Daily Positive Thoughts: October 31, 2016: Purity

Purity

A powerful, yet often misunderstood, aim of spiritual study is purity. Purity of the soul means to return to its original divine qualities. The soul has become so polluted with less than divine qualities, it can hardly enjoy being alive. Purifying the soul puts the higher self back in charge - useless and negative thoughts are removed and annoying habits finish. A pure soul cannot be touched by sorrow; indeed the power of purity is such, it serves to remove the sorrow of the whole world. Purity restores happiness - even bliss. All you need to do, in order to re-establish your purity, is want it. But you need to want it intensely, to the exclusion of everything else. The one thought, "I must become completely pure" sparks a fire of love between you and God. This fire melts away all the pollution, and your purity becomes such a power that it frees you from all battles for ever.

Negative Control And Positive Influence

The power of influence in relationships is extraordinary, but it practically disappears when we try to exercise control and force.

You can influence anyone positively in many ways:

- encouraging,

- sharing,

- listening,

- communicating in the right way.  

In negative control we generate stress, frustration and anger. In positive influence the energy flows in a relaxed way with harmony and is not threatening, respecting each one for their specialty and allowing each one to be as they are.

In order to influence positively we need the power of discrimination and judgement in relation to what to say and what to do e.g. when you believe that the other person is the problem; generally the problem is not what others say or do, but rather how you perceive them. The way  that you judge is what creates your negative feelings about them. We have the choice to perceive others as a threat, as a problem, or as an opportunity; an opportunity for learning, for change, for dialogue and understanding. We can choose to have compassion (kindness); to feel that the other is a problem indicates a lack of compassion.

Irrelevant thoughts come in abundance. 

They take your attention away from the present moment, into the past or the future, as you imagine problems, create doubts and confusions. 

And before you know it, you're caught in a spider's web of thoughts.

The next time you find yourself stuck in a web of your own creation, untangle yourself from irrelevant thoughts, and be free.

Message for the day

Faith in God gives you power to face the different challenges that come your way.

Contemplation: In the difficult situations that come in your life when you have faith in God, the power within you is brought out. With the faith that God is with you, you can transform negative to positive, and impossible becomes possible. 

Application: When any task demands strength beyond your capacity, make the all-powerful God your companion. With the power of His companionship you will find things a lot easier to handle. Because of your faith help automatically comes. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 30, 2016: Comparing

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 30, 2016: Comparing

Comparing

If I am always comparing myself with others, I will either suffer from ego or jealousy.

Tapping Guidance From The Supreme Intellect (Part 2)

In yesterday’s message, we had discussed how no human entity can fulfill all the necessary requirements of someone who can guide us correctly in any difficult situation. Thus to proceed in such a situation, it’s good to take the guidance from the intellect of someone who fulfills all these criteria. That someone is no one except the Supreme Being or God, who is the entity possessing the most powerful intellect, and intellect with the most perfect judgment power. Sometimes my mind and intellect is absolutely clean and clear and I am 100% sure about my right course of action for the future, but even in those times its good to verify the course of action from a higher authority. So, in those times, it is very important to connect for a few minutes with the Supreme, who is an Energy of Unlimited Truth. Then, the question to ask myself at that time is not what do I want, or what do others want, but most importantly: What does the Supreme want, what is his wish, what is his perception of the situation? The deeper my connection with Him in meditation, the clearer the answer will come.

When it becomes a regular practice, it will be as simple as taking guidance from my physical parent or spouse or friend. I'll know without wasting time and energy, the right course of action. Sometimes it may happen that the answer may not come to me immediately, but by connecting my intellect with the Supreme’s intellect my intellect will become clear, which will help me take the right decision. Also, in some cases the Supreme may not respond immediately but may guide me through some other medium, whether living or non-living after some time or even after a day or two.

Do something! 

Every now and then, thoughts pop into your mind. Concerns, reminders of things you need to do or even a little bit of anxiety.

These thoughts are often warning signs that signal us to do something! 

If you can't give it time at that precise moment, note it down, set a date for later, and make a commitment to follow it through.

Message for the day

The ability to bring out strength is to be constantly powerful. 

Thought to Ponder: We normally get to a state of mind, according to the situation. But, we can take inspiration from examples like the incense stick which is full of fragrance, and spreads only that. Also is the example of the candle/lamp. It is fully of light so that is what it radiates. So it is important to connect to my strengths at all times, so that I can give what I have at all times. 

Point to Practice: Today I will remember a positive quality that I have. I will remind myself of this at least 10 times or as many times as I can. And while I do that, whatever the challenge may be I'll believe in my own strengths and continue to use them. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 29, 2016: Independent Observer

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 29, 2016: Independent Observer

Independent Observer

Peace ends when you are emotionally involved in a situation. The practice of being an independent observer helps you stay stable and calm. It is the best way to approach a decision in any circumstance.

Tapping Guidance From The Supreme Intellect (Part 1)

There are many occasions in my day-to-day life when I am not sure as to what my next course of action should be in that particular situation. The intellect is the faculty inside the soul which normally takes all decisions for the soul. But sometimes the intellect is clouded by my own or others’ sanskaras, beliefs, opinions, inclinations, assumptions, thoughts, actions, past experiences, etc.

In such a situation, I require the guidance of an entity who:

- is above the whole situation and is seeing it as a spectator or observer and is not a player in the situation,
- is the knower of the three aspects of time (the past, present and the future),
- can see the situation from all dimensions or perspectives,
- is beyond all influences and is impartial,
- is extremely pure and clear,
- knows me more than I know myself,
- knows my benefit and harm more than I know it myself,
- someone who is selfless and is concerned for my well being the most, etc.

No human entity can fulfill all these requirements.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Smile all day and see what happens.

Today, challenge yourself to smile, all day. Scan for the positives and smile sincerely, both at yourself and to the world.

If you don't feel like smiling then simply relax your facial muscles and see if a natural smile appears.

If you're in situations where it's not appropriate to smile fully then have a small smile.

Message for the day

The biggest service is to show others the right path. 

Thought to Ponder: When someone is going wrong, it is very easy to get influenced and go wrong too. For example, others' negativity brings anger, fear or sadness, which is negative too. Then, I lose the ability to show others the right path. When someone is negative, it is all the more reason to have a positive state of mind so that I can guide them towards the right path. 

Point to Practice: Today I will take a few minutes before I react. Whenever there is a negative situation I am faced with, I'll wait for a minute or two before I give any reaction. this will help me finish negativity and I will be able to respond with positive. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 28, 2016: Patience

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 28, 2016: Patience

Mumbai Traffic

Patience

Patience is a virtue and a power too. Patience tells us that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and that we get over there one step at a time. Patience teaches us not to rush. Knowing that there is a reason and a season for everything it enables us to smile at the challenges, realizing that there is an answer to every problem. And, even though we cannot see it, yet there is awareness that within every crisis lies an opportunity.

Reaching The Destination Of Peace On Time (Part 2)

In yesterday’s message, we had mentioned the main type of distractions that you might face in your journey to the destination of peace. The secret of not getting affected by each of these distractions is very simple – do not interact with any of them on a subtle level by giving them your mental energy of attention, but avoid them, detach yourself from them, just observe them and let them go, remaining completely focused on reaching your destination.

Imagine you are driving to your office on the highway and you are very late. There are a large number of different vehicles which you pass, either travelling in the same direction as you are or coming at you from the opposite side. You are even familiar with a lot of these people sitting inside these vehicles, because you see them every day, but you don’t even spare a second to glance at them because if you did you would lose your focus and be delayed, you would fail to reach your destination, your office in this case, on time. Meditation is exactly like this. Just as you cannot empty the highway full of vehicles, because you are in a hurry to reach office, you cannot empty the highway of your consciousness of all thoughts, emotions, beliefs, worries, opinions, desires, and memories etc. some of which are even very familiar to you, just because you want to get to the destination of your inner peace.  Let all of these, like the vehicles, come and go, but all you have to do is avoid them and focus on reaching your destination on time. It's as if, by the way you are driving, your body language, in this case the subtle energy of your determined thought, word has spread through the highway of your consciousness that you will not be sparing a second to even glance at any one of these on your way. If with a momentary loss of self-awareness, you do start giving attention to them, and you get lost in one of them, remind yourself subconsciously, I am on my way back to the destination of peace, peace that I am. This will help you regain your focus and before you know it, you will realize you have arrived; you will experience your destination i.e. the peace within, and will completely believe that you are that. And it will be the most blissful experience that you have felt in a very long time.

Identifying Pain

Some people don't know how to identify pain. They have been in pain for so long they have come to think of it as normal, even beneficial. Some even become addicted to their pain. 

All these emotions (anger, irritation, frustration, rage, anxiety, tension, fear, terror, sadness, depression, hopelessness, powerlessness, worry) are different forms of pain, and each one is telling us there is something we need to learn in order to make changes in the way we create our life experiences. 

Our belief systems have taught us that they are a natural part of life, but they are not. They require healing. We also need to know how not to create them in the first place.

Message for the day

Let there be a positive record of always talking with regard. 

Contemplation: When I have regard for others, there are good wishes expressed through my words. Such words are totally free from the slightest bit of negativity and bring a very positive result. When words are positive, they are few but essenceful. So they have a lot of impact on others. 

Application: When I have regard for others, I will be able to keep myself free from negative and waste words. So I'll naturally find every word of mine being used in a positive and powerful way. So I find only accumulation and no waste through my words. My energy is saved and others too would have only good wishes for me. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 27, 2016: Life

Artist: Hans Zatzka (1859-1945)

Life

Ignorance makes you believe that life functions haphazardly. Wisdom teaches you that everything that happens in this theatre of life has profound significance. What you see today is not the fruit of chance but a fruit from seeds planted in the past. Plant seeds of peace now and you will create a life of peace in the future.

Reaching The Destination Of Peace On Time (Part 1)

The objective of meditation has always been reaching the destination of inner peace. The process of meditation is like a journey to that destination, which many human souls have undertaken since thousands of years. After a life and in fact many lifetimes of indulging in habits of anger, fear, ego, sorrow, jealousy, hatred, greed etc. all of which blocked our access to this inner pure emotion and made us believe that these are normal emotions, believing completely that our true nature is peaceful, which is an experience opposite to all these; might seem difficult at first. Only our own experience can lead to a change in our deeply held beliefs, which then makes it easy for us to incorporate peace as an integral part of our personality.

As you dive into you own consciousness, with the objective of searching for and reaching your subtle destination of inner peace, you will encounter some distractions in your journey. Some of the most important of such distractions include:

- thoughts in the form of negative memories of the past; over-thinking about the present scenesand day-to-day actions in your life; desires, worries and unnecessary thinking related to the future, waste thinking about the natures and actions of people whom we come into contact with the most, etc.

- the inner, subtle voices of the many incorrect beliefs, which we have picked up from people by whom we have been surrounded since we were small;

- thoughts and emotions related to deep habits of identifying with and getting attached to things we are not, like the physical body, material possessions, people, our role in society, money, places, opinions or viewpoints, hobbies or interests etc.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

Stop Worrying

Start today hoping to make mistakes! That doesn't mean you're giving yourself permission to be sloppy or careless. No!

It means that you stop worrying about getting things right and you're more willing to try new things and meet new challenges.

So, go on, stretch yourself and give yourself permission to make mistakes, learn from them and grow.

Message for the day

Your generosity in putting others forward will automatically place you in front. 

Contemplation: When you say 'you first' instead of 'I first' you will be placed forward. For having done the selfless service of putting others forward and encouraging them, you will get plenty of blessings. This will take you forward very quickly. 

Application: When there is a conflict with someone, become generous. Instead of expecting the other person to understand you and do according to what you want, listen to what he is saying. When you give a chance in this way you will move forward very quickly. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 26, 2016: Wisdom

Daily Positive Thoughts: October 26, 2016: Wisdom

Jaipur

Wisdom
The essence of wisdom is using what we know and confessing to what we do not know.

Forgive To Forget

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

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

Labeling

When we put labels on people, we're categorizing them with a single word, without considering complex factors. 

Labels get in the way of reality. In reality, people are so much more than a label.

Remove the labels. Take a peek below the surface to see, understand and accept others as they are. 

And keep the labels where they belong, on cans and jars, not people.

Message for the day

To be a leader is to lead by example keeping a watch on every action. 

Expression: When someone is clicking a photograph or recording a video of us, there is care taken about every action of ours. We make sure we are able to portray our best. In life too, if we have this consciousness, that I am being watched and I am a role model to everyone, I will be able to set the right example for others.

Experience: Today I will check my actions. I will do at least one thing today that can be as an example for others to follow. For example, when someone shouts or doesn't behave well, I will smile and have a thought of good wish for them. 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris