Cattāri Brahmavihārā

I’ve been reticent to pull the plug but it’s becoming more clear everyday that continuing to be open and sensitive to an unending barrage of criticism isn’t helping me at all. Events were I to give the vendor of the doubt, the non stop fault finding had made it impossible for me to take anything the person has said to heart. Sadly, it has come to the point where I have to say enough is enough.

When contempt and negativity are the wellspring of another’s view of you, and once this has been made clear through time and repetition, it seems to me that the wisest thing to do is to let the stream of blame fall to the wayside. I feel badly that I am more or less cutting a connecting with this person but I have no choice if my own peace of mind is important. Doing so I may miss out on valuable information that could’ve been used to improve my behavior and it also precludes repairing the bond but, clearly, this would never happen when the other party holds me in such contempt.

I intend to do my best to fulfill my obligations and be over generous and self-sacrificing so that I may, hopefully, avoid causing more harm. May I use the pace of mind gained to practice for the benefit of all.