Yes brock, I agree.
And Steve, perhaps. I suppose actions speak louder than words, especially when that word is "Love" or "friend," and yet, the place from which those word were spoken still resonates it's echo within me in a profound way, which has both empowered me and challenged me greatly, in equal measure perhaps, in my creativity, confidence and spiritual focus.
Many spiritual teachings use some version of the "alchemy metaphor" and some say this was the true meaning of alchemy. That "base emotions, thoughts and energies" were the fuel of the alchemist to transmute into the spiritual "gold" of greater awareness.
I feel those things which have challenged me the most are also great sources of energy for me to transmute into beautiful creations and greater awareness, when I don't focus on the negative vibration of these things "anger, betrayal, sadness, bitterness, loss, etc." but rather use their energy to propel me to focus even more on a truer Love.
Easier said than done, but this is the blessing in suffering that I see.
Also, I wonder about what may happen in this life, because of things I've done in past lives, and even mistakes in this one... Ram Dass says "our Karma is our Dharma," which makes sense to me. I want to own all the things others have done to me, and own my responses to them, and learn from all of this, so I can make healthier decisions of who to trust and how much in the future, among other things I can learn from these Sacred Life Events.
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It is easy to wish that others would behave perfectly toward you, and it is easy to see their faults, but is very difficult to conduct oneself properly and to consider dispassionately one's own faults. If a person consistently behaves rightly, others will try to follow his example. One who can assess his own faults without developing an inferiority complex, and who keeps busy correcting himself, is using his time more profitably than if he spent it just in wishing others to be better. One's own good example will do more to change others than all his wishing, righteous wrath, or words.
P.Y.