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• One Imaginary To Relate To

Welcome note! 

This writing explores the theme of suffering and conflict in a philosophical and reflective manner. The analogy with bitter gourd curry and the concept of embracing life’s bitterness for personal growth is meant to add a perspective to the discussion. The progress of ideas transcend from the perspective of suffering in the world to the more personal world, and then connects it to the role of a mediator in legal disputes. This writing piece aims to witness the connection between yogic philosophy and the transformative potential of bitter experiences.

Please allow me to mention the use of my grandmother’s advice and the analogy of bitterness in life to bitter legal disputes as a metaphor! The writing aims to encourage a positive outlook on conflict transformation and personal growth through challenges. Overall, this writing intends to present a philosophical perspective on life, conflicts, and personal evolution. 

I hope you enjoy reading! 🙂

Go on to read.

In Indian yogic philosophy, life on Earth is perceived as a journey marked by suffering—an elemental aspect indispensable for the soul’s evolutionary progress. The cyclical narrative of birth, purpose, death, and rebirth is underscored by a shared denominator: the pursuit of a ‘bigger purpose.’

Today, in the vast panorama of our contemporary existence, suffering isn’t merely accumulating; it is multiplying. Internationally, tensions loom in the skies; nationally, political rifts widen; stately disputes ripple across waters; districtly, lands become arenas of contention; locally, religious disparities sow discord.

Even within the intimate confines of our homes, emotions, feelings, and bodies engage in conflict. All of this, as part of life on Mother Earth, is veiled by a pervasive layer of suffering—awaiting individuals to come in touch with, consciously or ignorantly, and then, with no choice, grapple with the ensuing consequences.

When life’s inherent suffering is compounded by legal battles, the burden is akin to adding salt to a wound. This bitterness can embitter individuals, casting a shadow over their personal surrounding atmosphere. Then, we see humans walking around grumpily, in anger, in depression, in sadness, in grief…

Yet, recalling my grandmother’s advice to consume bitter gourd curry once a week to expel toxins introduced by other delectable foods, I personally accept with full belief that—life’s bitterness may serve a better and bigger purpose, just like the bitter gourd curry.

Just as a weekly dose of discomfort paves the way for smoother days, facing occasional bitterness in daily routine life might be integral to our broader life journey. No? Facing a legal dispute situation may also be asking for a bigger unknown peaceful transformation, No?

Well, acknowledging life’s inherent suffering and the occasional need for bitterness makes it acceptable to encounter bitter legal disputes. Isn’t that the anthem of mental health these days: “IT IS OK TO HAVE ______ SO and SO”… “IT IS OK”… “KNOW THAT IT IS OK…”

The crux lies in resisting the transformation of these disputes — further escalating into full-fledged battles. It urges us to reflect on the situation, defuse tensions, and correct the course before it escalates.

This is where mediation takes center stage. [Instead of letting things get worse, mediation gives people a way to sort out their problems before they become big fights. It’s like a structured conversation where everyone can calm down and fix the issues they have. Mediation steps in at this important time and helps stop conflicts from causing permanent damage. It’s a careful and planned process that uses talking and negotiating to help people understand each other, find middle ground, and agree on things. Basically, mediation plays a crucial role in stopping conflicts from getting really bad, guiding them towards a friendly and long-lasting solution.]

While legal disputes may be bitter, the measure of bitterness is relative, varying for each individual. Mediators, distinct from mental health professionals who absorb emotions from one perspective, must navigate bitterness from all sides of the story. It demands of a mediator—the skill, talent, passion, interest, and conscious behavior to process bitterness without personal entanglement.

Reflecting on the bitterness encountered through mediation, I find resonance with Indian yogic philosophy. Every bitter experience forms a protective cover, akin to a passing fellow journey traveler contributing to my evolutionary progress. While not impervious to suffering, I understand the transformative potential inherent in bitter situations.

Transitioning to the mediation part, the role of a mediator becomes pronounced. Unlike psychologists or psychotherapists who absorb emotions from one side, a mediator absorbs bitterness from all sides of the story. It can be draining and self-challenging, requiring years of skill, talent, passion, and conscious behavior to let bitterness pass through without personal impact.

Even if it does touch me, I relate the experience to yogic practices, forming a protective cover. This perspective aligns with the idea that every bitter moment contributes to personal progress and the evolutionary journey of life.

To abruptly conclude, the topic prompts deeper reflections on life, self-inflicted suffering, and suffering caused by others.

It underscores that the person who must navigate, solve, and emerge transformed from conflicts is the individual themselves.

Analogously, legal disputes, when approached as transformative arrests in our routine lives, hold the potential for positive change—for individuals, all parties involved, and the broader societal context. Conflict transformation, in essence, implies evolving for the better, embracing healthier changes, and gaining strength from the experience to walk a more enlightened path.

One Imaginary To Relate To: In a small town, tensions were palpable between two individuals, Nari and Pari, who found themselves entangled in a bitter dispute over the use of shared resources. As a mediator, you took on the challenging task of helping them find common ground and facilitating a resolution. The Encounter: Sharing Energies In separate sessions, Nari and Pari poured their stories and perspectives into your attentive ears. Nari, with tears in her eyes, shared her feelings of frustration and betrayal. Pari, equally passionate, expressed his side of the story, emphasizing his need for understanding and compromise. The Mediator’s Role: Soaking in Perspectives As a mediator, you absorbed their energies, much like a sponge soaking in the stories and emotions shared. You listened without judgment, allowing their narratives to become a part of your understanding. This process was not just about collecting information but absorbing the emotional energy woven into their words. The Transformative Journey: Soaked in Wisdom With their stories now a part of your mediation toolkit, you embarked on a transformative journey. Instead of hastily flushing out or squeezing the absorbed energy, you chose to allow it to percolate, understanding that these emotions held the key to a deeper resolution. Using Soaked-in Energy: Facilitating Understanding In subsequent joint sessions, you skillfully employed the absorbed energies to guide the conversation. Acknowledging Nari’s pain and Pari’s frustration, you facilitated a dialogue that went beyond the surface-level dispute. By drawing upon the soaked-in wisdom, you encouraged empathy and understanding between them. The Unveiling of Harmony: A Philosophical Approach Through your philosophical approach, you led Nari and Pari to see the shared humanity beneath their grievances. The soaked-in energy, now transformed through compassionate listening and thoughtful mediation, became a catalyst for resolution. They discovered a path toward compromise, realising that understanding each other’s perspectives was the key to unlocking a harmonious resolution. In the end, your role as a mediator went beyond traditional conflict resolution; it became a philosophical journey of transformation, where absorbed energies were not discarded but utilised to unveil a deeper sense of harmony. This philosophical approach involves recognizing the depth of human emotions, practising non-judgmental listening, transforming intense emotions into valuable insights, allowing time for reflection, fostering empathy, and ultimately seeking harmony through understanding. These principles draw from various philosophical perspectives that prioritise human experience, empathy, and the potential for growth through challenges. Did you apply your transformative energy to grow beyond bitterness of the situation? Did you help Pari and Nari grow, too? Did you transcend?

That’s it.

That’s it for this writing!

As you leave, I want to thank you for reading till the end; for embarking on this philosophical conversational exploration with me, embracing the transformative potential in life’s bitterness and legal conflicts. May your journey be enlightened, and your perspective on challenges lead to a harmonious evolution. 

Happy bitterness to you 🙂