Envy, that is. As well as its evil, more diabolical cousin, jealousy. We all feel some degree of envy at some point in our lives. We can’t help but compare some aspect of ourselves with the perceived superiority of another. It’s human nature, unless, of course, you’re a Buddhist monk who has spent a lifetime of meditation to rise above such crass human foibles.
There are degrees of envy, ranging from the occasional wisp of smoke to the raging fires of uncontrollable jealousy that consume all in its path. As I watched the Royal Wedding yesterday, yes, I have to admit, I was aware of some faint wisps of smoke floating about my heart. The over-the-top moment for me was when the fairy-tale couple jumped into the classic Jag convertible, he in his velvet tux and she in her Stella McCartney frock, and drove off into the proverbial sunset. Okay, maybe they did stop at an after-party first, but the symbolism was there for all of us to see, and perhaps, to envy.
“Oh, what a bitter thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes.”
But when the line gets crossed from a random, seemingly harmless spark of envy to a raging forest fire of jealousy, there is no way back. For the one consumed with the jealousy or for his victim. No way to douse the flames, no matter how much water you may have in your arsenal. Or, as in our case, in our pool.
“Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred.”- François de la Rochefoucauld
Because I’m a hopeless romantic who believes that there is no mountain too high that a little compassion and love cannot surmount, I am continually disappointed. As K tells me all too often, I must stop projecting my own value system and beliefs onto others. For me it’s a fine line between accepting the baser nature of our humanity or believing that with a little enlightenment and hard work we can all become better than we are. I view life as a never-ending journey, where we have the opportunity to collect love and compassion and peace along the way.
Perhaps my fantasy is an illusion, as much as the fairy tale ending the world witnessed yesterday. Meghan Markle ventured on a tough road to get to the Windsor Chapel, full of potholes called racism, judgment and hatrid. Her path forward amidst the palace intrigues and jealousies that await her is not for the weak of heart, and may be more challenging than anything she has experienced thus far. But yesterday, she was the world’s fairy tale Princess. A much-needed respite from the dark and evil energies that consume the headlines and redefine the sensibilities of modern mankind.
Love and light to her…and to us all who walk the path toward enlightenment.
Namaste.
May. 20, 2018
Judy Richter 