Daily Positive Thoughts: October 16, 2015: Perfect

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 16, 2015: Perfect

Perfect

Practice makes you perfect, so be careful what you practice!

Understanding

To have the right discrimination is to save time. When we find someone
doing something wrong, we immediately start giving corrections and
directions. Yet we find that the other person is not in a position to
listen to us. In the process of explaining to others we find our time
getting wasted. When we give directions to others we have to first see
if they will understand what we are trying to say. We need to
understand the other person before we speak. Then our words will make
their full impact on others.

Taking Charge Of Your Responses

In relationships with your loved ones, when looking at the other, sometimes positive emotions are generated and sometimes negative. On the one hand, joy, love and happiness is generated on being with them; but then attachment, dependency and expectations are generated. In such situations, you are more focused on others and are always looking at the other person's behavior, you stop seeing yourself and being aware of your reactions and taking the responsibility for the responses that you create. You get frustrated when the other person does not meet your expectations. As you depend on them, if they don't act as you would like, if they don't reach home or call you at the time you would like; all this frustrates you. You radiate this energy to the other: "they are not doing what they should be doing," and so you feel frustrated and discontented.

All the while that you hold the other one responsible for your frustration, you are not in charge of your own reactions, because you have given power to the other to dominate your emotional world. It is there that you lose your freedom. You lose your freedom because you give to the other, in the name of love, power over your own moods. You allow the other's energy to enter your inner world and cause inside you frustration, bad moods, irritation, sorrow and a mental and emotional dependence where you are constantly thinking about where they are, what they have to do, what they have to say, where they have to go, and all this consumes a lot of your mental energy. Wanting to control the other and the frustration that it brings with it uses up a lot of emotional energy.

Soul Sustenance

Meditation For Personality Transformation (Part 1)

At the heart of every human being or soul there is a spiritual energy, pure, of peace, love, truth and happiness without dependence. Being aware and experiencing this energy provides you with the inner strength necessary for change. Meditation is the method of access in order to allow that energy to come to the surface of your consciousness and in your mind in order to color your thoughts and feelings. In a way very similar to that of a volcano whose melted lava, hot, flows from the centre of the Earth to the surface, we, on meditating, can create volcanoes of power (which emerge in our conscious minds) required for personality transformation.

You can do an exercise, a meditation whereby you choose a habit or sanskar that you don't want, and you will replace it with a characteristic that you would like to incorporate, like a thread, into the cloth of your personality. For example, replace impatience with patience.

Tomorrow we shall explain a meditation with this theme: changing a habit or sanskar. 

Message for the day

To consider problems to be a game is to move forward with lightness.

Expression: Even when the most difficult problem comes my way, I am able to give my best when I understand the significance of whatever is happening. Because I never experience being subservient to the problem, I am always a master.

Experience: When I understand that problems are just a game, I am able to play whatever part I have to, externally. But internally I will experience lightness knowing that this is the part I have to play. It would be easy to understand the significance of the part that I am playing and remain happy.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 15, 2015: Lotus Life

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 15, 2015: Lotus Life

Lotus: Artist : Duong Quoc Dinh

Lotus Life

The lotus is a symbol of purity.  With roots in the mud, the flower remains above the dirty water.  Live a lotus life.  Be in the world, but unaffected by any negativity.

A Diamond

The sparkle of a true diamond reveals itself. Whenever we make a
positive contribution, we expect those around us to recognize and
appreciate it. But there are occasions where we do not receive such
recognition and we then feel disheartened which in turn doesn't let us
give our best in all we do. Whenever we find ourselves expecting
people to appreciate us, we need to remind ourselves that the diamond
doesn't need to speak about it's own sparkle but is recognized because
of its speciality. We, too, need to discover our own speciality and
work with it.

A Spiritual Perspective Of Near Death Experiences (Part 7)

Conclusion

The experience shared in Saturday's message in which we feel the Supreme Being's love in the soul world is a very powerful and overwhelming one. The soul doesn't actually leave the body. It is only a visualization exercise, a journey through levels of consciousness; we simple change our consciousness from one of the physical world to one of the non-physical or soul world.

On the physical level, the memory of our physical home and our childhood experiences in this birth is always within our sub conscious mind right till the end of our lifetime. Sometimes we go back to see the place where we were brought up and played as children. We re-experience the special feelings and important moments. On the spiritual level, the call of our spiritual home and our original state of consciousness is always there in our sub conscious mind in every birth. For every soul in the world there is a spiritual home (where the soul stayed before it came on the earth) and a spiritual Father that calls us to return. For every soul in the world there was a spiritual childhood in the company of the Supreme Father in the soul world - filled with joy, purity, love and bliss. It is a place of pure peace and contentment, a dimension beyond time and space. It is a journey of no distance and it takes only one second to experience it through the medium of meditation!

Soul Sustenance

Practical Positive Response Training To The Mind (Part 3)

In last two days’ messages, we have explained the process of restoring positivity in the mind when faced with a negative situation, where the most common response is a negative one but the mind can be trained to respond in a different way, in a positive way. Today we explain this process with an example.

e.g. You have just had a major argument with your spouse and have lost your temper. At that time, not only your mind but your physical body also feels uncomfortable - it is in a state of complete stress. You feel your blood pressure has suddenly shot up, your heart is beating fast, you feel uncomfortable in the stomach, your hands are shaking, your face and eyes are red. On top of that, you also feel sad. You have behaved like this many times before and you know the results of responding in this way. The relationship has been scarred and you have worsened a situation. This could have been avoided. There is sorrow, guilt, low self esteem and hopelessness over your loss of control. Also, there is a fear regarding your future, not necessarily a long term one, because things will get sorted out sooner or later, but a short term uncertainty does exist, especially regarding what your spouse's response will be in the next few hours or days. In this state of mental and physical helplessness or desperation, anger may come again either projected towards yourself or towards your partner, which will be followed by the same effects, worsening your state further. In this moment of lack of spiritual wisdom, you remind yourself of the simple wisdom that you are in fact a soul. Even while you are still caught up in the turmoil of the negative situation, using your intellect, you consciously emerge inside yourself, your true awareness of being a sparkling point of peaceful light situated just above the eyes, at the center of the forehead. You not only become aware but you also use the intellect to visualize your true, peaceful, spiritual and star-like form clearly. In that moment, you are able to tap into the reservoir of peace that is present deep inside your being. You calm your mind by holding on to this awareness for a few minutes. You feel - you know - that you are peace. As this experience grows, it has a soothing effect on your whole physical system. Gradually, stability and peace are restored to your body as well as your mind.

Message for the day

Words filled with good wishes bring change in others.

Expression: When there are good wishes combined with the words that I speak, there is love. Whatever is spoken with love has its effect on others. Such words are free from all kind of negativity, so they naturally have a lot of power. Only such powerful words can bring about a change in others.

Experience: When I speak with love and good wishes, I find that I am light, knowing that I have no selfishness in whatever I have said. The others too are able to immediately correct themselves. This also enables me to gain good wishes for having taken them a step forward.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 14, 2015: Useful Things

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 14, 2015: Useful Things

Useful Things

Remember only useful things and there will be no need to even think about forgetting anything painful.

Anger

When you're angry with someone, rather than letting your anger expand to everything they've ever done or failed to do, take a moment to look at the bigger picture and NOT just the small details.

Understand it's YOU who is creating the anger, not someone else. So, get clear about why you're feeling angry.

Remind yourself: anger is temporary but the relationship with the person you're angry with is permanent.

Try to break out of anger safely. Curb your anger by taking slow deep breaths - sometimes this is all it takes to 'cool off'.

A Spiritual Perspective Of Near Death Experiences (Part 6)

Experiencing The Supreme Soul

Read over the following words slowly and silently. Using the power of visualization, aim to experience them in your mind:

I focus on myself, a soul, a golden star like point of light........
I reside between the eyebrows, in the middle of the forehead........
I radiate golden rays of peace, purity and love in all directions........
In this awareness of I the soul, with the power of my mind I can travel beyond the limits of my physical senses........
I visualize myself gradually going beyond this physical body........
I, the sparkling star like energy, fly into the night sky........
I see myself floating above a vast ocean of buildings and lights........
Slowly I rise higher and higher to enter space........
I am surrounded by millions of stars and planets........
Slowly I see myself flying beyond the physical world of five elements........
I, the golden star, full of peace, enter another dimension, a soft golden-red light world........
A world of sweet silence and peace,........
full of peaceful light stretching far far away........
I feel pure warmth here, surrounded by light........
I the being of light sparkle in this element........
I am free of all tensions, extremely light.........
This is where I belong,
This is my home........
I recognize this place........
I had forgotten it, but now I have rediscovered it........
In front of me there is a brilliant point of light just like myself........
I come closer and closer to this Supreme Being of Light........
The Supreme Soul radiates golden rays of the light of unlimited peace in all directions........
He is an Ocean of peace........
I feel the waves of peace passing over me, I absorb the light of sweet peace........
I bathe under the shower of golden peaceful light........
All burdens are being washed away........
It is so soothing, calming and relaxing........

Spend a few minutes in this positive experience and then gradually come downwards to take your seat back in the physical body.

(To be continued on Monday ...)

Soul Sustenance

Practical Positive Response Training To The Mind (Part 2)

If I believe that I am just the physical body and that my thoughts are simply results of chemical and electrical processes in the brain, and not something I can consciously control, I let go of the key of taking charge of what is going on inside my mind. In meditation, my intellect recognizes and realizes that my thoughts are my own creation, of me the soul and not the body and that I, the soul, using the intellect, which is also a part of the soul, can make choices about them.

When I realize that my natural state is to be the master of my mind and not to be dictated by it or dictated by the brain, I start taking charge of what is going on inside. When I practice being a master of my mind repeatedly by practicing meditation regularly, the new habit of creating only positive thoughts settles inside me and my habit of responding negatively with a negative state of mind to negative situations, begins to change over a period of time. I start responding positively even to negative situations. So, meditation is a major transformation process of the habit of thinking negatively, which then has positive results on my personality and behavior.

Tomorrow we shall further clarify the process which has been explained in today’s and yesterday’s message, with an example.

Message for the day

To have equality in thought, word and action is to be successful.

Expression: With regards to what I want to achieve, my thoughts are usually high. I then speak about my high plans to others too. But to bring my plans into action it takes a long time and by then I find that they have lost their intensity.

Experience: I need to remind myself that if I don't implement my thoughts immediately, I will never do it. I also need to check if the thoughts that I have are practical. I need to then plan and speak about it according to my checking. Then I find that my thoughts and plans are not wasted away, but become practical.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 13, 2015: Do you Mind

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 13, 2015: Do you Mind

 

Do you Mind

It's all right to have an open mind, if you know what to let in.

Mercy

It is so important to experience God's mercy and forge a strong relationship with God as our Mother. Knowing that a heart that has been hurt becomes hard, we understand God is the only One who can heal our hearts. Each one should ask him or herself : "What can I do to make my heart softer?" There is such a need of mercy. We have to make our hearts softer and stronger, because a strong heart doesn't experience pain and we know that if we experience sorrow, we cannot serve God.

A Spiritual Perspective Of Near Death Experiences (Part 5)

Our Basic Experience

Spirituality teaches us how to practice the art of Soul Consciousness and Supreme Soul Consciousness in our day to day lives. We have through our daily practice perceived and experienced the soul to be a conscient being of light, a tiny pin point of sparkling star like energy full of peace, bliss, love, purity and power residing in the centre of the brain, an entity completely independent of the physical body, containing a conscient mind, an intellect and a definite personality. On the other hand the Supreme Soul or God is perceived and experienced to be the same in form as the soul i.e. a golden white pin point of spiritual light and might, but an ocean of the above mentioned virtues; containing a conscient mind, intellect and personality of his own.

The world in which we play our part and the one on which we are now living is known as the physical world. This is because all living beings here have a physical form. Here the laws of science come into play and time, history and geography are important parameters of life. It is a world of action, experience and expression.  

Beyond the physical world of action lies an infinite, timeless dimension of complete silence. This is the original home of all souls, the non-physical soul world, a soft golden red light world where we once stayed, as a soul in a state of total peace and bliss. In meditation we turn our mind and intellect away from the material world and travel to the incorporeal or soul world, the supreme region of highest consciousness with the eye of the mind or the 'third eye' and connect them with the Supreme Soul, a resident of the soul world and the fountain of eternal peace. Through this mental exercise or connection we harness his vast resources of spiritual energy and experience super-sensual bliss. This experience is similar to an Out of Body Experience and Near Death Experience. The experience will be explained in tomorrow's message.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

Practical Positive Response Training To The Mind (Part 1)

Meditation is a process in which I train the mind to consciously create those right type of thoughts that I wish to have, inside my mind, regularly in my daily routine. On the field of action, I am faced with various different types of negative and uncomfortable situations, which have the first and most immediate effect on my thoughts, before showing on my face in my expressions or in my words or actions. I do realize inside, that the thoughts (and as a result my physical response) created at these times are not the right ones. I want to inculcate a habit, whereby my thought patterns are only which I like or are the right, positive and powerful ones no matter what happens.

So where do I start? Meditation is the start. Meditation is the time, when I consciously create positive thoughts. What benefit do I achieve from that? In these few moments, I am changing the deep and very old habit (not limited only to this birth) of creating the wrong type of thoughts, whenever I am faced with a situation which I do not like. How do I do this? I do this through the intellect. The intellect takes hold of the reins of the mind and chooses the direction in which it will travel. Why is it able to do this? Because, during meditation, I bring myself back to the knowledge or belief that I am a soul and my intellect accepts and absorbs this awareness. This belief then becomes the key to taking charge of what is going on in my mind.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Message for the day

Awareness of my own resources enables me to experience quick progress.

Expression: I usually look for excuses for my lack of progress. I either compare with others or curse my own lack of resources and stop putting in effort. So although I can do a lot I don't experience as much progress as I should.

Experience: To make as much progress as I want to is in my hands. For this I need to recognise the resources I have and put them to the best use. When I am busy with that I am able to move forward quickly.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 12, 2015: Learn a Lesson

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 12, 2015: Learn a Lesson

Learn a Lesson

Instead of being afraid of situations, consider them to be your teacher and learn a lesson from them.

To get a real award, avoid waste and negative. 

If there is a long time practice of avoiding negative and waste, I will be able to appreciate fully the gifts of life. This is the reward I get. Also, since I am not sowing wrong seeds, whatever fruits I reap are positive too. Even when life brings different situations, I still am able to receive positive fruits. Today I will check my own thoughts at least 10 times today. I will check the quality of my thoughts. If I catch myself having negative or waste thoughts, I will create one single positive thought like "I am the master of my life" or "I choose my destiny with my actions" or simply "I am happy today".

A Spiritual Perspective Of Near Death Experiences (Part 4)

The Existence Of The Supreme Soul

Near Death Experiencers identify the being of light which they encounter or meet in various different ways depending upon their religious and cultural background and existing beliefs of this life. They normally say that they did not hear any physical voice or sounds coming from it, nor did they respond to the light through sounds, but there was a direct, uninterrupted transfer of thoughts and emotions in such a clear way that there is no possibility whatsoever of misinterpreting what the light has to communicate to them. This uninterrupted exchange does not even take place in the native language of the NDEr, yet, he understands perfectly. He cannot even translate the thoughts and exchanges which took place while he was near death into the human language, once he returns from the experience.

The Being of Light, as if an all knowledgeable entity, makes a presentation of sorts in front of the dying, in which a complete review of everything they have ever done in this life is projected. Interestingly, some of the common thoughts that the light (being) directs to the person are:
* Are you ready to die? * What have you done with your life that is sufficient enough? * Is it worth it? and * What have you done with your life to put across to me?

A very important point to note though is that all NDErs insist that these questions, though emotionally very strong, are not at all asked as if to accuse or threaten or criticize the dying. On the other hand, no matter what their answer may be, they feel an extraordinary acceptance coming from the light, which they have never experienced in any human relationship. The light, rather than being a 'checker' (or having a strict personality) shows an all loveful personality, which is highly overwhelming. The light sometimes tells the person that they must return to life. Sometimes, they are given a choice of staying or returning. In either case, the NDErs as taken over as they are by this experience are not willing to return. Some people who do not believe in the existence of God actually come back from this saying very strongly that although prior to this they had no religious or spiritual beliefs, now they believe that there's a God, and there's a life after death.

The above experiences strongly suggest the existence of a Supreme Being or Supreme Soul or God and points to the form of this Supreme Energy as being a spiritual point of light with qualities like unlimited peace, love, bliss and power.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

Carrying Forward Of Special Talents

Everything that an individual does i.e. a soul does using the medium of the physical body is registered in the soul as a sanskara. Sanskaras, therefore, are the foundation of our present personalities and all our special talents and inclinations. There have been many famous personalities including artists, musicians, engineers, sportsmen, etc. who, before attaining phenomenal success in their respective fields, displayed amazing talents related to their respective field at a very young age. When and where could they have mastered these talents so well? It's obvious that amazing masteries at a very young age are not inherited from our parents. These talents have been developed and brought into practice in previous births, as a result of which sanskaras of the talents are created inside the soul. These sanskaras are then carried into the next births, and are brought into actions in the new births.

A more common day-to-day example is the following: A child is born into a family of doctors where, from the beginning, all efforts are made to mould and prepare him to become a doctor, according to family tradition. However, from an early age, the child shows strong tendencies to become an actor, starts to take part extensively in theatre activities at school and the talent starts manifesting itself. This example demonstrates that the characteristics a soul carries from previous experiences of previous births will take it in a specific direction despite attempts made by the family on the contrary. So in short, genius is experience. Some think that it's a gift or talent, but it is the fruit of long experience of many lives. Some are older souls than others i.e. they have been present on the world stage since a longer period of time and have covered a journey of more number of births and so know more. This kind of unlimited, broad vision of life provides us answers to many questions.

Message for the day

True honesty brings clarity about the self.

Expression: Honesty doesn't mean just speaking the truth. Honesty means being clear with oneself. Then it naturally brings clarity about one's own capabilities. This clear understanding enables one to do the best according to the capacity. It gives the recognition of a higher step that can be climbed and brings the humility to learn from the different lessons of life.

Experience: When I am honest I am able to know my own limitations and accept them with love. This acceptance keeps me busy with what I can do and also silently makes me ready for the next step. When time comes, I am able to do it, because I have already prepared myself for it. I don't stop when situations demand more from me because there is total clarity within.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 11, 2015: Soul Potential

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 11, 2015: Soul Potential

Soul Potential

To step into the soul's potential, let go of the past.  If you keep thinking about how you were in the past then this will hold you back.  By keeping the soul's potential in front of you, then you can reach it.

As we travel towards our destination, it's so easy to get distracted.

 
Sometimes we become so busy thinking about little things, that we lose focus and stop moving forward. So, when distracting situations arise, remind yourself that they're only sideshows and that they're not important. Instead, keep your destination in focus and you'll get there.

A Spiritual Perspective Of Near Death Experiences (Part 3)

The Meeting With A Being Of Light

The most incredible common feature in the majority of NDE and OBE experiences, as stated by the ones who go through the experience, is a meeting with a very bright light. This light is normally a highly radiant golden-white light, a powerful spiritual being of light. Usually, the experience involves being drawn into darkness through a tunnel, at an extremely high speed, until reaching this light. This feature, without doubt, has the deepest impact upon the Near Death Experiencer (NDEr).

In the medical research studies conducted, very different kinds of tunnels are described by NDErs. The commonest one is a void, a blackness: a floating, a moving, a going towards the light. The structure of the tunnel, if anything, is minimal. One person had a tunnel in the form of a great big pipe. Other people go through swirling, whirling tunnels, but they themselves do not turn; the tunnel simply turns around them, while they themselves float through it.

This light that all NDErs encounter appears dim at its first appearance, but it rapidly gets brighter until it finally reaches a supernatural brilliance. They normally express in their experiences that it was a being, a very very personal being of light, with a very beautiful and sweet personality of its own. The warmth and love which radiate from this being to the dying person are just unimaginable and very difficult to describe. They feel extremely secure and loved in its presence and experience an uncontrollable magnetic attraction to this light.

It is important to note that this experience of meeting with a bright light is at the consciousness level, which functions outside the physical body in an Out of Body Experience. The physical body in these experiences is unconscious or in a coma or seemingly dead (as perceived by the medical team). The experience is shared by the Near Death Experiencer after regaining consciousness.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

Stress Management

Often when faced with stress at work or at home, we can feel quite drained (mentally tired). Indeed, we may have noticed how certain individuals or particular situations are draining. We feel as if all our energy has been drawn out of us and it leaves us tired and exhausted. Although this sort of energy cannot be measured in the scientific sense, we can use the power of imagery to stop us feeling drained.

E.g. we can visualize that we are surrounded by a sphere of golden light, so any negative feelings or energies cannot affect us. In a detached way, we can view what is happening and can act suitably, but we are not touched by the stress. This method of using your power of visualization to create protective shields around us can be used in stressful situations e.g. before or during an important exam or an important meeting, interview or any other specific situation.

Message for the day

Lightness comes when words are accurate.

Expression: Accurate words means there is nothing extra spoken. Whatever has to be said, is said to the point. Such words being short, are sweet to hear too and are those that never hurt others. They bring about the result needed accurately.

Experience: When my words are to the point, there is a lot of lightness experienced within me and my physical energy is saved too. Others too experience benefit through my words and so I naturally get blessings from them, which helps me move forward with lightness.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 10, 2015: Don't Get Mad

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 10, 2015: Don't Get Mad

Don't Get Mad

Why do we get mad?  Could it be because we're not getting what we want?  Or maybe it's because someone is not doing or being as we want them to do or be.  If that's the case, then we're trying to achieve the impossible, that is control someone.  Why not let go and let be.

The biggest service is to give hope to the hopeless.

The one who gives hope is the one who does the greatest service. When someone is negative and weak, instead of pointing out and making him weaker, it is important to give him some hope so that he can overcome that situation or weakness. Today I will check my words. I will see if I am being positive and encouraging or not. I will also make sure I speak words that give hope to at least one person. This will help me inculcate a habit of speaking positive encouraging words.

A Spiritual Perspective Of Near Death Experiences (Part 2)

The Existence Of The Soul

During a Near Death Experience (NDE), the dying often have an Out of Body Experience (OBE), in which there is a sensation of rising up and floating above their own body while the body is surrounded by a medical team, and watching it down below, while feeling comfortable. While people are dying, they may be in intense pain, but as soon as they have this experience i.e. they experience leaving the body, the pain goes away and they experience peace, joy, bliss and a feeling of complete wellbeing.

Doctors who have been conducting research on NDE over the past few decades have in their studies noted that in the Out of Body Experience (OBE) state, many who have 'physically' died can, on revival, tell the doctors, nurses, operation room team and relatives exactly what they were saying or doing during the revival process from apparent death or from unconsciousness - both conditions in which a person is not physically active enough to see or hear what is going on around them. Many actually hear the doctors announcing them dead.

Many of the patients who have been revived are able to describe in great technical detail exactly what went on in the operating room while they were supposedly unconscious or dead.
e.g. A 44-year old patient, while in a deep coma, later told the doctor that a particular nurse had placed his dentures on the side. The patient accurately described the revival room, those in the room, as well as describing the attitude in the room that everyone was close to giving up on revival efforts.

All this suggests the existence of the consciousness (soul) as a non-physical energy independent of the physical body - in the Out of Body Experience, the consciousness is active and can hear and see, while the physical body is inactive or unconscious or in a coma or apparently dead (as perceived by the medical team).

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

Realizing Our Natural Nature Of Peace

If we look at nature, we will notice that everything in nature – plants, flowers, etc. do everything they do peacefully – they grow, flourish, decompose and die in peace. We get an obvious impression from them that peace is their natural nature. Even the five elements – earth, wind, water, fire and sky are mostly peaceful by nature. It’s only when we try and exercise control over them and interfere with their balance that they lose their peace. Most of us, irrespective of our age, even in these stressful and hurry filled times, act peacefully and express our peaceful nature in relationships by means of peaceful thoughts, words and actions, unless something is wrong in the relationship. We instinctively like peaceful relationships. If something is wrong in a relationship and it lacks peace even to a small extent, we do not feel good or comfortable about it. All this proves to us that we, like nature, are essentially peaceful by nature. That is our basic personality.

Most of us have, at some time in our lives and even more frequently in the case of many of us, experienced and expressed our peaceful nature. It's so natural, we are not even consciously aware of it. What we are more aware of is when we are distanced from the natural i.e. we are unnatural - worried, scared, irritated etc. But these unnatural phases always pass and we finally return to our peaceful self. There are some people who are permanently grumpy and tight with someone or the other, because of something or the other. On some days we also feel as if we are continuously living on the edge and continuously succumbing to frustration and anger. But even then, away from everyone’s eyes; everyone, the compulsive angerholic (one who cannot live without anger) and you also, will, at some stage, look inwards, relax and have an inner personal spiritual retreat in which they will find relief by experiencing their true nature of peace.

Message for the day

Success is achieved through accurate efforts.

Expression: The one who puts in accurate efforts for the success of every task, naturally tries to do the best. Because of his own contribution, others too help him and contribute whatever they can to achieve what he sets out to do. So there is success in everything.

Experience: When I do the right thing, I will be able to experience constant self-progress. I will then never have the slightest feeling of failing, but will always experience success as a right, even if the result is not what I have expected. I experience positive feelings because of having put in the right effort.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 09, 2015: Abundance

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 09, 2015: Abundance

Artist: Alexander Averin

Abundance

When surrounded by challenges, sometimes we all need a little extra nurturing, and that gentleness can come from loved ones; or just to experience a life of abundance focus on what you have, rather than on what you feel is missing in your life.  Count the good things, the riches in your life and give thanks for them.  This begins to create a feeling of abundance.

Positive Material

Just as you would nourish the body with a healthy breakfast, in the same way, start your day on the right foot by feeding the mind with positive material.

Prior to starting your work day, either on your morning commute, or as soon as you walk into the office - take a few moments to read or listen to uplifting, encouraging, and mind-stretching information, words, music or podcast.

A Spiritual Perspective Of Near Death Experiences (Part 1)

Introduction

A very interesting phenomenon that closely points not only to the existence of the soul and Supreme Soul but also to their form and qualities is the phenomenon of Near Death Experience (NDE) and Out Of Body Experience (OBE).

What Is A Near Death Experience (NDE)?

A near-death experience (NDE) is the experience reported by a person who nearly died or who was medically dead and then revived or in a situation where death is likely or expected. Some of the common circumstances in which an NDE can occur are:

* serious illness such as cardiac arrest or brain hemorrhage;
* complications before an operation;
* injury, such as from a car accident, shock, electrocution, asphyxia (condition which results from interruption of respiration due to suffocation or drowning);
* suicide attempt;
* coma;
* serious depression, etc.

The most important feature of an NDE is that the person's consciousness is not in his or her physical body. It might function independently of brain activity, which suggests the existence of the soul. The physical body is usually stationary, while the consciousness of the person experiences an extraordinary freedom of movement, completely independent of the physical body.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

Motivation – The Life Driving Force (Part 4)

When surrounded by challenges, sometimes we all need a little extra nurturing, and that gentleness can come from loved ones, or just  from ourselves. Also, enjoying watching television, enjoying the hot chocolate and the coffee, enjoying the cold drink and the ice cream, enjoying the brisk walk and the gym, enjoying the picnic and the party, enjoying the holiday - these are all things that help us replenish our energy and remain motivated to some extent when we've had a rough day. But remember that to remain constantly motivated you need to also take a look at the non-physical dimension of thoughts and feelings. Physical treatments, therapies and relaxation strategies will help you but they cannot change the way you think. Your thinking is the cause. And behind your thoughts, your beliefs are a deeper cause. We need to pay much more attention to our thoughts and feelings, learn to manage them, learn to fill them with peace and calm, and then our personality will change for the better, as we restore our mental and then physical well-being and learn to remain motivated and fearless amidst challenges. Remember no one else creates our thoughts and feelings, and they don't just happen, though it feels that way sometimes. When you learn to identify and assess the quality of your thoughts and feelings, you can begin to choose the ones you know are positive and that in turn keeps you motivated.

Also, remember there's virtually always something positive that can be found in the challenges we face. Bear in mind that the period of challenge is short and you will soon overcome the challenge. On a lighter note, spend a little time each day thinking of all the things you are looking forward to doing once you are free from these exams that life has to offer - though don’t daydream for hours about this! Also, when you long for life without difficulties and challenges and you want to keep yourself motivated when faced with them, remind yourself that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure. Challenges are not here to stay and while they are there, they bring about self empowerment.

Message for the day

To be seated on the seat of self-respect is to be truly great.

Expression: The one who is constantly in the stage of self-respect is constantly stable. And because of this stability he always has the right authority. This brings about right decisions too and he moves forward with ease facing all situations.

Experience: When I am aware of my own specialities and work with them I inspire others too to recognise my positive qualities. I also never have ego but am able to remain humble. This humility enables me to win the respect of others too.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 08, 2015: Dance In Happiness

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 08, 2015: Dance In Happiness

Dance in Happiness

The easy way to remain happy is to remain constantly light. Pure thoughts are light and waste thoughts are heavy. Therefore, keep your intellect busy with pure thoughts and you will become light and continue to dance in happiness. 

To be free from weaknesses is to make difficult things easy. 

                 

The real difficulty of a task lies in my own weaknesses. No task is as such difficult or easy. But when it is challenged by any weakness of mine, it seems difficult. Instead of having fear or negativity in any task, it is better to work on my weakness. Once I am free from my weakness, tasks seem easy too. Today I will check if any weakness is interfering with my tasks. If I find a task difficult, there is surely some weakness interfering. I will then work on any such weakness, once I recognise it.

The Power To Co-operate (cont.)

The more I practice meditation, and develop and live with the consciousness that I am a non-physical soul, a being of light, the quicker the ego associated with all the physical factors (explained yesterday) melts away. Coloring myself with the Supreme or God's company, I see others as the children of the Supreme Soul. I know myself as part of the family of human souls who have the same original qualities as me. In soul-consciousness, there is no way I can feel superior to others, though I'll value their specialties. We are brothers - equal yet different.

In this consciousness, a natural humility or egolessness develops, a genuine respect for each other. There is a strength and happiness in the awareness of being a child of God, but I'll see others also as the same. There is neither the ego of feeling superior, nor the inverted ego of an inferiority complex. I am not negating myself, I am recognizing the value of the self, but I'm also appreciating the value and qualities of all others around me. In that spirit of mutual respect, it becomes easy to work together.

The future of the world and the transformation of the planet actually depend on this transformation in each one of us, from ego and self-glorification to humility, respect and co-operation. Meditation, by lifting me beyond the factors that divide us, makes me deeply aware that we are one family, sharing one home, this beautiful planet, for which we have a common responsibility. In the awareness of where we are, and to whom we belong, there also comes the recognition of what we as a family must do together - create a world which is filled with the virtues of the Supreme Soul, by first imbibing those virtues inside us.

Soul Sustenance

Motivation – The Life Driving Force (Part 3)

"Challenges are like spice – in the right proportion they enhance the flavor of a dish. Too little of them produces a bland, dull meal; too many of them may choke you at times.”

Have you ever noticed some people only work a few hours a day and are hardly ever confronted by deadlines or other pressures, but they are more stressed and less motivated than those working long hours to tight deadlines. Have you ever watched two people doing the same or similar work, to the same deadlines? One tears their hair out with a lot of anxiety. The other is completely relaxed while doing it. Some people are trailblazers, they love challenges. They love it when they are occupied and bottled up with challenges at hand and passionate about overcoming them. They work hard on themselves to overcome challenges and are not overwhelmed by them. What really reinforces them to do that is the motivation that they have to overcome the challenge and become successful. Challenges motivate them. At the same time, there are times when there are too many challenges to overcome and deadlines to meet and the same people who have overcome challenges earlier are not able to cope up with them and keep themselves motivated. That is the time when they realize that what they are going through is stress and challenges have affected their motivation levels adversely. Why the difference between two people, why the difference from challenge to challenge or situation to situation? Perception. So it's not what you do, or when you have to do it by, that causes your stress and brings down your motivation; it's how you perceive the whats and whens of daily life that generates your stress and affects your motivation levels. It's how each one perceives what they do and the possible outcome. And your perception is based on your beliefs and beliefs don't come built into your genes. All beliefs are learned. We learn them, send them into our subconscious and they then pop up and out through our thoughts, emotions and words. The problem is we not only hold beliefs, we identify with them. But beliefs are not the truth.

(To be continued tomorrow ….)

Message for the day

To give regard to others' ideas is to be a learner.

Expression: The one who is open to the ideas of others is the one who is able to learn from everything. He is humble and has respect for all. He has the authority over what he does, he is the master and is yet open to learning.

Experience: Even when my best plan and ideas are rejected or criticised, I am able to remain cool and light because of my regard for others and their ideas. Because of this I am able to constantly learn and experience progress.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris