An Invisible Currency
The give and take in our actions and relationships is known in the East as karma. Although the currency of this exchange is invisible, we can think of our relationships as entailing investments and withdrawals, as in a bank account or a business. If I withdraw more than I invest, there will be trouble.
For example, an executive is travelling a lot and his secretary deals with a huge amount of work while he is away. Instead of acknowledging how much his success depends on her loyalty and accuracy, and the responsibility she is fulfilling, he remains obsessed with his sales figures. Such a situation can only go on for so long. Usually, there'll come a moment when, after giving so much, the lack of appreciation becomes intolerable. The loyal worker will suddenly quit, perhaps leaving chaos in her wake.
Appreciation, to an accountant, means an increase in the value of assets. In the same way, appreciation within relationships increases their durability and value. It's a positive energy, which, when invested well, adds to our stock of that invaluable asset - goodwill.
How would meditation affect the above scenario? When we make the right connection with the divine, we are able to draw on unlimited stocks of goodwill. This produces a generosity of spirit from which appreciation of others radiates as a natural consequence. If the boss had been a meditator, he could not have become so disrespectful and unfeeling.
And the secretary? It might seem paradoxical, but meditation, by helping her to maintain her self-esteem internally, would free her of any need for her boss's love and appreciation. Her attitude would be that she was doing the work for her own satisfaction, and for the feeling that what she was doing was right and must bring its own return in its own time.
If at some point her boss were suddenly to recognize what a jewel she was, and change his behaviour towards her, that would of course be fine. She wouldn't be begging for it, but her patience and tolerance would increase the chances of its happening. If she decided there was a better use of her time and energy elsewhere that would also be fine. She would leave according to her own standards of decent behaviour, without an outburst of rage or recrimination.
But for as long as the job still suited her, she might decide to stay put, rather than be pushed into quitting - perhaps into a worse situation - by feelings of resentment and frustration.
Meditation helps us to keep our cool, greatly increasing the chances that we will judge situations correctly and act in ways that build a good future, rather than destroy what we have already earned.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Possessiveness and Dependency
Close personal relationships offer some of the biggest challenges to our ability to sustain peace and positivity. This is connected with the fact that family intimacy, while capable of being a source of inspiration and joy, can also bring about possessiveness and dependency. These are widespread diseases of the spirit in today's world, but can be cured by meditation.
A tell-tale symptom of these diseases is lack of courtesy. Our nearest and dearest become victims of behaviours which we would not dream of showing towards people with whom we are less familiar. It's not just a question of manners, but of respect.
So often, a hierarchy of relationships becomes established in which, for example, the father takes it for granted that he will be listened to by the mother - or vice versa. Or an older brother orders around a younger family member, not giving the sibling space in which to speak his or her own mind. Once established, these patterns tend to be carried with us through life, so that even when we have left the original family setting, we bring the same tendencies into our new relationships.
Meditation brings a very different element into the picture. As I become aware of myself as an eternal soul, an actor on the stage of the world, the realization grows that the role I am playing with others now is only one part of the whole.
I don't know where I was before I took this birth, nor where I will be afterwards. The same is true for those with whom I am close. I do have a particular responsibility towards them whilst we are playing our parts together, but this only lasts a short time within eternity. As husband and wife, for example, each has a particular role today, but who knows about yesterday or tomorrow?
In meditation, I stabilize in the consciousness that I am an eternal soul, and that all human beings are souls, members of a huge, all-embracing family. Roles will change, but as souls, we are brothers - we have no other relationship. When I bring this consciousness into family life, it provides a positive and secure foundation for everyday interactions. Renewing the awareness of eternal truths protects against limited feelings of 'my' husband, 'my' wife, 'my' son, and so on, where such feelings signify possessiveness and a desire to control, rather than family unity and loyalty.
I still have my own unique role to play. But misunderstanding and suffering are reduced when the part in me that tries to control others, or that abandons control to others, is left behind. Both of these are essentially negative behaviours, born of insecurity, not true responsibility or love.
By knowing myself as a soul in relationship with the Supreme, my self-respect returns. There is an inner detachment, and the feeling that here on the stage, I, the soul, am alone - it is just a role that I play here with others. From this strong vantage-point, I'll no longer feel a need to manipulate others, but instead will bring pure feelings of genuine love and appreciation into my relationships
Close personal relationships offer some of the biggest challenges to our ability to sustain peace and positivity. This is connected with the fact that family intimacy, while capable of being a source of inspiration and joy, can also bring about possessiveness and dependency. These are widespread diseases of the spirit in today's world, but can be cured by meditation.
A tell-tale symptom of these diseases is lack of courtesy. Our nearest and dearest become victims of behaviours which we would not dream of showing towards people with whom we are less familiar. It's not just a question of manners, but of respect.
So often, a hierarchy of relationships becomes established in which, for example, the father takes it for granted that he will be listened to by the mother - or vice versa. Or an older brother orders around a younger family member, not giving the sibling space in which to speak his or her own mind. Once established, these patterns tend to be carried with us through life, so that even when we have left the original family setting, we bring the same tendencies into our new relationships.
Meditation brings a very different element into the picture. As I become aware of myself as an eternal soul, an actor on the stage of the world, the realization grows that the role I am playing with others now is only one part of the whole.
I don't know where I was before I took this birth, nor where I will be afterwards. The same is true for those with whom I am close. I do have a particular responsibility towards them whilst we are playing our parts together, but this only lasts a short time within eternity. As husband and wife, for example, each has a particular role today, but who knows about yesterday or tomorrow?
In meditation, I stabilize in the consciousness that I am an eternal soul, and that all human beings are souls, members of a huge, all-embracing family. Roles will change, but as souls, we are brothers - we have no other relationship. When I bring this consciousness into family life, it provides a positive and secure foundation for everyday interactions. Renewing the awareness of eternal truths protects against limited feelings of 'my' husband, 'my' wife, 'my' son, and so on, where such feelings signify possessiveness and a desire to control, rather than family unity and loyalty.
I still have my own unique role to play. But misunderstanding and suffering are reduced when the part in me that tries to control others, or that abandons control to others, is left behind. Both of these are essentially negative behaviours, born of insecurity, not true responsibility or love.
By knowing myself as a soul in relationship with the Supreme, my self-respect returns. There is an inner detachment, and the feeling that here on the stage, I, the soul, am alone - it is just a role that I play here with others. From this strong vantage-point, I'll no longer feel a need to manipulate others, but instead will bring pure feelings of genuine love and appreciation into my relationships
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Meditation and Communication
Meditation charges the battery of the soul, making available a positive energy that increases my capacity for creating positive and fruitful connections and relationships with others.
Connecting my mind with God is like plugging into a mains electricity supply. The energy received, vertically, from the Supreme Being - unlimited peace, love, purity, wisdom and joy - flows out horizontally into my actions and relationships.
The love and wisdom I receive from God enable me to love know and understand myself. The sense of God's pure good wishes enables me to respect myself. Communion with God answers my questions about myself, and brings me peace and fulfillment.
When I communicate with others from this stable space, it is as though my meaning is carried on a wave of goodwill, easily reaching the other person or persons. The meeting of minds precedes the transfer of meaning! In contrast, communication is difficult when I don't like and understand myself.My confusion and lack of self-respect, triggers confusion in others.
Meditation charges the battery of the soul, making available a positive energy that increases my capacity for creating positive and fruitful connections and relationships with others.
Connecting my mind with God is like plugging into a mains electricity supply. The energy received, vertically, from the Supreme Being - unlimited peace, love, purity, wisdom and joy - flows out horizontally into my actions and relationships.
The love and wisdom I receive from God enable me to love know and understand myself. The sense of God's pure good wishes enables me to respect myself. Communion with God answers my questions about myself, and brings me peace and fulfillment.
When I communicate with others from this stable space, it is as though my meaning is carried on a wave of goodwill, easily reaching the other person or persons. The meeting of minds precedes the transfer of meaning! In contrast, communication is difficult when I don't like and understand myself.My confusion and lack of self-respect, triggers confusion in others.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Cleanliness of Attitude
The light of meditation brings clarity to the self, about the self. This helps me to communicate much more clearly than when I am not sure what is going on inside me. Effective communication promotes understanding, and strengthens relationships.
More importantly, relationships are also connected with attitude and vision. Sometimes, I may feel I have said and done the right things, yet still someone is not behaving towards me as I would wish. It is valuable at such times to check my attitude towards that person and the vision with which I am seeing them.
I may find a slight feeling of disapproval, a resistance to something in their personality. Neither of us may be conscious of it, but this feeling casts a shadow on the other person. They are not receiving the acceptance or respect that they should, and that influences their ability to hear me, and the way they behave towards me.
The discipline of meditation enables me to clean out my thoughts, feelings and attitudes, ensuring that what I share with others is positive. Then it is much easier for others to connect with me in a positive way.
The light of meditation brings clarity to the self, about the self. This helps me to communicate much more clearly than when I am not sure what is going on inside me. Effective communication promotes understanding, and strengthens relationships.
More importantly, relationships are also connected with attitude and vision. Sometimes, I may feel I have said and done the right things, yet still someone is not behaving towards me as I would wish. It is valuable at such times to check my attitude towards that person and the vision with which I am seeing them.
I may find a slight feeling of disapproval, a resistance to something in their personality. Neither of us may be conscious of it, but this feeling casts a shadow on the other person. They are not receiving the acceptance or respect that they should, and that influences their ability to hear me, and the way they behave towards me.
The discipline of meditation enables me to clean out my thoughts, feelings and attitudes, ensuring that what I share with others is positive. Then it is much easier for others to connect with me in a positive way.
Friday, October 9, 2009
God The Goldsmith
The Goldsmith
Remembering God as the Goldsmith and Jeweller is to invite total purification of the soul. A real jeweller doesn't like artificial materials. He'll obtain pure gold from low-quality alloy by heating the metal in a furnace. Furthermore, he doesn't want to see a single flaw - he knows how much it reduces a precious stone's value.
Meditation is like a fire of purification. I put myself into God's care, with love and humility, knowing this is the way to bring out the best in me. God the Goldsmith makes Sure that all the impurities, the false and artificial aspects of my personality, are removed.
Courage and faith are needed to undergo this transformation, because there comes a point where the metal has lost its previous form, but hasn't yet been reshaped into something new. I may find myself in a fluid, formless, in between state, neither one thing nor the other.
I have let go of the support my previous identity and position gave me, and haven't yet developed the new role I would like to play. I am also more aware than ever of the rubbish mixed in the soul as it separates out from that which is real and true in me. As soon as I say I want to change, it's a challenge to the forces of negativity, within and without, to come and test me.
At such times, complete faith in the craftsmanship of the Supreme is needed. I know I am in God's skilful hands and that the process will produce something of great value. The challenge is simply to stay still.
The intensity of my love for God increases ... it becomes like a fire, cleansing the soul ... I realize that I had accumulated so much impurity, so much that was negative and artificial ... the fire draws this out of me, and it leaves me ... I let go of physical aspects of identity, knowing these are, in any case, impermanent ... it
feels like I have nothing, but I see that I am becoming light, and free from burdens ... God's love is purifying me ... I emerge from the fire as pure gold ... staying in the hands of the Jeweller, as a child of God, I know that my original beauty is being restored.
Remembering God as the Goldsmith and Jeweller is to invite total purification of the soul. A real jeweller doesn't like artificial materials. He'll obtain pure gold from low-quality alloy by heating the metal in a furnace. Furthermore, he doesn't want to see a single flaw - he knows how much it reduces a precious stone's value.
Meditation is like a fire of purification. I put myself into God's care, with love and humility, knowing this is the way to bring out the best in me. God the Goldsmith makes Sure that all the impurities, the false and artificial aspects of my personality, are removed.
Courage and faith are needed to undergo this transformation, because there comes a point where the metal has lost its previous form, but hasn't yet been reshaped into something new. I may find myself in a fluid, formless, in between state, neither one thing nor the other.
I have let go of the support my previous identity and position gave me, and haven't yet developed the new role I would like to play. I am also more aware than ever of the rubbish mixed in the soul as it separates out from that which is real and true in me. As soon as I say I want to change, it's a challenge to the forces of negativity, within and without, to come and test me.
At such times, complete faith in the craftsmanship of the Supreme is needed. I know I am in God's skilful hands and that the process will produce something of great value. The challenge is simply to stay still.
The intensity of my love for God increases ... it becomes like a fire, cleansing the soul ... I realize that I had accumulated so much impurity, so much that was negative and artificial ... the fire draws this out of me, and it leaves me ... I let go of physical aspects of identity, knowing these are, in any case, impermanent ... it
feels like I have nothing, but I see that I am becoming light, and free from burdens ... God's love is purifying me ... I emerge from the fire as pure gold ... staying in the hands of the Jeweller, as a child of God, I know that my original beauty is being restored.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Mother and Father
The relationship can develop at many levels. For example, particularly at the beginning and end of the day, there is special value in relating to God as my spiritual parent. Giving time to a sweet inner conversation and loving experience with my Supreme Father and Mother, I become equipped with the emotional resources needed to stay strong in the face of life's challenges.
Physical parents do their best but at the human level, the impressions left on our minds by childhood years are often mixed. So, I leave aside all those memories, good and bad, and in soul-consciousness I find I can draw on such an unlimited source of goodness as to make God the perfect parent.
As the Supreme Father, God is like the sun, radiating the energy of truth, helping me grow with the creative power of His being. In the stillness of the early morning, I feel His warmth and light awakening me, pushing away the shadows of my body-consciousness, charging the battery of truth within me. His power shines into my being, protecting, guiding and strengthening me.
When I focus on God as the spiritual Mother, I am empowered by a flow of love, mercy and acceptance that is unconditional and unending. In this relationship, God personifies the feminine principle, nurturing with tenderness and care, able to give constantly without any other agenda. This Supreme Mother also forgives, enabling me to learn from my mistakes. It's beautiful to go to God as the Mother in the evening, put the day in front of Her, feel Her acceptance and guidance, and become free from all burdens.
The relationship can develop at many levels. For example, particularly at the beginning and end of the day, there is special value in relating to God as my spiritual parent. Giving time to a sweet inner conversation and loving experience with my Supreme Father and Mother, I become equipped with the emotional resources needed to stay strong in the face of life's challenges.
Physical parents do their best but at the human level, the impressions left on our minds by childhood years are often mixed. So, I leave aside all those memories, good and bad, and in soul-consciousness I find I can draw on such an unlimited source of goodness as to make God the perfect parent.
As the Supreme Father, God is like the sun, radiating the energy of truth, helping me grow with the creative power of His being. In the stillness of the early morning, I feel His warmth and light awakening me, pushing away the shadows of my body-consciousness, charging the battery of truth within me. His power shines into my being, protecting, guiding and strengthening me.
When I focus on God as the spiritual Mother, I am empowered by a flow of love, mercy and acceptance that is unconditional and unending. In this relationship, God personifies the feminine principle, nurturing with tenderness and care, able to give constantly without any other agenda. This Supreme Mother also forgives, enabling me to learn from my mistakes. It's beautiful to go to God as the Mother in the evening, put the day in front of Her, feel Her acceptance and guidance, and become free from all burdens.
Monday, September 28, 2009
BRAHMA KUMARIS GLOBAL FESTIVAL FOR RECEIVING DIVINE BLESSINGS AND POWERS
Shantivan, Abu Road: The international spiritual organization Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya will be organizing a Global Festival aiming at a world-wide awareness of realization of divine powers and natural inheritance of divine boons and blessings from the Almighty Authority. The two-day festival will commence from 3-4th October 2009 and will continue through a 50-day celebrations and programmes on ‘RECEIVING DIVINE POWERS THROUGH DIVINE BLESSINGS’ with a Grand Finale on 22nd November 2009 .
Disclosing this, Secretary General of the Brahma Kumaris B.K. Nirwair said that for the first time in the history of Brahma Kumaris such a unique spiritual programme is being organized at a global level.
Icon of divinity and Chief Administrative head of Brahma Kumaris Rajyogini Dadi Dadi Janaki Ji, Special messenger of God and Additional Chief Administrative Head Rajyogini Dadi Hridaymohini Ji, Joint Chief Administrative Head Dadi Ratan Mohini Ji, supported by a large number of Senior Rajyogi and Rajyogini brothers and sisters of around the world who have acquired an experience of deep sense of divinity through intense spiritual efforts would be the Chief Speakers empowering all God’s children in the realization and experience of divine powers and blessings.
The preparations are on for the launch of this maiden programme which will be held simultaneously at all the major cities like Delhi, Kolkota, Mumbai, Chennai,Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Raipur, Jaipur, Bhuwaneshwar, Patna, Guwahati and Ranchi etc on 3rd and 4th October 2009 on the same theme and at the same time. This programme is aimed at transmitting positive vibrations to create a pure spiritual environment all over through a series of powerful meditation experiences.
An added attraction of these celebrations is the direct Live telecast by Aastha, Sanskar and various other regional and spiritual channels at national and regional levels for the benefit of the masses.
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