The seventh major differentiation of the three primary Zones of Being revolves around how the members of each group handle interactions with their opponents & enemies. As such, feel free to humbly ponder & then courageously pro-act the following …

*Whereas Zone 1 advocates divide the world dualistically (us vs them) in a fear-steeped way that intensifies current enmities and creates additional foes (leading to hatreds at home and military conflicts abroad), Zone 2 minions adopt a more passively dualistic approach – one that dampens the intensity of current enmities while maintaining the same (focusing on “correcting” relationships at home and enforcing “peace-keeping” efforts abroad). In dramatic contrast, Zone 3 adherents actively dismantle all dualistic delusions – acting in ways that diffuse current conflict and bulwark potential harmonies (manifesting humbly forgiving friendships at home and respect-fully peaceful alliances abroad).

 

 

*While Zone 1 proponents see all non-friends as enemies and condemns all non-desired behaviors of others with zeal or indignation, Zone 2 disciples label as “enemy” all others who in any way aggressive or attacking – arrogantly analyzing & critically correcting them in order to either convert or defend against the same. Zone 3 participants, with another heart, see through the illusory monikers of “enemy” and “foe” – seeing beyond the hurtful behaviors of others to the singular Soul residing underneath the same, and then boldly treating them accordingly; standing boldly between the aggressive and their intended victims while simultaneously emitting forgiveness from the mouth and feeling love in the heart. In this way those who are Good (i.e. showing others kindness) are encouraged to continue the same, while those behaving “badly” (i.e. causing others harm) are dramatically forgiven – and thereby inspired to become more loving instead.

 

 

“When you recognize no enemies within, those attacking from outside are handled with a courageous kindness that transforms them into friends & molds them into allies.” ~ African proverb

 

*Though Zone 1 affiliates strive to forcefully defeat & destroy all external sources of “evil” (an anger-based mindset which ultimately inspires those enemies to defend themselves, grow that much stronger, and thereby inevitably cause even more suffering in the future), Zone 2 followers strive to find ways to “cope” with the enemies in their lives (often by physically avoiding &/or emotionally tolerating the same – an annoyance-based mindset that is also perceived as a rejection by those being judged as “mean” or “wrong” or “wicked” or “ignorant” – a mindset that thereby also inspires those individuals to defend those same positions and maintain those same traits, and inevitably cause others more suffering therewith). Again in marked contrast, Zone 3 champions choose to courageously (i.e. actively) Care for all sources of apparent evil in their lives, thereby ladling the same with the only thing that is truly feared by them –the one thing they are certain they neither merit nor deserve: unconditional kindness. This bold choice serves a purpose twofold – 01) freeing the mildly evil to directly remember (and concurrently enliven) their true, harmony-seeking nature and 02) allowing the victims of &/or witnesses to the dysfunctional behaviors to transcend the same by choosing to Care for the sources of the same in a similarly unconditional manner. And this is truly the only way to defeat evil – transcending all “wrongs” by extending kindness to all wrongdoers, transcending all “badness” by utilizing the same to empower subsequent acts of Goodness, transcending all enmity by reminding all enemies that they are merely long-lost Friends.

 

 

*Insomuch as Zone 1 patrons condemn their lives’ wrongdoers and know them to be deserving of “appropriately harsh” punishments for their transgressions, Zone 2 crusaders tend to label those same “sinners” as being merely ignorant or misguided – still believing that those wrongdoers need stern correction, and yet meting out the same under the hollow guise of “gentle justice” or “compassionate conversion” or “constructive criticism.” In dramatic contrast, those attending to a Zone 3 way of being choose to see wrongdoings more clearly – humbly recognizing that the misdeeds seen in others are merely the “sins” that they themselves have done, that they themselves are doing, &/or that they themselves could easily do in similar circumstances. This mindset allows all judgment to fall away, and be replaced by feelings of gratitude (for the reminder of how not to be) and compassion (for the great suffering that inevitably comes to every perpetrator of every self-centered misdeed) instead.

 

 

*Those partaking of the Zone 1 life deal with their conflicts counterproductively – verbally attacking their life’s “leeches,” and thereby encouraging them to latch on even tighter with behaviors even more passive-aggressive; openly ridiculing their life’s critics, and thereby encouraging them to further acts of slur or slander; physically shunning their life’s “button-pushers,” and thereby encouraging them to irritate with acts ever more aggressive. Similarly, Zone 2 devotees choose to blatantly ignore their “leeches,” quietly gossip about (or exude pity for) their critics, and establish “healthy boundaries” of distance or disregard between themselves and their “button pushers” – all practices much milder than their Zone 1 cousins, and yet all choices that similarly reject their enemies, and thus similarly encourage them to continue acting with according annoyance. In direct & dramatic contrast, enliveners of the Zone 3 way of being choose a radically different approach to the codependent – profusely giving to the “leeches” trying to inappropriately take from them (knowing as they do that it is impossible for another to steal what is being freely given, and that it is impossible to be “used & abused” while intently striving to share & serve), respectfully engaging & sincerely thanking their critics (for exposing potential areas of self-improvement, as well as for granting the opportunity to humbly “Love anyway”), and enliven acts of compassionate Caring for all their “button pushers” (realizing as they do that those most dramatically seeking conflict are actually those most desirous of deeds of kindness).

*In essence then, when confronted by those instigating contention or conflict, Zone 1 antagonists are those who critically preach or arrogantly argue, Zone 2 apostles are those who detachingly discuss or dogmatically debate, and Zone 3 agents are those who lovingly listen & courageously Care.

 

 

“We come to realize that the troublemakers in our lives are actually harming themselves, and indeed benefiting us by allowing us to enliven deeds of flagrantly irrational (and therefore highly potent) kindness. Just as we refuse to hold grudges against fallen branches, we are wise to exude the same equanimity towards fallen (i.e. aggressive &/or otherwise uncomfortably dysfunctional) people.” ~ via Pema Chodron

“There are those who claim that spiritual enlightenment comes by denying yourself to such a complete degree that you see yourself in the other; a state of mind so devoid of personal context that it allows for the beautiful to be noticed even in the face of the ugly. And yet there is no challenge in such an awakening – and because there is no challenge, there is also no potency. No, to truly become enlightened we are not to deconstruct the self to thereby see the hidden beauties of the other. Rather, real enlightenment comes when we remain mired in self-doubt and personal bias while confronted by those vile &/or terrifying, and then choose to See them as Beauty-full anyway – by acting accordingly.” ~ inspired by C. JoyBell C.

Filed under: Enlightening Enlightenment by Scaughdt