September 2022 week 2
I am Enough, I have Enough, All is Well!
Our Klesha this month is Asmita defined as ego consciousness, I am-ness. Remember this and the next 3 Kleshas roll from #1 being out of alignment. Once we forget our true self (1st Klesha - spiritual ignorance), we substitute it with a false identity, a constricted self which is the ego. Last week we discussed the self image defined by possessions and positions of life and the veil or covering that hides our true nature and traps us. Another way of looking at the suffering of Asmita is in our relationships with others. A great deal of suffering is caused by the ego’s need for approval and the resulting offense taken when its needs are not met. How does this land with you? Can you see the connection of Avidya and Asmita? In other words, if we are spiritually ignorant and not connected to our true self and what matters to us, can you see how you would then start sending your energy and attention outward? Consequently, how living this way lends itself to needing approval from others in order to feel “ok” or like we are “doing the right thing”. Here is a simple example: I am not doing the work daily to connect with myself and my version of a higher power. I am asked to play golf with a group of women on a Saturday morning and they need 1 more person to make their game work. I want to fit in, I want to be “approved” by filling the spot they need filled and I want to have fun. However, my boys are in town, my husband is free and I want to spend time with them. If I were to pause and reflect it would be clear that I want to spend this time with my family. If I don’t pause, I could say yes so the women could applaud me for filling their needed spot. This is a petty example but if we practice these principles on the small stuff, we will know just what to do when the big stuff comes along. Our intention - I am enough, I have enough, All is well - can help us to get quickly centered and remember what is important to us. Ask yourself these questions:
1.Do I have a need for approval?
2.If so, from who is this the strongest?
3.If so, in what area of my life do I mostly need approval?