Feb 14, 2016
DK and Annoyance
Ruth asks:
Didn’t DK say we should not get annoyed or upset by other peoples’ personalities?
JJ
He didn’t speak of annoyance in the normal sense. For instance, perhaps you have a neighbor with a barking dog, or a boss that shouts in your face. DK had several people in his group that tried his patience. It is fine to allow the personality to feel a little disgust for crazy behavior and to do what you can to civilly correct it, but the key is to not allow the behavior of others to get the best of you and to cause your own behavior to react negatively.
When he spoke negatively of annoyance he was generally talking about the behavior of one group member toward another, or the group as a whole. For a spiritual group to work the members must give each other the benefit of the doubt, overlook a lot of personality problems and look upon the soul of the other members. He didn’t care much about people’s personality reactions as long as it did not interfere with the spiritual progress of others or a group.
Here are some of his comments to a member of his group that was creating problems with too much criticism and annoyance at fellow group members.
For several years and more, you have consistently taken the position that one of my disciples has failed to measure up to his opportunities and that my entire group of disciples has not given the service which was demanded of it. You have so stated to a number of people and have also asserted that my work—as indicated by me in my various pamphlets and books—has not been properly done either by the group or by those who have pledged themselves to do it. You have criticised openly all that has been attempted and have steadily belittled and openly under-rated the work that has been done. You have misunderstood the attitude of my entire group. You have not helped in any way constructively. You have interjected a spirit of criticism everywhere.
Why is this? There are two reasons, my brother, and I care enough about your unfoldment to tell you with frankness what they are. One is that your fluid, uncontrolled, lower mind reverts with facility to criticism, to the formulating of group plans which are impossible of accomplishment, changing such plans at frequent intervals and using speech as a means of spreading distrust and criticism. Secondly, you are mentally and spiritually ambitious and yet you do not have the personal magnetism or the executive ability which would enable you to form your own group. It is easier to undermine another group.
***
Can you train yourself to overcome a critical spirit? I would remind you that habit is potent and that you are facing your life task and your major problem. You are adequate to the task, but only if you become truly convinced of the need.
Can you begin to concern yourself with constructive work which will meet the present need around you? You have talked much. Can you now begin to work?
Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 1, Pages 588-590
Copyright 2016 by J J Dewey