"You know that your natural state is to be very surprised that there is anything *wrong with ourselves. Of course, we often blame ourselves, as it were.We say, for example,: "Yes, I am afraid I was very much to blame for that incident."
"Yes, certainly you were." says the other person.
Are you not then startled? Why, you will be hurt and offended all at once."
"Now, self observation is very harsh and it becomes more harsh. If it is done sincerely it will hurt. But it lets light in and stops all sorts of rank weeds from growing within, and among them, all the strange growths due to internal considering and self pity and song singing. And then at last we begin to see what it means that a man must realize that he is nothing before he can begin to expect to be something"
~ Nicolle, "Commentaries', Book I, Birdlip, March 1, 1943
Perhaps, now, in 2009, the word 'wrong' and all of its ordinary associations can be softened a bit. Taken a bit more objectively wrong = incorrect - something that must be corrected if we are to move forward in inner growth. 'Right' or 'wrong' is not the point however - self observation of internal considering is. When taken with right attitude studying internal considering in ourselves is very valuable. Stand in front of what is 'wrong' in yourself, observe without identifying with and being taken by all the judgment, justification and inner talking about it for as long as you can. What can you see? Do not analyze. Breathe. What is the body doing? Keep it simple. Take pictures, take notes and keep moving forward in your day when the moment passes. Move on to the next moments.
Be Still, Be at Peace, BE
No comments:
Post a Comment