Our choice, our attention
Envy and wrath shorten the life. – Ecclesiasticus All of us have a need to forgive, whether in large or small matters. All of us suffer little irritating pinpricks every day. It is not very effective to analyze these small wrongs and then forgive them one by one. Much more effective is not to dwell on them at all. Whenever a stray bit of wrath arises and wants to talk over some incident from the past, don’t invite that thought in. When we can withdraw our attention completely from the past, it is not possible to get resentful; it is not possible to be oppressed by mistakes in our past, no matter who made them. All our attention is in the present, which makes every moment fresh, every relationship fresh. Staleness and boredom vanish from our life. I love this insight from the teacher, Easwaran. He is reaffirming that we do not have any need of the resentments and slights that we may perceive have been directed towards us. Little things can accumulate into outbursts of anger and