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anthony de mello
October 2009 
from someone wise.
Posted on Aug 11th, 2008
by 
Siona
Siona
One of my friends recently shared this with me...
How do you know if you are significant? This question lures us the wrong way, it invites us to judge ourselves on some criteria of importance - do we escape the ignominy of insignificance, it seems to ask. But no-one is truly insignificant. The worst that can happen is that you are unaware how important you are to the people in your life, and this is a far greater tragedy than not achieving notoriety, especially since fame (as any celebrity will attest) is a double-edged sword.
We strive sometimes, quite vainly, to prove to people how significant we are. To validate our intellect, our skills, our looks, whatever narcissism we have foolishly allowed to matter to our happiness. And when we are seduced by such vainglorious pursuits, we will certainly become unhappy since despite the unwavering message of the advertising industry, happiness is something that can be found only within, and all that the world of things can provide are temporary rewards and distractions.
The Jesuit priest, Anthony de Mello, whose spiritual thoughts drew upon many different traditions, said in his final meditations:
Contemplate the crowds of people who are striving might and main to become, not what Nature intended them to be - musicians, cooks, mechanics, carpenters, gardeners, inventors - but somebody, to become successful, famous, powerful; to become something that will bring, not quiet self-fulfillment, but self-glorification, self-expansion. You are looking at people who have lost their innocence because they have chosen not to be themselves but to promote themselves, to show off, even if it be only in their own eyes.
Nothing could be more irrelevant than to contemplate your significance. Let future historians argue over what was significant, it means nothing in the here and now. What makes you important is that you are you, and to your friends, to your family, to everyone who loves and values you, nothing could be more significant.
- Chris Bateman
... and I, apparently, felt compelled to share it, too.
Access: Public
Wow, Siona. That was insightful. Thanks for sharing it. :)
The appreciation of this piece of writing helped to expose the still present thin shell to create a shift toward resting in the middle between overinflation and the ground we walk.
thank you Siona. Anthony de Mello is cherished in my universe for his ability to combine wisdom with humor. And yes, narcissism's fav food is innocence, preferably gobbled down in big bites the minute we look the other way..
Lovely statement. Am in full agreement. Bless you!
I believe all of us are equally significant in the eyes of Oneness / the universe, right down to the smallest creatures all have their own special place in the interdependent whole. We sometimes forget this.
Can contemplating your relevance be similar to contemplating your navel? Sort of a waste of time, non productive exercise in futility? After all… none of this life stays the same so while contemplating our relevance life slips by without notice…
Today I did a load of laundry resulting in clean towels for the household, I moved my possessions from one location in time to a new one, and I will spend time watching the Olympics with my best friend in the entire world, while she paints her daughter's bedroom Magenta Red… life doesn't get any more significant then this…
Smiles!
Perhaps there must be a balance between significance and insignificance. Perhaps it resides only in the moment of inquiry: how may I serve? And without regard to any thought, any judgment, any contemplation before or thereafter. Signicance is beyond self, yes. All is fleeting, yet it has impact. But people are afraid…afraid of madness, of chaos, of defenselessness and in this, they cling to illusions so that their own meaning might be eternal. If one can rise above that smoke and mirror, perhaps one has found what is significant, after all.
I have very much enjoyed reading your writings here.
Blessings~
We certainly do have a lot to benefit from just simply being and giving ourselves a rest from the pursuit of the mind's desire to weigh and catagorize ourselves. Which leads us to do the same to everything around us. Acceptance and appreciation of our own simplicity feed the soil that helps us grow to love and understand the beauty in ourselves and others.
thank you for sharing, siona.
samme
Hey Siona, this is great! I think being is what really counts…beyond any labels the mind will put on things. It's the essence of us, before a single thought or action, which is somehow complete as it is….and then the thoughts and actions are simply icing on the cake. Thanks for this wisdom from Anthony de Mello….and also from you.
Hallo Siona,
I was and am happy to have found Your comment and respond to what I wrote yesterday as an introduction to the Community.
Its a pleasure for me to have found Gaia, and to “settle down” in Your wonderful Oneness, which credits to the world peace and good spiritual communication between human beings.
Surely: I am going to share my world with You all here, and to learn from the others. Thank You for the compliment You gave me, and for Your inspiring thoughts!
Anthony de Mello…”…have You heard the bird singing?”
As is writtrn:
We are all but dust in the station of the mistress
Animated by the state of her
To move along her spirit
To the end of time
When dust becomes
Another sun
And it says
I have never not been here
And that sun becomes
Another mistress
Of the spirit
Namaste sionaji and sincerest gratitudes ,
I must add first I missed reading your wondrous blogs recently put by you.
this blog is quite insightful and lucrative. this thought do scratch one's mind as to my opine. I perhaps enjoyed reading this good thought. keep pasting your great blogs ascendingly, thank you
Have a great healthier life and very charming moments, take care !
peace n light to you with many blessings n best wishes, be happy always n healhty !
NAMASKAR,
-OWAIS
Hi Siona,
Yours was one of the first places I stopped in my newness here. I was unfortunately one of those people who thought I needed the voice of my spouse to validate my signifigence. Through many years and a lot of growing I’ve learned that the only person to validate ones self comes from within. I’m learning every day to love me for me, and know that I need no ones approval to know I am worth something. I read this and didn’t feel so alone in my stuggle. God Bless:)
Crystal~
I recieved a personal message from my heart to me that read; “Your heart's beat validates you.” I find when I return to my heart for instruction, I don't need anything.