Inge Friedrich-Rust (Divyadrishti)
Yoga teacher and psychotherapist
Kronberg, Germany
Have a strong mind
Again and again she exhorted me: ‘Your mind must be strong!’ ‘Your mind must be steady!’ and she made me face my mind. She would create situations of praise or criticism for prolonged periods when I would see the ego swelling or getting depressed. Also by teasing (one of her favourite methods, which was very difficult to take), she gave me an opportunity to face anger, pride and lack of self-confidence.
When I had a hard time accepting criticism without falling into the trap of guilt and shame, she would correct me with matter-of-fact statements like, ‘You cannot chop off your ego; just face it’ and ‘Do not get stuck in your mistakes but try to improve on them.’ ‘Analyze your mistakes.’ ‘Guilt weakens.’
She also warned of spiritual pride: ‘The higher you climb, the deeper you fall. The greatest danger is spiritual pride.’ ‘Name and fame are the greatest enemies, like snakes. When you see them rise, pack your things and go.’
She gave me hope when I was about to despair, and was always there for me when I really needed her, with comfort and healing, like a loving mother.
Be a witness
She did not judge but invited me to become aware, witness and analyze my behaviour. She would ask, ‘Why do you do such-and-such? Do not change anything – just ask yourself why you do it.’
Moodiness was not tolerated. ‘Why are you sour-faced? Life is like the weather: sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy; you cannot change it. Just accept your mind, and remember that the sun is always there, even when it is hidden by clouds.’ Or: ‘There are mountains and valleys; that is being alive. If everything were the same you would be dead – so what are you complaining about?’
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