A discussion came up recently with some friends on the subject of martyrdom.
I think most friends and students have heard of this line, "Service is the law of life" in Dr Stone's books. And it cannot be emphasized enough that indeed it is only through service that we learn and grow.
If we understand the various psychological aspects within ourselves we will recognize some significant personality archetypes closely tied to Service. The two archetypes at the top of my head would be the Servant and the Martyr.
The Higher Servant being one who is willing to serve one's brothers and sisters unconditionally with humility and humbleness and yet exercising a clear balance in wisdom and personal power. The Higher Martyr is one who is willing to forego one's evolution for the sake of others - much like Kuan Yin who has taken the vow of the Bodhisattva.
There are many fine examples of the Higher Servant and the Higher Martyr in the world, including the Ascended Masters. What is also very rampant however in the world today are Lower Servants and Lower Martyrs.
I hear stories from friends, clients and students from all other the world about certain teachers or healers who 'sacrifice' themselves for the betterment of others. One such story is a healer who falls inevitably very ill for weeks after doing a group healing meditation. Or a teacher who claims to have the power to wipe out his students' karma by taking them on as his own. At first glance, these actions may seem noble.
But I question if indeed these acts are necessary and I question if the healers/teachers have come from a position of arrogance that they have denied their own students and clients the opportunity to learn. We know that mistakes are often made in our growth towards Self and God Realization. And it is only through mistakes that we learn. And if we look at the Laws of Karma we also understand that we attract or repel that which is within our consciousness. So no initiate on earth is above this law unless one is an avatar.
Even as healers/teachers martyr themselves, the students/clients will inevitably have to face the music of their past actions. Can the lower martyring actions be considered service then? Personally, I think not. More than anything, it is possibly just a case of spiritual glamour indulgence.
To quote Dr Stone from Soul Psychology, "Being a negative Martyr archetype bankrupts a person, until the inevitable breakdown and heavy karmic life lessons force him or her to learn to be selfish. Remember, there is spiritual selfishness and there is negative ego selfishness.........Without being spiritually selfish, we can't set healthy boundaries"
So what I have learned from these examples is really to see that everything that happens in my life is a spiritual test and lesson and if I were to fall ill because I unconsciously took on the pains/karma of others, to me it is a reminder that it is the Law of Karma at work. And that my lesson is indeed to own my personal power and balance it with love, spiritual/psychological wisdom and common sense. This will pave the way for me to form clearer psychological boundaries with others resulting in clearer energetic and psychic boundaries.
I rather consciously be a Higher Martyr than a lower suffering one any day.
Namaste.