FW: The Intenders Bridge - Reminder #78 - Backbiting

[Guest guest]

The Bridge ~ Reminder #78

Backbiting

Pretend you're above it, looking down from a mountaintop

It's real easy nowadays to

find yourself in conversations where people are talking about other people,

saying things they probably wouldn't say if the other person was there. What

most people don't understand is that gossiping has the same effect on those we

talk about that sickness does. It works against them. Just as when we talk

about Aunt Flora's bad knees and, in doing so, we make her knees worse, so do

we make things worse for people we backbite. But with backbiting, there is an

added detriment: we make things worse for ourselves, as well.

It works like this: If we are talking about a neighbor, for instance, it is

because we've first been entertaining thoughts about that person. As you're

learning, thoughts are invisible but very potent, nonetheless. And they are

received - always - by whoever we're thinking about. So, if we're thinking

about being wronged by our neighbor, we are actually reinforcing our neighbor's

" wrongful " behavior. We're adding to it, and here's the kicker. If,

when we are backbiting or gossiping about the neighbor, we are standing in opposition

to them in anyway, we are also becoming just like them.

You've seen this often. When someone is complaining about another person you

know, if you look closely, you can see them beginning to act just like the

person they're complaining about.

The best thing to remember in these situations is that we become like whoever

(or whatever) we place our attention upon. It's the Law, whether we are aware

of it or not. Once we truly understand that we're becoming like the person

we're backbiting - and that we are also reinforcing their discordant behavior -

shouldn't that give us pause to reconsider our own actions?

The deepest desire

of every

one of us

is to

know that we are loved,

to know

that our world will feed us

and give

us all that we need

just as

it freely surrounds us

with the

air we breathe

the water

we drink

the land

we walk upon

Constantly

giving to us

like a parent to a child

We harm ourselves and others in ways we don't realize when we

backbite or gossip. Wouldn't it be better if we were to use our precious time

and energy on a creative endeavor that fulfills us and makes us happier? And

what would happen if, instead of giving in to our fears of lack and losing

(which is why we gossip in the first place), we were to think kindly thoughts

of our neighbors? That's what will give us the results we truly desire for

ourselves.

My Intention for today is:

I Intend that am rising above any behavior that isn't serving me

and my fellow travelers.