November 2022 Week 1

It is November!!! We are onto the 4th Klesha - Dvesha, Hatred. This is the repulsion felt towards any person or object that is a source of pain or unhappiness to us.
Repulsion and attraction (Raaga) are two sides of the same coin - it has been said that looking for pleasure and avoiding pain have never been a valid spiritual path. They both direct us to the external world, and keep us in the illusion that we may attain happiness by rejecting that which produces suffering and embracing that which gives pleasure.
This Klesha, Dvesha, is Raaga in the negative and these 2 govern most of our lives, consciously or unconsciously. Aversion, repulsion leads to suffering by pulling us into negativity, fear, what ifs and worst case scenario thinking. Once again we are brought back to the first Klesha, Avyida, spiritual ignorance. IF we are not “spiritually fit”, we will be pulled into an outward focus for our “happiness” and our energy will be exhausted by our reaching for pleasure and pushing away the negative circumstances in our lives.

This quote from Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj gives us a matter of fact, simple solution to our self inflicted suffering - “You are always seeking pleasure, avoiding pain, always after happiness and peace. Don’t you see it is your very search for happiness that makes you feel miserable? Try the other way: indifferent to pain and pleasure, neither asking nor refusing, give all your attention to the level on which “I am” is timely present. Soon you will realize that peace and happiness are in your very nature and its only in seeking them through some particular channels that disturbs. Avoid the disturbance, that is all”
Avoid the disturbance, that is all! How can we avoid the suffering we create by trying to avoid that which is repulsive to us? Can we move into indifference to pleasure and pain and give all our attention to the present moment and our true nature? This way of living for me needs much spiritual support!! Our intention this month will be: I commit to my spiritual path.
What is your spiritual path? How can you be committed to it? We all have our unique approach to living spiritually centered and this is a perfect time to commit to ourselves as we approach the busy holiday season over the next couple of months. We need to give ourselves the gift of a true commitment to our spiritual path and to living from the inside joy and then out to others! As a friend says - “be an air freshener, not an air polluter” - my wish for us this holiday season is to live with contentment, ease and joy!