Contemplation: March 13, 2019: Reclaim your Lunch Break

Contemplation: March 13, 2019: Reclaim your Lunch Break

Reclaim your Lunch Break

How do you spend your lunch break?  Do you even take a lunch break?
Use your precious break to recharge, and you'll be more alert to tackle the afternoon ahead. Come on, get out of the workplace and get some fresh air.  Go for a brisk walk and explore the area.  Catch up with a friend on the phone.  Eat healthy.  You could even squeeze in a short lunchtime exercise or meditation. What will you do to get the most of your lunch breaks?

Humility

To focus not only on the self but on others too brings humility. Such
humility allows others to come close. The one who is humble is able to
give others what is required. Yet he balances with a certain
quietness, so that others don't become too casual and familiar. When
we are humble, we become easy and light giving the love that we have
within. We are free from the sorrow of expectations. Instead we
actually become a reservoir of treasures from where others can take
benefit. We are constantly a giver, being available for others.

Realizing The Law of Cause and Effect (cont.)

Suppose a person from India goes to America for the first time and rents a car over there. He then parks his rented car on the wrong side of the road. He will be charged a fine because parking laws are different in both countries. He cannot simply say 'I didn't know, I am ignorant'. It should have been his responsibility, if driving, to find out the laws of the new country but he didn't take enough care.

In ignorance, we have done many things against the universal laws of creation - especially the Law of Karma. We did not have the complete knowledge of what are good/bad karmas, what are right/wrong karmas; what different types of effects different karmas would have on me, others and nature. But we cannot just say 'I didn't know'. It was our responsibility to know. If we look at the state of the world now, there may be a few sparks of light or spiritual enlightenment but, generally, there is a great amount of darkness. That gives us an indication of the sorts of karmas the vast majority of us have been performing, due to ignorance, to have produced the situations or circumstances in the world.

The complete knowledge of the karmic process, which focuses primarily on the Law of Cause and Effect (explained yesterday), which we learn when we are introduced to spirituality, helps us:

* reduce the burden of the past
* remove any type of suffering or sorrow in our present life
* change our future as well as that of the world, to make it better and more positive
* experience a positive return from our spiritual efforts
* understand all the why's, how's, what's and when's which surround our life

Soul Sustenance

Internal And External Attachments - Part 2

We had explained some common examples of external attachments yesterday.

Some common examples of internal attachments are attachments to:

* your ideas,
* your beliefs,
* your opinions or viewpoints,
* your memories,
* a certain way of thinking
* a particular virtue/virtues or specialty/specialties,
* a particular power/powers,
* a particular sanskar/sanskars - either positive or negative, etc.

Whether the attachment is external or internal, the act of attaching is always internal. e.g. if you attach yourself to your job, you will say "my job". Your job is something external, but you hold on to it inside you - inside your consciousness.
(To be continued tomorrow...) 

Message for the day

To be free from attachment of one's own qualities is to have the ability to work on the self.

Expression: The main form of attachment of the self is the attachment to both one's own specialities and weaknesses. When there is the ability to free oneself from this kind of attachment there is the ability to work on both. There is the awareness of them, but not bound by them. There is the ability to use specialities with love and according to the need. There is also special attention given to finish weaknesses.

Experience: When I am free from attachment, I am aware of them, but there is neither arrogance of the specialities nor any inferior feelings for the presence of the negativity within me. I am able to experience detachment from them and able to use my specialities with ease. I am not disturbed with the presence of the weaknesses but am able to win over them with ease.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 12, 2019: Original Qualities

Contemplation: March 12, 2019: Original Qualities

Original Qualities

To be controlled by anger is to repress the soul's original qualities of tolerance and love.

Intuition

Only when we find the quietness in our own minds can we begin to hear
our inner teacher, so that we may receive some in-tuition. Only when
we are ready to recognize and value the wisdom that we carry at the
core of our being will we turn our attention inwards and 'listen in'.
But it's been a long time since we truly listened, so a little
practice and patience will be needed. Sit down, be quiet and listen in
at some point today and you might be surprised at what you hear. Then
do it again tomorrow. All you need to do is remember that you are the
listener and not the noise.

relax7

Realizing The Law of Cause and Effect

To imagine how the law of karma works, consider what happens when we throw a stone into a lake: it causes ripples that spread out towards the shoreline, before returning to the center point.

Human beings constantly emit energy. We create thoughts, emotions and feelings that transmit vibrations. There are people who tend to radiate energy and others who tend to absorb it. The energy we give off hits other people and rebounds back to us. From this law we should understand that if people send us energy that is not very pleasant, perhaps it is because on another occasion we sent out this type of energy, although it may have taken a long time to come back to us.

If we make an effort to give off positive energy, with love and respect for others, this energy will also come back to us. Positive energy creates a higher vibration than negative energy. Radiating positive energy produces an aura around us that protects us from negativity or from feeling hurt or humiliated. Our ego, which causes the radiation of negative energy, makes us susceptible to criticism, lack of respect and slander. If our ego does not take over, the negativity will not touch our inner selves.

Tomorrow we shall explain the benefits of realizing this law.

Soul Sustenance

Internal And External Attachments - Part 1

Attachment can be on two levels - either internal or external.

Some common examples of external attachments are attachments to:

* people,
* objects,
* your physical body,
* your position or role in your family, society or in your professional field,
* money,
* places,
* physical comfort/comforts,
* the way you look or dress up or carry yourself or your physical personality in general,
* a particular skill/skills,
* a particular interest or hobby like watching movies, online social networking, etc.
* your routine or a certain way of working at home or at the workplace,
* respect from others,
* how people see you or behave with you or what they think of you, etc.

(To be continued tomorrow...) 

Message for the day

True honesty brings clarity about the self.

Expression: Honesty doesn't mean just speaking the truth. Honesty means being clear with oneself. Then it naturally brings clarity about one's own capabilities. This clear understanding enables one to do the best according to the capacity. It gives the recognition of a higher step that can be climbed and brings the humility to learn from the different lessons of life.

Experience: When I am honest I am able to know my own limitations and accept them with love. This acceptance keeps me busy with what I can do and also silently makes me ready for the next step. When time comes, I am able to do it, because I have already prepared myself for it. I don't stop when situations demand more from me because there is total clarity within.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 11, 2019: Patience

Contemplation: March 11, 2019: Patience

Mount Fuji, Japan

Patience
Patience teaches you not to push, but rather to wait and appreciate the game of life, knowing that nothing remains the same and everything will change at some point.

Respect

Love is the strength that gives you life. When you receive love you
lose fear and you can give the best in you. The practical form of love
is respect. Respect means acceptance of the fact that we are all
different and unique and at the same time, we all have something
important and valuable to share.

Creating Positive Circumstances

Why do we find it so hard to create positive circumstances, a positive future in our life? One reason is we all have the tendency to spend most of our time in the past, reliving and replaying our memories. Look back on your average day and you may find that more than 3/4ths of your time is spent in the past (a lot of times without you realizing it). Not only do we try to relive the past, but we also attempt to change it! We attempt the impossible and, in so doing, we live in very small cycles where tomorrow tends to turn out similar to yesterday, and then we wonder why we do not have the power to change our lives. It feels like we do not have the will-power, we do not have the ability to change the circumstances in our lives, our destiny.

The past cannot be relived; it cannot be changed. The past is like a cupboard of old files.  When you arrive at work every day, do you step into such a cupboard and spend the day there?  The past is a great resource for learning and sometimes, a resource for useful information, but it is not a place to live.  We can build on the old, but we cannot rewrite it. The future is the result of what we think, feel and do today. If today is the same as yesterday (because of constantly thinking about yesterday) then tomorrow will look and feel like yesterday and in this way we feel we are stuck in a web and we get frustrated. We need to let go of the past if we want the future to shape up positively, different from yesterday, which is negative at times! The past is past. Drop it and keep dropping it.

Soul Sustenance

The Invisible Factor

The most powerful things are invisible. For example, the roots of a tree cannot be seen; they are underground silently nourishing the visible tree. A house is supported by its foundation deep within the earth. If the foundation is weak the building will fall when there is some kind of strong pressure, like an earthquake. The essence of matter is the atom; it holds a tremendous amount of energy but cannot be seen by the eyes.

Can we see the Supreme Being (God)? You will never meet someone who has seen Him. People have experienced, or felt God's presence but no one has actually seen a personal form, yet millions believe in such a Being! In the same way, when it comes to knowing the true self, we ask, 'What does the soul look like? Where is it situated?'

Spirituality leads us to the answers related to the invisible i.e. answers to what is the form, location and virtues of the soul as well as the Supreme Soul.

Message for the day

To use the gift that one has is to be powerful.

Expression: Each one has surely been bestowed with a special gift, a gift that is unique to each one. The one who recognizes this fact is able to use it for the purpose of bringing benefit to one and all. Under all circumstances there is the ability to bring out the best from within the self. So there is the influence of that on all around and everyone is benefited.

Experience: When I recognize my own uniqueness, I am able to remain free from comparison and competition. I am able to be in the state of self-respect of knowing who I am. This then keeps me content and peaceful. Along with this, I have a lot of enthusiasm to use this special gift of mine. So there is a constant experience of contentment along with progress.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 10, 2019: Simplicity and Royalty

Contemplation: March 10, 2019: Simplicity and Royalty

Vintage postcard, 1914: Antique Photograph; Portrait of an Edwardian lady.

Simplicity and Royalty

There's great beauty in simplicity. It's not plainness, however it is plain in the sense that words and actions are enacted with great royalty, full awareness and with so much significance. Simplicity takes us away from artificialities, it simply accepts and in that acceptance shows us grace and humility in every circumstance.

Balance

To be balanced is to have the ability to do the right thing at the
right time. It is the ability to use the head and the heart at the
same time. It is the ability to have love and discipline. There is
neither too much love nor too much discipline. There is an equal
quantity of both. When there is balance in my every act I am
successful in my relationships. Because of this I receive their
blessings too. I experience success in all I do and am able to enjoy
a life of bliss. I am not caught up with questions about anything but
am able to get the solutions in a second.

Innate (Basic) And Acquired Value

Everything we see has what can be called its acquired value and its innate or basic value. The acquired value is that which it has picked up by coming into contact with external objects throughout its existence or life. The innate value is what it always is irrespective of its external interactions. For example, the acquired value of gold changes with the fluctuations of its price in the market. Its innate or real value is that it's one of the most beautiful metals; very ductile, malleable, etc.

If we were asked about the qualities of any good, peaceful relationship with someone, we would quickly reply: love, trust, patience, respect, honesty, sincerity, tolerance, humility, sympathy, etc. How do we know this? Is it purely from experience? Can we remember having really experienced any of these qualities in any relationship completely and constantly? Probably no. Then how can we say it is from experience? In such a case, where does this urge for rightness come from? Our heart tells us it comes from a basic, inherent sense of what is true and good, of our innate value. Though these qualities are what we see as our ideal qualities; when I am in a weakened state, I'm unable to bring them into practice, when I want, according to the needs of the moment. They need to be strengthened inside. One of the most immediate benefits of the practice of meditation then, is to bring about this internal strengthening. My basic qualities are just waiting for a chance to emerge out in the open. Like a light bulb without current, possibility of lighting up my qualities exists, but they need to be connected to a source of power, which is exactly what meditation gives us.

Soul Sustenance

Providing Emotional Support To Your Loved Ones

What do we do when friends and loved ones come to us for, and expect emotional support from us? Spirituality teaches us the right technique of providing emotional support – the technique of detached involvement, which is the technique of not being overawed, of not being affected ourselves by the emotions of others. If a friend, colleague or any loved one is upset and we also get upset (because we love them – that’s what we normally say), we cannot provide them the necessary support or the assistance to see why they are reacting emotionally and how they might change the nature of their emotions by themselves. True love for someone would mean that I am able to provide them that. While being concerned is fine, but by becoming upset, seeing them upset simply aggravates the situation and adds fuel to their fire.

By remaining detached, we can be more effective in our ability to care, listen and help them think clearly about the situation, they find themselves in. Only if we are stable, and that can happen only when we are detached, will we be able to provide them stability. We can encourage and empower them to change their negative reaction to a more positive response, and thereby generate a healthier energy. If we become over-involved in someone else's problems, there is a risk that our own judgment will be affected negatively. This is why making decisions and choices under the influence of your own and others' emotions is normally ineffective. 

Message for the day

To understand the power of positivity is to finish negativity.

Expression: All it takes to finish darkness, is a little light. What is real is light and what needs to go away is darkness. In the same way, negativity is nothing but a lack of positivity. The one who is able to use positivity in situations, is able to finish negativity very naturally. There is a very powerful influence of this inner positivity, where no negativity of the self or the others remain.

Experience: When I am able to enable myself to use the power of positivity, I experience myself to be free from the influence of negativity. I am powerful in all situations, and deal with them with great ease. Others or situations don't have an influence on me. Instead I am able to influence others with my own commitment to positivity.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 09, 2019: Smile and Say "Hello"

Contemplation: March 09, 2019: Smile and Say "Hello"

Smile and Say "Hello"

In life you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello".

Co-operation

If there is the thought that we can do things ourselves without other
people's help, it means that we have arrogance of our own potential or
we are not able to have trust for others. This lack of trust doesn't
allow us to use others' potential for the benefit of the task. So we
are deprived of a very useful resource and we will not be able to be
happy. We need to understand the fact that there is greater success in
cooperation. It is much more useful to invest our time and resources
in training and developing others' potential. This brings about the
best from people and so there is a greater contribution and hence
greater success in every task that we take up.

Limiting Ourselves In Comfort Zones

We are basically unlimited beings. But we limit ourselves in many comfort zones. We have a lot of conditionings which, in reality, are mental.

Some mosquitoes were put in a box and they kept jumping a lot. The box was covered from the top and each time they jumped they hit the top of the box, and when they jumped too close to the right or the left they hit the sides of the box. Slowly, to avoid harming themselves, they learned to jump just under the cover and without reaching the sides of the box. One day all the four sides of the box were opened. The mosquitoes were free, but they kept on jumping as far as the limit they had learned. The physical limits were no longer there. But they had become conditioned mentally. The same thing happens to us. We have to open the sides of the box and take off the top, or we can continue to live inside the box created by our own mind.

Given below are some conditionings under which we work, because of which we do not experience complete freedom.

* Beliefs, acquired since our childhood, which limit us.
* The negative images of low self esteem that we have created of ourselves.
* The damaging thoughts of doubt, which does not let the highway of trust to build up inside ourselves and does not allow the creative energy of positivity to flow from inside us to the outside.
* The fear of failure or not being to able to succeed completely. A lot of times the fear exists due to past experiences of failure or not having succeeded as much as you would have liked.

We need to become aware of what our pattern of thoughts is, which brings us under the negative influence of mental conditionings. When that happens, we will be able to become free of these conditionings. While we do not become aware, we will continue to remain under its influence.

Soul Sustenance

Meditation On Self-Forgiveness

Sit comfortably and relax. Recall the feelings associated with some mistake or mistakes you have made in the past. Connect with any feelings of hatred and revenge; connect with any feelings of guilt and how you felt you had let others and yourself down; the shame and the humiliation you may have felt...

Now ask yourself:
What good is it doing me or others by holding onto these feelings...? What benefits does it bring me? How does it help me, or the other people affected...? (pause for 30 seconds).

Now, say the following to yourself inside your mind:
I decide that I have held onto these feelings long enough and it is time to let them go... This is a matter of reason as they no longer serve me, and a matter of my will at a deep level to release them... I feel all these negative feelings and let them go... I release them... let them go...

Now, unconditionally, forgive yourself... you have made a mistake... you have learned from that mistake... there is nothing to be gained from having feelings of guilt or shame... let them go... forgive yourself... forgive everyone else who may have contributed... it is time to let it go...

Now focus on your true self - a divine being of spiritual energy situated at the center of the forehead... focus on your inner feelings of peace... Think of and feel your inner qualities of honesty, tolerance, kindness and generosity. Focus on them, as this is who you truly are... a peaceful, compassionate, forgiving being of spiritual light... radiating these qualities to the world...

Message for the day

As is the seed so is the fruit.

Expression: Several times we find things happening unexpectedly. Yet, there should be the understanding that nothing is unexpected or a matter of chance but everything depends on the seeds previously planted. When there is this understanding there is no passiveness but there is an ability to take responsibility and better the situation.

Experience: Every thing I do has a deep significance and an importance for what I have to attain. When I understand this fact, I am able to make the most out of what I have. I am never discouraged by the negative results that I get today, nor do I take myself to a great height for the positive things that I get. I remain stable and make the best use of what I have.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 08, 2019: Be Content

Contemplation: March 08, 2019: Be Content

Be Content

Wherever I am is wherever I am meant to be, whatever I am doing is whatever I am meant to be doing and whatever everyone else is doing is exactly what they are meant to be doing - this is contentment. If you do want to change where you are, or what you are doing, the first thing is to be content with wherever you are and whatever you are doing right now! Paradoxically that's what attracts opportunities and invitations to be somewhere else! Why? Because you are a living magnet, and contentment is one of your most attractive qualities. And the law of attraction says that according to your dominant thoughts so you will attract the people and circumstances into your life. Being content right now attracts the best possible future.

Enthusiasm

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. Whatever the circumstances I am faced with, I need to
make special effort not to reduce my enthusiasm in any way. Enthusiasm
gives me courage and this courage in turn helps me use my own
specialties for others' benefit too. I begin to discover new resources
within me, which can be used for everyone's benefit.

Open Eyed Meditation

One of the special characteristics of Raja Yoga meditation (as taught by the Brahma Kumaris) is that I learn to meditate with my eyes open. The training of the mind, so that it creates thoughts, to give a positive experience, helps me in facing not only my daily routine, but specifically, in dealing with unexpected practical life situations that test my real power. Mastering the art of meditating with my eyes open can be of immense value to me in my practical life.

If I restrict myself to seated meditation with my eyes closed, then I am prevented from continuing the meditative experience in the course of my normal activities i.e. walking, eating, cooking, working in the office, moving around and so on.

Meditation is at the same time an incredibly relaxing experience as well as brings about an increase of perception (judgement) powers and sharper reaction response. In this way, I can be walking along the street in a meditative state and yet have a very quick perception (judgement) and reaction response to the surrounding pedestrians and traffic.

Soul Sustenance

Experiencing Positive Thoughts

Positive thoughts emerge from your values and may be experienced as:

Confidence
Contentment
Cooperation
Enthusiasm
Generosity
Happiness
Harmony
Honesty
Hope
Love
Mercy
Peace
Respect
Solidarity
Tolerance
Trust

Let's look at some examples of positive thoughts (with respect to the above values):


Happiness: Happiness raises the spirit of whoever possesses it, and brings out a smile in others.
Love: Be as enthusiastic with the success of others as you are with your own.
Honesty: If I am honest in all my actions, I will never be afraid.
Respect: The only way of receiving respect is to give it first.
Mercy: Do not lose hope in those that have lost hope.


Message for the day

To make big things small is to remain in peace.

Expression: Many times life brings situations, which are difficult and seem impossible to work on. But there should be the ability to transform something as big as a mountain into something as small as a grain of sand. To do this means to look for solutions instead of looking at problems. It also means to make effort to find the right answers for the problems.

Experience: When I have the ability to look at things lightly, I will be able to make even big things as small. This gives me the courage to deal with situations with ease. Then I am able to remain in peace. Such a state of mind is naturally able to bring out the best solutions under all circumstances.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/

Contemplation: March 07, 2019: Take Time

Contemplation: March 07, 2019: Take Time

President Barack Obama with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Take Time

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

Take time to think, it is the source of power.

Take time to read, it is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to love and be loved, it is a God-given privilege.

Take time to work, it is the price of success.

Focus

While moving towards my destination, I tend to get distracted with
even the little things that happen. Even a small negative or positive
incident is enough to distract my thoughts from my destination. I am
sometimes so busy with such things that my vision moves away from my
destination and I stop moving forward. I need to first clarify my
goal. Once I have done this, I need to take care that my vision is
focused on it. Even when situations come by, trying to distract me I
need to remind myself that these are only side-scenes which are not
important for me. It is more important to keep my energies focused
towards the goal.

The Alphabet of Change

Awareness - First, become aware of what you need to change in yourself. What is preventing you from attaining contentment? What habits are blocking the way to realizing your full potential?

Belief - Many people think that a change in their personalities is extremely difficult. But in fact it is a reality that lies within your power. It might be useful to ask yourself questions such as * What has held me back from change in the past? and * What are the stages by which I can bring change about?

Commitment - Motivation is the key to commitment. We need to want to change, rather than feel it is a duty to ourselves. Try writing down a list of commitments in the form of statements beginning with "I will". They should come directly out of, and be connected with, your overall vision.

Discipline - We cannot change unless we are able to maintain a steady course over time. Think of each sign as a major landmark passed. Even if we find ourselves slipping into old habits, that achievement of even a little bit of change cannot be taken away.

Soul Sustenance

The Five Spiritual And Five Physical Elements (Part 4)

As we have explained earlier in this series, the Supreme Soul always remains an Ocean of the five spiritual virtues or elements peace, purity, wisdom, love and joy right through eternity. The soul is made up of three faculties - the mind, intellect and personality. Meditation is a direct connection in which a human soul, using the two faculties - the mind and the intellect, connects with the most powerful Supreme Source or Soul and draws spiritual power from it. This absorbed spiritual power then transforms the third faculty - the personality, filling it with the five virtues mentioned above. The more the spiritual power absorbed the greater and faster is the filling up of virtues. These virtues then become a balm which heals the many different types of wounds of ego, anger, hatred, hurt, jealousy, possessiveness, greed, criticisms, desires, etc. which have left their mark on the soul in this and many past births of the soul. They gradually restore in the soul the confidence to emerge from the shadows of negativity and to live in the light of its original nature. It is amazing, and heart-warming, when one rediscovers these qualities beneath all the other impressions formed during this and previous lives that have probably been peaceless and sorrowful at times. The journey of meditation bypasses all the negative tendencies and allows the soul to touch these original qualities, experience their truth, and express them in its life.

The other three factors which help us in understanding as well as experiencing peace, purity, wisdom, love and lasting happiness or joy are:
1. The understanding and inculcation of the complete spiritual knowledge of the soul, Supreme Soul and the eternal world time cycle.
2. Attention on the self and checking and changing the self during the entire day and also keeping a daily chart of the main weaknesses or negative personality trait in the self, which is filled every night before going to sleep.
3. Sharing the five spiritual virtues along with spiritual knowledge with others through thoughts, words and actions. Treasures shared with others will bring about a direct increase in the treasures in the self. Also, blessings received from others, by serving them help in the same purpose.

Message for the day

To understand is to be easy and light.

Expression: Life brings obstacles and difficulties. They do not come to stop or hinder progress. They can strengthen and help in bringing progress with more experience. To understand this is to keep advancing. Understanding this aspect means to know that it is not always necessary to find a solution, it is enough to keep moving forward, leaving the obstacle behind.

Experience: True understanding is to understand what the solution of the problem is and bring it into my own life accordingly. When I am able to understand this instead of focussing too much on the problem, I am able to remain happy. This brings a lot of inner lightness and ease and thereby I am able to use all my strength in bringing about solutions.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

https://astudypoint.blogspot.com/