Page 211 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

d
chapter Six 205
As this episode in Buddha’s life reveals, as you begin to advance in spiritual profundity, those who once revered you may begin to criticize and insult you due to lack of understanding. Unfortunately, there is often a psychological demand among fellow aspirants, family members, friends and colleagues in the world that you should not advance more than they do. Therefore, there arises the urge to draw you back, to pull your legs. When this occurs your mind must be ready to see that even the fondest friend or relative may become an enemy.
However, even if you are persecuted due to misunderstanding, you must continue steadfastly to pursue Truth according to your own ethical standards. As you continue to progress naturally according to the path of sadhana you have chosen, there arises an “escape velocity” that makes it impossible for others to pull you back. If you are on the right path, you must continue, even if the whole world opposes you. If your suffering is for the sake of righteousness, the Divine Self will endow your personality with unimaginable strength and courage.
If the masses do not appreciate his expressions or activities, a Sage is not bothered by it at all. And thus he nds himself alone—not with loneliness but with God, endowed with tremendous force to carry out the particular movement that he has adopted. That has been the example of Sages from all times.