Notes on: Bearing the Unpleasant Manifestations of Others

From Talk #5: The Three Disciplines, of The Study of Man series of seven talks
Feb – Mar 1967, by JG Bennett.

#1 The Way of Duty (The fruit of fulfilment of the 1 st

discipline, is said to be: happiness, sukha.)

#2 The Way of Transformation of Being (The fruit of fulfilment of the 2nd discipline, is said to be:
tranquility, serenity, Sanskrit: santosh.)

#3 The Discipline of Will (The fruit of fulfilment of the 3rd

discipline: the will of the individual is no
longer driving his machine, but transmits the Greater Will, with which it
has become wholly united.)

A primary technique in the Way of Transformation of Being:

Learning to bear the unpleasant manifestations of others (UMOs).

What it is not
1. Not just something ordinary that everyone has to learn - to get by in life.
2. Not a sort of stoicism, or indifference.
3. Not being able to Externally bear the unpleasant behavior of people;
But inwardly reject them, shut ourselves off, judge, dislike them, etc.
4. Not like some who have become adept at not showing, or even feeling distress in front
of UMOs. They can have a sense of superiority and satisfaction because they have what
they fancy to be “inner freedom”.
5. Not “Enduring” others.
6. Not weakness, avoidance, aggression, withdrawing, shutting off, [taking a ‘meta’
position].
Its Importance
1. This technique is of such extraordinary value.
2. The UMOs give a special opportunity of opening our soul-stuff to a transforming action.
3. Nothing in life is more valuable to us than when people behave unpleasantly towards
us.
4. To use this method, we must be convinced and clear about its value.
The Requirement of Precision
1. This is a highly technical matter. It requires such precise understanding,
2. We must learn how to have a certain precise inner state in front of UMOs.
3. One has to set oneself constantly to learn how to have exactly the right state of inner
balance.
It is
1. About, somehow, finding the way to become passive in front of UMOs and "bearing
them" by letting them pass over us.
2. Most simply described as a relationship of acceptance towards another human being.
3. An important interpretation of: "Love your enemies and bless them that curse you".
4. Related to: “When people make demands, instead of resisting, we should go beyond
what they demand.” [Pursuing this formulation is a very subtle and difficult technique, It
can be incorrectly taken in the direction of weakness, or pride [therefore yielding no
benefit.]
It leads to / provides
1. When this is accomplished it has a very complete effect over the soul-stuff.
2. Certain energy flows through - producing: tranquility / serenity - in Sanskrit: santosh.
3. Serenity in the soul stuff is the necessary condition for the formation of the soul itself.
4. When St. Paul said that the fruits of the Spirit are charity, joy and peace he was talking
about this same “serenity of the soul stuff” as an indication of the presence of the Spirit
of God.
5. To have this inner positive and joyful peace, is a sign of a well ordered soul.
6. This corresponds to the goal of the second discipline.
7. It is quite distinct from the happiness of good functional equilibrium. (1 st Discipline)
8. The taste of this serenity very often comes most clearly and immediately through
learning how to be free in front of the manifestations of other people.