Daily Positive Thoughts: May 01, 2016: Celebration

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 01, 2016: Celebration

Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics in Sochi, 2014

Celebration

Every day is a celebration because instead of waiting for happy endings, we open our eyes to the wonder of life, to see the humour and magic in each moment. Delighted in the way things turn out, amazed at the beauty of it all.

Believe It Or Not (Part 1)!

Remembering the time when the world was a united kingdom of peace, love and happiness which lasted till we came down from our throne of purity and started playing with the dust of body consciousness, ignoring the truth of the universe. The truth was - body consciousness attracts sorrow and soul consciousness attracts the opposite emotion i.e. joy. Why does God never experience sorrow although He is also a player in the world drama? The reason for that is simple. He follows the truth of the universe by remaining soul conscious right through the time He plays His role either on earth for a few years or when he stays in the soul world for rest of the time. Imagine thinking about God as someone who is lustful or can you imagine God as revengeful. Does anyone all over the world in different religions every say God is one of these? Many of us have grown up hearing that God created man in his own image, right from our school days. So, a man in God’s image should not ideally be either impure in any way or come under the influence of emotions of jealousy, anger, hatred and ego. Then, why is it that these emotions find a common place in the consciousness of today’s man, so much so that life without them cannot be imagined by many or for most it is unnatural to live without them. Obviously, the saying mentioned above is for how man was in the beginning and not the man which we see today.

We have all also heard of Adam and Eve become sinful after biting the forbidden fruit, which suggests that man in its originality was something else, not an ape, as we have learnt in our education, but according to spirituality, a human right from the beginning. The only difference is that is that he was a human with better virtues – virtues like what God possesses – without any lust, anger, greed, ego and attachment. Believe it or not – man was like God, the way he used to talk, perform actions and come into contact with others. It was as if God was talking through every human being in that paradise or heaven which we talk about very commonly, when man started playing his role on planet earth.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Tolerance enables one to learn from mistakes. 

When you are sure of what you are doing and you are in your stage of self-respect, criticism can be taken in the right way. This will enable you to check yourself when you go wrong. Instead of justifying your mistakes you will be able to learn from them and improve. When someone criticises you, remind yourself that you have something to learn from it. Ask yourself if there is at least a small aspect that you could incorporate in your life. Take this aspect and leave the rest. 

Message for the day

To have humility is to be available for others. 

Expression: To focus not only on the self but on others too brings humility. Such humility allows others to come close. The one who is humble is able to give others what is required. Yet he balances with a certain quietness, so that others don't become too casual and familiar 

Experience: When I am humble, I am easy and light giving the love that I have within. I am free from the sorrow of expectations. Instead I actually become a reservoir of treasures from where others can take benefit. I am constantly a giver being available for others. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 30, 2016: Addicted To Praise

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 30, 2016: Addicted To Praise

Addicted To Praise

We all want to be liked, valued and appreciated. There's no doubt that we're motivated by praise from those who matter to us. But it's easy to become addicted to praise. Savour compliments without needing them. Enjoy performing well even if no one notices. Give your best without expecting validation.

Simplifying The Union With The Spiritual Parent

The easiest definition of the word yoga is union.  When you unite with someone or something, you keep thinking about that someone or something and keep visualizing the same. It is as if you experience a union with the object or the person in your mind.  In this way, there is a subtle (non-physical) communication with them which, when you meet, will turn into a form of words (physical communication).

We communicate with others mostly through physical means, but we cannot do the same with our spiritual Father and Mother - God, as He does not take a physical form.   Our communication or union has to be subtle (non-physical), through the vibrations that we radiate as souls or life energies.  There is deeply rooted belief in many – a belief that goes back to many centuries, that this union takes many births of effort to become a master at, but that’s not true, it just takes a little practice and patience. The reason why it may seem difficult, at first, is that our mind tends to be filled with thoughts, feelings and images related to other people, friends, family members with whom we have interacted or will be interacting, our workplace, the past, the future, unnecessary anxieties and many more issues.  We need to learn to drop these thought conversations with others and creation of subtle images of other people and situations so that we can redirect our mind and vibrations to the Supreme.  This also means learning how to make our mind and intellect quiet enough, and as a result, receptive enough, to receive, listen and feel His vibrations and His thoughts, and to experience His subtle presence.  Ultimately it is an exchange of the energy of pure love between the soul and its Parent.

Go from a 'frog' to a 'prince'.

Morph yourself and transform your personality to be your best possible 'self'. 

Even though it may seem like a terrifying leap, just remember, you weren't born as a 'frog'. All your limitations and shortcomings were picked up along the way.

All you need to do is simply unlock your 'inner prince' and release your personal best.

Message for the day

You can remain stable when you learn to apply a full-stop. 

Expression: In any difficult situation, check if you are having thoughts like, "why do things happen with me like this or why is this person behaving in this way" etc. you can never remain stable when you have such questions. 

Experience: Tell yourself that it is much easier to put a full-stop(.) than putting a question mark(?). understand the difference between worrying and finding solutions and worrying. If there is a solution, find it, if there isn't let things take care of themselves and put a full-stop. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 29, 2016: Live Life with Passion

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 29, 2016: Live Life with Passion

Artist: Alex Alemany: “A painting within the painting being painted by the painter who painted the painting where he is painting.”

Life with Passion

To live life with passion is to discover what invigorates and inspires your soul.  Make time to identify your passion.

When you find your passion, it's then possible to find direction and focus to do what you love.

You don't have to focus on just one passion.  Why not, do a little bit of everything that you love?
When you live with passion, you gain enthusiasm for life as a whole and as a result you're better able to persist through life's challenges.

The Spiritual Seed And The Human World Tree

Spirituality introduces God or the Supreme Being as a seed, a point of reference, the spiritual Pole Star, remembered by all souls all over the world. But over a period of time, with an experience of linking my mind and intellect with Him, we realize that although He is a seed, a point, He is a not a non-living seed but a living one with a unique personality of his own, a personality which no one can match, a personality of spiritual truth, of beauty, of purity, of generosity, of love, of giving, of peace, of humility, of bliss, of power, of sweetness etc. How is this possible? We normally think of a seed as inactive or dormant, despite the enormous potential that lies within it, due to which it gives rise to a complete tree and bears fruits and other products. God is the seed of the human world tree. When I see virtues around me, whether it be in all human souls including deities, prophets, saints and the founders of the great religions or animals or nature, I know that ultimately this comes from God but God is not all pervasive, i.e. he is not present in all humans or nature or in the divine souls, but everything that is good in them comes from the virtues that are present in God or basically from the personality of God (mentioned above), because the tree is the creation of the seed, so all that is positive in the tree has come from the Source, the seed, perhaps sometime in the past. But, despite the goodness which is visible; today, peacelessness and pain do not seem to have reduced, and have probably increased, if we look behind the false covering of material success. The goodness is only in small patches. So what is the need of our times?

To spiritually uplift myself, I, being a part of the creation, a part of the tree, need to catch the positive energy within God, the creator, the seed. This energy is subtle, in that it is non-physical, but it is also glowing like light, and in meditation I can catch that glow, absorb it and feel its spiritual embrace healing me and making me complete or full.  At the present moment, recognizing this need, the Supreme Being is shining the light of His personality through pure thought and vibrations more brightly than ever into the human world tree, inviting us: Oh sweet child, come and reclaim for yourselves your birthright, the inheritance of truth, by absorbing the qualities inherent in me through meditation or a spiritual link with me and making them your own.

True knowledge is that which comes into practice. 

To know and not to bring into practice means there is not the accurate understanding of it. It is natural that whenever there is clear understanding change is brought about very naturally and with great ease. When I am able to bring about a change within myself based on understanding, I naturally change with interest and commitment. I don't feel the pressure of the situations or people for me to bring about a change, but very gently and naturally.

Message for the day

Become the ones who make efforts continuously and experience constant self-progress. 

Expression: Check if there is any doubt within you whether you'll succeed or not. If there is any such doubt it means that your effort is not continuous. Where there is constant effort you experience constant progress. 

Experience: Each day remind yourself of at least one thing that you have achieved for the day. When you make a habit in this way, you will be able to notice and experience the fruit of the effort that you put in. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 28, 2016: Peacemaker

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 28, 2016: Peacemaker

The Nobel Peace Prize 1991 was awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi, Politician and opposition leader of Myanmar, “for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights". 

Peacemaker

It's not about winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  It is about choosing to be a peacemaker and working towards a win-win solution in every situation.

First, stop being at war with yourself, and when the turbulence in your mind ceases, you can begin to make peace with the world.

The Spiritual Director And The Actor

Spirituality adds great depth and value to Shakespeare's famous words - All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Through spirituality, I realize and experience myself as a soul, separate from the body, playing a part on the stage of the world through my physical body costume. The difference between the actor and the role is clearly understood. An added dimension then, to this consciousness is that God or the Supreme Being is the Spiritual Director of the play we are enacting.

The Director - God looks at the entire drama and every actor's part from a broader perspective. His vision is not just limited to the present but stretches from the past (past not limited to this birth) to the future (future not limited to this birth) of each one's part. I learn from the Director how to play my own part with accuracy, now as well as his training helps me for the future. Like any good actor, I need to have a lot of respect, appreciation, loyalty and love for the Director and immense faith in him. The Director is like a mentor or guide for an actor, to whom he surrenders completely.  He knows that by doing that, his act will be of the highest quality. If he doesn't do that and he performs his act his own way, his act will suffer and he will experience pain. As a result he will not be as successful as one who is willing to listen and learn from the Director.  If I keep a little distance between me and my role, so I don't lose sight of the Spiritual Director's instructions and the way the play is moving, my part will be much easier to perform, better appreciated by all, and I will be extremely successful.  Positive appreciation for a performance for an actor's performance by the spectators is of great value to any actor, sometimes even more important than commercial success. So surrendering to the soul's Director and having a strong relationship of mutual trust with him is particularly helpful at this time, when there is a lot of confusion on the stage of the Earth with billions of actors crowded here and our acts not exactly of the highest quality.  So I, the spiritual actor need someone at this time who can tell me about mistakes committed by my in my past acts and improve my act of the present which will result in a positive present as well as future. Spirituality introduces me to that someone.

Sweetness is the mastery of the senses. 

Eyes that see to the back of things, 

Ears that hear to the heart of things, 

Lips that speak only the essence of things. 

Sweetness is the result of a long journey inward to the core of life and the ability to rest there and watch.

Message for the day

To have the balance of being a master and a child is to experience constant success. 

Expression: To have the right balance means to know when to be a master and when to be a child. When one gives an idea or makes a contribution, it is as a master - with total authority. But while the idea is heard by others and is being criticized I become a child. There is no attachment to the idea, but the mind is open to receive new thoughts in order to enrich what is already there. 

Experience: When I am able to maintain a balance between being master and a child, I am able to experience constant happiness I am able to put forth my creative ideas with confidence. Yet I am not upset when someone criticises my ideas. On the contrary, I am constantly learning and moving forward. So I constantly experience success. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 27, 2016: Self-Sovereignty

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 27, 2016: Self-Sovereignty

Self-Sovereignty

Subservience to my negativity is a very precarious existence as I can never be sure how well I will handle a difficult situation. With practice it is possible to create appreciative and compassionate thoughts; then I no longer need to indulge in resentment, bitterness or dislike. Training myself to react calmly and wisely offers enormous dividends. Let me talk to myself silently with love and encouragement, balanced with firmness, and like the wise old sovereigns of fairy stories, let me rule the inner kingdom of my mind with benevolence.

The Four Pillars Of A Spiritual Lifestyle

A balanced and fulfilling spiritual life is like a table.   It stands on four legs and if one leg is shorter than the others then both balance and equilibrium will be difficult.  The four legs or pillars of a spiritual life are given below in the form of four subjects. If any of the subjects is not a part of our lives or is a part of our life, but not to as great an extent as the others, then the overall balance of our spiritual life will be affected adversely (negatively).

1. Daily spiritual study (knowledge or gyan)
Daily spiritual study provides the right quality of nourishment for our mind and intellect, the two important energies of the soul.

2. Daily meditation (spiritual yoga)
Daily meditation provides the means to explore, discover and reconnect with oneself and with God.

3. The inculcation and development of virtues (dharna)
Giving some time each day to the conscious development of our character (virtue) helps to eliminate any negative sanskars or personality characteristics (vices) arid improves our ability to build positive and harmonious relationships. The quality of our relationships is a mirror reflection of our dharna.

4. The service of others (seva)
A life purpose based on some kind of service is the foundation of personal growth through the practice of giving.  Finding appropriate ways to use our increasing spiritual power and understanding (through the three subjects mentioned above) for the benefit of others is the most satisfying way to use our energy today. It also ensures happiness for the present as well as for the future through accumulation of positive energy in the form of blessings of those who are served.

To understand the value of the jewels of knowledge is to use them well. 

When I understand the value of what I know and the benefit of applying it in my life, I need to use it well. As I start applying important points in my life, I will start becoming richer and richer with these jewels. I will find the practical benefit of knowledge and will be encouraged to further recognize and use points of knowledge. Today I will take one point of knowledge and use it. I will use it not as a force but as a choice. With love, I will apply it to my life and bring it into my daily activities and behavior. Each day when I take up one point like this, I will truly be able to use points of knowledge and benefit from them.

Message for the day

Forgiveness means to forget the mistakes of others. 
Expression: The one who is able to forgive is able to forget the mistakes in his future interactions even after noticing the mistakes of others. He is able to be loving and so he is able to give corrections with love. Only when there is love in one's interactions, will the corrections given will be effective. Also such a person will not be caught up with anyone's mistakes and will be free from attitudes. 

Experience: Even if there is a temporary feeling of negativity, if I am able to forget the mistakes of others and forgive them, I am able to be free from negative feelings. I am able to be light and free from the burdens of the past interactions with them. So I find myself successfully able to deal with others, whoever they may be. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 26, 2016: Inspirations

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 26, 2016: Inspirations

Inspirations
The soul flies, the body plods. If you identify with your body, you will feel heavy. If you think you are a soul, you will feel light.

Breaking Down Patterns Of Negative Thoughts And Feelings

Having understood that the source of our feelings are our thoughts, we realize that right through our journey in the physical world, in many births, we have repeatedly built up enormous webs of negative and harmful thoughts and feelings, creating many unnecessary difficulties for us, internally as well as externally. The habit continues in my present life too. Meditation helps me to untangle this mess, and break the habit. It helps me come to terms with what is going on in my own inner world and understand how I create thoughts and feelings, how to take responsibility for them, and how to tap into my original, positive inner resources, which helps me displace negative patterns of thoughts and feelings. So, meditation is not merely a relaxation technique but a powerful tool for a seemingly difficult task of self-transformation.

To get the positive cycle of thoughts and feelings working in my life, the easiest place to start with is our thoughts. It's not very difficult to change our thoughts. It just requires attention. And by changing my thoughts, it becomes easy to change my feelings. In meditation, I decide that for a few minutes, each day (it could be as less as 1-2 minutes or as much as 25-30 minutes, depending on the external setting I am in) I am going to set aside negative thoughts which are weak or wasteful, and create pure, positive, powerful thoughts, based on the awareness of my spiritual identity. As I do this, I begin to experience the original resources or treasures of the self. As a result, positive and powerful feelings for the self and others emerge.

To play a special role in the drama of life is to give happiness to all. 

In the drama of life, if I want to play the role of a hero, I need to be so full that I can give happiness to all I meet. My specialty lies in giving - giving happiness. Everyone is in search of happiness and are unable to find a source to it. But I need to connect within and find the strength and quality within. When I do this, I will be able to give some positive experience to each and everyone I meet. I will also be able to help them connect to their own inner qualities. Today I will make sure that no one goes away from me empty handed. I need to give some positive experience or feeling to them. It could be a point of appreciation towards them or a feeling of courage or support or any other thing that would give them a positive experience. In thought, word or action I need to express something positive.

Message for the day

To be elevated is to perform every task with understanding. 

Expression: To understand means to know what to do. So the one who understands and performs the task with this understanding surely performs only elevated tasks. No task is negative, or waste. Nor are actions ordinary, but each and every action is special because there is clear understanding. Others too get inspiration from such actions. 

Experience: When there is clear understanding of what I have to do, I am able to do what is right. So in this process, I find that there is a lot of time and energy saved and I am able to move forward very easily. I find that I am able to use my speciality in the right way bringing benefit to myself and others. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 25, 2016: Kindness

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 25, 2016: Kindness

Kindness

Great souls take advantage of every moment and every opportunity to give happiness to others through kindness in their thoughts; such souls are willing to overlook weaknesses and mistakes and have the desire to help everyone reach their potential.

Living Life On The Surface

In an ideal situation, the thoughts that run in my mind, should be exactly those that I would like and I want. We do exert this control, that we possess, over our thoughts, but it is not complete and it is only sometimes. The more we become completely engrossed in our daily routine, the more our thoughts tend to becomereactions to what goes on outside us. That’s when they go out of control and our lives move in an unfocused way. As a result things don't work out as we might have desired. Then we develop a habit of blaming other people and circumstances, or we justify our pain by telling ourselves we are not very worthy or powerful enough. Often, these two inner strategies go together. The trouble is, both are cover ups, preventing us from going for a long-term solution.

In this way, we tend to live our lives on a very superficial level, without taking the time to find the solution to what is going on wrong inside. Deeper difficulties remain hidden inside. I move from one scene of life to another - eating, watching television, studying in college, getting married, changing jobs, buying a new car or house, etc. without ever stopping.  All these are part of living, but if I make them my whole and sole, my foundation, it’s as if I skate across the surface of life without being in touch with the core. As time progresses, an inner shallowness develops. Then the feeling keeps growing inside that there must be more to life than this. I then, find that my relationships are not working out as I would have hoped and they are lacking in depth.

Listen to the song in your heart

Everyone has a song in their heart. Everyone has a reason for being here and a season for making their highest, greatest most auspicious contribution. No one knows what that is or when that is for anyone else. Only our own heart knows what and when it is for us. Your heart wants to sing. Don’t die with your music still within you. There is a reason for everything and a purpose to your life. Too many fail to listen to the song in their heart and therefore fail to find their purpose and their part. What makes your soul sing and your heart dance? Actually you heart is your soul and you are both! Ask this one question of yourself but don’t be in a hurry to answer it. Live in the question for a day, a week, a month. Let it invite your heart to speak to you. And when you are absolutely sure what your heart is saying is true then begin to invoke the changes necessary in your life so that you live in alignment with your song. Be patient with this.

Message for the day

Success comes through maintaining self-respect. 

Expression: Where there is self-respect, there is naturally a stable state of mind, even in the most challenging and difficult times. This in turn brings right judgement at all times, which allows discrimination between right and wrong. Right judgement leads to right actions. So there is constant success for such a person. 

Experience: Self-respect is the state of mind where I am able to appreciate my own uniqueness and give regard to myself. When I am able to be in my stage of self-respect, I am able to be stable in all situations. This seat of internal stability keeps me light and easy under all circumstances. I am also able to experience constant success even in the most difficult and challenging times. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 24, 2016: The No Complaining Rule

Daily Positive Thoughts: April 24, 2016: The No Complaining Rule

The No Complaining Rule

Complaining just wrecks the mood and motivation for ourselves and others.  So, today, practice the “No Complaining Rule”.  Even if you're having a really bad day, put things into perspective.  Look for the silver lining on the cloud.  Live in a state of appreciation.

Appreciate at least one thing about each person you meet.  Appreciate all that life has to offer, whether it's the chance to breathe in the fresh air or watch the sunset during your commute home.  Appreciate all the little events you take for granted.

A Message From God (Part 4)

- Sweet children, become aware of your original self and connect to me. Remember me and reclaim your inheritance of Peace, Purity, Bliss, Power and Love. I have come to re-energize you so that together we create the New World, a world where:

Peace is the religion
Love is the language
Compassion is the relationship
Truth is in action and
Happiness is a way of living.

A New World Morning for you … your dream … is very soon going to be a reality - .

This is the message of God for all of us and this is our experience at the Brahma Kumaris, expressed in a few words - He talks to me everyday … He loves me sooo much … He has healed all my pain … He teaches me everyday … I know it’s difficult to believe, but He has really come … Do you want to connect to Him … Do you want to experience a personal relationship with Him … He is here and He is mine … He has finally come ... you don’t believe me ... come and experience for yourself.

To know Him more, come over to the nearest Brahma Kumaris centre.

Call … email …

To give regard to one another is to bring unity. 

The strength of the gathering will increase when I am able to give regard to one and all. Each one has their unique part to play and I only have to see that uniqueness. When I appreciate the contribution that each one makes, I will be able to use the smallest specialty for the success of the task. This brings about unity and the strength of the gathering increases. Today I will note the specialty of at least 3 people close to me. I will also go up to them and appreciate this quality of theirs. This will help me to use this specialty for the success of tasks. When I develop the habit of seeing the positive aspect of people instead of negative, I am able to bring about unity and strength in the gathering.

Message for the day

The power of cooperation enables the most difficult task to be successfully done. 

Expression: To have the power of cooperation means to have the ability to see and use the specialities of others in any task that is to be done. It is the ability to respect and use the suggestions and ideas of each and everyone which contributes for the success of the task. So the one who is able to use this power is able to be successful in any task that he takes up.

Experience: When I am able to give cooperation and take cooperation from those around me, I never experience fear for any task that has to be done, but am able to be at ease, knowing that everything is possible. I am also able to earn the respect of those around me for having made the best use of their specialities, which further facilitates the success of the task. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris