CONTRARY ACTION

    The spiritual principle of reaping and sowing is universal. Every spiritual path teaches this lesson, those past and present, using everything from straightforward prose to arcane parables. Our thoughts, words and actions are the crop we plant and to prosper must be watered with love, patience, kindness and willingness. Regardless of the individual crimes or offenses committed, it is our garden of life we work in, not the other mans. Here is a specific instance to reflect on: Bernie Madoff stole billions of dollars. Many of those he stole from were wiped out, having gone to bed one evening thinking they were comfortably invested, their future financial needs well met only to awaken to the horror of a lifetimes worth of saving gone, their future cast into doubt with little recourse to recoup their loses. Feelings of fear, anger, confusion and retribution are all natural responses, but what is the road less traveled, the spiritual path? Does walking out into my garden, kicking at my plants, cursing the ground they are planted in, denying them water and nourishment have any affect on Bernie Madoff, the object of derision? Losing our peace of mind, our serenity, cutting ourselves off from the true source, citing “justified” anger and resentment as our passport, punishes the transgressor how? The only garden we will ever work in is our own. Nothing stunts our personal growth or builds a wall blocking us from freedom from the bondage of self, than an insistence that Grace must or even can be earned or the possibility that anyone is beyond God’s forgiveness. Does this mean we should blithely regard those who commit crimes, harm others? Of course not, but we cannot get angry enough to bring peace. No amount of condemnation ever restores serenity. Seeking revenge will never lead us out of the soul shattering darkness of resentment and condemnation.

     So what is the spiritual course? Simply, prayer and meditation: we pray for the accused, the transgressor, for God to do for them what they cannot do for themselves and then meditate on pity. Pity for they will reap as they have sown, all books are balanced in the end, for good and ill, the justice those unrepentant ultimately receive far greater than any secular court can hand down. Pray for the aggrieved, the transgressed, for God to do for them what they cannot do for themselves and then meditate on forgiveness. If we are the aggrieved or the aggrieved are close to us, make the prayer specific, personal. To be clear: Forgiveness does not mean we forget the transgression or wish to ameliorate the punishment the accused brought upon themselves by their actions, we leave them to their demonstration, to tend their own garden just as we can only tend ours, we invoke in prayer God’s love and guidance for them and ourselves while refusing to engage in resentment and condemnation.

    Do not combine these sessions. Allow for a small passage of time to elapse, a few moments are sufficient. Let each stand-alone, a clear demonstration, we do this so our consciousness does not get muddled by conflicting purpose. Finish each session with a prayer of solicitation, asking for the strength and willingness to accomplish whatever God would have us do to be of service to those suffering as well as those who committed the act, for above all we desire freedom from the bondage of self, our garden lush and vibrant. If the necessity for this closing prayer is unclear, please read again from the beginning. Peace.