Spiritual and material consciousness are opposite in their modes of operation. You can test yourself as to whether you are filled with material or spiritual consciousness. Spiritual consciousness tells you that you must include in your happiness and prosperity the happiness and well-being of others. Material consciousness tells you that you should make a dollar any way you can, and keep it for yourself. Material consciousness says to eat your apple and cookies yourself. Spiritual consciousness says to divide and share with someone else.
If somebody angers you, know that you are in material consciousness. Even if you have been illtreated, still you should be ready to forgive. When you forgive, you are in spiritual consciousness. Forgiving means to give your enemy a chance to gain better understanding. If you become vengeful or angry, you only make your enemy more blind and angry. You may even make more enemies, for an angry person is the target of all. In addition, as soon as you get angry, you also begin to misunderstand. You back up your wrong feelings with the comforting warmth of your anger and false reasoning. Never let anger control you. If yoy have this tendency, cut it off. It is one of the worst traits that destroy spirituality. Know that it is for your own good that you should not get angry. Anger is destructive to your happiness. Never let your mental thermometer go up. Be calm inside. Control anger from within. Never give it a place in your heart.
Material consciousness is quarrelsome; spiritual consciousness gets along with everybody. Make the effort to be good yourself and you will see that you influence others to be good automatically. That is spiritual consciousness. Be kind of speech and thought. From my childhood I have never knowingly been unkind. Don’t be critical either. When people complain about others, they usually have a grudge. Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye not be judged.” If you want to judge someone, judge yourself. If you want to talk about others’ faults, talk about your own. Have only love in your heart for others. The more you see the good in them, the more you will establish good in yourself. Hold the consciousness of good. The way to make people good is to see the good in them. Do not nag them. Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. You will then find out how easy it is to get along.
I am an optimist where people are concerned, because I love them. When you love everyone, you see God in all. If you know that everybody is an expression of God, then to be angry or unkind with anyone is to be angry or unkind with God. When you are angry or mean or uncompassionate, you put a blind between your soul and the souls of others.
Arrogance and insolence are also unspiritual traits. They are born out of an inferiority complex. Suppose I am the cook in this ashram and when sombody gives me a little suggestion about my work, I say that I already know it all- that is insolence. The insolent person advertises the limitation of his knowledge and also his lack of breeding. If you want to favourably impress others, why advertise your inferiority by a display of insolence and arrogance? It shows nothing more than a lack of manners and intelligence, and an uncontrolled temperament. Insolence and arrogance are forms of ignorance- unspiritual habits in their primitive state.
Extract from the book ” The Divine Romance” by Sri Paramahansa Yogananda