Sensitivity - Mary Anderson

There are various touchstones of spiritual progress which we or others may see or may imagine in us, for example, we may think we have become more generous, sympathetic, loving, forgiving or optimistic. But perhaps it is not good if we or others think we see this, because we may become proud of our supposed ‘achievement’, and so-called ‘spiritual pride’ is worse than worldly pride. ‘A sense of pride would mar the work’ (The Voice of the Silence, 259). But there is really no such thing as ‘spiritual pride’. Spirituality and pride are mutually exclusive.

It is better never to ask, ‘What progress have I made? Where do I stand on the path?’ It is better not to pull up the delicate plant to see whether the roots are growing! Where we stand is not important or relevant, but the direction in which we are looking and moving is. A certain saintly man, who did not reach some particular stage of development, observed: Each grain of incense will enter the fire sooner or later. What does it matter how soon this happens?

But there is one touchstone of spirituality which is unfailing: Do we feel hurt when we are criticized, ridiculed, abused – or ignored? Such hurt feelings are a sure sign that the little ‘I’ is still there, asserting itself, puffing itself up, ready to be deflated (like a balloon)!

We may react in different ways to criticism, ridicule and abuse. We may hide our hurt from others. We may try to ignore it, pretend to ourselves that we are not hurt, or cover it up and forget it. We may justify ourselves, even react aggressively, for example, by saying: "This person is stupid. He does not know the facts. He listens only to one side. He is misled by others". Or we may become depressed, lose heart, and give up.

© "The Theosophist" (July, 2003) published by The Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai 600 002. Website: www.ts-adyar.org. Reprinted with permission.

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