Daily Positive Thoughts: January 01, 2017: Cultivate Silence

Daily Positive Thoughts: January 01, 2017: Cultivate Silence

Cultivate Silence

Behind all creation is silence. Silence is the essential condition, the vital ingredient for all creation and all that is created. It is a power in its own right. The artist starts with a blank canvas - silence. The composer places it between and behind the notes. The very ground of your being, out of which comes all your thoughts, is silence. The way to silence is through meditation. When you arrive in your own silence you will know true freedom and real power. Stop, take a minute, and listen to the silence within you today. Then be aware of what disturbs your inner silence. It could be negative thoughts, memories, sensations. And when you are aware, you will know what is draining your creative power, and you will know what needs to change...on the inside!

Spiritual Roses Of The Supreme Gardener

The main features of physical flowers are their colour, form and fragrance, by which we judge their beauty. All these characteristics have their own unique importance. Introducing oneself to spirituality is like giving oneself into the hands of the Supreme Spiritual Gardener or the Supreme Being (God). Like a physical gardener who possesses qualities of patience, tirelessness, love, far-sightedness, faith etc. on a limited level, the Supreme Gardener possesses these qualities on an unlimited level, which he uses to bring us up. As we remain under his sustenance and care, over a period of time, we blossom and are transformed into beautiful spiritual flowers, and our thorns fall away. When we look at ourselves as spiritual flowers, our colour symbolizes spiritual knowledge. Depending on how we imbibe the wisdom shared by the Spiritual Gardener and bring it in our day-to-day functioning; in our thoughts, words, actions and relationships; the more beautiful a colour we take. Our form is shaped depending on the quality of our connection with the Supreme Being, the Gardener. The deeper and stronger the connection, the more beautiful the form. Lastly, our fragrance refers to divine qualities like sweetness, humility, tolerance, carefreeness, purity and many more, which we develop. Physical flowers with a good colour, form and fragrance, attract everyone around them. Seeing and coming close to them, gives one an experience of joy. The same holds true for spiritual flowers.

Roses are considered the king of all flowers, with the best possible colour, form and fragrance. Spiritual roses are those souls which continuously remain in a spiritual consciousness and spread the fragrance of that consciousness to others. Their thoughts, words and actions get shaped according to this consciousness. They have a deep relationship with the Spiritual Gardener and are always eager to ensure that others also experience that relationship and become spiritual roses; which is a deep wish of the Supreme Gardener, for every spiritual being. They help him in fulfilling that wish.

Spiritual growth

Keep an eye on your own spiritual health, don’t look to others for whatever is lacking, look within, see what remains to be done and do it. Never allow those with a strong personality to tell you what to do especially when you feel something else to be right. This creates depression and you can’t afford to be disheartened. Take care of yourself with understanding and love making sure that you never compromise your own spiritual growth.

Message for the day

To be easy is to touch hearts without leaving a mark. 

Thought to Ponder: Every relationship has something beautiful to contribute. Although there are certain moments where there is bound to be conflict or discord. Yet, when I am connected with the positive side of the relationship, I am able to give unconditionally and touch hearts. Thus, I am able to be free from such words, thoughts or even attitude that leaves a negative impact. 

Point to Practice: Today I will say something good and touching to people around me. I will take as many chances I can to touch the hearts of those around me. This will make me appreciate and value the contribution that people in my life make for my own growth and progress. Every relationship has, in fact, some unique contribution to make. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 31, 2016: Higher Than the Sky

Higher Than the Sky

Keep wearing virtues as your ornaments. Keep loving others. Keep giving regard. You have to go beyond the stars. Keep thoughts higher than the sky, and abundance of patience like the earth. Keep spiritual love in your eyes.

Living With A Purpose

How can we define heaven? Heaven could simply be described as the place to experience peace, joy and happiness. So, what is our heaven in our practical life? How can we experience it? Fulfilling our dream or true purpose or experiencing it being fulfilled is our heaven. Living out our dream and purpose is to live in our personal space of heaven here and right now.

If everything that we do during the day and in life is directed at fulfilling our purpose - our reason for being, for existing and for living - we will be much happier in everything we do, because everything will be channeled or focused towards what we really want. On the other hand, if we do a little bit of everything, but without knowing where we are going or what our true destination is, we will be like a ship that has lost its way in the ocean. The ship’s crew steers the ship – it now goes towards the left, now to the right, goes backwards, then forwards towards the north, towards the south and in the end stays in the same place and gets nowhere, although it’s crew is busy or is working all the time. The crew lets itself be carried by the currents, the tides, the waves in the ocean and the winds above the ocean. It has lost its bearings and doesn't know how to be guided by the stars, which would show the crew the right way. In our case, the stars are our intuition. Without our life’s course dictated by a true purpose, we let our consciousness asleep and don't listen to our intuition, which will reveal to us our purpose.

Find Time & Space

Often we're too focused on the short term. We go for quick fix options, not long term solutions. We look for short term enjoyment, not long term benefit. Often it's because we're too busy managing everyday pressures or too caught up in the 'right now'. 

No matter what's happening, learn to find time & space to think both short term & long term at the same time. Then you'll not only benefit right now but you'll also be better prepared for the opportunities & the challenges ahead.

Message for the day

To understand the importance of something is to do it immediately. 

Though to Ponder: When I understand that something is important in my life, I need to bring it into action immediately. If I don't do that, it means I haven't fully understood its importance. So, I need to make time for it on a daily basis. When I take little steps towards it, I will be able to slowly get the courage and also the time to do it

Point to Practice: Today I will not say I do not have time for what I feel is the right thing to do. I will allocate at least 5 minutes each day to do what I have to. Slowly, I find that the time space available for this activity would automatically increase. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 30, 2016: Success

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 30, 2016: Success

Success

Success means to reach such a constant level of positive thoughts that pure actions happen naturally. Pure actions are like good seeds which, when planted, produce healthy, sweet fruit

Become very, very sweet. Remove even the slightest trace of anger. Whatever you think, whatever you say, consider carefully all the consequences beforehand. By performing actions knowing their consequences, success is definitely experienced.

The Subtle Role Play Of Thoughts And Images (Part 2)

What the quality of a soul’s thoughts and images (or scenes) that it creates, depends on the soul’s sanskaras. Depending on the quality, the soul experiences the various different emotions, whether positive or negative. When the soul first incarnates on the physical world stage from the soul world, the quality of this role play of thoughts and images is high, pure and positive, hence it experiences only positive emotions. As it plays its different roles and comes down in the birth-rebirth cycle, this quality reduces, leading to the experience of emotions like sorrow, peacelessness, etc.

A point worth noting is that the key to any deep emotional experience, whether positive or negative is the creation of thoughts as well as images related to that particular emotion at the same time e.g. think and visualize at the same time, the death of a close relative that took place ten years ago and you immediately have a deep experience of sorrow. Think and visualize together, a loving hug of your mother that took place in your childhood, and you immediately experience deep happiness. This type of co-ordination between these two subtle processes is true concentration. The key to any type of spiritual upliftment is the upliftment of these two processes. The meditation that is taught at the Brahma Kumaris is nothing but a spiritual thought process accompanied by a spiritual visualization process, whereby thoughts and images of the subtle, spiritual self (or soul) and the Supreme Being (or Supreme Soul) are created together to experience the original qualities of the spiritual self and the eternal qualities of the Supreme Being – purity, peace, love, happiness and power.

"I forgive you."

When our feelings are hurt, we find it hard to forgive.  But if we don't forgive we become so wrapped up in the hurt that it just makes us unhappy.

So even though it's hard, forgive, it's good for your well-being.  Forgive the person or the people involved.  And whenever you think of them, think 

"I forgive you."

When you forgive, you're not erasing or excusing the wrong, you're releasing the hurt.  This frees you up to either do something about the wrong or move on.

Message for the day

To be in the present is to experience the beauty of who I am. 

Though to Ponder: Life takes place in the present moment; past and future exist only in our imagination right now. So, I need to experience the present moment. Past and future can hold threats or negative experiences. But the present offers only the beauty of this moment. When I experience the joy of this moment, I would be able to experience and express my inner qualities. 

Point to Practice: Today I will spend at least a few minutes to relish the experience of being in the now. I will feel the flow of energy in my body and the beauty of thoughts in my mind. I will relish the joy of being alive, the joy of having the ability to express and experience who I am and what I can do. Just for these few minutes, I will keep aside what happened yesterday and what would happen tomorrow. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 29, 2016: Contentment

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 29, 2016: Contentment

Contentment

First of all, understand discontentment. Discontent is caused by a constant multiplication of desires. One desire leads to another until there's never a moment when you feel fulfilled.

Desires are like traps. Because of endless desires relationships have become very fragile. There is a lot of irritability and anger due to:

• Selfish attachments (to possessions and people)

• Pride (attachment to a particular image of the self)

When there is discontentment, the heart can never be still because wasteful, negative thoughts destroy peace.

Contentment is the result of spiritual awareness which allows you to recognize negativity. It changes your pattern of thinking. As you tap your huge inner potential, all desires are fulfilled and you regain your peace.

The Subtle Role Play Of Thoughts And Images (Part 1)

The human soul is a subtle (non-physical) stage on which a subtle role play of thoughts and images constantly takes place throughout the day and even while sleeping. We have explained in our older messages how thoughts are of 4 main different types - positive which are based on virtues, necessary related to day-to-day activities, waste which are mainly unnecessary and related to the past and future and negative which are related to vices and other weaknesses. In the same way, we also constantly create images or scenes, which are of the same 4 types, which is why we commonly use the term - the eye of the mind. The mind not only thinks or speaks subtly but visualizes or sees subtly too, almost all the time.

These two processes function, sometimes independent of each other as well as sometimes dependent on each other i.e. influencing each other e.g. think of peace and that leads to visualizations related to the same. Visualize an unpleasant scene of anger and hatred, and your thoughts are led in that direction. Sometimes these two processes function at the same time and sometimes one at a time. Sometimes neither functions at all, which happens much more frequently while sleeping as compared to when we are awake. This subtle, physically invisible role play is the foundation of the physical role play of words and actions that is visible to the self and everyone else around you.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Control freak?

Plan ahead, prepare and stay on top of things as much as you can.  Stay in control but without being a freak.  What?  A control freak?  Me?  Admit it, there's a control freak in you.

Being in control of yourself and your life - well that's OK, but trying to control everything and everyone around you - that's not OK.

So learn to let go a little and be flexible.  Let others take a little more control and trust them to do their best.  When you feel your inner control freak taking control, curb it.  Give yourself a moment to breathe, think and work out the best course of action.

Message for the day

To have the courage to take risks is to overcome fear. 

Though to Ponder: When I am faced with a situation where I have to do something that I have never tried or in something that I have failed, I tend to be afraid or apprehensive. Most often, I decide not to take the risk and either postpone or avoid facing that situation. But, if I am able to take a small little risk and try and do it in a different way, I would be able to overcome my fear. It is not important whether I succeed in the task or not, but having taken the risk itself helps me overcome a little of my fear.

Point to Practice: Today I will do something that I know I have to do, but have been hesitating to do because of my own fear. I will take one little risk and be prepared even for failure. I know that if I avoid things too long the fear of it only increases. So today, I will take a step towards overcoming my fear. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 28, 2016: Harmony

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 28, 2016: Harmony

 

Harmony

I need to recognize that like musical notes we are all different. Only when I am able to harmonize with others can i create a beautiful tune. When I work with other people, I learn to understand them. In the process, I will also learn more about myself and how to use my strengths to support others.

The Power Of Concentrated Thought (Part 3)

Yesterday we had discussed external influences. Some of the internal influences or voices include the influence or voice of:

- selfish or impure desires of name, fame, revenge, greed, remaining in control of a situation or a person or dominating a situation or a person;
- the ego;
- the past;
- our inner conscience;
- pure desires;
- the Supreme Being or God;
- our worries of the present or of the future;
- temporary negative sanskars or personality traits;
- original or inherent positive sanskars or personality traits;
- attachments to people, situations, material objects, etc.;
- jealousy or dislike for a particular person, etc.

We are exposed to some or all these influences, whether external or internal, all the time. If we are not strong, our mind weakens under so many influences, which as a result, becomes unclear, confused and unfocused. Because of all of this, on the one hand, we need to have good judgment power to remain connected to what is essential, important and true, and on the other hand, you have to strengthen your thought, that is, think less; think more slowly; more concentrated and clearly with focus, a sense of purpose and positivity. That thought is like an arrow; it has positive force and clarity and it always bears powerful fruit. This kind of thought is called concentrated thought. The practice of introversion or meditation for a minute or few minutes at regular intervals during the day helps us remain above all influences and constantly feeds our mind with the power of silence, which helps us remain in this experience of concentrated thought easily.

What's your superpower?

We all have a superpower.  A special ability, gift, talent that we're good at and enjoy, that makes us stand out and also serves others.  Maybe it's our mathematical brains, our ability to make people laugh....

If you're finding it impossible to access your superpower, maybe it's because you've forgotten that you are a superhero.  Simply remember who you are, what you have to offer to the world and how to use your superpower.  

Message for the day

To experience the joy of doing is to bring beauty to actions. 

Though to Ponder: What I do is not as important as the experience I have while doing it. I need to work on subtracting any negative experiences while doing actions. Every action is an opportunity to experience some beautiful quality. Without that experience, the action is meaningless and purposeless. So, we might have achieved a lot of things during the day, but will only end up being dissatisfied by the end of the day.

Point to Practice: Today I will do something that I have always enjoyed doing as a child. Things in themselves are not as important as the experience while doing them. So, I will spend some time in doing something I have always enjoyed to do. Also, during what I do during the day, I will have attention to do it with joy. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 27, 2016: The way to get what we need is to give

Daily Positive Thoughts: December 27, 2016: The way to get what we need is to give

The way to get what we need is to give

If I am not getting what I want or need, I may need to adopt a different approach. Instead of focusing on my own desires, I need to understand that perhaps I'm not getting what I want for a reason - perhaps I'm not ready for it yet. If I concentrate instead on what I have to give to others, I will find that what I need comes to me naturally.

The Power Of Concentrated Thought (Part 2)

One important component that doesn’t let us remain in the healthy and positive experience of concentrated thought is the many different types of influences we are exposed to in our life. There are two different types of influences – external and internal. These influences can also be called voices. Voices from outside as well as inside speak to us.

External influences or voices are of people whom we come in contact with at home, at the workplace, at school or college, at the club, in the media etc. or elsewhere. These people are those whom we either see as equals or look upto. They could be our friends, our parents, our spouse, our teacher, our guru, our doctor, our neighbor, our colleagues, our boss, actors or sportsmen whom we admire, even the daily newsreaders or writers, etc. We have been exposed to these influences right from the time we were born. The influences from all these people are not necessarily on a physical level, they can also be on a subtle level of mental vibrations from others. We interact with all or some of these people and spend time with them and whenever we do that they advise us or give us their opinion on a physical level and we also listen to their voices on a subtle, emotional energy level e.g.  we spend a lot many hours in the office. We may not interact with our boss all the time but his personality is constantly influencing everyone in the office on a subtle level, including us. The office environment is shaped largely by the head of the office. In the same way, we may be taking care that we listen only to the positive voices of the media and we do not listen to the negative ones, but the all pervading negative atmosphere that exists everywhere due to everyone being exposed to the news of violence, sorrow and impurity from the media, definitely influences us on a subtle level, even though we might not realize it. As children, we have been listening to the subtle voices of our parents, even when we were taking shape in our mother’s womb.

In tomorrow’s message, we shall explain what our different types of internal influences or voices.

Stillness

Have you noticed how silence stimulates creativity?  Silence doesn't have to mean no talking, no thoughts, and no sound.  Silence can be experienced even in the midst of noise, thoughts and conversations.

Simply concentrate your attention on stillness.  Still your attention and you create silence.  Silence makes space for the mind to breathe and for creativity to percolate.

Message for the day

To seek richness and potential in everything is true positivity. 

Though to Ponder: When I have the eye for seeing potential, I am not caught up with any weaknesses of the present. I am able to see, even in people, the promise of what they can do and become. When I do this, I will be able to help people discover the latent potential.  

Point to Practice: Today I will free myself from seeing waste and negative. And if I do see, I will make an attempt to see something positive and beautiful. This slowly becomes a practice, which helps me be positive, under all circumstances. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris