Daily Positive Thoughts: February 06, 2017: Self - Sovereignty

Self - Sovereignty

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

Living A Life Rich With Relationships (Part 1)

We all live a life full of relationships of different types. Starting from the morning till the night, relationships are a constant support system for us and almost like a lifeline. Imagine for once that you were alone in this world and you would have to spend 75-80 years living alone and taking care of yourself through food and also live alone with no one to share your love and joy with. How would such a life be and how does it sound? Interesting? Not at all. So relationships are like life’s oxygen. You know man is trying to make a manned mission to the planet Mars within the next few years. So, a life without relationships would be like staying alone on Mars. We would need to make our own meals, generate our own electricity, filter our own water to drink and there would be no need to earn money because our basic needs would be taken care of and there would be no one to take care of and bring up. That is an imagination not reality. But what is reality is that relationships are a source of strength for us and of course a source of so much love that a life without them cannot be imagined.  

Love is the primary virtue of the world and it is the most liked emotion of the world. Even God brings change in us on the basis of love. The soul changes itself because of love for God. Even power in the soul is filled by God, because He loves us immensely. All the work that God does on us and helps us become better human beings is because of His love for us. We are indebted to Him for that and then in return for all the love He showers on us, we become further determined to bring change in ourselves. So love with God works both ways and is the basis of a beautiful relationship with Him. Also, people whom we come in contact with in our relationships come close to us primarily because of the virtue of love and love is the foundation of strong and stable relationships.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Inner silence doesn't mean no thoughts or an empty void.

Often we can be verbally silent but we're not experiencing inner silence. 

To experience inner silence, turn your attention away from the rush of conversations, lists & obligations, & bring your mental & emotional energy to a point of concentration, where you can be still

In this stillness your original blueprint of love, bliss & peace emerge; & flows through your being, harmonizing & rectifying any imbalance.

Message for the day

Good intentions need to be brought into quick action. 

Thought to Ponder:  When we get a thought to do something good, it is better to do it immediately. If we don't, the intention tends to fade and it becomes more and more difficult as days pass by. Also, after a while, we will not be able to find the necessary resources to bring it into action.

Point to Practice: Today I will take up something that I have wanted to do. I will list out a few points when and what I am going to do to fulfill that thought. I will immediately start doing it. This will bring about a positive change in my life. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 05, 2017: Smile Incessantly

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 05, 2017: Smile Incessantly

Smile Incessantly

We all know and remember a smiley person - someone whose heart seems to radiate through their teeth. And when they do, notice how it's almost impossible not to smile back...unless you are feeling very, very grumpy! So if you don't feel a smile coming on - why not do it anyway. Not only does it transform your inner chemical production and create 'happy hormones', but when people are on the end of your smile, they smile back (well most do). And if you really don't genuinely feel like smiling at life, the universe and everybody - fake it until you make it!

The Umbilical Cord Of Meditation (Part 3)

Practical meditation is something which you can do while being in your daily routine and not just at a fixed time like in the morning, before starting your day or in the night, before going off to sleep. It is a constant union. In fact, it is the foundation of positive action. After all, you need to fill yourself with the spiritual nutrition of the different qualities from your spiritual mother or the mother of the soul or God through the divine umbilical cord of positive thinking and meditation. Only then will you radiate the same to others. Often, our negative actions in the day are performed because this divine and sacred connection is not strong enough. In other words, the umbilical cord that we share with God i.e. meditation is cut off and we are so busy in our work that God is forgotten. On the other hand, when we are occupied with the daily work and are performing negative actions, the connection that we have made in the morning is weakened. So if people are to receive goodness from us and love us in return, remaining in the womb of a spiritual consciousness and absorbing its benefits from God or the Supreme Being of the world is a necessity.

Also, this beautiful and pure womb of God will grow us spiritually and we will, as time passes, become beautiful human beings by meditating and focusing our consciousness on Him. We all love Him as a Father but He is also a Mother of humanity and is full of love and power, just like a physical mother, whom we all have been brought up by and experienced. They say the most beautiful and purest relationship in the world is that between a small child and his or her mother. So God is our spiritual mother, the mother of the soul. And His love for me, the spiritual baby, is the Highest in the world. So, enjoy the company of this most beautiful and loving Mother of the Universe. Meditate a lot. That means remember Him and give that love to the whole Universe.

Making a complaint doesn't always have to be negative;

It’s good to express your opinions & suggestions. 

But if you're not gaining anything positive by complaining, then you might want to 

1) reduce the whining & grumbling; or

2) turn your complaint into a compliment.

Stop the unnecessary complaints & your necessary complaints will be more effective.

Message for the day

To recognize what is negative and waste is to have the ability to overcome them. 

Thought to Ponder: When something negative or waste comes up, I need to recognize it immediately. If I am not able to do that, I actually invite it into my life, make it my guest, give it attention and encourage it further. So, it is important to recognize immediately and change anything negative or waste that comes my way. 

Point to Practice: Today I will keep a check on my thoughts from time to time. As soon as I find something waste or negative coming up, I will not encourage it further. I will immediately either create another thought or move away from the situation temporarily till I change my thoughts. Such attention over a period of time, will help me recognize quickly and overcome what is negative and waste. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 04, 2017: Manners

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 04, 2017: Manners

Namaste:  This gesture is called Anjali Mudra or Pranamasana.

In Hinduism it means "I bow to the divine in you"

Manners

When we encounter good manners, we feel that some deeper part of 

us has been   honoured. Truly, none of us deserves anything less.

The Umbilical Cord Of Meditation (Part 2)

Meditation is the creation of positive thoughts in the mind in such a way that the mind starts getting oriented in a positive direction above the routine thinking of day-to-day life. It is not making the mind blank or completely free of thoughts. In fact, it is making the full of positivity, in the form of positive thoughts and visual images of the spiritual self or the soul and the Supreme Soul, who is the Higher parent of the soul. We all know our physical self, who we are, what our name is, what work do we do, where do we stay, what is our nationality and how we look, but this is are our physical identity and is different from our spiritual identity.

The spiritual identity is simple – I am a non-physical being of energy, which is not made up of the five elements and I have seven original virtues – peace, joy, love, bliss, purity, power and knowledge, which is my original nature. I have come into this world from the soul world, also called paramdham or shantidham, to play my part through the physical body, which is like the vehicle which I control. Also, my Father, the Supreme Father and the Father of all souls is an ocean of all these seven virtues. This is my spiritual introduction and so is this the introduction of all the human beings of the world. Now, to link or connect with God, the Ocean of all virtues, I have to remember my spiritual form and emerge my qualities through the power of thought and visualization. This is the first step of meditation. After that, I travel with the eye of my mind to the soul world and visualize my Supreme Parent as a luminous (bright) being of pure light over there and stay connected with Him for a few minutes and absorb His energy inside myself, which is the spiritual umbilical cord. This is meditation, a spiritual union between the soul and the Supreme Soul. Also, the soul empowers itself in this way with a powerful connection and after that performs its actions in the world, full of all these qualities. Those actions will then become pure actions and will inspire others also. This is the magic of meditation.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Let's go from "doesn’t be a lemon" to "be a lemon"!

Have you noticed how a 'lemon' has such a negative connotation?

A lemon looks beautiful, smells wonderful and is incredibly versatile. It can be used as an antiseptic, a disinfectant, a cleanser, a de-scaler. They can be the star of the show, or a supporter; appearing in salads, drinks, desserts.

Be just as versatile as a lemon and make everything delightful!

Message for the day

The key to all treasures is "happiness".

Thought to Ponder: There are a lot of gifts that are hidden in my life, in each day. When I have happiness, and am able to happily move along through the day and am able to get an access to these treasures. This will also make me more aware of the inner treasures that I have within me, like my values, powers, skill and abilities. 

Point to Practice: Today I will make a list of all those things that I am thankful for in my life. This list will only be of what I have and appreciate. Making such a list will make me happy and keep me prepared to recognize and appreciate all other gifts that are coming my way. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 03, 2017: Princes

Gandhiji

Princes

The princes among us are those who forget themselves and serve mankind.

The Umbilical Cord Of Meditation (Part 1)

A bright start to everyday is a revision of the events of the day that you are expecting will happen and setting a time table for the day in which you keep your mind filled with the remembrance of the Supreme Being, whom we call God. He is also the Supreme Father and Mother. Just like a little baby being formed in the womb of its mother, is connected with her through the umbilical cord and receives physical sustenance from its mother, in the same manner I need to remain connected with my spiritual mother or the parent of the soul. This parent is the one and only God, a Being of love, an Ocean of love. Remaining connected with Him is a way of filling myself with that love and becoming pure at the level of the mind and not just in words and actions.

Purity of the soul is gained back when we experience ourselves as a soul and connect with the Supreme Soul. God is not physical. So the key to having a beautiful connection with Him is a spiritual consciousness i.e. I am not this body, but a soul - an energy which is a different entity from the body. Once I don’t exist in the body or in other words leave the body (for which we commonly say that someone has passed away or is no more) the body is like dust, with no life in it. So understanding that I, the spiritual energy or soul, am eternal or constant and the body is temporary, is the first step to opening the door to spiritual treasures, which are present in God. Meditation is a lovely relationship with the Supreme and increases the purity of the soul and makes it more loveful. We all were originally pure but have become impure as time has passed. Meditation is the need of the present time for everyone. We all require this umbilical cord of meditation at every step in our life. Remember, a baby is constantly connected to its mother in the womb with a physical umbilical cord and receives blood filled with nutrition and as a result it grows or matures, ready to be born one day, in the outside world. That is growing up physically and we need to grow spiritually and become filled with spiritual powers. The umbilical cord of the technique of meditation brings that power inside us from Him and as a result we grow or become full of spiritual energy.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

What's your metaphor for life?

Is life like a box of chocolates?

A stage, a river, a mountain to climb, or maybe a battlefield? 

You may even have more than one metaphor.

As is your belief, so is your experience. If you see life as a battlefield, you may feel that everyone is against you or that everything is a struggle, a battle. 

Or if you see life as a stage, you may realize that everyone is playing their role and you just need to play your role.

Why not find an empowering or motivating metaphor to enrich your experience in life.

Message for the day

To understand the value of tasks is to get cooperation. 

Thought to Ponder: It is important to value tasks that need to be done. If I don't have value for what I am doing, others will not too. So there would be minimum or no contribution from others. I need to recognize the true worth of what I am doing. Then, there would be a clear understanding of the significance and the difference I would be making in others' lives through the task. 

Point to Practice: Today I will start each new task with a thought in mind that I am grateful to get to do this task. This is something that is an opportunity for me to express my skills and abilities. This thought will make me do the task in a special way and others are able to get benefit from it too. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: February 02, 2017: The Wonder of Silence

After the bombing in Bangkok, Buddhists are changing the energy on the bombing site through meditation and prayer, proving that love is greater than hate.

The Wonder of Silence

The disease of anger needs the medicine of tolerance;

the pain of disappointment needs the medicine of hope;

the violence of revenge and spite needs forgiveness;

fear needs courage;

ego needs self-respect;

Through inner silence we receive the strength to heal.

Worry Confused With Concern (Part 2)

We are all linked together at a subtle, invisible level, and communicate with others invisibly. We not only send but also pick up the energy that others radiate, especially the ones that we are close to. We demonstrate with an example how this can work positively as well as negatively when we find ourselves in negative situations in our practical lives. 

Suppose the class teacher of your child (we take the example of your son) calls up and says that while playing in the school playground, your son has injured himself. She doesn’t explain much but says there is nothing to worry. She requests you to come and pick him up from the school. At this point of time your son is radiating his own spiritual energy which is most probably the negative energy of fear, stress, anxiety and sorrow (although the teacher has informed you that he is fine). At the same time he is also picking up your subtle spiritual or mental energy. You are driving to his school to pick him up. At this point of time, you only have a rough idea of what situation he is in exactly at that moment because you are physically far away from him. Guessing about the exact situation is making assumptions and is a waste of your mental energy. If you make negative assumptions i.e. you worry and are scared, then you are sending him the same vibrations of fear, a negative energy, which he is going to pick up and it is not going to empower or help him in anyway but is more likely to weaken and disturb him and even disturb you in your driving. You have been told that there is nothing to worry but still you know he is in a slightly difficult emotional situation and only he knows how he will come out of it. What will help him? He needs your support, but what will support him the most - we are talking about subtle support, because you are going to take some time to reach the school and provide him physical support? Your negative vibration of fear which you may mistakenly call concern or care as you imagine something bad has happened? Or the positive vibrations of your unconditional love and your good wishes, which is true concern or care? What will you send him to support him from far away? Worry vibrations or the vibrations of love in the form of your good wishes for them? Vibrations of love will keep you also in a positive state as you drive through the city. Besides, what is care or concern? It is you sending your positive inner spiritual light to help another and worry is definitely not that.

Kindness

You probably perform acts of kindness without even realizing it. Even so, look out for further opportunities to be kind.

An act of kindness doesn't need to be big; it just needs to come from the heart. Kindness works its way through to the hearts of others. 

Kindness not only makes the person at the receiving end feel good but it also makes you feel good!

Message for the day

To have the ability to smile is to bring solutions to problems. 

Thought to Ponder:  To be worried when things go wrong is to lose the ability to find solutions. But, if I learn to smile at situations, I will be able to see situations in a calm and peaceful way. I will then not only be free from the negativity of the situation in the present, but I will also help find solutions for the future. 

Point to Practice: Today I will find one positive thing from something that I am not happy with. This will help me smile at the situation without being affected negatively. When I remind myself of this positive aspect again and again, I will surely be able to work on the situation and make it better. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris