ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER THAT YOULL EVER DO ~~ Why Non-Recognition and Under-Appreciation can your friend on the Spiritual Path The lack of recognition is one of the hardest things for a conditioned mind (ego) to accept. The idea that we will be justly rewarded, and tied to that, lauded in the public eye for our efforts is a deeply-rooted one. With the rise of reality TV shows and music programs featuring stories of the talented yet poor musician/singer who finally got a lucky break and then became a millionaire ... more and more people are wanting to have their moment in the sun, their place in the spotlight. Thats not a bad thing in itself, but wanting to get famous just for the sake of getting famous has its own baggage. (As usual :P ) Id like to encourage you to consider the opposite desire, i.e the state of non-recognition as something potentially positive. When you are recognized in the public eye for something, a whole set of obligations, responsibilities, and burdens to maintain the appearance of a particular identity is then presented to the psyche. Things we take for granted now, a certain amount of privacy, the secure knowledge that our actions (for better or worse) might not determine the way another person chooses to live their life (barring our dependents, e.g. children). Some might like the idea of being powerful enough to get people to follow them and their views - but on the spiritual path, its a very slippery slope between megalomania and a being a true guide. In the shadows, in secret, sometimes we can do lot more for ourselves, other people, than we can do if all our actions were observed moment-to-moment. If we are part of a (say) spiritual belief system that opposes mainstream views, anonymity, is our ally and friend. If we fear persecution, drawing attention would probably be the last thing desired. So if you find yourself in the position of feeling distinctly unrecognized or under-appreciated - dont think of it as a good/bad thing - try to find the ways that secrecy and the cover of anonymity can actually help you in your situation. Alternatively, it is equally possible that youre manifesting a state of non-recognition to avoid the burdens of fame and living in the public eye. Dig deep and see if these fears are justified and if you could do more by becoming hyper-visible. The greatest spiritual teachers, visionaries, esoteric teachers were mocked and ridiculed (Christ was crucified, Joan of Arc was burnt alive, etc.) by the authorities of their time, as they refused to bend. These were the destinies that they had chosen to accept and which most of us would not be able to do, and do not need to do (so I dont recommend you modelling your life after these pioneers). Most of us will not have to fear death by going public with our views, but perhaps there are other things you are concerned about. And those may be legitimate concerns... or not, only you can make that judgement call. Just something to think about. ~ gss x
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 04:51:25 +0000
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