Daily Positive Thoughts: August 18, 2016: Depth of Humility

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 18, 2016: Depth of Humility

Giant Buddha Rock Painting, Nyêtang, Qüxü County, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China

Depth of Humility

Humility means to understand the self and through that to understand others as well. Humility is the attitude where a person is not attached to his or her opinion and feelings. Humility is the most natural expression of truth. It helps in better understanding of truth. Humility is the basis for maintaining self-respect. Humility does not mean bowing down and being subservient to others. Humility allows you to see benefit in everything. Developing humility brings a lot of comfort and ease into your life.

The Invisible Law Of The Universe (Part 5)

In yesterday’s message, we had explained four types of thoughts, words and actions, which create corresponding sanskaras in the soul. Not only corresponding sanskaras but all of them create different types of sanskaras depending on the emotion behind the thought, word and action. Also, the four types of thoughts, words and actions as mentioned yesterday, in decreasing order of purity are – positive, necessary, unnecessary and negative. We have explained what all four mean.

The whole day sees different types of situations and ups and downs. Life is constantly turning. Situations do arise and settle down soon all the time. Sometimes some situations remain for a longer time also which is less rare. But, the bottom line is maintaining our thoughts within the positive and necessary category all the time. Because, the ones who are internally powerful, for them situations are like bubbles on water, which are temporary. They only remain positive in any kind of situation to see the situation go away soon. They smile inspite of situations existing in their lives, which in more than 9 out of 10 times say goodbye very easily and in a span of a few hours or days and not more than that. Of course, there is that one odd situation like an illness or a difficult relationship or a loss of a close loved one, which can last for a few months or more than that and that too not in all cases. Very often, you hear people complaining of how situations are sticky in nature and refuse to go away from their lives. Of course, there is the past negative karma which is the big reason for these situations, as explained earlier in this message series and the law of karma is something that no one can run away from. Imagine many past births under the influence of a deadly negative and impure emotion like lust or a little less negatively powerful emotion of anger which can destroy the soul’s cleanliness and fill it with negative and impure sanskaras. Here we are talking of thousands of such thoughts, words and actions of the past births – how negatively influential they can be on our present. But remember there is a way out of this – not only clean the past negative karma through meditation but also something which we can do something about now, because the past negative karma is over. Perform positive and pure karma in the present. Doing both of these attracts solutions to difficult situations in our lives very easily and very fast – that is the key.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Loneliness

There are times when we feel lonely even when we're in a crowd. At those times, make an extra effort to connect meaningfully with people.

Sometimes, the feeling of loneliness comes from being disconnected from ourselves. 

That's why it's important to develop a healthy balance between spending time with others and time alone.

Get over the feeling of loneliness and get better at being alone without feeling lonely.

Message for the day

Positive actions sow seeds for a positive future.

Thought to ponder: When I sow the seeds of positive actions, I reap a positive future for myself. It means to say that when I perform positive actions, I reinforce positive personality traits. This gives me access to my inner strengths in all situations. Even when something goes wrong, or someone behaves negatively towards me, it's my choice how I want to react. The more positive I am the more I find my inner strengths getting nurtured.

Point to practice: Today I will pay special attention to only perform positive actions. That means in all I do, I will ensure that I do it with the right feeling and the right intention. I will also check if my action is going to bring benefit to others or myself, and do only that which is beneficial. At least, I will have attention not to do anything that is negative. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 17, 2016: Harmony

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 17, 2016: Harmony

Harmony

All things have their time. All things have their answers. All things have their right to be. 

Accepting this reality, all things come into harmony.

The Invisible Law Of The Universe (Part 4)

We all live our lives at a fast pace without ever stopping and checking the quality of our thoughts, words and actions. It was different for us when we did not possess the knowledge of what is a good action and what is not. But at this particular time period which is now, when God is giving us this knowledge, we need to review at the end of each day what we have done in the complete day and how were our thoughts, words and actions and was any thought, word or action not the right one? The measuring meter for this is the knowledge of the Law of Karma, which our intellect has inside it. So, the first step is learning this knowledge and then implementing the knowledge in our lives.

Generally speaking, not only any word or action, but every thought which is created under the influence of any of the five main vices – lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego or weaknesses connected to these impure emotions, like jealousy, hatred, revenge, criticism, fear etc. are considered negative karma. All of them create negative sanskaras in the soul when created or indulged in. For many, imagining a day without some of these may seem difficult and that will make you realize that a very large percentage of our thoughts, words and actions go the wrong way without us making a conscious effort of stopping them from going that way. Also, thinking, speaking and performing actions which are related to the past or the future are considered unnecessary and is something we spend a lot of time in doing. These are of a lesser negative nature but have a subtle connection with body consciousness, which is the cause of all negative sanskaras being created in the soul. Of course, there are also thoughts, words and actions, which are related to our daily routine and our day-to-day tasks, which are necessary in nature but they are sometimes accompanied by the unnecessary when we attach excessive attachment to the past and future with them. And lastly, what is commonly known to all of us, all thoughts, words and actions, which are based on the primary qualities of the soul - peace, joy, love, bliss, purity, power and knowledge (truth) are the last category of positive and of the highest quality.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Those who have the power of transformation are loved by everyone. 

They have the power to mould themselves. They never say: Why were my ideas, my plans not accepted when they were so good? 

They bring about transformation in themselves and are then loved by everyone and become a number one victorious soul.

Message for the day

A powerful stage is like a switch which finishes darkness of negativity in a second. 

Thought to ponder: Darkness is dispelled when a light is switched on. Similarly, a powerful stage is also a light switch. When this switch is on, one can put an end to all wasteful darkness and no longer have to labour to stop any wasteful thoughts. By becoming powerful, one can naturally become a donor, as there is nothing waste within.

Point to practice: When I am aware of my positive qualities and what I can contribute to others, I am able to be powerful. This naturally enables me to be light and spread the inner light to others. I am never influenced negatively with any kind of waste or negative, but am always able to maintain my own positivity and that of others too. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 16, 2016: Journey of Life

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 16, 2016: Journey of Life

Journey of Life

Journey of life is exciting when you challenge your own weaknesses.

Sometimes your enemy  teaches you better than your friend.

The Invisible Law Of The Universe (Part 3)

We all desire to live a beautiful lifestyle where we don’t have to face negative situations from the world which are a reflection of our past karmas – by past we mean karmas performed in this birth and also karmas performed over many births before this one. Of course, the births before this one have been forgotten completely. Also every thought, word and action performed in each birth which created a matching sanskara in the soul and is the main cause of attracting negative or positive situations in our present life, was forgotten completely by us as we took new births and older births were forgotten. So, nothing can be done about what happened in the past and how we spent each birth and what was the quality of our actions in each birth. But, there is a way of cleaning up all the negative sanskaras of the soul which attract negative situations in our life. Meditation is a beautiful method for doing this, in which through the power of visualization, which we all possess, we experience the beautiful energy vibrations of the purest seed of humanity or God, whom we commonly see with the eye of the mind as a point of pure spiritual light. Meditation means touching this point of pure energy using the power of visualization and sitting under this fountain of overflowing spiritual energy which He radiates, for a few minutes every day. His light is like a laser beam which removes or destroys these negative sanskaras from the soul, which were created due to negative karmas. That is why, at the Brahma Kumaris, we commonly call this meditation as a method of destroying negative actions performed over many births and a soul from which traces of negative actions have been removed then attracts positive circumstances only and keeps negative circumstances away.

The reason why we experience happiness when we start our journey of birth and rebirth is that we are pure souls or we are full of the power of purity i.e. negative sanskaras created due to negative actions, which attract situations of sorrow, are either not there or are less inside us. As we come down in the process of birth and rebirth, we fill ourselves with these negative sanskaras, due to the quality of actions reducing and the sorrow in our life increases.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Like your Dislikes

In our lives there are probably activities we dislike, people we don't like.... 

Most often, irritation and anger arises from being rigid about what and who we like and dislike.

The next time you find yourself saying, "I don't like..." pause and ask yourself, "Can I like this dislike? 

Can I find something positive about this dislike?" If you can't, then maybe dislike a little less!

Liking your dislikes might just make you calmer and an easier person to be around!

Message for the day

Introspection enables one to be free from the influence of negativity. 

Thought to ponder: Introspection means the desire to be good. Introspection brings the ability to look within and see the true self in the mirror of the heart, thus enabling one to activate the inner spirituality. Then all effort made will be towards activating this inherent goodness. And slowly one finds that the behaviour associated with negative traits are no more expressed, as they begin to lose their hold.

Point to practice: When I am able to introspect and look within, I can find the goodness that is there within me. Because of this, I naturally am free from expectations from others that they should recognise my goodness or consider me good. Instead I find myself content with what I am and continue to bring out the best from within me. I also continue to learn from all situations and experience progress. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 15, 2016: Changing Times

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 15, 2016: Changing Times

 

Changing Times

It is wise to bend rather than to break. Those who change will get spiritual wisdom. Conversely, those who have wisdom will decide to change. Change is the first law of Nature. In fact, change is the mark of Time.

The Invisible Law Of The Universe (Part 2)

Newton’s third law of motion states that every action is followed by an equal and opposite reaction. This law is one which talks about physical forces but on a spiritual level, everykarma – positive or negative will result in me receiving a result of the karmaeither immediately or after some time or after a few births. This result comes back at me either from a person or from my own physical body or from my surroundings like my workplace or family. Of course, there is no need to mention that the karma’sresult is positive if the karma has been positive and negative if the karma has been negative. Also, unlike as in the case of physical forces, where the magnitude of the forces can be measured, on a spiritual level, the intensity of a particular karma – how positive or negative it is, cannot be measured, but we generally express in normal discussions that this was a positive karma and can differentiate it from a negative karma. So each time I perform an action, even if I am not aware consciously, a result of the action gets stored in my future destiny. This is the invisible law of the universe – the law of karma or the law of action and reaction on a spiritual level.

Also, the result or the fruit of the karma is not something which we can point out e.g. this morning you get angry at your office colleague and two hours later you meet with an accident, does not necessarily mean that this was the fruit of the karma that you performed in the morning. Similarly, you donate some money for welfare purpose today and after two days you earn a profit in your business does not mean that the profit is a result of the donation. This is because we perform karmas continuously. Some of them are positive and some are negative and they result in positive and negative sanskarasbeing stored in the soul respectively. These sanskaras, as explained in yesterday’s message, attract positive and negative situations respectively from our surroundings. Also, how positive or how negative the action is, also determines the result of the action which comes back to us in any form.  A more positive action will attract a more positive result and a more negative karma will attract a more negative result. This is the law of karma.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Create a world of love

May you be an embodiment of love who transforms any fearsome volcanic form with your cool form of love. 

At every moment, with every soul, in every situation, never leave aside or forget your loving image, your face of love, your loving interaction and your relationships and connections of love. 

Create a world of love with your vision, attitude and actions of love.

Message for the day

Attention finishes tension. 

Thought to ponder: When there is attention on small little things, I do everything well. I don't postpone, nor am I careless. I take care of the small little details and do things well. I am also far sighted and am able to plan and act accordingly. So I am free from tension. 

Point to practice: Today I will finish all those little things that would create a problem for me later. I will surely make a list of things I need to do. I will then pick out two tasks from that list and finish them today. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 14, 2016: Enthusiasm

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 14, 2016: Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm

To be enthusiastic is to be free. A caged bird has the ability to fly, but is unable to spread its wings and soar. I need to remind myself that being enthusiastic in all situations is like being a free bird reaching great heights. When I experience this inner freedom and appreciate the joy it brings, I will be able to sustain it even when things go wrong. To be enthusiastic is to be free...

The Invisible Law Of The Universe (Part 1)

We are living in a world full of uncertainities i.e. a world where anything can go wrong in a second. Have you ever wondered what the reason for this is? Tomorrow you step out of your house and you could meet with an accident. You appear for a job interview and inspite of all your hard work, you don’t do as well as expected. Also, sometimes within a few seconds, a close relationship with a friend or a close associate turns negative because of a misunderstanding and you are no longer on good terms with the person. Or in some cases a person, because of his or her own thinking, suddenly goes through an episode of depression and he or she is unable to concentrate his mind on managing his or her family as before. So life events are as unpredictable as the weather.

We have all got used to watching news on television and reading the newspaper and every day we listen to all these unexpected events happening in the lives of people around us and all over the world. Does anyone ever wonder why the world is tiring in this way or why the world is no longer that permanently peace and happiness filled? As we spiritual beings spend more and more time on earth, the quality of our actions is coming down and the energy of these actions which radiates into our immediate surroundings is of a similar nature. This energy keeps coming back at us repeatedly. Do you know that each time we think a negative thought, speak a negative word or perform a negative action; the thought, word and action may be forgotten, but all of them leave a negative sanskara or subtle impression on the soul? This attracts negative situations from the people around us and from the nature’s elements in the form of negative situations of different types of the physical body, role and relationships, sometimes immediately, sometimes after a few days, months or years and sometimes even after many births.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Self-Discovery

Discover your amazing breadth and depth as a person. 

Recognize the variety of qualities that are within you, right now. 

Acknowledge the valuable abilities that are intrinsic to your uniqueness.

Each day put into action some of your vast array of qualities and actively contribute your abilities to the world around you.

Message for the day

Real powerful actions inspire others to be positive and powerful too. 
Thought to ponder: There is a saying that there is a metal ('Paras') that makes iron to gold. We need to be like that, i.e., when our words and actions are powerful, it will inspire others to become powerful too. On the other hand, in the face of negativity, if we tend to portray negativity, they will never have the power to make their actions positive.

Point to practice: Today I will take a fast of not using negativity. Just for today, I will make sure that in spite of negative situations, I will remain positive. I will let no negative word emerge from my mouth nor will I perform any negative action. I will pay special attention to this. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: August 13, 2016: Your Vision

Your Vision

When someone's feeling low, you can help them restore their self-belief by keeping a firm, clear vision of their goodness and what makes them special.

Crossing Negative Situations (Part 3)

In order to have a wider perception and not to drown in any negative situation i.e. not to get affected by it, you can position yourself in a positive way. Instead of losing respect for the self and developing a negative consciousness, if you make your consciousness positive and stabilize yourself in respect towards yourself, in maintaining your positive and powerful self-esteem and a healthy distance (not necessarily physical distance, but rather by not letting the situation absorb you), you will be able to have an eagle's vision. From above, everything looks smaller. It is easier to get over something small. You can. I am a victorious soul or I am a destroyer of obstacles are examples of positive consciousness.

Whatever happens, it is important to always be aware that you create your thoughts and you allow the situations to have greater or lesser impact inside you, according to how you see them. Learn to create thoughts full of courage, trust and determination. Spirituality and the practice of meditation helps you do just that. Those thoughts, charged with positive energy, will help you to allow each situation to pass; to really overcome it and leave it behind; for it not to remain alive in your thoughts or in your memory.

With the power of a mind that creates thoughts full of good energy, wherever you go, you will create a pleasant atmosphere. Your vibrations will create spaces full of beauty, love, trust and peacefulness; spaces where all those who enter will remove their masks and will connect again with their true self.

ME & WE

Turn "me" upside down, and you go from 'What's in it for me?' 
to embracing a broader perspective of "we."

When you focus less on 'me', and more on 'we', you're able to collaborate and engage with others to accomplish something altogether better.

As a result, you leverage both your personal talents and relationships to a greater success.

Message for the day

To be powerful is to have the ability to withstand negativity. 

Thought to ponder: When there is power within, I am able to respond in the right way to situations and people. I will be like a hard rock which doesn't allow any water to go within. On the other hand, if I become like a sponge, I will absorb a lot of what others are giving me. If I continue to absorb others' negativity, I would find myself becoming negative too. Since I am taking, they too would continue giving me.

Point to practice: Today I will be strong. I will take a powerful thought that I will keep it with me throughout the day. I am the one who has the power within me to withstand anything that comes my way. When I think this way, I will be able to move forward, learning and discovering something new from within me at every step. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris