Day Twenty Six

Rule 26

“The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent conversation. Do no harm. Practice compassion. And do not gossip behind anyone’s back – not even a seemingly innocent remark! The words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space and they will come back to us in due time. One man’s pain will hurt us all. One man’s joy will make everyone smile.”

Here's another one to add to my favorites. This whole rule, all of it, is made of pure love. Each and every sentence is worth mulling over. 

"Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories."

This makes me think of Professor Xavier's contraption that connects him to all the other mutants in X-men. Yes, you read that right, that's exactly how I picture this. Seriously, though, isn't it mind boggling? The universe as a "being", and that too "one being". I can't properly get my head around what that means, and the kind of responsibility that puts on our shoulders for the vibes we put out there...

"Do no harm. Practice compassion."

And there you have it. Black on white. It's not rocket science - don't do bad things. Period. 

"The words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space and they will come back to us in due time."

What an incredibly karmic concept. I don't know about you, but I've seen karma in action, and it's impressive. Don't just not do bad things, don't SAY bad things. Don't write bad things. Whatever hurtful word or deed you put out there will come back to haunt you, trust me on this. If you know you've put out something hurtful at some point and you feel sorry, then say it and make amends. You can't erase the ink of the past, but you can change the flow starting right now. 

No matter how you do it... by paying it forward, helping someone out, saying something kind, or even smiling and saying hello, the second you put out a good word or deed, you're changing the energy of the whole universe. Now let that sink in. The same for any negativity. Sometimes, it's too easy to wallow in misery and frustration, but those vibes will work their way around and come right back to you. Now it's easy to grasp this concept, but the implementation is decidedly harder. 

The point on gossip... it's the bane of many people's lives. It's not a girl thing, sometimes boys are the worst gossips! It's not just an aunty thing, though they are notorious for good reason. And it's not just a South Asian thing. It's a human thing, and it's very tempting. Often, people will repeat a rumor even if they know it's far-fetched and ridiculous. 

But here's a thought: if and when you hear a rumor or idle gossip, let it end with you. Don't take it further, not even a whisper. If possible, tell the person who is inflicting it on you that it's not ok, but whether or not you can do that, let the buck stop right here, with you. 

"One man’s pain will hurt us all. One man’s joy will make everyone smile.”

We are all responsible for one another, for creating heaven or hell, for the collective good. Day 26, and it's easy to see how the rules, just like people, are connected to each other beautifully. 

As far as happy vibes go, tonight's bedtime routine had lots of happy vibes. The little one picked out a book for bedtime reading - Dr. Seuss, or "Dr. Deuce" as she called him. And so I read them, "Oh the Places You'll Go", which was a gift to me from some very dear friends, and what a beautiful book it is, no matter how old you are. If you haven't read it, grab a copy right now. If you have, read it again. Thank you, Dr. Seuss, for putting such beautiful words out there for all of us to enjoy. Tonight, you brought some good vibes into our home... and that, friends, is how the universe works.