Recently, a friend of mine was struggling with something he called “the pain of elevation” — that frustration (sometimes manifesting itself as disgust) some of us feel for those who have yet to adopt the ideals or behaviors that we perceive to be “better” or “higher”.

As far as this “pain of elevation” is concerned, I have personally discovered that any true spiritual elevation one experiences is always accompanied by enhanced feelings of Peace & Joy; and always accompanied by a heart-felt sense of Compassion for others who might not be experiencing the same.  I have found this Peace & Joy to come regardless of what I am doing, and I have experienced such Compassion regardless of why others are not experiencing a similar “enlightenment”.

If this is not the case for you — if you find yourself judging others as “inferior” or “simple” or “ignorant”, then I would gently posit that it is you who are “sinking” into ego in such moments; and not “elevating” spiritually at all …

I myself still experience such “throbs of arrogance” on occasion, and yet I choose to use them as identifiers of my own less-than-enlightenedness.  And I do so by  pausing to see where I am failing in my quest to be the most powerful servant of mankind.  Indeed, it is literally impossible to serve another and simultaneously feel bad in any way — period.   So I know that every time I am confused or worried or sad or angry or frustrated or annoyed, I am actually the one who needs “fixing”.  I am the one in some state of self-centeredness that needs to be cleaned up and released before I can then serve powerfully again (and thereby attain that measure of Bliss that only comes to selfless brings in those moments they choose to Care).

Resenting others “below you” merely means that you are still residing with them.  When you truly rise “above” another, you can only feel Compassion for them, a Compassion that then manifests itself in an overwhelming desire to be Kind in some way …

Indeed, it is the “damaged ones” around us that give us the greatest opportunity to further the cause of unconditional Love.  If there were no “damaged ones” to serve, then Love would be easy to give — and therefore quite weak.   Caring for the poor is always right action, regardless of whether they are materially lacking or suffering from a spiritual deficit — and regardless of whether or not those “poor” receive our gifts.  It is not the responsibility of the conscious to force-feed those lacking in a greater understanding. And it is not the responsibility of the Kind to “fix things” or make things “better”.  It is rather the opportunity and the privilege of conscious beings to be Kind to others — regardless of what they do with that Kindness.

Consider these thoughts gently — as they are given to you with the utmost gentleness.

Filed under: simple Answers to tough Questions by Scaughdt