| To take up responsibility is to inspire cooperation from others. Expression: When there is the initiative to take up responsibility, there is accuracy in words and actions too. There is the use of one's own specialities in the task that is to be done and so others too keep getting inspiration to use their specialities. So the task is filled with honest effort that is the contribution of each and everyone. Experience: Since I take up responsibility for everything that comes up in my life, I find that others too take responsibility to contribute their share to the task. So I find others cooperating with me and the most difficult task becomes easy. The power of cooperation works wonders in the most difficult task. |
| The difficulty of the situation lies in one's own state of mind. Expression: To make something big as small or to make something small as big depends on one's state of mind. When one's state of mind is good, to deal with situations becomes easy. So even difficult situations are crossed over with great ease. Then there will be no dependency on the external situations to change the internal state of mind. That is, there will never be a reaction to external situations but there will be always stability. Experience: When my state of mind is good and powerful, I am confident of myself and am able to easily win over all obstacles. Otherwise, the situation takes hold of the internal state of my mind and I find myself bound by the situation. At such a time, I find the smallest situation to a very big obstacle. But with faith in myself I am very easily able to use my inner power to overcome situations. |
| Transforming (Changing) My Thought Patterns Why is it that we can't change the pattern of our thoughts so easily? Imagine a bird being so comfortable in its nest that, though perhaps sometimes it stands on the branch of the tree to inflate its chest and adjust its feathers, it never wants to fly and does not even realize it could fly. It never knows the blissful freedom of flight, never feels the wind through its wings. It thinks the other birds that are flying around are unwise or foolish. In much the same way, we never really leave our nests of old thought patterns. Our habitual thoughts become our comfort zone and each repetitive thought pattern is like a twig in the nest, which makes the nest stronger and our stay in the nest seemingly comfortable and permanent. We never experience our true spiritual freedom or flight or feel the breeze of our inner beautiful nature. Even the thought, "I am a soul" has to be realized eventually, so that we can actually experience its deepest truth. In the world of spirituality, thoughts are like the map, but they are not the territory nor the reality of the experience. Thinking "I am a peaceful soul" or “I am a loveful soul” or “I am powerful soul” is not being soul-conscious, it is only theory or knowledge, but it is definitely an essential start. Maps are important and necessary, until we know the way home toexperience. Reaching this final destination of experience makes it easier for us and empowers us to transform or change our old thought patterns. |
| Courage brings success. Expression: Even after repeated trials and failures, when one does not lose courage, there is the ability to go on trying till success is achieved. Courage comes with the understanding that there is surely a way out. So a lot more effort is put in to find the right way. Success, which had been eluding for a long time will be finally attained. Experience: When I have courage, I have hope. I will not give up the task mid way, but will put in continued effort. Because of this there is no difficulty experienced even whilst putting in extra effort but I do everything with enthusiasm and happiness. So nothing seems difficult and I easily move towards success. |
| Overcoming Mood Swings At each moment of the day, we have the capability to feel something. Our feelings vary throughout the course of the day. Sometimes they are joyful and sometimes they are painful. What we forget to do is to choose our feelings consciously. Instead, many of us have become lazy and allowed our feelings to be dictated and shaped by people and circumstances. In other words, we have become influenced. Our swinging, changing moods are the result of the inner karma of becoming attached to things, people, ideas and circumstances. If we are attached to a person and suddenly he/she leaves us we will feel gloomy and our mood of sadness will drain our energy just when we need to remain optimistic and enthusiastic about the future. Any form of loss will bring about a mood of sadness. If this sadness lasts for a long period of time, it will gradually turn into depression. When we think we are consider the world around us to be our source of happiness and joy, our moods will fluctuate,even with the changing weather. But when we are spiritually empowered or strong our happiness and joy come from inside. We are stable in the face of praise or insult, loss or gain. We are no longer moody and stability becomes our basic nature. We are in control of our life, our feelings. And while we cannot control the waves of the ocean of life around us, we can control and choose how we will respond to outer events and people. When we do that, we will be able to choose what we feel, regardless of what may happen in our life. Life stops being a rollercoaster and becomes more of a cruise, less a storm and more a gentle breeze. |
| To work with joy is to be free from tiredness. Expression: When there is the happiness and joy of doing something, one can go on putting in effort even in the most difficult circumstances. For having done everything with happiness, there will be the inner quality revealed in each and every task. The happiness within will spread around to others too. Experience: As I never leave my inner joy, and am constantly in touch with my inner qualities, I am able to enjoy everything that life brings. Nothing will then be experienced as work, but I feel everything to be entertainment. I will be able to enjoy the richness of life even when there is something actually difficult. |
| Different Shades Of Attachment To Opinions And Ideas (cont.) The attachment or detachment to one’s ideas not only comes into play while giving an idea or opinion, but even when accepting or receiving or listening to an idea from another person from the group. The more the attachment to one’s own ideas, the more will be the tendency to resist or reject the other’s idea. A particular person, with the objective or resisting or rejecting the idea: * might try to do the same through different means like putting up a seemingly valid or even an invalid objection to the idea in front of the whole group which may seem very reasonable to the group and may be taken or accepted by the group or the person objecting may try to ensure that happens or * he/she may quietly disassociate from the group if the group begins showing interest in the idea (sometimes the influence of the position of the person is such that this kind of disassociation very easily manages to reduce the energy of interest of the group in the new idea) or also * might present a new idea to the group, which manages to divert the attention of the group, etc. Sometimes the person rejecting the idea is aware of the fact that he/she is rejecting the idea because of the inner attachment to his ideas, but will not admit it in front of others and sometimes he/she might not even be slightly aware of the fact; the attachment is too subtle to realize. Others might realize their attachment, but they might not themselves. And if someone to point out their inner attachment, they might even react, because where there is attachment, there is fear that the other’s idea will be accepted and yours will not. Attachment to one’s ideas fills the energy of ‘I am right’ in any situation. Overcoming all sorts of attachment to ones ideas is one of the foremost steps that we can take to bring about harmony in all types of relationships. |
| Honesty to the self brings progress at a quick speed. Expression: To be honest with one self is to be truly honest. When there is honesty with the self, there is the ability to see things clearly. So one is able to take responsibility for the mistakes committed and have the enthusiasm to learn from them. So there is constant change and progress visible in such a person. At all times there is the ability to bring about change. Experience: When I am honest with myself, I am able to find the joy of learning from my mistakes. Mistakes don't make me heavy because I know I have something to learn from them. There is constantly enthusiasm to bring about a change and move forward. So I find that I am constantly progressing and also becoming an inspiration for many to bring about change. My honesty, therefore, makes me a true leader. |
| Different Shades Of Attachment To Opinions And Ideas Very often in a group or team, whether social or official, while moving towards a common goal or objective or purpose, different people in the group or gathering give their opinion to make the objective of the team possible. While giving their opinion, one very commonly sees two different categories of people. The first category contains type of people who are attached to their ideas (to different extents) while presenting them to the group and the other contains type of people who are extremely active, positive and authoritative in giving their ideas, when they are required to do so, but are able to keep a relationship of detachment with their ideas. If someone is attached to his/her idea and it is not accepted, he/she might react emotionally (internally) or even physically (externally). He/she: * might even start creating disharmony in the group by talking against or creating ill-feelings for the person who objected to his idea or * might stop co-operating with the remaining members of the group or * sometimes may just disassociate or distance himself/herself from the group, which is a quiet way of non co-operation and can cause ripples of negative thoughts and feelings in the others. These and others are some of the common reactions of someone whose idea/ideas are not accepted. So the right balance of authority (while giving the idea) and humility (while accepting the result of the idea, the result could be rejection or even acceptance of the idea) has to be maintained. Humility comes very naturally to someone who is detached to his/her idea. (To be continued tomorrow…) |
| The true joy of living lies in the ability to enjoy the present moment. Expression: The one who is able to remain in the present is able to learn from the past and bring out the best from the self. Also there is a clear vision of the future, so all the energies are directed towards that vision. The mind is neither totally caught up with the past nor with the future. Since there is attention on the present moment, there is the ability to use it to the fullest extent. Experience: When I am in the present I am able to remain in the awareness of the gifts of the present. Having learnt from the past I am able to enrich myself from the different experiences that I have had. As I am also clear about where I have to go, I enjoy the journey and also move on towards constant success. |
| To understand and accept people's ideas is to increase the power of unity. Expression: When one suggests something and the other accepts, it gives power to the gathering. So instead of expecting others to accept suggestions, it is better to understand and provide with what the other person needs. The more something is given with generosity there is happiness for the one who is receiving and for the one who is giving. And there is power because of being together in the task. Experience: If I take something with force I find that others give it to me only temporarily. Instead if I give with happiness, I find that others are able to share with me with happiness. So what I give, I find, remains with me permanently. So there is an experience of fullness and the happiness of having attained even while giving. And with this I am able to experience the power of unity, and the joy of doing things together. |
| The Law of Surrender According to what or whom your mind thinks consistently of, you will take on the form of the object or the person to which you have surrendered. We can see this in children, when they transfer their minds to actors they see on television, and then begin to behave like them. What is the highest form to which we can surrender our self? There may be several answers to this question in our mind. Choose the truth from among them. So what is the truth? Spirituality gives us answers to questions like: Who am I? Who is the Supreme Being? What is my relationship with him? Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is the purpose of my existence? What is the importance of the present time? How can the Supreme Being empower me at the present time? The answers to these questions show us the way to surrendering our mind to the Supreme Being, which is the highest entity to which we can surrender. When we do that, gradually we get colored by his knowledge, virtues and powers. |
| The power to merge brings success in relationships. Expression: The speciality of the ocean is to merge. The most beautiful pearl is made of the dirt that is thrown into the ocean. So also the power to merge actually allows one to look at the positivity in spite of the obvious negativity that is expressed by the other person. So the relationship with the other person is only with their positivity. Experience: When I am able to merge the negativity of others, and look at the positive aspect in them instead, I can automatically experience being light and positive within. Also I find others relating to me with their positivity. I am able to be successful in my relationship with others, however difficult the personality traits of the other person may be. |
| Tapping Guidance From The Supreme Intellect 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. 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, someone who is the knower of the three aspects of time (the past, present and the future), someone who can see the situation from all dimensions, someone who is beyond all influences and is impartial, someone who is extremely pure and clear, someone who knows me more than I know myself, someone who knows my benefit and harm more than I know it myself, someone who is concerned for my well being the most. No human entity can qualify all these requirements. 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. |
| Greatness lies in being humble. Expression: A seed grows only when it is mingled with the mud. In the same way, the one who is great is naturally humble. He understands the truth that only when there is humility will there be success. Humility gives the power to bow down without reducing one's own self-respect. Experience: When I am humble I am able to be experience my own inner greatness, which naturally keeps me set on the seat of my self-respect. So when the situation demands, I have no problem bowing down. So I am able to allow the situations to work on me, so I am able to strengthen myself from within under all circumstances. |
| Overcoming Mood Swings At each moment of the day, we have the capability to feel something. Our feelings vary throughout the course of the day. Sometimes they are joyful and sometimes they are painful. What we forget to do is to choose our feelings consciously. Instead, many of us have become lazy and allowed our feelings to be dictated and shaped by people and circumstances. In other words, we have become influenced. Our swinging, changing moods are the result of the inner karma of becoming attached to things, people, ideas and circumstances. If we are attached to a person and suddenly he/she leaves us we will feel gloomy and our mood of sadness will drain our energy just when we need to remain optimistic and enthusiastic about the future. Any form of loss will bring about a mood of sadness. If this sadness lasts for a long period of time, it will gradually turn into depression. When we think we are consider the world around us to be our source of happiness and joy, our moods will fluctuate,even with the changing weather. But when we are spiritually empowered or strong our happiness and joy come from inside. We are stable in the face of praise or insult, loss or gain. We are no longer moody and stability becomes our basic nature. We are in control of our life, our feelings. And while we cannot control the waves of the ocean of life around us, we can control and choose how we will respond to outer events and people. When we do that, we will be able to choose what we feel, regardless of what may happen in our life. Life stops being a rollercoaster and becomes more of a cruise, less a storm and more a gentle breeze. |
| To be powerful is to fly easily over the biggest obstacle. Expression: When there is an awareness of the inner strength, difficult circumstances seem very easy to cross over. Nothing seems difficult or as a big obstacle, but the inner strength gives the power to very easily and quickly cross over all difficult and challenging situations. Experience: When I have the power to fly, i.e., to go above the situations, I do not feel the bondage of the situation. So when I am up above everything down below (even the biggest mountain) seems very tiny and insignificant. So there is quick and steady progress experienced even when there are difficult situations in my life. |
| The Distinction (Difference) Between Human Souls And The Supreme Soul (God) – cont. Human Souls: They have physical bodies. Supreme Soul: God's form is incorporeal (point of spiritual energy). Human Souls: They cannot liberate humanity. Supreme Soul: God is the uplifter of all. Human Souls: They become impure through body-consciousness. Supreme Soul: God is the purifier. Human Souls: They are caught up by the present, have distorted (misunderstood) knowledge of the past (since they come in the process of birth and rebirth) and no accurate knowledge of the future. Supreme Soul: God is the knower of the three aspects of time (past, present and future). Human Souls: They are takers. Supreme Soul: God is the giver, He takes nothing. |
| To fail means there is the need to work a little harder. Expression: To fail doesn't means to be a failure but it only means that it will take a little longer before success can be reached. It gives an indication that more effort has to be put in. So when things are done in a different way, it becomes possible to move towards success. Failure in a particular task is a process of strengthening that leads to success. Experience: During the time of failure, when I understand the significance behind the incident, I am able to be free from negative feelings of fear or disheartenment. Then I am able to learn the right lesson from it and move ahead. So in the worst failures I am able to experience constant progress and thus I find that I am moving on towards success. |
| The Distinction (Difference) Between Human Souls And The Supreme Soul (God) Human Souls: They take human bodies and experience birth, life and death. Supreme Soul: Never comes into the cycle of birth and death. Human Souls: They are subject to change and the dualities of pleasure and pain, growth and decay, happiness and sorrow. Supreme Soul: Changeless. The One beyond the above dualities. Human Souls: They remember and then forget their original pure nature. Supreme Soul: God is always the ocean of knowledge; he does not come in the cycle of remembering and forgetting. Human Souls: They are seekers of peace and happiness. Supreme Soul: God is the One whom everyone seeks (longs for). He is the bestower (giver) of peace and happiness to everyone. (To be continued tomorrow ….) |
| Cleanliness means no waste within. Expression: To be totally clean means there is not a trace of negativity or waste within. Even in the most complicated situations there is clarity within. The mind is clear and clean so there is clarity in words and actions also. Every decision is taken with a clear mind and so whatever is done is naturally accurate. Experience: When there is cleanliness in the heart, I am able to win the love of those around me and also of God. I find that I become a mirror for the others and they are able to see their own perfection through me. I also find that I am able to save a lot of time as I am able to see things for what they are and because there is clarity in my thoughts. |
| Experiencing Perfection And Success In Role Playing Spirituality gives me the detached realization of being pure consciousness. This realization not only detaches me from my physical body, but also detaches me from the different roles I play through my physical body (male or female) and the different acts or scenes in each role, in one particular day or one particular lifetime. The roles may be many, the acts and the scenes may be many, but I am the actor playing the different roles and participating in the different acts. There is great strength in experiencing myself as an actor as compared to the previous existence in which I used to lose myself and forget my spiritual identity completely while playing the different roles, identifying more with the roles and thinking myself to be the role instead of being a spiritual actor. An actor, even while in the midst of the most dramatic scenes, even whilst getting excited or emotional or angry, knows he is not the part itself, the part is just temporary. He knows he is something more than that, and that when the play is over, the role will not exist anymore. So, even though I ‘play’ my role, I don’t cut off myself from the role and don’t leave my responsibilities, I need to adopt the ‘observer’ or ‘spectator’ or ‘detached’ consciousness instead of the ‘player’ consciousness. A player tends to get over-involved. So, the balance has to be maintained – I ‘play’ as well as remain detached. Only then the roles will be played to complete perfection and I will experience success in each role. If I'm able to protect and maintain my inner spiritual identity in each role, it’s also much easier for me to switch roles. I switch roles so many times even in one particular day. If I lose myself in a particular role, my mind and intellect tends to become limited and restricted to that role and I'm not able to see beyond the immediate needs of the role and I find it difficult to adapt to another role. As a father, for example, I may also be called upon to play the different roles of husband or a Managing Director or a friend or a brother or a son or a son-in-law etc. Also many a times, for e.g. in the absence of the mother, I may have to play the role of the mother or in the absence of the Plant Manager in my company on a particular day, I may have to play his role, etc., both being roles that I do not normally play. I'll have a better chance of being able to fulfill all these roles if I don’t get too caught up in any of the roles while playing them and remain in my spiritual consciousness while playing them. A spiritual consciousness will keep me detached. |
| True love means the ability to forgive and forget. Expression: When there is love there is the ability to look at only specialities. Even if the other person makes a mistake, there is only the conscious awareness of his specialities. So it becomes easy to forgive the mistake committed by him. When there is real forgiveness the mistake is totally forgotten and the future interactions with that person are free from the negative attitude. Experience: When I am able to forgive the mistakes made by others, I am able to forget them easily also. So my mind is free from the burden of waste of all the past mistakes. So I am able to be light even when I am faced with the negativity of the other person. I am never caught up with attitudes about people so I am successful in my relationship with others. |
| The Five Primary Qualities (cont.) The soul has five primary qualities; we could say they are the primary colours of humanity with which we paint the picture of our lives. We have discussed four of the qualities in the last couple of days. The last one is: Happiness Happiness is the natural expression of joy in being alive and interacting with others. Happiness is only possible when I relate to myself and express respectfully what I am and allow others to share in what I am and what I have. I relate to people and nature and experience the fulfillment of human life through relationships. In the meditation taught by the Brahma Kumaris, we absorb the rays of these five primary qualities from the Supreme Soul by concentrating on his point of divine light form in the incorporeal world (“paramdham” or “shantidham”). The absorption and the harmony of these basic qualities (peace, purity, love, knowledge and happiness) lead to the development of many more virtues inside us. As we become aware of these five primary qualities, we gradually realize that each one of them has many characteristics. e.g. we understand that love does not mean just a special feeling for one or two people. Spiritual love is far greater; it means respect, tolerance, forgiveness, compassion and flexibility; there is a universal feeling of belonging, an openness of heart, a generosity of spirit that is all-embracing. |
| To be a leader means to invoke challenges. Expression: Each challenge actually brings forth some hidden strength, some latent power. The one who is able to understand this, is able to face and in fact invoke challenges. Such a person with constant and unshaken faith moves on towards victory. Such a person becomes an inspiration for many and thus is a true leader. Experience: When I know the art of facing and learning from challenges, I am able to remain fearless in spite of the several challenges. Much more than that, I am able to actually have the courage to invoke challenges understanding the fact that challenges makes me stronger. So I am able to face challenges with great ease and enthusiasm. |
| The Five Primary Qualities (cont.) The soul has five primary qualities; we could say they are the primary colours of humanity with which we paint the picture of our lives. We had discussed peace and purity yesterday. The others are: Love Perhaps the most difficult original quality to achieve because it has become so mixed up with attachment, possessiveness and dependence, deeply ingrained habits that have become accepted as normal. As a result, the human being finds it difficult to realize the true form of pure love, which is unconditional. The quality of love means "I care", “I share” and, in particular, “I liberate”. True spiritual love never creates that need, or dependence, where others cannot find, or be, themselves. Knowledge To know and to be what I am eternally and truly, and to exist in this consciousness, is what we mean by knowledge. It is not knowing about the soul, peace, love, etc., but rather knowing is to be the soul, to be peace, to be love. This quality of true knowing is expressed through 'I am', the original awareness of the self that exists beyond the false self of ego. (To be continued tomorrow ….) |
| Truth never needs to be proved. Expression: When the truth of what is said is challenged, there is naturally a protest. Words spoken after that are usually defensive and argumentative. This leads only to waste talk and arguments because no one is willing to listen at that time. But truth is that which is revealed on it own and never needs to be proved. Experience: When I recognise the fact that I am right and am aware of this, I never feel the need to prove it. I never argue my point but have the self-respect of what I am. So even if I am challenged I remain unaffected. I understand that a real diamond shines on even when it is lying with stones or covered with dust. |
| The Five Primary Qualities The soul has five primary qualities; we could say they are the primary colours of humanity with which we paint the picture of our lives. They are: Peace This is the original quality of the soul. Peace is serenity, the personal inner state of non-violence. In this state of peace, I harmonize with everything and everyone around me. The word 'shanti' means peace, and it is this thought (or word) we use as the key step in meditation. Purity A state of honesty and cleanliness where I am the same inside and outside, not deceiving either myself, or others. Consequently, there is no room for artificiality. Purity is the state of original truth where no violence is committed against others, nor can violence be committed against me. When the self is in its original purity, others cannot damage or destroy it, even if they try, because there is a natural aura of protection that acts as an invisible barrier. When I achieve this level of purity, it means I respect all things. (To be continued tomorrow ….) |
| To have a big heart means never to be disheartened. Expression: To have a big heart means to have good wishes constantly for others and to enable others to move forward through this. Even if someone with negative characteristics comes in front, there are no feelings of negativity as there is the power to accept and recognise their specialities. Experience: I am able to be beyond confusion and doubt when I have a big heart. I am never caught up with the problems but am very easily able to find a way out. I am never disheartened even when I encounter the negative aspect of someone. Instead I am able to very effectively and smoothly come out of the situation. |
| The Hurting Of The Ego Almost everyday or every second day we come across a situation when someone says something to us which is not very pleasurable or we chose to perceive it to be so. In either case, we feel insulted and get upset as a result. In some cases we react and display our feelings. In some, we don't. In either case, the result is a depreciation (decrease) in our happiness index. Why does this happen? It's because you have created, attached to and identified with an image of yourself in your mind that does not match with how the other sees or perceives you, as a result of which you believe you have been insulted and you get upset. As long as people's perception of you matches the image that you have created inside your mind of your self, you are content with them, but as soon as the opposite happens, even if its to a very small extent, you become disturbed, because you are attached to that image. The more the attachment, the greater the hurt, the disturbance or reaction. You could examine this phenomenon very closely, taking place inside yourself everyday. This kind of attachment mentioned above is called ego. That's why the phenomenon explained above is called in common language 'the hurting of the ego'. We commonly use the terms 'my ego got hurt' or 'I think your ego got hurt'. 'You hurt my ego' is nothing but 'you hurt or harmed the image that I carry of myself with me each second everyday.' Because I carry it with me all the time, I have become attached to it. e.g. If, on a particular day, you reach home late from office and your wife, who is angry with you, accuses of not being a family man and one who doesn't give enough time to her and the children. Your reasons for reaching home late may be genuine or not, your wife may be right or wrong on that particular day. In either case, you carry an image of yourself, all the time, as being a very loving, caring father and husband, who has been responsible for the all-round growth and development of the family in all respects since the family was created. Your wife's words basically pinch that invisible image, as a result of which you feel insulted and hurt and you react angrily, not necessarily in front of your wife, but it could be in front of someone else or even just internally. The image that we all carry of our selves is made of various traits or characteristics, obviously the characteristics of each one's self-created image are different. These characteristics of the image may or may not actually exist inside the real self, but whenever someone challenges any of those characteristics or tries to suggest to us that one of those characteristics is not ours or does not exist inside us, we react. |
| To be powerful is to fly easily over the biggest obstacle. Expression: When there is an awareness of the inner strength, difficult circumstances seem very easy to cross over. Nothing seems difficult or as a big obstacle, but the inner strength gives the power to very easily and quickly cross over all difficult and challenging situations. Experience: When I have the power to fly, i.e., to go above the situations, I do not feel the bondage of the situation. So when I am up above everything down below (even the biggest mountain) seems very tiny and insignificant. So there is quick and steady progress experienced even when there are difficult situations in my life. |
| The Mental Microscope When the lens of the intellect becomes refined (clean), it is able to examine many things in detail and work like a microscope. In the same way that a microscope is able to detect bacteria and the types of germ that cause particular types of disease, so too the intellect is able to use its microscopic capacity to detect those germs that cause emotional and spiritual illness inside the soul. For example, it is able to examine and understand that the illness of anger comes from the germ of expectation; that the illness of possessiveness comes from the germ of insecurity; the illness of aggression, or forcefulness, comes from the germ of fear and that the illness of stress stems from the germs of worry, doubt and greed. If the germs are seen and understood, then the illness can be cured through the application of appropriate knowledge and meditation. Meditation, in the form of focused silence, acts like a spiritual laser dissolving the acquired germs and emerging the original healing energies of the self, such as peace and self-respect. Without this focused silence, it is difficult to remove the germs, even if they are seen and understood. The original innate energy of the soul (mentioned above) is needed for any permanent cure. |
| To have faith that things will work out for the best means to ensure that they will. Expression: To have faith that things will work out for the best means never to give up. Even if situations don't support and people don't give encouragement faith gives the ability to go on. Because of this there is recognition of eventhe not so visible resources and they are used for successfully completing the task. Experience: When I have faith I am never discouraged by temporary failure, but am able to have the courage to move on towards success. I have constantly the satisfaction of giving my best. Because of my commitment and sincere effort, I find that situations and people too cooperate with me, bringing me success in whatever I undertake. |
| Is The Supreme Soul (God) Really Omnipresent (present everywhere) – cont.? If the Supreme Soul (God) were omnipresent there would be no need for knowledge and no need to search for peace. The One who is the ocean of peace and the ocean of knowledge would be everywhere. Perhaps the strongest point against the idea of literal omnipresence is the point of relationship. In the heart of every soul – there is a distinct memory - I am the child, God is my Father. If God is omnipresent, does that mean that the Father is present inside the child? God is also the supreme teacher, guide, liberator, friend and purifier of human souls. That is why everyone turns their thoughts to Him in their hours of sorrow. The idea that God is omnipresent is indeed the ultimate excuse and greatest escape from responsibility of the mistakes that human souls have made and continue to make. After all, if God were omnipresent (present in everyone) He would be responsible for good as well as evil karmas that humans commit. An omnipresent God implies that we have nothing to complete in ourselves for we are already God. Am I really God? One could not seriously admit to such a claim. It is only through deep and concentrated meditation that one can enter the spiritual dimension where His presence is truly felt. |
| The power of good wishes enables disheartened ones to experience happiness. Expression: The usual reaction to the negativity in another person is to behave negatively too, i.e., to express negative qualities. This continues although this does not bring about the desired change in the other person. On the other hand, when there is the ability to see the positive qualities in the other person and have good wishes based on that it becomes a source of power to bring about a change to positivity. Experience: When I have the ability to give positive feelings and good wishes to the other person even when they are negative, they are able to get the power to change the negative to positive. I find that the change that I seek for in others is much more quicker and easier than if there is the emphasis just on negativity. |
