I digress.... I thought about the quote of Bhakti re envisioning the world, and acting out of that vision, re Marianne Williamson (see Bhakti's string, Martin Luther King). This works, of course, so long as you can hold the vision, and so long as that vision resides within the heart, and isn't only an intellectual vision, or "hope". Most of us are human beings afraid of dying, loss, pain, and all the other tribulations that occur to us throughout our lives. This generates a considerably different state of mind than a "spiritual" one, for sure. It is not easy to be human: it is almost impossible to be spiritual. (I am not certain that there is a division, in any event.)
To give you an example of the opposite, and possibly more substantive solution to problems with folks that create havoc in our world, by their rudeness, their inconsiderateness, their outright unkindness. Ramakrishna told a story about a poisonous snake that was tormented by a bunch of young men to the point where the snake was afraid of serious harm. But he was trying to live by God's admonitions, so he asked God what he should do, because he was really sick of this treatment, and was tempted to strike out with his poison and show them once and for all how strong he was, and to teach them a lesson, since these fellows were tormenting him and making his life a living hell. God responded, "My dear, you must not harm these fellows, because that will create karma in your life." So the snake went back to his home, and the fellows continued to harm him, and eventually almost killed him. The snake lay there on his back, bleeding and bruised, and complained to God that he had tried to follow his directions, but look what he had come to because of that. God looked at his snake with pity, and responded "Yes, it is true that I told you that you must not harm another creature, but I never told you not to hiss!"
Sometimes, in an effort to be "spiritual", we forget that like generates like from both sides of the fence, and perhaps the correct response to unkindness or rudeness is to respond in kind. This of course is "anti-social", is not "appropriate behavior", and certainly is not "spiritual". However, it is sometimes appropriate, and often, instructive, not to mention "karma balancing".
In that same vein, perhaps spiritual has a wider vision, and a more subtle interpretation. We don't want to actually harm another sentient being, but hissing is not harming, it is telling tormentors to "back off!". Well, so be it.
) But with someone else, or in another time, I might respond in a completely different way. I think we have to be willing to allow ourselves to do our best in that moment. I'm not at the level of a saint yet, so I have to accept where I am and work from there. And it did seem that through that whole encounter, I was aware that there was a peaceful "vision residing in my heart." In all instances, but especially difficult ones, we can carry that heartfelt prayer for peace for all, and also be willing to listen to divine guidance each time and act accordingly. I know 