To ecjensen on thinking before speaking

[Guest guest]

ecjensen wrote:

the lesson of carefullness when performing actions has many levels.

for example, one may make an off-handed remark in jest, or a

sarcastic remark, and your joke may result in a misinterpretation

which can have unintended consequences. i guess this is why

continually refining our discrimination and awareness is so

important.

Dear ec,

 

I have only recently become aware of what you describe above and that

I should think before I speak and before I act. I think I have rather

gone through my life willy nilly speaking and acting, sometimes with

positive consequences, sometimes with disastrous ones. To access the

level of one's thoughts, one's inner dialog, before you make it

manifest in the physical world is a very subtle process, and yet I

believe it to be totally necessary to developing a spiritual outlook

and to making one's everyday life a sadhana.

 

Yesterday, I said something to my hubby, not intending for it to hurt

him, but it did and I felt very sad about it. Yet is was another

reminder to think before speaking/acting. So I guess we have to take

our pratfalls as well as whatever successes we may have as part of

our spiritual development. These mistakes can help us learn also ~

the lesson here is ahimsa.

 

My hubby, who is very supportive of me as I deal with my illness, is

also very affected by my demeanor, and it is very hard to put a smile

on my face when I feel like crying. But your words reminded me that,

even in this instance I am responsible for what I project. I don't

think it is the same as just "putting on a happy face" or a mask, but

of accepting my condition with uncomplaining grace. I have been

praying mightily to Maa to help me with this because at the moment I

am back to the anger phase of grieving about this ravaging of my body

and how it impacts my life. My Self is working to gently prod my self

to get a handle on this, to find tools that will make it easier for

me to accept my situation and to use it as another path on my

spiritual journey. The Chandi is a wonderful such tool, as is being

part of this wonderful group. Thank you very much. Shanti ~ Linda