The journey that begins from "I" and ends in "We"................
This, then, is the final state of our journey: to recognise everything belongs to Him, and not to our little ego. The disillusion of possessiveness and pride will disappear, and we will discover that this search for pleasure, fame and recognition, and all the struggles born of it are just a case of ‘searching for the right thing at the wrong place.’
The search has been right but the method to obtain it was wrong. We search for the infinite in the finite, for the unlimited in the limited and for the eternal peace and joy in the momentary objects and person. After all trials and tribulations we discover that infinite can be found only in the infinite.
Having reached that stage, one arrives at the end of the journey which begins from ‘I’ and ends in ‘we’. The seeming I indeed becomes seeming and the journey reaches its culmination in ‘we’. Such a person is spontaneously selfless, strong and compassionate – and what else makes one spiritual?
Source –Vedanta Kari.........................................and
"What's right isn't always popular, and what's popular isn't always right."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Art of Prayer.......................................
The Art of Prayer..................................
Prayer is a form of communication with the Divine.
One may pray to any form of the Divine one chooses and relates to best.
There is an ancient verse in the Vedas which says:
"Aakashath Pathitham Thoyam
Yatha Gachathi Sagaram
Sarvadeva Namaskaram
Keshavam Prathi Gachathi"
"As the water that falls down in rain from anywhere in the sky finally reaches the Ocean, the worship of any divine aspect ultimately reaches the Supreme Being."
1.Invoke the Presence.............................
Invoke the Presence of the Divine before you start the prayer. One way to invoke the Presence is chanting the Moola Mantra.
You may chant the Moola Mantra 3, 21 or 41 times and invite the Presence to fill you or take over you completely and request the Divine to fulfil your prayer even if there are flaws in your prayer or possible errors in your belief system.
2 Emotional Bond......................................
The first and most important thing in a prayer is the personal bond or relation you establish with God. Consider the Divine as your child, father, mother, friend or Guru. God is happiest if the relation you choose is that of a friend. But then, look at yourself and ascertain that you too are a true friend who responds to the request of your friends immediately. The response of the Divine will be similar to your response to the request of your friends.
3.Surrender and Helplessness....................................
The prayer should always be prompted by a feeling of surrender and helplessness. If you feel that you can manage even without Divine Grace and that you are just trying one more way, then, that is not the way of a genuine prayer. Surrender to the Divine will that you are prepared to accept whatever the outcome may be and that you are absolutely helpless. Whatever effort you put in is just as an instrument of the Divine and not as per your own volition.
4.Pray from the Heart not from the Head...............................
Prayer should come from the heart, not from the head. It is the feeling that is important, not the thought. When the feeling is intense, it creates waves of a higher frequency that get connected with the cosmic energy easily and make the fulfilment easily possible. The passion that you feel for God is very significant in raising the emotional intensity.
5.Clarity and Completeness....................................
Next, your request should be clear and complete in all respects. It is like a sort of communication with cosmic energy, and so, what you communicate is very important. If you communicate something different or incomplete, the response too may be what you do not expect. Hence before you pray, consider all aspects of your request and make it a perfect one.
6.Speak Internally................................................
As already mentioned, prayer is a communication. You have to speak internally to God. You can say it aloud also. But it is better to speak internally as it will not distract others. The involvement increases as you go on talking to God and there will come a time when you shall feel God with you everywhere, as an inseparable PRESENCE.
7.One Request at a Time....................................
You should see that you request for only one thing at a time. It is much similar to cooking a delicious dish. You should not mix two recipes at the same time. Because what we finally get will not be either of the two, but a third distortion of both. Hence stick to the principle of "one at a time".
8.Visualization...................................................
As you pray to God visualise the expected result of your prayer, that is, what you want to achieve in great detail. That means, visualise yourself in a state of having fulfilled your prayer, and then enjoy the happiness and joy. Accept that the situation has changed as you have been blessed.
9.Pray with absolute Faith.......................................
Such an acceptance comes from full faith in God. As you know, it is very important to have faith without which nothing can ever happen. Have full confidence in the efficacy of prayer and the benevolence of the Divine.
10.Enjoy the Feeling of Grace......................................
Enjoy the blessing and flow of Grace into you. And request the Divine to fulfil your prayer even if there are flaws in your prayer or possible errors in your belief system.
11.Thank the Divine for the Blessing Received.........................
Naturally, you shall be filled with immense gratitude for the Divine. Express it freely and sincerely to the Divine from the depth of your heart. Prostrate at the feet of the Divine in deep gratitude and total surrender.
And......................................
"If only you know yourselves! You are souls, you are Gods, if ever I feel like blaspheming, it is what I call you man."
Prayer is a form of communication with the Divine.
One may pray to any form of the Divine one chooses and relates to best.
There is an ancient verse in the Vedas which says:
"Aakashath Pathitham Thoyam
Yatha Gachathi Sagaram
Sarvadeva Namaskaram
Keshavam Prathi Gachathi"
"As the water that falls down in rain from anywhere in the sky finally reaches the Ocean, the worship of any divine aspect ultimately reaches the Supreme Being."
1.Invoke the Presence.............................
Invoke the Presence of the Divine before you start the prayer. One way to invoke the Presence is chanting the Moola Mantra.
You may chant the Moola Mantra 3, 21 or 41 times and invite the Presence to fill you or take over you completely and request the Divine to fulfil your prayer even if there are flaws in your prayer or possible errors in your belief system.
2 Emotional Bond......................................
The first and most important thing in a prayer is the personal bond or relation you establish with God. Consider the Divine as your child, father, mother, friend or Guru. God is happiest if the relation you choose is that of a friend. But then, look at yourself and ascertain that you too are a true friend who responds to the request of your friends immediately. The response of the Divine will be similar to your response to the request of your friends.
3.Surrender and Helplessness....................................
The prayer should always be prompted by a feeling of surrender and helplessness. If you feel that you can manage even without Divine Grace and that you are just trying one more way, then, that is not the way of a genuine prayer. Surrender to the Divine will that you are prepared to accept whatever the outcome may be and that you are absolutely helpless. Whatever effort you put in is just as an instrument of the Divine and not as per your own volition.
4.Pray from the Heart not from the Head...............................
Prayer should come from the heart, not from the head. It is the feeling that is important, not the thought. When the feeling is intense, it creates waves of a higher frequency that get connected with the cosmic energy easily and make the fulfilment easily possible. The passion that you feel for God is very significant in raising the emotional intensity.
5.Clarity and Completeness....................................
Next, your request should be clear and complete in all respects. It is like a sort of communication with cosmic energy, and so, what you communicate is very important. If you communicate something different or incomplete, the response too may be what you do not expect. Hence before you pray, consider all aspects of your request and make it a perfect one.
6.Speak Internally................................................
As already mentioned, prayer is a communication. You have to speak internally to God. You can say it aloud also. But it is better to speak internally as it will not distract others. The involvement increases as you go on talking to God and there will come a time when you shall feel God with you everywhere, as an inseparable PRESENCE.
7.One Request at a Time....................................
You should see that you request for only one thing at a time. It is much similar to cooking a delicious dish. You should not mix two recipes at the same time. Because what we finally get will not be either of the two, but a third distortion of both. Hence stick to the principle of "one at a time".
8.Visualization...................................................
As you pray to God visualise the expected result of your prayer, that is, what you want to achieve in great detail. That means, visualise yourself in a state of having fulfilled your prayer, and then enjoy the happiness and joy. Accept that the situation has changed as you have been blessed.
9.Pray with absolute Faith.......................................
Such an acceptance comes from full faith in God. As you know, it is very important to have faith without which nothing can ever happen. Have full confidence in the efficacy of prayer and the benevolence of the Divine.
10.Enjoy the Feeling of Grace......................................
Enjoy the blessing and flow of Grace into you. And request the Divine to fulfil your prayer even if there are flaws in your prayer or possible errors in your belief system.
11.Thank the Divine for the Blessing Received.........................
Naturally, you shall be filled with immense gratitude for the Divine. Express it freely and sincerely to the Divine from the depth of your heart. Prostrate at the feet of the Divine in deep gratitude and total surrender.
And......................................
"If only you know yourselves! You are souls, you are Gods, if ever I feel like blaspheming, it is what I call you man."
Mahavakyas can be applied in Management............
MAHAVAKYAS CAN BE APPLIED IN MANAGEMENT............................
It is interesting to see how the Mahavakyas can be applied for management purposes.
1. PRAJNAANAM BRAHMA................................
Consciousness is God. You do not necessarily have to go to temples and churches to find God. As a leader, think beyond your share holding, authority, personal pleasure, family, friends and cronies. Broaden your awareness to include all the multiple stake holders- the city, state, nation continent, world and cosmos.
2. AYAMAATMAA BRAHMA.............................
This soul, which is energising the otherwise dead and useless body, is God. My soul is part of the universal soul and I am an individual part of the Para Brahman.
3.AHAM BRAHMAASMI....................................
Iam God. NOT IN AN EGOISTIC SENSE. But in a profound, empowering sense. No sovereign government, investor, regulator, boss or any human can ever give me the power that god consciousness does. This power is not for any selfish ends. Then, it will come into conflict with the selfish powers of many other humans and get partly or wholly canceled out.
4.TAT TWAM ASI....................................
You are also that God. See divinity in all beings. Only such leaders can truly respect their colleagues, customers, business partners and society. Without this knowledge and belief, the ego will manifest itself in hypocrisy, condescension, contempt and exploitation...............And......
"The test of a man is how much he can bear , how much he can share , how much he can care and how soon he confesses a mistake and mends it."
It is interesting to see how the Mahavakyas can be applied for management purposes.
1. PRAJNAANAM BRAHMA................................
Consciousness is God. You do not necessarily have to go to temples and churches to find God. As a leader, think beyond your share holding, authority, personal pleasure, family, friends and cronies. Broaden your awareness to include all the multiple stake holders- the city, state, nation continent, world and cosmos.
2. AYAMAATMAA BRAHMA.............................
This soul, which is energising the otherwise dead and useless body, is God. My soul is part of the universal soul and I am an individual part of the Para Brahman.
3.AHAM BRAHMAASMI....................................
Iam God. NOT IN AN EGOISTIC SENSE. But in a profound, empowering sense. No sovereign government, investor, regulator, boss or any human can ever give me the power that god consciousness does. This power is not for any selfish ends. Then, it will come into conflict with the selfish powers of many other humans and get partly or wholly canceled out.
4.TAT TWAM ASI....................................
You are also that God. See divinity in all beings. Only such leaders can truly respect their colleagues, customers, business partners and society. Without this knowledge and belief, the ego will manifest itself in hypocrisy, condescension, contempt and exploitation...............And......
"The test of a man is how much he can bear , how much he can share , how much he can care and how soon he confesses a mistake and mends it."
How to attain serenity of the Mind.........................
.How to attain serenity of the Mind...............Bhagavad Gita says.............
Serenity of mind, good heartedness, silence, self-control, purity of nature – these together are called ‘mental austerity.’
Serenity of mind can be gained only when our relationship with the world at large is put on a healthy basis of understanding, tolerance and love. Further, one who is an uncontrolled sensualist can have little serenity or composure.
The mind runs out through the sense organs into the sensual fields to eke out its satisfaction. The driving force that sets the mind on its endless errands is an intellect ever seething with desires.
Quietude of the mind can be gained only when it is protected from both the inflow of stimuli from the tempting sense objects of the outer world and the whipping desires that march out from the intellect to drive the mind out into the fields of enjoyment.
One who has discovered for himself a divine ideal – in the contemplation of which his mind forgets to run about, or his intellect overlooks to send out new desires – alone can hope to win serenity of the mind.
Verse 16 chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita says about austerity and serenity of mind. (Chapter 17, Verse 16)........................................And
"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give."
Serenity of mind, good heartedness, silence, self-control, purity of nature – these together are called ‘mental austerity.’
Serenity of mind can be gained only when our relationship with the world at large is put on a healthy basis of understanding, tolerance and love. Further, one who is an uncontrolled sensualist can have little serenity or composure.
The mind runs out through the sense organs into the sensual fields to eke out its satisfaction. The driving force that sets the mind on its endless errands is an intellect ever seething with desires.
Quietude of the mind can be gained only when it is protected from both the inflow of stimuli from the tempting sense objects of the outer world and the whipping desires that march out from the intellect to drive the mind out into the fields of enjoyment.
One who has discovered for himself a divine ideal – in the contemplation of which his mind forgets to run about, or his intellect overlooks to send out new desires – alone can hope to win serenity of the mind.
Verse 16 chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita says about austerity and serenity of mind. (Chapter 17, Verse 16)........................................And
"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give."
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Finish what you begin...............................
Finish What You Begin.....................
We are not always sitting down concentrating on a flower in the search for the Self. Having decided that Self Realisation is the ultimate goal for us, go on living our normal life. Everything that we do in life can collectively be channeled toward the ultimate goal, for what we need is a dynamic will and strong willpower.
Will power is the channelling of all energies toward one given point for a given length of time. This will can be brought out from within in everything that we do through the day. It's a powerful will. It's available to everyone. It is channelling the rarefied energies of the body, of awareness itself, into attention and concentration upon everything that we do through the day.
How do we cultivate the willpower? What do we mean by will? Will means that if you're going to complete something, you complete it. Finish that which you begin. Finish it well, beyond your expectations, no matter how long it takes. If you are going to do something, do it well, no matter if it is a simple task or a complicated one. If you're going to read a book and intend to finish the book, then read the book, finish the reading of the book, and understand what it had to offer you, for that was the purpose for reading it.
It is not developing a strong will by having a lot of half-finished jobs. It is not developing a strong will by starting out with a bang on a project and then fizzling out- like............. "soda bottle enthusiasm". These only attach awareness to that which it is aware of and lead us into the distraction of thinking the external mind is real. Then we forget our inner goal of Self Realisation because the subconscious becomes too ramified with, basically, our being disappointed in ourselves, or the willpower being so diversified, or awareness being so divided in many different ways that whatever we want to do never works out because there is not enough will, or shove, or centralisation of energy, or awareness is not at attention over the project enough, to make it come into completion.
A tremendous will is needed on the path of Self Realisation, of drawing the forces of energy together, of drawing awareness away from that which it is aware of constantly, of finishing each job that we begin in the material world, and doing it well, so that we are content within ourselves. Make everything that you do satisfy the inner scrutiny of your inner being. Do a little more than you think that you are able to do. That brings forth just a little more will......................and when you feel you are being slow down or loosing interest seek advice and guidance from Guruji..........and this will just set right things..................and
"Do what you want and not what you know."
We are not always sitting down concentrating on a flower in the search for the Self. Having decided that Self Realisation is the ultimate goal for us, go on living our normal life. Everything that we do in life can collectively be channeled toward the ultimate goal, for what we need is a dynamic will and strong willpower.
Will power is the channelling of all energies toward one given point for a given length of time. This will can be brought out from within in everything that we do through the day. It's a powerful will. It's available to everyone. It is channelling the rarefied energies of the body, of awareness itself, into attention and concentration upon everything that we do through the day.
How do we cultivate the willpower? What do we mean by will? Will means that if you're going to complete something, you complete it. Finish that which you begin. Finish it well, beyond your expectations, no matter how long it takes. If you are going to do something, do it well, no matter if it is a simple task or a complicated one. If you're going to read a book and intend to finish the book, then read the book, finish the reading of the book, and understand what it had to offer you, for that was the purpose for reading it.
It is not developing a strong will by having a lot of half-finished jobs. It is not developing a strong will by starting out with a bang on a project and then fizzling out- like............. "soda bottle enthusiasm". These only attach awareness to that which it is aware of and lead us into the distraction of thinking the external mind is real. Then we forget our inner goal of Self Realisation because the subconscious becomes too ramified with, basically, our being disappointed in ourselves, or the willpower being so diversified, or awareness being so divided in many different ways that whatever we want to do never works out because there is not enough will, or shove, or centralisation of energy, or awareness is not at attention over the project enough, to make it come into completion.
A tremendous will is needed on the path of Self Realisation, of drawing the forces of energy together, of drawing awareness away from that which it is aware of constantly, of finishing each job that we begin in the material world, and doing it well, so that we are content within ourselves. Make everything that you do satisfy the inner scrutiny of your inner being. Do a little more than you think that you are able to do. That brings forth just a little more will......................and when you feel you are being slow down or loosing interest seek advice and guidance from Guruji..........and this will just set right things..................and
"Do what you want and not what you know."
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Teachings of Swami Vivekananda.................
Teachings of Swami Vivekananda........................
The Vedanta recognizes no sin, it only recognizes error. And the greatest error, says the Vedanta, is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature, and that you have no power and you cannot do this and that.
Every time you think in that way, you, as it were, rivet one more link in the chain that binds you down; you add one more layer of hypnotism on to your own soul. Therefore, whosoever thinks he is weak is wrong, whosoever thinks he is impure is wrong, and is throwing a bad thought into the world.
This we must always bear in mind that in the Vedanta there is no attempt at reconciling the present life with the ideal; but this false life must go, and the real life which always exists must manifest itself, must shine out.
No man becomes purer and purer; it is a matter of greater manifestation. The veil drops away, and the native purity of the soul begins to manifest itself. Everything is ours already – infinite purity, freedom, love, and power.
Swami Vivekananda....................................and
"There is never a wrong time to do a right thing."
J.K
The Vedanta recognizes no sin, it only recognizes error. And the greatest error, says the Vedanta, is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature, and that you have no power and you cannot do this and that.
Every time you think in that way, you, as it were, rivet one more link in the chain that binds you down; you add one more layer of hypnotism on to your own soul. Therefore, whosoever thinks he is weak is wrong, whosoever thinks he is impure is wrong, and is throwing a bad thought into the world.
This we must always bear in mind that in the Vedanta there is no attempt at reconciling the present life with the ideal; but this false life must go, and the real life which always exists must manifest itself, must shine out.
No man becomes purer and purer; it is a matter of greater manifestation. The veil drops away, and the native purity of the soul begins to manifest itself. Everything is ours already – infinite purity, freedom, love, and power.
Swami Vivekananda....................................and
"There is never a wrong time to do a right thing."
J.K
What do Upanishads teach us?????
What do the Upanishads teach us???? – By Edmond Holmes.................
The authors of the Upanishads did not all think alike; but, taking their meditations as a whole, we may say that they are dominated by one paramount conception’ that of the ideal of oneness of the soul of man with the soul of the universe.
The Sanskrit word for the soul of man is Atman and the word for the soul of the universe is Brahman.
‘God’s dwelling place’, says Professor Radhakrishnan in this exposition of the philosophy of the Upanishads, ‘is the heart of man. The inner immortal self and the great cosmic power are one and the same.’
Brahman is the Atman, and the Atman is the Brahman. The one supreme power through which all things have been brought into being is one with the inmost self in each man’s heart.’
What is real in each of us is his self or soul. What is real in universe is its self or soul, in virtue of which its All is One, and the name for which in our language is God.
In other words of one of the Upanishads: ‘He who is the Brahman in man and who is that in the sun, these are one.’
Source: An Introduction by Edmond Holmes to the Philosophy of the Upanishads.
Random Teachings from the Upanishads.....................................
Here are a collection of teachings from various Upanishads.
No one can understand the sound of a drum without understanding both the drum and the drummer.
Let one therefore keep the mind pure for what a man thinks, that he becomes.
The only way to know it is to become it.
Self-knowledge is the best of all forms of knowledge; through it, one attains immortality.
Know yourself, so what you’ve done won’t burn you. Nor will what you’ve left undone.
As is the human body, so is the cosmic body; as is the human mind, so is the cosmic mind; as is the atom, so is the Universe.
The spirit down here in man and the spirit up there in the sun, in reality are only one spirit, and there is no other one.
Out of abundance he took abundance and still abundance remained.
In a world where everything changes the divine is everywhere present.
Source:- Upanishads....................................and
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional."
J.K
The authors of the Upanishads did not all think alike; but, taking their meditations as a whole, we may say that they are dominated by one paramount conception’ that of the ideal of oneness of the soul of man with the soul of the universe.
The Sanskrit word for the soul of man is Atman and the word for the soul of the universe is Brahman.
‘God’s dwelling place’, says Professor Radhakrishnan in this exposition of the philosophy of the Upanishads, ‘is the heart of man. The inner immortal self and the great cosmic power are one and the same.’
Brahman is the Atman, and the Atman is the Brahman. The one supreme power through which all things have been brought into being is one with the inmost self in each man’s heart.’
What is real in each of us is his self or soul. What is real in universe is its self or soul, in virtue of which its All is One, and the name for which in our language is God.
In other words of one of the Upanishads: ‘He who is the Brahman in man and who is that in the sun, these are one.’
Source: An Introduction by Edmond Holmes to the Philosophy of the Upanishads.
Random Teachings from the Upanishads.....................................
Here are a collection of teachings from various Upanishads.
No one can understand the sound of a drum without understanding both the drum and the drummer.
Let one therefore keep the mind pure for what a man thinks, that he becomes.
The only way to know it is to become it.
Self-knowledge is the best of all forms of knowledge; through it, one attains immortality.
Know yourself, so what you’ve done won’t burn you. Nor will what you’ve left undone.
As is the human body, so is the cosmic body; as is the human mind, so is the cosmic mind; as is the atom, so is the Universe.
The spirit down here in man and the spirit up there in the sun, in reality are only one spirit, and there is no other one.
Out of abundance he took abundance and still abundance remained.
In a world where everything changes the divine is everywhere present.
Source:- Upanishads....................................and
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional."
J.K
Don't be God Fearing...............Be God Loving.
Don’t be God fearing..........Be God Loving........................
In English we have a word, ‘god-fearing,’ for religious people. A god-fearing person can never be religious, because if you fear God you cannot love him. Love and fear cannot exist together.
With fear, hate can exist, love cannot exist with fear, anger can exist, love cannot; with fear you can bow down, but you cannot surrender; with fear you can be in a relationship between a slave and a master, but there cannot be a love relationship.
Hindus and Buddhists have a totally different attitude, and that attitude is different because they think the whole existence is a cosmic play; you can be playful.
Source: Vedanta – The Supreme Knowledge
And if you can:-
"Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble."
Yours in Divine Friendship.
J.K
In English we have a word, ‘god-fearing,’ for religious people. A god-fearing person can never be religious, because if you fear God you cannot love him. Love and fear cannot exist together.
With fear, hate can exist, love cannot exist with fear, anger can exist, love cannot; with fear you can bow down, but you cannot surrender; with fear you can be in a relationship between a slave and a master, but there cannot be a love relationship.
Hindus and Buddhists have a totally different attitude, and that attitude is different because they think the whole existence is a cosmic play; you can be playful.
Source: Vedanta – The Supreme Knowledge
And if you can:-
"Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble."
Yours in Divine Friendship.
J.K
Thoughts on Happiness...........................
Thoughts on Happiness........................
On a careful analysis we find that man’s happiness is entirely a subjective phenomenon, for there seems to be a distinct and clear relationship between the state of his mind and the joy or sorrow that is experienced by him.
When the mind is agitated, sorrow is experienced and when it is tranquil, there is joy. Happiness, therefore, is measured by the tranquillity of one’s mind.
Man, the roof and crown of creation, has the unique capacity of quieting his mind without helplessly depending upon the objects around him. But this capacity now lies dormant in him and he, unaware of it, foolishly tries to procure happiness through the objects of the world, which have only a false glitter of joy. They can give, indeed, no enduring and everlasting satisfaction.
Our great religious books help to awaken and promote this dormant faculty in man. He need not run after the sense objects to attain some fleeting experiences of joy. He can get engaged in a more permanent and a fuller happiness, which is wholly independent of the availability of agreeable objects and environment.
(Source: Kindle Life By SwamiChinmayananda)............and remember.....
” You don’t think to breathe, you breathe to think.’
On a careful analysis we find that man’s happiness is entirely a subjective phenomenon, for there seems to be a distinct and clear relationship between the state of his mind and the joy or sorrow that is experienced by him.
When the mind is agitated, sorrow is experienced and when it is tranquil, there is joy. Happiness, therefore, is measured by the tranquillity of one’s mind.
Man, the roof and crown of creation, has the unique capacity of quieting his mind without helplessly depending upon the objects around him. But this capacity now lies dormant in him and he, unaware of it, foolishly tries to procure happiness through the objects of the world, which have only a false glitter of joy. They can give, indeed, no enduring and everlasting satisfaction.
Our great religious books help to awaken and promote this dormant faculty in man. He need not run after the sense objects to attain some fleeting experiences of joy. He can get engaged in a more permanent and a fuller happiness, which is wholly independent of the availability of agreeable objects and environment.
(Source: Kindle Life By SwamiChinmayananda)............and remember.....
” You don’t think to breathe, you breathe to think.’
Repitetion of Holy Name of God........................
Repetition of Holy Name of God.................& Guru.
Repetition of the Holy name of the Lord is very good. The mind will become pure through it. While repeating the name of the God you should keep remembrance of the God in your mind. Such repetition and remembrance will do much good. Mere repetition without the remembrance of the God will not be of much use, and its not that easy without concentration and dedication.
As we proceed with meditation we will see that we are, getting more and more realisation. There is no use in merely reading the Shastras (Sacred Scriptures) and discussing about them.
By meditation the mind will become pure, and when the mind becomes pure, realisation of God follows as a matter of course. Ordinarily, we hold our mind on worldly matters. No result worth the name comes out of this. But if we fix our mind in the pure thought of God, we will feel a taste of real bliss.
Swami Nirmalananda (1863 - 1938) A great disciple of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
And Remember...................................
"You have to see the INVISIBLE to do the IMPOSSIBLE."
Repetition of the Holy name of the Lord is very good. The mind will become pure through it. While repeating the name of the God you should keep remembrance of the God in your mind. Such repetition and remembrance will do much good. Mere repetition without the remembrance of the God will not be of much use, and its not that easy without concentration and dedication.
As we proceed with meditation we will see that we are, getting more and more realisation. There is no use in merely reading the Shastras (Sacred Scriptures) and discussing about them.
By meditation the mind will become pure, and when the mind becomes pure, realisation of God follows as a matter of course. Ordinarily, we hold our mind on worldly matters. No result worth the name comes out of this. But if we fix our mind in the pure thought of God, we will feel a taste of real bliss.
Swami Nirmalananda (1863 - 1938) A great disciple of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
And Remember...................................
"You have to see the INVISIBLE to do the IMPOSSIBLE."
No Gratitude..........No grace...............
No Gratitude, No Grace.........................
Once Mother Parvati and Easwara (Lord Shiva) saw a person sitting on the branch of a tree, which was about to break. Watching this, Mother Parvati pleaded with Easwara to save the man. Easwara teasingly remarked, “why should I protect him? Since You saw him first, it is Your duty to save him”.
But the Mother said, “How can I protect him without Your grace. I am the negative and you are the positive. Unless you shower Your grace on him, he cannot be saved. Please do not delay any further”.
Then Easwara replied, “Is it not his duty to call Me for help? How can I go to his rescue without being called? As the proverb goes, one should not attend a function without being invited”.
Mother Parvati, out of her motherly compassion, wanted to protect that person at any cost. So, she said to Easwara, “If that person, when he falls down, cries out amma (mother), I will go to his rescue; and if he cries out appa (father), you should protect him”.
Easwara agreed to her proposal. Both of them eagerly waited for the call. But the person fell down crying Ayyo (alas)!
The words amma or appa did not come to his lips, as he had never respected and revered his parents in his lifetime. Such was his fate!
How can God come to the rescue of a person who has totally forgotten his parents? Both our Mother and Father are verily God. And when with such feelings, we offer our gratitude to our parents, even God cannot refrain from helping us. Ane remember...........................................
"You only live once-but if you work and make it to LIVE right, once is enough.".......................Therefore live with Gratitude, Compassion, Love & Affection.
Once Mother Parvati and Easwara (Lord Shiva) saw a person sitting on the branch of a tree, which was about to break. Watching this, Mother Parvati pleaded with Easwara to save the man. Easwara teasingly remarked, “why should I protect him? Since You saw him first, it is Your duty to save him”.
But the Mother said, “How can I protect him without Your grace. I am the negative and you are the positive. Unless you shower Your grace on him, he cannot be saved. Please do not delay any further”.
Then Easwara replied, “Is it not his duty to call Me for help? How can I go to his rescue without being called? As the proverb goes, one should not attend a function without being invited”.
Mother Parvati, out of her motherly compassion, wanted to protect that person at any cost. So, she said to Easwara, “If that person, when he falls down, cries out amma (mother), I will go to his rescue; and if he cries out appa (father), you should protect him”.
Easwara agreed to her proposal. Both of them eagerly waited for the call. But the person fell down crying Ayyo (alas)!
The words amma or appa did not come to his lips, as he had never respected and revered his parents in his lifetime. Such was his fate!
How can God come to the rescue of a person who has totally forgotten his parents? Both our Mother and Father are verily God. And when with such feelings, we offer our gratitude to our parents, even God cannot refrain from helping us. Ane remember...........................................
"You only live once-but if you work and make it to LIVE right, once is enough.".......................Therefore live with Gratitude, Compassion, Love & Affection.
What's that hard to break??????
WHAT is it that's hard to break???.............. A Nice one to read.
Diamonds are hard to find but not hard to Break.
What is the hardest thing to break then?...........................
The answer is:...................... HABIT!
If you break the H, you still have A BIT. If you break the A, you still
have BIT. If you break the B, you still have IT!
Hey, after you break the T in IT, there is still the 'I'.
And that "I" is the root cause of all the problems. Isn’t it right?!..............................
Now you know why HABIT is so hard to break............................….
We have to respect each other's opinion and view; as We just need to wait and listen actively to others' point of view!.................and
"If you don't control your habit, habit will control you."
Diamonds are hard to find but not hard to Break.
What is the hardest thing to break then?...........................
The answer is:...................... HABIT!
If you break the H, you still have A BIT. If you break the A, you still
have BIT. If you break the B, you still have IT!
Hey, after you break the T in IT, there is still the 'I'.
And that "I" is the root cause of all the problems. Isn’t it right?!..............................
Now you know why HABIT is so hard to break............................….
We have to respect each other's opinion and view; as We just need to wait and listen actively to others' point of view!.................and
"If you don't control your habit, habit will control you."
Friday, August 07, 2009
Hospitality & Fullness............in dealing with Guest....................
Hospitality And Fullness........in dealing with Guest........as guest is = to God (Adhithi Devo bhava)
Hospitality is a vital part of fulfilling obligatory giving. When guests come, they must be given hospitality, at least a mat to sit on and a glass of water to drink. These are obligatory gives. You must never leave your guest standing, and you must never leave your guest thirsty. If a guest were to smell even one whiff from the kitchen of the scented curries of a meal being prepared, he must be asked four times to stay for the meal. He will politely refuse three times and accept on the fourth invitation. This is also an obligatory giving, for the guest is treated as God. God's veiling Grace hides, as we should know, He will come as a guest to your home, unrecognisable. You might think it is your dear friend from a far off place. That, too, is God in another costume, and you must treat that guest as God. Giving to God, God's own creation in your mind brings the highest rewards through the law of karma.
Even if you think you are giving creatively, generously, looking for no rewards, but you are giving for a purpose, that karma will still pay you back with full dividends. This is a positive use of the law of karma. This is not a selfish form of giving. It is the giving of the wise, because you know the law of karma, because you know the Sanatana Dharma,the divine, eternal laws. If you see a need that you can fill and have the impulse to give but recoil from giving, later, when you are in need, there will be someone who has the impulse to give to you but will recoil from giving. The wheels of karma grind slowly but exceedingly well the grains of actions, be they in thought, emotion or those of a physical nature. So, one can be quite selfish and greedy about wanting to practice obligatory giving, to accumulate the punya for the balance of this life, the life in-between lives, in the astral world, and for a good birth in the next incarnation.
The practice of obligatory giving is an investment in a better life, an investment that pays great dividends.
We are not limited by our poverty or wealth in practicing giving. No matter how poor you are, you can still practice it. You can give according to your means, your inspiration, your ability. When the fullness has reached its peak within you while preparing the gift, be it arranging a bouquet of freshly picked flowers, a tray of fruit, counting out coins, sorting a pile of bills or putting zeros on a check that you're writing, then you know that the gift is within your means. Gifts within your means and from your heart are the right and proper gifts...........................And bear in mind....................
"Always be the reason for some one's happiness,never be just a part of it. Always be a part of some one's sadness, But never be the reason for it."
Hospitality is a vital part of fulfilling obligatory giving. When guests come, they must be given hospitality, at least a mat to sit on and a glass of water to drink. These are obligatory gives. You must never leave your guest standing, and you must never leave your guest thirsty. If a guest were to smell even one whiff from the kitchen of the scented curries of a meal being prepared, he must be asked four times to stay for the meal. He will politely refuse three times and accept on the fourth invitation. This is also an obligatory giving, for the guest is treated as God. God's veiling Grace hides, as we should know, He will come as a guest to your home, unrecognisable. You might think it is your dear friend from a far off place. That, too, is God in another costume, and you must treat that guest as God. Giving to God, God's own creation in your mind brings the highest rewards through the law of karma.
Even if you think you are giving creatively, generously, looking for no rewards, but you are giving for a purpose, that karma will still pay you back with full dividends. This is a positive use of the law of karma. This is not a selfish form of giving. It is the giving of the wise, because you know the law of karma, because you know the Sanatana Dharma,the divine, eternal laws. If you see a need that you can fill and have the impulse to give but recoil from giving, later, when you are in need, there will be someone who has the impulse to give to you but will recoil from giving. The wheels of karma grind slowly but exceedingly well the grains of actions, be they in thought, emotion or those of a physical nature. So, one can be quite selfish and greedy about wanting to practice obligatory giving, to accumulate the punya for the balance of this life, the life in-between lives, in the astral world, and for a good birth in the next incarnation.
The practice of obligatory giving is an investment in a better life, an investment that pays great dividends.
We are not limited by our poverty or wealth in practicing giving. No matter how poor you are, you can still practice it. You can give according to your means, your inspiration, your ability. When the fullness has reached its peak within you while preparing the gift, be it arranging a bouquet of freshly picked flowers, a tray of fruit, counting out coins, sorting a pile of bills or putting zeros on a check that you're writing, then you know that the gift is within your means. Gifts within your means and from your heart are the right and proper gifts...........................And bear in mind....................
"Always be the reason for some one's happiness,never be just a part of it. Always be a part of some one's sadness, But never be the reason for it."
Thursday, August 06, 2009
The Power of Obesrvation.........
The Power of Observation..............the most vital power.
Observation is the first faculty to appear in the awakening of the super conscious regions. Observation, when perceptively performed, is cultivated by abstinence from excessive talk. Talk dissipates the energies of the aura and of the vital body of man. A mystic generally does not talk very much, for his intuition works through reason, but does not use the processes of reason. Any intuitive breakthrough will be quite reasonable, but it does not use the processes of reason. Reason takes time.
Super consciousness acts in the now. All super conscious knowing comes in a flash out of the nowhere. Intuition is more direct than reason, and far more accurate. Therefore, the mystic does not ask many questions or enter into lengthy conversations.
Let's Ponder over this and apply it to ourselves. Take this into ourselves and feel it is for us. Do not feel it is being shared with to simply know more about the mind and its processes. Apply it to ourselves, for us are on the spiritual path toward merger with Divine with the guidance and Grace of Guruji. Begin to feel that observation is one of our finest faculties, one that we most cherish. It is the first faculty of the awakening of our super conscious. Let's mentally say to ourselves many times, "I have good observation. Therefore, I am super conscious." This will help us to program our subconscious to accept the fact that, yes, we are a super conscious being, not a temporal being that is only on this planet a short span of years and then disappears forever.
Remember, our powers of observation are cultivated by abstinence from excessive talk. That is all we have to do to begin with and remain more silent and observing, not wasting or dissipating this most vital power.
Some people on the spiritual path cannot wait to talk about their meditations even before they come out of them. They really should stop doing this. It lessens their vital energies and proves to perceptive people that they are not super conscious beings.....................And remember to:-
"Make excellence a habit and not an act."
Observation is the first faculty to appear in the awakening of the super conscious regions. Observation, when perceptively performed, is cultivated by abstinence from excessive talk. Talk dissipates the energies of the aura and of the vital body of man. A mystic generally does not talk very much, for his intuition works through reason, but does not use the processes of reason. Any intuitive breakthrough will be quite reasonable, but it does not use the processes of reason. Reason takes time.
Super consciousness acts in the now. All super conscious knowing comes in a flash out of the nowhere. Intuition is more direct than reason, and far more accurate. Therefore, the mystic does not ask many questions or enter into lengthy conversations.
Let's Ponder over this and apply it to ourselves. Take this into ourselves and feel it is for us. Do not feel it is being shared with to simply know more about the mind and its processes. Apply it to ourselves, for us are on the spiritual path toward merger with Divine with the guidance and Grace of Guruji. Begin to feel that observation is one of our finest faculties, one that we most cherish. It is the first faculty of the awakening of our super conscious. Let's mentally say to ourselves many times, "I have good observation. Therefore, I am super conscious." This will help us to program our subconscious to accept the fact that, yes, we are a super conscious being, not a temporal being that is only on this planet a short span of years and then disappears forever.
Remember, our powers of observation are cultivated by abstinence from excessive talk. That is all we have to do to begin with and remain more silent and observing, not wasting or dissipating this most vital power.
Some people on the spiritual path cannot wait to talk about their meditations even before they come out of them. They really should stop doing this. It lessens their vital energies and proves to perceptive people that they are not super conscious beings.....................And remember to:-
"Make excellence a habit and not an act."
Swan Song................................
Swan song
Meaning
A final gesture or performance, given before dying.
Origin
This term derived from the legend that, while they are mute during the
rest of their lives, swans sing beautifully and mournfully just before
they die. This isn't actually the case - swans, even the inaccurately
named Mute Swans, have a variety of vocal sounds and they don't sing
before they die. The legend was known to be false as early as the days
of ancient Greece, when Pliny the Elder refuted it in Natural History,
AD 77:
"Observation shows that the story that the dying swan sings is false."
Nevertheless, poetic imagery proved to be more attractive than
scientific method and many poets and playwrights made use of the fable
long after Pliny's observations. Chaucer included this line in the
poem Parliament of Fowles:
The Ialous swan, ayens his deth that singeth. [The jealous swan, sings
before his death]
Shakespeare, the Swan of Avon no less, used the image in The Merchant
of Venice, 1596:
Portia: Let music sound while he doth make his choice; then, if he
lose, he makes a swan-like end, fading in music.
The actual term 'swan song', with its current figurative meaning,
doesn't crop up in print until the 18th century. The Scottish cleric
Jon Willison used the expression in one of his Scripture Songs, 1767,
where he refers to "King David's swan-song".
The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) turned the phrase on its
head in the poem On a Volunteer Singer:
Swans sing before they die; ’twere no bad thing
Did certain persons die before they sing.
If people ever did believe in the 'singing before death' story, few
would now claim to do so. 'Swan-song' is now used figuratively and
most commonly to refer to celebrated performers embarking on 'farewell
tours' or 'final performances'. Those ironic quote marks were never
more appropriate than in the case of Nellie Melba, whose swan song
consisted of an eight year long string of 'final concerts' between
1920 and 1928. This led to the popular Australian phrase - 'more
farewells than Nellie Melba'.
Meaning
A final gesture or performance, given before dying.
Origin
This term derived from the legend that, while they are mute during the
rest of their lives, swans sing beautifully and mournfully just before
they die. This isn't actually the case - swans, even the inaccurately
named Mute Swans, have a variety of vocal sounds and they don't sing
before they die. The legend was known to be false as early as the days
of ancient Greece, when Pliny the Elder refuted it in Natural History,
AD 77:
"Observation shows that the story that the dying swan sings is false."
Nevertheless, poetic imagery proved to be more attractive than
scientific method and many poets and playwrights made use of the fable
long after Pliny's observations. Chaucer included this line in the
poem Parliament of Fowles:
The Ialous swan, ayens his deth that singeth. [The jealous swan, sings
before his death]
Shakespeare, the Swan of Avon no less, used the image in The Merchant
of Venice, 1596:
Portia: Let music sound while he doth make his choice; then, if he
lose, he makes a swan-like end, fading in music.
The actual term 'swan song', with its current figurative meaning,
doesn't crop up in print until the 18th century. The Scottish cleric
Jon Willison used the expression in one of his Scripture Songs, 1767,
where he refers to "King David's swan-song".
The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) turned the phrase on its
head in the poem On a Volunteer Singer:
Swans sing before they die; ’twere no bad thing
Did certain persons die before they sing.
If people ever did believe in the 'singing before death' story, few
would now claim to do so. 'Swan-song' is now used figuratively and
most commonly to refer to celebrated performers embarking on 'farewell
tours' or 'final performances'. Those ironic quote marks were never
more appropriate than in the case of Nellie Melba, whose swan song
consisted of an eight year long string of 'final concerts' between
1920 and 1928. This led to the popular Australian phrase - 'more
farewells than Nellie Melba'.
Hearing.................................
Hearing........................? A Good one to read.
A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quiet sure how to approach her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.
'Here's what you do,' said the doctor, 'stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response.'
That evening when the wife was in the kitchen, cooking dinner, he says to himself, 'I'm about 40 feet away, let us see what happens.' Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?' No response. So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, 'Honey, what's for dinners?' Still, no response. Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?' Again he gets no response. He walks up to the kitchen door about 10 feet away. 'Honey, what's for dinner?' Again there is no response. So he walks right up behind her..
'Honey, what's for dinner?' 'James, for the FIFTH time I repeat, it's PIZZA!'
Moral: The problem may not be with the other person as we think, it could be very much with us..!
A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quiet sure how to approach her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.
'Here's what you do,' said the doctor, 'stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response.'
That evening when the wife was in the kitchen, cooking dinner, he says to himself, 'I'm about 40 feet away, let us see what happens.' Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?' No response. So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, 'Honey, what's for dinners?' Still, no response. Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?' Again he gets no response. He walks up to the kitchen door about 10 feet away. 'Honey, what's for dinner?' Again there is no response. So he walks right up behind her..
'Honey, what's for dinner?' 'James, for the FIFTH time I repeat, it's PIZZA!'
Moral: The problem may not be with the other person as we think, it could be very much with us..!
Different perspective..................................
A Different Perspective...................
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: ' I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognised his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?
The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'What he had written was: ' Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was much more effective?
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it.............................
&
"You only live once-but if you work and make it to LIVE right, once is enough."
Happy Reading. Keep Smiling.
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: ' I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognised his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?
The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'What he had written was: ' Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was much more effective?
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it.............................
&
"You only live once-but if you work and make it to LIVE right, once is enough."
Happy Reading. Keep Smiling.
The mind is complete in the light of awareness................
The Mind Is Complete.................in the light of awareness........if not mend your mind through sadhna.
Should we acquire the ability to identify as the experience instead of the experience, the true and valid nature of awareness and its patterns of movement in the mind become evident. We see the mind as a total manifestation, containing all of the past and future evolutions in the eternal now.
The mind is vast in its combinations of time, space and form. It contains every vibration from subtle to gross. Awareness is free to travel in the mind according to our knowledge, our discipline and our ability to detach from the objects of awareness and see ourselves as the experience of awareness itself. This explains many of the so-called mysteries of life.
There are people with the ability to look back into the past and ahead to the future accurately and in detail. That feat is understood clearly in the light of awareness travelling through the mind. The entire mind exists right now, past and future included. These psychically talented individuals have trained their awareness to flow into areas of the mind that are unavailable to the average person. They go into the mind itself to view these phenomena. Similarly, mind-reading and other mystical wonders are illumined by the knowledge that there is only one mind, and all phases of it are open to the spiritually awakened person.
What we term states of mind are, therefore, areas of distinct vibration. On the Earth we have continents, nations, regions, states and cities. Each is distinct and unique. We have five states of mind:-
1.conscious.
2. subconscious.
3. sub of the subconscious.
4. sub super conscious
and
5. super conscious.
and within each are hundreds and thousands of cities. In the subconscious area, the traveller can encounter fear, hatred, love and good memories. In the conscious mind area he can experience business, human relationships and intellectual, social vibrations. In the super conscious area, there are even more regions, and he comes into visions, light, sound, overwhelming joy and peace.
Should we acquire the ability to identify as the experience instead of the experience, the true and valid nature of awareness and its patterns of movement in the mind become evident. We see the mind as a total manifestation, containing all of the past and future evolutions in the eternal now.
The mind is vast in its combinations of time, space and form. It contains every vibration from subtle to gross. Awareness is free to travel in the mind according to our knowledge, our discipline and our ability to detach from the objects of awareness and see ourselves as the experience of awareness itself. This explains many of the so-called mysteries of life.
There are people with the ability to look back into the past and ahead to the future accurately and in detail. That feat is understood clearly in the light of awareness travelling through the mind. The entire mind exists right now, past and future included. These psychically talented individuals have trained their awareness to flow into areas of the mind that are unavailable to the average person. They go into the mind itself to view these phenomena. Similarly, mind-reading and other mystical wonders are illumined by the knowledge that there is only one mind, and all phases of it are open to the spiritually awakened person.
What we term states of mind are, therefore, areas of distinct vibration. On the Earth we have continents, nations, regions, states and cities. Each is distinct and unique. We have five states of mind:-
1.conscious.
2. subconscious.
3. sub of the subconscious.
4. sub super conscious
and
5. super conscious.
and within each are hundreds and thousands of cities. In the subconscious area, the traveller can encounter fear, hatred, love and good memories. In the conscious mind area he can experience business, human relationships and intellectual, social vibrations. In the super conscious area, there are even more regions, and he comes into visions, light, sound, overwhelming joy and peace.
The purity of Awareness.....................................
The Purity of Awareness....................
To the awakened mystic, there is only one mind. There is no "your mind" and "my mind," just one mind, finished, complete in all stages of manifestation. Man's individual awareness flows through the mind as the traveller treds the globe. Just as the free citizen moves from city to city and country to country, awareness moves through the multitude of forms in the mind.
Before we meditate, we view the cycles of our life and erroneously conclude that the mind changes, that it evolves. We view joy one moment, and despair the next and, because we feel so different in these states, assume we have changed. We grow up and look back on our childhood and again see the appearance of change. Through meditation, however, we observe that we have not changed at all. Awareness becomes our real identity, and it is pure and changeless. It was the same at seven years of age as it is today. It is the same in happiness as it is in sadness. Pure awareness cannot change. It is simply aware.
Therefore, you are right now the totality of yourself. You never were different, and you never will be. You are perfect at this very moment. Change is only a seeming concept created through false identification with the experiences we have in various areas of the one mind.
Everything in the world and everything in the mind is as it should be in a perfect state of evolution. Super consciously, we can clearly see this through the eyes of our soul. When looking at it through the instinctive-intellectual mind, we don't see this perfection. It is as if we have blinders on both sides of our eyes, like a donkey. The carrot of desire dangles right in front of our nose when we are in the instinctive-intellectual mind, and we are going after it, step at a time, step at a time, with our blinders on. We have to go in and in and in and reach an expanded state of awareness and gain that mountaintop consciousness where we perceive that there is no injustice in the world. There is not one wrong thing. All is in perfect order and rhythm in God's cosmic world................................And..................
"If only you learn the art of' INVOLVE', you will learn the science of 'EVOLVE'
To the awakened mystic, there is only one mind. There is no "your mind" and "my mind," just one mind, finished, complete in all stages of manifestation. Man's individual awareness flows through the mind as the traveller treds the globe. Just as the free citizen moves from city to city and country to country, awareness moves through the multitude of forms in the mind.
Before we meditate, we view the cycles of our life and erroneously conclude that the mind changes, that it evolves. We view joy one moment, and despair the next and, because we feel so different in these states, assume we have changed. We grow up and look back on our childhood and again see the appearance of change. Through meditation, however, we observe that we have not changed at all. Awareness becomes our real identity, and it is pure and changeless. It was the same at seven years of age as it is today. It is the same in happiness as it is in sadness. Pure awareness cannot change. It is simply aware.
Therefore, you are right now the totality of yourself. You never were different, and you never will be. You are perfect at this very moment. Change is only a seeming concept created through false identification with the experiences we have in various areas of the one mind.
Everything in the world and everything in the mind is as it should be in a perfect state of evolution. Super consciously, we can clearly see this through the eyes of our soul. When looking at it through the instinctive-intellectual mind, we don't see this perfection. It is as if we have blinders on both sides of our eyes, like a donkey. The carrot of desire dangles right in front of our nose when we are in the instinctive-intellectual mind, and we are going after it, step at a time, step at a time, with our blinders on. We have to go in and in and in and reach an expanded state of awareness and gain that mountaintop consciousness where we perceive that there is no injustice in the world. There is not one wrong thing. All is in perfect order and rhythm in God's cosmic world................................And..................
"If only you learn the art of' INVOLVE', you will learn the science of 'EVOLVE'
Contentment..................................................
Contentment..............The stronger you are in contentment, the greater will be your peace and happiness.
A very Good one to read.
How do we practice contentment? Simply do not harm others by thought, word or deed. As a practitioner of non injury, you can sleep contentedly at night and experience happiness throughout the day. Contentment is a quality that everyone wants, and buys things to obtain-"Oh, if only I had my house redecorated, I would be content." "A new wardrobe would content me, give me joy and serenity." "To be content, I must have a vacation and get away from it all. There I can live the serene life and have joyous experiences."
The righteous way is to look within and bring out the latent contentment that is already there by doing nothing to inhibit its natural expression, as happiness, the mood of the soul, permeates out through every cell of the physical body. Contentment is one of the most difficult qualities to obtain, and is well summed up within our food blessing mantra, from the Shukla Yajur Veda, Isa Upanishad invocation:-
"That is fullness. Creation is fullness. From that fullness flows this world's fullness. This fullness issues from that fullness, yet that fullness remains full."
This joy we seek is the joy of fullness, lacking nothing.
Life is meant to be lived joyously. There is in much of the world the belief that life is a burden, a feeling of penitence, that it is good to suffer, good for the soul. In fact, spiritual life is not that way at all. The existentialist would have you believe that depression, rage, fear and anguish are the foremost qualities of the human temper and expression.
The communists used to have us believe that joy and serenity as the outgrowth of religion are just an opiate of the people, a narcotic of unreality. The Semitic religions of the Near East would have us believe that suffering is good for the soul, and there is not much you can do about it. The Hindu perspective is that contentment is a reflection of centeredness, and discontentment is a reflection of externalised consciousness and ramified desire.
Maintaining joy and serenity in life means being content with your surroundings, be they meagre or lavish. Be content with your money, be it a small amount or a large amount. Be content with your health. Bear up under ailments and be thankful that they are not worse than they are. Protect your health if it is good. It is a valuable treasure. Be content with your friends. Be loyal to those who are your long-time, trusted companions. Basically, contentment, happiness, is freedom from desire gained by redirecting the forces of desire and making a beautiful life within what one already has in life.
The rich seeking more riches are not content. The famous seeking more fame are not content. The learned seeking more knowledge are not content. Being content with what you have does not mean you cannot discriminate and seek to progress in life. It doesn't mean you should not use your willpower and fulfil your plans.
It does mean you should not become upset while you are striving toward your goals, frustrated or unhappy if you do not get what you want. The best striving is to keep pushing along the natural unfoldment of positive trends and events in your life, your family life and your business. Contentment is working within your means with what is available to you, living within your income, being grateful for what you have, and not unhappy over what you lack.
There are many frustrated souls on the path who torment themselves no end and walk around with long faces because they estimate they are not unfolding spiritually fast enough. They have set goals of Self Realisation for themselves far beyond their abilities to immediately obtain. If people say, "I am not going to do anything that will not make me peaceful or that will threaten my peace of mind," how will they get anywhere? That is not the idea of contentment. True contentment is seeing all-pervasiveness of the one divine power everywhere. The light within the eyes of each person is that divine power. With this in mind, you can go anywhere and do anything. Contentment is there, inside you, and needs to be brought out. It is a spiritual power. So, yes, do what makes you content. But know that contentment really transcends worrying about the challenges that face you. contentment is being peaceful in any situation. The stronger you are in contentment, the
greater the challenges you can face and still remain quiet on the inside, peaceful and content, poised like a hummingbird hovering over a flower.
And
"Do things rightfully, gracefully, confidently & articulately- this will gratify many and astonish the rest."
A very Good one to read.
How do we practice contentment? Simply do not harm others by thought, word or deed. As a practitioner of non injury, you can sleep contentedly at night and experience happiness throughout the day. Contentment is a quality that everyone wants, and buys things to obtain-"Oh, if only I had my house redecorated, I would be content." "A new wardrobe would content me, give me joy and serenity." "To be content, I must have a vacation and get away from it all. There I can live the serene life and have joyous experiences."
The righteous way is to look within and bring out the latent contentment that is already there by doing nothing to inhibit its natural expression, as happiness, the mood of the soul, permeates out through every cell of the physical body. Contentment is one of the most difficult qualities to obtain, and is well summed up within our food blessing mantra, from the Shukla Yajur Veda, Isa Upanishad invocation:-
"That is fullness. Creation is fullness. From that fullness flows this world's fullness. This fullness issues from that fullness, yet that fullness remains full."
This joy we seek is the joy of fullness, lacking nothing.
Life is meant to be lived joyously. There is in much of the world the belief that life is a burden, a feeling of penitence, that it is good to suffer, good for the soul. In fact, spiritual life is not that way at all. The existentialist would have you believe that depression, rage, fear and anguish are the foremost qualities of the human temper and expression.
The communists used to have us believe that joy and serenity as the outgrowth of religion are just an opiate of the people, a narcotic of unreality. The Semitic religions of the Near East would have us believe that suffering is good for the soul, and there is not much you can do about it. The Hindu perspective is that contentment is a reflection of centeredness, and discontentment is a reflection of externalised consciousness and ramified desire.
Maintaining joy and serenity in life means being content with your surroundings, be they meagre or lavish. Be content with your money, be it a small amount or a large amount. Be content with your health. Bear up under ailments and be thankful that they are not worse than they are. Protect your health if it is good. It is a valuable treasure. Be content with your friends. Be loyal to those who are your long-time, trusted companions. Basically, contentment, happiness, is freedom from desire gained by redirecting the forces of desire and making a beautiful life within what one already has in life.
The rich seeking more riches are not content. The famous seeking more fame are not content. The learned seeking more knowledge are not content. Being content with what you have does not mean you cannot discriminate and seek to progress in life. It doesn't mean you should not use your willpower and fulfil your plans.
It does mean you should not become upset while you are striving toward your goals, frustrated or unhappy if you do not get what you want. The best striving is to keep pushing along the natural unfoldment of positive trends and events in your life, your family life and your business. Contentment is working within your means with what is available to you, living within your income, being grateful for what you have, and not unhappy over what you lack.
There are many frustrated souls on the path who torment themselves no end and walk around with long faces because they estimate they are not unfolding spiritually fast enough. They have set goals of Self Realisation for themselves far beyond their abilities to immediately obtain. If people say, "I am not going to do anything that will not make me peaceful or that will threaten my peace of mind," how will they get anywhere? That is not the idea of contentment. True contentment is seeing all-pervasiveness of the one divine power everywhere. The light within the eyes of each person is that divine power. With this in mind, you can go anywhere and do anything. Contentment is there, inside you, and needs to be brought out. It is a spiritual power. So, yes, do what makes you content. But know that contentment really transcends worrying about the challenges that face you. contentment is being peaceful in any situation. The stronger you are in contentment, the
greater the challenges you can face and still remain quiet on the inside, peaceful and content, poised like a hummingbird hovering over a flower.
And
"Do things rightfully, gracefully, confidently & articulately- this will gratify many and astonish the rest."
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