Contemplation: A Caring Heart

Contemplation: A Caring Heart

A Caring Heart

I express my care and concern by responding to situations with a cool head and to people with a warm heart. If I remain aware that as fellow human beings we are all part of one family, and that even the smallest of gestures can make a difference in people's lives, I am always blessed with a caring heart. It takes so little to show that I care yet it can mean so much.

Negativity

When someone relates something to me about another person's negativity,
I tend to listen to it with great interest. I then find that the other
person is greatly encouraged to speak about it. But such waste talk is
not really useful for anyone and I find that there is no solution for
the problem at hand. When someone is talking about the negativity in
another person I need to question myself if listening to this is of any
use to me, or if I can do anything about the situation. If I cannot do
anything I need to remind myself that there is no use listening to such
waste talk. Instead I need to make an attempt to look at the positive
aspect in the other person so that the other person can see that too.

The Art Of Stepping In And Stepping Out In Relationships (cont.)

In the same way as the gardener (referring to yesterday's message), we have the duty, or rather the honor, of planting positive seeds of good intentions, love, respect and tolerance, at the same time allowing others and the forces of the universe to be given the space to work and respond according to their time and inclination. Very often we plant those seeds but want an immediate result: * I have shown so much patience, but he doesn't change or * How much longer do I have to tolerate? I feel suppressed. We become attached to what we do, so there is no space for things to happen at their own appropriate time. Sometimes we have the wrong type of mercy, or we want to take control, thinking we know better, so we step into people's lives too much. This interference and lack of free space provokes hatred, resentment and conflict with others.

At other times, we get fed up with others; our tolerance and empathy is completely reduced and we say, * I've had enough, or * I have got to do my own thing and so we step out, but in a selfish way, that is, we isolate ourselves from others, or situations. We justify, or disguise, this isolation and rejection and dislike towards others with such phrases as, * I need my own space or * Let them stand on their own feet. In actual fact, we aren't bothered anymore; we have stepped too far out of the picture because we have not cultivated the patience which allows the good and positive to germinate and grow in its own time. It is an art to know when to step back and when to step forward, but a very necessary one if well-being is to be achieved.

Soul Sustenance

Bringing Your Dreams Alive 

Each one of us has dreams that we nourish right through our lives. Some are short-term dreams and some long term ones. Dreams keep changing as we progress through different phases of our life. Some are achieved, some are not. Some of us possess the ability to realize our dreams more than the rest. The most important and influential factor in this process is how much we believe in our dream and believe that it will be realized. Some of the factors that hamper this belief are: 

* The influence of the past - the memories of our past failures, which sow seeds of doubt in our mind; as well as successes, which keep us in an illusionary consciousness and distance us from the present moment and our present actions. Also, sometimes we associate present temporary failures or ups and downs which may come in our way, with failures of the past. 
* Lack of inner strength or power, when faced with obstacles in your path. Tendency to get dejected very easily and creating weak thoughts like we do not deserve it or we are not capable of it or are we not lucky enough or it is not in our destiny or maybe it is our negative past actions which are influencing our dream realization process adversely, etc. 
* The opinions or comments of people surrounding you who sometimes, are not in tune with your consciousness and are not able to empathize with your purpose. Their comments easily de-focus you from your purpose. 
* Lack of ability to mould or adjust during the dream realization journey. Any journey is always full of twists, turns and sudden changes. A rigid state of mind, which is not able to change its tactics as required, may make the path seem more difficult than it actually is. 
* It is very good to dream but excessive attachment to the dream also may make the journey towards the dream stressful and bring down your self-belief at times. 

Message for the day

Wisdom is to learn from one's experiences. 

Expression: Things do not always go smoothly. In spite of the difficulties that we are faced with, the wisdom within us enables us to learn from all that happens. Naturally with this learning we would experience progress. If not, we will only be caught up with the past and lose the present too. 

Experience: When we find ourselves thinking about the past, or caught up with it, we need to redirect our thoughts towards a more constructive goal. We have to see if we have benefited in some way with the particular experience of the past. Our wisdom enables us to learn from everything that happens. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: Look for Goodness

Contemplation: Look for Goodness

Look for Goodness

In everything, goodness is there. Our goal is to find it. In every person, the best is there; our job is to recognize it. In every situation, the positive is there; our opportunity is to see it. In every problem, the solution is there; our responsibility is to provide it. In every setback, the success is there; our adventure is to discover it. In every crisis, the reason is there; our challenge is to understand it. By seeing the goodness, we'll be very enthusiastic and our lives will be all the richer.

Procrastination

There is usually a tendency to postpone things to the last moment. When
the situation demands that I finish the job and at the same time if
unforeseen things come up, I tend to feel pressurized. I then am not
able to do the job well and begin to wish that I had more time. I need
to understand the importance of time and do the job needed to be done
immediately. I need to understand the fact that if I lose this moment,
there is no chance of getting it back again. If I use the time at hand
fruitfully, I'll always be able to remain light and be available to
things that come up suddenly.

Awakening Your Intuition

In real life, we are faced with many situations when important decisions have to be taken, a particular path to move ahead has to chosen. At such times, our mind is filled with various different voices or influences like the influence of people surrounding us, who give their different opinions regarding the particular situation; they say something, our mental logic along with knowledge of people and things, says something else, then there is the influence or memory of our past experiences which colour our perception of the present situation differently. Also there is the influence of the outside world in general - all that we see, hear and read. There are also our attachments, selfish desires, fears, mental biases towards a particular person or situation, emotions like jealousy and hatred, beliefs etc. which influence our perception. Our mind is full of all these influences, many of them even conflicting each other, and we experience complete turmoil or indecisiveness inside ourselves, we don't know what to do.

In such cases it is sometimes extremely wise to keep all these influences aside, sit in silence and listen to what our intuition is saying to us. There are many situations, in which after the situation is over, we realize that all the influences mentioned above would have taken us on the wrong path, but it was our intuition, our inner voice of wisdom, alone which gave us the right solution and took us safely to our destination.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

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 thethird 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. 

Message for the day

To become worthy of blessings means to make success easy. 

Expression: Thinking of benefit for the self increases to such an extent that it sometimes takes on the form of selfishness. When we are selfish we stop thinking about others or the effect that our action is going to have on them. Then we are not able to move forward with lightness because the good wishes and blessings of others are not with us. 

Experience: In each and every action of ours we need to first check if it is going to be beneficial for us as well as for others. As much as there is benefit for others too in the task that we are doing, that much the good wishes of others will be there for the task. With these good wishes we will be able to move forward much faster and achieving success will be easy. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: Detachment

Contemplation:  Detachment

Artist: Elisabetta Trevisan

Detachment

Detachment does not mean we don't care about what is going on in the world. Detachment does not mean coldness or hardness. It just means we learn to stand back and observe for a moment. Detachment gives us that 'space of time' to create a measured response and not to be overruled by habitual reaction.

Criticism

When I do something, there's sure to be some criticism that comes my
way. But I am not always able to take it in the right spirit. I tend to
give a lot of explanations and excuses to others and myself. When I
give excuses in this way I finish the ability to learn and so I am not
able to experience constant progress. Whenever I am faced with
criticism I need to reinforce my faith in whatever I am doing. When I
am sure of myself, and the task that I am involved in, I will be able
to learn from whatever the others tell me. I will no longer give
excuses but go on bringing improvement to whatever I am doing.

The Art Of Stepping In And Stepping Out In Relationships

For any activity, or relationship to remain peaceful and successful, we must know how far to step in and how far to step out. It is like a gardener who sows seeds at the right time, steps in to plant and water them and then steps out of the picture to allow nature to carry on with her work. However, from time to time, he steps in again to see if there is enough water, if any insects are attacking the plants, if any food is needed. His role is to find the appropriate space for the potential beauty and uniqueness of the seeds to emerge; he does not create the flowers but facilitates their expression. The gardener does not step in too much; that would be called interference. After planting the seeds, he does not demand an immediate result; he does not dig them up next day to see if they have sprouted. He plays his role, fulfils his duty, but lets go because he understands the blooming of the flowers is not dependent on him. Nor does he let go too much. If he did, then the plants would die from lack of care, or the insects and weeds would destroy them. He does not let go so much that he isolates himself from the process. Instead, by knowing when to step in and when to step out, he creates a respectful partnership or relationship with nature.

Tomorrow we shall apply this example to real life relationships.

Soul Sustenance

Injustices And Suffering In The World – Applying The Law of Karma (Part 2) 

An understanding of the laws of action reminds us that whatever we give we get, and whatever we get is the result of what we have given. When we apply this understanding into our awareness while we watch apparent injustices in the world, it reduces our outrage, lessening our pain. It's not that we sit passively and allow people to bring about suffering upon others, but it helps us to see that the greatest or highest contribution that we can make, to both the victim and the sinner, is to help them remember who they are and help them rise above their anger and fear towards each other. Only in this way can we help them to liberate themselves from an exchange of energy that has perhaps been going on for centuries. 

But before we can effectively do this for others, it is necessary to try and do it for ourselves. Instead of taking the law into our own hands (the desire for revenge and justice), we can benefit everyone around us by first understanding and living ourselves according to the invisible laws of cause and effect which define all human relationships. Sometimes this is referred to as 'practice what you preach', and it often requires moments of reflection before action in order to judge the consequences of any path of action. This capacity to stop, reflect and consider, in a state of mental calm and with clear intellect, is an essential characteristic of all effective leaders. It is also what makes us all potential leaders in life, every day, who can bring about world transformation through self transformation. 

Message for the day

Flexibility makes problems into teachers. 

Expression: Flexibility enables us to move with time, slipping through life as gently and strongly as possible. When problems do come, instead of stopping with fear, we will be able to learn from them and move on, experiencing constant progress. 

Experience: In any problem that we are faced with we need to remind ourselves that the situations around us will not remain the same, things might get worse too. If we are able to be flexible now we will be able to adjust ourselves to any kind of situation that we might be faced with in the future too. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: Optimism

Contemplation:  Optimism

 

Optimism

Optimism and a clear conscience are signs of a well balanced life.

Carelessness

Very often I find myself leaving things to chance or to people. I tend
to take care of big things and become careless in little things. When I
leave things for others to take care and if they don't do it, I become
disappointed - even if I have not delegated the task to be done. When I
recognise the fact that I am fully responsible for the task at hand,
both the big things and the little ones to be done, I'll never be
careless. I'll make it a point to take care of every little aspect to
the end. This is what will bring accuracy in my tasks and also enables
me to delegate the work well.

Motivation

The example of an iceberg shows the need to see under people's surface behaviour; the need of a deeper insight.

Only 10% of an iceberg is visible on the surface, 90% is under the waterline, invisible, but yet prominent. If there is a wind coming from left to right, just by seeing the visible mass, we think it will move the iceberg to towards the right. If, against all expectations, the iceberg moves in the opposite direction (left), it is because, under the waterline, there is a strong current running towards the left.

Sometimes you, as a leader, try to move people in a certain direction by giving them orders, instructions, explanations and encouragement, but you do it on the basis of what you see above the surface. The visible part represents what is at the surface such as appearance, behaviour, manners etc. You do not see what moves them under the surface so you become surprised and maybe frustrated seeing them move in the opposite direction. The main part, which is the 90% not visible, is within the subconscious. Under the surface (subconscious) you will find emotions, fears, attitudes, deeply held values etc.

If you want to move people, if you want to motivate others for a project or even just to reach others, you need to be aware of these kinds of things that you find under the surface. The key to understanding others better is to be more aware of your own feelings and under-currents, because, at a deep level, we are very much alike. If you understand your own fears and strong motivators, you will understand others much better.

Soul Sustenance

Injustices And Suffering In The World – Applying The Law of Karma (Part 1) 

We are presently living in a closely connected world where everyone knows what everyone else is doing, as they are doing it. Each day brings scenes and images, through the media, in front of us, of many apparent injustices and suffering of individuals or groups of individuals. Whether it's in the office, or in the market or on the television news, we hear and see reports of people suffering tremendous pain and sorrow at the hands of others. At these moments, our sense of injustice is stimulated and it becomes easy to rise in outrage against the sinners. In the process we ourselves suffer from our own self-created anger and perhaps hate. This process then becomes a habit and an inner pattern we begin to repeat, not only when we encounter scenes of global peacelessness, but the moment someone in the family or at office does something similar. A panic button is pressed and we react with the same pattern. 

What we forget in both global and local contexts, is the history and geography of karma. Every scene and situation has a variety of related causes in both time (history) and space (geography) e.g. emotions of hatred and revenge amongst various countries and religions (in different parts of the world) and the actions connected with these emotions has underlying hidden causes, related to the Law of Karma (Law of Cause and Effect) which go back sometimes to hundreds of years – X is doing something with Y because Y had done something similar with X sometime in the past, but in different physical costumes, sometimes quite some time back in history – this is the reason, we often fail to take these causes into consideration when viewing these negative scenes and situations, because we see the situations with a limited perspective of present physical costumes and circumstances. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message for the day

With humility and love, flexibility becomes natural. 

Expression: In order to be flexible we need to have the virtue of humility. With humility we will be willing to understand the people around and their behaviour. Then we will also be able to have love for them. This automatically brings flexibility within us. 

Experience: When we come across people who are not being cooperative, we need to become humble and try to understand what they are communicating, if not through words at least through their actions. When  we are able to listen with love and understanding, we will no more be rigid but can easily adapt ourselves. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation:First Thought

Contemplation:First Thought

 

First Thought

Each morning before I begin the journey of my day let me sit still, in silence, and sow the seed of peace. Peace is harmony and balance. Peace is freedom - freedom from the burden of negativity and wastefulness. Let peace find its home within me. Peace is my original strength, my eternal tranquility of being. Let my first thought of the day simply be peaceful.

Passing Clouds

There are a lot of negative situations that come my way, as I move
along. During the difficult phase I tend to experience a lot of
negativity within too, either in the form of fear, anger or pain. I
then find that particular difficult situation to be very big and it
also seems to last forever. I need to recognize the fact that whatever
difficulties I face are like passing clouds. These clouds come at their
time and fade away at their time too. I need to develop the
determination to work on my problems with this understanding. I will
then be able to face the situation with ease.

The Game of Life (Meditation)

I relax my body... I breathe deeply and let go of all tensions... I centre myself on this present moment... On the screen of my mind, I visualize myself without fears... I let go of all labels, all roles that I play... Now I 'am'... I am a shining being of light... I am free... I am peace... I am totally free, beyond all limitations... I enter into another dimension, a home full of soft golden red light, a home without any boundaries, my original, unlimited home, the home from where I have come... I stop thinking so much; I simply experience my spiritual presence...

I am who I want to be... I am me... I do not need to justify myself... I do not need to give explanations... I connect to my inner beauty... I radiate the energy of the beauty that there is in me...

I let go of the branches... I fly... I fly high... Beyond the body, above this place, the people that surround me, beyond the houses and the streets, beyond the clouds, I fly towards the dimension of light where no physical limitation ties me down...

I feel the unlimited peace that caresses my being... I let myself be taken by the sensation of freedom that the flight gives me... I see the planet Earth from above... I recognize that everything there below is a game... I relax: everything is a game... I am a player in the game of life... I simply have to learn to play the game being who I am...

Now, it is time to return... I am here, present... My breathing calmed... I, the soul am relieved... Now I know that, whenever I want, I can fly... Being an observer of the game, and live it with joy and peacefulness.

Soul Sustenance

Meditation And Physical Health 

The state of the body is a result of the state of the soul not only because of past karmas (actions performed in this and previous births) but because of its present state also. 

For example, when the emotion of fear passes through the mind, the endocrine system starts pumping adrenalin through the body to prepare it for a surge of energy. It is easy to note the cause-effect relationship between fear (cause) and adrenalin (effect). In the same way all of the mental ups and downs cause resulting secretions throughout the body. Internal rage is accompanied by heavy breathing, fast heart-beats, red face and so on. This relationship between body and soul is the reason most physical diseases arise from a psychological or mental origin. There is no doubt that any lessening of harmful secretions by reducing the emotional causes will bring about sound and lasting health. Health and order in the soul (mind) bring health and order in the body. 

Of course there are other factors which give rise to health problems - pollution, unhealthy life-style, lack of exercise, wrong diet etc. Through Raja Yoga meditation (taught by the Brahma Kumaris) and its connected positive lifestyle and through a pure vegetarian diet, ill-health can be minimized. The removal of stress and tension has to be one of the most important advantages for a person who practices Rajyoga meditation. 

Message for the day

Habits break easily when there is flexibility. 

Expression: The more we work with a habit the more it will be strengthened. When we hold on to our habits because of our rigidity, we will never be able to change them but will only be strengthening them all the more. On the other hand if we are flexible we will be able to give up unwanted habits very easily. 

Experience: If we are working with any habit which we want to get rid of, we have to remind ourselves that we must not strengthen the habit any more but have to break it. We only need to emerge the flexibility within us and tell ourselves that we needn't act in the same way that we have always done, instead we can think of something new. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation:The Colour of Flowers

Contemplation:The Colour of Flowers

Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand (Indeed nature's secret garden from India)

The Colour of Flowers

Leave worries aside and you will be surprised by the beauty of the sky and the colour of flowers, of the freshness of the breeze and the generosity of the sun. You will feel you are part of creation, and life will start to make sense. The greatest wealth is to appreciate what we have and what we are.

Look at Specialties

The usual reaction to negativity is to be negative too. The perception
of this negativity tends to make me feel disheartened and I tend to
lose my inner happiness. Once I have perceived the negativity, even if
I do try to forgive the person and forget the harm done, I find it
difficult to do so. When I see someone working with some negative
quality, what I need to do is to look at the positivity that is hidden
behind the perceived negativity. The more I am able to look at
people's specialties the more I am able to forgive their weaknesses and
this keeps me constantly cheerful.

Transforming The Anger Of The Other

In meditation, when I connect with God, I absorb His spiritual love and peace, which causes my own original qualities, which are present in me, the soul, in my pure state when I begin the playing of roles through physical bodies on the world stage, to come to the forefront or to the surface, to emerge in the conscious from the sub-conscious. As a result, now, where previously there would have been conflict, I have a greater capacity to remain peaceful when another person behaves in an unpleasant way with me. I have the power to stay mentally and emotionally stable when someone provokes or insults me. This power is enormously valuable in life, enabling me to cool heated situations, and even remove another person's anger altogether.

Instead of focusing on the anger on a person's face, I focus my attention to the non-physical, star-like being or soul within the person, which was peaceful and loveful in its original, pure state. This increases my tolerance and acceptance power. Also, through my meditation, I am actively aware of the spiritual bond all human beings share, as souls who have a common home of peace, the incorporeal (non-physical) home, from where all of souls come and a common connection with the One Supreme Father, the Supreme Soul. Through this knowledge, I connect with the goodness in the other soul and my love for the soul is maintained. I realize that this goodness is a deeper reality than the anger. The truth is that if I can hold this soul-conscious vision steady for long enough, I radiate positive energy to the other soul, which works like magic and awakens the goodness within the other person. Then, my tolerance bears fruit and peace really does prevail between the two of us.

Soul Sustenance

Resolving The Inner Identity Crisis (Part 2) 

In yesterday’s message we had explained how the confusions, complications and problems that exist in our world today and the state of human relationships all over the world, are simply a reflection of our lack of inner clarity about who we are, what we are and where we are heading i.e. a lack of true self-identity. So how do we resolve this internal and external turmoil? There is an original, beautiful self, with characteristics of peace, love and happiness that exists within each one of us, the self from which we have been distanced since a very long time. This is a centre full of the spiritual resources of all virtues and powers. Reaching it is a journey of only one second and no distance. By identifying with this inner centre, a centre which is imperishable, unchangeable, constant and even eternal, my self identity becomes strong and stable, as compared to many false identities based on external realities like position, wealth and material possessions which are all perishable and subject to various ups and downs even in one single day, and if we over identify with them, we are bound to experience constant pain and discontentment. 

This process of true self-identification is not a renunciation or avoidance of the way the outer world is but it is a healing process for your inner world. It is an internal correction process of identification, whereby you rediscover your true self as a complete being full of positive emotions that you always were and you start identifying with it, doing which very easily helps you let go of the wrong identifications. This process is commonly called meditation, the foundation of which is spiritual wisdom. Once this inner work is done, the outer world starts taking the shape of a reflection of that. Resolving the identity crisis first changes the way our internal and external world looks to us, as a result changing the way it works. 

Message for the day

The one who has the balance of flexibility and discipline is the one who is constantly successful. 

Expression: It is of course necessary to be flexible but if we are so flexible that others take advantage of us it is not right. So we need to have a balance of flexibility and discipline i.e., to be flexible within the rules and code of conduct. 

Experience: It is necessary to take care that the flexible nature within us doesn't waste our time or other resources. We have to be able to say no if the situation demands. But whatever we say has to be told with love, which comes when our nature is that of flexibility. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: Determined

Contemplation: Determined

 

Rio Soca, Slovenia

Determined

Single minded but flexible, like a river forging its eternal route, I am dedicated to completions and natural conclusions. There is nothing that cannot be achieved. There is nothing that remains permanent. I keep on moving with love and purpose towards my destination. My resolve is firm, my aims are clear.

Discipline

Throughout the day I find myself having to give explanations or
corrections to so many people. When I do this I find that I have to
spend a lot of words. In the process I tend to lose a lot of my energy
and find myself tired. It is not the work but the words that make me
tired. In order to save my energy and to use fewer words I need to have
the balance of love and discipline. Discipline will enable me to give
the right directions while love will make my directions effective. So I
find that just a few words would be enough to get my message across. I
am able to get the benefit of getting the work done and also win the
good wishes of others.

Spiritual Roses Of The Supreme Gardener

The main features of physical flowers are their colour, form and fragrance, by which we judge their beauty. All these characteristics have their own unique importance. Introducing oneself to spirituality is like giving oneself into the hands of the Supreme Spiritual Gardener or the Supreme Being (God). Like a physical gardener who possesses qualities of patience, tirelessness, love, far-sightedness, faith etc. on a limited level, the Supreme Gardener possesses these qualities on an unlimited level, which he uses to bring us up. As we remain under his sustenance and care, over a period of time, we blossom and are transformed into beautiful spiritual flowers, and our thorns fall away. When we look at ourselves as spiritual flowers, our colour symbolizes spiritual knowledge. Depending on how we imbibe the wisdom shared by the Spiritual Gardener and bring it in our day-to-day functioning; in our thoughts, words, actions and relationships; the more beautiful a colour we take. Our form is shaped depending on the quality of our connection with the Supreme Being, the Gardener. The deeper and stronger the connection, the more beautiful the form. Lastly, our fragrance refers to divine qualities like sweetness, humility, tolerance, carefreeness, purity and many more, which we develop. Physical flowers with a good colour, form and fragrance, attract everyone around them. Seeing and coming close to them, gives one an experience of joy. The same holds true for spiritual flowers.

Roses are considered the king of all flowers, with the best possible colour, form and fragrance. Spiritual roses are those souls which continuously remain in a spiritual consciousness and spread the fragrance of that consciousness to others. Their thoughts, words and actions get shaped according to this consciousness. They have a deep relationship with the Spiritual Gardener and are always eager to ensure that others also experience that relationship and become spiritual roses; which is a deep wish of the Supreme Gardener, for every spiritual being. They help him in fulfilling that wish.

Soul Sustenance

Resolving The Inner Identity Crisis (Part 1) 

At the present moment in human history, almost every individual has lost the awareness of its real or true self. This has happened very gradually as each individual has progressed in its journey of birth-rebirth and has kept on attaching itself to various different things and as a result losing its sense of self in things that it is not i.e. identifying with things that it is not. In a way it can be said that this took the self far away from itself. This personal, internal identity crisis has led to a universal, external identity crisis, which has resulted in an emotional crisis resulting in peacelessness and sorrow in our inner world as well as in the outer world. 

This inner identity crisis is the root cause of the multitude of deformed emotions that exist inside us like anger, ego, lust, fear, comparison with others, greed, hatred, low self esteem, dependencies etc. all of which have brought us and keep on bringing us pain. We explain this with an example – suppose you have just constructed a new apartment. While making it and once its ready and you are using it, you have become excessively attached to it i.e. you have started identifying with it. Due to this false identification, the first emotion that gets created inside you is ego. If someone were to criticize the apartment even slightly, you would react immediately with anger. You constantly fear any sort of harm to the apartment. You even compare it with apartments that others possess. You also start looking down at people whose apartment is not as good as yours i.e. you create emotions of hatred for them. If something negative were to happen it, it affects your mental state immediately i.e. your happiness has become dependent on the material possession. Your temporary success along with the recognition that it brings you from others leads to the desire of more success of a similar type i.e. possess some more things - bigger and better, which is nothing but greed etc. The seed of all these incorrect emotions is my over-identification with this newly acquired possession. All of these wouldn’t exist inside me, if my relationship with was one of detachment with it. In this way, we identify with various objects and people in the whole day, which leads to the creation of such emotions inside us. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message for the day

The one who has the power of realisation is the one who can bring transformation. 

Projection: When something goes wrong we immediately begin to look for excuses why that mistake happened. This finishes our power of realisation and we will not be able to recognise our own mistake. Then we will not be able to work at improving ourselves and we will not be able to bring any transformation. 

Solution: Instead of looking for excuses for what happened, we need to take the opportunity to check within ourselves and see our own mistake. When we recognise our mistake, however small it may be, we will be able to work on it. Only when we are able to realise our own mistake, will we be able to bring about transformation in ourselves. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

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