Let’s continue our study of the new issue of the Blue Mountain Journal, A World in Crisis Part 3: Living in Unity. This week we will read Easwaran’s article “At Home with Friends and Enemies,” on pages 27–39. Continuing the issue’s exploration of the law of unity, here Easwaran explains its expression in kind conduct towards those who disagree with us. He writes, “…if we grasp this great truth – that the Lord lives in each and every one of us, regardless of who we are – we will never be discourteous to others, we will never be unkind, we will never try to avoid people, we will always be glad to work in harmony with those around us. Then it becomes impossible to quarrel, to be angry, to hurt others, to move away.”

Is there some tip from Easwaran in this reading that you tend to skim over because you have already heard it many times before? Try focusing on it this week.
Have the goal to use the mantram when surprised. Devise a strategy to say the mantram instead of any other sound or phrase when surprised. For instance, we usually say “Oops” (or perhaps worse) when we spill something, slip while walking, or when a car swerves in front of our car unexpectedly. Devise a strategy for inserting the mantram in the place of the usual verbal reaction. Try it out – and if you don’t manage to get the mantram in at the first surprise, start it up as soon as you remember. Before long, you will discover that the mantram has a sense of humor of its own – and it will start slipping itself in BEFORE you can say “oops.”

For a spiritual treat this week, here is a brief video in which Easwaran describes his own efforts with the mantram and some of the benefits that taking the mantrams deeper can bring for us.