Excerpts - Pets

  From Newsletter, “What’s Going On Here?” Vol 3 No 5 , 1985 — Scottsdale, AZ

Anyone who has acted on even one Teaching idea knows the value of the Work. Some people wish to become students of the Teaching and they make a sincere effort to use as many ideas as possible, wherever and whenever possible. (Some people just talk about it a lot and never act on the information.)

But those who make it their purpose to work towards consciousness know that first of all it must start one step at a time with small things. This brings, over time, more and more strength to tackle more and bigger challenges. It is just like learning any other skill: first a clear picture of what one wants to achieve, and then small but continuous efforts as often as possible toward that achievement.

There comes a time when these efforts start paying off, so to speak. The student realizes he or she is gaining a new set of values, a new perspective, a true point of Awareness. Confidence increases and the person who becomes truly willing to experience whatever arises, experiences a freedom never before even dreamed of.

About this time, this true self-esteem emerges as the Work becomes almost easier because the new frame of reference when firmly established eliminates all conflict. At about this time the truly earnest student will take a good, hard look at what is left of him or herself. Often the student who is honest and willing to see what is will see that they have a PET they are taking care of – feeding and keeping as comfortable as possible. This “pet” is given attention in the worst way possible – justification. Some examples of pets might be:

#1 The way one perceives one’s relationship with one’s children. A parent’s duty is just that – a duty. And it does not contain a bill of rights! It is a mistake to consider the privileges of parenthood as rights. The duties of parenthood are obvious and become more limited as the child matures. The privileges may increase or decrease somewhat depending on how well one handled the duties!

One’s children are NOT an exception to the Work. So often people who consider themselves students will talk about a “problem” regarding their child, and it is obvious they see this one thing, this particular relationship through the old perspective. In this one area the old purpose to be non-disturbed prevails, even if the student does make efforts in the new direction. The parents allow the children to put the parents to sleep!

#2 Another pet that many people feed and overfeed is the idea that their childhood still has a bearing on their life today. It does NOT. A person who felt unloved as a child very often will retain this feeling throughout life and allow this to justify a constant search for love and/or approval. The student must, if he or she is sincere about living a new purpose, send that pet to the pound. When I’m questioning whether or not I’m loved or approved of, I’m looking for comfort and trying to escape the pain of not being loved. It’s not relevant whether or not I’m loved... it’s relevant whether or not I can love. Every moment spent on the former is a moment of sleep. This isn’t an exception to the work. It’s not valid to think I can have a new purpose and look for love at the same time. They’re mutually exclusive.

#3 Many people practice the work at home but cannot let go of a pet at their job. A stupid boss, a co-worker that drives me up the wall, an incompetent salesman, a criminally-minded employer – or whatever – are NOT exceptions to your work. Many times there is only one person in our lives whom we allow to put us asleep. Dealing with this one person is NOT an exception to the Work; it is most likely the ONLY Work for us to do next.

#4 Sickness or pain is another event many see as an exception to the work. People who strive to stay awake at home, at work, wherever, sometimes fall apart with the first sign or pain or illness and demand it to be corrected by the healer (of whichever persuasion) before anything further can be done. This is NOT an exception to the work. If I am ailing, I can check up on my lifestyle, make the appropriate corrections, and freely experience the inevitable adaptation (and be thankful the body has the ability to adapt.) Or I can fall asleep, feed this pet, and forget my work altogether. I cannot do both. One walks in the direction of death or in the direction of life, not both directions at once. There are no exceptions.

There are countless species of pets that we are reluctant to give up; relationships with spouse, children, boss, parents, co-workers, neighbors, whomever; circumstances of finance, health, environment, accomplishment, whatever. In each person’s life the pet is strictly a matter of their particular conditioning and circumstances. But, the nature of pets is identical, no matter who the person. This one thing, no matter what it is, is created and fed and maintained by the old purpose to be non-disturbed. After a certain strength and confidence is reached by way of constant work on the new purpose, the pet must be looked at, admitted that it still controls me, and eliminated. It is essential, or the Work is in vain.

The method is first: to see it; second: allow it to be there by observation without judgment or condemnation, and third: to tap the strength one has built up and deny the self the pleasure of feeding the pet. It takes strength to do this, and some effort, but if the new purpose is of prime value to the student, he or she will eventually meet this monster of a pet head on, and let it die of starvation. It is the only way. There are no exceptions.