Licking the Razor's Edge (2015)

TIP #08: OPEN the MIND = OPEN the HEART (& vice versa) …
In order to keep ourselves “safe”, we tend to arrogantly categorize the people in our lives
as either “allies” (those who agree with us or harmonize with our own values), or
“enemies” (those who do not). Of course, this practice not only keeps us from deeply
communing with our “friends” (conditional “love” is not an intimate connection), it also
keeps us from knowing the deepest Bliss available to any conscious being; namely,
having the courage to reconcile with those who are annoying us &/or treating us
inappropriately – otherwise known as “being Kind anyway”.
As such, it can be an especially effective Path to Peace when we choose to Purpose-fully
set aside our preconceived notions about others (especially those we have labeled as our
“enemies”), to see them anew … and thereafter to act accordingly.
*We choose to see the Human Being beneath the “crazy lady” or the “village idiot”;
*We choose to see the Human Being behind all those “too conservative” or “too liberal”;
*We choose to see the Human Being inside all “liars”, “cheats”, “criminals” & “addicts”.
It isn’t an easy thing to do, of course, and yet that is what makes this practice so
powerful. It is a liberating experience indeed to suddenly find yourself surrounded by
Good People … and to see how brilliantly Peace-full your life becomes as a result.
Every dysfunctional person on the planet has their own ray of genius from which we can
learn and their own gentle Soul with which we can align ourselves. And yet to hear their
wisdom, we must first choose to set aside our preconceptions about them …
… and to feel their allegiance, we must have the courage to treat them as Friends.
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