Keep It Outside

 There is evil around us, a lot of negativity, judgments and fear.  The point of an interior spiritual practice is to not let the outside evil get inside the heart.  The spiritual practice counters the desire to “fit in,” to feel a part of.  At first, what looks like a prejudice or a outside fear will enter into us because we want to fit in.  Or we are afraid of the consequences of being an “outsider.”  Being against slavery while living in the Old South, prejudice against people who are not just like the group, Nazi persecution of Jews are things that come to mind.  There are more local things, such as bullying someone and you become part of the bully group lest they bully you.  And so it goes.  A spiritual practice always goes against he tide of negativity and separation.  I have found it so.