“I am grateful for the good in all lives everywhere, realizing how all make up the One Life in which I live, move, and celebrate my being.” — Science of Mind
It is beyond difficult for many of us to even begin to understand the words, getting to the essence of who we are. How do we even begin that journey, because it is in fact a journey of discovery . . . beginning with ourselves. It is without a doubt, excruciatingly painful to look at yourself, stop blaming circumstances on anyone else, and take complete responsibility for where you are, who you are and how you got there. As Pema Chodron states explicitly in her book “Start Where You Are,” this phrase states it simply . . . “Drive All Blames Into One.” Who is that One you might ask? When the questions of ego clinging, attachment to a particular outcome or results prove over and over that it is you, the reflection in the mirror is unmistakable.
This phrase “Drive All Blames Into One,” cuts to the core of our being, essence and existence. Yes it’s painful to stop blaming the other guy for what doesn’t work within us, and step up and take off that well oiled armor that has protected us all our lives, but this just doesn’t work anymore. What will it take to lay down the gauntlet of anger and righteous indignation? There exists the fire of anger, as Pema Chodron suggests where “everything has a beginning, middle and end . . . but when we start blaming and talking to ourselves, things seem to have a beginning, a middle, and no end.” We simply perpetuate the vicious, mean-spirited spiral of a life’s journey that is completely out of control, only we don’t realize how destructive it is . . . condemning us to perpetual hopelessness. Stop the discussion of discontent as Ms. Chodron acknowledges, by owning the feeling of blame, owning the anger, owning the loneliness and make friends with it.
We can conquer the feeling of being afraid, or of looking foolish. At first . . . examine what is fueling or what ignites our hatred, craving, envy, jealously, ignorance, and disbelief. We must get beyond blaming anyone else but ourselves. No one knows where we are personally stuck, but us. What is it that holds us back from releasing the armor of ego? The answer is different for all of us. We first must take the chance and opportunity to become friends with ourselves, maybe for the first time . . . in a lifetime. Once we permit that armor of ego attachment to loosen, a softness will emerge and the fear of looking foolish dissipates without fear, and replaced with freedom. We make friends for the first time . . . with ourselves, and understanding the words of Werner Erhard clarified . . . “The essence of communication is intention.” We first intend to communicate honestly with ourselves. The initial steps of conscious mastery over mediocrity begins with you, and no other. JLR