The Reiki Cafe 

Namaste all!

I am curious to find out what you all have experienced...those ascetics in the caves had it easy! Practicing detachment, patience and tolerance at the work place is leading to misunderstandngs for me. I was recently told to "be a big girl" by complaining and speaking up about a very trivial thing that did not bother me- but someone else decided that it should. I just told her that it is just my personality not to sweat the small stuff. When I do not get involved in trivial back biting or get all "hot" under the collar for petty stuff/issue of the day, I was characterized as being laid back. I am just glad that I am mostly working with children and not adults!

Mal

Dear Mal,

It seems to depend on the "environment" of the office. Although it is my experience that many seem to embrace the idea that you are either with us or against us. If you dont join in, with the cheerleader side or the doom & gloom side, there MUST be something wrong with you. Having an original thought is suspect unless it falls into one of the accepted ideas of the click. Perhaps it all gets back to the fact that we just want someone to agree that we have a gripe. Humans are pretty simple most of the time or perhaps I mean that we are pretty primal!!. I agree wholeheartedly, it is much easier to be nice/spiritual in a cloistered environment. :)

peace & joy,
holobon

Hi Mal
What is up with being labeled "laid back"? (LOL)
I take the same attitude as you do i.e. get over it it isn't important.

Some people just don't seem to be happy unless they have something to moan about (with us Brits it's the weather LOL)
Now we have a choice to make. We either get caught up in it all or we don't. By saying that you don't want to be caught up in the others person negitivity, all you are doing is stating where you stand on the issue. Good for you.

Namaste

Rob
Friendship with oneself is all-important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt

LOL For myself I have to agree with the ascetics in the caves sentiment. IT seems like work often puts the things most irritating in life right there in the open for me to be bombarded with on a daily basis.

the comment about being "laid back" could be an insult or a compliment depending on how it was said. I personally see a "laid back" person as a relaxed person.

Yes I agree it could be seen as either an insult or a compliment, but why worry?. As long as you are being true to yourself, what others think of you is not really that important. However what you think of yourself is.

Namaste

Rob
Friendship with oneself is all-important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Rob,

Namaste. Yes, how freeing it is to be worry-free of what others think of you. I try to achieve that on day by day basis. Sometimes it is hard when the little ego lifts its ugly head. But, a conscious choice of not letting anybody get to you helps.

Mal

Otoharo!

Mal, How good that a laid back person works with children. Wonderful. I did not react as others at the workplace either. I wasn't aiming for popularity anyway. If others responded as you described, it probably didn't register with me. Since I am retired, I have forgotten all that stuff. It is incredible what humans lay onto other humans!

finality

Hi Mal,

I can relate as I work in a pretty toxic environment where lots of ego projection goes on from the management down. What is the best choice for me? Forgive them, for they know not what they do. When others are deep in ego, they aren't even aware of it.

A concept I read in The Disappearance of The Universe said to forgive the dream we are in, the dreamer (us) and those participating in our dream. It kind of takes the sting out of the whole mess until we get to the point of mastering our mind projections and become enlightened. Then, we have no need to participate in this playground.

Have you read A Course in Miracles? The text and workbook are very helpful in getting a grip on ego and its tactics.

Kimberlee ;o)

Namaste Kimberlee,

"Then, we have no need to participate in this playground."

This, I suspect, is what is landing me into a lot of trouble and sometimes I pretend to "play along". So, I guess I am still somewhere in the middle of the path...

Mal

Hi Mal,

Yes, as am I.

But there is hope. We did make a choice to come here, so being here, even if it is simply a projection of our higher mind does serve a purpose for our path.

The book I noted earlier says that our unconscious holds guilt and we project ourselves outward into this illusory playground until we can rid ourselves of this mis-belief. When we no longer hold ourselves or our brothers guilty, we return to where we never left in the first place, Heaven, or Oneness with the All that is.

A dream I had this morning was very symbolic of my conscious choices to forgive the dream. In this dream, we were participating in persecuting a brother for his mis-deeds toward a co-worker. Many songs, dances and props were used to prove our brother guilty. I even said to him face to face that justice will prevail. Soon after, everything I touched or attempted to participate in that would seal his doom fell apart in my hands. I soon had to remove myself from the whole endevour and was off a beat, feeling dizzy and sick and disassociated with the whole thing.

Hmmm. Even in the dream of the dream, I am starting to see the mind at work in the forgiveness plan. As we forgive our brothers, we forgive ourselves.

In Love & Forgiveness,
Kimberlee

Mal,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- I am not sure that being "appropriately" assertive is antithetical to being 'spiritual' in the work place (or any place else for that matter)

>:-}}

- spirituality, I might offer, is not meant as a substitute (or way to avoid) exercising common sense (or intuition) when it is needed.

>:-}}

- also, if I might ask?? What prompted someone else to suggest that you complain?? He\she couldn't do it him\herself??

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Namaste Firekeeper.

I totally agree with you that spirituality is not a stand-in for becoming a door mat! Gandhi said show the other cheek when you are slapped on one. He was also the one who stood up single handedly against the British. So you pick and choose. But my point was that being tolerant or patient or quiet or forgiving sometimes is mistaken for weakness and I disagree with that. In the example I was thinking about the person actually could have done the complaining!

Mal

Otoharo!

Mal, since I no longer go to a work place, I am around a lot of people in this apartment building. I seldom hob-nob with them, though, because they are sharing each others compaints, almost constantly and exclusively. I listen for awhile, then get up and leave. Or I listen awhile, then change the subject. Share whatever joy is popping out of me at that time, and if the subject goes back to complaining, whining, stuff, I get up and leave. It eventually makes an impact. It is almost comical to see someone, suddenly eye me, and switch to say something comical to entice me to stay longer, because I really enjoy a good laugh. I did the same thing when I worked to the extent that I could.

finality

Mal,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, being patient\tolerant\etc sometimes takes a good bit of "fortitude"

>:-}}

- but doing someone else's "dirty-work" or perpetuating someone else's deception by remaining silent fall outside these bouandaries, I would say.

- >:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi all,

Now wouldn't it be joyful if all workplaces had a meditation room or healing sanctuary that like minded co- workers could go in the lunch hour :) Sure beats a smoking room anyday! although I'm sure that others might disagree lol

Gentle Blessings
Helen