How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself primarily in the essence of your humanity or as the sum of your attachments? It takes spiritual progress to realize that the combination of your attachments is not the real you. How do you see other people? The same question applies, but this takes it to the next level. You can’t see other people in the essence of their humanity until you can see yourself the same way. The problem is compounded if they insist on an identity as the sum of their attachments, as most people do. But you can help them. Let your light so shine before men.

Can you be a victim and an oppressor at the same time? Have you ever known anyone with victim mentality? Did you enjoy their company? So these attributes typically occur together. Victim mentality is an aspect of narcissism and you notice it in people who magnify and are consumed with their own problems. Do you find their presence and negative expression to be oppressive? Don’t follow this path yourself. Ask me to open your eyes to see your blessings and develop a sense of gratitude. Express this openly and others will find your presence to be encouraging and refreshing.

One of my titles is the Prince of Peace, and I offer my followers a peace that surpasses understanding. Have you experienced this yourself? If you follow me do you consider yourself to be an agent for passing peace on to others as well as a recipient of it yourself? Is it reasonable to expect this approach to work on a larger scale? What nation of the world doesn’t have an army? Yet some of these are used in wars of aggression and others only for defensive purposes when other means have failed. What can you do to expand the scope of peace? For those who make peace are my children.

Are you familiar with the concept of raw materials? There are very few things that you use in the same form in which they were originally obtained, but you have to start with something, and change it into a form in which it is suitable for consumption. Do you view people as raw materials? Have you met people who you would consider to be pleasant company if only they could be changed to make them more agreeable? Do you take this task upon yourself? It is acceptable for me to view people as raw material, but not you. Transformation is my work, not yours.