Standing together

One of the many blessings in my life has been the support and encouragement from family and friends who are also deeply on the path of self-realization. I have come to realize that these people are extraordinarily valuable in strengthing our connection, faith, and enthusiasm along the long and arduous path of yoga.
Without their insights, advice, presence, example, I feel it would have taken me so much longer to get where I am. To find a yogi or yogini with a similar mood and level of realization is a deeply inspiring event in life, a connection that is beyond the normal limits of relationships, as the connection is perceived from both sides to go to the deepest recess of being, a place which we share in a unified heart, our Ishta deva.

I am grateful and humbled by the grace the many yogis and yoginis, whom I value and trust, have shown me in this life. Without naming any, I thank you all.

On the contrary, we can find ourselves surrounded by people who wish us harm, failure, and seek to expose our flaws and shortcomings. They seem unconsciously impelled to belittle, deride, and humiliate us for no reason other than to make themselves feel more secure and less aware of their own limitations and failures. I have been dealing with an awareness of these kinds of people lately. It is an uncomfortable reminder that we are not necessarily perceived as we are, but as others imagine us, that we have a number of avatars existing in the minds of such negative thinkers, and that no matter how hard you try, we cannot escape misunderstanding. It is something I must accept in order to relinquish the attachment to being perceived as I perceive myself. I am reminded of my limited scope of control, for I cannot change their perceptions. I can only be myself and allow others the same dignity.

 I, however, choose not to allow such people influence in my life. To dictate my Self-perception. To allow them to judge and weigh me according to their limited scope of knowledge. I do not have time for influences which do not share in the desire to see their fellow man or woman uplifted, successful, or confident in themselves, their spiritual path, and the true nature of being which is always perfect and pure.

I hope those people may come to relinquish envy, jealousy, pride, and hatred for I know it is only a manifestation of the confused understanding of their very own self. When they see themselves the way I do, they will understand why I still hold love for them, despite the distance, despite the knives in my back and harsh words spoken without any intent for my wellbeing.

Eventually, we will all stand together.