Jealousy is something we all recognize as a failing, something that needs to be overcome. 

But in order to overcome jealousy, we must first admit that we have it. This seems obvious but not everyone is willing to acknowledge this trait in themselves. 

Most advice for overcoming jealousy looks at it in terms of how we wrestle with the feeling itself. 

But there is a better way.

In an address on “Jealousy,” Master of Yoga Dr. George King said:

“There is another way, and it’s possibly even a harder way than that, but I think it’s a surer way. That begins with a careful analysis of oneself. And when one denotes jealousy in oneself—and it’s in all our natures by the way—when one does this, denotes this, you become so good at everything that you do, that you have no need at all to be jealous of anyone else. Not even the slightest suspicion of jealousy can enter your nature, because you’re as well versed as everyone else and, gradually, you will overcome this jealousy completely. You will transmute it into something positive. And I think this is the surest way. And I think it’s the hardest way.”

This is a very different approach, but it is very encouraging. 

He also said:

“If you notice it, the jealous person—the really jealous person—is generally the person who has never accomplished anything, because they haven’t bothered to train their mind, or because of downright laziness—not because of the lack of opportunity. We all have the opportunity.”

Having good self awareness is key on the spiritual path. We are works in progress and we are not able to improve a part of ourselves if we don’t first recognize that we have room for improvement. 

In some way, we are all insecure about something. This is where jealousy can come in. It’s based in fear and very destructive. 

But if we are willing to change ourselves then we can break away from this fear.

Something you can try

In his address, Dr. King said:

“Recognize it; do something about it. And you have the strength, the power, the knowledge, the ability, to transmute the energy into something different—into something positive, dynamic, a drive giving you power, something which pushes you along, and this is the drive which is so necessary in metaphysics. In fact we are learning to transmute all of our negative attributes into something positive—into a dynamic drive. This is what is meant by the rise of kundalini, actually.”

Let’s all try this in our own lives. 

Let me know how this works for you.