Thought for Today 30-04-2013

To understand the value of tasks is to get cooperation. 

It is important to value tasks that need to be done. If I don't have value for what I am doing, others will not too. So there would be minimum or no contribution from others. I need to recognize the true worth of what I am doing. Then, there would be a clear understanding of the significance and the difference I would be making in others' lives through the task. Today I will start each new task with a thought in mind that I am grateful to get to do this task. This is something that is an opportunity for me to express my skills and abilities. This thought will make me do the task in a special way and others are able to get benefit from it too.

Soul Sustenance

Forms Of Fear In Our Modern Lifestyle 

Fear is a feeling that is generated by the lack of knowledge about a certain situation, place or person. In fear, one feels threatened by something real or imaginary. 

Fear often shows itself in our lives in the form of stress, worries and anxiety. Stress is connected with feeling pressure, feeling pushed, forced, to meet deadlines, to do more. Having to produce more and more, and having to be better and better at it, generates tensions and worries that arise in the form of the fear of not being able to achieve those objectives or results on time. The materialistic values of achieving, obtaining, having, accumulating, and ambitions, competing and wanting to obtain a position, generate a lot of pressure and stress. When we are stressed, generally we are overcharged. We think, talk and react too much. All this affects the mind and body negatively. The worst thing is that it becomes a habit, often uncontrolled, so that the simple habit of stopping and relaxing is not considered a solution. Some even consider it to be a waste of time. You have to do more and more, without stopping. 

We have taken on stressful attitudes as part of our daily life. When stress persists, corticoids appear, these are sometimes called the fear hormones. When released continuously, they affect our immune system, increasing the likelihood of cardiovascular complications and the risk of cancer. 

Message for the day

Regard for others makes them our helpers. 

Projection: Working with others we usually find ourselves expecting others to cooperate with us. And sometimes we are not able to get their cooperation. We are, then, disappointed and look for help from elsewhere or seek to change the place of work. But we find that it is just a temporary solution. 

Solution: Each and every individual has a contribution to make for every task at hand. We need to give a chance and allow them to make their contribution. This is possible when we provide them with the right environment of love and regard. When we respect them for what they are, they will naturally continue to provide us support and help. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 29-04-2013

Why has meditation been the core practice of all wisdom paths for over two thousand years? 

Because it is the most effective method to access your innate wisdom, rediscover inner peace and enhance your creative ability. Meditation restores well being, and once your being is well again, all that you do will be successful and fulfilling. But maybe you think you are OK as you are. Perhaps you feel your being is well. But is it? Do you feel tense, worried, hopeless, mentally tired, emotionally upset...ever? Then your being is not well. Your body may be OK but you, the being, is unwell. Medication is for the body, and meditation is for the soul, that's you, and for your mind. Learning how to meditate is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself. Practising meditation says you care about yourself. Being in meditation can touch the minds and hearts of others a thousand miles away. It actually says that you care about others too. But first...your self.

Soul Sustenance

Meditation And Health 

Each original quality of the self or soul is specially required for nourishing and empowering one human body system. The quality ofpeace is responsible for taking care of the respiratory system, joy for the gastrointestinal system, love for the circulatory system,blissfor the endocrine system, knowledge for the brain and nervous system, purity for the immune system and the five senses and powerfor the muscular and skeletal systems. 

Each one of us has at least one body system, which is most prone to disease. When our mind is under the influence of stressful emotions, there is a decrease in the flow, from the soul to this body system, of that quality which is required by it for its nourishment, which leads to the development of disease in this system over a period of time e.g. when an individual with a weak respiratory system is in a negative state of mind, there is a decrease in the flow of the quality of peace to the respiratory system which in turn can lead to a disorder like asthma. 

Message for the day

The one who gives constantly is a true bestower. 

Projection: We usually find ourselves giving only to those who give to us. When someone gives us love or happiness, we too are inspired to give. So we find that unless we get from others, it becomes difficult to give. 

Solution: We need to have the aim of not letting anyone go from us empty handed. That means we give them an experience of love or happiness or whatever they need at that time. When we have that aim, we will be able to give even when we don't get anything. And then, we find that only when we give do we get. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 28-04-2013

To have the ability to smile is to bring solutions to problems. 

To be worried when things go wrong is to lose the ability to find solutions. But, if I learn to smile at situations, I will be able to see situations in a calm and peaceful way. I will then not only be free from the negativity of the situation in the present, but I will also help find solutions for the future. Today I will find one positive thing from something that I am not happy with. This will help me smile at the situation without being affected negatively. When I remind myself of this positive aspect again and again, I will surely be able to work on the situation and make it better.

Soul Sustenance

Stepping Inside … (cont.) 

When we learn to become silent we become more compassionate (generous) in our outlook and start accepting others for who they are. 

The more we are able to accept, the sooner we find that there is harmony (peacefulness) in our relationships. We start saving energy, sparing or reducing our thoughts and our words. This is accompanied by more patience, tolerance, flexibility, easiness and lightness. Silence teaches us the art of living. Silence can be misused to isolate oneself and go into loneliness, but true, positive silence gives us a balance between our inner and outer worlds. Having explored our inner self we collect our positive energy, become aware of our qualities, and then very naturally these are expressed externally. We move our concentration to the inner self and then to the external world. Then we go inwards again. It is a circular movement. As we go into silence, we recharge our inner energies, become one with the self, heal our self, relax and release our self from negativity. There are so many benefits by simply stepping inside to meet our true self. As we draw out our internal riches and resources, what do we do with them? We share them and give them out and in doing this we receive and we learn. 

Message for the day

Knowledge and faith bring the ability to be positive 

Projection: Whenever things don't happen according to what we expect we begin to look at everything negatively. We are caught up with the negativity to such an extent that we are not able to find anything that might be positive in it. 

Solution: We need to understand and develop the faith that behind everything seemingly negative there is something positive. It is up to us whether we want to see positive in negative or negative in positive and be influenced accordingly. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 27-04-2013

Gratitude means being thankful and appreciative for everyone and everything in your life.

Being grateful makes you happy. It stops you from taking life for granted. So cultivate an attitude of gratitude by taking time to focus on all the good things in your life.

Maybe even try holding a short gratitude session, weekly.

Soul Sustenance

Stepping Inside … 

One aspect of meditation is that it teaches us to face life from the inside. 

It takes us to that point of stillness where we find the strength to change and heal the inner self. In that silence, we are able to find perspective and insight. In a deep state of introspection, we clearly observe our thoughts, seeing our true motives and intentions behind our words and actions; when we understand that our intentions are perhaps not quite right, then we are in a position to say to ourselves, 'Hold on a minute!' When we use silence to check our thoughts at that level, then we begin to realize that many of the things we are thinking about are not really worth thinking about. At this point, we become spiritually economical, which in fact leads us to becoming very generous. A lot of precious energy is lost, both mentally and emotionally, on wasteful and negative thinking. Ninety-five percent of our time is wasted on thinking about others; we go on and on with a string of expectations from others, which becomes like a hammer of demand on other people's heads. Take a combination of expectations and demand, and what does it equal? Conflict!

When we learn to become silent and to reflect on our inner self, we start feeling satisfied with what we find inside, expectations from others gradually come down and there is a deep sense of contentment. 

Message for the day

The one who is a special flower keeps spreading the fragrance of virtues. 

Projection: Being in situations that are not always positive it seems very difficult for us to be positive. As is our environment and the situations, we find, so are our own responses, too. That is, we find ourselves reacting negatively in a negative situation and positively in a positive situation. 

Solution: We need to remind ourselves that we are a special flower with our own specialities. The more we remind ouselves of these specialities, the more we are able to spread the sweetness of this fragrance to all - whatever the situations may be. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 26-04-2013

To celebrate is to bring about a positive change. 

Celebrations usually last for a day, but true celebration is to sustain the feeling and experience for a long time. When I understand and recognise the spirit of the celebration, I will be able to carry it forward into the days to come. Thus celebrations create a positive impact in my life. Today I will celebrate something that I have in my life. It could be the happiness of having the gift of certain relationships and exchange of values through them, or of having some special quality in me. Let me today experience and celebrate this gift and sustain it through the day. This is true celebration which will create a change for days to come.

Soul Sustenance

We need to make sure that we have a gift for everyone we meet; it could even be a smile or a kind word. When our focus is on what we have to give, we will be free from expectations from others. This will make us truly special. 

A good meditator is one who has a mental link or union with the internal self and the Supreme Soul or God who is the source of all goodness. This, along with an understanding of the laws of action or the laws of karma, which govern the behavior of souls, means that one does not have to renounce or leave society in order to achieve enlightenment. Rather, the soul filled with spiritual illumination faces society directly with understanding and the generosity to serve it and to elevate (improve) it. 

The soul becomes elevated not by the renunciation of responsibilities or worldly duties but by a renunciation of the negativity that exists within the role being played by it in society. A good meditator does not try to escape social obligations (duties) but rather purifies those duties by becoming filled with light, love, peace and happiness. The stage of self-awareness and God-communication injects a subtle richness into one's life-patterns. 

There are those who believe that the elevated state is beyond society and its duties. They find a quiet spot in the jungle or an ashram and contemplate (think about) deeper things. There are others who are stuck in the quicksand of their problems, and believe that those who leave society and take up a spiritual lifestyle are saints. However, holiness and virtue are qualities attained in one's life situations , not in running away from them. The elevated state is not merely a matter of elevated thoughts (which can be experienced in a sanyas), but elevated actions also, for the benefit of the self and the world. We are what we do and not so much what we imagine ourselves to be. 

Message for the day

Honesty brings progress. 

Projection: Honesty is usually associated with telling the truth or being open with others. Even when we have such honesty, we sometimes don't experience progress because we are always honest with ourselves. 

Solution: More than anything else we need to be honest with ourselves. That means we need to introspect and check within and change ourselves. Such internal checking without cheating ourselves, i.e., without giving excuses to ourselves helps us to experience progress. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 25-04-2013

Obstacles are like mountains. When you look up at the mountain from the valley, it seems so big and difficult to climb.

Instead of looking at obstacles from below, try taking an eagle's eye view. From this viewpoint, you can take in the whole picture, see where you are and come up with a strategy to overcome the obstacle.

Don't be overwhelmed by the mountains, just remember obstacles are hurdles for you to fly over.

Soul Sustenance

Analyzing Success And Failure (cont.) For many, society has conditioned us to look for success through the path of our career, achievements, profits, praise, financial wealth etc. That way, we have learned a narrow view of success. Running in search of this kind of success and pursuing it, we come to exhaust ourselves, get burnt out and depressed. In order to achieve these successes we have stopped caring for the inner being (the soul) and relationships. That has meant and means stress, pain, anxiety, family break ups, personal and relational disintegrations, the destruction of the environment and planetary and climatic imbalances. As a consequence, we feel empty. Although we achieve the applause, the income and other successes, the soul is malnourished and has the sensation that it is lacking something. Reaching fame, financial wealth, the power of a visible position, and reaching it with a broken soul, broken up family and a sick body, causes depression which explains why, in our recent history, famous people have ended up committing suicide. If we want to redirect our personal and collective lives toward true wellbeing and wholeness, we have to re-evaluate and redefine our beliefs and factors that lead to success and failure. Before asking yourself what success and failure mean for you, it is important to be clear what context you want success in. Depending on the context, the dimension and the meaning of success and failure will be different. For example, in the work context, a failure will be different to that in the family context. In the personal context or in life in general, the way of perceiving success or failure varies.

Message for the day

To be special means to have a gift for everyone we meet.  Projection: Usually we are ready to give physical gifts to people but when it comes to being a giver in the form of understanding or love, we cannot always be a giver. We usually begin to expect from others. Solution: We need to make sure that we have a gift for everyone we meet; it could even be a smile or a kind word. When our focus is on what we have to give, we will be free from expectations from others. This will make us truly special.

Soul Sustenance

Analyzing Success And Failure 

You feel positive and joyful when you realize that you are successful. However, when failure comes to you, you feel defeated. The definition of success and failure varies from one person to another and according to the stage of life that you are in. It is important to have success and failure well defined for yourself, because, based on your definition, you feel greater or lesser inner wellbeing, happiness and wholeness. There are also different levels of success and of failure. For example, for some the greatest success is to be happy and radiant, whatever happens inside or outside. If one manages to keep happy in the face of failure, for them it is a success. Because to be happy means that I am connected with my essential worth or inner self, my being is awake and alive. Failure does not reduce my vitality, my contentment levels. The greater or fewer external achievements do not reduce the quality of the inner being or of being happy. The important thing is that you believe your own definition of success and failure. Some ideas can be shared that can act as guidelines, but, in the end, each person has to create their own guidelines, definitions and factors leading to success and failure. Basing ourselves on these guidelines and beliefs, we evaluate our successes and failures. You can reflect on what true success and failure mean for you and, according to those meanings, centre your attention on the values and efforts that lead you to achieve your objectives. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message for the day

The one who is free from carelessness is the one who is constantly enthusiastic. 

Projection: Sometimes we do find ourselves in situations where we have no enthusiasm to continue with what we had started with a lot of enthusiasm. We do continue with what we are doing but not with the interest that we had started with-to the extent that we sometimes even give it up. 

Solution: We need to check the real reason for our lack of enthusiasm, which could be our own carelessness. When we make sure that we pay special attention to what we are doing and don't let carelessness set in, we will be constantly enthusiastic till we complete the task. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 23-04-2013

To be a master is to win in situations. 

There is a long time practice of being a victim of situations. As is the situation, so is the reaction. It automatically results in a loss of strength and hope to make the situation better. On the other hand, to be a master is to understand that the situation is temporary and I have the power to change it. This will give me encouragement to make at least a small contribution to change the situation. Today I will keep a chart of the extent to which I have been a ruler. I will check how many times during the day I have kept the controls with me in the variety of situations that the day brings to me. This will give me a clue to the extent to which I am able to control situations and direct them to a positive way instead of allowing it to control me.

Soul Sustenance

Self Realization (cont.)

People affected by anger lose their temper and become excited at the slightest provocation. Yet, when the event is over they find peace in going back to their normal nature. The same applies to all the other vices (greed, ego, lust and attachment), which are at the root of all emotional disturbances, strains, tensions and imbalances. This indicates that the vices are not the original nature of the soul.

If the soul thinks about its original nature and does everything with the realization "I am a soul, not a body," its original qualities reappear naturally. They are its basic values. It is worthless seeking them externally. It is like the musk deer running after the sweet smell of musk, unaware that it is coming from its own navel. Peace of mind is the soul’s property. It automatically flows from within it once it is soul-conscious.

The soul only has to let its original sanskaras become thoughts and keep them flowing. Whatever thoughts are in its mind that is the state it experiences. Soul-conscious thoughts bring peace of mind. Body-conscious thoughts disturb the soul. It is the soul who decides what state of mind to experience. It can either be peaceful, or in peacelessness. It is the soul who has the power of decision. The situation should not dictate to the soul.

Message for the day

True service is to be free and make others free from obstacles. 

Projection: When we are involved in a task, we totally think about ourselves irrespective of what effect it has on others. Such an attitude sometimes takes on the form of selfishness to the extent that we become an obstacle for others. 

Solution: We need to check ourselves whenever we are involved in a task if what we are doing is effecting others positively or negatively. Whatever we do, only if there is benefit for us as well as for others, can we call it truly successful. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 22-04-2013

Everyone talks to themselves. At times it's a conversation that runs continuously in the background of our mind.

So, don't allow negative self talk to creep in and sap your confidence. Increase your self worth by choosing to talk to yourself with complete respect. No criticism or judgement allowed!

Give yourself credit for everything you try to do. And when you catch yourself expecting perfection, remind yourself that you are doing your best.

Just believe in yourself and remember that you're worth it!

Soul Sustenance

Self Realization 

The soul, originally a star-like living energy point of perfect peace and purity, twinkling in the soul world is fully charged with spiritual energy, which it naturally displays as love, joy, peace and purity in its actions when it first comes into this physical world. Gradually by taking many births, it becomes attached to the sense organs and the various physical objects and it forgets its original values. Then it becomes a slave to five basic negative forces; anger, greed, ego, lust and attachment. These forces have their roots in body-consciousness, or the false belief that existence is entirely physical. Any time it suffers disappointment, worry or anxiety, it is due to the effect of anyone of these negative influences. 

The soul forgets the heights of spiritual attainment and the delights of super-sensuous joy (joy which is not experienced through the sense organs) thinking itself to be a body and it searches for peace and happiness through the sense organs. It mistakenly pursues worldly pleasures in an effort to regain its former state. It forgets its true identity, nature, home and Supreme Father. 

While controlled by these negative forces, the soul cannot come back to its normal state of peace, happiness and bliss. 

These vices are unwelcome intruders (entrants) into the soul’s original texture of purity. Until the vices have control over the soul, it will never restore its original qualities of peace, bliss, love, purity and knowledge. 

(To be continued tomorrow ….) 

Message for the day

Where everything is done according to the right method there is success. 

Projection: When we don't achieve success we sometimes do get tempted to opt for a short cut method, which might bring us temporary success, too. But in the long run we find that it isn't be so beneficial after all. 

Solution: Whenever we are involved in a task specially if it is a difficult one we need to make sure that we are following the right method. Whatever is done according to the right system will surely be successful. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 21-04-2013

Worry is otherwise known as 'fantasised catastrophising' where we create an image of the future and use it to frighten ourselves! Be aware that you are doing it, then stop doing it, otherwise the image will become a self fulfilling prophesy. Imagine only the brightest future, and so it will be. Besides there is nothing to worry about... unless you are under the illusion that your well-being and security are dependent on material things. If they are, then you will have many ways in which you can create worry. Possible loss, damage, separation, uncertainty are but a few. Look, you're killing yourself with worry, all because of the misuse of your imagination. Don't do it. 

Soul Sustenance

Anger Management 

Creating Your Inner Peace Room (Visualization) 

To overcome anger, visualize a house and in that house there is a peace room. See the room as an empty space. Then, step by step decorate and finish the room with the colours and objects, which symbolize peace to you. See the sun streaming into the room, filling the room with light. Then see yourself sitting in the room and filling the room with your vibrations of peace. 

This is now your inner peace room. Whenever you see yourself experiencing emotions like anger, irritation, frustration etc. - you can go visit this room using the power of your mind and intellect (visualization) - it takes only a second - and peace awaits you. To keep it fresh in your mind write a description of your peace room. 

Message for the day

To contribute selflessly is to move forward with the blessings of all. 

Projection: Many times weI find ourselves in situations where there is a problem, where we seem to be part of the problem too. We try defending ourselves but people do not always understand. At such times there is no solution to be found, and we find ourselves talking again and again about the problem. 

Solution: We need to become part of the solution instead of just being part of the problem and talking about it. To be part of the solution means to make some contribution in order to better the situation. When we do whatever little we can, we continue to receive blessings from those around us. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 20-04-2013

I express my care and concern by responding to situations with a cool head and to people with a warm heart. 

If I remain aware that as fellow human beings we are all part of one family, 

and that even the smallest of gestures can make a difference in people's lives, 

I am always blessed with a caring heart. 

It takes so little to show that I care yet it can mean so much.

Soul Sustenance

Pure Cooking (cont.) 

1. First, it is essential to develop a positive attitude towards cooking. Before undertaking any food preparation, ask yourself. 'Do you consider the project at hand to be an enjoyable, creative activity or an unpleasant time-consuming boring, repetitive karma?’ Find a way of enjoying it, by playing spiritual songs or trying new recipes and having deep meditation while cooking. 

2. Before cooking, make sure the kitchen is clean and in order. Take out all the things you will need to make the meal and place them where they will be used. This makes the process of cooking more smooth and enjoyable. 

3. While cooking avoid doing other work in between. You will actually be saving time and the food will definitely turn out better. 

4. As much as possible, remain in silence, paying attention to the quality of the thoughts you have. Try to have pure and peaceful thoughts. This creates a powerful atmosphere that fills the food with pure vibrations and brings personal benefits as well. 

Message for the day

To be obedient to God means to have a right to His inheritance. 

Projection: We sometimes find ourselves feeling low and unenthusiastic. We tend to blame the situations and the people around which makes us feel even more dull. At such times we expect and seek God's help and power but experience no help from him. 

Solution: We need to realise that we don't have to ask God for power or blessings but have a right to them. Before we perform any task we need to ask ourselves if God will like what we are doing. If we do everything according to God's wishes that means we are obedient. Such obedience will get us the inheritance of peace and happiness from God. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 19-04-2013

While planning and to-do lists are essential for effective time management, no day turns out exactly as you planned it. Something almost always seems to come up unexpectedly to derail your efforts.

It's just as important to be flexible, as it is to be focused about getting things done. 

Flexibility allows you to make the best use of everything and at the same time enjoy everything that the day brings. 

So, why not be flexible, adapt to the situation and adjust your to-do list to the changing priorities?

Soul Sustenance

Pure Cooking 

A significant part of our lifestyle is to consider the quality of our thoughts required while making food. Living in a family may make it more difficult to have that quiet and ordered state of mind while cooking. Also, children, friends, husbands and wives have the habit of coming into the kitchen while you are cooking. So, see if you can re-organize your timetable so you can cook at a time when they are busy, and then you can properly concentrate on giving pure vibrations to the food. It also helps if you play some gentle, soothing music which reminds you of the Supreme Soul or God while you are cooking. Even better sit in meditation for 4-5 minutes in the kitchen before starting to cook. 

If you think of yourself while you are cooking then there will be a vibration of greed created. If you think of others while you are cooking there will be a vibration of attachment created. Think about the Supreme and there will be that feeling of deep love and freedom (liberation). 

Physical cleanliness before cooking is important. Walking off the market or crowded roads, into the kitchen and cooking can affect the vibrations of the food. Washing, changing and meditating is a good start for preparation of satwic food. The ideal time for cooking is in the morning, the mind is quiet and if one has read a short paragraph of spiritual knowledge sometime after getting up, the mind is filled with new gems of spiritual knowledge, free of waste thoughts. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message for the day

Where the intellect is free from assumptions the right decisions are made. 

Projection: As soon as we are faced with a situation we correlate it to some previous incident and assume based on our past experiences either with the situations or with the people involved. Such assumptions sometimes lead us to wrong decisions. 

Solution: The solution lies in detaching ourselves from our past experiences. Of course we have to learn from the experiences of our past, but we also need to be open to look at the situation in a new way. Such detachment will enable us to make the right decisions. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought for Today 18-04-2013

To empower words with good wishes is to ensure corrections are effective. 

It is more important to have good wishes for a person than just having the right choice of words. Good wishes become a base on which, whatever I speak is taken positively. There is benefit in what I speak and the person receiving it will surely take it in the right spirit. Today I will check my words and see with what intention I am saying them. If my intention is to only point out something that is wrong, I will not be able to create an impact. On the other hand, if I make sure that whatever I say is for the benefit of the
person, then there will be power in my words.