Great Heart vs. the Greatness Virus
9 ways to discover your innate goodness and forget about being Great
Here in the U.S., we suffer from a terrible virus. We catch it at a young age and most of us die with it running rampant in our systems after a lifetime of uncontrolled replication.
The virus is so ubiquitous, many of think it is who we are. We don’t notice it sucking our time, energy, attention and joy. In fact, the more infected we are, the more “successful” we are likely to be, the more acclaim we will garner and the more money we are likely to earn.
Unfortunately, no matter how successful we become at meeting the demands of the virus, the more impaired is our ability to feel satisfaction, contentment or fulfillment. This virus has one ceaseless demand: become Greater, and Greater and then GREATER still.
Many, if not most of us Americans, are thoroughly programmed by the Greatness virus in our conduct and emotions. The programming runs something like this:
If I’m not continually improving, I’m failing.
Every next step has to be a step up.
Growth and expansion are always good.
I am destined to be Great (at something.) If I’m not, it’s because I screwed up or because I’m irreparably damaged.
Greatness consists of measurable, visible accomplishments: Degrees, certificates, certifications, net worth, salary, position, size and location of domicile, possessions, including “Great” relationships, or number of followers on social media. And for spiritual folk, greatness is measured in amazing “spiritual” experiences, spiritual initiations by and meetings with “Great” teachers, numbers of students, lineages held, and general buzz about spiritual me.
Viruses are dead things. When we embody the Greatness virus instead of a more natural life, we become enslaved to the endless, repetitive work of promoting our self image and the attempt to antidote fear, uncertainty and loneliness.
We waste our precious time aggressively and defensively manipulating how others see us and hiding from how we really feel about ourselves.
The survivalist strategies and activities of the virus stand between us and intimacy with others.
We become dismissive, disparaging, supremacist, and violent in myriad ways.
The virus depresses us and subjects us to deep wellsprings of shame and rage. It impoverishes our relationships and locks us up in prisons of self-concern.
The greatness of the heart
But there is another version of greatness, one that leads us to deeply relax instead of perpetuating our tensions and cruel cultures.
The Sanskrit prefix maha—great—indicates the glorious and abundant embodiment of wisdom virtues such as generosity, compassion and kindness. It is often used to refer to a person who exhibits greatness of heart.
Baked into the ancient Indian concept of greatness is also great modesty.
Modesty shows up as a lack of interest in measuring accomplishments, measuring oneself against others, or being measured by others. It shows up as a feeling of happiness at the success of others and a sense of humor about our own foibles and failings.
Both pride and shame are immodest as they both place great importance on the individual to the detriment of our ability to care for or even notice others.
Nine ways to kill the Greatness virus and discover your naturally great heart
Recognize that life has ups and downs. Nature does not operate as a continual climb to a fictitious top. It just doesn’t. Learn to gracefully adapt and redefine success as successful adaptation not “winning” or “improving.”
Do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do. Many people infected by the Greatness virus worry inordinately about what to do with their lives or how to act. Whatever they choose has to be “Great” or have a Great effect. The best choice is to simply do something you enjoy and act with the understanding that you are a speck in a vast universe. Do your very very small part, and enjoy it a bit along the way. That’s a perfectly fine life.
Take a pause from measuring. When you find yourself comparing, contrasting, and judging yourself or others, take a pause. Don’t put anything in place of that measuring activity. Let emptiness arise. Take a dip in immeasurable life. Accustom yourself to it. The more you do this little exercise, the easier it will become to just live.
Get into apprenticeship. Approach everything you do and all of your relationships in the spirit of apprenticeship. Apprenticeship is an attitude of experimentation, forever-learning, deep attention, the cultivation of patience, modesty, curiosity, and a quiet passion for the craft. Anxiety about mastering something or being perfect are all part of the virus’ programming. Don’t be duped.
Do your best and let go of the result. The Greatness virus tells you that you should be in control of what happens in your life and even the lives of others. It tells you that when something goes wrong or even when it goes right, that is down to you. This is a totally false view. Cause and effect are infinite. You are only one, small factor. Just do your best and forget about it.
Notice what moves you in others and aim to embody that. What really moves you from the heart? Is it a certificate? An award? A promotion? A big bank account? Admiration? Praise? I doubt it. Look at the people who deeply move you and ask yourself what is it about them that brings tears to your eyes and a swell of gratitude and nameless love to your heart. Those are the qualities and “accomplishments” you really value. Organize your life around learning to embody those qualities.
Feel the compulsion of the Greatness virus. All fixations (aka karma), come with a feeling of compulsion. It can be compulsive worry, or compulsive excitement, or compulsive competitiveness. But the feeling of that little engine of compulsion chugging away is unmistakable. Get in touch with the feeling of compulsion in order to be able to discern when you are meeting the demands of the virus. Recognizing this will give you the motivation to relax and allow a more natural course of life to unfold.
Take a at least a 1/2 day a week and do nothing. Don’t work. Don’t plan anything. Don’t read books. Don’t do errands, or catch up on home improvement chores or exercise. Go on a media fast. Rest quietly at home, or go out in nature (no strenuous hikes) and just be. Cook some simple food. Take your time eating it. You may feel anxiety as your senses relax and you come back into touch with your surroundings and yourself. Let it come, and keep relaxing.
Take refuge in generosity. When we are giving to others and have an attitude of service, no matter what is going “wrong” in our lives, and no matter what failings we feel we may have, we can always get in touch with our fundamental goodness.
Generosity is the great medicine. Spending your life in service is the antidote to insecurity, self-hatred and fear. It will help you to develop confidence and to know your own essential goodness.
The Greatness virus cannot accomplish this for you. No matter how much others admire you or how many accomplishments you rack up, you will be compulsively seeking the next Great thing.
Great goodness or compulsive greatness? You choose.
With infinite love,
Shambhavi
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