Contemplation : October 11, 2020: First Change

  Contemplation :October 11, 2020: First Change

Prime Minister at the International Yoga Day, June 21, 2015, Rajpath, New Delhi

First Change

There is no greater teacher than one's own practical example. To be really benevolent therefore means that I must first change, then I have the power, the knowledge and the experience of thinking and doing for the ultimate benefit of all.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 5)

Life without the love of the Father of humanity or God is like a tree without leaves. Love fills our life with enthusiasm and a lot of energy and we feel motivated to achieve in every sphere of life whether personal, professional or in the field of spirituality. Spirituality is itself an independent segment of life with its own challenges both in the field of self progress and in the field of donating all that you possess to others, which we call spiritual service at the Brahma Kumaris. So, everything you do from the morning to night is filled with love and you do it with lot of power and dedication and without getting bored. So, enjoyment while working in an office or while dealing with people in the family becomes extremely easy, as easy as going for a drive or cooking a meal.

Also, the way of loving each one in a pure manner and without any expectations comes in every relationship, whether personal, professional or spiritual. There are people in the world who are experts at dealing with people with a lot of love and are well known for this specialty in their social relationships. Such people, when asked about their secret of success, will commonly tell you that they are very good at thinking correctly and manage their thinking smoothly. Such people can deal with people of different personalities and even manage them, not necessarily control them. This is something that becomes easy to do after taking a spiritual birth or being a student of spirituality. Spirituality fills you with the power to think only what is necessary and as per the requirements of a particular situation, which can be difficult at times.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Air, Fire, Water, Earth & Ether; we can be like the 5 elements. 

Be light like air, free from worry & fear. 

Like fire, positively transform your habits.

Like water, keep flowing & never stagnate.

Like the earth, be stable in the face of challenges.

Be expansive, like the ether. Give space to yourself & others.

 

‘Message for the day

The one who serves others is the richest.

 
Expression: To be in a position to serve others means to be aware of the resources and treasures within. When all the powers that are within are used for the benefit of the self and others they tend to multiply and increase. So the one who continues to serve others continues to become richer. 

Experience: When I serve, not only do I become richer with what I use, but for having served unselfishly I also become richer with the blessings and good wishes that emerge from the hearts of others. I am able to experience the real richness and beauty of life as there is a lot of love, happiness and joy in my life. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation : October 10, 2020: Transform Negativity

  Contemplation : October 10, 2020: Transform Negativity

Transform Negativity

The energies of life come to meet us at every moment. Most come from other people who, are either in the same room or on the flickering, technicolour screens with which we now share most of our homes. The vast majority of these energies are not positive. So how do we handle the 'the negatives', whether it's someone's attitude, their hurtful gestures or our daily dose of world violence and mayhem. There are three cardinal rules. First, do not absorb it - don't be an emotional sponge. Second do not reflect it back. Otherwise you begin a cycle of emotional exchanges which may last a long time. And third, do the one thing which marks us as intelligent human beings - transform it. Even if the scene is a disaster there is some benefit somewhere in it. Even if you are watching two people's beliefs or opinions slug it out to the edge of violence, don't take sides. Instead offer a solution then stand well back. Even if the person hates you, accept their state of being and return the light of love. In time, with patience, it will illuminate their darkness, and return to you by the bucketful! Just wait.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 4)

A spiritual childhood is a birth in the lap of God, in which the soul goes through a transformation or change and experiences a new turning point in its life after which life starts giving you beautiful rewards. Rewards like an increase in levels of happiness, a mind filled with peace, lots of spiritual strength, purity in thoughts, words and actions and also change in one’s personality.  Life starts changing as situations no longer hurt your consciousness and give you as much sorrow as before. Also, the ability to give different shapes or mindsets to your consciousness when faced with different types of challenges in life and overcoming them is something we learn when we take birth as a spiritual child of the Supreme Father and Mother, whom we commonly call God.

Spirituality means a love filled life and at the same time a pure consciousness which means a spiritual love and not a physical one, which becomes a source of happiness and also brings about lightness. A pure and non-physical love also brings freedom from an unstable life in which sometimes there is a lot of joy, but the joy many times brings with it sorrow filled periods. Also, life stops being a roller coaster ride in which there is always insecurity about what will happen next. Also, the different relationships with the one Father of the soul or God fills the self with different types of attainments, which cannot be explained. At the same time these different experiences with God give you a lot of fulfillment and you also love sharing these attainments with others and also bringing others on the spiritual joyride with you.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Gratitude

 

Two words that can improve any relationship: "Thank you!"

If saying thank you is already habitual for you, say it with a renewed feeling today.

If you haven't already done so, then invite "Thank you" into your vocabulary.

It seems like the simplest thing to say, but gratitude and appreciation really does make a difference.

So, thank you!

Message for the day

To choose the right path is to use strengths in the right way. 

Thought to Ponder: However fast I run, I will not be able to get anywhere, if I do not choose the right path. I first need to see clearly what I want to do and where I need to go. Once I have decided, I need to use all my strengths to move towards that goal.

Point to Practice: Today I will stop and check if I am moving in the right direction. I will create a small little goal for myself in any one area and work progressively towards that. This will ensure that my energies are being focused and bring results. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation : October 09, 2020: Title can go here

 Contemplation : October 09, 2020: Title can go here

Title can go here

 

"Wow...that's beautiful!" Is either a cry or a thought when faced with the mountain sunset, a spectacular view or a well formed man or a woman.  But where is the beauty, where is the appreciation of beauty, where is the ability to discern beauty? It is within our own consciousness. For the essence of who and what we are beauty itself. The essence of beauty is not found in the body, a face or a mountain - they only stir the essence of beauty within our own spirit. And that beauty is not only something we taste within ourselves, but it emerges in our character as virtue, and in our life as care. For what is virtue, but love in action? The next time you say, "That's beautiful!" know that you speak of yourself, and it is you who are beautiful. Always were, always will be.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 3)

Spirituality is a beautiful and fulfilling lifestyle which everyone in the world needs to adopt and it is not only for people who have an interest in religion already or are spiritually inclined. Spirituality gives the power of relieving yourself of all pressures and it also teaches us the way of keeping our thoughts, words and actions in check, both of which are necessary for being successful. Also, spirituality does not mean leaving material comforts of life and lead a life which is different from the world but on the other hand it changes our relationship with material comforts and makes us less attached to them. This helps us experience permanent joy from them. On the other hand an attachment to them can give sorrow also at times. So, never hesitate to sit on the joyride of spirituality, as we call it, because life and the relationships and roles that way we play and the way we play them changes after doing that. Ask someone who is spiritual and loves leading a life according to spiritual principles and does it without overdoing it i.e. he or she does not become over-spiritual so as to lose the balance. Such a person will say will tell you how lightness and contentment along with the power to handle situations and also the ability to change your thinking whenever required, from negative to positive are some of the benefits of a spiritual life.

Also, talking about love filled relationships; there are people, whose relationships were on the brink of finishing. A spiritual life gave them the method of living their life with love, immense happiness and power and they overcome their difficult relationships without making much effort. In fact, there are many marriages of people who joined or got associated with the Brahma Kumaris, which were saved from divorces, because of their change in ways of thinking and facing the difficult situations that arise in marriages because of ego clashes and differences of opinions.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

 

  

 

Restless to Restful

 

Often we're tired because we're running marathons in our minds. 

 

Thinking about things to do, what's been done, what should have been done; what others did, are doing, should do... Tiredness makes the mind even more restless.

Why not take a thought break! Slow down your thoughts and let your mind go from restless to restful. 

 

Release tiredness and the mind will think better.

Message for the day

To experience happiness is to give happiness to others too. 

Thought to Ponder: The one who walks on the right path can show others the path too. When I start appreciating what I have, I will be able to be happy. Then, I can inspire others too to experience happiness too. Also, it is only what I have that I can give others.

 

Point to Practice: Today I will take a thought to be happy with whatever life brings. Even if something negative happens, I will just remain happy. I will see if there is a learning from it that I can take and move ahead. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation : October 08, 2020: Friends and Relatives

 Contemplation : October 08, 2020: Friends and Relatives

The small, but jaw dropping picturesque town of Chiavenna along River Mera in Italy

Friends and Relatives

If my friends and relatives do not choose to accompany me on my spiritual path, why should I chase after them trying to get them to change? They won't listen to me anyway, no matter what I say. A better approach is to focus on my own change process. A river doesn't need to urge people into drinking its water. People are naturally drawn to it, provided its waters are pure, free flowing and sweet. In the same way become so attractive through your spiritual efforts that everyone will want to join you naturally.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 2)

Variety in life is the only way to sustain a spiritual journey which many of us are on. Meditation is a technique which is being practiced by millions all over the world. At the Brahma Kumaris, people from around 115 countries practice meditation in their daily lives but at the same time, as per the knowledge shared by God, they take care that meditation does not become like a daily routine. Everyday meditation is done with different types of positive thoughts. In this way, spirituality is like a fun filled joyride in which different experiences become a daily part of your life. Also everyone at the Brahma Kumaris will not study spiritual knowledge only when they are alone or at home. They will visit one of the centres of the Brahma Kumaris daily for an hour, wherever they are. And they will listen to spiritual knowledge in a gathering. This type of daily routine is something which is rarely seen in any other spiritual movement of the world. The intention behind this type of practice, besides better understanding of the knowledge, is an increase in enthusiasm by sitting with people of the same mindset and gaining from their spiritual power, which is called the power of the gathering.

Spirituality also brings with it the duty of sharing all that you listen and learn, with others, which itself is a way of remaining enthusiastic. Along with sharing, which we call service at the Brahma Kumaris, there is great importance given to changing oneself and improving one’s behavior which is a way of going ahead in life on a non-physical level. This is because changing oneself automatically causes a positive energy of change to flow in my words and actions, which further flows to others causing an increase in enthusiasm in oneself. This is the spiritual joyride on which we sit every day and wait for the next day with a lot of interest.

 

(To be continued tomorrow …)

 

Truth

 

The power of Truth is such that you need never be concerned about proving it. 

 

You need only be concerned with being it and living it. 

 

Truth is always revealed, at the right moment, at the right place. It is for this reason that the simplest, most powerful expression of truth is humility. 

 

Real humility results in so much power of truth and inner silence that you don't need to say anything at all in words. 

 

The power of humility allows you to see the benefit in everything, even in the insults of others.

 

Message for the day

The easiest way to bring positivity in life is to become worthy of God's love. 

Expression: A simple checking whether to perform an action or not is to see if it would be approved by God. When every action is thus checked, there would be positivity and benefit expressed through everything. There would not be any negative, waste or even ordinary actions performed, but only those that are sealed with the power of positivity.

 

Experience: When I am able to bring about such positivity in my life, I'll not only win the love of God, but also the love, praise and good wishes of all those around me. I also become trust worthy and an image of support for those who are seeking to bring positivity in their lives. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

 

Contemplation : October 07, 2020: How to Stay Peaceful

 Contemplation : October 07, 2020: How to Stay Peaceful

Sadhus in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal

How to Stay 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.

On A Spiritual Joyride (Part 1)

 

A very beautiful aspect of our lives is variety. Variety means doing a lot of different things in life which give a feeling of freshness and enjoyment. It means loving every moment of the day by making it special. Whenever you have spent many days in your life doing one particular thing or working on one particular task, ask yourself am I becoming a one task- force. Or do I, while performing the task, also take care that my work is accompanied by periods of creative activities like reading, playing, interacting and improving my personality by spreading all that I know, to others and learning more than I know now?

There was once a king who loved the role he was playing and also gave a lot of love to the people he ruled. There was no one in his kingdom who did not like him or respect him but yet boredom was something he had to face repeatedly. The same routine was something he experienced everyday and did not know how to overcome that. So, one day, he along with his queen, decided to spend a fixed time everyday talking to people in his kingdom discussing the problems that they were facing. And also, he started fixing small targets in his life, like ensuring that by this particular day, this particular work will get done which can also be termed as goal setting. He realized soon that by filling his life with the flavor of ambition, which in small amounts, is extremely useful for progress, his life was no longer repetitive. In fact, life became something he enjoyed, as long as the ambition was kept in limits and he did not overcome over-ambitious, which could lead to stress. Love for each task you perform and at the same time different tasks during the day is the secret to a happiness filled life. A spiritual perspective to variety in life is filling your mind with new thoughts everyday and maintaining a pure and positive mindset. At the same time, let this positive mindset or consciousness be differently positive everyday, by giving the mind new directions everyday, which can also be called being spiritually adventurous

 

(To be continued tomorrow …)

 

 

Integrate Integrity

 

Integrity means to integrate all the facets of your personality into one consistent, reliable, transparent self.

You're the same inside and out; nothing to hide, no masks to wear. You're honest with yourself, say what you mean and respond to situations authentically, without compromising your values.

With integrity life is easier, you feel good about yourself, there's trust in your relationships, and accountability in your work.

How do you integrate integrity into your life?

 

Message for the day

To use treasures in a worthwhile way is to be content. 

Thought to Ponder: We are all endowed with a lot of treasures. Treasures like our specialties, our time, our good wishes, our encouraging words are in our access. Without using these treasures, if we ask God for more, or expect from others, it is difficult to get them. When we start using what we have in a worthwhile way, we find these and other treasures increase automatically. 


Point to Practice: Today I will remind myself of any one specialty of mine and make a conscious attempt to use it in my day to day activities. I will remind myself of this, from time to time, and use it consciously whenever I can. When I am busy using my own inner treasure, I will not only be content, but also start achieving success in all I do. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/