Don’t Be A Teacher of Hard Lessons

The embarkation on and the effort made in a spiritual
endeavor on our part may sometimes be done for selfish
reasons.

It may be because we think we will receive some kind
of reward from a higher power above or admiration from
our fellow human beings.

Christian and Buddhist teachings, scriptures and
commentaries advise us that a reason such as this for
practicing spirituality is highly ill – advised as the
motivation behind such a practice is one of getting
something in return for one’s efforts.

This is not what spirituality and spiritual practices
want or ask of us.

What they do want of us is that we make changes in our
behavior so we will become more mindful, balanced and
joyful beings and by experiencing such a
transformation be more of a light unto ourselves and
to others.

One teaching that is of primary importance in both
Christianity and Buddhism is to share with others with
a degree of compassion, insight and warmth.

In this modern world, there seems to be a tendency
among people from all countries and cultures to
delight in judging, demonizing or yelling at others.

If we do this habitually, with no reflection on
ourselves and the people we are acting on or reacting
to in such a manner, we may find ourselves to be
nothing more then a teacher of hard lessons, making
things more complex for others and more confusing for
ourselves.

When the mind and consciousness gets involved in
acting toward others in a way that highly critical or
abusive, it is on a path where it is weakening its own
wisdom and capacity for joy.

This is why both Christianity and Buddhism, in
addition to Yoga, place much emphasis on how we think,
speak and act towards others.

We can be a teacher of hard lessons to others and
along the way hurt them and ourselves, or we can take
the time and make the effort to listen and question in
a gentle way, and perhaps open ourselves and them to
something greater and more constructive in both the
short and long - term.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can
be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)