Daily Positive Thoughts: May 09, 2016: Attitude of Gratitude

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 09, 2016: Attitude of Gratitude

Artist: Masoud Salemi

Attitude of Gratitude

Gratitude means being thankful and appreciative for everyone and everything in your life.

Being grateful makes you happy.  It stops you from taking life for granted.  So cultivate an attitude of gratitude by taking time to focus on all the good things in your life.

Maybe even try holding a short gratitude session, weekly.

Internal And External Attachments (Part 3)

Each time we attach ourselves to anything which is external or internal (we have mentioned some common examples of both types of attachments in the last two days’ messages), we create fears, amongst which the main one is the fear of loss of what I am attached to. The attachment not only gives rise to fear but also brings with it emotions like anger, ego, sadness, jealousy, greed, comparisons, hatred etc. All these emotions have their roots in attachment, which gives rise to insecurity.

Any type of attachment out of the ones mentioned in the last two days’ messages or some other is a sanskar that is so deeply embedded inside us that it seems normal to us. It is just a sanskar but it has immense amount of power and it manages to imprison us completely, but most of the time we do not even realize we are imprisoned. The negative emotional states connected with this kind of attachment create a state of internal mental pressure or an inner emptiness and make us feel absolutely helpless at times. Over a period of many births, we have become so accustomed to these attachments and the various forms of suffering connected with it that we have started believing that these are an integral part of the human personality and human life since the beginning and are, therefore, natural. And so we continue with the sanskar and even keep strengthening it, never ever thinking that it should be removed. We do this with internal stress and unhappiness to the point that even our health gets affected adversely. The natural state of the self is free and not attached in this way to anything. Attachments, whether external or internal, are acquired at different points of time in birth-rebirth cycle and are not natural or there from the beginning. All the things mentioned in the last two days’ messages have existed from the beginning but attachment to them has not. The present suffering indicates to us that these types of attachments are something abnormal or not natural.

Respect for others enables them to strengthen themselves and progress. 

When you have respect for others you are actually creating an environment in which they can strengthen themselves and grow. You are not caught up with their weaknesses but are encouraging them to use their specilaities. When you see someone working with his weakness think of one speciality in that person and relate to him with this speciality. Also draw his attention to it and slowly you'll find him getting stronger.

Message for the day

The power of determination brings all thoughts into practice. 

Expression: There are a lot of thoughts that come into the mind that should come into practice immediately. These thoughts come according to the demands of time or according to the kind of people that one comes into contact with. But the only way to bring all these thoughts into practice is to use the power of determination. Where there is determination there is the commitment to use all the resources for the realisation of that thought.

Experience: When I am able to use the power of determination, I am able to realise my inner potential and use it in the right way. So I am able to experience constant progress, because all my thoughts are for my own self progress and all these thoughts naturally come into practice. I never give up anything with temporary setbacks but am able to do everything for the constant progress of the self. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 08, 2016: Happiness

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 08, 2016: Happiness

Happiness

You are a fortunate soul who realizes that the path to happiness cannot be walked in someone else's shoes. Your happiness fits you alone - perfectly.

Internal And External Attachments (Part 2)

We had explained some common examples of external attachments yesterday.

Some common examples of internal attachments are attachments to:

- your ideas,
- your beliefs,
- your opinions or viewpoints,
- your memories,
- a certain way of thinking
- a particular virtue/virtues or specialty/specialties,
- a particular power/powers,
- a particular sanskar/sanskars - either positive or negative, etc.

Whether the attachment is external or internal, the act of attaching is always internal. e.g. if you attach yourself to your job, you will say my job. Your job is something external, but you hold on to it inside you - inside your consciousness.

(To be continued tomorrow...)

Master of the self

Do you  have the confidence to turn your hand to whatever life throws up? Or do you only do things when you're absolutely certain you can do the required task? If you wait to be perfect before you try, you'll miss out on many promising experiences. 

To master the art of everything:
- recognise your range of interests and abilities
- be motivated to go for it
- ask questions and be open to learning

The art of everything is more than being a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. It is being a jack-of-all-trades and master of the self! 

Message for the day

Love creates the right environment for others' positive growth. 

Expression: Where there is love, a natural environment for others' growth is created. Love gives the ability to perceive the positivity in others and gives the encouragement to others to bring about that positivity and use it for the benefit of the self and others. 

Experience: When I have love for others, along with perceiving their specialities, I am also able to recognise and use my specialities and inner powers more and more. Knowing and using these specialities is naturally for the benefit of those around me. This gives me an inner experience of power which makes me a constant giver and a support for those around me.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 07, 2016: Angels

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 07, 2016: Angels

Angels

An angel is a guest for he cleans up behind him. Where there has been misunderstanding he returns to clarify; where there has been hatred he offers love. He is never without gifts and always without burden.

Internal And External Attachments (Part 1)

Attachment can be on two levels - either internal or external.

Some common examples of external attachments are attachments to:

- people,
- objects,
- your physical body,
- your position or role in your family, society or in your professional field,
- money,
- places,
- physical comfort/comforts,
- the way you look or dress up or carry yourself or your physical personality in general,
- a particular skill/skills,
- a particular interest or hobby like watching movies, online social networking, etc.
- your routine or a certain way of working at home or at the workplace,
- respect from others,
- how people see you or behave with you or what they think of you, etc.

(To be continued tomorrow...)

Where there is humility and self-respect, it results in selfless service. 

When there is a combination of humility and self-respect you become a giver. Your humility enables you to put others forward and your actions will be ones that give happiness to others. When you are involved in some major task remind yourself of your humility and give the ones around you a chance. When you put others forward you will be able to ensure your own progress too along with that of others. 

Message for the day

The one who is calm and cool is the one who makes the right decisions. 

Expression: The natural nature of the human mind is to come under pressure and tension during negative situations. When there is a challenging situation, there is naturally the tendency to find it difficult to maintain an inner state of calm. But the one who has the ability to go within and find the inner calm is able to be clear in thinking and is able to make the right decisions. 

Experience: When I am able to experience the inner state of calm, I am able to be clear in my thinking. With this clarity I find the right decisions and solutions emerging very naturally within my mind. I will never have the difficulty of having to make decisions, but all decisions are made with ease and they are right too. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 06, 2016: Unity Blossoms

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 06, 2016: Unity Blossoms

Unity Blossoms

Unity is harmony within and amongst people. It is built with a shared vision for the good of all and a common goal. Unity is appreciating the value of each person and their unique contribution. When there is willingness to accommodate others, unity blossoms.

Believe It Or Not (Part 6)!

We are all today living in a world of multiple identities, multiple governments and also multiple religions and castes, which is a very different set up from the united set up which was the set up of the world in the beginning. Because of this kind of united setup, there was complete peace, love and happiness in that land which we call Jannat or heaven or God’s Garden where deities or devi devtas lived. Some of us, who are very advanced in our lifestyles and are more in tune with our fast paced technology driven lives, doubt the existence of such a world because it is not something we study in our educational curriculum or syllabus. Also, many of us at the Brahma Kumaris, especially those of us who have been brought up in advanced educational and family settings, found it difficult to believe at first in the existence of the world of deities or devi devtas. Butafter realizing God through the beautiful meditation taught at the Brahma Kumaris and developing a lovely and close relationship with God, our beliefs underwent a drastic change and what seemed something out of context earlier to us, suddenly became something we could relate to. Slowly we even went a step ahead by easily believing that this is our story and then becoming 100% sure that it is a hard core reality. Meditation also brought in front of us different sides of God’s personality and as God is called the truth, after realizing this personality of truth and believing that his knowledge about the world history is completely truthful, these facts became a part and parcel of our daily lives. On the other hand other people from similar backgrounds as us who had not experienced this personality found it difficult to believe this knowledge of who we were.

Some people ask us – why did our thought process about the world and its origins as well as its complete history undergo such a drastic change and why did we take up viewpoints which were not part of our belief system earlier? We remain silent, but our eyes tell them that believe it or not the story of the world starts with those who purify themselves now through God’s power and then go on to become deities or devi devtas. The world of deities has existed in the past and is being established again by the Supreme Father or God. This is the birthright of each and every soul in the world and is the property of God, the Supreme Father for all his children.

Sweetness

A bitter tongue makes life bitter; a sweet tongue makes life better. Instead of being forceful and bitter with the truth, allow the truth to be coated with kindness and compassion, make it sweet. Sweetness makes the truth more palatable, easier to digest. It softens the hard facts without disguising them. Make sweetness your natural nature, and then your words will automatically be filled with sweetness. 

Message for the day

To pay constant attention towards positivity is to be free from tension. 

Expression: To pay attention means not to think, speak or do anything waste, negative or even ordinary. The one who keeps attention in this way and also allows no negativity from outside to go within, is always free from tension. There is also the proper use of everything that is available. 

Experience: When I am able to pay constant attention and also use the inner treasures within for a positive purpose, there is the use of the inner potential. When there is the recognition and use of this potential within in this way, negativity finishes; just as sunshine finishes darkness. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 05, 2016: Transform Obstacles

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 05, 2016: Transform Obstacles

Transform Obstacles

Is life an obstacle course? Sometimes it may feel like it. If you join the military you will be sent around an obstacle course of increasing degrees of difficulty. Why? To increase your strength and stamina and expand your creative capacity under strain. So it is on the course called 'life' - you can choose to perceive people, situations or events as obstacles, or you can choose to use these things to strengthen and expand your capacity to be creative and to find ways round, under, over. The choice lies in your perception. Obstacles are never ever 'out there', they are always in our own minds.

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Believe It Or Not (Part 5)!

When we come into this world, we were completely full of 36 divine qualities - Accuracy, Appreciation, Benevolence, Carefreeness, Cheerfulness, Cleanliness, Contentment, Co-operation, Courage, Detachment, Determination, Discipline, Easiness, Egolessness, Energetic, Far-Sightedness, Fearlessness, Generosity, Good Wishes, Honesty, Humility, Introspection, Lightness, Maturity, Mercy, Obedience, Orderliness, Patience, Politeness, Purity, Royalty, Self-Confidence, Simplicity, Sweetness, Tirelessness and Tolerance.

If you check the above list, you will realize how today none of us have all these qualities and that too at all times in all situations. Try naming one person in your life who never lacks these qualities and you will find it impossible to find someone who is never missing these qualities in his or her day-to-day living and when in contact with people i.e. while playing different roles in society in their personal or professional life. The devi devtaswhom we call the ones who were perfect human beings had these qualities and that too in every situation of life, when they lived in the world in heaven or paradise. This was because they were completely pure souls without any trace of lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego and because of that they possessed all these qualities. That was the most beautiful time on the planet earth when these deities lived together as one small united family and there were no sinful actions performed ever by anyone.  Even founders of different religions and sects are praised immensely all over the world for their qualities and people all over the world are inspired by the actions which they performed when they played their roles right from the time they started being established. Right now is the time to fill ourselves with the 36 qualities mentioned above by listening to spiritual knowledge, remembering God, self-introspection and helping God in the service of mankind.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Responsibility is to honor the role that has been entrusted and to perform it to the best of one's ability. 

Just as the actor accepts whatever role he is given and performs to the best of his ability, in the same way taking up responsibility for one's life is to accept and honor the role so that the performance is the best under all circumstances. The result is that time and resources are utilized to bring maximum benefit. Each day remind yourself that you are a good actor who brings out the best of whatever role you get. Instead of thinking of what you don't have start using in the best possible way what you have. 

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. 

Application: 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: May 04, 2016: Working on Rebuilding Relationships

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 04, 2016: Working on Rebuilding Relationships 

Working on Rebuilding Relationships 

It’s easy to speak negatively when we do not like something about someone. We often react without thinking and become angry. Our words and behaviour become negative or insulting. This further widens the gap damaging the relationship. When someone does something undesirable, I first need to understand the behaviour. Every person has a reason to behave the way he or she does even if I cannot understand it at the time. The more I react to the other person and the bad behaviour, the greater the distance between us. To mend the relationship I need to remind myself of the other person’s good qualities.

Believe It Or Not (Part 4)!

Whenever the world needs a cleaning up of the collective consciousness of mankind, that’s when an inner awakening is required, a realization that I need to change and clean up the cupboards of my mind and become a perfect personality, but a perfect personality as defined by God and not by the world and mankind in general. Perfection has been defined differently by different religions and people from different sections of society. So, which definition of perfection should I as a person, in the search of perfection, choose? Should I pick Jesus Christ or should I pick Gautam Buddha or should I stick to the Indian shastras or religious books or should I listen to my parents for that matter? The more the different people and their different opinions on perfection, the more I will get confused on which road to take to reach my destination of perfection. In such an atmosphere of unlimited views and opinions on what a perfect human being should be and how he should become that and also a lot of us want to know that what is the need of becoming perfect, especially if we are extremely successful and life has given us everything we need and we search for on a material level.

So, who is the One who can guide me correctly and give me the answers to all these questions? It has to be someone whom everyone rates as being perfect and who is available for me at the present moment. This is not my parent or a religious head or a guru or a deity that has existed in the past on the earth as discussed yesterday. God, who is above the cycle of perfection and imperfection, can only tell me what is perfection and the method of reaching that perfection. Even deities and fathers of religions who were perfect or close to perfect and have existed in the past are no longer there physically to guide me. Only God who does not go through the process of birth and rebirth can show me the way to becoming a perfect human being with qualities which He has inside Him.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

When there is a balance between easiness and reliability, there will be benefit for others. 

When you are truly responsible you will know that what you do effects the life of others. So you will be cautious. Apart from this you will also know to take care of your own well-being because you would know that others will gain form your healthy attitudes. Let this day be dedicated for removing some weakness within yourself that is creating an obstacle for yourself and others. when you do this you will be helping yourself and others will take benefit for others too. 

Message for the day

The virtues of honesty and courage bring success. 

Expression: The one who is courageous is never deterred by challenges, but moves on towards success. Combined with courage, is the virtue of honesty which allows one to be consistent, sincere and true in the efforts put in. So success comes with proper effort and there is also humility visible in such a person. 

Experience: When I am courageous, but at the same time honest in my efforts that I put in for achieving success, I'll never have ego. I will be able to get the cooperation and good will of all, and especially the protection and the help of God. I will find myself moving slowly towards success with everything I do.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 03, 2016: The Happiness Ripple

Daily Positive Thoughts: May 03, 2016: The Happiness Ripple

The Happiness Ripple

When you're happy, your happiness ripples out to other people - at work, at home, even to the strangers around you.

Your happiness gives others hope.  It makes a difference.  So, spread the warmth of happiness.

Believe It Or Not (Part 3)!

We all respect the devis and devtas who are our ancestors and they are our ancestors in terms of time but in reality, they are our initial roles which we played in the world drama.It may seem difficult to believe, but man came down so much in terms of qualities that today it is difficult for man to believe that the ones he has been worshipping since such a long time is his first, second or third birth or his initial births when he first came down in the world from the soul world to play his part. Today, man has declared to the world that his original form was of apes. We all know that monkeys, like all animals, are animals with the five vices inside them – lust, anger, greed, ego and attachment. So, instead of truly believing our original births as deities or devi devtas who were the opposite – the purest human beings with no trace of lust, anger, greed, ego and attachment, we have called apes our ancestors. If we were to believe in the existence of the soul, we would logically realize that the soul comes down in its purity level after many cycles of birth and death, so is it not more believable that we were perfect deities and then we became humans with weaknesses, of today? Today we cannot call ourselves completely perfect unless we are working on ourselves internally to become better human beings. What is obviously less believable is calling apes our ancestors but that is when we believe in rebirth and the soul’s immortality. If we do not believe in the soul and only believe in the evolution on a species level, then we are more inclined to giving apes the status of our ancestors.

Right now is the time to remain above the difficulties of the old world when we have lost our purity on the soul level and connect with the Ocean of Purity – God and regain back our initial status which we have forgotten i.e. a status of the devi devtas. You might wonder that how we will be transformed back into them.  That is the present incognito task of God and it is just a purification of a small number of souls, belonging to different religions, which are amongst us, who will be responsible for the purification of the more than 7 billion souls of the world and to take them back to the soul world and start a new beginning of the world. This will be a beginning where pure souls will come back in small numbers from the soul world and the world will start with the birth of deities or devi devtas on the planet earth, what is called heaven.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

The one who is responsible changes first before he expects others to change. 

The one who is responsible is a leader. He would take up the responsibility to change himself first instead of waiting for others to change. With the change that he brings in himself he inspires others to change too. Think of one situation where you are expecting someone else to change. Now think of one aspect in this situation in which you can bring about a change in yourself. Take up the responsibility of changing this and you will find yourself progressing and others taking the inspiration to change too. 

Message for the day

Faith in God gives you power to face the different challenges that come your way. 

Contemplation: In the difficult situations that come in your life when you have faith in God, the power within you is brought out. With the faith that God is with you, you can transform negative to positive, and impossible becomes possible. 

Application: When any task demands strength beyond your capacity, make the all-powerful God your companion. With the power of His companionship you will find things a lot easier to handle. Because of your faith help automatically comes. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris