Positive Thoughts: Happy Vasant Panchami!!!

Happy Vasant Panchami!!!

Vasant Panchami sometimes referred to as Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami, or the Basant Festival of Kites is a Sikh and Hindu festival held on the fifth day of Magha (in early February) marking the start of spring and the Holi season. On this day Hindus worship Saraswati Devi, the goddess of learning, wisdom, knowledge, music, art, culture, refinement, science and technology. The Goddess Saraswati is worshipped and the day is treated by celebrants as Saraswati's birthday. People worship Goddess Saraswati to attain enlightenment through knowledge and to rid themselves of lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance.

In terms of its cultural significance, the festival has been compared to Chinese New Year and the Christian Candlemas, with the subsequent 40-day stretch between Vasant Panchami and Holi compared to the Christian Lenten season. Starting on Vasant Panchami, a log with a figure of Holika is placed in a public place and during the next 40 days, the faithful add twigs and other combustible material to the log to form a pyre which is lit on Holi.

Most educational institutions arrange special prayers or pujas in the morning to seek blessing of the Goddess. Poetic and musical gatherings are held and children are initiated to learn the alphabet and are often taught to write their first words. This ritual of initiating education to children is known as Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham/Praasana, one of the famous rituals of Vasant Panchami. The color yellow plays an important role in Vasant Panchami as it is related to the bloom of mustard flowers during this period.

Be the Change

Every day, read something inspirational. Make what you read meaningful by taking a few moments to reflect on it. Maybe even take one inspiration and write down a few thoughts on how it applies to you and the changes you can make.

Simplicity

Peace is simplicity. Simplicity is beauty. A simple exercise to
experience this is - Choose a day as your day of simplicity. Speak
little, and listen with attention. Do something incognito and nice for
a person you are close to. Eat simple and natural food. Create time
periods for not doing anything - just walk, look around, live the
moment. Have your mind open to a more profound and silent sensitivity.
Appreciate each scene and each person as they are. In the evening write
down your discoveries. Observe the state of your mind.

The Origin of Addictions And Overcoming Them

Today, the number of addictions and addicts is growing fast. It seems that today human beings can become addicts of almost anything: credit cards, eating, drinking, sweets, lust, smoking, relationships, television, the internet and computer games, football, earning money, spending money, power, work, arguing, war.

In some ways, this shows the presence of an inner void (emptiness) that people try to fill with external things. While a person becomes an addict to any of the above aspects, their willpower is gradually weakened. And if one does not realize what is happening or does not put a stop to it, it is possible to fall into a spiraling series of automatic and compulsive actions that gradually limits our freedom to decide what we want to do with our lives, causing a loss of self-esteem and a state of depression, anxiety and dependency.

The origin of many addictions is due to a desperate need to solve a problem or a spiritual need (which may be a lack of respect, love, peace, attention, consideration) of a materialist form.

Here are a few examples:
* In a cigarette: one looks for peace, calm and relaxation.
* In alcohol: one looks for confidence, determination and security.
* In sugar and chocolate: one looks for love, sweetness and tenderness.
* In coffee and tea: one looks for energy and inner strength.

(To be continued tomorrow....)

Blessing: May you become equal to the Father and become powerful with the awareness of the Highest Father, the highest self and the highest task!

In today's world, a child of a VIP would also consider himself to be a VIP. However, no one can be higher than the Father. We are the highest souls, children of the Highest on High Father - this awareness makes you powerful. Those who have the awareness of the Highest Father, the highest self and the highest task become equal to the Father. Compared to the world, no one is as elevated and highest as you and, therefore, you are praised and worshiped.


Slogan: Check your subtle attachments in the mirror of perfection and be liberated.