Contemplation:
Artist: Emile Munier (1840-1895)
Contentment
The more positive the thoughts flowing through my mind, the more contented I will feel. It is easy to feel contented when we are praised and appreciated but to remain contented when we are being critised and rejected is the mark of real spiritual strength. The way to develop this level of strength is to learn about God's way of loving. Only when I am in deep contemplation can I see God showing me the kind of love I need to express so that I myself never reject or criticize and always generate good wishes for others. Then I will feel satisfied no matter what life throws at me.
Your Identity is Your Destiny
There is a direct connection between identity and destiny. It's a
simple process to see and understand, even on a daily basis. If you
wake up irritated (in a bad mood) it means you are seeing yourself as
an irritated being (soul). Perhaps you even think and sometimes say to
your self, “I’m irritated today.”
It means your self-identity is negative. So you filter the world
through your negative filter and the world actually looks like an
irritable place. As a result, you think negative thoughts, generate a
negative attitude and give negative energy to others. They in turn
will likely return the same negative energy, which you are sending to
them and perhaps avoid you altogether. So your destiny of the day
becomes …. Not so positive! Now see the same principle and process in
life on larger scale. Look around outside you now, and you will see a
reflection of how you see your self inside. Your circumstances, your
relationships and even the events of the day reflect back to you how
you see yourself.
There is a direct connection between identity and destiny. It's a
simple process to see and understand, even on a daily basis. If you
wake up irritated (in a bad mood) it means you are seeing yourself as
an irritated being (soul). Perhaps you even think and sometimes say to
your self, “I’m irritated today.”
It means your self-identity is negative. So you filter the world
through your negative filter and the world actually looks like an
irritable place. As a result, you think negative thoughts, generate a
negative attitude and give negative energy to others. They in turn
will likely return the same negative energy, which you are sending to
them and perhaps avoid you altogether. So your destiny of the day
becomes …. Not so positive! Now see the same principle and process in
life on larger scale. Look around outside you now, and you will see a
reflection of how you see your self inside. Your circumstances, your
relationships and even the events of the day reflect back to you how
you see yourself.
Pure Cooking
A significant part of our lifestyle is to consider the quality of our thoughts required while making food. Living in a family may make it more difficult to have that quiet and ordered state of mind while cooking. Also, children, friends, husbands and wives have the habit of coming into the kitchen while you are cooking. So, see if you can re-organize your timetable so you can cook at a time when they are busy, and then you can properly concentrate on giving pure vibrations to the food. It also helps if you play some gentle, soothing music which reminds you of the Supreme Soul or God while you are cooking. Even better sit in meditation for 4-5 minutes in the kitchen before starting to cook.
If you think of yourself while you are cooking then there will be a vibration of greed created. If you think of others while you are cooking there will be a vibration of attachment created. Think about the Supreme and there will be that feeling of deep love and freedom (liberation).
Physical cleanliness before cooking is important. Walking off the market or crowded roads, into the kitchen and cooking can affect the vibrations of the food. Washing, changing and meditating is a good start for preparation of satwic food. The ideal time for cooking is in the morning, the mind is quiet and if one has read a short paragraph of spiritual knowledge sometime after getting up, the mind is filled with new gems of spiritual knowledge, free of waste thoughts.
Soul Sustenance
Inculcating Powers Through Rajyoga Meditation - The Power To Withdraw (Part 1)
The aim of Raja Yoga meditation is to strengthen ones nature so much so that situations, which previously might have defeated us, we now find easy to handle. So, the power to withdraw does not mean running away from life, but the ability to find a safe space inside oneself, even in the midst of life.
An image used to illustrate this power is that of the tortoise. When there is danger, the tortoise instantly goes inside its shell, which it carries with it everywhere. In the same way, when I am faced with negativity or active hostility from people and situations around me, there is great strength in become introverted, even for a moment, so as to touch base with the point of peace inside my own being. In doing so, I find not only shelter, but also stability, so that I protect myself from any hostile reactions on my part.
(To be continued tomorrow …..)
Message for the day
To have love for experimenting is to experience progress.
Projection: Usually we do things just as we have always done or as others do it. So we find ourselves obtaining the same results over and over again. We hardly ever think of doing things differently or trying our something new.
Solution: We need to develop love for experimenting. In any situation we have to see if we can think of something different, if there is a better way of doing what we are supposed to do. Such experimenting will bring newness and progress in our life.
To have love for experimenting is to experience progress.
Projection: Usually we do things just as we have always done or as others do it. So we find ourselves obtaining the same results over and over again. We hardly ever think of doing things differently or trying our something new.
Solution: We need to develop love for experimenting. In any situation we have to see if we can think of something different, if there is a better way of doing what we are supposed to do. Such experimenting will bring newness and progress in our life.
