Thought of the day 29.02 2016

Creating Thoughts of Benefit

 Acts of virtue emerge from deep within, from an inner sanctuary of silence from which inspiration flows. Every action has its seed in a thought and every thought is a creation of the thinker, the soul. I choose what thoughts I want to create and as is my thinking so are my actions and also my experience in life. Going within, I touch the stillness and pure love that lie at the core of my being and every thought that I create is of benefit to myself and of benefit to humanity.

Soul Sustenance

Simple Exercise To Identify Your Hidden Fears 

If you want to overcome and overpower fears that exist inside you, you have to first take a look at your feelings and hidden emotions. After realizing your feelings and emotions, you have to know how to manage them and finally correct or overcome them. Given below is a simple exercise that will help you to achieve that. This exercise will help you identify the conscious and sometimes sub-conscious (very subtle) fears that lie inside you. 

Choose an area of your life that you feel is negative and needs some improvement. Now, ask yourself these three questions: 

1. What do I really want, what is my aim and objective?
2. What obstacle/obstacles are stopping me from achieving my objectives?
3. What prevents me from dealing with or overcoming that obstacle? 

For each fear that comes to you in response to the question no. 3, ask yourself the following questions:
A. What is the worst that can happen, if what I fear occurs?
B. What is the best possible result for me and for others, if I do it even though I feel afraid of doing it?
C. Keeping in front of you the answer to question B and comparing it with the answer to question A will inspire you to overcome the fears that lie inside you. 

Message of the day

To speak about others' negativity is to increase the burden of negativity. 

Thought to Ponder: Every negative experience leaves a negative mark on my mind. When I talk about that to someone, they too would be influenced. In the same way, when someone talks about others, it creates negativity in our minds too. Although we did not have that negative experience, we tend to carry the unnecessary burden of negativity. 

Point to Practice: Today I will neither gossip nor listen to anyone gossip. I will pay attention to myself that if I have to talk about anyone, it will only be about any positive aspect of them, if not I will not say anything. For today, I will pay attention to this. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 28.02.2016

Completionist

A task left undone remains undone in two places, the actual location and inside your head.  Incomplete tasks, in your head, consume the energy of your attention as they gnaw at your conscience. 
Are you delaying because you're a perfectionist?  Maybe, try being a completionist.

Soul Sustenance

Applying The Law Of Balance To Anger (Part 2) 

Yesterday we had explained how the law of balance can be applied to anger on a smaller level. The same law can also be applied on a larger level. Each time a group of people transmit the negative energy of anger physically to another group of people - at that time, either: 

a) one party is disturbing the balance temporarily, which will be restored sometime in the future, by the second party indulging in similar behavior, or 
b) balance is being restored at the present moment (because negative energy had been transmitted from the opposite party to the first party sometime in the past). This balancing must take place, because it's an unbreakable law. This is the law of balance. 

This law that does not need to be enforced by us, the police or even by God. It is a natural law like other laws of nature. It gets enforced itself and cannot be broken by anyone.Understanding that this law is embedded in the human state of affairs at all times makes us careful and detached so that we don’t hurt ourselves with violent, toxic thoughts, when someone acts negatively. We create these kinds of thoughts because we believe this is revenge that is justified. Also, knowing that anger that is radiated comes back doesn't mean we don’t have any laws within society – they are required, but it helps us not to take the law into our own hands. We cannot force justice to take place before its fixed time. We cannot force the balancing of energies of anger. If we trying doing it, it is being egoistic and we only upset the balance of our energies as a result. Even to criticize those who try to take the law into their own hands is to take the law into our hands. 

Message of the day

To recognise weaknesses is to have the ability to transform them. 

Thought to Ponder: We do try to work on weaknesses to remove them, but most times we are not able to understand what is the real cause for them. So, we do not find any marked difference, i.e., we are not able to bring about much of a change. The method to find the real weakness is to keep introspecting as to why the weakness is working. This needs honesty in the heart and clarity in the intellect. 

Point to Practice: Today I will pick out one weakness of mine and check what is the real cause of that weakness. When I try and understand, I find that I am much more easily able to work on removing my weaknesses. I then don't have guilt or negativity but am able to work on it with confidence. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 27.02.2016

Sweet Words

A bitter tongue makes life bitter, a sweet tongue makes life better.

Soul Sustenance

Applying The Law Of Balance To Anger (Part 1) 

We are all very much aware of the law of gravity. It keeps us grounded on the earth. Gravity ensures everything returns to a state of balance. This is the law of balance on a physical level. 

The law of balance can also be applied on a mental and emotional level, to the emotion of anger e.g. Too many angry thoughts of revenge and animosity (hatred) inside our consciousness can emerge in two ways: 

a) either externally as toxic, violent behavior, which will attract toxic, violent responses from others, or 
b) if these thoughts are kept bottled inside, they will eventually, after a period of time, emerge as some disease or the other in the physical body. This is because our consciousness then tries to find a way to get rid of the mental impurity, which enters our physical body and restores balance to the mental and physical system, which has been upset due to the creation of the toxic thoughts, in the first place. 

The above e.g. is an application of this law on a micro level. We can apply this law of balance on a macro level, on the world at large, where we watch groups of people, even countries exchanging negative energy. We shall explain that in tomorrow’s message. 

(To be continued tomorrow…)

Message of the day

To respect and value time is to use well the treasures it has to offer. 

Thought to Ponder: When I don't value time, my mind remains cluttered. I am not able to recognize the treasures that time has to offer. Drops of time, of pure silence, on the other hand, allows good things to flow and like a rising sun, brings good thing s into life. 

Point to Practice: Today I will make time for time. I will make some time for myself (as the most important person in my life is me). I will take some valuable thoughts, those thoughts that add value to what I am doing. When I combine elevated thoughts from time to time, I would have used my time well. Such drops of time help me recognize the value of time and use it well. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 26.02.2016

Full-Stop Mind

How do you manage the unending stream of thoughts that flow through your mind?  Do you put a comma, an exclamation mark or a queue of questions?  Why not apply a full-stop and begin to master your mind.

Soul Sustenance

The Umbilical Cord Of Meditation (Part 3) 

Practical meditation is something which you can do while being in your daily routine and not just at a fixed time like in the morning, before starting your day or in the night, before going off to sleep. It is a constant union. In fact, it is the foundation of positive action. After all,you need to fill yourself with the spiritual nutrition of the different qualities from your spiritual mother or the mother of the soul or God through the divine umbilical cord of positive thinking and meditation. Only then will you radiate the same to others. Often, our negative actions in the day are performed because this divine and sacred connection is not strong enough. In other words, the umbilical cord that we share with God i.e. meditation is cut off and we are so busy in our work that God is forgotten. On the other hand, when we are occupied with the daily work and are performing negative actions, the connection that we have made in the morning is weakened. So if people are to receive goodness from us and love us in return, remaining in the womb of a spiritual consciousness and absorbing its benefits from God or the Supreme Being of the world is a necessity. 

Also, this beautiful and pure womb of God will grow us spiritually and we will, as time passes, become beautiful human beings by meditating and focusing our consciousness on Him. We all love Him as a Father but He is also a Mother of humanity and is full of love and power, just like a physical mother, whom we all have been brought up by and experienced. They say the most beautiful and purest relationship in the world is that between a small child and his or her mother. So God is our spiritual mother, the mother of the soul. And His love for me, the spiritual baby, is the Highest in the world. So, enjoy the company of this most beautiful and loving Mother of the Universe. Meditate a lot. That means remember Him and give that love to the whole Universe. 

Message of the day

Self-respect creates inner peace and harmony. 

Thought to Ponder: When I take pride in my own role and have value for the contribution I (can) make, there is self-respect. Self-respect helps me to let go of expecting to be understood, to be considered, to be recognized. It helps me understand that it is my mixed emotions that create dependence, taking away inner peace and harmony. 

Point to Practice: Today I will tell myself that everything cannot always happen as I wish. When something unwanted happens, I know I have to deal with it and am also well equipped to do so. This helps me know what I can do to correct the situation, without losing hope, peace and harmony. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 25.02.2016

Anger finishes all wisdom.

Ego finishes regard.

Worry eats away your life.

Bribery finishes all justice.

Greed finishes all honesty.

Fear eats away a human being.

The greatest jewellery in the world is your own nobility.

Your own best companion in the world is your determined thought.

Soul Sustenance

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 25-02-2016 Posted: 24 Feb 2016 12:30 PM PST -------------------------------------- Soul Sustenance 25-02-2016 -------------------------------------- The Umbilical Cord Of Meditation (Part 2)  Meditation is the creation of positive thoughts in the mind in such a way that the mind starts getting oriented in a positive direction above the routine thinking of day-to-day life. It is not making the mind blank or completely free of thoughts. In fact, it is making the full of positivity, in the form of positive thoughts and visual images of the spiritual self or the soul and the Supreme Soul, who is the Higher parent of the soul. We all know our physical self, who we are, what our name is, what work do we do, where do we stay, what is our nationality and how we look, but this is are our physical identity and is different from our spiritual identity. The spiritual identity is simple – I am a non-physical being of energy, which is not made up of the five elements and I have seven original virtues – peace, joy, love, bliss, purity, power and knowledge, which is my original nature. I have come into this world from the soul world, also called paramdham or shantidham, to play my part through the physical body, which is like the vehicle which I control. Also, my Father, the Supreme Father and the Father of all souls is an ocean of all these seven virtues. This is my spiritual introduction and so is this the introduction of all the human beings of the world. Now, to link or connect with God, the Ocean of all virtues, I have to remember my spiritual form and emerge my qualities through the power of thought and visualization. This is the first step of meditation. After that, I travel with the eye of my mind to the soul world and visualize my Supreme Parent as a luminous (bright) being of pure light over there and stay connected with Him for a few minutes and absorb His energy inside myself, which is the spiritual umbilical cord. This is meditation, a spiritual union between the soul and the Supreme Soul. Also, the soul empowers itself in this way with a powerful connection and after that performs its actions in the world, full of all these qualities. Those actions will then become pure actions and will inspire others also. This is the magic of meditation. (To be continued tomorrow …)

Message of the day

Asking the right questions brings learning and progress.

Thought to Ponder: When I am too focused on answers, I don't find them. I need to ask the right questions and also letting go of the dependency of wanting answers. Right questions are like brooms that sweep the mind clean. Once the mind is clean, answers flow. There is then, learning, growth and progress.

Point to Practice: Today I will ask questions that help me progress rather than expressing doubt. There need to be more "hows" and "whats" rather than "whys". These questions will lead me a step forward, instead of getting stuck with difficult situations.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 24.02.2016

Listen-ability

 To really listen, we have to filter out both inner and outer distractions to get the WHOLE message.

Soul Sustenance

The Umbilical Cord Of Meditation (Part 1) 

A bright start to everyday is a revision of the events of the day that you are expecting will happen and setting a time table for the day in which you keep your mind filled with the remembrance of the Supreme Being, whom we call God. He is also the Supreme Father and Mother. Just like a little baby being formed in the womb of its mother, is connected with her through the umbilical cord and receives physical sustenance from its mother, in the same manner I need to remain connected with my spiritual mother or the parent of the soul. This parent is the one and only God, a Being of love, an Ocean of love. Remaining connected with Him is a way of filling myself with that love and becoming pure at the level of the mind and not just in words and actions. 

Purity of the soul is gained back when we experience ourselves as a soul and connect with the Supreme Soul. God is not physical. So the key to having a beautiful connection with Him is a spiritual consciousness i.e. I am not this body, but a soul - an energy which is a different entity from the body. Once I don’t exist in the body or in other words leave the body (for which we commonly say that someone has passed away or is no more) the body is like dust, with no life in it. So understanding that I, the spiritual energy or soul, am eternal or constant and the body is temporary, is the first step to opening the door to spiritual treasures, which are present in God. Meditation is a lovely relationship with the Supreme and increases the purity of the soul and makes it more loveful. We all were originally pure but have become impure as time has passed. Meditation is the need of the present time for everyone. We all require this umbilical cord of meditation at every step in our life. Remember, a baby is constantly connected to its mother in the womb with a physical umbilical cord and receives blood filled with nutrition and as a result it grows or matures, ready to be born one day, in the outside world. That is growing up physically and we need to grow spiritually and become filled with spiritual powers. The umbilical cord of the technique of meditation brings that power inside us from Him and as a result we grow or become full of spiritual energy. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message of the day

As is the aim so is the qualification. 

Thought to Ponder: If I have a high aim, I will set high standards for myself. I will make efforts to reach that aim. So the qualities that I imbibe will be of a great standard too. So, it is important that I constantly set high standards for myself and make my life qualitatively better. 

Point to Practice: Today I will, in any one aspect, set an aim for myself. I will then check to see if I can do a bit better than what I think I can do right now. I will make sure I will set an aim for myself a bit higher than what I normally do. This will increase my qualities and will automatically keep me prepared for higher things. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 23.02.016

Look for Goodness

In everything, goodness is there. Our goal is to find it. In every person, the best is there. Our job is to recognise it. In every situation, the positive is there. Our opportunity is to see it. In every problem, the solution is there. Our responsibility is to provide it. In every setback, the success is there. Our adventure is to discover it. In every crisis, the reason is there. Our challenge is to understand it. By seeing the goodness, we'll be very enthusiastic and our lives will be richer.

Soul Sustenance

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. 

Message of the day

To be alert is to constantly have an attention to check and change. 

Thought to Ponder: When someone is recording something, there is a constant attention to do the best. After a bit is recorded, they would recheck and see if everything is ok or if it can be better. In life too, we are trying to record the best. For each and everything that happens, when I have attention on myself, I can make it better each time. I just have to have the attention to check and then bring about the required change. 

Point to Practice: Today I will pay special attention to the actions that I do. After the action,I will look back and see if I could have done it in a better way. Also, at the end of the day, before I go to sleep, I will look back at the day and review all that happened. This practice of checking and changing helps me to be prepared to face everything that comes my way. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 22.02.2016

Self-Trust

When there is respect and love for the self, there is trust.  When you believe in yourself, then you have the courage to maintain your strength even in the face of disappointments and setbacks.

Soul Sustenance

Understanding What Are Karmic Accounts 

We are not individuals acting alone in this world drama; we act in this extraordinary drama or play of life with other actors or souls who (along with us) play their different roles with different physical costumes at different times in the drama. During the process of interaction with other actors (souls) and according to the type of interaction with them, we create accounts of debit or credit that become the basis of our connections with others. The reasons for which a specific relationship goes well or not are in the so called karmic account that I have accumulated with the other person in the past. The past could be in this birth alone or in one or many previous births. The souls that play the parts of parents, children, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, friends, office colleagues and others whom I know form a network for the giving and receiving of happiness and sorrow from accounts established in the past or being created in the present. 

The strongest relationships that I have now were established previously. We knew each other in other lives and but in different roles. The daughter of some births ago returns now as the father, the best friend comes back as the sister etc. As long as the account exists, the interchange of actions between two souls continues. When there is nothing more to give or receive, the paths between the two souls separate by death, a break-up, a divorce or simply by the loss of contact. An e.g. of this is our school friends. Many of our friends whom we were close to in our school days, we are not in touch with today. Another e.g. is when we change jobs; we might lose complete contact with our old colleagues. 

Message of the day

To see and relate to virtues is the best form of diplomacy. 

Thought to Ponder: It is said that we need to be diplomatic while dealing with people. Yet, many feel that being diplomatic, equals to not being honest or truthful. However, the easiest way to be diplomatic is to see and relate to virtues. When I am able to see others' virtues, I am only relating to them with that. There might be weaknesses, but I don't highlight them during my interaction with them. So they too are more comfortable with me. 

Point to Practice: Today I will look for virtues. Out of all the people, I interact with; I will pay special attention to list out the virtues or specialties of at least three people. Every time I interact with them, I will remind myself of these qualities at least once during the interaction. This practice will help me create a habit of picking virtues. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 21.02.2016

Gently Right

Determination makes you sit up straight and love everything, because it's all part of moving forward. Day and night you have the feeling that you only have to seek and can touch the hard core of wisdom that rests inside each moment. You can focus on that, let the toughness be in seeking that and then action is automatically as it should be. Gently right.

Soul Sustenance

The Power To Transform Emotions (Part 2) 

Thoughts may be temporary. Feelings(either positive or negative), accompanying repeated thought-patterns, stay a bit longer inside us. But when a soul suffers a major setback, loss or failure in life that it is not able to deal with, it becomes emotionallydamaged and the results of that can be extreme. 

Suppose I lose a loved one all of a sudden. If the feelings that come to me because of this loss can be taken care of at that time, through any means like the remembrance of God, meditation, developing a positive hobby to divert my mind, spending more time in the positive company of other family members, etc.; I will deal with the feelings and move on. If however, I am unable to deal with my feelings through any of the means mentioned, the experience of loss I feel is going to cause a lot of deep damage on the emotional level. Then it will not just be a feeling of loss, but it will actually have wounded the soul emotionally. Until that wound has healed, I'll carry it with me long after the loss has suffered. The emotions linked to it will come to the surface repeatedly, though I may have no idea where my sorrow is coming from. Due to the emotional wound, I'll be unable to stay happy, no matter how positive my circumstances may be today. 

Meditation does not require me to go into the subconscious roots of my pain. Instead, through thought, meditation enables me to take conscious control of my feelings and emotions, so as to displace the negative, which brings sorrow; with positive, which brings happiness. It helps me experience pure, powerful emotions and loveful feelings to such an extent that the wounds left by past experiences are healed. Raja Yogameans royal union - it means having a loveful relationship with God. The experience of God’s love is a soothing balm for my emotions, and a remedy for the emotional pain the soul feels. 

Message of the day

The one who defames or criticizes is a true friend. 

Thought to Ponder: If one has a clear vision of where he wants to go, he constantly looks for opportunities and means to move ahead. When someone criticizes, it is an opportunity to learn something, to check and change what I might have missed. It doesn't matter with what intention the other person is criticizing. It is more important whether I have learnt from it or not. So he actually becomes a friend who is helping me progress. 

Point to Practice: Today I will listen to people carefully and take at least one point that I could bring about a change. I will then explain to myself that this particular aspect is going to help me to move forward. This is what I will bring into action. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 20.02.2016

An Ancient Peace

There is a silence into which the world cannot intrude. There is an ancient peace you carry in your heart and have not lost. There is a love you have missed for so long and will always come back to.

Soul Sustenance

The Power To Transform Emotions (Part 1) 

As with feelings, when emotions are aroused, there are physical changes inside the body in the form of chemical and electrical activity. In fact, strong emotions don’t just affect the body; they also have an impact on the soul. When the soul suffers emotional trauma, from which there is lasting impact, the emotional trauma brings about an immense strain on the brain and body. Brain chemical production is likely to be affected, and there may also be feelings of depression and tiredness. But the real trauma at the root of these physical effects is at a deeper level within the soul itself, and the resulting emotional sensitivity will also arise from the soul. 

e.g. I suffer a series of losses or setbacks in my business that causes a lack of confidence and self-respect inside me. A sanskara of low self-esteem is created inside. As a result I become emotionally unstable and sensitive. I'll show a tendency to react emotionally with extreme sorrow (may be in the form of depression) or extreme anger (sometimes in the form of an outburst) whenever there is a similar setback that touches this sensitivity. A person who has not suffered similarly in the past and does not have a sanskara of low self esteem, and as a result does not have this tendency, will not react in a similar fashion under similar circumstances. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message of the day

A step of courage brings multifold help. 

Thought to Ponder: One step of courage is enough to pave the way for something better. If we get disheartened and stop, we will be worse than what we are. So, whatever the situation may be we need to take one thought of making the situation better. This one thought will help us see the hidden opportunities. Also, we find help coming from others and situations too. 

Point to Practice: Today I will take up something that I have given up on, and see where I can start once again. With renewed courage and enthusiasm, I will create a plan and work on it. With the faith that I am going to find a way, I will work on this plan. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 19.02.2016

Miss Nothing

Being enlightened means being self aware. Awareness of yourself means you don't miss anything inside. You are aware of things like the quality of your thoughts and feelings, of how you sometimes give your power to others, and how your self-esteem occasionally fluctuates. You don't miss anything because you know that knowing yourself is vital to being comfortable with yourself. Are you comfortable with yourself? No! Then be with yourself, talk to your self, listen to your self today. Take a few moments out and have a meeting with yourself. Put yourself in your diary. Put yourself at the top of your to list. And write next to it, 'being with myself'. Miss nothing in yourself.

Soul Sustenance

Frozen Perceptions 

Like water, which over a period of time freezes and takes the form of frozen ice cubes, when kept in an ice tray; perceptions of different things, people and events, inside our consciousness, which come onto the surface of our consciousness regularly i.e. we shape our thoughts, words and actions based on them, regularly, take the form of rigid perceptions over a period of time. These rigid or frozen perceptions, which sometimes never liquefy in our entire lifetime, are commonly called our beliefs, which can stick in our consciousness like ice cubes and be difficult to uproot at times. One of the greatest harms that holding to a set of beliefs does is, that it doesn't let us see from other peoples' point of view. 

Let's say two people look at the same painting from two different points in a room. One describes what she sees and how the painting looks to her. Then the other describes how the painting looks to him. Both perceptions are bound to be different to some extent. They are different because they look from different angles, different points (places) of viewing in the same room. So who has the right view? Neither. But what both of them see is right from their point of view. Another e.g. is, there is Mrs. A at my workplace, whom over a period of time, I have been seeing from a certainpoint of view and have started perceiving to be inefficient. Bringing this perception into my consciousness repeatedly has frozen this perception inside my consciousness and it has taken the form of a belief, which may be incorrect or correct, partially or completely. Now even if three different people who have all seen Mrs. A from three differentpoints of view i.e. in three different set of circumstances, and have seen three different shades of the same virtue i.e. efficiency in her; come and share their different, but all positive and right perceptions with me, depending on their respective circumstantial view, I will not agree with them and not respect their perception because a person with unfrozen perceptions would at least give a hearing to others' perceptions, but someone with frozen perceptions, i.e. with fixed beliefs, is not able to that and is not able to empathize with or see from others’ point of view. 

Message of the day

Mastery over mind is the ability to concentrate thoughts. 

Thought to Ponder: The practice of concentrating the mind on one thought even whilst being busy is being truly victorious over the mind. This practice helps in using all powers and qualities that are in me. 

Point to Practice: Today I will take a thought and remind myself of it from time to time. A simple thought like "I am the creator of my thoughts and so the master of my mind" or "I am powerful" or "I am special". Such thoughts, when reminded from time to time in my busy schedule, helps me practice mastery. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 18.02.2016

The Influence Of Gossip

I cannot afford to overlook the influence that other people have on me. There are cases where people quarrel, fight and even commit murder because they are influenced by gossip, influenced by the words of others. To what extent do I check that I am not being influenced by gossip? Negativity in the mind is like poison. Negative thoughts are the seeds of negative actions. It might seem like a simple everyday occurrence - my friends tell me in the strictest confidence that such and such a person is like this and does so-and-so. I listen and accept without question because of the friendship. My attitude and actions now become influenced by my friends words, and I find myself acting and reacting in accordance with the information fed to me. Gossip and guessing bring sorrow, heaviness and distrust. Poison can come in many disguises, but poison is poison whether from an enemy or a friend.

Soul Sustenance

Positive Thought Based Living (Part 3) 

A very easy technique of radiating good wishes at the level of the mind is looking at others as a spiritual being of light i.e. looking at the spiritual form of others. We all know from our previous messages that the soul is a spiritual energy which constantly radiates energy to the world. When I look at the star like form of others which is the form of the soul at the centre of the forehead, which is the same as my spiritual form, I radiate my original qualities of peace, love, purity and joy to others. It’s like empowering others with my vision. This again is to be done in complete humility and remembering that the other person is my soul brother and we are children of one Father - God and we share a common bond with Him. Also since we are children of the one Father, we have the same original sanskaras or qualities mentioned above. Every day you meet so many people. Look at them as soul brothers at the centre of the forehead – the sparkling star of spiritual energy, full of pure qualities. This way they will return what you share with them through your vision. God looks at all of us with this type of vision. God has the knowledge of your physical body or role but always looks at your star like spiritual form or the soul, which is your eternal form. The physical costume which we call the human body and the role we play is temporary and keeps changing. 

Lastly, never think negative for any person. The busier we become, the more negative we get at times for others because we do not have time for introspection or looking inwards. Very often, we have got into the habit of having a negative mindset especially when we talk to our loved ones or close ones about others. We commonly say such and such person is not so nice and we mention some negative personality characteristic or weakness of the other person or a certain negative way in which he or she has behaved. So common this is. You come home from office and talk to your family members about all the negative things that took place in your office and all the negative behaviors of everyone there. And all that you talk or discuss far away from the other person on a physical level but it all travels to others on a non-physical level, which creates barriers in relationships.So think positive and think good, spread the energy of positivity to others all the time and enjoy what we call positive thought based living. 

Message of the day

The art of getting along well with others is to create harmony. 

Thought to Ponder: To be good to people who are good to us is very easy. But the real beauty of life lies in knowing how to get along well with one and all. That means, I need to know how to empower my interactions so that I am able to get along well even with someone who is not so good to us. Just like notes of music which are different, I need to understand that everyone is different and I need to create beautiful music even in the worst conditions. 

Point to Practice: Today I will see what I can do to get along well with one person whom I wasn't comfortable with. It could be some quality that I need to work on. It could be assertiveness or love or any other quality which will help me get along well with the person. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 17.02.2016

Soul Reflections

Turn your mind away from distractions and have it face inwards to the inner being.  Like a perfectly calm lake when all whispers of wind have stopped, the inner being shimmers, quietly reflecting the intrinsic qualities of the soul.

Soul Sustenance

Positive Thought Based Living (Part 2) 

Blessings from every person you meet will make your life more beautiful and free of difficult situations. Living a life of giving joy to others through the simplest possible ways like a smile or a warm greeting or a gesture of appreciation is a beautiful way of gathering blessings from everyone. It is said very commonly – give blessings and take blessings. That means the more you keep good wishes for others the more full of good wishes you will be which you will receive back from others. A good practice whenever you meet someone is to ensure that you have shared something with the other person e.g. If a person comes to you and he is lacking love, just look at him and create a pure and positive thought in your mind that may this person experience his original quality of love and may he share the same with others. Do this with a humble consciousness. This is like giving a blessing to the other. This will inspire the other person to change and imbibe the quality of love which he is lacking. You may think this won’t work, but the power of a positive thought created by you is immense, which can transform the other person completely. After all our thought energy does touch the other person’s consciousness on a subtle level. It’s like whispering into the other’s ears a message of pure love which he is lacking, listening to which is an inspiration for him to change himself. In the same way, if someone has a habit of becoming angry very easily and you pass her on a particular day on the street, look at her and send her a good wish that may you experience lots of peace which is your original sanskara. These are blessings which work magically. Powerful thoughts have immense power, much more than words. 

The pure love that you carry in this incognito way for others is like a healing balm for others which can make people more beautiful and bring them closer to you. Try giving a good wish to every person you meet in the day for one week and you will see how all your relationships with people become more beautiful and how everyone around you start becoming better individuals. It’s a beautiful practice. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message of the day

To be content and make others content is the best way to get good wishes.

Thought to Ponder: Whether others are good to me or not, I need to develop the art of being content. I can be content when I appreciate what I have rather than just expecting from others or situations. When I am content, I can provide others too from my own reservoir. Thus, I will be able to give the experience of contentment to others too. This is a simple way to earn good wishes from others, filling me more.

Point to Practice: Today I will not let any one go away from me empty handed. I will ensure that every person that comes to me, gets some positive experience or is connected to something positive in his own life. This will keep me busy giving and will make me free from expectations too.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 16.02.2016

Balance In Life

The indication of balance in life is a sense of well-being, optimism and a clear conscience. The foundation for achieving this is to look after myself spiritually - making my mind peaceful, loving and thoughtful at all times. Then I will instinctively know how much time to spend on my own well-being and how much on fulfilling other responsibilities. I can only give my best to others when I am myself at my best.

Soul Sustenance

Positive Thought Based Living (Part 1) 

Living in a world of high speed and action in our everyday lives, we need to spend a few minutes everyday looking at how much time did we spend in the day in giving and spreading the fragrance of our specialties and loving each one whom we meet, with a big heart. Always see and check whether each action of yours is dedicated to the benefit of others and not only for benefiting the self. We all know and realize that the day to day routine includes work tasks of different types but life is also about giving and receiving from others all that’s beautiful in life like peace, love and happiness. It’s fine to be over involved with work but even in that work there are some people who are more in touch with their inner goodness. Some will make it a point to share good things with others in the form of good words while talking to them and good gestures while interacting with them. Some people will make it a point to share with others, something good over email or on the phone before starting their daily routine at office or even the regular work at home if they are not working. 

So life isn’t all about working hard for a living but living a value based life and spreading the fragrance of values to others. Values are not to be kept within you but shared with others and distributed with a big heart. There are some people who will put up a good thought everyday, in their homes or on their computers screens or at some place in their office where everyone can read it, take inspiration from it, bring it into practice and also inspire others with it. This is called positive thought based living and not just plain living which most of us indulge in. Live life to the fullest and enjoy it but not at the cost of giving up values. Let every person whom you come in contact with, feel you are different not only in terms of personality and skills but also in terms of your basic nature and the virtues or qualities you possess. Then the world will become a beautiful place to live in and we will be like one big family closely knit together in a bond of pure love and happiness. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

Message of the day

To be a trustee is to use all treasures well. 

Thought to Ponder: We do have a lot of treasures. But we need to understand that we are entrusted with these treasures so that we can bring benefit to others too. When we put into use treasures like our thoughts, values, skills etc for the benefit of others, we are benefited too. So, we need to use all these treasures as a trustee. 

Point to Practice: Today I will say everything that is mine belongs to God and is meant for His service.This ensures that I don't waste or misuse any of the treasures entrusted to me. I use it well for others, as well as for myself. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 15.02.2016

Equanimity

In the face of:

Compliments & insults;

Regard & disregard;

Profit & loss;

Maintain Equanimity.

Soul Sustenance

A Gauge To Check How Spiritually Powerful Am I 

The territory of spiritual understanding is both infinite and unlimited. Simply put, spirituality can be defined as the rediscovery of the deepest values, virtues, positive sanskars or characteristics of the human soul. The innate attributes or characteristics of the soul (peace, love, truth, purity and happiness) give the soul its power. The power of the soul cannot be quantified either on a physical or a non-physical level. The power can only be experienced and revealed to the self and others through the quality of the above characteristics and the different forms they are given by the soul itself. 

For a practitioner of meditation, whether a beginner or an experienced once, patience and a gentle persistence guarantee two aspects of self-progress (in varying degrees in different souls):
1. rediscovery and revelation or expression of one's spiritual attributes and secondly, but very importantly
2. the ability to give them an appropriate form internally or externally, depending on the requirement of the situation. 

A particular soul might be good at both aspects, another one very good at the first aspect and not so good at the second one. When we choose to be peaceful, we reconnect with our inner peace and create the spiritual form of peace within our self. This form created is different for different souls, depending on how powerful the soul is. So what is the quality of that form, what is the quality of our peace? Is it a superficial quality that is easily disturbed with unexpected changes in our external circumstances, or is it a deep peace which is stable even in the face of fierce criticism from others? Only we know the quality of our spiritual forms. 

Message of the day

It is on the basis of actions that praise is received. 

Thought to Ponder: The one who only talks but is not able to put his talk into practice does not become worthy of praise. On the other hand, the one who is able to bring his good thoughts and words into action becomes worthy of praise. Such a person's actions become inspirational for others and encourage them to follow him. 

Point to Practice: When I am able to act according to my thoughts and words, I am able to take inspiration to do more. For every positive action that I do, I experience support and good wishes from others which encourage me constantly. My account of positivity is always full and it takes me further to a cycle of positivity making it a habit. So I find that I don't have to work hard for performing positive actions. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 14.02.2016

Look for Goodness

There is goodness in everything.  Our goal is to find it.  In every person, the best is there.  Our job is to recognise it.  In every situation, the positive is there.  Our opportunity is to see it.  By seeing the goodness, we'll be naturally enthusiastic and our lives will be richer.

Soul Sustenance

How Often And Why Do I Need To Meditate (Part 2)? 

As explained yesterday, we regularly and quite easily slip into four main negative habits. So meditation is not only sitting in a quiet corner, and connecting with the self and the Supreme, at a couple of fixed times during the day, but it is also the way to gently remember and remind ourselves, many times in a day, that we as well as others, are souls or spiritual beings not physical beings, by detaching ourselves from actions and also while being involved in actions. These reminders given to the self over a period of time become natural and prevent us from succumbing to these four habits. Given below is a basic meditation, which you could use to remind yourself regularly during the day: 

I have a body but this body is not me… 
I have thoughts but these thoughts are not me … 
I have feelings but these feelings are not me … 
I have attitudes but these attitudes are not me … 
I have emotions but these emotions are not me … 
I have beliefs but these beliefs are not me … 
I perform many actions through my sense organs, but these sense organs are not me… 
I play many roles but I am not my roles… 
I experience joy or sorrow through my sense organs, but these experiences are not me … 
I am a soul – a being of energy, which is neither created nor can be destroyed, and my original and true nature is one of peace, love, joy and power… 

Message of the day

To make the internal stage powerful is to be protected. 

Thought to Ponder: Situations and challenges will continue to challenge me, but when I am strong from within I am able to withstand and move forward with every challenge. I need to work on making myself stronger at each step. When I have weaknesses, even a small little challenge will make me weak and vulnerable. I will, then, not have the strength to move forward. 

Point to Practice: Today I will strengthen myself. Strength comes from faith. When I believe that I am strong, I am. So, today I will practice a simple thought like "Victory is my birthright" or "I have the power to transform" or "God is my companion at every step". Such thoughts silently build strength into me. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thought of the day 13.02 2016

Take a Moment

Let go of your accumulated thoughts and feelings.

Access your inner tranquility, stillness and clarity. 

Feel full, refreshed and at ease with yourself. 

Now, return to the field of sound and action.

Soul Sustenance

How Often And Why Do I Need To Meditate (Part 1)? 

As with anything else, the more we practice meditation, the more we feel the benefit of what we are doing. We do need to practice meditation regularly because the habits of: 

i. identifying with our physical form,

ii. succumbing to mental and emotional negativity (in the form of waste and negative thoughts) along with negativity in words and actions,

iii. becoming attached to the physical as well as the non-physical, and

iv. being dependent upon the experience of physical stimulation of any sort (from e.g. food, movies, people, sports etc.) for happiness are extremely deep. 

These habits have deepened over a period of many many births, because of repeating them regularly, due to a lack of spiritual awareness. As a result, in the present moment also we regularly and quite easily slip into these four habits. 

(To be continued tomorrow…)