It is not one eye that sees fully; to make the vision complete two eyes are needed, and so the wise one can see from two points of view. If we do not keep away our own thoughts and preconceived ideas, if we cannot be passive and desirous of seeing from the point of view of another, we make a great mistake. This third stage gives a tendency to understand every person we meet.
Then again there is a fourth stage of unfoldment. In this stage we not only understand, but sympathize; we cannot help but sympathize, for we can see that life in the world is nothing but limitation. Whether a person is rich, in a high position, or in a wretched condition – whatever condition he is in, or whatever he is – he has to experience this limitation and that itself is a great misery. Every person therefore has his problem before him, and when we begin to see that every person on this earth has a certain problem and weight to carry through life, we cannot help but sympathize.
The one who can awake to the pain of mankind, whether it is his friend or his foe, cannot help sympathizing with him. Then he develops an outgoing tendency; he has always a feeling that he should go out to every person he meets and then, naturally, by his sympathy he looks for good points, for when one looks at a person without sympathy one will always touch his worst point.
When one goes a step further still, then a way is open to communicate. Just as there is a communication between persons who love each other very much, so the sympathy of a person whose soul has unfolded itself is so awakened that not only every person but even every object begins to reveal its nature, its character and secret. To him every man is a written letter.
We hear stories of saints and sages who talked with rocks and plants and trees. They are not only stories; it is reality. It is also told of the apostles that at the moment when the Spirit descended upon them they began to speak many languages. When they understood so many languages, they understood the language of every soul. It means that the illuminated soul understands the language of every soul. And every soul has its own language. It is that which is called revelation.
All the teachings that the great prophets and teachers have given are only interpretations of what they have seen. They have interpreted in their own language what they have read from the manuscript of nature: that trees and plants and rocks spoke to them. Did nature only speak to those in the past? No, the soul of man is always capable of that bliss if he only realized it. Once the eyes of the heart are open, man begins to read every leaf of the tree as a page of the sacred Book.
https://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XIV/XIV_2_19.htm
