I have been in a relationship for 22 years, the first 18 were fine, then slowly over the last few years things have changed. My partner now seems very intolerant of what I do and what I say. We are both practitioners of Vipassana meditation, and my partner meditates every morning and has done so for the past 35 years!. Our differences of opinion lately, have been very frequent and are now escalating in to him becoming very loud and very vocal and angry, not a characteristic that I would ever have expected to see. He comes across to all people as a passive, caring, loving, lovely man. When we have a disagreement and I try later to talk to him about why this might be happening, I get told that it is in the past, and now everything is fine. I understand this, but my emotions get very affected by the intensity, so it takes me awhile to let go. I am also told that I start 95% of any disagreements, and that I need to change. If I suggest something about his behaviour, I get told “one finger pointing, three fingers pointing back”. My partner always seems to have a quote or saying to cover everything. I am feeling guilt, I am feeling overwhelmed, I am feeling scared. I am feeling my emotions strongly in my body, and am trying hard, i try to watch my sensations and not get caught up in them but at times I seem to be failing dismally. I know that I obviously contribute to the conflict, but feel that I will be giving in to his demands and kowtowing to all his demands if there is to be a change. He says he needs to change as well, but he continues with the same intolerance, and is still loud and angry. When we argue he becomes very personal and belittling, I find this very hurtful, he sees that as a weakness, “getting caught up in my ego”. I am now thinking it may be better to walk away and let go of this relationship. Thank you for listening,

I live in an English speaking country and I have read a response you had about interracial marriages however it was in response to someone who was already married and I am wondering in my situation, I am open to marrying any race/religion so long as the person has the qualities I believe will suit me and I who I feel is right for me and who I have chosen but how would I go about from breaking my parents wish? In another response you told a 27 year old that it was okay for them to leave an abusive father even if it meant leaving the mother as it wasn’t her job to protect the mother and that she was old enough to leave and live her life. Is that the same for someone of an Indian background?

I have recently began my working career, and I am struggling with the long working days that seem to bring me very little fulfillment and happiness. Throughout the working day I often feel empty and most days this feeling comes home with me. I have committed myself to a take on journey to spiritual enlightenment, but find it hard to stay on track while I am at work. I have found that my long days at my desk job often drain the spiritual progress I have made out of me. I know that I will soon make a large life change and leave this job, but until I can do that, what are some exercises I can practice while at work to make my day feel more fulfilling?