Dear friends,
“When I became such that I was no longer the center of my own life, I found I was able to see Spirit everywhere.”
—Bede Griffiths
I came across this quote recently and thought it was lovely. It gets right to the heart of an important truth: That it is our self-centeredness that blocks the touch of Spirit we all long for.
By self-centeredness I do not mean conceit (though that is surely not helpful!). In this case it refers to the fact that we see the world as revolving around us. If someone is rude to us our first thought is virtually always, "How can he speak to me that way?” rather than, “How sad. He must be having a rough day.”
Why is it, for example, that it is so hard to like someone who dislikes us? If that person has many admirable qualities, and happens to dislike us, why should that matter so much? Yet finding someone who likes a detractor is almost impossible.
We take ourselves too personally. I have mentioned before that my teacher once said, “I view myself as an event for which I am responsible.” What a remarkable attitude!
Loving thy neighbor as thyself may be a bit of a stretch, but how about liking and respecting them and their struggles at least? Remember that you yourself are merely a bit player in your mechanic’s melodrama. Serving and compassion open our hearts and defeats the “I am the center of the universe” attitude.
“When I became such that I was no longer the center of my own life, I found I was able to see Spirit everywhere.” Words to take inside and live by.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the Gang at East West