Social Interaction

When we make spiritual progress, it is natural to abstain from much of what passes for “social interaction” with friends and family —not because we consider ourselves superior to them, but because we recognize that such activities are often unbeneficial to ourselves and others.

It is not possible to avoid other persons’ evaluation of our “distance” as indifference or even arrogance, but it is not advisable to attempt to explain ourselves, as necessarily we would have to judge the validity of the different views that sustain the various conducts.

What we can do is find opportunities (at other times) to demonstrate our love and compassion for them. We can utilize these uncomfortable moments of silence to plan future acts of kindness.

We can strive to be helpful whenever there is something we can do for them; we can find new ways of expressing kindness; we can initiate or enthusiastically participate in beneficial conversations; we can pray for them; we can dedicate to them the merit of our virtuous acts; and we can express clearly and repeatedly our gratitude for their presence in our lives.

Little by little, others will come to understand that we are not arrogant, but rather that we follow a different path. And if they never do, it does not matter —we will have benefitted them secretly.