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Thought Bubble - Careful Where You Step

 

Please be careful of where you are walking. We need to be more mindful and in the present moment as we walk around. That means being mindful of your surroundings and who is there, not paying attention to your cell phone or some other device. If we aren't mindful we can unwittingly gather a lot of negative karma for ourselves.

If you are walking around your home, go around your pets that are laying on the floor instead of stepping over them. The same goes with any person, you do not want to step over them if you can avoid it. This is especially important when it comes to stepping over someone's head. Never step over their head, that is very bad karma and completely disrespectful. That goes for humans, animals and insects, whether indoors or outdoors. It is really difficult to do that with insects, but try if you can. If you cannot avoid stepping over someone then try not to step over their head at least.

Although it can be difficult, we need to try our best not to step on insects that may be in our path. This isn't always easy, but the more we meditate and gain more discipline of our minds, the more we feel the connection with others, including insects. I can be walking down the sidewalk and suddenly my attention shifts to the ground and I will see ants in my path. Once I am clear of the ants my mind shifts back to the walk I am taking. I feel my mind becomes aware of the presence of other living beings and that is why I suddenly find my attention shifting to them, so I do not step on them. My mind is aware that I do not want to step on any insects, so it alerts me when they are present. You can develop this with time and practice. When I go for a walk, I do not have a cellphone or any other device on me. I do not wear earphones or listen to music, so that I can enjoy and be aware of what is going on around me at all times.

If I find I am stepping over insects, which sometimes can not be avoided, then I have a mind of regret for doing it and I apologize to them. This helps to clear up some of the negative karma I would otherwise be creating for myself.

Please work on overcoming your attachment for your cell phones and other devices, so you can become more present, alert and mindful of what is actually happening in your life around you, especially when you are walking or driving anywhere. That is far more important to you, your safety, the safety of others and your spiritual progress, than the latest viral video or some text anyone sends you. By distracting your mind with a cellphone or some other device you are preventing yourself from gaining valuable insight to how your mind works. Being distracted you are more likely to cause harm to others without even being aware of it, or causing a car crash if you are driving. Please be careful. 

You can find the podcast for this here: https://youtu.be/jtiiocJR970

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