New Age, Alternative,
Metaphysical Publication
Aquarius-Atlanta.com

Ask the Swami

by Swami Beyondananda

Dear Swami:

How do I handle a boss who gives me no instructions for a particular project and then complains about how it was done?

His standard reply to any request for assistance or any comment on being treated unfairly is, “That's your problem.” Since I'm not in a position to look for another job, he's right. It is my problem. I even bought one of those voodoo dolls and am thinking of putting his name on it and sticking pins in strategic places. Any ideas?

Mandy Torpedos,
Berwyn, Illinois

Dear Mandy:

Please, please, please, no violence! Violence never works (unless, of course, you're a nation-state with a powerful air force). No, your boss needs your compassionate help. From what you say, it sounds like he is in the advanced stages of assaholism.

The main symptom of assaholism is assaholic behavior, accompanied by the denial that there is any assahole problem whatsoever. It is very important that you handle this situation delicately and discreetly.

Perhaps you can introduce him to a friend of yours who is a recovering assaholic, or even anonymously leave literature around about “Assaholics Anonymous.”

Above all, never become self-righteous. An assaholier-than-thou attitude will defeat your purpose.

Dear Swami:

I have asked this question of many great masters, and none could answer it to my satisfaction. So I will ask you:  “How do you know you know?”

Ashir Dropov,
Brooklyn, New York

Dear Ashir:

As far as I know, there are Four Stages of Knowing:

1. You don't know.
2. You don't know you don't know.
3. You know you don't know.
4. You know “I don't know” is all you need to know.

Clearly, you have not achieved Stage Four because you still think you need to know if you know, and your desire to be aware of what you know and what you don't know has led you to a state of mental confusion.