Hello friends,
Today's mini practice is about seeking to understand before seeking to be understood.
And this is a practice that's described by Adyashanti,
The meditation teacher,
And inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi,
Who said,
Always seek to understand before seeking to be understood.
And the operative word here is before,
Before seeking to be understood.
In some way we're all seeking to be understood,
And it's affirming to be understood.
The caution here is that desire can develop into a subtle or overt demand to be understood.
The truth is,
We can only understand ourselves,
And even there,
To a limited degree.
What we're trying here is to open up pathways through which insight can flow,
And to notice things that block those pathways.
And one of the things that can block the pathway is seeking to be understood before seeking to understand.
Understanding is an underappreciated art,
Especially now in a world that's moving so fast.
The most important person to understand is you,
Because no one's ever going to understand you in the way that you understand yourself.
And the funny thing that happens is when you deeply understand yourself,
The demand that others understand you begins to disappear.
It melts away,
Because your heart is open,
Your mind is open,
And you're finding life more enjoyable.
It can be healing to be understood,
And that is part of the affirmation that you're offering to others in this practice.
It dislodges the part of us that doesn't simply like to be understood,
But that is asking or even demanding to be understood,
By putting the desire to understand first.
So the invitation here today is to enter every encounter you have in the spirit of wanting to understand,
Wanting to deeply understand what the other person is saying to you.
It could be a grocery store clerk,
Or someone you work with,
Or a family member.
Put the desire to understand above the desire to be understood.
Of course,
Be as honest and clear and open as you can,
So that they can be understood and you can understand,
But for today you're going to shift and seek to understand first.
To understand where the person is coming from.
What is their state of mind or being?
What is relevant and important for this person right now?
In doing this,
You open an energetic pathway within yourself through which your own understanding can flow,
Through which your own insight can be embodied.
Remember that in each encounter with yourself and others,
Seek to understand before you seek to be understood.
And notice how much is revealed in this simple process.
And enjoy.
Be well,
My friend.
