"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow US poet (1807 - 1882)

To judge oneself or another is to crucify. To incessantly press unnecessary torment and frustration. For those who choose to judge, reflect only a lack of character and awareness within themselves. Judgement is merely mental excess of personal insecurities and ambitious malevolence. To overcome this, we must learn first, our own inadequacies and second, our intention to act on correcting said inadequacies. Focusing on taking responsibility for one's shortcomings is highly effective in preventing the pitfall of the ever infamous deflection of blame. As for the quote I've chosen to cite, how very true! If one fails to give credit to another based on past personal narrative, is that not a contradictory to one's own spirit? To augment this in the self, one must have compassion and understanding for another's journey.

Conclusion: In judging others, we discredit and judge ourselves.

"Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword..."

"Belief"
JM

The word, "belief", is very perplexing and completely unfounded . To clarify, belief is defined as "confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof".* Meaning that belief is temporal and cannot be proven. That one who is possessed by such strong convictions in faith, religion, and/or personal politics holds no actual truth in their own being. Belief becomes a burden to one's own preconceived notions of what is merely held as a glorified opinion with no factual substance. In the eyes of the blinded successor, admission to defy such beliefs would mean to dishonor the originator. Belief induces war. Belief encourages hate. Belief impedes peace.

Conclusion: Spiritual peace arrives in the acknowledgment and eventual acceptance of one's own personal truth.

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

~Mahatma Gandhi

As of late, many purported "well-wishers" have encouraged me to care for myself through this very intricate time in my life. Who's to suppose this was not previously existing? I do not see personal tragedies as cause to heighten one's own selfish desires. Never will I understand a man who feels that to find peace within himself, his only concern should be that of his own personal affairs and claimed enigmas. Selfishness in one's journey only serves a singular purpose; unnecessary repetition. It takes twice the effort to defeat the ego, which in turn, is also an exhaustion of invaluable 'time'. Space in which an intention to act would serve to satisfy others while incidentally satisfying the self as well.

Conclusion: Self-exploration, which is executed through isolated egocentric gain, will cost twice as much and produce half the result.

"That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul."

The Bhagavad Gita
by Bhagavan Sri Krishna

The words I write are purely fuel for my own soul. Or perhaps they are just the exhaust. Nevertheless, I will write until I feel I've accomplished whatever it is I've set out to do. That purpose is yet to remain unnamed.

My first proposition is this: Why must the negative energy of one's being transfer itself onto another in such a fashion that it becomes 'draining' to the other's spirit? And in this process, who holds the burden?

I've always tried to understand other human beings' actions by holding myself in their place and looking at a given situation through their perspective. This can be effective for most human social interactions, however what is the proper way to understand anothers' spiritual dilemma? A spirit so fierce and destructive that they are more than willing to take down any weak or fragile spirit along with them. For this, I do not know. But to answer my previous question of who holds the burden, the blame, it would undoubtedly be the receiver of said negative energy. Now, it's curious to wonder how I came to this conclusion, but the answer is simple. Had the receiver been spiritually in tune with oneself, any negative energy would have been deflected by their own spirit to love.

Conclusion: Spiritual connectedness to one's own soul will provide immunity against negativity and preserve peace within one's self.