PRACTICE
Non-judgment
as a Spiritual Practice52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice
By Deborah Williams
The purpose of the 52 Principles is
to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we
are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally
the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is
God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency
and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. With practice, you will
begin to encounter your experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to
practice and master spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Non-judgment.
Physical
appearances take precedent over everything in our world; if we look good, we
are perceived to be good and if we don’t look good, we are perceived to be
lazy, unattractive, selfish, angry, and dishonest. When we are judgmental and
critical of ourselves and others, in essence we are saying “If I am not right,
then nothing can be right with you”. The
scriptures counsel us, Do
not judge others, and you will not be judged (Matthew7:1). Judgment
closes the heart and builds limits and boundaries, creating an attitude of
division opposed to unity. When our judgments are “I don’t like…; look at their
hair…; they talk funny…” we create an atmosphere of disruptiveness, drama and
conflict. We are self-absorbed in judging others and self to a state of
developing a spiritual deficit. Judging is a spiritual dis-service.
Gain
an understanding to what troubles you about others. In all you get, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7). What irritates
us about others leads us to understanding parts of ourselves that we deny,
disavow, and negate. Judgment is a sign of perceived self-importance. Judging
is habitual and compulsive; challenge the impulse to judge. The absence of
judgment and the ability to forgive leads to freedom. You decide what level of
freedom you desire.
Look
at yourself without a condescending attitude of the past and present. Do not
judge or reject your past, learn from the past and make a personal agreement to
be aware when judging yourself. The past is over and the future is not here
yet. Neither should have power over your present moment. Be a witness of the
present, fallback into yourself and witness/watch life unfold. The witness is
heightened awareness. Do not identify with events because events are not you.
You are spirit, having and watching your human experience. If you judge others
by their external appearances, you are more likely to judge yourself in the
same way. Outer appearances are not a good gauge of a person. The primary
function of the ego is to keep you from knowing your highest self, keeping you
preoccupied with always having to be the best. The ego always seeks validation
by comparing the self with others. Ego creates an illusion that success is measured
in external acquisitions, such as appearances, credentials, accomplishments,
status, position, and success by association. We measure success by the number
of “friends and followers” we acquire on social media (people we do not know). External
acquisitions are tools to upgrade the self and do not create peace. The ego will
cause you to doubt the existence, power, and purpose of the inner self. We are
counseled, though our
outward man is wearing out, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (2
Corinthians 4:16).
Examine
your habits of judging. You are no better than any other person. A bully is
self-important, dependent on another’s discomfort, and overbearing. To be
critical is attacking the other; criticism is bullying. Judging others defines
you. What you judge in others, there is a possibility that there is a similar
trait you identify in yourself. Judgment is an automated response that can be
corrected with awareness as you witness/watch the mind. Notice what you think or say about others
(commentators, panhandlers, co-workers, relatives, etc.) and avoid taking any
position and sticking to it, no matter what. Outer appearances prevent us from
seeing the good in others. There is always something we cannot see that is hidden.
We don’t have enough information to judge. Instead of judging, find a creative
response by being aware of the needs of others. Tuning into others is a
circular flow. Find one thing about the other that is meaningful to that
person, and in return, share something about yourself. Be kind to the kind and kind to the unkind, because the nature of being
is kindness (Tao/49th verse). Judging is unkind and an unrighteous
thing to do.
The
first step to alter behavior is awareness. If you are not aware of your
judgments of self and others, there is nothing to change. Give up the attitude
of “that’s just the way I am” and have the courage to change. Shift your mind
to “whatever is true,
whatever is worthy of reverence and
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind,
gracious, virtuous and
excellent (Philippians 4:8).” Remind yourself to replace judging
with love.
Self-Assessment:
Are
you aware of the judgments you have of self and others?
How
do you feel when you judge others?What are your mind’s demands in order to be okay?
What stereotypes do you place on others based on their appearance?
How will you make the shift to going beyond appearances to awareness?
Have you trained yourself to be cynical and critical?
Do you make excuses for a critical spirit (i.e. that’s just the way I am; my parents are that way; I can’t help the way I am)?
What unresolved issues are you not allowing yourself to see about yourself?
- Make a commitment to silently witness the goodness in all things. When meeting someone, get to know something about the person that is non-superficial. Replace the habit to judge by affirming: “Namaste” – I honor the place in you where we are one.
-
Develop
trigger points when you notice that you notice when you are judgmental. For
example, before you open a door and enter a room, or when you pick up a phone
affirm silently, “Today I will judge nothing that occurs. And throughout the
day I will remind myself not to judge.”
-
Affirmation:
I am totally independent of the good and bad opinions of others, I am beneath
no one. I am fearless in the face of any and all challenges.
-
Who
am I? Who am I not? Who do I serve? Who am I independent of my five senses?
Remove the labels that you attach to yourself. Describe yourself in 150 words or
less by omitting your age, possessions, accomplishments, experiences, or
heritage.
-
Use
the word “LOVE” as a mantra. Bring awareness to the moment through mindfulness.
(Read Mindfulness as a Spiritual Practice,
4/17/15)
-
Shift
your career to a calling. You are here to serve. Love is the goal of our lives.
How
do you create an atmosphere free of judgment? Develop your own spiritual
practice.
Peace
and Much Blessings
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