Holiday time and prasad

[Guest guest]

In recalling that we had some discussions going on about the upcoming

holidays and possibly "challenging" visits with family and friends.

Well forget all that! LOL..I had work right under my nose

with its own challenges this week! No need to wait for holidays!...

 

One of my jobs is working with special need teens at a school. I was

being criticized by some fellow staff on "coddling the kids too

much" and "hand holding too much". When asked for specifics, none

could provide any. I was hurt and then angry at some of the staff.

Then I realized that they were misunderstanding my LOVE for the

students!

 

I KNEW that loving them was not wrong! Being criticized for what was

really just love, angered me. Being criticized for not being a good

teacher (para), made me furious as well.

 

sigh..I was feeling like I had the day from hell...I was just really

ticked off!! Later, that evening after meditating and trying to

balance myself out again...I remembered hearing that the ashramites

view everything as prasad from Mother. That all things are for our

spiritual evolution. Remembering this, I knew that I only had to

place it all at Amma's divine feet.

 

The next day, everything was the total opposite!! My doubts and

worries were totally washed away as the head of the department and 3

teachers sought me out for assistance with students-including the

Department Head-all at the SAME TIME! Thereby eliminating the hollow

criticism and feeling that Amma was watching over me and protecting

me. My students need me right now.

 

So if your families and friends, coworkers bring lemons, think of it

as a chocolate kiss! Not too easy to do many times-especially in the

moment, but if you take

time to regroup, you'll "remember." Another technique that can help,

is just chant your mantra internally. One time a friend and I

(Robin) were having a disagreement, and she said, I"m just going to

chant my mantra." We both cracked up laughing. End of anger!