IN A NUTSHELL🔗

The Vishuddhi chakra is located in the throat region. It is locked by comparison and jealousy and can be made to flower by expressing our individuality, uniqueness and creativity.

We always compare ourselves with others and feel jealous if we think they have more than we do in terms of more attention, more money, more intelligence or good looks, etc. Comparison is the seed and jealousy is the fruit.

The diagram alongside shows comparison as the seeds of an apple and jealousy as the apple (or fruit) itself. The diagram shows a line of people circling the globe (the apple as the world), arranged in order of their accumulation of wealth. The man in the picture would probably place himself somewhere in the middle of this line. He has two choices: he can look ahead at all the people who have more money than him and feel jealous, or he can look at the line of people behind with less money, and feel grateful. It is up to each one to choose how he will respond to the situation. One side of his face shows happiness and the other sadness, depending on which part of the line he is observing.

Jealousy is often created by 'borrowing desires'. For example, we might be perfectly content with the car we drive until we see our neighbor pull up in a new, flashier car. What seemed alright a moment ago, is now seen as inferior. Suddenly we feel we cannot be content unless we also acquire a new and expensive vehicle. We have the means to fulfill our own desires, but not to fulfill desires borrowed from others. We cannot fulfill our greed.

The reason we are always chasing desires is because we are not centered in ourselves. We do not feel complete in ourselves and think that acquiring more and better material possessions, or better looks or intelligence is going to make us feel happy. The nature of man is to run after bliss without realizing that bliss is his very nature. Eventually, we need to discover that we have everything we need and stop chasing and comparing. As soon as we think someone has more than we do, we are thrown off-center and start to feel jealous.

Start accepting yourself as you are and appreciate your own unique and individual characteristics. Analyzing your desires to see which are true for you is a good start. Awareness is the key. Meditation will develop awareness and stillness so you can experience your own center. Then all of the energy locked up in comparison and jealousy will be available for your own growth.You will then have the experience of Cosmic Energy and the confidence and fulfillment which comes from knowing that your own unique contribution is more than enough.