Contemplation: Poverty

Contemplation:  Poverty

 

Poverty is not being without money, but being without hope.

Simplicity

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When there is internal simplicity, we are able to give our best to everything we do. Our thoughts, words and actions are filled with power. We become a source of inspiration to those around us and they take something from us for their own benefit. Le

When there is internal simplicity, we are able to give our best to
everything we do. Our thoughts, words and actions are filled with
power. We become a source of inspiration to those around us and they
take something from us for their own benefit. Let me have one simple
thought for myself, 'whatever I do, people are going to do the same. So
with the help of this thought we can bring elevatedness in our actions
and words too. We then understand that like an actor on stage we need
to have natural attention on what we speak and what we do.

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Understanding And Overcoming Repetitive Thoughts Repetitive thoughts are mental dependences that arise due to a badly channeled imagination, false beliefs or mental weakness. For example, this happens when the pattern of negative repetitive thoughts

Understanding And Overcoming Repetitive Thoughts

Repetitive thoughts are mental dependences that arise due to a badly channeled imagination, false beliefs or mental weakness. For example, this happens when the pattern of negative repetitive thoughts makes us experience continuous feelings of guilt. Or we think, almost obsessively and continuously, that someone wants to hurt us or are after us. Or we create continuous thoughts of jealousy, hatred and violence with regards to another individual. They are negative and self-destructive habits. We fall into repetitive thoughts, which make us live in constant unhappiness.

We spend a lot of time during the day with these types of unnecessary thoughts. They are leaks of energy that weaken us. We have created the habit of thinking like that and, therefore, it is in our hands to learn to change it. We can free ourselves of these dependencies and the result is to be freer, mentally, of negative and repetitive thoughts, which are like a constant hammering. It is a question of learning to control what we think, thinking positively and in a focused manner, meditating and exercising the mind. We exercise to keep the body healthy and strong; in order to have a healthy and strong mind we have to learn exercises like meditation and relaxation that help us to free ourselves from repetitive thoughts which are nothing but bad positions or postures of the mind.

Soul Sustenance

Meditation To Experience My Inner Beauty

Experience the following thoughts one after the other:

I sit in a relaxed position, I am comfortable…

I let my body relax, keeping my back straight, my legs supported comfortably on the floor, I breathe deeply...

Now I begin to carefully observe my mind…

What kinds of thoughts arise in my mind? Are they positive, negative? How are they moving? Slow, fast...

I carefully observe my mind and remember that I can choose my thoughts…

Consciously, I begin to redirect my thoughts...

I create positive thoughts about myself...

I think about my good qualities, I identify a specific quality that is special to me and which I feel makes me a unique being…

Perhaps the quality is being tolerant, sweet, patient or affectionate…

I create a space in my inner self to discover my best quality, and for a few moments I think about it…

In my mind I see the beauty of this quality and observe how I feel...

I am sweet, I am kind, and as I experience these special qualities, I begin to feel better about myself…

Now I imagine using this quality in my interactions with others. How do I feel when I express and put this quality into practice?

Using a quality makes me grow, at the same time the good feelings I have about myself as a unique human being also makes me grow…
I enjoy these feelings for a few moments and little by little, breathing deeply, I am aware that I am here; I express my inner beauty…

Message for the day

The one who experiences freedom in the mind is the one who can bring benefit to others.

Projection: There is usually the feeling that there is not enough time for the self. And so there is no time to spare for others too. The more we think about ourselves only, we don't seem to be able to be free for anyone else. Then we find our days just pass by without being able to bring any benefit to others or ourselves.

Solution: Instead of taking out time separately for bringing benefit to others, we only need to see how we can help others wherever we are. We would be able to do this only when we are free from the weaknesses in our own mind. This will help us to be available to everyone around. If we are mentally preoccupied with our own weaknesses we will not be able to free to bring benefit to anyone.

Contemplation: Cheerfulness

Contemplation: Cheerfulness

Artist: Alois Hans Schramm

Cheerfulness

Cheerfulness keeps up the spirit of the one who possesses it and brings a smile to the lips of others.

Godly light

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Knowing the self and knowing God brings light into the darkness, and brings love back into our lives whereby we can reach out to others. The world will change when we are able to share this Godly light and this endless love. When I know myself I can

Knowing the self and knowing God brings light into the darkness, and
brings love back into our lives whereby we can reach out to others. The
world will change when we are able to share this Godly light and this
endless love. When I know myself I can really meet others. My vision
will not be disturbed by our differences but I will recognize the same
essence in others.

Overcome Feelings Of Revenge By Changing Your Belief System (cont.)

The urge for revenge and the false taste of victory or happiness related to it can only end when the belief, that others are responsible for what you feel, is seen as a false one. Only when you take full responsibility for whatever thoughts and feelings you create will it be possible to end the anger and the hatred that seeks revenge.

When someone hurts me, I create a negative image of myself and the other person in my mind's eye, in different ways. I see myself and the other in a negative light, myself as a victim and the other person as a victimizer. I need to stop doing that and see myself and the other in a positive light, in the same light as before, irrespective of the negativity that the other has radiated to me.

When we do that, we will stop pointing the finger at others for whatever hurt we may feel. Only when it is fully seen and accepted that someone can hurt or harm my vehicle, the physical body, but not me, the controller or driver of the vehicle, will rage and the desire for revenge stop existing inside my consciousness.

When I start seeing the person who has committed some negative action which is projected towards me, with an innocent, unbiased, untarnished vision, hatred will be transformed into love and compassion for both, me and the other person. Then it will be possible to be totally free of all judgment, criticism and any desire to seek justice and take pleasure and experience victory when justice is delivered.

Only then will it be possible to rediscover true happiness in life, because as long as there is even the slightest trace of an urge to seek revenge for what someone has done to me, and the desire to experience the false happiness which is experienced when such revenge is delivered; both of which, the happiness and the revenge, are forms of subtle violence; true everlasting and deep peace, contentment and happiness can never be experienced.

Soul Sustenance

Positive Thinking

The sun is a suitable image for positive thinking. The visualization described below uses a sunlit landscape as a comparison for the four levels of thoughts we create (positive, necessary, waste and negative). It can be used to increase your percentage of positive thoughts everyday.

1. Visualize a beautiful valley with a lake, forested foothills and high mountains rising up into the clouds. This is the landscape of your mind.

2. Your position in this landscape and the form in which you are displayed depends on the quality of your thoughts. Are you a fish swimming in the muddy depths of the lake (negative thoughts)? Are you a frog jumping back and forth from the shore to the lake (wasteful thoughts)? A human, wandering into the forest to gather food and build a shelter (necessary thoughts)? Or the sun, which sustains (nourishes) all life on earth (positive thoughts)?

Message for the day

Where there is humility, there is benefit to many.

Projection: Just as the tree laden with fruit bows down, the one who is full is the one who is humble. Such a person can bring benefit to all those around. Humility makes us a giver in all situations, also making it easy for others to take what we have to offer.

Solution: In all my interactions with others, It is more important to see what I can give them, instead of just expecting from them. Then, even when I have to follow others' directions there would be no difficulty. Humility helps me to bow very easily.

Contemplation: New Response

Contemplation: New Response

The bondage of the thoughts of the mind do not allow you to experience internal happiness. To be tied in the bondage of waste thoughts, jealousy and thoughts of carelessness and laziness are the bondages of the mind. Therefore become free from this s

Kalapana Hawaii

New Response

If you can see and accept that you create your own stress according to how you are responding, you will then see that there is something you need to unlearn as well as learn. The old response needs to be unlearned, and a new response needs to be learned.

Awareness

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It is true that there is much suffering in the world. But do we need to worry about it? If we focus on the negative, that drains us of the strength to help. Goodness and truth are also at work in our world, as well as darker forces. When I switch on

It is true that there is much suffering in the world. But do we need to
worry about it? If we focus on the negative, that drains us of the
strength to help. Goodness and truth are also at work in our world, as
well as darker forces. When I switch on my awareness of positive
qualities common to humanity, it is like bringing light into the
darkness. The past stops haunting me and I stop worrying about the
future. I see more clearly what I need to do now, for lasting happiness
and health.

Overcome Feelings Of Revenge By Changing Your Belief System

It's worth wondering, what I need to change inside my belief system so that no feelings of revenge exist inside me for anyone irrespective of what someone has done to me. When someone harms me or insults me in any way, what is the belief that exists inside my inherent belief system that causes feelings of revenge to emerge inside me in the first place? It is the belief that 'whenever someone does something negative to me, he hurts me, he is the victimizer and I am a victim'. I need to change that to - 'no one can never hurt me, but it's what I do with someone's negative actions, what shape I give the negative actions inside my mind, that causes me hurt, the choice lies with me'.

Two people will do two different things inside their minds with the offensive or negative actions of a particular person - one will create feelings of anger, hatred, sorrow, etc which will give rise to the desire for revenge; the other will create feelings of peace, love and good wishes which will give rise to only forgiveness, with no room for revenge. In other words, two different people will respond in two different ways to the negativity of the so called victimizer, depending on their belief system, their inherent personality or nature, their experience of similar negative actions in the past, either committed by the same person or by other people. All these factors will shape their perception of the other's actions and the self. One will see the other or perceive the other as the victimizer and himself as a victim and another will not identify the other person with his negative actions, but will instead focus on his inherent positive nature or positive aspects of his current personality and will also remain unaffected himself.
(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance 

Stress Management

There are some false beliefs about stress that we have acquired:
"Stress can only be treated by a doctor"
Truth: If you have some serious physical discomfort then perhaps it's time for a visit to the doctor. But unless you change your thoughts and feelings the pain won't go away forever. Medicines are irrelevant to the task of putting positive power into what you think and feel. So perhaps it's time to be your own doctor, take your own pulse, feel your own feelings and diagnose your own state of being. Only then will you be naturally interested in the 'inner' remedies, treatments and methods to help free yourself of the pain we call stress, and only then will you return to optimum mental and emotional health. The treatments for your head and heart are a lot different from those for your body. When you truly, deeply realize that all your stress begins with your own thoughts and emotions, and that you are the only one responsible, only then will meditation, visualization and positive thinking suddenly arouse your curiosity.

Message for the day 

Humility brings learning.

Projection: Where there is humility there is willingness to learn. When humility is lacking, ego comes which doesn't let us learn from all situations and people. The power of humility enables us to learn and move forward.
Solution: When I'm faced with criticism, I need to see what I can learn from it, instead of feeling bad about it. Even things that go wrong have something to teach me, if I am willing to learn. With humility I continue to learn.

Contemplation: Thinking

Contemplation:  Thinking

 

The Lakes of Mount Kelimutu, Indonesia- All 3 lakes change color from blue to green to black or red unpredictably.

Thinking

Thinking can be your hell, but it is also the means of making Heaven.

Subtle Bondage

The bondage of the thoughts of the mind do not allow you to experience
internal happiness. To be tied in the bondage of waste thoughts,
jealousy and thoughts of carelessness and laziness are the bondages of
the mind. Therefore become free from this subtle bondage.

Temporary And Permanent Sources Of Peace

It's a common notion (idea) to think of peace as being closely related to the beauty of nature - the play of waves on a beach, the blowing of wind through a forest, the soaring and swooping of sea gulls; in short, anything away from the rush and hurry of the city. Alternatively we associate peace with some physical form of relaxation like headphones plugged into soothing music, freshening up after a hard day, a brisk walk in the park, etc. In meditation we realize peace to be our very essence (nature); we realize very quickly, trying to extract peace from the world around us or even from some physical sensations in our own bodies gives us only a temporary experience of it.

Once we start meditating, we start to see physical relaxation as an escape from tension and not a solution for it; and the beautiful scenes of nature now no longer as sources radiating permanent peace. But in fact it is their mere absence of conflict, their harmony of colours, forms and sounds which appeal to us. There is something in each of us which cries out to be free from conflict. We discover that small voice or need is only our true nature demanding to be recognized. We realize that neither the body nor nature can give the peace that the soul was longing for, but it has to be tapped from within. Having found it, it remains constant, whether in the city or or on a hill station, in comfort or discomfort. In the midst of noise and confusion, peace is really our own.

Soul Sustenance

The Significance Of The Power Of Thought In Meditation

Meditation is not a process of emptying the mind of thought. In meditation I use the natural power of the soul – the power to create thoughts, as a take-off point (or as a spring-board) to finally experience the consciousness of the true self. In meditation, I climb a ladder of well-prepared, positive and spiritual thoughts and eventually climb beyond the ladder into the pure experience of what I really am. Pondering over these pure and real thoughts can occupy the soul for long periods of time.

In the most basic stage of Rajyoga meditation, first comes the realization: I am a soul, the energy of consciousness made up of a mind, an intellect and a collection of sanskars. My eyes, ears, nose, mouth are just the organs, which when used correctly, help me, the soul, enjoy life. I now possess the knowledge that will free me from my cage. I have the key, spiritual knowledge is the key - I am a soul, a being of light, ‘a bird’ which has the power to fly freely. Knowing this, I am not bound by physical laws. I can detach and fly at the speed of a thought, to the soul world, where I can easily experience my original state. I must realize that it is impossible to have ‘peace of mind’ if I cannot detach from the body. I must look upon all my family members, friends, colleagues, also as souls which have come from the soul world. We are all fellow souls. 


Message for the day

To have hope means to have a chance for success.

Projection: When we encounter failures, we sometimes get so disheartened that we lose hope in both the situations and in ourselves. Instead of seeing the obstacle that comes our way as a turn, we see it as an end and give up trying. So we lose out on our chance for success.

Solution: Even when things don't seem to be working out right, we must never leave hope. To leave hope means to rule out our chance for success. When we have hope we will keep thinking of new ways for success. We will then surely get cooperation from somewhere or the other and we will be successful.

Contemplation: The Arts of Life

Contemplation:  The Arts of Life

The Arts of Life

The greatest art is to be silent. Not just unspeaking with the lips, but unspeaking with the mind. When the mind is quiet, its whole angle of vision changes. From pouncing on the problems, it begins to perceive the chances, the good things in life: and, in that discrimination which comes from silence, lie all other arts. The arts that make life a pleasure and a challenge; like how to talk to each other, entertain each other, accept each other - in short, how to be happy not just together, but alone.

Simplicity

When there is simplicity within, the mind is calm and quiet. Simplicity
enables us to see the sequence of events around us. Each scene has a
meaning connected to the previous and the next one. Simplicity and
acceptance help us to play our part to the best of our ability.
Whenever we find ourselves questioning anyone's part or any situation,
let us just remember that everyone is right according to his part and
every scene according to the play of events. This thought enables me to
keep my mind free from complications. So we are able to be our best in
whatever we do.

The Location Of The Soul Inside The Body

The soul has the following basic functions to perform:

* to give life to the body and to maintain life inside it,
* to express and experience its role through the body, and
* to receive the rewards or fruits of past actions performed in previous births, through the body.

These functions are controlled and monitored by the soul via the nervous and hormonal systems from a particular point in the area of the brain which contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary and pineal glands. This region is known as the seat of the soul, or the third eye. The connection between the physical (body) and the non-physical (soul) is by the medium of thought energy.

Many religions and philosophies place great importance on the third eye, or eye of the mind. When viewed from the front, this region appears to be between and slightly above the line of the eyebrows. It's for this reason that Hindus use a tilak, a dot in red or sandalwood paste in the middle of the forehead. Christians also make the sign of the cross in this region. Even when one makes a mistake or expresses tiredness it's to this region that we put the hands in the gestures of self-dismay or exhaustion. After all the soul subconsciously knows that it makes the mistakes and not the body. When people are concentrating deeply in thought it is this area of the forehead where creases or lines are formed on the skin.

Soul Sustenance

Connecting To the Qualities of Others

Meditation adds immense value and depth to my relationships. It also brings closeness in them. Many obstacles and barriers, both on a physical as well as a subtle level, come between me and others when my consciousness and as a result, my perception are struck primarily in the physical dimension.

If I hardly know five to ten per cent of myself, and that too mostly on the surface, my relationships are going to be similarly superficial. With my self-respect built on very weak foundations, it will tend to be delicate and I'll be prone to trying to maintain it by thinking about and focusing my energies on others' weaknesses, sometimes real and sometimes even imagined. I'll also find it hard to realize and appreciate their qualities. Such is the state of so many human relationships today.

In meditation, I go into the depths of myself, and deep within my inner being, I find the beauty of peace, love and happiness that is there inside me. I also realize that this same beauty lies inside each soul. Then naturally and very easily, without any effort, I get connected to the same qualities in others.

I also find the strength to do the same. I am no longer judgmental seeing others’ temporary sanskaras of negativity. I find qualities that are basically there inside every soul: the original qualities or sanskaras of each spiritual being. It’s like a basic prototype for the whole of humanity, which I deeply see and realize.  

Message for the day

Determination enables elevated thoughts to become practical.

Projection: When we have an aim in our life and are working for it, we sometimes are not able to bring into practice all that we plan to do. We then tend to become disheartened and give up after trying for some time. Thus we lose out on the benefit that our thoughts can bring in our life.

Solution: In order to put into practice the good thoughts that we get i.e., in order to make our thoughts practical we need to stamp it with determination. Our words should never be 'I'll try', but must always be 'I will do it'. Where there is determination there is victory.

Contemplation: Happy Outcomes

Contemplation: Happy Outcomes

Happy Outcomes

The loving acts of a generous heart usually bring about really happy outcomes.

Power to Discern

In order to make accurate decisions, we need the power to discern. This
comes from clarity of mind and neutral observing. Let me watch without
getting my feelings in the way to get a clear picture and to come to a
conclusion/decision. To make right decisions, we must also know when to
step in and when to step out. This is maturity - knowing
appropriateness.

Fear And The Law Of Attraction

You should be careful with what you are afraid of, because you can invoke (call for or attract) it.

Fear is like a magnet. If you are afraid that something will happen to you and you get obsessed about it happening, you are effectively invoking it to happen.

If you are very afraid that something might happen to you and you begin to visualize that it might happen or how it might happen, this terrifies you and it closes you into a phobia and a state of fear. What you are doing is invoking it to happen, because the power of the mind and visualization is very great. If you are afraid that you might be robbed, or of meeting with an accident, or of losing, you are invoking the robbery, the accident and the loss. Fear of rejection produces rejection.

That is how extraordinary the power of our mind is. That does not mean to say that we should not take the necessary precautions. An aged woman knows that to fall can mean her bones might break more easily. She should not be preoccupied with a fear of falling; she simply needs to apply attention and precaution when walking. But when precaution is confused with fear, it is not a healthy precaution or one that is free from worries.

Soul Sustenance

What Is ‘Clean Communication’?

With the self covered by the clouds of so many external influences and many of its own negative beliefs and past experiences, the self is normally unclear about its own self. The light of spiritual knowledge brings clarity to the self, about the self. This helps me to communicate with others much more clearly than when I am not sure or clear about what is going on inside me. There is a direct connection between the quality of subtle activities in the form of thoughts and feelings going on inside me and the quality of my interaction and communication with others.

Very importantly, relationships are also connected with attitude and vision. Sometimes, I may feel I have said and done the right things to someone, yet still someone is not behaving towards me as I would wish. At such times I need to check my attitude towards that person and the vision with which I am seeing them. I may find inside a slight feeling of disapproval towards that person, a feeling of discomfort, a resistance to something in their personality.

Neither of us may be conscious of it, but my negative feeling casts a shadow on the other person. They are not receiving the acceptance or respect from me, that they should (on a subtle level), although externally I may be showing them a lot of respect. This subtle lack of acceptance and respect from my end influences their ability to hear me clearly (on a subtle level), and the way they behave towards me.

The practice of meditation enables me to clean out my thoughts, feelings, attitudes and vision, ensuring that what I share with others on a physical and on a subtle level is positive. Then it is much easier for me to connect with others and for others to connect with me in a positive way. This is called ‘Clean Communication’. 

Message for the day

Real positivity is being positive even in negative situations.

Projection: It seems very difficult, if not impossible, to maintain positive thoughts when we are faced with a negative situation. Even with a strong intention to be positive, challenges come in the form of relationships, physical illness, difficult circumstances etc and we find ourselves weakening.

Solution: A long time of practice of maintaining inner self-respect is what will help us in a difficult situation. To maintain self-respect means to understand and appreciate our own uniqueness. With this practice of self-respect we will not be dependent on the external situation but will find the strength within.