Accepting others’ beliefs as yours
QUESTION: Masters, recently I visited an ancient temple during monthly periods. Later I was beset with guilt as temples forbid menstruating women to enter. Did I inadvertently cause pollution of a sanctified space? And are there any karmic consequences? How can women use this period positively for spiritual growth? Many years ago, masters, during a very difficult phase, I visited an astrologer who when I asked him what was in store for me in life said that I would wander about and commit suicide. Though I intuitively know that he was just a money-minting fraud, still his words echo in my mind and instill fear. News of a friend who committed suicide a few weeks ago is giving me sleepless nights of fear. Though I take it all positively to remind myself to use words thoughtfully and responsibly, I want to be free of the fear-this and all other fears-Please help! ~Bodhi, India
ANSWER: In the spiritual process there is nothing that is right or wrong; all things are just for learning about the human existence and the lessons you chose. In society everything is judged, rated, graded, and determined to be right or wrong depending on the point of view of the “authorities.” Organized religions within society add an additional layer of requirements and “must-not-dos” to life.
Karma exists only on the planet within the duality. If those authorities learned of your condition they might impose punishment for your actions – but it is not a spiritual thing that will follow you into the unconditional love of the hereafter. It will not condemn you to punishment in another lifetime because there is no judgment once you leave this life.
All the rules for ancient religions were written by men, since they were the only ones who had any power. Many men feared the power of a woman to shed blood during a monthly resetting of her hormones without suffering any ill effects. They thought the woman was possessed of evil spirits. For a man, bleeding was always a devastating effect of injury, frequently leading to death. Women were therefore determined to be unclean during menstruation.
Your sense of guilt over a tour and fear of suicide from a prediction indicate that you accept the beliefs of others as your own. Why? Do these people know more about you than you do? Fear is an indication of a life lesson you are ignoring. This lesson is about knowing yourself and taking responsibility for your own actions and the way you feel about life.
No one can make you do anything you do not choose to do. Go into those feelings of acceptance of the beliefs of others and see if you really accept them as applying to yourself. If they do not make sense to you, reject them; let their power over you leave, and with it, the fear of someone else’s words.