Not Good Enough
Dear friends,
A spiritual counselor once shared with me, “95% of my counseling is trying to convince people they are worthy enough to be accepted on their particular spiritual path.” This is unfortunately natural and common, but is a wrong idea that hampers us in ways we are not even aware of.
I recently spoke with some folks who were active members of a spiritual group I am not especially familiar with. They said there was a thick layer of judgment about who was committed enough, who was doing enough, who was spiritual enough, who was doing the practices enough, etc. It eventually drove them out.
An unkind or casual word can get stuck in one’s mind for many years. I bet you can easily recall things like this that were said to you. While counseling, I have had people mention something someone said to them when they were eight years old that is still stuck in their minds!
A friend of mine was responsible for the garden at Ananda Village. She spoke to Ananda’s spiritual director at one point and suggested there was someone in the garden who simply was not doing nearly enough work each day. She said she wanted to firmly correct him and asked if it could be right to point out his shortcomings and press him. He said, “Yes, it can be right. But you better be very, very sure before you do it!”
We all have more than enough negative voices in our own heads. Let us not foist our opinions, judgments, and “suggestions" on others without being very, very sure it is what Spirit wants us to do. We generally are not aware of the impact our words can have on others. Things tend to grow best when given sun, clean air, and water.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West