Petty Tyrants and Great Teachers

Our greatest teachers are the ones who are least aware of what they're teaching - the ones who call into play the greatest patience, the most kindness and compassion and grandest acts of courtesy and empathy. Carlos Castaneda would calls these teachers our "petty tyrants" and laud their importance in our lives. Of course we mistake our petty tyrants for enemies and try to defeat them with tactics unfit for the destruction of our real enemy - our own self importance. Here's a favorite quote for The Fire Within (Castaneda) -

"Self-importance is our greatest enemy. Think about it--what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.
Every effort should be made to eradicate self-importance from the lives of warriors. Without self-importance we are invulnerable."
Our greatest weapons in this fight are simply recognition, awareness, and humor. If we're offended - we've recognized the symptom. Awareness brings light into the situation and humor dissolves the offense into the clear light of our recognition. Castaneda likens this awareness as being a stalker - to cast our awareness wide and deep and look for this signs of prideful offense. A Course in Miracles would simply urge us to smile at the demands of the ego - the tiny voice that "forgot to laugh".  Castaneda recognized the difficulty of this task and likens it to the call of the warrior. I prefer a more gentle approach as a war fought within is never won - it's in the surrender of self importance and ego that spirit comes to pass as our true identity. However Castaneda casts a powerful metaphor that serves many well and underscores the importance and difficulties of this endeavor.
With even a little progress (in a lifetime pursuit) we will find ourselves offended less and giving more. And a smile always near.

Peace,
Eric