Our Burden

 

 

The angels looking down on us from the heavens would see a world of people, bent over with the burden they each carry. They go about their daily chores, heavily laden and very few (if any) are actually able to lower this burden. The angels probably feel sorry for us; surely they realise that we need not carry these burdens.   

Part of all we carry is natural, systemic and a person would say, 'meant to be'. They are things we are born with, or which come in inheritance. Poverty, wealth, physical disabilities, health challenges. It is manageable to have these. We are designed to live life with them. The poor learn their limitation. The rich man learns the odd difficulties which come with inherited wealth, which generally so detracts from living a real life. A health burden too is mostly compensated, by greater abilities within. Most people, so challenged, learn bravery and patience and many lead fulfilling lives.  

  

It is the other burden which I speak of which is so debilitating. These burdens are all self created. Our filters are built on experience and we have then institutionalised these filters into characteristics, which then forces us to walk a life weighed down.  

What burdens are these? Generally, they come from two distinct mindsets. Both destructive. One is the persecuted mind. It feels the burden of hate, dislike, lack of opportunities, it is folded inwards and is not fulfilling its potential. The other is the superiority syndrome mind. It feels it owns the world, everything is designed for them. They are louder, confident, selfish, mostly dominant, and the so-called commoners are to be used for their goals. 

  

Both are high maintenance people. The poor inward looker has to be coaxed to participate, as they are demotivated, reactive, hurt inside and sad people. It's always them against the world, bad luck stories, persecution and unfairness. On the other hand, the brash mind overreaches, takes more than their share, exploits people and system and is unpleasant to deal with. For them it's exploitation and dealing out unfairness and unpleasantness. The system somehow has to control them or they become domineering. Mostly these type will fall along the way, when they run up against a wall which will not yield - this is fate equalising the misuse of their strength.

There is a concept of living in the moment. The sufis say there is only one reality. Which is Now. The past and the future are all brain impulses. Not reality! The past is gone and the future has not arrived. So just imagine a Now person, totally free of burdens and living this life to its utmost and no baggage! This person would be above any being, fulfilling their potential and a source of great admiration for the angels looking down. 

* the image is taken from Pinterest.com; the host site is stated on the image.