Difficulty in Loving Others

 Before we can love others, we have to love ourself – our relative self. Of course, the very statement “We have to love ourself” sounds absurd, but this is where compassion starts. We have to be kind to this pattern of ideas that we have picked up and held onto, believing it is our reality. We have to recognise and accept our ‘surroundings’ before we can dismantle them…gently.

 Absolute reality has to have compassion for its mistaken identity: “Oh, there ‘I’ go again!” This is what we have to work with, respecting it because it’s our vehicle – our personal path to enlightened reality – and it applies to everyone! If we keep fighting with others, they merely retreat into their shadowlands. And this is what makes the world a frustrating and lonely place…

 Everyone is in the same boat. Suddenly, we recognise the responsibility to create space for others’ personal recognition. This is what compassion is really about.

We, as enlightened beings,
are caught up in a web of mental activity.
Therefore, we remain sentient.

 We, as sentient beings,
fail to recognise our enlightened nature,
which is free from all mental activity,
and thus we remain sentient.

 We are all in the same boat of confusion.

 If we fail to recognise our relative side,
we will constantly struggle with it,
believing it to be solid, permanent and real.

 If, on the other hand,
we recognise this transitory impermanent state as being no big deal,
we can free ourselves.
As can everyone else.

Remembering this is tough and challenging at times, when faced with fixed-minded people.

Remembering compassionate, spacious conduct frees us from smothering others. It allows them space to see and resolve their own issues.

We may think, “They’re being really silly!” but we go beyond that. How much responsibility we take on is the measure of our own development. If we find ourselves saying, “But, I’m not ready for this. Who is going to love me?” this may mean we have just been given the opportunity to step into a larger universe!

 “I’m not ready yet”
shows recognition –
uncomfortable recognition!
No one said it would be easy!

 Being present, without interfering, is a very subtle business; they may, or may not get a sense of the game which they are playing, and we cannot judge this. Our own essence reminds us to step back, let go, step back. This is something that may not be resolved in this lifetime.

 Chanting and meditating on the cushion, all alone, is so easy! The test is when we leave our cushion … 🙂