Creative Commons license courtesy e3000
Giving others the freedom to be stupid is one of the most important and hardest steps in spiritual progress.
Conveniently, the opportunity to take that step is all around us every day.
Thaddeus Golas, author of The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment (you can hear the author here)
I saw a cartoon recently showing a book store. The section labeled “Self-Improvement” seems to be abandoned. The busiest section is labeled “Telling Other People How to Improve Themselves.”
It takes enough to be able to understand ourselves. How is so much easier to be able to notice things in others?
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Bible – Matthew 7:3
I’ve noticed that most of the time, the things I spot in others are usually something more about me than them.
Anyone else notice that too?
View Pacific 
I love your message. And yes, we can see ourselves in others’ “stupidity” ……if we will only take the time to observe. Beyond observation comes compassion (for self and others). Great reminder.
Thanks for seeing the intention in this post. I don’t often use the S-word. I hope others will feel the same compassion.
Yes, I do notice and I call it mirroring. Good post. 🙂
I like Debbie Ford’s wisdom about our shadow side: “When we point a finger at others, always remember there are more fingers pointing back at us.”
It is reflecting back aspects of ourselves that we haven’t integrated into our own imperfect human being! When we judge others, its a big step to then ask ourselves. How am I like that?
Use the S word for yourself and embrace it fully 🙂
Good post Captain.
Love the insights here.
I would also like to share what i have read in some books. ( hoping you would like it )
I think, for some people, it is easy to identify others strengths & Weakness easily, but to figure out their owns is tough.
It is like standing inside your house and looking at ‘others home’ through your window. One might be able to see how ‘good & bad’ others house is, but wouldn’t be able to see their own.
I have felt what you’ve felt, and i hope i grasped what you meant exactly.
There are two ways of controlling, one is out, another is inside.
Some people (generally called extroverts) find it naturally easy to throw control and interest over the outside, over others, over the external world. Example, kings, police, some management people, some teachers. When a problem arises, these people usually use to point out flaws on others.
Some people (generally called introverts) find it naturally easy to throw control and interest over the inside, over oneself, over the inner world. Example, great political leaders like Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, poets, religious people. When a problem arises, these people takes responsibility on themselves.
Hope it kindles the insights.
Happy sailing, captain 🙂
Yes, your thoughts are fine kindling for fiery inspiration. Thanks for sharing them. I like the analogy of the house and looking out the window. The most interesting space is in between the two houses, and not only the view from or in one or the other. Thich Nhat Hanh calls it interbeing, the dance we all have between us. Neither introverts nor extroverts can claim either end of that spectrum and together the range of colors describes a rainbow.
❗ Yay! Thats so beautifully said.
Quite true, your view on the space between them.
If my memory works fine, i think this is the first time i’m coming across the term “interbeing”, and i’m glad about it.
Thank you Captain. 🙂
Thanks!
It’s true – I first heard the word interbeing from Thich Nhat Hanh. He also uses the word interare, to speak about how we are interconnected, not every really apart.
The words confused me at first, and as I looked into them more, I could see the genius behind them.
I love his quotes, he is simply awesome.
But i haven’t come across the terms you refer.
Even though i have read something about interconnectedness, i don’t grasp that interconnected feel quite often, just rarely i get such a feel.
I hope i will be able to see the genius behind the words, in mere future 🙂