Contemplation: April 14, 2019: Heart Song

Contemplation: April 14, 2019: Heart Song

Heart Song

Everyone has a song in their heart. Everyone has a reason for being here and a season for making their highest, greatest most auspicious contribution. No one knows what that is or when that is for anyone else. Only our own heart knows what and when it is for us. Your heart wants to sing. Don’t die with your music still within you. There is a reason for everything and a purpose to your life. Too many fail to listen to the song in their heart and therefore fail to find their purpose and their part. What makes your soul sing and your heart dance? Actually you heart is your soul and you are both! Ask this one question of yourself but don’t be in a hurry to answer it. Live in the question for a day, a week, a month. Let it invite your heart to speak to you. And when you are absolutely sure what your heart is saying is true then begin to invoke the changes necessary in your life so that you live in alignment with your song. Be patient with this.

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Insight

Just as appearances in life are deceiving, so what we see in within
ourselves during our meditation can also be deceiving. While we have
two eyes to observe the world around us, we have a third eye through
which we can see our inner world of beliefs, experiences, memories,
traits and tendencies. This is the eye of the intellect which is
designed to give us insight (sight inwards). It is a vital aspect of
our consciousness which we need in order to understand ourselves and
others. This insight alone reminds us we are responsible for
everything we think, feel and do, and that we have the power to choose
how we experience and respond to life around us. To someone with a
victim mindset this one insight represents liberation. As meditation
sharpens the focus of our inner eye, a thousand other insights are
possible and enlightenment is never far.

Projection Of Mental Energies In Relationships

Sometimes in relationships, you believe that the other person is hurting you because they do not meet your desires, but in such cases how can you know if it is really true? Let's go a step ahead; does the belief that they are going to hurt you influence the situation until in the end it happens? Perhaps they won't hurt you. Your belief that the other is going to hurt you is not so powerful that it will necessarily affect the other person. But it affects you yourself. They may not hurt you at all finally, but you will end up hurt, you will become emotionally ill, even psychically ill sometimes. The symptoms will begin to show themselves and you will say: "Did you see? I feel hurt, I keep telling you so." So your belief caused you to get hurt and not the other.

The other person isn't you. In relationships, a moment comes when you don't know if it is their fault or yours, if it is their responsibility or yours, if that person has caused the irritation inside you, or if it was you, if that person began the argument or it was you, if they created the conflict or if it was you, because we project (throw) our energies onto each other. All of this drives us to frustration. A lot of power, negative or positive, is needed for a person to be able to influence others with their consciousness, it is easier to influence ourselves. This is a basic principle of human relationships, which we don't understand. We don't understand, and the reason is that we don't see ourselves, because we are always looking at the other, putting the responsibility onto them, blaming them, criticizing them.

Soul Sustenance

At Peace with Time - The Key To Relaxed Living (Part 3)

To live at peace with time is to live it with peace, trust and determination. It is different to living it out of conflict and forcing things. In order to live true freedom of being, we have to make friends with time and stop living stressed in time. We have to trust. Trust that you will arrive on time, that you will do it on time and, if not, that a particular problem will be solved. Don't let time be a stress factor. When we live stressed because of time, we lose the best of life. We stop living what is essential and important, and we get lost in the details: I have to go here, I have to finish this, I have to call up someone, and endless amounts of 'I have tos' that consume our mental energy and make us get lost in the details of the trivial (ordinary). As well, in hurrying, we lose quality. You can do everything, but without losing what is essential; do it with love, with care, with interest, with enthusiasm, with motivation and with focus. That way every small action that you take will have a greater impact, will be more fulfilling and will bear a more positive fruit.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

 

Message for the day

To have the ability to listen is to learn

Expression: When there is the ability to listen there is the ability to understand others and what they are saying. So the one who listens is able to learn from every situation and each and every person whom he comes across. So what he does and what he speaks is much more effective.

Experience: When I understand that I am a student for my entire life, I am able to be open to learning. So I am able to listen whole-heartedly. Then, instead of only putting across what I have to say, I am able to pay attention to what others are saying too. I am thus able to enrich myself with new treasures constantly.

 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 13, 2019: Be an Alchemist

Contemplation: April 13, 2019: Be an Alchemist

Be an Alchemist

Like an alchemist, transform something worthless into something precious.  The key to alchemy is in your perception.

Look for the limitless possibilities that surround you. 
See the innate value of everything and turn lead into gold.

Focus on the pure gold within each one.  You may have to overlook the visible lead to seek the hidden gold!

Self Reflection

One of the unique attributes of human consciousness is the ability to
self reflect. Our capacity to reflect on what we thought, felt and did
allows us to learn from the past, change the present and create the
future we want. In meditation we realize we are not our minds, it is a
tool. The mind is like a screen and we can put anything on the screen
i.e. thoughts, images, ideas, concepts. This is where our creativity
begins to take shape. Unfortunately most of us do not learn to self
reflect, but lose ourselves in what is on our mind. This is what leads
to negative emotion where emotion is defined as 'agitation of mind'.
Meditation is the perfect way to learn not to identify and therefore
not lose ourselves in what we put on our mental screen. Only then can
we maintain inner calm and stability, develop our creativity and
consciously check the quality of our own creation.

Going Back To My Original Nature (Personality)

Our present personalities are basically the combined habits of this lifetime (birth), built on the combined habits of previous lifetimes (births), all of which have left their mark (sometimes deep and sometimes not so deep) on our consciousness.  It may well be that habits such as becoming angry, upset, anxious, stressed, sorrowful or scared, have been with us for so long that, they feel a natural part of our inner world, so natural that when someone says our true nature is not anger but peace, not fear but love, not aggression but acceptance, not anxiety but calm, it does not feel right.  And even if it did feel right for a moment, we have become so attached to our old habitual moods, emotions and behaviors that we do not really want to change. It may even be the case that we have become so weak that we need help to change. It seems much easier to stay the way we are. 

As we begin to meditate and develop our spiritual practice, our views on the above subject will fluctuate. When that does happen, imagine you are having a conversation with yourself and teaching yourself.  Give yourself permission to be peaceful by nature, full of love and joy by nature, naturally content by nature, wherever you are and in whatever you do.  After a while, you won't need to give yourself permission and you will find these states of being are there within you quite naturally at every moment.   They are our original and eternal nature.   Everything else is acquired or learned.  In so many ways introduction to spirituality, like many other approaches to inner awakening, is as much about unlearning (the acquired beliefs) as it is about learning (new beliefs).

Soul Sustenance

At Peace with Time - The Key To Relaxed Living (Part 2)

Not only is your strength reduced by the way that you live the past and project onto the future, but also how you live in this moment. When, for example, you oppose the present and have resistances, these consume your energy and cause you stress. If you accept the present you can flow flexibly without wasting your energy. Accepting does not mean submitting yourself or feeling a victim of what is happening now. From acceptance, you confront and transform. If we learn to live the dimensions of time in a healthy way we will keep up our vitality, we will heal the past and we will feel at peace with it. Accepting the present and trusting in the future helps us to be well.

Accepting the present means stopping comparing yourself with others; you want what the other has, their money, their talents, their beauty, their personality, their achievements, their virtues, etc. So, instead of being grateful for what you have and accepting yourself as you are, you try to have and be like the other. In this way, you are never satisfied. The dissatisfaction causes you a constant unhappiness that reduces your vitality. When you feel happy and satisfied your energy flows more easily. The most important thing that you should do in this moment is to feel content. Next, what is the most important thing? To be content. Therefore, the priority, and what is essential, is that whatever happens in the moment, the most important thing is to be content. So, tell your mind, "Oh, mind, be quiet and don't think so much. Oh, mind, kindly trust that everything is and will be fine." Give your mind the basic instructions and the key thoughts with which to be content. Don't let your own mind create the thoughts that trap you. It is we ourselves who create our emotional cages.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Message for the day

To make the effort to take and give good wishes is to constantly experience contentment.

Expression: Whatever the kinds of personality of the person, if there is this one aim of taking and giving good wishes, there is positivity in every interaction. Attention is paid to make every word and action full of positivity. Words spoken only give happiness to others and give some kind of support to the other person to be better than what he is.

Experience: When I understand the importance of having good wishes for all, I am able to receive good wishes from others too. I am able to be free from the influence of the negativity of the situations and people. So I constantly experience inner happiness and contentment, even if I don't get something outwardly.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 12, 2019: Despite Distractions

Contemplation: April 12, 2019: Despite Distractions

Despite Distractions

Distractions are everywhere.  No matter how much we try,
it's almost impossible to get rid of all the distractions. How about this: focus despite distractions! Here are a few tips:

- Have music in the background.  Music can tune out the
  distractions around you & keep you engaged & motivated.
- Be energized.  Have enough sleep & stay hydrated.  The more
  energy you have, the less likely you are to get distracted.
- Set email times.  Schedule specific times to check & respond
    to emails.

Emotions

Every emotion you have ever experienced began as a thought. Your
dominant thoughts are programmed into the unconscious mind and become locked into the nervous system. Think confident thoughts, and you feel confident. Think angry thoughts and you feel angry. It is simply not
true that emotions happen to us in a random and uncontrolled way; we
create them by choosing our thoughts. Top sports stars are very well
aware of this. They know that if they allow their emotions to run
amok, they will disempower themselves and ultimately concede the
match. They are among the most adept at using their thoughts to manage
their emotional states.

The Energy Of Faith

What we believe becomes reality. It has been said that faith can move mountains. The highest mountains are our negative thoughts, feelings and ideas, which block our capacity to rise beyond our limits.

Faith is the energy of understanding that enables us to realize anything is possible even if it is not visible in front of our eyes.

The success that comes from faith is closely linked with 'letting go'. It is only when we let go of what we are used to, or what we have learnt to depend on, that new perceptions and new possibilities will present themselves to us.

All that is needed are a few basic facts and then we can take action. When we drive a car, do we insist on knowing how the engine works in detail before driving it? Do we know the mechanical details of a lift before we use it? Most people are only aware of the basic functions and this is all they need to carry out the action. However, they do have the faith that the car has been correctly constructed to do its job safely and that by pressing a few buttons the lift will raise them to wherever it is they want to go. In the modern life-style, there is a tendency to over-think, to want to control and direct every outcome, but such a life lacks spontaneity and simplicity.

Although we do need a framework, it must be flexible enough to allow space for the unexpected, the unpredictable and the great surprise. Such a space is the window through which the light of innovation can enter. When life is over-planned, we become cemented in, unable to grow, or flow, into new horizons. Faith allows us to realize that optimum results can happen without always having to structure or plan. Such faith is the basis for new vision and allows us to reach beyond our limits; because we believe we are more than what meets the eye. Such faith is the inspirational energy of every pioneer in whatever field.

Soul Sustenance

At Peace with Time - The Key To Relaxed Living (Part 1)
To live in freedom you have to live at peace (harmony) with time; live the dimension of time as a creator of time and not a slave of time; live without being either a prisoner or victim of time. To live at peace with time is to live in harmony with nature, beginning with your inner nature. When you plant a sapling today, you cannot accelerate the process so that the next day you have a tree. When it is summer, you cannot make the earth revolve around the sun quicker or slower for winter to arrive before or later. Everything has its rhythm in nature. We have distanced ourselves from the natural rhythm and our accelerated mind exercises pressure, creates stress and causes anxiety. We plan the future, we are stuck in the past and the present escapes us.

Many worries have to do with how we live time: the past, the present and the future. Worrying about what might happen (future), when the moment has not yet come for it to happen, takes away from us the necessary energy to deal with it when it finally arrives. Living in memories drains our energy; the past already happened and no longer exists, except in our memory. We feed memories, not realizing that emerging the memory in our mind distracts us from the present and weakens us. It is like being a plug that connects to a socket with no current passing through. We lose our energy. We want to relive an experience that already happened, and in the end we feel disappointed, feeling a mental and emotional waste.
(To be continued tomorrow …)

Message for the day

The one way of finishing waste thinking is to find a solution.

Expression: When there is something negative that happens the mind tends to create a lot of waste and negative thoughts. At such a time there is no clear understanding of what is to be done and so there is difficulty in being positive at such a time. But once the problem is identified and the right solution found, i.e., the right explanation is given, there is no more waste thoughts, words or actions.

Experience: When I am able to find the right solution at each step, whenever even negative situations happen, I am able to remain happy and content. I am not worried about the problem at hand but I know instead that this problem has come to increase my own inner strength and capability. Thus I am able to maintain my inner positivity under all circumstances.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 11, 2019: Surrender Gracefully

Contemplation: April 11, 2019: Surrender Gracefully

Surrender Gracefully

We are surrounded by graceful surrender. The geese surrender to the first autumn chills, and think of flying south. The flower surrenders to the night and shuts up shop as the setting sun surrenders to the horizon of another day. A mother surrenders to the needs of her baby, and the child surrenders to the wisdom of the father. These kinds of surrender are sweet and natural. They are graceful movements in a dance to the subtle symphony of life. While we may find moments to surrender to such grace and beauty, if we are not careful, we also tend to allow ourselves to surrender to our appetites, to envy, to greed and then to self centred lifestyles in which we serve only ourselves. No grace there - only the disgrace of self-inflicted slavery. Whatever we surrender our minds to, will eventually shape our character and define the quality of our life. Be careful what you surrender your mind to, even if it's only for a day, or an hour.

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God

“God”. It is a loaded word which, for many people seems
incomprehensible. This is unfortunate because there are so many
personal experiences of direct encounters with the One who is the
purest source of truth and love. If we attempt, as some do, to make
our approach to the Source easier by making it an impersonal one, we
deny ourselves the essential richness and nourishment of a personal
relationship. When the meditator practices meditation with purely
spiritual intentions they are aiming to enhance their own level of
enlightenment and create a state of being that is open to receiving
directly the light and love of the spiritual parent whom we all share.
Contrary to some popular beliefs it does not take many lifetimes to
master. However, it is an extremely personal and spiritually intimate
relationship where the energy of God is directly felt.

Controlling Your Emotions

There are five essential steps to emotional control and mastery. Although the complete process will finally happen in a few seconds in real life, it is essential for our learning to break it down and see what is required at every step.

Step One - Awareness
This simply means being aware of the emergence of the subtlest (finest) of emotions, which, if left unchecked, will grow into important disturbances. For example irritation leads to frustration leads to anger leads to rage.

Step Two - Acknowledge
Which means taking responsibility for the emotion by understanding and acknowledging that I am the creator of the emotion, not someone or something else.

Step three - Acceptance
Fully accept the presence of the emotion without resisting (opposing) it in any way. If it is resisted it simply becomes stronger, or is suppressed for another day.

Step Four - Ascend
This is the moment of full detachment from both the emotion and the inner source of emotion. In the process of detached observation the emotion is losing its power. And it is only through detached observation that the emotion will begin to dissolve.

Step Five - Attune
This means returning our attention to the very centre of ourselves where our inner peace and power are to be found. This is the purpose of meditation.

Soul Sustenance

Identify The Filters In Your Life

Like different types and different colour filters on a physical level; on a spiritual level, there are many different types of filters that work in our lives e.g. the jealousy filter, hatred filter, attachment filter, fear filter, greed filter, etc. and many more. Due to these filters, we do not see people and things as they are, but as we are, because the filters are our own self-created ones. If we want to see people and things as they are, we need to check which filters are working most in our lives. Each one of us has different filters working to different extents, depending on our personality e.g. someone might have the jealousy filter working more regularly as compared to the fear filter in his/her life.

Because of these filters, everything that we see is not only coloured by the colour of the filter we are using at that time, but our look is also biased as we choose what to see, what to give more importance, what to be affected by more, what to let through the filter etc. and what not to. We have and form a deceptive vision of the things and people that surround us inside our minds. And the longer this deformed vision lasts, the more we will convince ourself that that is the true image of the world, because our filters continue to process new data depending on what they see that make the image stronger. This reinforcing of the incorrect image builds up our database of incorrect beliefs based on different filters and makes them stronger and stronger as we go through our life journey. Beliefs are fixed ways of looking at reality. Thus, the world that we perceive is no longer the real world, but a world created by our own mind. So in a way we become deaf and blind on a spiritual level towards the world. To heal this deafness and blindness, we do not have to remove each filter one after the other, which may become a difficult task; but we have to discover the pure, original internal self and start seeing everything without the filters, based on the pure-self point of view. As a result of that, gradually our incorrect beliefs start dissolving and correct beliefs start setting in based on our clean unfiltered view.



Message for the day

To be free is to be free even from the bondage of things. 

Expression: The one who is dependent on the presence of a particular thing to succeed in a task is also under the bondage of that thing. Such a person will not be able to put in effort to his full capability since he is always thinking of what is lacking. On the other hand the one who tries to find a way to do the task at hand even when there is nothing available is the one who finds new resources. He is then able to use these resources too for accomplishing the task.

Experience: When I am thinking more about what is to be done rather than thinking about what is lacking, I am able to be content with what I have. I am able to appreciate every small thing that is present in my life that I could use for my own benefit and that of others. I am able to work for what I want to achieve without being caught up only with the desires.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 10, 2019: Silence

Contemplation: April 10, 2019: Silence

Diver in a cenote near Akumal, Mexico

Silence

We have to develop this hobby and practice going into the depths of silence. Practice this, make it your hobby and see how much you then enjoy it. The tiredness of the soul will then be removed. We will feel that we are able to remain carefree and restful. When the soul is tired it is restless and there is a lot of worry; we think I have to do this, that and so we cannot feel restful. All actually I have to do is to remain peaceful and there will be the feeling that everything will be ok...

My Treasures

If we recognize inner treasures we will be able to use them well.
Time, energy and thoughts are one's greatest treasures. The ones who
recognize these treasures are able to look after them carefully and
use them for the benefit of all. None of these inner resources are
ever wasted. When these treasures are used properly and are put to
full use, they bring in the best external treasures too. When I am in
touch with myself and give attention to myself, I am able to recognize
these inner treasures. These treasures keep me rich at all times,
even when external circumstances are not so favourable. Further use of
these treasures makes me only richer and richer.

The Three Roles Of God In The World Drama (cont.)

God as a Destroyer

There are many mythological stories all over the world about a revengeful God, destroying whole armies who dared to stand in the way of His chosen ones. The Mahabharata in India depicts the same, where Lord Krishna helped the Pandavas defeat the Kauravas, because Pandavas had love, devotion and respect for  Lord Krishna and Kauravas did not. We have even gone to war, praising the righteousness of our causes and counting on God's support. Somehow the heart rejects the idea of a violent God who is a destroyer of life. He is the destroyer of evil (and not of life) and the creator of virtue.

The story of the Mahabharata is obviously symbolic. It can be applied to the present moment in the World Drama, when the Supreme Father, the Incorporeal (non-physical) Father is with us and is helping us in our war. Our war is not a physical one, our enemies our not our brothers, but our own weaknesses. The weapons (shastras), which are shown in the Mahabharata in the physical form, are actually the weapons of knowledge and spiritual power acquired through meditation; with which we are able to bring down our enemies, our vices and shortcomings e.g. the discus (chakra) has a spiritual significance. It is shown in a physical form but is actually a discus of self-realization (swadarshan chakra). Swa + darshan means self-realization. Self-realization is achieved when one receives spiritual knowledge. The Supreme Father possesses this discus, which he gives to us, along with other weapons (shastras). We, the chosen ones, the true followers of God, make our path easier for us through His powerful guidance. We leave suffering behind and make the journey to the other side - to a promised elevated world. Our former captors (those who had imprisoned us), our weaknesses, try to follow us in the elevated future but are destroyed completely with God's help.

Soul Sustenance

To Be Aware But Not Judgmental

On the path of Raja Yoga meditation (taught by the Brahma Kumaris) there is a saying, "See, but don't see! Hear, but don't hear!" which means to remain aware of all realities, including the negative, but not to focus on them. We get caught up in the negative because we react and the reactions are expressed in the form of judgement, accusations, criticism, or labeling. As soon as we judge or criticize, we put everything into convenient boxes and, just as convenience foods are not always so healthy, such conveniences at the mental and attitudinal level are a great danger, because we mentally seal (close) the fate (destiny) of the person or situation: they are like this and so must be treated accordingly. Unfortunately, this is often done in an unconscious way, which is why Raja Yoga meditation is used to bring such attitudes and behaviours to the surface, conscious awareness.

When our vision and attitude remain judgemental or critical, they do so because there is no input of positivity from the self to encourage or allow a positive change.

There cannot be a positive output when there is a negative input.

We often work in this way, wanting others to be better in some way, but, instead of helping them, or having faith in them and seeing their good qualities, we hinder (obstruct) them by concentrating on their past, their weaknesses and their mistakes. Our focus is completely negative, but still we expect them to change for the better!

When our awareness is more detached, rather than focusing on what is wrong, we look at how we can put something right by contributing a positive feeling, or attitude. This anonymous (not known to anyone) contribution is a generous act, which offers a solution, instead of the usual complaints by critical and judgmental people.

Message for the day

To receive blessings is to become worthy of them.

Expression: Sometimes there is a desire to receive blessings from God or someone who is considered more powerful. But the one who has truly a thought of winning the love, regard and blessings of the other person is able to put in effort to be worthy of it. So he is constantly trying to be better and better in what he does. Thus he becomes worthy of everyone's blessings.

Experience: When I am constantly making myself more and more worthy, I naturally win the love, trust and blessings from all those I come into contact with. I am committed to whatever I do and know that the blessings of God are with me because I am making effort. I have no fear or insecurity, but go on doing what I have to do with confidence.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 09, 2019: Being Vague

Contemplation: April 09, 2019: Being Vague

Being Vague

Being vague can save time but when communication lacks clear information, it may lead to mistakes or vague results.

Being vague with certain people can limit their interference in our life.  But they may take advantage of unclear expectations and boundaries.

So watch out for vagueness.  Know when to be vague and when not to be.

Be Carefree!

Enjoy a carefree life, renounce the consciousness of I and mine.
The more we surrender our ego, the lighter and easier our life
becomes. The consciousness of I and mine either makes us arrogant or
weak. It creates a lot of conflicts in relationships and finishes the
beauty of life. When we consider everything we have as God's property
then our responsibilities become His responsibilities. He fills us
with extra specialities and powers to carry out His task no matter
however daunting it may seem. When we surrender our will to Him
everything happens for the best.

The Three Roles Of God In The World Drama (cont.)

God as a Sustainer

We need to understand God's role clearly as a sustainer. We have to understand the difference between physical and spiritual sustenance. We may think that God is the sustainer in the sense that He gives us our goods, wealth, health, food, water, air and so on. If that were so, why should He give more of these things to some and not to others? Why do poverty, starvation and disease exist if God is a sustainer and provider of all in the physical sense?

Whatever I do or do not possess I have earned for myself. It is not God who pays us our salaries. Whatever fruits I earn are the results of my own efforts. As a spiritual sustainer, He fills us with His power and virtues like peace, bliss, purity and happiness. He also shares with us spiritual knowledge and bestows his love and blessings on us, all of which help us in our spiritual effort, so that we can transform (change) ourselves and does not provide us with food and wealth.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

Meditation – Obstacles Faced By Beginners

Concentration has been described as holding the mind to one thought so that it takes the shape of that thought.

Raja Yogameditation (as taught by the Brahma Kumaris) means to collect together the scattered forces of one's thoughts, establish them in the real self and then connect with the Supreme Soul. Initially when a practitioner begins to practice Raja Yoga, it can be difficult to concentrate the mind on the self and God for more than a few seconds, because thoughts are easily distracted. This happens naturally. During the initial attempts, the moments of concentration are bound to be few, short and erratic, but even a single moment of concentration is extremely valuable because it gives a taste of that inner bliss which sustains further concentration. This should be treated as a period of test and trial.

Negative sanskars will come to the surface. Thoughts of one's physical identity and burdens will create hurdles. Any attempt to drive them out will merely encourage them more intensely. The practitioner should take it cheerfully and transform the interfering thoughts by thinking about positive points of spiritual knowledge. When the mind experiences a flow of powerful, pure thoughts, then the pure experience of the soul's qualities is possible. Some meditation practitioners try to forcibly create a mental void by driving out all thoughts in an attempt to control the negative and excessive ones. Such a mental vacuum is only temporary and expels the good thoughts also along with the bad ones. Pure thoughts are nourishment for the soul which leads to a practical meditation experience.

Message for the day

The best way to get respect is to give respect to the self.

Expression: There is always an expectation of getting respect from those around. The one who is totally dependent on others for their own sense of well-being tends to react to situations, even if they are very insignificant ones. On the other hand, the one who is able to give respect to the self gives respect to others too and so gets respect himself.

Experience: When I am able to see my own specialities I am able to have respect for myself. Then I am not dependent on external sources for my inner state of mind. I remain free from all external influences, and am able to become a source of influence for those around me. I constantly enrich my own internal state with each thing that happens.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: April 08, 2019: Perfect Patience

Contemplation: April 08, 2019: Perfect Patience

Perfect Patience

Infinite patience achieves instant results! How can this be true? It is - but you'll need to meditate on it to see it! When you do, and you can see it, you will have walked through the gates of paradox and rediscovered truth. Repeat after me...infinite patience achieves instant results.

Responsibility

Responsibility is being willing to be accountable for what you do and
also what you do not do yourself. It means accepting credit when
things go well and also correction if things go wrong. It is the
ability to respond ably. I practice Responsibility when I take my
agreements seriously, focus on what is required by me and not on
someone else's part, when I am ready and willing to clear up
misunderstandings. I give my best to all that I do and keep my
promises. I welcome praise and correction for my actions.

The Three Roles Of God In The World Drama 

God as a Creator 

Logic tells us that spiritual and material energy in the form of souls and matter didn't just suddenly appear out of nothing. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can't be either created or destroyed. Matter itself is a form of condensed energy. Souls are also conscious points of energy. Both are uncreated and therefore eternal. The Second Law shows us that energy, when in use, moves from a potential state, in which energy is available, to a spent state in which it is no longer available. Putting both laws together we have what appears to be a system in which the basic components have neither beginning nor end. They move towards a state of energy exhaustion (entropy). If time were linear (a straight line) and there were no external intervention, then over an unimaginably long period of time the universe would just fizzle out.

Fortunately for both the souls and the elements of matter, there is one supreme energy source which is external to the process of entropy (unaffected by the process) and thereby retains its original potency or power. When things reach a certain stage of weakness and chaos, the Supreme Soul plays out His role of re-energizing the souls. The recuperation (recovery) to their original state, in turn, has a direct effect on matter. It also comes back to its own original state of perfection. If, as has been shown above, God's presence, power and knowledge are purely spiritual, then creation has to be a spiritual act and not a physical one. Creation can be understood as the regeneration or reshaping of what is already there and not one of creating something physical or non-physical out of nothing. God recharges the souls' spent spiritual energy.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance

Focus, Will Power And Capabilities

In order to bring about a fundamental (major) change three elements need to exist simultaneously:

Focus: A clear sense of purpose in life and clear goals to guide your life's activities.
Will: The motivation and enthusiasm to introduce and sustain the actions.
Capabilities: The skills and abilities to fulfill your purpose and goals.

But where do you start? There is definitely a right place to begin and that is with your focus. Why? Because if your focus is powerful and based on a very deep sense of your inner most purpose in life, then that will provide you with the will power you need to keep going. Then if you have a clear driving focus in life and lots of will power to back it up, you will soon develop the skills and capabilities you need to make it happen. You may not have them yourself, but your enthusiasm and passion will certainly inspire others who do have them to join you. 

Message for the day

The one who has the aim to be perfect is the one who learns from obstacles.

Expression: The higher the aim, the more the obstacles that comes one's way. Just as a perfect idol is one that has been chiseled a great deal, each obstacle comes to remove some or the other defect from within. The one, who understands this little secret, is able to use each obstacle as a beautiful learning for growth, and a chance to express the best qualities from within.

Experience: When I am committed to bringing out my own inner perfection, I am never deterred by the temporary situations that come my way. I move on with confidence, taking time to look within and recognize the hidden potential within me. I am able to get closer and closer to the perfection that I always seek.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

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