Contemplation: April 05, 2019: Think Big

Contemplation: April 05, 2019: Think Big

Think Big

Rise above little things. Be a big thinker. You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, dream big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, image big, love big, live big. Carry that list and you’ll start feeling big. Be a believer and you’ll be an achiever.

Solution

Whenever we are faced with a problem, we naturally begin to worry.
This worry makes us have a lot of waste thoughts. We don't find the
solution, yet we can't stop worrying. A worried mind filled with waste
thoughts cannot find the right solution. The only way to find the
right solution is to keep the mind free from worry. For this we need
to first have the faith that there is a solution and we will find it.
When we thus keep our mind free, our intuition works well and we are
automatically able to take the right decision.

The Cyclic Functioning Of The Three Faculties Of The Soul

The soul consists of three faculties - the mind, intellect and sanskaras.  They work together in a cyclic fashion. How they work together can be illustrated by looking at how habits or sanskaras are formed e.g. if you are used to scolding your children to get them to do their homework, here is what happens when you visit a friend's place and watch, for the first time, how your friend is doing the same to his/her child, you might think (done by the mind): 'I should adopt the same method to discipline my children, they never listen to me '. Your intellect discriminates and judges whether that thought is right or not. Seeing others using the same method, and also seeing that the children are not being affected in any negative way (at least in the short term, not realizing the long term harm) and also seeing them get the desired result, you make a decision to do the same, which leads to the action of scolding your children.  This creates an impression or memory within the soul, somewhat like cutting a groove in a piece of wood.  This groove in the soul becomes a characteristic of your personality and is known as a sanskara .  Within the groove is recorded the memory of, firstly, the action of scolding the children and, secondly, the desired result from the action. Now, whenever your child disobeys you even a little bit, this sanskara is activated and the memory of the action and result associated with it emerge in the mind triggering a thought: 'Let me scold my child, that's the best way to get him to do things'.  The intellect judges the thought, remembering the proof of the scolding, based on past experience, and then makes the decision that it is alright to using anger as a weapon to discipline the child. In this way, the sanskara keeps getting deeper and deeper. The cyclic process explained above, applies to all habits, whether physical or non-physical.

Soul Sustenance

Ways Of Improving Communication - Part 2

We had explained a few ways of improving communication yesterday. Some more are explained below herewith:

* Say what we mean, always. When we speak with courage and a calm self-confidence without force, then communication is honest, open, clear and trusted. Courage doesn't mean to say what we think others want to hear. If we lack courage because of the need for approval and acceptance, or because of a lack of confidence, then communication and the consequent relationship remains superficial and artificial. No one feels satisfied with this situation.

* Learn the language of silence. It is the basis of right intentions, positive feelings and clear attitudes. In this language, there is only one grammar: honesty and kindness. Honesty creates clarity and kindness creates respectfulness.

When we take time to reflect on our level of communication with everyone we meet, the realizations we have in silence will be manifested (displayed) in the higher quality and ease of interaction that we will find in all relations: be it with the self, with others or with the Supreme Source of Light.

Message for the day

To be a leader is to lead by one's own example.

Expression: Everyone knows what is right and what is not. But the one who is able to live by what is right, and shows the same in his words and actions is the one who is able to inspire others to bring about a change. There is then no need to speak a lot of words to inspire others.

Experience: When every action of mine is qualitative , I find that people look up to me for guidance and support. When people look up to me and take inspiration from me, I am able to keep attention on my words and actions so that whatever I speak and do is beneficial for myself and others.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 04, 2019: Self-Talk

Contemplation: April 04, 2019: Self-Talk

Self-Talk

How do you talk to yourself?  Thoughts from the past and worries about the future do not create good conversations.  Instead talk to your mind with love.

Gratitude

The intention and the action of gratitude is the inner symphony of the
heart. It opens to sing with thanks for the smallest of things. To
hear a bird sing, to see a child laugh, to receive a friend's
affection - are all invitations to practise the attitude of gratitude.
Gratitude is the kind of loving thanks which touches another's heart
in a place where they will allow you to reside for a long time.

relax7

Accessing Spiritual Power

In the inner depths of the soul there is pure, spiritual power of peace, love, wisdom and un-conditional joy.  This power provides us with the inner strength needed to change.  But how do we access this power? Meditation is the method - it allows this power to come to the surface of our consciousness and into our minds and influence our thoughts, feelings and personality.   In the same way as lava flows from the inner depths of the Earth to the surface through a volcano, we can also create volcanoes of spiritual power when we meditate.  Note, though, that we want to use our power in a positive way: we are not seeking the kind of power that is physical in nature and may cause damage, we are seeking spiritual power. 

When we get access to our own personal source of the power of peace, love and happiness, we essentially become free of any dependency on external sources for feelings of the same.  When we generate our own feelings of love and self-respect, we stop being dependent on others and our addiction to their acceptance and approval reduces and finally disappears.  When we generate our own feelings of contentment and joy within ourselves, we become free from the need for substances, places or physical experiences in order to be happy.

Using this inner power in the right way allows us to uproot or remove completely the old negative habits within our personality. Any unwanted habit can be changed and the scars of all the negative habits, which have developed within the soul over a long period of time, during the journey of birth and rebirth, can be healed in a short time span.

Soul Sustenance

Ways of Improving Communication - Part 1

* Listen with both ears. I should be an active listener by tuning in fully and being present fully with the person and with the moment. If I am not, I listen through one ear and let it out of the other, or I only half listen, which finally creates misunderstandings.

* Understand where the other person is coming from. Do not just assume, imagine or judge; when we do this, our critical vision prevents others from expressing what they wish to say. Then, because of wrong or half-right assumptions, others are not given the possibility to improve, or express, outside the boundaries of what we think of them. To give others a true chance to express themselves, we must not place our own boundaries around them.

* Think before speaking. This is not something new, but however often we hear it, we forget to apply it. To think before speaking means to show consideration to the other and then we say the right thing, at the right time, in the right way.

(To be continued tomorrow….)

Message for the day

To be free from the identification with negativity is to be always light.

Expression: The one who identifies with his negative traits is always thinking about it. There is a trace of this negativity that is seen in everything he does or talks. He is not able to be free from this negativity because with each passing day the identification with it becomes stronger. Slowly others too start perceiving him in the same way.

Experience: When I am able to be free from the identification with my negativity, I am able to be constantly light. There might be situations or people who might provoke my negativity, but I am able to maintain my inner positivity. This is because I have managed to finish my identification with the negativity.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 03, 2019: Good Relationships

Contemplation: April 03, 2019: Good Relationships

Good Relationships

In order to create good relationships:  - with your mind, think about what you have to learn from others, - with your eyes, look into good qualities of others, - with your words, recognize, value and appreciate their accomplishments, - with your actions, cooperate and do something for others.

True winning

If you ever find yourself defending a position, explaining why, or
justifying anything, it means you have been defeated. It means you
have not been able to accept the others point of view, or the fact
that you may be wrong. Fear has conquered your mind and your heart.
Your defences are up and you are running scared. It's not that the
other person has conquered you, it's the self-created fear that is in
control. Until you can accept the other (you don't have to agree) and
you are not threatened by the other, your victories will be delayed.
It's a funny old world when true winning is accepting not resisting,
when victory is found in the wisdom to stop fighting and to begin
engaging.

relax7

The Difference Between Human Souls And The Supreme Soul (God) - cont.

Human Souls: They have physical bodies.
Supreme Soul: God's form is incorporeal (point of spiritual energy).

Human Souls: They cannot liberate humanity.
Supreme Soul: God is the uplifter of all.

Human Souls: They become impure through body-consciousness.
Supreme Soul: God is the purifier.

Human Souls: They are caught up by the present, do not have complete knowledge of the past (since they come in the process of birth and rebirth) and no accurate knowledge of the future.
Supreme Soul: God is the knower of the three aspects of time (past, present and future).

Human Souls: They are takers.
Supreme Soul: God is the giver, He takes nothing.

Soul Sustenance

The Step Of Donation In Silence

Donating is the final step of silence. We have filled the self with a particular quality and it starts flowing out of us. We allow this quality to touch the atmosphere around us and consciously donate this vibration to the world, enabling those in need to feel it and to absorb it.

This is the ultimate step of a true meditator, often referred to as the lighthouse stage. A lighthouse stands still and stable in one position in the rough sea and beams the light all around so that ships are shown the way. We are able to bring an original quality of the self into our consciousness, fill our self with it and then, very naturally, let it radiate from the mind.

One of the most important aspects in this step of silence is the link with the Supreme Energy. We make this link with the Supreme Source, we absorb from that Source, we fill the self from that Source and then donate all that the Source has given us.

This is called angelic or instrument consciousness. It is said that an angel is a human soul who has fallen so deeply in love with that Source of Light that it has transformed completely. It is totally filled with Light and Peace and its task is only to serve, to share Divine Love and Peace with others. 

Message for the day

The one who is clean and clear inside is the one who becomes a mirror for others.

Expression: When there is the ability to realize and bring about a change, there is also the ability to make oneself clear and clean inside. Such a person naturally becomes a clean mirror for others to see their own perfection. He becomes an inspiration for those around for bringing about the best from within.

Experience: Each and every moment of my life, when I am able to work to bring about a change in myself constantly, I am able to remain in touch with my inner qualities. I have the joy of experiencing my inner perfection, which naturally flows and touches the lives of those around.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 02, 2019: Real Gentleness

Contemplation: April 02, 2019: Real Gentleness

Cherry Blossoms in Bloom, Yokohama

Real Gentleness

Real Gentleness is a power that sees, understands, but never interferes.  A branch of a tree touches the earth without taking root.  Never to take root in someone else's mind but to help, that's gentleness.

Deep Healing

The deepest wounds we all carry are locked in our subconscious (out of
our awareness). Deep memories and subtle impressions, from unfinished
experience, rooted in the past. The pain from those wounds comes to
revisit, to block and paralyze us in the moment called now. We all
know it comes without warning - "Why am I feeling this way, I didn't
mean to do that, I don't know what made me say that." Healing does not
mean finding and treating every single inner scar which send it
message to haunt us. It means going even deeper, past those wounds,
beyond those distant memories and recording of unfinished business, to
the core of our self, to the heart of our spirit, where we find the
light and warmth of our own core qualities of love and peace. They are
eternally present within us they are what we need to heal all our
inner wounds. That's why this kind of deep healing is called
spirituality and not therapy.

relax7

The Difference Between Human Souls And The Supreme Soul (God) - cont.

Human Souls: They lose their power and become weak.
Supreme Soul: God is the constant and external source of all spiritual power for all human souls.

Human Souls: They are brothers.
Supreme Soul: God is the Father and Mother.

Human Souls: They come into greed, lust and attachment.
Supreme Soul: God is bondage-less (free), the liberator of all, including the sages, saints, holy teachers and gurus. He doesn't succumb to the vices.

Human Souls: They become worshippers.
Supreme Soul: God is ever worthy of being worshipped.

Human Souls: They have desires based on bodily needs, name and fame.
Supreme Soul: God is completely desireless and selfless.

(To be continued tomorrow ....)

Soul Sustenance

Forgive To Forget

A key principle to remain light and stable in relationships is – forgive and forget - it’s a well-known principle – one that we sometimes find difficult to practice. It can be modified to forgive to forget. Sometimes we spend many years with so much bitterness inside us for a particular person, with an inner violence of wanting to make the other pay (emotions of revenge), the one who has supposedly hurt you. If you don’t strike back immediately, you at least want to keep this guilt card in your pocket, to be pulled out at a later date: “Oh yes, well what about the time when you….” We keep this bitterness inside us because we haven't forgiven. It does not resolve the situation; the only thing it does is increase our pain, makes us heavy and does not let us remain in peace. So the key is that if we do not forgive, we cannot forget. When someone has offended or insulted us, the last thing we want to do is to let it go. And yet, if our desire is to have a healthy, lasting relationship, that is exactly what we’ve got to do.

Sometimes, when it is a question of a broken relationship, it is not only a matter of forgiving the other, but of forgiving yourself for having allowed yourself to enter that experience. It was you that took the step to allow that experience to be entered into. If you hadn't taken that step, you wouldn't have had that experience. You accepted that challenge, that relationship, and what might happen in it – you were aware of the possibilities when you entered in the relationship. So not only do you have to learn to forgive the other, but also to forgive yourself in such situations. Only then will you be able to forget.

Message for the day

Contentment makes one virtuous.

Expression: The one who is content is free from selfishness, yet is concerned about filling the self with inner treasures. Such a person finds his stock of treasures always full and overflowing. So his thoughts, words and actions are those that are constantly bringing benefit to those around.

Experience: When I am always content, I always experience myself to be victorious. I am easily able to learn from all situations and use all my experiences to move forward. Also I become a giver. I thus get the love and good wishes of those around me and am also able to experience constant progress.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 01, 2019: Principle of Pure Love

Contemplation: April 01, 2019: Principle of Pure Love

Principle of Pure Love

If we obey the principle of pure love, our life will always go in the right direction. Altruistic and unconditional love is pure and comes from our inner truth. When we are obedient to that inner truth, our life becomes a joyful dance.

Appreciation

It is much easier to note what one doesn't have than appreciate what
one has. So whenever challenging situations come our way, we tend to
see what we are lacking. When there is such an attitude we are not
able to make any effort to change the situation. We then tend to blame
others or give excuses. During challenging situations and even
otherwise, we need to make special effort to appreciate and use what
we have. When we continue to make effort in this way, every challenge
will allow us to discover and use hidden resources, thus making us
richer. So we would be able to experience constant progress.

The Difference Between Human Souls And The Supreme Soul (God)

Human Souls: They take human bodies and experience birth, life and death.
Supreme Soul: Never comes into the cycle of birth and death.

Human Souls: They are subject to change and the dualities of pleasure and pain, growth and decay, happiness and sorrow.
Supreme Soul: Changeless. The One beyond the above dualities.

Human Souls: They remember and then forget their original pure nature.
Supreme Soul: God is always the ocean of knowledge; he does not come in the cycle of remembering and forgetting.

Human Souls: They are seekers of peace and happiness.
Supreme Soul: God is the One whom everyone seeks (longs for). He is the bestower (giver) of peace and happiness to everyone.

(To be continued tomorrow ....)

Soul Sustenance

The Life Jacket of Hope

In the midst of the constant changes of life and confusing or chaotic situations, hope, becomes our life jacket, which helps us to keep afloat and not to drown in the hurricane that at times causes unexpected or sudden changes. Without hope, we expect the worst. Our vision gets cloudy; we do not find or see any ray of light to see by. The mind fills with questions, allowing it to be overpowered by doubts and insecurity. Fear takes control of us and everything turns into a mountain or an un-climbable wall. It seems to us that we will not be able to get out of the difficult and critical moments, or it will be difficult for us to get out of the "hole". We feel incapable of going forward. Fear and doubt paralyze us and prevent us from deciding with clarity and acting with determination. We need to find support or help and, when we don't get it, we go even further down.

Living with hope keeps us awake. With hope we are open to the opportunities that life offers us. We overcome fear and expect the best. With hope our forces are joined in order to deal with and overcome difficulties. We maintain the vision that everything will get better and things will streamline themselves, giving out benefits to all. Hope helps us to keep the meaning of our life alive.

Message for the day

Cooperation brings beauty and growth.

Expression: Everyone seeks for cooperation from others, but the beauty lies in cooperating with others. True cooperation is that which is given with the heart and touches the lives of others positively. It inspires others to be cooperative too. This is the true help that one can extend to others.

Experience: When I am able to be cooperative with others and provide them with the help that they require, I am able to enjoy the joy of giving unconditionally. I am free from expectations from others and I am able to enjoy the growth that I perceive in others. I don't expect others to change for me but because they can improve.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 31, 2019: Embrace Change

Contemplation: March 31, 2019: Embrace Change

Aurora Borealis in Iceland

Embrace Change

When you are aware and accept that everything around you is constantly changing, and that you have no control over 99.99% of it, you are able to embrace change like a close friend! Change is a like a river, constantly flowing and moving things around. The river of life is constantly bringing you ideas, people, situations - each one is an opportunity to be enriched or to enrich others, and to learn. Change is the play of the universe as it entertains us in the biggest light and sound show of all time. Why not sit back and enjoy the show?

Sense Organs

We are usually controlled by our sense organs. For example, whatever
our eyes see, we are distracted with that. Thoughts continue to wander
in that particular direction and we have no control over them. At that
time even if we do try to control, we find it very difficult. The
stimulus the sense organs get is not in our hands, but how we choose
to respond definitely is. So we need to give the training so that we
see only positivity in everything, i.e., we also have the power to
transform even negativity into positivity. Then at the right time,
this training will help us keep our sense organs under control.

Overcoming Frustration In Relationships

There are two things in life that we can never change:

* the past and

* other people

This often brings us one frustration after the other, especially when we do not get the results that we want. Frustration is also a sign of failure, and every time that you fail in getting what you want from the other, your self-esteem and self-confidence are reduced.

Frustration is a form of anger. You allow the negative emotion to control you, and therefore you lose control. Most times situations will not be as you want them to be and neither will people behave as you want them to. Therefore, you can decide now if you want to continue allowing the other to dictate your reactions according to how they behave, which results in the loss of your rule, control and personal power, or you can decide that no matter how the other behaves, you rule over your responses; you decide what you want to think and feel.

When another tries to control you and then gets frustrated because you don't do what he or she wants or you aren't who he or she expects you to be, they get in a bad mood with you; they look at you with anger and what do you do? You then place an invisible barrier between you and him or her. In such a way that they cannot 'enter' into your world and you do not leave yours either, they lose their influence over you. In the same way, when you try to control people you lose your influence over them and distance is generated.

Soul Sustenance

Creating a Positive Atmosphere

To create a positive atmosphere at home or at office, while interacting with your family members or colleagues, emerge positive energizing thoughts in your mind like * I am a peaceful soul, child of the Supreme Soul, the ocean of peace, * I am a loveful soul, * I am a blissful soul, * I am a powerful soul, etc. These positive thoughts spread in your home and office in the form of positive vibrations and have a positive influence on your family members and colleagues also. As a result you can maintain your peaceful, positive state even amidst actions and interactions with them. When you are clearly established in this stage of self-respect (positive consciousness), they will be more co-operative in your work and will have greater respect for you. Obstacles from your surroundings will not affect you.


Message for the day

True spirituality is that which makes one practical.

Expression: Usually spirituality is perceived as something that has to be kept separate from the normal daily life. But true spiritual life is that which is very practical. The one who is able to fill himself with spiritual power is able to use this power for being better and better in his practical life.

Experience: When I am able to recognize the inner beauty and am able to give myself time to be in touch with this spiritual aspect, I am able to be powerful and beyond chaos in all situations. I am able to go within to find the immense power and use it in practical situations. So I find myself being successful in practical situations.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 30, 2019: Free From Expectations

Contemplation: March 30, 2019: Free From Expectations

Free From Expectations

To be peaceful is to be free from expectations and to want nothing from anyone. Take the initiative and be generous. Lead the way and do something. This is the secret to being content in all circumstances.

Inner Power

We do have a lot of thoughts to bring about a change in our lives. But
most of the times we find that we are not able to bring this thought
into practice. As time passes by the thought too loses its importance
and we find ourselves caught up with waste or negative thoughts. We
need to keep a chart of our waste and negative thoughts as well as our
powerful and positive thoughts. Only when we are consciously aware of
how much we are spending through our negative and waste thoughts and
how much we are accumulating through our positive and powerful
thoughts can we be determined. We also are able to increase our
accumulation and thereby increase inner power.

Discover Your Inner Mentor Or Guide - A Meditation

If you can become your own mentor (guide), a mentor that you would always have liked to have, then you will experience life as an exciting adventure.  What would happen if you had someone in your life that walked with you each step of your way, loved you unconditionally and supported you without putting conditions, even when you were wrong? What would happen if you felt absolutely safe, secure, cared for and loved? Would you be more willing to accept the challenges that life brings forth in front of you? Would you take on your life with greater responsibility and confidence?

Your internal mentor is a part of you and is always present, always kind, always loves you, is always there for you. If you still haven't met it, take a moment to guide yourself through this meditation exercise:
1. Relax your body and allow yourself to be fully present, here, reading these words, listening to the sounds around you, feeling what you feel. Read slowly!
2. Now send love to each part of your body: your feet, your lungs, your back, your face, your eyes, your nose, until you feel the love from your feet to your head.
3. Now send love to each thought that appears on the screen of your mind, visualize how your energy is concentrated at the inner part of the centre of your forehead. See the screen of your mind, and try to make each thought that you generate full of the energy of love that is slowly invading you. The energy of love is present in each thought that appears in your mind.
Love what you yourself create: each thought.
4. By practicing the above exercise, you emerge sanskars inside yourself of giving unconditional love and support to your own self. This is a way to awaken your inner mentor. As you practice spending time with yourself in this way, you will start to see that your insecurity and your fears begin to disappear and new possibilities open up in front of you.

Soul Sustenance

The Two Close Companions of Peace (A Meditation)

Sit comfortably and relax… Remind yourself of your spiritual form as a soul - a point of subtle light (non-physical light), a sparkling star, situated between the two eyebrows... Now visualize your star-like form and emerge the feelings of peace looking at this form with your mind’s eye… experience stability and contentment in this inner value of peace, peace is your own treasure... Fully let go off all your concerns, tensions and worries and allow all of yourself to become deeply peaceful... Now, feel the vibrations (energy waves) of your peaceful light form radiating outwards into the world... Be aware that the vibration of your peaceful form is like a gift... Consciously transmit this gift of peace with the pure desire of calming and relieving the stress and peacelessness of others...

As you radiate the power of your peace into the world, you do so with great love... As you give the gift of peace, with love, you are aware that you are able to serve others, reach out to others, in this invisible but extremely significant way... This awareness brings about a new sense of meaning in your life and you experience deep feelings of happiness within your heart... It is a happiness which takes the form of bliss, a bliss or satisfaction experienced as an invisible fruit received in return of unconditional serving… You realize that your peace does not live alone... True peace is that which is shared with others… it always has with it its closest companions... an experience of love and a feeling of pure happiness…

Our basic spiritual characteristics of peace, love and happiness are values that can be compared to the primary colors of the soul. While the soul can experience these values, it is only when they are mixed together (to give different shades) that they emerge though our attitudes and behaviors as virtue. Virtuous thoughts, words and actions restore balance and harmony to our inner life and to our external relationships. 

Message for the day

To be strong is to be free from the influence of the body.

Expression: To allow the body to influence the mind is to be doubly ill. The one who allows himself to be doubly ill is not able to deal with the illness of the body. On the other hand, the one who is powerful in the mind is able to maintain the inner strength in spite of the disease and so has the power to put in effort to finish it.

Experience: Instead of being conscious of the disease of the body, all I need to do is to maintain the consciousness of being powerful internally. Then I would not be afraid of the disease of the body but will have the courage to deal with it. I am able to see the disease as something temporary and will soon find myself rid of the illness, as I am powerful within.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/