Happiness

Happiness

Am I happy? If there is any sadness I make a strong effort to be free of it quickly, otherwise it grows like a vine in the rainy season: by midday I will be confused; by evening a whole jungle of weak, wasteful and negative attitudes will have taken deep roots in my mind. The result equals chaos. Sometimes I reach a stage where the attitude is: "So what if I feel the blues today? It is my life; no one else will be affected". Firstly, the more I allow myself to experience sorrow, the less time I have available to be happy and contented. It sounds ridiculously obvious, but am I aware of the value of happiness? It is an extremely rare commodity, and the cost goes sky high. Secondly, is it my life? Yes, I am living it, but am I not a member of a family or a co-worker with others, and am I not part of society? If so, then every movement affects and is affected by those around me

 

Good Navigator

Visualize God as one who is pleased to see you. Then greet others with
godly eyes, as if you are meeting long-lost and now-found family. Such
good wishes can transform any relationship.

Mistakes will not throw you off course unless you let them stop you. A
good navigator keeps a sure eye on the final destination, but steers
there through a series of approximations. The mind that tries to rest only on the surface of things will be tossed about in every storm. Dive deeper, to where there peace is.

 

 

Meditation On Experiencing Deep Peace

Consider your mind as a stage, and each thought, feeling, emotion as a scene in the film of your life... Relax... Don't try to control anything... Observe how your thoughts pass through your mind... Don't identify with any of them... Only observe... Look where they take you... Observe what happens inside you... Do not judge... The thoughts flow through your mind as if they were clouds that are crossing the sky until everything is clear and open... The mind is becoming calm, making itself peaceful... like the surface of the sea when it is serene...

Now, be conscious of the sounds that are produced around you... Stay here and now as an observer who sees and feels everything from a point of light, a point of calm and peace, behind these eyes... Feel the calm... the tranquility... that comes from within you... Look around you... Observe without interpreting or judging... Feel the silence that is created through the power of concentration. Consciously, create a positive, peaceful, elevated thought that you repeat slowly in your mind, leaving a space of silence between one thought and another, while you keep the focus on that point...

I am a being of peace... I am at peace... I feel the peace... I am light... I am a being of light... My nature is of light... peace and silence... I am feeling the silence between one thought and the next... I listen to the peace... a silent peace... calmed... full... This peace and silence attracts the ocean of peace... I feel the attraction towards my home of silence and peace... a world full of soft golden light, beyond the sun, moon and stars... In this peace and silence, I strengthen myself... my mind rests in that calm and quietness...

I experience a light, the Supreme Light, the Supreme Soul who fills me... he recharges me... renews me... heals me... frees me... I am free... completely free... now I am at peace... I leave my mind in silence, as if I were floating on a sea of peace for a few minutes...

 

 

Soul Sustenance 

Practical Positive Response Training To The Mind (Part 3) 

In last two days’ messages, we have explained the process of restoring positivity in the mind when faced with a negative situation, where the most common response is a negative one but the mind can be trained to respond in a different way, in a positive way. Today we explain this process with an example.

e.g. You have just had a major argument with your spouse and have lost your temper. At that time, not only your mind but your physical body also feels uncomfortable - it is in a state of complete stress. You feel your blood pressure has suddenly shot up, your heart is beating fast, you feel uncomfortable in the stomach, your hands are shaking, your face and eyes are red. On top of that, you also feel sad. You have behaved like this many times before and you know the results of responding in this way. The relationship has been scarred and you have worsened a situation. This could have been avoided. There is sorrow, guilt, low self esteem and hopelessness over your loss of control. Also, there is a fear regarding your future, not necessarily a long term one, because things will get sorted out sooner or later, but a short term uncertainty does exist, especially regarding what your spouse's response will be in the next few hours or days. In this state of mental and physical helplessness or desperation, anger may come again either projected towards yourself or towards your partner, which will be followed by the same effects, worsening your state further. In this moment of lack of spiritual wisdom, you remind yourself of the simple wisdom that you are in fact a soul. Even while you are still caught up in the turmoil of the negative situation, using your intellect, you consciously emerge inside yourself, your true awareness of being a sparkling point of peaceful light situated just above the eyes, at the center of the forehead. You not only become aware but you also use the intellect to visualize your true, peaceful, spiritual and star-like form clearly. In that moment, you are able to tap into the reservoir of peace that is present deep inside your being. You calm your mind by holding on to this awareness for a few minutes. You feel - you know - that you are peace. As this experience grows, it has a soothing effect on your whole physical system. Gradually, stability and peace are restored to your body as well as your mind. 

Message for the day

When we have the switch of awareness on, our mood will never go off. 

Projection: When something goes wrong we find that our mood goes off immediately. We then lose all enthusiasm and all our thoughts become negative. To change negative thoughts to positive then becomes difficult. 

Solution: Like one single switch brings light into a dark room, our own switch of awareness will bring positivity in our mind. We can take a thought like 'I am the master of my own life' or 'nothing can go wrong today' right in the morning. When we have this awareness on, we will never have our mood off. 

Listen In

Listen In

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

 

 

When your feelings are pure and elevated, even negative becomes positive.

 

Check how much of negativity you find in your life during the whole day. Also when you come across something negative, in the form of a situation or a person, check your own thoughts. Are they negative or positive? In order to transform negative to positive, take such a thought that is beneficial to all. When you change your thoughts in this way into pure and elevated ones, you'll find your own situation changing from negative to positive.

 

 

Understanding Different Types Of Actions (cont.)

We have explained negative actions (vikarmas) and neutral actions (akarmas) over the last couple of days. Today we explain:

Positive actions (sukarmas) are actions done in a state of being soul-conscious. We are aware that we are spirit and that we have the spiritual energy of peace, love and happiness inside us. We are free from wanting anything from outside ourselves. We do not look for peace and happiness from outer conditions, as we now know and experience them, through meditation, as inner states of the soul. We have reversed the flow of our energies from taking to giving. Aware that we are eternal and un-destroyable souls, we are not threatened by others in any way. We can see the best in everyone and encourage their full potential and their spiritual qualities to blossom. We are also able to move consciously into a spiritual state of our choice. We can be powerful, joyful, insightful or full of love by choice. We know that whatever spiritual state of being we choose, that state radiates towards others without effort. Our thoughts, attitudes and actions are all reflections of our state of the soul.

However, it's not that we become full of love or generous towards others because we want some positive energy in return. If we give with the hidden desire or expectation for a return, our motive and actions are not soul-conscious. In an enlightened state, while we know that whatever we give will return to us, we are simply giving from our heart. It is the highest energy of the soul. There are no conditions placed.

The most significant actions carried out in a state of soul-consciousness will always bring spiritual benefit to others. The greatest thing we can do for others is to help them to rediscover both their soul-consciousness and their link with the Supreme Soul. We do not attempt to force spiritual knowledge and meditation on another or expect that they must accept this, but we can be instrumental in helping others to see how they can set themselves free from false beliefs and to reconnect them with the Supreme Being. This is the highest karma.

 

Soul Sustenance 
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.

Message for the day 

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.

Look For Goodness

Garden Apartments in Phuket, Thailand

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 recognize 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.

Silence:

Going into silence enables you to manage your thoughts better. You will
find there is no need to think so much, that most of the answers you
are looking for will come to you, without much effort on your part.

& nbsp; 

The Power to Co-operate (cont.)

The more I practice meditation, and develop and live with the consciousness that I am a non-physical soul, a being of light, the quicker the ego associated with all the physical factors (explained yesterday) melts away. Coloring myself with the Supreme or God's company, I see others as the children of the Supreme Soul. I know myself as part of the family of human souls who have the same original qualities as me. In soul-consciousness, there is no way I can feel superior to others, though I'll value their specialties. We are brothers - equal yet different.

In this consciousness, a natural humility or egolessness develops, a genuine respect for each other. There is a strength and happiness in the awareness of being a child of God, but I'll see others also as the same. There is neither the ego of feeling superior, nor the inverted ego of an inferiority complex. I am not negating myself, I am recognizing the value of the self, but I'm also appreciating the value and qualities of all others around me. In that spirit of mutual respect, it becomes easy to work together.

The future of the world and the transformation of the planet actually depend on this transformation in each one of us, from ego and self-glorification to humility, respect and co-operation. Meditation, by lifting me beyond the factors that divide us, makes me deeply aware that we are one family, sharing one home, this beautiful planet, for which we have a common responsibility. In the awareness of where we are, and to whom we belong, there also comes the recognition of what we as a family must do together - create a world which is filled with the virtues of the Supreme Soul, by first imbibing those virtues inside us.

Soul Sustenance 

The Game of Life (Meditation)

I relax my body… I breathe deeply and let go of all tensions… I centre myself on this present moment… On the screen of my mind, I visualize myself without fears… I let go of all labels, all roles that I play… Now I ‘am’… I am a shining being of light… I am free… I am peace… I am totally free, beyond all limitations… I enter into another dimension, a home full of soft golden red light, a home without any boundaries, my original, unlimited home, the home from where I have come… I stop thinking so much; I simply experience my spiritual presence… 

I am who I want to be… I am me… I do not need to justify myself… I do not need to give explanations… I connect to my inner beauty… I radiate the energy of the beauty that there is in me… 

I let go of the branches… I fly… I fly high… Beyond the body, above this place, the people that surround me, beyond the houses and the streets, beyond the clouds, I fly towards the dimension of light where no physical limitation ties me down… 

I feel the unlimited peace that caresses my being… I let myself be taken by the sensation of freedom that the flight gives me… I see the planet Earth from above… I recognize that everything there below is a game… I relax: everything is a game… I am a player in the game of life… I simply have to learn to play the game being who I am… 

Now, it is time to return… I am here, present… My breathing calmed… I, the soul am relieved… Now I know that, whenever I want, I can fly… Being an observer of the game, and live it with joy and peacefulness. 

Message for the day

The ones with pure love bring benefit to all.

Projection: Each day of ours is usually spent in doing things for ourselves and providing for our needs and desires. We seem to have no time for others. We are usually caught up with a few people, which brings attachment and expectations. We then find ourselves getting caught up with the weaknesses of others. 

Solution: We need to check if our love for others is pure. Where there is pure true love there is kindness and the attitude of bringing benefit. With this attitude of ours we will be able to see each one's potential for perfection. They too will be able to then work towards their own perfection. 

Create Vision

 

 

 

Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

 

 

Create Vision

Never believe anyone who says we cannot change. Vision is one of the secrets of personal transformation. We are all artists, our mind is the arena of creation and vision is what we are constantly creating. What is your vision of yourself today – patient, relaxed, positive or tense, tight and negative? What do you prefer? So be creative – what does patience look like, feel like, what are you doing that is different when you are patient and you are expressing your power to …wait? Always start with vision not action. See it and you will be it. Be it and you will do it. We don’t ‘get a life’ as some would cynically tell us – we create our life.

 

 

The one who is constantly a giver experiences constant happiness.
Happiness is usually associated with acquiring. When I get something I
am happy and when I am deprived of something I lose my happiness. So
happiness is always short-lived depending totally on what I get. True
joy lies in recognising and giving what people want. I constantly need
to have one aim, let no one go away from me empty-handed. When I have
this aim I'll able to give something which will give me long lasting
happiness

 

 

Understanding The Process Of Birth And Death

The leaving of one body and the taking of another is nearly always confusing and soon the details of the old life are erased by the new. Just in one day we forget so much. After having slept for a while, after some injury or shock, or even after a change in place, company or circumstances, many things are forgotten. 

Death of the body is a great shock to the soul, especially if there was great attachment to that body, and the new set of circumstances in the new body is bewildering (confusing). Because the body and brain are not developed, the soul cannot express its memory, so it laughs and cries when it cannot recognize anyone, or when it wishes to express itself. By the time the body is developed, the soul has forgotten its past birth and has become accustomed to the new conditions and the new parents. The prominent sanskaras developed in past lives soon begin to manifest (show) themselves with new details (in the new birth).

 

Soul Sustenance 31-10-2013

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 31-10-2013

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.

Introversion

 

 

 9th century Monastery of Tatev in southeastern Armenia

             

 

Introversion

Instead of speaking too much and wasting your energy, become experienced in the sweetness of introversion.

 

 

The way to become victorious is to face and overcome obstacles.

 

 

Throughout the day you would surely be coming across many situations where you have to face obstacles. Check your thoughts at that time. Is there a wish for the obstacle not to have come at all? If there are any such thoughts you will never be victorious. Take a thought in the morning, 'I am ready to face all the situations that the day brings even if they seem like obstacles. It is the duty of obstacles to come and it is my duty to become victorious. And if the obstacle never comes I can never call myself victorious.'

 

 

The Significance Of Spiritual Energy (cont.)

Humans live and express themselves by means of four energy forms. We had explained two (physical and mental) yesterday. The other two are:

Emotional:

This is related with how you feel, moody or happy, anxious or nervous. If your feelings are negative, it will end up affecting your body. Feelings of irritability, anxiety or tension can cause stomach ulcers. Along the same lines, with positive feelings you will be able to overcome any illness much more easily. 

Spiritual: 
This is related to our original qualities and values. It is the energy of the soul. Our perspective of the world will depend on the state of our conscience. Spiritual energy guides and provides quality to our thoughts, and that is why it is the highest in the hierarchy. 

These energies (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) form a hierarchy, in which physical energy is the lowest and spiritual energy the highest. If we are able to correctly channel the spiritual energy it will influence all the others in a positive way, beginning with our conscience, our feelings, and ending with our body.

 

 

Soul Sustenance 

Is The Supreme Soul (God) Really Omnipresent (present everywhere)?
Is it really true that the Supreme Soul (God) is present everywhere, in each atom in the entire universe? The sun is in one place yet its influence can be felt throughout the solar system to different degrees in different places, providing a source of heat and light, needs absolutely essential for our physical life. The closer one is to the sun, the greater the effect. In the same way God, the one who is the ocean of perfect characteristics, the source of all spiritual needs, does not have to be omnipresent (present everywhere) in order to be with us wherever we are. He can be in one location and we can still experience his closeness.

If God were literally omnipresent and thus in every atom, where is this love, peace, joy and wisdom? Are they present in every atom in this human world? If God is present inside me, how could ignorance have come to me in the first place? Can ignorance come to God? If God is omnipresent to where or to whom do I turn my thoughts? Just as a radio transmitter emanates waves throughout the world and a receiver, if tuned in, will pick them up, so too if the mind is tuned totally to the material world and physical activities, then I am unable to experience God practically in my daily life. Even though He always radiates His qualities, I can only pick up those transmissions if I am soul-conscious and if I turn my thoughts in His direction to His location. If God were omnipresent, there would be no meaning to the tradition throughout all cultures to have special places set aside (e.g. temples and churches) for worship. In those special places, is God more omnipresent than in other non-sacred places? If God were omnipresent, are the ones who are so-called "God-realised beings" more "God" than the ones who have not realised?

(To be continued tomorrow ….)

Message for the day 

Love and cooperation bring success in all tasks.

Expression: Love is reflected in the love that there is for the person and also for the task. When there is love for the person, there is the ability to give cooperation without any expectations or demands. And when there is love for the task there is the commitment for completing the task, whatever the obstacles that come up in the process of doing things.

Experience: When I am able to have love, I am able to receive hundred percent help and commitment from others too and so I am able to have the satisfaction of moving forward constantly. There is nothing difficult for me and I do everything with great ease. Not only is the task easy but also there is a spread of happiness and joy experienced by all who are involved in the task.