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| Photo from http://cauldronsandcupcakes.com |
They say that Madhuban (how we fondly call the university
for raja yoga students in Mount Abu, India) is like a hall of mirrors. I cannot agree more. I think that the atmosphere supports one’s
deep desire for introspection. Also,
being away from everything else allows an individual to focus solely on the self. The thing with a mirror is, it never
lies. It shows both the beauty and
ugliness of the viewer.
The Beast
Two years ago, when I came for my retreat, this attention-seeking
and jealous behavior suddenly showed up.
I would envy the students whom the dadis (senior sisters) know really
well. I would feel a tinge of jealousy
when they are called up front or mentioned in the classes and sometimes “poor
little me” feelings popped up.
It’s like a coin-sized mark in the lower portion of a crisp
white shirt which had gone unnoticed for the longest time. I do not like it one bit and the only reasonable next step is to erase
it. Meditation allows me to do just that. But like a hard stain, it doesn’t fade very
easily. So, I have to soak the
shirt in beautiful thoughts, rinse it with pure wishes and make sure that I
stay under the Source of all good things.
Slaying the Green-eyed Monster
This year my test came.
I was in Madhuban with a very friendly, humorous and cheerful
buddy. She was a stark opposite to my
pensive and quiet nature. While I preferred to eat alone, she would gather everyone together, engage them in chit-chats and
direct group pictures. Whilst I would ask questions and listen during conversations, she, on the other hand, would cracks
jokes and entertain everyone with her funny antics. While I enjoyed sitting down with my thoughts,
she would run around helping everyone- guiding the new students around, cooking delicious
non-Indian food (it’s really nice to eat something else every once in a while) and
taking videos and pictures for others. Almost
everyone knew her and praises her to no-end.
I was checking how I’m feeling amidst all these and I’m surprised that
it didn’t bother me one bit. I wasn’t
looking for anyone’s approval or seeking praises. I was perfectly fine with her taking the spotlight. I finally understood that I am who I am and she
is who she is.
Everyone in the world has a different role to play and each of our parts is equally important. We need go-getters as well as think tanks,
relationship people as well as intuitive ones, organizers and those who
implement. No one’s role is any less
than the other. There’s really no need
to get jealous.
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“All the world’s a stage, All the men and women merely players." -William Shakespeare
Photo from http://www.thehindu.com |
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