Working with Negative Emotions

Working with Negative Emotions

The following piece is from a friend in the School, Dharmesh Shah of the Ahmedabad Center, whose essay concerns one of the most important dimensions of understanding and working with the raw materials of the emotional center. Even though negative emotions are artificial contrivances of the machine according to the Fourth Way, the non-expression of negative emotions is a cornerstone of the Work.

Peter Ouspensky said, “We think that negative emotions are produced by circumstances, whereas all negative emotions are in us, inside us. This is a very important point.” In the state of identification and negativity one loses the present. When one is present and becomes aware of the negativity, it is a good sign because a separation between real and imaginary has started and further one can build the state of presence by transforming the negativity.

In esoteric work, higher forces provide one with surprise tests in their plays. Due to sleep, we often do not realize that we are being put through a test until the test is over. Recently, I was tested while speaking with a friend and an argument ensued. I observed much later that I was speaking a little more loudly than usual. After some time, things cleared up and misunderstandings were resolved, but traces of negativity lasted for the entire day.

Rodney Collin said, “The miraculous in relation to negative emotions begins with the idea of second conscious shock — the transformation of negative emotions into positive ones. It begins for me with Ouspensky's saying that if we had no negative emotions, we would have no chance of development, so they would have to be invented. They are our own inexhaustible raw material for transmuting into that divine energy which otherwise is incommensurable with our logical efforts.”

The process of transformation of negativity starts with the first step of non-expression of negative emotions, with the right attitude and understanding that expression of negativity is harmful to one’s work. Negative emotions consume the finer hydrogens which are used for creating an astral body. The Teacher said, “Every time we remember ourselves, we add a feather to our plumage, and every time we forget ourselves or express a negative emotion, we pluck one out.”

Higher forces continue to test us each day, and the tests may be either small or big. Sometimes it could be just dropping or spilling something in a state of identification. Or it could be taking a wrong turn and one needs to travel a long way before getting to the right road. When I drop something, usually it is because of a certain untransformed negativity and hurrying. The Work word, Peace or PAX is a wonderful weapon for using against the force of negativity. Buddha said, “By hearing one word of the Dharma, one becomes at peace.”

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Temperantia, Edward Burne-Jones