Bless All and Harm None
by Baba Shuddhaanandaa Brahmachari
Recently I received the following question and wanted to share my answer with all of you as we start the New Year.
The question: I am more committed than ever to my Spiritual Path and am finding myself impatient with others who seem to be more interested in the material things in life. When I visit with family or friends, the conversation is usually about movies, shopping and gossip. When I mention my spiritual path they shy away from it, or at times are openly mocking or critical of me. I know I am being judgmental; how do I stop this, and help others move closer to the Light in this New Year? I want my New Year’s resolutions to be only positive.
My response: The New Year is a wonderful time to recommit to your own Spiritual Path. It is also a beautiful time to remember that the most basic Truth behind a truly spiritual journey is to bless all and harm none, even those who appear to not be interested in your spiritual journey or their own.
As long as you are in society, at times you just have to put on the mask that society loves to see. But your spiritual quest is an inner journey. In your inner world you are with your spiritual practices. Do not share much of your spiritual leanings and thoughts with those who are not spiritual, as this will only bring such negative vibrations that you will feel more and more frustrated.
The goal of spirituality is not one of breeding frustrations in your mind; rather it is an art of freeing your mind of all kinds of negative ideas about the world, particularly about others. Those who are not ready yet for spiritual food would not find any taste in it. That does not mean they are low, just that they are not ready for it yet. When their time comes (like yours has come now), they, too, will look for only spiritual companionship and spiritual discussion and practices.
So, first give up all your negative ideas about your relatives and friends who are not able to join you in this wonderful inner journey. The more positive you are in your feelings about others, the less damage will be caused to your mind. Do not mind much about the erratic comments from others; you need to realize that until you are established in your Positive Mind, which is the Pristine Mind, you will always attract people who are not happy with you and your attitude, for every one has his or her own expectations out of you. Don’t dwell on this negativity of others. As long as you are strong enough not to react to the negative stuff dumped on you, it will do no harm to you.
