Yoga and Buddhism: Seeing More Clearly The Wisdom and Gifts of Others

When we practice Yoga or Buddhism, it is generally understood that we are in some manner making an effort to better see ourselves more clearly and make changes based on that experience.

Sometimes in making such changes we may be wanting to further our opinion that we are somehow special or unique or more gifted then others are.

To think and feel such a thing at the initial stages of our practice is quite normal, as we are still under the influence of the negative aspects of the conditioned state, our ego and the defilements and hindrances of our mind and consciousness.

We may want to impress others with the postures we have learned and can perform, our knowledge of Sanskrit and Pali words, our recent trip to India or Thailand or stay at a retreat center, or the amulet that we are wearing around our neck.

We may not be quite clear as yet about how we should be gauging our progress in what we are practicing.

Both Yoga and Buddhism remind us that their practice is a lifelong endeavor which though initially may seem challenging or difficult, becomes quite easy and part of our life after the first couple of years.

One thing that we should be progressing to in our practice is that we start to more readily see the wisdom and gifts in others.

This can come about from the teachings, where we are told and reminded that there is a Buddha in all beings.

But more then likely, it comes about from the refinement of our own consciousness and seeing that we have weaknesses and ignorance as all do, while at the same time, we have wisdom and gifts as all do.

Sometimes, in various situations and experiences, we may find it difficult to see the wisdom and gifts in others.

We need to remember that all are beset by the forces of nature and the present conditioned state of their existence.

We also benefit if we remember that they may be facing or have faced situations and experiences that we can not clearly comprehend or even know about.

If we have made any progress in our own practice, we will naturally be in a state were we are more mindful about our own presence, and with that mindfulness be better able to listen to others and see them more clearly, in such a way that their wisdom and gifts do shine through.

If our practice of Yoga or Buddhism has been an ongoing and constructive one, there will be no tendency to demonize another or show impatience or disrespect to them.

Instead, we will be better able to see the wisdom and gifts that they have and learn from them, as we continue to future cultivate our own wisdom and gifts.

2005 John C. Kimbrough

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