A compassionate heart.

I am not one who spends much time obsessing.  Occasionally things get under my skin, but for the most part I can let them go.  Being a follower of the teachings of the Buddha, it is important for me to try and keep my mind peaceful for we become what we think.  Last week a comment was made to me on fb and I tripped over it and  fell head first.  Man, it made me angry.  The comment was disrespectful and condescending, not only to me, but to the others involved. I don't believe that the commenter conciously intended for it to be so, but rather zinged it in using a passive/agressive arrow, which was almost worse. I bit my tongue and damn near choked on my frustration.  For days I stewed (yes, I obsessed) over these few, quickly typed words.  Poor AH listened to me time and again while I tried to find the middle ground. I literally lost sleep, which is ridiculous. I hemmed and hawwed and had lengthy conversations with myself, most of them centering on the right to be respected. If I openly offer respect and acceptance, should it not be reciprocal?

But really, is respect a 'right' or something earned?  I believe that all religions and spiritual practices and those that practice them should elicit respect, unless they are attempting to force those practices on others OR consider their choices superior to others, which is where I hit a snag with afore mentioned commenter.  The 'I am so much cooler than you' attitude gets me every time.  grrrrrr

It's sometimes hard to walk your beliefs, at least for me.  I meditate on loving kindness almost daily.  It's something that I desire to have illuminate my life. Apparently, judging from my reaction to this situation, I have some work to do on that. :-)  Viewing life with a compassionate heart doesn't  just happen, I must choose to make it so. The responsibility for my angry (ok obsessive) reaction does not just lie in the perpetrator, but also in myself.  They simply typed the words, I gave them power.  Another day, another lesson to learn.

Don't go scanning my facebook page looking for the offense.  I deleted and blocked it.  In my quest for daily compassion, I think the out-of-sight, out-of-mind method can be an effective tool. :-)

Nameste.

 

Comments

[wenders]

Hey, Holly! I agree, reminding myself that meditation is a practice, that peace must be cultivated is something I do more often than I may like. It does help in moments like the one you've described here. Om. :)