December 6, 2022
Hidden Disturbances
By Amba Gale
Ganesh, the Master,
incense rising from his crown chakra,
brings me the Teachings from hardships.
-Amba Gale, November 28. 2023
One of the most powerful deities in the pantheon of Hindu deities is Ganesh.
Ganesh is the bringer, and remover, of obstacles.
The Hindus tell us that our job, as humans, is to move through the teachings that obstacles bring, on behalf of strengthening our muscles for living life wakefully.
When confronted with an obstacle in our path, what do we do? What do you do?
I’ve noticed, myself, that I often attempt to positive think it away, avoid it, deny it resist it, and am stopped by it. Sometimes, for a while. Sometimes, for a long time.
These last two – three years have been filled with obstacles. And they have been my greatest teachings.
Sudden obstacles, or breakdowns, frequently show up as a surprise, and not a pleasant one.
I’ve learned to ask myself: “Now — what is the expectation that has been living in the background that has this event, this occurrence, in the foreground, show up as a breakdown, or disruption?”
When I ask that question, I can see that my own expectation, my own “should” is actually the source of my disturbance, and not the event, or person, itself.
Wow!!!
We all expect things to go smoothly, according to the pictures in our head of how they “should” go.
So that, when seeming adversity comes our way, or a disturbance, or a challenge, we automatically want to avoid it, deny it, resist it, and we are often totally “stopped in our tracks,” to use an old cliché. Maybe, even, stopped in our tracks for a long time.
Gradually, over time, not really wanting to suffer, we begin to deal with the obstacle in more productive ways.
I love this quote by Alfred d’Souza:
“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin.
At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”
In the last two or three years, I’ve been learning to welcome them, to welcome them as guides, or Teachers, that have come my way to awaken me. And the earlier I can not only accept them, but, indeed, welcome them, they become my teachers, and my friends, my guides, and harbingers for being at peace.
Several weeks ago, I could “feel” a hidden disturbance was beginning to come my way, like a tsunami. When it manifested in the world and got really real, I was disrupted to my core. Being a commitment to acquiring inner peace, through patience, simplicity, and compassion, I worked with myself, wrestled with my demons, and, one morning, this poem came to me, as a guide to Peace.
May you be as empowered by its guidance as was I.
Hidden Disturbances
By Amba Gale
There is a hidden disturbance
in the universe
that shows itself in many, and sometimes disruptive, ways.
If you meet it with welcoming Grace,
it will give you Everything you need
to guide yourself and others
to a blessed place.
This hidden disturbance
can only show itself as love
if you are kind
and welcome it with open arms.
Do not let it unravel
the fabric of your being.
The whole can stay whole
with the eyes and ears
of a pure and grateful heart.
