Contemplation: August 25, 2019: Lightness

Contemplation: August 25, 2019: Lightness

Lightness

Move through life with lightness, touching the hearts of others without leaving a mark.

The best way to teach is to become an example. 

People are ready to learn, but they need to see an example which they would follow. So, instead of just telling what to do, the better way of teaching is to lead by example. Not only will I be better off because of this, I will also be able to contribute positively to those around me. Added to this, there would be no negative feelings involved. Today I will think of one change that I want to bring in others. I will check if I need to bring into my life first. I will then work on bringing that change first and only then inspire or tell others to do it too.

The Power Of Concentrated Thought (cont.)

Yesterday we had discussed external influences. Some of the internal influences or voices include the influence or voice of:

* selfish or impure desires of name, fame, revenge, greed, remaining in control of a situation or a person or dominating a situation or a person;
* the ego;
* the past;
* our inner conscience;
* pure desires;
* the Supreme Being or God;
* our worries of the present or of the future;
* temporary negative sanskars or personality traits;
* original or inherent positive sanskars or personality traits;
* attachments to people, situations, material objects, etc.;
* jealousy or dislike for a particular person, etc.

We are exposed to some or all these influences, whether external or internal, all the time. If we are not strong, our mind weakens under so many influences, which as a result, becomes unclear, confused and unfocused. Because of all of this, on the one hand, we need to have good judgment power to remain connected to what is essential, important and true, and on the other hand, you have to strengthen your thought, that is, think less; think more slowly; more concentrated and clearly with focus, a sense of purpose and positivity. That thought is like an arrow; it has positive force and clarity and it always bears powerful fruit. This kind of thought is called concentrated thought. The practice of introversion or meditation for a minute or few minutes at regular intervals during the day helps us remain above all influences and constantly feeds our mind with the power of silence, which helps us remain in this experience of concentrated thought easily.

Soul Sustenance 

Virtues / Values / Qualities

Take one of the following virtues or values (qualities) per day and spend five minutes thinking about its meaning and its application during the day.

Harmony (Unity)
Forgiveness
Trust
Flexibility
Courage
Gentleness
Freedom
Understanding
Benevolence (Kindness)
Patience
Enthusiasm
Tolerance
Serenity (Peacefulness)
Co-operation
Generosity
Humility (Egolessness) 

Message for the day

The one who is constantly flying with zeal and enthusiasm brings progress in others too.

Projection: Whenever problems come my way, I tend to feel heavy with waste and negative thoughts. At that time I am not able to feel free and light. When there is heaviness in my mind, I can't move forward with enthusiasm and thereby find it difficult to contribute for others' progress too.

Solution: Whatever the circumstances I am faced with, I need to make special effort not to reduce my enthusiasm in any way. The more I am able to be enthusiastic, the more I am able to contribute to the progress of others too along with my own progress.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: August 24, 2019: Transform

Contemplation: August 24, 2019: Transform

Cynthia Calvillo's front yard is a showcase for her art work. Old tyres are pots, stones are painted and the fencing is recycled from the trash as well.

Transform

Transform regrets into realisations and therefore ensure that what could be waste is made into something worthwhile.

Good intentions need to be brought into quick action. 

When we get a thought to do something good, it is better to do it immediately. If we don't, the intention tends to fade and it becomes more and more difficult as days pass by. Also, after a while, we will not be able to find the necessary resources to bring it into action. Today I will take up something that I have wanted to do. I will list out a few points when and what I am going to do to fulfill that thought. I will immediately start doing it. This will bring about a positive change in my life.

The Power Of Concentrated Thought (cont.)

One important component that doesn't let us remain in the healthy and positive experience of concentrated thought is the many different types of influences we are exposed to in our life. There are two different types of influences - external and internal. These influences can also be called voices. Voices from outside as well as inside speak to us.

External influences or voices are of people whom we come in contact with at home, at the workplace, at school or college, at the club, in the media etc. or elsewhere. These people are those whom we either see as equals or look upto. They could be our friends, our parents, our spouse, our teacher, our guru, our doctor, our neighbor, our colleagues, our boss, actors or sportsmen whom we admire, even the daily newsreaders or writers, etc. We have been exposed to these influences right from the time we were born. The influences from all these people are not necessarily on a physical level, they can also be on a subtle level of mental vibrations from others. We interact with all or some of these people and spend time with them and whenever we do that they advise us or give us their opinion on a physical level and we also listen to their voices on a subtle, emotional energy level e.g.  we spend a lot many hours in the office. We may not interact with our boss all the time but his personality is constantly influencing everyone in the office on a subtle level, including us. The office environment is shaped largely by the head of the office. In the same way, we may be taking care that we listen only to the positive voices of the media and we do not listen to the negative ones, but the all pervading negative atmosphere that exists everywhere due to everyone being exposed to the news of violence, sorrow and impurity from the media, definitely influences us on a subtle level, even though we might not realize it. As children, we have been listening to the subtle voices of our parents, even when we were taking shape in our mother's womb.

In tomorrow's message, we shall explain what our different types of internal influences or voices.

Soul Sustenance 

A Gauge To Check How Spiritually Powerful Am I

The territory of spiritual understanding is both infinite and unlimited. Simply put, spirituality can be defined as the rediscovery of the deepest values, virtues, positive sanskars or characteristics of the human soul. The innate attributes or characteristics of the soul (peace, love, truth, purity and happiness) give the soul its power. The power of the soul cannot be quantified either on a physical or a non-physical level. The power can only be experienced and revealed to the self and others through the 'quality' of the above characteristics and the different forms they are given by the soul itself.

For a practitioner of meditation, whether a beginner or an experienced once, patience and a gentle persistence guarantee two aspects of self-progress (in varying degrees in different souls):

1. rediscovery and revelation or expression of one's spiritual attributes and secondly, but very importantly

2. the ability to give them an appropriate form internally or externally, depending on the requirement of the situation.

A particular soul might be good at both aspects, another one very good at the first aspect and not so good at the second one. When we choose to be peaceful, we reconnect with our inner peace and create the spiritual form of peace within our self. This form created is different for different souls, depending on how powerful the soul is. So what is the quality of that form, what is the quality of our peace? Is it a superficial quality that is easily disturbed with unexpected changes in our external circumstances, or is it a deep peace which is stable even in the face of fierce criticism from others? Only we know the quality of our spiritual forms.

Message for the day

The one who recognises the needs of others is the one who gives real happiness.

Projection: I usually make a lot of effort to give in some way or the other to those around me. Yet I sometimes find that people are not able to be happy with me. What I give is usually based on what I feel the other person needs. I continue to give in this way and begin to expect from others too, and find myself disappointed when I am not appreciated.

Solution: I need to be a giver in the true sense. Before I think of giving, I need to recognise the needs of others. The more I keep myself tuned to this I will enjoy what I am giving and the impact of it will be there on the others too. I will then find that others are pleased with me too.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: August 23, 2019: Happiness

Contemplation: August 23, 2019: Happiness

Happiness

The happiness you give makes you happier than the happiness you receive. 

How would you define contentment? 

One definition of contentment, could be:

“At the present moment:

* wherever you are is wherever you are meant to be,

* whatever you are doing is whatever you are meant to be doing and

* whatever everyone else is doing is what they are meant to be doing.”

To experience constant contentment, we need to become aware of all the things that make us dissatisfied and free ourselves from those things (ideas, opinions, objects, people). We don’t have to reject them or distance ourselves from them, but a detachment from them, a detachment at the level of the consciousness that will bring back our inner freedom. Detachment is then accompanied by the experience of a deep, inner awareness of satisfaction and stillness, because you stop being dependent on anything or anyone outside ourselves.

It is highly unlikely that we will arrive at this deep state of fulfillment very soon - though we may touch it and experience it temporarily. It is only by understanding and accepting completely that everything is the way it is meant to be at every moment, both outside our minds and inside our minds that we move closer to being content. 

The Power Of Concentrated Thought

The thoughts that we create are of different nature, different intensity and their quantity also varies from time to time during a particular day as well as night and also depending on what action we are performing at that particular moment of time or not performing any action at all. They possess immense potential or power, both positive and negative. They can either liberate (or empower) us or limit (weaken) us. This depends on what we think and how much we think.

The mind tends to jump from one place to another. Many of our thoughts filled with doubts, dejection, fears, insecurity, irritation, worry, comparisons which give rise to emotions like jealousy or inferiority / superiority complexes, desires, un-enthusiasm, etc. are useless thoughts and weaken us. They defocus us and cloud our inner clarity. Sometimes we keep repeating certain type of thoughts inside our mind, we keep going round in circles. Most of the time, these repetitive thoughts are negative or waste in nature related to the emotions mentioned above. Sometimes the repetitive thoughts can be necessary or positive also. Even necessary and positive thoughts, when repeated again and again, turn into the superfluous (excess) or waste. So it's important to think in a higher, concentrated way - think less and think powerful; such thoughts have a lot of clarity, focus and spiritual force that help us to put them into practice more successfully. A single thought or a series of thoughts can block the capacity to feel content and awakened spiritually and make us sorrowful. On the other hand, a single thought or a series of positive thoughts can be the key to open the door that allows us to access, enjoy and experience the richness of our inner self. But it has to be a pure, strong, clear and concentrated thought or thoughts.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance 

Understanding What Are Karmic Accounts
 

We are not individuals acting alone in this world drama; we act in this extraordinary drama or play of life with other actors or souls who (along with us) play their different roles with different physical costumes at different times in the drama. During the process of interaction with other actors (souls) and according to the type of interaction with them, we create accounts of debit or credit that become the basis of our connections with others. The reasons for which a specific relationship goes well or not are in the so called karmic account that I have accumulated with the other person in the past. The past could be in this birth alone or in one or many previous births. The souls that play the parts of parents, children, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, friends, office colleagues and others whom I know form a network for the giving and receiving of happiness and sorrow from accounts established in the past or being created in the present.

The strongest relationships that I have now were established previously. We knew each other in other lives and but in different roles. The daughter of some births ago returns now as the father, the best friend comes back as the sister etc. As long as the account exists, the interchange of actions between two souls continues. When there is nothing more to give or receive, the paths between the two souls separate by death, a break-up, a divorce or simply by the loss of contact. An e.g. of this is our school friends. Many of our friends whom we were close to in our school days, we are not in touch with today. Another e.g. is when we change jobs; we might lose complete contact with our old colleagues.

Message for the day

To be free from waste questions is to save time.

Projection: When difficult situations come my way I usually have a lot of questions in my mind about it. I continue to ask myself why the situation has come and have no answers. These questions usually bring me no solution for the problems at hand but I continue to have waste thoughts.

Solution: I need to understand the importance of the time that is in my hands. When I recognize the value of my time I will not waste time in unnecessary thoughts but will try to find a solution for the problem. If there is no solution for the problem I at least just stop thinking unnecessarily and just accept it.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: August 22, 2019: Patience

Contemplation: August 22, 2019: Patience

Patience and more patience enable a closed mind to gently unfurl.

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

When something negative or waste comes up, I need to recognize it immediately. If I am not able to do that, I actually invite it into my life, make it my guest, give it attention and encourage it further. So, it is important to recognize immediately and change anything negative or waste that comes my way. Today I will keep a check on my thoughts from time to time. As soon as I find something waste or negative coming up, I will not encourage it further. I will immediately either create another thought or move away from the situation temporarily till I change my thoughts. Such attention over a period of time, will help me recognize quickly and overcome what is negative and waste.

Experiencing My True Essence

I feel comfortable and attentive... I am conscious of my thoughts and I direct my attention to my breathing... I breathe gently and deeply... I begin to feel how my body and mind relax... I let go of the things from outside... I feel free, like an observer, beyond everything that surrounds me: people, objects, sounds, worries... Everything slips away from my mind... They pass and go away like the clouds in the sky, until they fade away and everything remains completely clear.

I open a door. It is the door of my inner world... I discover that it is like an immense ocean... In the depths of my inner being there is silence, peace, calm and serenity... I go within... I let go of the past and I see it disappear... I submerge myself in this unlimited ocean, where all the mundane (related to the physical and my day-to-day routine) and negative thoughts melt away... Before me, there opens a path of light that takes me to the depths, where my true essence is found...

I see, in front of me, on this path of light, a star, marvelous and radiant with light... From it radiate rays of peace and love, towards me... My mind is tranquilized; I am filled with silence and peace... My thoughts are full of light, of peace, of love... I feel a deep acceptance and serenity inside me... In this space of silence I am with myself... I feel free, light, peaceful and free of worries...  I am at peace... I feel peace... I am free... I am myself...

Now it is time to return... I breathe gently and I am aware of the place I am in... I feel tranquility, silence, peace, wellbeing... My eyes and my face express this wellbeing... I feel myself free... I feel well with myself and with others...

Soul Sustenance 

The Benefits Of Soul Consciousness (Part 3)

The following differences between body consciousness and soul consciousness, will make you realize the benefits of soul consciousness (the practice of meditation make us soul conscious):

In Body Consciousness: I am disturbed by feelings of false attractions.
In Soul Consciousness: I am attracted by the qualities of the Supreme Soul only.

In Body Consciousness: I give sorrow, like a thorn hurting everyone.
In Soul Consciousness:I spread the fragrance of virtues like a flower.

In Body Consciousness: I see everyone relative to my individual identity, my life revolving around "me"... this is arrogance (ego).
In Soul Consciousness: I respect each individual and relate to them with humility (egolessness).

In Body Consciousness: I am tense and tired.
In Soul Consciousness: I am alert and relaxed. 

Message for the day 

When there is determination in my thoughts, the clouds of negative situations will fade away.

Projection: There are a lot of negative situations that come my way, as I am moving along. During the difficult phase I tend to experience a lot of negativity within too, either in the form of fear, anger or pain. At that time the difficulty seems very big and seems to last forever.

Solution: 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.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: August 21, 2019: Sow the Seed of Peace

Contemplation: August 21, 2019: Sow the Seed of Peace

Sow the Seed of Peace

If we plant a positive, clean seed of thoughts and concentrate on it, we give it energy, like the sun gives to a seed in the earth. And as the seed in the earth awakens, stirs and begins to grow, the thoughts on which we concentrate awaken, stir and begin to grow. So let us sow positive thoughts. Each morning before we begin the journey of the day let us sit still, in silence, and sow the seed of peace. Peace is harmony and balance. Peace is - freedom from the burden of negativity and wastefulness. Let peace find its home within us. Peace is our original strength, our eternal tranquility of being.

The key to all treasures is to "happiness". 

There are a lot of gifts that are hidden in my life, in each day. When I have happiness, and am able to happily move along through the day and am able to get an access to these treasures. This will also make me more aware of the inner treasures that I have within me, like my values, powers, skill and abilities. Today I will make a list of all those things that I am thankful for in my life. This list will only be of what I have and appreciate. Making such a list will make me happy and keep me prepared to recognize and appreciate all other gifts that are coming my way.

Principles for the Body To Make Early Morning Meditation Successful (cont.)

* Freshen the self before morning meditation, with a shower or a hot drink. Avoid speaking before the meditation.

* Sit with an upright posture, away from the walls or comfortable chairs. If the body is ill, awaken but sit comfortably, and do not force the self.

* Have a good circulation of fresh air.

* Subtle lighting creates an atmosphere of meditation. If it is too dark it will lead to sleepiness; if it is too light there will be eye-strain.

* Burn incense sticks (agarbattis), only if it doesn't irritate your and others' eyes and throats.

Soul Sustenance 

The Benefits Of Soul Consciousness (Part 2)

The following differences between body consciousness and soul consciousness, will make you realize the benefits of soul consciousness (the practice of meditation make us soul conscious):

In Body Consciousness: I become bored and depressed easily.
In Soul Consciousness: I understand situations and overcome them easily. I am able to maintain enthusiasm.

In Body Consciousness: The wings of the soul are clipped (cut).
In Soul Consciousness: I have wings of thought to fly beyond the body.

In Body Consciousness: The intellect is dull. I am limited to the perception (way of looking at things) of this physical world only.
In Soul Consciousness: The intellect is sharp. I can travel, with the power of the intellect, to my original home – paramdham or shantidham.

In Body Consciousness: I see a distorted (misunderstood) past and have no aim for the future.
In Soul Consciousness: The past, present and future of my part are seen clearly.

(To be continued tomorrow ….) 

Message for the day

The right way of living spreads joy to others.

Projection: When people around me are not happy with me, I usually believe that I am right and they are all wrong. I then cannot check or realise my own mistake. So I rarely make an attempt to change myself and continue to wait for others to change or understand me.

Solution: If people around me are not able to get happiness from me or the way I live, I need to look at my own life in a detached way to see where I could change. Even a slightest change brought by me with sincerity will have a great effect on those around me. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: August 20, 2019: Happy Outcomes

Contemplation: August 20, 2019: Happy Outcomes

Happy Outcomes

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

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

To be worried when things go wrong is to lose the ability to find solutions. But, if I learn to smile at situations, I will be able to see situations in a calm and peaceful way. I will then not only be free from the negativity of the situation in the present, but I will also help find solutions for the future. Today I will find one positive thing from something that I am not happy with. This will help me smile at the situation without being affected negatively. When I remind myself of this positive aspect again and again, I will surely be able to work on the situation and make it better.

Principles for the Body To Make Early Morning Meditation Successful

* Rest well each night. Avoid going off to sleep later than 10 p.m. especially when there is no time for an afternoon rest.

* Make sure the evening meal is taken early or only have a light meal before bed, and a heavy breakfast. Light eating with plenty of fresh fruits and salads makes the mind light.

* If I am very, very tired at night, it is better to do some light housework until the stage of tiredness passes, rather than surrendering to sleep at this moment. If I go to bed with a heavy head I rise with a heavy head.

* Do not talk unnecessarily before going to sleep.

* Be warm, yet avoid over-heated rooms.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

Soul Sustenance 

The Benefits Of Soul Consciousness (Part 1)

The following differences between body consciousness and soul consciousness, will make you realize the benefits of soul consciousness (the practice of meditation make us soul conscious):

In Body Consciousness: I am in bondage (not free).
In Soul Consciousness: There are no bondages, I am free.

In Body Consciousness: I have many questions and few answers.
In Soul Consciousness: I understand everything that I do.

In Body Consciousness: I am afraid of dying (losing the body).
In Soul Consciousness: I know I am eternal (the soul is beyond birth and death) and there is no fear of death.

In Body Consciousness: I have no control over sense organs e.g. eyes, ears, tongue, etc..
In Soul Consciousness: I am able to practice self-control.

(To be continued tomorrow ….) 

Message for the day

Where there is peace there is patience.

Projection: My usual reactions to the stimuli around me are programmed, so I tend to be impulsive or react quickly to situations, I don't give myself time to think or understand. Because of this lack of patience I lose out on many things and I don't realise that I am losing out too.

Solution: At all times I need to make a conscious effort to keep my mind peaceful and calm, more so when there is a difficult situation. With this state of mind I am able to deal with situations patiently because peace brings power which in turn brings patience.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: August 19, 2019: Staying Peaceful

Contemplation: August 19, 2019: Staying Peaceful

Staying Peaceful

Desires cause peace to disappear. You think that acquiring things will make you feel secure, but the reality is that the more you have the more fear there usually is of losing it, and the further you are from peace. Desires are the cause of all conflicts. When you want something and cannot get it you become frustrated. Learning to be free from desires is learning how to stay peaceful. 

Why has meditation been the core practice of all wisdom paths for over two thousand years? 

Because it is the most effective method to access your innate wisdom, rediscover inner peace and enhance your creative ability. Meditation restores well being, and once your being is well again, all that you do will be successful and fulfilling. But maybe you think you are OK as you are. Perhaps you feel your being is well. But is it? Do you feel tense, worried, hopeless, mentally tired, emotionally upset...ever? Then your being is not well. Your body may be OK but you, the being, is unwell. Medication is for the body, and meditation is for the soul, that's you, and for your mind. Learning how to meditate is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself. Practising meditation says you care about yourself. Being in meditation can touch the minds and hearts of others a thousand miles away. It actually says that you care about others too. But first...your self. 

A Powerful Consciousness Of Faith In Critical Situations (cont.)

In the latter part of the birth-rebirth cycle, as our accounts of negative karma increased, we have experienced large number of ups and downs in the four parameters explained in the last two days messages - mind, body, wealth (or profession) and relationships. All these bitter experiences, which we obviously do not remember today, have weakened us and left deep scars on our subconscious mind and are in fact the main cause of the creation of sanskaras of fear, uncertainty, doubt, pessimism, etc. which we find in ourselves today. Repeated experiences cause the formation of similar sanskaras. If we experience peace repeatedly i.e. we think about peace, visualize peace, make peaceful conversations repeatedly, sanskaras of peace are created inside us. In the same way each time something went wrong with any of the four parameters (mentioned above) in the past births; due to a lack of spiritual awareness and power, we experienced sorrow, pain, peacelessness, anxiety etc. and that caused the creation of similar sanskaras inside us. This is the main reason why today we find ourselves in a situation, when faced with a problem, we are not being able to have the faith in ourselves, that we can emerge victorious in the situation.

We have experienced failure in the past births at different points of time and many times and that is why each time something goes wrong, although we emerge thoughts of victory we dilute these thoughts with a large number of weak thoughts, of possible failure. This kind of a weak consciousness during problems is not only prolonging the time period of our problems but is also keeping the solution away much longer. Today, with the help of spirituality, we need to inject the power of faith in our thoughts, words and actions. For that, we need to increase our thought power tremendously, which will have an effect on our words and actions automatically. The food of powerful thoughts through listening to or reading spiritual knowledge and the experience of emotional power through meditation given to the mind only can heal the emotional scars inside us over a period of time, the result of which we can become full of fierce determination and will-power so as to weaken negative situations and not let situations weaken us.

Soul Sustenance 

Self Empowerment

Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Now make up a series of questions, which will judge how effectively you are using these strengths to improve your personal and professional life, and what negative effects are your weaknesses (shortcomings) having on the same. These are some of the questions that you can ask yourself at the end of each week to monitor your self-progress:

e.g. Which strengths if acquired would help me improve my worth (value) at the workplace? Is any weakness of mine proving to be an obstacle (barrier) in maintaining a healthy relationship with my family? Am I using my strengths in empowering (strengthening) others? Does any weakness exist inside me, which if removed would improve my level of contentment (satisfaction) and lead to greater peace of mind?

Note down three main strengths and three important roles that you play in your life. Now check if your strengths properly match the roles. If they do not match, think if there is a new personality characteristic you need to develop. If a particular role is self-selected, if it does not match your strengths, is it a good role for you to be playing?

Message for the day

To be flexible is to enjoy everything that life brings.

Projection: When I plan perfectly for the day ahead, I sometimes find that I am not able to implement all that I had planned for. Things seem to be coming up unexpectedly spoiling everything for me. I am then not able to be happy with what is happening and so find it difficult to do my best in the particular situation.

Solution: It is as important to be flexible in my thoughts as it is to be particular about my daily schedule. Flexibility allows me to accommodate the unforeseen situations that come up my way and enables me to make the best use of everything. And so I enjoy everything that comes my way. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/