Initiation of the Body

[Shin'Ar]

If I may say something, perhaps room for consideration. I used to be big in to the metal scene where "death, black magic, evil, darkness and such" was heavily used as a source of expression.

Pretty much every individual who gets caught in the extremeness of it (I have friends who self-mutilate, are attracted to pedophilia and all sorts of other things, constantly feeding their own hatred) seems to have a very abusive past in one form or another. These are not bad, evil people, they are very tortured individuals. These individuals have no connection to Love in the same way we do. Many of them do not even believe Love exists.

Yet, I cannot help them simply by opposing who they are. They became rebellious, "outside the norm" and in their manner BECAUSE it is an expression of their feelings of being unacceptable to society. I cannot simply tell them they are 'trapped in darkness', and that they need to walk towards the Light. Not only would they not really understand me, so many of them are attached to these things as a source of PROTECTIVE IDENTITY that they are afraid to step outside of them.

With that in mind, the only way I know how to spread service in love to these individuals is to BE an example of Love. To show them that they do not need to be extreme to be unique or accepted. Teaching, unfortunately, cannot always be done directly and focused like a laser-beam. Sometimes it must be done indirectly so that the individual may take hold of the lessons themselves.

I agree with that, so where do you draw the line between that sort of teaching and that which you call being an example of love?

As you said they are often repulsed by displays of love.

How does one show these people that there is another option?