No matter what you have been through, you can always get up and make changes, says Dawn Fields.
Just think about this for a moment: How many times have you done something in your past that you were not too happy about? It could be anything. Let’s say that you are an addicted person. You may be addicted to drugs, or alcohol or the wrong type of man. Perhaps you are addicted to stressful jobs that bring you little pay. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances may be. Hey, it doesn’t even have to be that harsh. Perhaps you have tried to start your own business or create something in your life where you could make a living doing something you are passionate about and it failed, so you gave up. It doesn’t really matter. But every time you turn around, you are falling victim to the same thing over and over again.
Hey, it happens. We all fall down. But the good thing about it is we get up. Just because you fell down doesn’t mean you have to stay down. Get up! Why are you still sitting there? We all make mistakes. But the great part about it is that God allows us an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and move forward. Just because you fall down today, doesn’t mean that tomorrow you must remain down.
Ever slipped out in public and actually fell down? Jumped up real quick, didn’t you? The next thing you did was looked around and prayed that nobody saw you. Just as quickly as you bounced up from a real fall, you can bounce back from a figurative fall. One thing that I have noticed from speaking with a lot of people is that they understand that we fall down but never understood that we get up too.
No matter what the circumstances are in your life that might have tripped you up, no matter what you have been through, no matter what happened in your past, you can always get up and make changes, right now, that will forever banish or make obsolete, the bad things that caused you to fall in the past.
Don’t get me wrong...I hear some very legitimate sounding excuses as to why people feel that their life will forever be the way that it presently may be. I hear things like “I was molested when I was young.” “My mother abandoned me when I was two years old and left me because she was out chasing the pipe.” “I have an addiction. How can I possibly get a job that pays more than minimum wage.” “I don’t have an education. How can I ever expect to get a good job?”
Past should be a reference point, not a residence >>
Stop living in the past! We all fall down. But remember, “A Saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.” Your past should be a reference point, not a residence. But so many of us continuously live in the past. We went out and bought a welcome mat and promptly placed it at the door of our past. We can’t break away from it. We wear it as some sort of badge of honour because we simply won’t let it go.
Just because you made a mistake or circumstances led you to do something that you now regret, doesn’t mean that for the rest of your life you will have to beat yourself up because of it. Doesn’t matter if you made two mistakes or three. Heck, it doesn’t even matter if you made over a million mistakes in your life. What matters is today, right now.
You know the mistakes that you’ve made because you have that mistake as a reference point now and for the rest of your life. You weren’t born for sorrow. You weren’t born to be a doormat for others to wipe their feet on. You weren’t born to be used up and then disregarded. You were born to glorify God and live a happy and abundant life. And if you aren’t living that way, it’s simply because at some point, you fell down. But now is the time to get up and start living the life that you were born to live. And that is a life of purpose. That’s a life of happiness and abundance.
Now, you ask, “How do I get out of the past and get up?” Well, I would like to say, “it’s simple.” But that wouldn’t be the truth. There’s nothing simple about it. It’s a daily process that you must work on. You have to be committed to making changes in your life. You have to believe that God has a purpose for you. You will have to work on you. You will have to realise that what happened yesterday, is gone. You can never get that time back and, therefore, there is nothing you can do about it.
But right in front of you is another minute or another hour or another day, week, month, year. Those things haven’t happened yet, so you can start to orchestrate your present so that your future will be more to your liking.
Start by telling yourself, “My past has no bearing on who I am now. And, therefore, is not important. I am here to glorify God. I am God’s child and, therefore, worthy of greatness.” If you take this simple phrase and say it to yourself all day long, you will soon start to notice changes in your life. All of a sudden, without even thinking about it, you will start to pack your old baggage from the past and move them to a closet that you will lock and throw away the key.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Break Free
Next time you feel like your life is collapsing around you, take a step back and welcome the changes, says Karen Hall Foster.
Whenever you think you are going through the most difficult time of your life, stop and think. This may be just the experience you need to snap you out of your complacency and breathe life back into your soulless existence, break an ongoing cycle of failure or somehow be the catalyst which pushes you towards a brighter future.
In hindsight the worst situations either make or break us as individuals. However, in the long run it always seems to lean towards the former of the two — it not only makes us stronger people but also makes us far more compassionate. Next time you feel like your life is collapsing around you, ask yourself why and then take a step back and welcome the changes that have been put in place to save your sorry excuse for a life. And you will then understand that only real insight is born out of trauma.
There is an ancient Chinese proverb — “May you live in interesting times.” This is supposedly seen as an extremely wicked curse, when actually it represents the complete opposite.The idea is that as humans we all naturally resonate to a humdrum life of routine habits, which pacify our soul or sole existence.
Deep within us all, there is a desire to feel alive again, buzzing with premature anticipation that one day we will be able to touch the part of us that has somehow been pushed to the background. Unfortunately although at first these magnificent temptations seem too good to be true and almost impossible to resist, most times they are tests sent to us in disguise to wake us up from our pointless, monotonous and unpurposeful slumber. As we walk through life with our eyes wide shut.
Whilst the experiences in themselves reveal the true value of the test at hand fairly quickly, the side effects can send our stress levels soaring higher than a bird in flight; thrusting us into a rude awakening, as our feathers are scorched by the suns beautiful yet hypnotic rays of warmth and colour.
Opening up a new chapter can often mean closing a previous one, and sometimes this feels as if we have just opened up Pandora’s box. It hurts, it always does and it always will. Most times during these periods it is found that we are completely unequipped to cope. Due to this we dig deep down to the core of our being in which to bring forth some of our rawest instinct and courage, in order to adapt, if we are not to be ripped apart.
Life has a peculiar way of making people shed their skin >> Life has a peculiar way of making people shed their skin, even when all appears to seem quite contented. By continually living a life that is always warm and fuzzy, we become dull, lifeless and unsympathetic to the sorrows of others and certainly detached from them. It is in this state of unconsciousness that we dissolve our purpose for living; to the point that we simply end up not caring anymore — after all life is good to us and when was it exactly when we just stopped caring?
My attitude towards change, whether bad, but more specifically when it is good, is that it disturbs our present comfort zone. This then creates anxiety because it represents having to face up to times of complete uncertainty. I often wonder where the thoughts originally come from when we have them and as to the real reason why.
These are selfmotivated desires that urge us strongly to follow these feelings through because they are too strong to ignore. The other type of situations that are out of our control are such things as health issues and family problems. All examples have probably been set in place to make us ask ourselves if we are really happy with our lives, or just clinging onto a delusional safety net.
So with all this in mind it is usually through those things that seem to be negative by comparison, where we are really able to find true contentment, inspirations, hidden talents and new found skills and abilities — even if it means having to start all over again from scratch.
By breaking free from the chains we have wrapped around us so tightly, we indeed experience far more interesting times for which, in turn makes us far more interesting people. It is during these supposedly absolute dire catastrophe’s, that we not only learn to survive our trips to hell and back, but find out who we really are in the process. And that we never really needed to reach out to the warmth of the sun’s rays for it was locked up inside us all along.
Ok, so we need a little friction to upset the apple cart occasionally, if we are going to question anything at all in life. If you can see past all the blood, sweat and tears you will realise that you have changed in some way, sometimes for the worse but most times for the better. Every time you learn the hard way you really move one step forward towards evolution.
Whenever you think you are going through the most difficult time of your life, stop and think. This may be just the experience you need to snap you out of your complacency and breathe life back into your soulless existence, break an ongoing cycle of failure or somehow be the catalyst which pushes you towards a brighter future.
In hindsight the worst situations either make or break us as individuals. However, in the long run it always seems to lean towards the former of the two — it not only makes us stronger people but also makes us far more compassionate. Next time you feel like your life is collapsing around you, ask yourself why and then take a step back and welcome the changes that have been put in place to save your sorry excuse for a life. And you will then understand that only real insight is born out of trauma.
There is an ancient Chinese proverb — “May you live in interesting times.” This is supposedly seen as an extremely wicked curse, when actually it represents the complete opposite.The idea is that as humans we all naturally resonate to a humdrum life of routine habits, which pacify our soul or sole existence.
Deep within us all, there is a desire to feel alive again, buzzing with premature anticipation that one day we will be able to touch the part of us that has somehow been pushed to the background. Unfortunately although at first these magnificent temptations seem too good to be true and almost impossible to resist, most times they are tests sent to us in disguise to wake us up from our pointless, monotonous and unpurposeful slumber. As we walk through life with our eyes wide shut.
Whilst the experiences in themselves reveal the true value of the test at hand fairly quickly, the side effects can send our stress levels soaring higher than a bird in flight; thrusting us into a rude awakening, as our feathers are scorched by the suns beautiful yet hypnotic rays of warmth and colour.
Opening up a new chapter can often mean closing a previous one, and sometimes this feels as if we have just opened up Pandora’s box. It hurts, it always does and it always will. Most times during these periods it is found that we are completely unequipped to cope. Due to this we dig deep down to the core of our being in which to bring forth some of our rawest instinct and courage, in order to adapt, if we are not to be ripped apart.
Life has a peculiar way of making people shed their skin >> Life has a peculiar way of making people shed their skin, even when all appears to seem quite contented. By continually living a life that is always warm and fuzzy, we become dull, lifeless and unsympathetic to the sorrows of others and certainly detached from them. It is in this state of unconsciousness that we dissolve our purpose for living; to the point that we simply end up not caring anymore — after all life is good to us and when was it exactly when we just stopped caring?
My attitude towards change, whether bad, but more specifically when it is good, is that it disturbs our present comfort zone. This then creates anxiety because it represents having to face up to times of complete uncertainty. I often wonder where the thoughts originally come from when we have them and as to the real reason why.
These are selfmotivated desires that urge us strongly to follow these feelings through because they are too strong to ignore. The other type of situations that are out of our control are such things as health issues and family problems. All examples have probably been set in place to make us ask ourselves if we are really happy with our lives, or just clinging onto a delusional safety net.
So with all this in mind it is usually through those things that seem to be negative by comparison, where we are really able to find true contentment, inspirations, hidden talents and new found skills and abilities — even if it means having to start all over again from scratch.
By breaking free from the chains we have wrapped around us so tightly, we indeed experience far more interesting times for which, in turn makes us far more interesting people. It is during these supposedly absolute dire catastrophe’s, that we not only learn to survive our trips to hell and back, but find out who we really are in the process. And that we never really needed to reach out to the warmth of the sun’s rays for it was locked up inside us all along.
Ok, so we need a little friction to upset the apple cart occasionally, if we are going to question anything at all in life. If you can see past all the blood, sweat and tears you will realise that you have changed in some way, sometimes for the worse but most times for the better. Every time you learn the hard way you really move one step forward towards evolution.
Forgiving is all about moving on in life
Forgiveness is described as the first of the 10 virtues of righteousness. The recently observed 10-day Jain festival of Paryushan Parva celebrates these virtues and concludes by exhorting all to ask each other's forgiveness for any offending action.
In Buddhism, the quality of karuna or compassion and kindness includes the ability and willingness to forgive. The Qur'an enjoins followers of Islam to "Be foremost in seeking forgiveness" (51:1). Jesus spoke from the Cross: "Father, forgive them (executioners), for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
By forgiving one another, strained relationships can be healed. The act of forgiveness can soothe away emotional pain. It sets one on the spiritual path.
Forbearance is a pre-requisite for forgiveness. It implies overcoming anger through practice of tolerance even in the most adverse situations. It is a positive emotion and a conscious act of will. It helps us to overcome resentment; it decreases feeling of hurt and insult; it also enables us to forget other's weaknesses, shortcomings and faults. It not only enhances interpersonal relationships but also leads to improved understanding of self and others
Forgiveness heralds the beginning of enlightenment, peace and happiness >>
Forgiveness is an attribute of a calm and peaceful mind and heralds the beginning of enlightenment, peace and happiness. There is no rest or repose of mind for those who brood over slights, injuries and wrongs. Hatred and violence multiplied in retaliation creates a spiral of destruction.
An eye for an eye leaves the world blind, as Mahatma Gandhi said. Revenge, which is the opposite of forgiveness, is a virus that eats into the very vitals of the mind, and poisons one's entire being, physical and spiritual.
Resentment is a mental fever which burns up the wholesome energies of the mind, and "taking offence" is a form of moral sickness which saps the healthy flow of kindliness and goodwill. Forgiveness is beneficial at both personal and social levels.
While the importance of practising forgiveness has been extolled for centuries, it is only recently that research studies have demonstrated its important health benefits and forgiveness is being increasingly used as a stress management tool for reducing anger and depression as well as for enhancing hopefulness and self-efficacy.
People with a forgiving nature are said to have lower blood pressure than those who are less forgiving. That hostility and anger, or resentment and bitterness have been linked with poor health, hypertension and heart problems, is proved in a study, largest ever, conducted by Stanford Forgiveness Project.
The forgiveness training, the study revealed, resulted in a 70 per cent decrease in feeling of hurt, 13 per cent reduction in long-term experience of anger, 27 per cent reduction in physical symptoms of stress backache, dizziness, headache and 15 per cent decrease in emotional experience of stress.
The chief beneficiary of forgiveness is the one who forgives. Forgiveness is sound ethics that safeguards our mental and physical health and spiritual well-being. Those who try to get even with their enemies discover to their dismay that they hurt themselves more in the process. Of course, one has to suffer the consequences of one's actions. Yet, to forgive and forget is to create positive energy; it helps bring about a climate of peace.
The writer is president, Jain Mission, New Delhi.
In Buddhism, the quality of karuna or compassion and kindness includes the ability and willingness to forgive. The Qur'an enjoins followers of Islam to "Be foremost in seeking forgiveness" (51:1). Jesus spoke from the Cross: "Father, forgive them (executioners), for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
By forgiving one another, strained relationships can be healed. The act of forgiveness can soothe away emotional pain. It sets one on the spiritual path.
Forbearance is a pre-requisite for forgiveness. It implies overcoming anger through practice of tolerance even in the most adverse situations. It is a positive emotion and a conscious act of will. It helps us to overcome resentment; it decreases feeling of hurt and insult; it also enables us to forget other's weaknesses, shortcomings and faults. It not only enhances interpersonal relationships but also leads to improved understanding of self and others
Forgiveness heralds the beginning of enlightenment, peace and happiness >>
Forgiveness is an attribute of a calm and peaceful mind and heralds the beginning of enlightenment, peace and happiness. There is no rest or repose of mind for those who brood over slights, injuries and wrongs. Hatred and violence multiplied in retaliation creates a spiral of destruction.
An eye for an eye leaves the world blind, as Mahatma Gandhi said. Revenge, which is the opposite of forgiveness, is a virus that eats into the very vitals of the mind, and poisons one's entire being, physical and spiritual.
Resentment is a mental fever which burns up the wholesome energies of the mind, and "taking offence" is a form of moral sickness which saps the healthy flow of kindliness and goodwill. Forgiveness is beneficial at both personal and social levels.
While the importance of practising forgiveness has been extolled for centuries, it is only recently that research studies have demonstrated its important health benefits and forgiveness is being increasingly used as a stress management tool for reducing anger and depression as well as for enhancing hopefulness and self-efficacy.
People with a forgiving nature are said to have lower blood pressure than those who are less forgiving. That hostility and anger, or resentment and bitterness have been linked with poor health, hypertension and heart problems, is proved in a study, largest ever, conducted by Stanford Forgiveness Project.
The forgiveness training, the study revealed, resulted in a 70 per cent decrease in feeling of hurt, 13 per cent reduction in long-term experience of anger, 27 per cent reduction in physical symptoms of stress backache, dizziness, headache and 15 per cent decrease in emotional experience of stress.
The chief beneficiary of forgiveness is the one who forgives. Forgiveness is sound ethics that safeguards our mental and physical health and spiritual well-being. Those who try to get even with their enemies discover to their dismay that they hurt themselves more in the process. Of course, one has to suffer the consequences of one's actions. Yet, to forgive and forget is to create positive energy; it helps bring about a climate of peace.
The writer is president, Jain Mission, New Delhi.
Faith
Faith, like love, is an elusive reality. Most of the people I know “believe in God.” They are also pretty great lovers; they “love a lot”. I don’t know whether it is my type of mind or whether I am haunted by the ghost of Socrates, but I want to know: What is love? What is faith?
When the essence of love and faith is distilled, does it consist in having certain feelings? What happens to love and faith when there are no feelings? In everyone’s life there are days when there are no warm feelings, and when God seems like a dim and distant reality, a word on the lips but no more. Can faith and love come and go?
something in me wants to be a Socratic gadfly, wants to rip the guts out of words like “love” and “faith,” to find out what is really inside. Many people are not like me. They can read the poetry and sing and songs of love without the slightest need or desire to attempt a definition. They can say, “Of course I believe in God!” without torturing themselves by any further probing. But I am a gadfly. I can’t say “I love you” without knowing what it means to love.
I can’t tell God I believe in him unless I know what it means to believe. If faith really offers man a reason to live and reason to die, I mean, if I am going to gamble my life and death on the option of faith, I had better know what it means, where it comes from and where it will lead me. I had better make sure it has a solid anatomy....
Well, what is faith?
Faith, whether it is faith in another human being or in God, means taking something on the word of another. It implies a new knowledge that can be had only by “taking someone else’s word for it.” If you explain a problem in mathematics to me, and I understand the explanation, I don’t have to take your word that the answer is correct. I can verify it for myself. I don’t have to invest any faith in you. However, if you tell me that you love me and that you will try to make me happy, there is no way you can prove this, and there is no way I can verify it for myself. I must believe in you and your word to me. In the case of faith in God it is the same. God gives me his word or revelation. If I accept it, if I judge that he has really spoken to me, promising to love me and offering me a reason to live and a reason to die, if I accept him and his message of life, I have in that moment become a believer.
When the essence of love and faith is distilled, does it consist in having certain feelings? What happens to love and faith when there are no feelings? In everyone’s life there are days when there are no warm feelings, and when God seems like a dim and distant reality, a word on the lips but no more. Can faith and love come and go?
something in me wants to be a Socratic gadfly, wants to rip the guts out of words like “love” and “faith,” to find out what is really inside. Many people are not like me. They can read the poetry and sing and songs of love without the slightest need or desire to attempt a definition. They can say, “Of course I believe in God!” without torturing themselves by any further probing. But I am a gadfly. I can’t say “I love you” without knowing what it means to love.
I can’t tell God I believe in him unless I know what it means to believe. If faith really offers man a reason to live and reason to die, I mean, if I am going to gamble my life and death on the option of faith, I had better know what it means, where it comes from and where it will lead me. I had better make sure it has a solid anatomy....
Well, what is faith?
Faith, whether it is faith in another human being or in God, means taking something on the word of another. It implies a new knowledge that can be had only by “taking someone else’s word for it.” If you explain a problem in mathematics to me, and I understand the explanation, I don’t have to take your word that the answer is correct. I can verify it for myself. I don’t have to invest any faith in you. However, if you tell me that you love me and that you will try to make me happy, there is no way you can prove this, and there is no way I can verify it for myself. I must believe in you and your word to me. In the case of faith in God it is the same. God gives me his word or revelation. If I accept it, if I judge that he has really spoken to me, promising to love me and offering me a reason to live and a reason to die, if I accept him and his message of life, I have in that moment become a believer.
How Things Get Perfected Through Imperfection byG S TRIPATHI
Swami Vivekananda would often say that nobody was perfect since we are all less or more imperfect. Perfection is a standard that all of us aspire for.
In trying to achieve the 'impossible', in striving to be perfect, we become less imperfect. Perfection is always an assumption. So is the case with purity. It is difficult to find somebody who has shown cent per cent purity in thought and action, unsullied and perfect.
So we need to come to terms with the fact that being imperfect or impure is the reality of nature. That we are imperfect by nature can be useful too, depending on the nature and degree of imperfection and how it is handled.
Despite physical and mental imperfections, some people rose to great heights. Stephen Hawking acquired imperfection of body, by disease, but he is one of the greatest mathematicians today. Helen Keller made others respect disability. Scientists such as Einstein and Edison had imperfections in terms of learning disabilities at early stages of life. Franklin Roosevelt, despite his bodily imperfections, rose to become one of the greatest presidents of the USA.
Parallels in science >>
There are some parallels in science as to how imperfections in materials have given rise to new technology and knowledge.
Of all kinds of solids, semiconductors constitute a very useful lot in the sense that these, more than any other type of solid, have contributed to modern electronics technology. Silicon is a popular semi-conductor. When silicon is doped with impurities like arsenic or boron, it becomes an impure semiconductor with more electrons or more holes respectively.
Holes in electronics are treated as positively charged electrons. In the former case the semiconductor becomes n-type and in the latter, p-type. A junction of n-p-n or p-n-p semiconductors shows transistor action, the discovery of which has given birth to electronics technology.
Alumina doped with impurities like chromium shows laser - light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation - action, which is another technological milestone. Ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials show a pheno-menon called hysteresis that is used for making these materials as memory devices in computers and audio recording.
Ferromagnetic materials are characterised by a parallel magnetic order below some characteristic temperature, while ferroelectrics have similarly-ordered electrical moments. Dislocations, which are one type of imperfections, are responsible for the hysteresis in these materials.
Alloys are another kind of impure materials, which are more useful than the constituent pure materials. Qualities, which appear to be detrimental at first sight, sometimes turn out to be important in reality.
Just as we succeed through failures, things get perfected through imperfections. Living beings evolved through imperfections. Efforts in the right direction can decrease the level of imperfection. Social order sets in passing through several stages of imperfections.
While perfection is an unachievable end point, imperfection is the means with strong signatures of reality. Imperfection, which is considered as a negative aspect, could be converted into strength and made useful, as illustrated selectively, in both real life and matter.
Perfection does not necessarily mean strength and stability; impurities often contribute to sturdy development of both mental and physical attributes - so let's make the most of imperfections.
In trying to achieve the 'impossible', in striving to be perfect, we become less imperfect. Perfection is always an assumption. So is the case with purity. It is difficult to find somebody who has shown cent per cent purity in thought and action, unsullied and perfect.
So we need to come to terms with the fact that being imperfect or impure is the reality of nature. That we are imperfect by nature can be useful too, depending on the nature and degree of imperfection and how it is handled.
Despite physical and mental imperfections, some people rose to great heights. Stephen Hawking acquired imperfection of body, by disease, but he is one of the greatest mathematicians today. Helen Keller made others respect disability. Scientists such as Einstein and Edison had imperfections in terms of learning disabilities at early stages of life. Franklin Roosevelt, despite his bodily imperfections, rose to become one of the greatest presidents of the USA.
Parallels in science >>
There are some parallels in science as to how imperfections in materials have given rise to new technology and knowledge.
Of all kinds of solids, semiconductors constitute a very useful lot in the sense that these, more than any other type of solid, have contributed to modern electronics technology. Silicon is a popular semi-conductor. When silicon is doped with impurities like arsenic or boron, it becomes an impure semiconductor with more electrons or more holes respectively.
Holes in electronics are treated as positively charged electrons. In the former case the semiconductor becomes n-type and in the latter, p-type. A junction of n-p-n or p-n-p semiconductors shows transistor action, the discovery of which has given birth to electronics technology.
Alumina doped with impurities like chromium shows laser - light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation - action, which is another technological milestone. Ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials show a pheno-menon called hysteresis that is used for making these materials as memory devices in computers and audio recording.
Ferromagnetic materials are characterised by a parallel magnetic order below some characteristic temperature, while ferroelectrics have similarly-ordered electrical moments. Dislocations, which are one type of imperfections, are responsible for the hysteresis in these materials.
Alloys are another kind of impure materials, which are more useful than the constituent pure materials. Qualities, which appear to be detrimental at first sight, sometimes turn out to be important in reality.
Just as we succeed through failures, things get perfected through imperfections. Living beings evolved through imperfections. Efforts in the right direction can decrease the level of imperfection. Social order sets in passing through several stages of imperfections.
While perfection is an unachievable end point, imperfection is the means with strong signatures of reality. Imperfection, which is considered as a negative aspect, could be converted into strength and made useful, as illustrated selectively, in both real life and matter.
Perfection does not necessarily mean strength and stability; impurities often contribute to sturdy development of both mental and physical attributes - so let's make the most of imperfections.
Karma & predestination are not contradictory
The law of karma is postulated as follows: "As you sow, so shall you reap". The 'reaping' is implied across several lifespans and not necessarily during the one in which 'sowing' is done. You are the architect of your future. Clearly, this law is a call for right action in order to ensure a bright future. The theory of predestination, on the other hand, states that the future is predetermined. The question arises: Why then should we struggle to carry out right action? We might as well relax and enjoy life. On the face of it, it seems the two notions of karma and predestination are contradictory, insofar as their implication towards calling for right action is concerned. But is this really so? Person A is told that if he takes Action 1, he shall be rewarded; but if he takes the comparatively easy alternative, Action 2, then punishment awaits him. Clearly, these conditions should motivate Person A to take Action 1. Now we introduce Person B, a close acquaintance of Person A. In fact, he knows the psyche of Person A so well that he can precisely predict his choice in the given scenario. Person B writes down on a piece of paper what action Person A is expected to take and folds it up. Sure enough, Person A takes just that action and is consequently rewarded/punished accordingly. At this juncture, Person A opens the paper and lo and behold! He finds his pre-ordained future action revealed to him. In the above example, can we say that the motivation associated with the reward for right action (Action 1) for Person A was in any way reduced just because Person B could predict his action in advance? There appears to be no rational basis for coming to such a conclusion. Extrapolate the example to the theories of karma and predestination. Person A represents human beings while Person B, God, credited with being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.
Omniscience should logically imply >>
Omniscience should logically imply knowledge of the future, since God is believed to transcend time. But proponents of 'free will' would object to this interpretation. Let us then grant to God full knowledge of at least the present. Specifically, that He knows completely the psyche of each human being as also every set of circumstance that exists in the present moment. And therefore he can predict with absolute certainty what action each individual will take at any point in time. Now assume the law of karma to be in operation. Since God, being omniscient, knows what man will sow at any instant and the law of karma rigidly ties what is sowed to what is reaped, it follows that God knows what will be reaped by man in the future, even before the sowing is done. God, then, is in a position to record the future with absolute certainty. Man's future is, thus, predetermined. So there is no inherent contradiction between the theories of karma and predestination. Predestination appears to so strongly support the cause of easy-going people because it is often overlooked that, while the future may be predetermined, it is known only to God, since God alone knows the psyche of man fully, better than man himself, which in fact gives rise to the notion of 'free will', seen from the point of view of man. The only thing man knows is that the law of karma is in operation. Against this backdrop, every rational individual would be motivated to carry out right action, notwithstanding an assumption of predestination.
Omniscience should logically imply >>
Omniscience should logically imply knowledge of the future, since God is believed to transcend time. But proponents of 'free will' would object to this interpretation. Let us then grant to God full knowledge of at least the present. Specifically, that He knows completely the psyche of each human being as also every set of circumstance that exists in the present moment. And therefore he can predict with absolute certainty what action each individual will take at any point in time. Now assume the law of karma to be in operation. Since God, being omniscient, knows what man will sow at any instant and the law of karma rigidly ties what is sowed to what is reaped, it follows that God knows what will be reaped by man in the future, even before the sowing is done. God, then, is in a position to record the future with absolute certainty. Man's future is, thus, predetermined. So there is no inherent contradiction between the theories of karma and predestination. Predestination appears to so strongly support the cause of easy-going people because it is often overlooked that, while the future may be predetermined, it is known only to God, since God alone knows the psyche of man fully, better than man himself, which in fact gives rise to the notion of 'free will', seen from the point of view of man. The only thing man knows is that the law of karma is in operation. Against this backdrop, every rational individual would be motivated to carry out right action, notwithstanding an assumption of predestination.
The choice is yours: Chaos or cosmos by Swami Sukhabodhananda
Raghunath was a wealthy man. He was rich materially and spiritually. One night he was robbed. His close friend visited him and expressed his sympathy. Raghunath said, "They have robbed me of my material wealth but not my real wealth. They have robbed me of my perishable wealth but not my imperishable wealth". Real wealth is love, devotion and purity. With these, one will experience life differently. God gives us problems to humble us and not to tumble us. When bad things happen to good people they become better, not bitter. Raghunath further elaborated to his friend, "All the wealth that I had was a loan from the Lord. I was only a trustee. Nothing is mine; everything is His. He has the right to take it whenever he wants". The power of detachment is a great wealth. The power of devotion is an asset. Why don't we work for such wealth? This is because the mind has not been purified. With impure mind one craves for impure things. With pure mind one is committed for pure things. Mantras help us to purify the mind. Yoga uplifts. Wealth and power without pure mind is like providing a knife to a mad man. He can even kill himself. The object of yoga is to free you of psychological mess. The condition of your mind really determines the quality of your life. To a good body, everyone says 'yes'. But to a good mind, people say 'no'. This ignorance is adversely affecting the quality of life. Our mind has the capacity to imagine. This can be good or bad. Our imagination projects a reality. This projected reality appears to be the only reality. This projected reality is superimposed on the external reality. The internal projected reality is superimposed on the external reality. Now the external reality is not seen and only the projected reality is seen. It is in this confusion that one lives and suffers.
An individual expects his partner to be...>>
An individual expects his partner to be like this or that. This is a projected reality. But the fact is that the object reality is different. The husband is disappointed with his wife or vice versa, not for what she is but for what she should be. External reality does not fit into his subjective reality. Many suffer from this. So all this happens in a world that is within us, our mind. Mantras chanted with devotion and understanding purify the mind. If we leave un-checked this imaginary processes, they become mechanical. A negative system is created. These negative systems in turn take over our lives. We lose control. You will become more unconscious and suffer from this mechanical process. For example, if one goes on seeing unpleasant things in life, it becomes a habit. Then a negative system is created. Then one will helplessly see the negative. The system will start justifying why one is doing what one is doing. The system will try to protect itself. The system gets into a survival mode. Then you will not live in the cosmos but in chaos. Yoga is a wonderful science to dismantle this negative system and create a great inner order. When the inner world of our mind is orderly then we will see the external order as being more orderly.
www.swamisukhabodhananda.org
An individual expects his partner to be...>>
An individual expects his partner to be like this or that. This is a projected reality. But the fact is that the object reality is different. The husband is disappointed with his wife or vice versa, not for what she is but for what she should be. External reality does not fit into his subjective reality. Many suffer from this. So all this happens in a world that is within us, our mind. Mantras chanted with devotion and understanding purify the mind. If we leave un-checked this imaginary processes, they become mechanical. A negative system is created. These negative systems in turn take over our lives. We lose control. You will become more unconscious and suffer from this mechanical process. For example, if one goes on seeing unpleasant things in life, it becomes a habit. Then a negative system is created. Then one will helplessly see the negative. The system will start justifying why one is doing what one is doing. The system will try to protect itself. The system gets into a survival mode. Then you will not live in the cosmos but in chaos. Yoga is a wonderful science to dismantle this negative system and create a great inner order. When the inner world of our mind is orderly then we will see the external order as being more orderly.
www.swamisukhabodhananda.org
Stop Fooling Around With Your Life - Swami Sukhabodhananda
How can I know my mind? An alert mind is not a problem; an unaware mind is. The mind projects the future to be fulfilling but misses the beauty of the present. If you are rich, you want to be richer; if you are strong, you want to be stronger; if you are beautiful, you want to be more beautiful. Such a mind does not make you live life but leave life. Such a mind creates false prayers. You make a ritual out of prayer and pretend to pray. Such prayer becomes an empty gesture. Why am I so greedy? There is a visible world and there is an invisible world. There is a visible self and an invisible self. The visible world is a world of diversity and the invisible world is a world of oneness. If we live on the periphery we will feel incomplete but completeness is one’s nature. This incompleteness wants us to be a complete person. But the only track it knows is greed, wanting more. The enlightened masters give us not a dogma but a device to reach this state of completeness. We should stop fooling around with life. Just thinking to be happy is not enough; just thinking to be wise is not enough. It is a luxury to think but it is wisdom to live. Ask yourself: Are you concerned with reality or fantasy? There are two ways to know reality. If you want to know objective reality, then science is the way out. If you want to know subjective reality, turn to spirituality. Why does one worry in life ? Worry has become a habit for many. An inner energy that is not creative goes around in circles of worry. A creative person is one who, when he encounters a problem, is focused on the solution and is not a victim to the problem. Convert the problem into a springboard for possibilities. A doctor does not cure illness but allows the healing process within to surface by giving it the right condition. So, too, the true healer exists within you. But you have to create the right condition. By looking at the mountain you can’t climb the mountain, you should will yourself to climb the mountain. Optimise this will for you to be above worry. What should one do to be successful in life? Ultimately what you need is self-confidence, mental toughness, commitment to excel and the ability to use the power of imagination. What do you mean by self-confidence? There are three pillars of self-confidence: Feeling good, taking responsibility and developing skills. There are both healthy ways and unhealthy ways of feeling good. You should develop the discipline to feel good in a healthy way. The quality of one’s life is the quality of one’s consistent feeling. There are techniques that are taught how to hold and maintain consistent feelings of empowerment within you. How does one acquire clarity? Clarity is acquired not by knowledge but by knowing. It is not a belief system; it is intelligence operating in the domain of freedom. The true meaning of renunciation is not renouncing the world but renouncing bondage. When bondage is renounced there is freedom, the most important thing. In freedom lies intelligence. It is not just discipline but true freedom. Freedom is not something devoid of order; it is a flowering of order.
Mystery of Life by Pranav Khullar
A basic question - whether there is a meaning and purpose to our existence — arises in, and perhaps bothers, the mind of every individual, whether the doubt is articulated or not, as he gets through his everyday life. Scholars and philosophers, since long, have mulled over questions regarding our existence. Is our existence a random event in evolution or is there a greater principle in life with meaning and purpose? This inquiry served as catalyst for the history of ideas, the philosophical and scientific quests, a trigger for some of the greatest spiritual odysseys. “...These indestructible questions... cannot be kept simmering on a back burner for long. They will thunder loudly in the emptiness within you, in moments of personal crisis or when you’ve lost your social moorings”, wrote T Z Lavine. Is there an all-encompassing Over-mind or Absolute Spirit, in which all concepts are unified? Is reality a complex totality of rational concepts? Hegel’s dialectical method of reasoning allowed him to view the world from a teleological perspective. On the other hand, is an understanding of the structures of ‘consciousness’, as Husserlian phenomenology would have it, enough to gain insights into the mystery of the mind of man? Is there no meaning at all, as Sartre pointed out? Are we condemned to be free to live out our lives? The Upanishads say, “neti, neti” — not this, not this — is that something beyond our intellectual grasp; is it only what lies in the stillness beyond the working of the mind, the Sat-chit-ananda or Existenceconsciousness-bliss of Vedantic thought?
Stillness beyond >>
Swami Sivananda pointed out that real yoga is to discipline the vikshepa or tossing of the mind which will enable one to experience the stillness beyond through meditation. This existence could be maya or illusion, as Sankara’s Advaita and Nagarjuna’s Shunyavada would have us believe; a vivarata, an unreal appearance only. Or, could there be a meaning to this phenomenal world? Suffering, whether personal or otherwise, is at times a catalyst to go beyond surface realities and attempt to understand the purpose of life. Viktor Frankl, out of his personal experiences as a Holocaust survivor, wrote that “ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather, must recognise that it is he who is asked... each man is questioned by life; to life he can only respond by being responsible”. He goes on to say that one can try and discover a meaning in life by doing a deed, experiencing a value or by suffering. For, hasn’t it been said that the road less travelled is the spiritual path, right next to the regular highway of life? By the very nature of its questioning and search, life is a difficult and arduous path. Prince Siddhartha took off on this path to search for meaning and purpose, which he found in the Buddha state of mind. There are no universal answers, but each time the question is asked, it throws up a different answer, unique to each individual. It is this enquiry, “Athato Brahmn Jignasa” — now, therefore, the enquiry into Brahmn — from the first sutra of the Brahmn sutras, which is essential to be asked, for the search to start for a deeper and more enduring value. The philosophic quest is a call to that enquiry, and the answers may be as varied as nature itself.
Stillness beyond >>
Swami Sivananda pointed out that real yoga is to discipline the vikshepa or tossing of the mind which will enable one to experience the stillness beyond through meditation. This existence could be maya or illusion, as Sankara’s Advaita and Nagarjuna’s Shunyavada would have us believe; a vivarata, an unreal appearance only. Or, could there be a meaning to this phenomenal world? Suffering, whether personal or otherwise, is at times a catalyst to go beyond surface realities and attempt to understand the purpose of life. Viktor Frankl, out of his personal experiences as a Holocaust survivor, wrote that “ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather, must recognise that it is he who is asked... each man is questioned by life; to life he can only respond by being responsible”. He goes on to say that one can try and discover a meaning in life by doing a deed, experiencing a value or by suffering. For, hasn’t it been said that the road less travelled is the spiritual path, right next to the regular highway of life? By the very nature of its questioning and search, life is a difficult and arduous path. Prince Siddhartha took off on this path to search for meaning and purpose, which he found in the Buddha state of mind. There are no universal answers, but each time the question is asked, it throws up a different answer, unique to each individual. It is this enquiry, “Athato Brahmn Jignasa” — now, therefore, the enquiry into Brahmn — from the first sutra of the Brahmn sutras, which is essential to be asked, for the search to start for a deeper and more enduring value. The philosophic quest is a call to that enquiry, and the answers may be as varied as nature itself.
Time to let go
We should evaluate the value of things we currently have and determine if they still mean anything to us, says Joan Marques.It is so easy to fall into the trap of taking things seriously: Too seriously. We hold on to partners, possessions, careers, and lifestyles, long after they have lost their meaning to us. This tendency to hold on may stem from a deep insecurity in most people. The reasoning may be, in many instances, “I know what I have, but I am not sure what I’ll get.”
And yet, how happy do these considerations and conservatisms make us? When we make up the inner-balance, which side of the scale tips? And what do we see when we take a critical look around us? Are the ones who release their constrictions not the more relaxed ones?
Think of them: The colleagues who chose for a career-change instead of dragging themselves to an undesirable workplace everyday, while you are still stuck there; the friends who got a divorce instead of undergoing emotional abuse any longer, while you are still scraping your self-esteem off the floor everyday; the acquaintances that exchanged their expensive home for an easy apartment in a simpler living area when times got rough, while you’re still struggling to pay the bills every month?
Letting go, whether psychological or physiological, is an art that only develops through thorough examination of ourselves, and the society we live in. It requires critical thinking and the development of an own insight, independent from indoctrination. It also requires seeing things in a perspective that starts with freeing ourselves from the burden of guilt and devotion to the status quo, which so many of the institutions we attend teach us, and ends with releasing all factors that disturb our inner-connection, which is the connection we have with ourselves.
If we know that life is limited and that it will end sooner or later; why do we, then, cling to anything at all, especially if there are signs that either our interest towards those things has diminished, or the interest of those things towards us? Is imprisonment, whether physical or mental, not the most humiliating of all states? So why, then, do so many of us settle for it?
The answer...>>
The answer, as indicated before, probably boils down to cultural and societal indoctrination: expectations that we feel we have to live up to, just because we were taught to do so: Marriages should last forever because they are sacred; jobs should be cherished because they are so scarce; status symbols (houses, cars, expensive outfits) should be maintained because they make such a good impression: that’s indoctrination, and we can only start enjoying life if we see through this trick, and free ourselves from it.
For what is so sacred about a marriage that only drags you down emotionally? And what is so precious about a job that you dread? And what is so impressive about status symbols that force you into having three jobs and no time to yourself at all?
Once we concur on these insights, we can start our strategy towards freeing ourselves from indoctrination. How? There are three ways we can do that. Firstly by scrutinizing our real emotions towards everything we possess and everyone we have a relationship with. If there are signs of discontent from either side, we should reconsider the relationship. Secondly, respecting the institutions we attend (workplaces, schools, clubs), but regularly questioning ourselves as to whether these institutions still fulfill a need within us and serve our purposes. If not, we should reconsider the relationship.
And lastly, doing at least one different thing at least once a year, depending on the intensity, complexity, and costliness of our choice. For doing different things, travelling to new places; going for a new, daring production line; trying a new style of dressing; visiting a new restaurant, will enlarge our horizons and enrich our spirits: we will meet new people, see new things and discover new ways of living, and we will realise that the ways we learned were not the only ones, and not necessarily the best.
What do the three above mentioned ways of freeing ourselves from indoctrination have in common? Right! They all represent an awakening. And being awake means, being aware. And being aware means, freeing ourselves from pressure and silly influences. And the only way to free ourselves from pressure and silly influences is to learn to think for ourselves. And the only way we will learn to think for ourselves is when we expose ourselves to new things and ways; critically evaluate the sense of the things we currently do; and determine whether they still mean anything to us.
It is this determination of what still means something to us and what not, that will eventually guide us towards leading a life that is less pressured and controlled by all and everything but ourselves. It is this determination, too, that will guide us towards the formulation of what really matters to us at this moment and what not.
And yet, how happy do these considerations and conservatisms make us? When we make up the inner-balance, which side of the scale tips? And what do we see when we take a critical look around us? Are the ones who release their constrictions not the more relaxed ones?
Think of them: The colleagues who chose for a career-change instead of dragging themselves to an undesirable workplace everyday, while you are still stuck there; the friends who got a divorce instead of undergoing emotional abuse any longer, while you are still scraping your self-esteem off the floor everyday; the acquaintances that exchanged their expensive home for an easy apartment in a simpler living area when times got rough, while you’re still struggling to pay the bills every month?
Letting go, whether psychological or physiological, is an art that only develops through thorough examination of ourselves, and the society we live in. It requires critical thinking and the development of an own insight, independent from indoctrination. It also requires seeing things in a perspective that starts with freeing ourselves from the burden of guilt and devotion to the status quo, which so many of the institutions we attend teach us, and ends with releasing all factors that disturb our inner-connection, which is the connection we have with ourselves.
If we know that life is limited and that it will end sooner or later; why do we, then, cling to anything at all, especially if there are signs that either our interest towards those things has diminished, or the interest of those things towards us? Is imprisonment, whether physical or mental, not the most humiliating of all states? So why, then, do so many of us settle for it?
The answer...>>
The answer, as indicated before, probably boils down to cultural and societal indoctrination: expectations that we feel we have to live up to, just because we were taught to do so: Marriages should last forever because they are sacred; jobs should be cherished because they are so scarce; status symbols (houses, cars, expensive outfits) should be maintained because they make such a good impression: that’s indoctrination, and we can only start enjoying life if we see through this trick, and free ourselves from it.
For what is so sacred about a marriage that only drags you down emotionally? And what is so precious about a job that you dread? And what is so impressive about status symbols that force you into having three jobs and no time to yourself at all?
Once we concur on these insights, we can start our strategy towards freeing ourselves from indoctrination. How? There are three ways we can do that. Firstly by scrutinizing our real emotions towards everything we possess and everyone we have a relationship with. If there are signs of discontent from either side, we should reconsider the relationship. Secondly, respecting the institutions we attend (workplaces, schools, clubs), but regularly questioning ourselves as to whether these institutions still fulfill a need within us and serve our purposes. If not, we should reconsider the relationship.
And lastly, doing at least one different thing at least once a year, depending on the intensity, complexity, and costliness of our choice. For doing different things, travelling to new places; going for a new, daring production line; trying a new style of dressing; visiting a new restaurant, will enlarge our horizons and enrich our spirits: we will meet new people, see new things and discover new ways of living, and we will realise that the ways we learned were not the only ones, and not necessarily the best.
What do the three above mentioned ways of freeing ourselves from indoctrination have in common? Right! They all represent an awakening. And being awake means, being aware. And being aware means, freeing ourselves from pressure and silly influences. And the only way to free ourselves from pressure and silly influences is to learn to think for ourselves. And the only way we will learn to think for ourselves is when we expose ourselves to new things and ways; critically evaluate the sense of the things we currently do; and determine whether they still mean anything to us.
It is this determination of what still means something to us and what not, that will eventually guide us towards leading a life that is less pressured and controlled by all and everything but ourselves. It is this determination, too, that will guide us towards the formulation of what really matters to us at this moment and what not.
Go with the flow
The secret to moving on is to simply keep moving - one thought, one step, and one day at a time, says Suzanne Zoglio
Whether life hands you a bucket of stuff that you are anxious to get rid of, or you find yourself sitting on life’s sidelines but longing for something more, the dilemma is the same. How do we get the push we need to move on?
It is that old approach of avoidance that keeps us stuck. Our hearts say, “Go,” but our feet won’t move. Our friends say, “Move” and we dig in our heels. One foot firmly placed in what we know; the other poised to take us to what we truly desire. It all seems so sim ple, intellectually. We want something different, so why don’t we just move forward with all the gusto we can muster? I have seen two primary roadblocks to moving on: resistance and fear.
“Resistance,” you’re probably thinking, “what planet is she from? You bet I am resistant. Who wants to lose a mate, get fired, and get diagnosed with hypertension?” Or perhaps you find yourself in some other equally uncomfortable place. So what has resistance got to do with moving on or drowning in misfortune?
Imagine you are standing by the ocean’s edge. For balance, you dig your heels into the sand. But each new wave just knocks you down. Finally, the undertow drags you out to sea. If you try swimming back against the tide, you will exhaust yourself and drown. If you do as water safety experts tell us — swim parallel to shore until the powerful current subsides — you will likely survive. Therein lies the first secret to moving on...don’t waste energy resisting what is beyond your control.
It is impossible to move in two directions at the same time >>
It is impossible to move in two directions at the same time. As long as you fight against what you don’t want, you will make no progress towards what you desire.So, consider this. The next time you experience a loss, face real disappointment, or have a streak of bad luck, by all means kick and scream and whine and weep...for a while. You hate the fact that this or that happened.
You expected things to go along as they had before. It is okay to ask, “Why me?” or “Why cannot my life just be the way it was?” “Why has it changed?” For a while. Then it is time to shift gears and start accepting what is.
You may be feeling that your situation is unfair, but in reality, it just is. So instead of railing against it, try to embrace any good that might be hidden in it. Have you learned something? Did someone else benefit? Have you received love and concern? Has it strengthened your faith? Once you have mourned your loss, and acknowledged any good, shift your focus to what you want next. If you are sick, how do you want to feel? If you are sad, what change would make you happy?
If you are angry, what would open your heart again? Facing forward, squaring your shoulders to the future, envision all that your soul desires. Allow yourself to dream again...of how you want to feel, who you want to share your life with, where you want to live, what you want to contribute, and when you want to move on. Then, you will just have to get your feet to follow your heart. I mentioned that the second common roadblock to moving on to what is best for you next is fear...fear of failure, fear of success, fear of not being loved, fear of not being enough.Fear of the unknown — anything outside of our comfort zone — is universally human. It is exquisitely normal to be afraid. But, it need not be immobilising. For the courage to walk with your fears in the direction of your dreams, you might have to change your mind or your thoughts.
Change all thoughts to empowering ones. Ask not “Why me?” Ask, “What can I do to reach my goals?” Change any mindset of “I can’t” to a mindset of “I can if I”. Just as when you climbed the high diving board as a child, gave a first speech in college, got married, decided to be a parent, or interviewed for a dream job, you will find the strength to face this and any future challenges.
Change any overly independent thoughts such as “I will handle this alone” to “I have many sources of help, if I simply ask.” Shift any catastrophising thoughts such as “This is THE worst thing that could happen to me” to “I have handled other challenges in my life, and I am sure I will survive this one. I will face all the problems that come my way. ”
The secret to moving on is to simply keep moving...one thought, one step, and one day at a time.
Whether life hands you a bucket of stuff that you are anxious to get rid of, or you find yourself sitting on life’s sidelines but longing for something more, the dilemma is the same. How do we get the push we need to move on?
It is that old approach of avoidance that keeps us stuck. Our hearts say, “Go,” but our feet won’t move. Our friends say, “Move” and we dig in our heels. One foot firmly placed in what we know; the other poised to take us to what we truly desire. It all seems so sim ple, intellectually. We want something different, so why don’t we just move forward with all the gusto we can muster? I have seen two primary roadblocks to moving on: resistance and fear.
“Resistance,” you’re probably thinking, “what planet is she from? You bet I am resistant. Who wants to lose a mate, get fired, and get diagnosed with hypertension?” Or perhaps you find yourself in some other equally uncomfortable place. So what has resistance got to do with moving on or drowning in misfortune?
Imagine you are standing by the ocean’s edge. For balance, you dig your heels into the sand. But each new wave just knocks you down. Finally, the undertow drags you out to sea. If you try swimming back against the tide, you will exhaust yourself and drown. If you do as water safety experts tell us — swim parallel to shore until the powerful current subsides — you will likely survive. Therein lies the first secret to moving on...don’t waste energy resisting what is beyond your control.
It is impossible to move in two directions at the same time >>
It is impossible to move in two directions at the same time. As long as you fight against what you don’t want, you will make no progress towards what you desire.So, consider this. The next time you experience a loss, face real disappointment, or have a streak of bad luck, by all means kick and scream and whine and weep...for a while. You hate the fact that this or that happened.
You expected things to go along as they had before. It is okay to ask, “Why me?” or “Why cannot my life just be the way it was?” “Why has it changed?” For a while. Then it is time to shift gears and start accepting what is.
You may be feeling that your situation is unfair, but in reality, it just is. So instead of railing against it, try to embrace any good that might be hidden in it. Have you learned something? Did someone else benefit? Have you received love and concern? Has it strengthened your faith? Once you have mourned your loss, and acknowledged any good, shift your focus to what you want next. If you are sick, how do you want to feel? If you are sad, what change would make you happy?
If you are angry, what would open your heart again? Facing forward, squaring your shoulders to the future, envision all that your soul desires. Allow yourself to dream again...of how you want to feel, who you want to share your life with, where you want to live, what you want to contribute, and when you want to move on. Then, you will just have to get your feet to follow your heart. I mentioned that the second common roadblock to moving on to what is best for you next is fear...fear of failure, fear of success, fear of not being loved, fear of not being enough.Fear of the unknown — anything outside of our comfort zone — is universally human. It is exquisitely normal to be afraid. But, it need not be immobilising. For the courage to walk with your fears in the direction of your dreams, you might have to change your mind or your thoughts.
Change all thoughts to empowering ones. Ask not “Why me?” Ask, “What can I do to reach my goals?” Change any mindset of “I can’t” to a mindset of “I can if I”. Just as when you climbed the high diving board as a child, gave a first speech in college, got married, decided to be a parent, or interviewed for a dream job, you will find the strength to face this and any future challenges.
Change any overly independent thoughts such as “I will handle this alone” to “I have many sources of help, if I simply ask.” Shift any catastrophising thoughts such as “This is THE worst thing that could happen to me” to “I have handled other challenges in my life, and I am sure I will survive this one. I will face all the problems that come my way. ”
The secret to moving on is to simply keep moving...one thought, one step, and one day at a time.
Life is a journey
Start to face the truth and take note that every moment is an opportunity to create a new reality, says Lynn Claridge
If you are looking for enlightenment, you may ask yourself where do I begin? There is only one place you can start your journey of enlightenment, and that is your life’s journey.
A place you could start is where you are right now. Let’s start with the knowledge that you already know the answers you are seeking, you are simply pretending that you do not know or that you have forgotten. First you must start to understand the apparent paradox that you are alone on your journey, and yet you are at one with everything and everyone else in the universe. You need to acknowledge that you are a divine being, a part of all that is.
Know that all that has gone in your life before this moment has brought you to where you are right now, that there is a purpose for everything that happens. Rejoice in every obstacle you are faced with in your lifetime, and that it is both a gift and an opportunity. This has certainly enabled you to grow.
Remember that the only thing that stands between you and fulfilment of your heart’s desires is your own fears. Start to face the truth and take note that every moment is an opportunity to create a new reality, NOW, and in every moment of your life. Base this on the unlimited possibilities of what can be, not on your fears of what has happened in your past.
Start to understand that your successes and your happiness is limited, only by what you believe is possible. The range of possibilities are only restricted by limited human understanding. Trust the universe, it will show you the answers when you are open to receive them.
Now perhaps some of these ideas are new to you, perhaps you want to reject them as nonsense or as impossible, that is your right. You don’t have to accept anything in life or what I say. You have your own free will to reject or accept that there might be something in these ideas, even if it is not clear, right now, what or how or why.
As you continue your journey of enlightenment and self-discovery you may find some things that made no sense at the time, might then begin to seem possible and perhaps even probable. What is important is that you apply yourself with an open mind and an open heart. Rejecting everything that is out of your hands just because it does not make sense will not lead to spiritual understanding.
Everyone’s path is different >>
Everyone’s path is different, so do not assume that what works for someone else will necessarily work for you, or vice versa.
You need to find for yourself those things that work for you and those that do not. You will also find the speed of your journey and the timing of events in everyone’s lives will vary. It’s important not to give yourself a hard time just because events are not happening as quickly as you would like or that your experiences are different from someone else’s.
Spiritual awakening is about understanding your higher consciousness. It means letting go of old beliefs and fears, releasing old ways of being, and doing and thinking in ways in which you feel comfortable. It means accepting responsibility for your life and accepting the power you have. This means not placing your power over others but using that power on yourself.
The mind can be a barrier to spiritual enlightenment. You should experience your life, not contemplate it. You need to look deep within yourself to find those things that are keeping you in the past. You will need to face up to your fears before you can let go and move on.
It will certainly get uncomfortable at times but remember there is no growth without risk and enlightenment can not work without growth, love, trust, understanding and compassion. You are perfect just the way you are although if you wish to grow in love and light you need to be prepared to place yourself into situations that will take you to the limits and you may feel uncomfortable.The fact is that they are only uncomfortable to you, no one else. There may be times when you need to face up to some unpleasant truths. You have nothing to gain by trying to deceive yourself or others. When you take the easy options it will not lead to growth and enlightenment. So are you ready to take the risk and to take yourself on?
There are no teachers; you are your own teacher. Just as you would learn from a teacher you learn from yourself. The two go hand in hand, just as the only way you can receive is for you to give, the only way to be loved is to give love back, and the only way to be forgiven is for you to forgive.
The most important thing to remember is to love, respect, and honour and forgive ourselves as well as others. This is a journey so enjoy the travelling and don’t forget to smell the roses on the way.
If you are looking for enlightenment, you may ask yourself where do I begin? There is only one place you can start your journey of enlightenment, and that is your life’s journey.
A place you could start is where you are right now. Let’s start with the knowledge that you already know the answers you are seeking, you are simply pretending that you do not know or that you have forgotten. First you must start to understand the apparent paradox that you are alone on your journey, and yet you are at one with everything and everyone else in the universe. You need to acknowledge that you are a divine being, a part of all that is.
Know that all that has gone in your life before this moment has brought you to where you are right now, that there is a purpose for everything that happens. Rejoice in every obstacle you are faced with in your lifetime, and that it is both a gift and an opportunity. This has certainly enabled you to grow.
Remember that the only thing that stands between you and fulfilment of your heart’s desires is your own fears. Start to face the truth and take note that every moment is an opportunity to create a new reality, NOW, and in every moment of your life. Base this on the unlimited possibilities of what can be, not on your fears of what has happened in your past.
Start to understand that your successes and your happiness is limited, only by what you believe is possible. The range of possibilities are only restricted by limited human understanding. Trust the universe, it will show you the answers when you are open to receive them.
Now perhaps some of these ideas are new to you, perhaps you want to reject them as nonsense or as impossible, that is your right. You don’t have to accept anything in life or what I say. You have your own free will to reject or accept that there might be something in these ideas, even if it is not clear, right now, what or how or why.
As you continue your journey of enlightenment and self-discovery you may find some things that made no sense at the time, might then begin to seem possible and perhaps even probable. What is important is that you apply yourself with an open mind and an open heart. Rejecting everything that is out of your hands just because it does not make sense will not lead to spiritual understanding.
Everyone’s path is different >>
Everyone’s path is different, so do not assume that what works for someone else will necessarily work for you, or vice versa.
You need to find for yourself those things that work for you and those that do not. You will also find the speed of your journey and the timing of events in everyone’s lives will vary. It’s important not to give yourself a hard time just because events are not happening as quickly as you would like or that your experiences are different from someone else’s.
Spiritual awakening is about understanding your higher consciousness. It means letting go of old beliefs and fears, releasing old ways of being, and doing and thinking in ways in which you feel comfortable. It means accepting responsibility for your life and accepting the power you have. This means not placing your power over others but using that power on yourself.
The mind can be a barrier to spiritual enlightenment. You should experience your life, not contemplate it. You need to look deep within yourself to find those things that are keeping you in the past. You will need to face up to your fears before you can let go and move on.
It will certainly get uncomfortable at times but remember there is no growth without risk and enlightenment can not work without growth, love, trust, understanding and compassion. You are perfect just the way you are although if you wish to grow in love and light you need to be prepared to place yourself into situations that will take you to the limits and you may feel uncomfortable.The fact is that they are only uncomfortable to you, no one else. There may be times when you need to face up to some unpleasant truths. You have nothing to gain by trying to deceive yourself or others. When you take the easy options it will not lead to growth and enlightenment. So are you ready to take the risk and to take yourself on?
There are no teachers; you are your own teacher. Just as you would learn from a teacher you learn from yourself. The two go hand in hand, just as the only way you can receive is for you to give, the only way to be loved is to give love back, and the only way to be forgiven is for you to forgive.
The most important thing to remember is to love, respect, and honour and forgive ourselves as well as others. This is a journey so enjoy the travelling and don’t forget to smell the roses on the way.
It Is Faith That Keeps Us All Going
One morning, a college student, on reaching the library, didn’t know where to leave her bag since the entire rack was full. On the security guard’s suggestion, she left it on the counter, like many others. When she returned an hour later, her bag wasn’t there. Mercifully the mobile wasn’t inside, only Rs 350 and many bits of paper, with random jottings. This was the first such incident. The system ran on faith; until one person shattered it.
The next day, I was at a temple in Banaswadi, near Bangalore. There was a designated place to leave footwear, but not helmets, which are now compulsory. I was wary of leaving it unattended. So, I carried it into the temple.
A security guard, with a disarming smile, stretched out his hands, and offered to keep the helmet safely. His body language infused a lot of faith in me. I involuntarily handed it over to him, but he didn’t give me a receipt. Just as I was about to enter the temple’s inner premises, the previous day’s incident of a girl losing her bag came to my mind. What if I would be the first one to lose something in the temple, and that too my helmet?
No, I won’t take a chance. I turned around. I tore off a piece of paper from the pocket notepad I carry. Splitting it into two pieces, I wrote my name on both. I showed the security guard the tags I had just created. He looked amazed. He obviously wasn’t getting a hang of what I was up to. ‘‘Just to make sure that no one else by mistake picks up my helmet’’, I explained as I tucked one tag under the visor of the helmet and put the other tag into my pocket.
“There’s no need for all this...”, he said. The warmth of the smile - that he sported a couple of minutes back when he offered to keep my helmet safely - was missing. God, did I indicate that I didn’t have faith in him? Am I distrusting someone who is genuinely helpful? Within seconds, did I convert a trusting person into a suspicious one? How would I have felt if the world didn’t have trust in me?
No. I got to be realistic. I drew on my resources of body language and I told him gently in the friendliest tone, ‘‘Just in case; lot of helmets here...’’ He had a reassuring smile.
Yet, I couldn’t still help asking myself: What if I still lost my helmet? What if the guard would have only shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘‘I told you there’s no use keeping all these tags’’. I left those thoughts aside as I moved into the temple. When I brought my palms together in prayer, I realised there were more pressing things in life than a helmet - with or without a tag.
When I came back, the helmet was there, but not that security guard. As I picked it up and began walking away, I saw him. With the same disarming smile, he raised his open palms upwards, indicating all was well, not just the helmet, by the Grace of God.
Life is about relationships - matrimonial, parental, sibling, fraternal, friendly and even the one with strangers. It’s faith that sustains a relationship, it fuels our daily lives. Faith need not be spiritual. William Adam, the British businessman navigator, said, “Faith is a continuation of reason’’. Henry Bailey, a British author of medical detective short stories, said, ‘‘Faith is a higher faculty than reason”.
St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, said, “Faith is to believe in what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe”. It’s the faith that we have in one another that makes our lives comfortable.
The next day, I was at a temple in Banaswadi, near Bangalore. There was a designated place to leave footwear, but not helmets, which are now compulsory. I was wary of leaving it unattended. So, I carried it into the temple.
A security guard, with a disarming smile, stretched out his hands, and offered to keep the helmet safely. His body language infused a lot of faith in me. I involuntarily handed it over to him, but he didn’t give me a receipt. Just as I was about to enter the temple’s inner premises, the previous day’s incident of a girl losing her bag came to my mind. What if I would be the first one to lose something in the temple, and that too my helmet?
No, I won’t take a chance. I turned around. I tore off a piece of paper from the pocket notepad I carry. Splitting it into two pieces, I wrote my name on both. I showed the security guard the tags I had just created. He looked amazed. He obviously wasn’t getting a hang of what I was up to. ‘‘Just to make sure that no one else by mistake picks up my helmet’’, I explained as I tucked one tag under the visor of the helmet and put the other tag into my pocket.
“There’s no need for all this...”, he said. The warmth of the smile - that he sported a couple of minutes back when he offered to keep my helmet safely - was missing. God, did I indicate that I didn’t have faith in him? Am I distrusting someone who is genuinely helpful? Within seconds, did I convert a trusting person into a suspicious one? How would I have felt if the world didn’t have trust in me?
No. I got to be realistic. I drew on my resources of body language and I told him gently in the friendliest tone, ‘‘Just in case; lot of helmets here...’’ He had a reassuring smile.
Yet, I couldn’t still help asking myself: What if I still lost my helmet? What if the guard would have only shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘‘I told you there’s no use keeping all these tags’’. I left those thoughts aside as I moved into the temple. When I brought my palms together in prayer, I realised there were more pressing things in life than a helmet - with or without a tag.
When I came back, the helmet was there, but not that security guard. As I picked it up and began walking away, I saw him. With the same disarming smile, he raised his open palms upwards, indicating all was well, not just the helmet, by the Grace of God.
Life is about relationships - matrimonial, parental, sibling, fraternal, friendly and even the one with strangers. It’s faith that sustains a relationship, it fuels our daily lives. Faith need not be spiritual. William Adam, the British businessman navigator, said, “Faith is a continuation of reason’’. Henry Bailey, a British author of medical detective short stories, said, ‘‘Faith is a higher faculty than reason”.
St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, said, “Faith is to believe in what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe”. It’s the faith that we have in one another that makes our lives comfortable.
Mindfulness with Present is Nishkama Karma by Sudip Talukdar
The 25-year-old, riding a cycle back home from office well past midnight, halted abruptly near the gates of his residence. He had discerned a break in the patchwork of light falling faintly on the grassy strip, filtering through the shrubs. A snake slithered inches from the front tyre of his bicycle. Instantly, the cyclist froze, becoming motionless, for fear of distracting the reptile, which he suspected to be a viper, until it disappeared into the undergrowth seconds later.
What made the youth so poised and confident, amid such sudden and unsettling danger? It is the quality of mindfulness, or existing in the present, which helped him size-up the situation instantaneously and possibly avert a mishap or tragedy. Yet how many of us really heed the present, our precious inheritance.
We are either too preoccupied with the burden of past failures and misdemeanours or engaged in day dreaming about our future. Both are futile exercises in the sense that one cannot be undone, while the other is unknown, unless we take care of our todays. The past-future construct, so deeply embedded in human psyche, lies at the root of our fractured, stress-ridden life.
The modern man, constantly nagged by unfulfilled longings, real or imaginary grievances, is unable to concentrate on basic tasks that require his undivided attention. Take for instance, eating. He is unable to digest what he gulps down disinterestedly,not only missing out on vital nutrients and the energy they provide, but also complaining of gastric complications later.
Contrast this with the mindfulness of a simple peasant who, seated on a platform bench patiently awaiting his train, relishes every bite of his frugal meal as if he were partaking of a royal repast. His posture and unhurried movements reflect the poise and contentment of the one truly merged in present consciousness.
Mindfulness implies complete absorption >>
Similarly, motorists will perform better and avoid mishaps, rash driving and road rage if they stay focused. They might be tempted by sights and sounds along the way or stare at whatever catches their fancy, slowing down involuntarily, oblivious of the traffic around them. Being out of sync with the present ebb and flow invites its own penalties. Somebody is likely to hit them from behind, igniting mutual recriminations.
Mindfulness implies complete absorption in whatever one is doing, with supreme unconcern for results. It is the nishkama karma of Krishna, the million dollar mantra that unlocks the doors to self-empowerment, harmony and success, by synchronising individual efforts with the rhythm of the here and now.
Even a mundane activity like walking becomes a joyous affirmation of the present. No more false or missed steps, tripping or falling into the ditch or manhole, but well directed strides sure of where they are headed. Think of the boost to productivity, performance and teamwork at the workplace where mindfulness is ingrained.
Likewise, every lesson at school and college would unfold a chapter of self-discovery and learning. Mindfulness is highly valued in military life. The commander ordered a trainee sniper to leave after he slipped during a momentary spell of drowsiness in a manoeuvre. He could not brook the innocuous act of inattentiveness because that would have imperilled a real operation, blowing away months of meticulous preparations to overcome the enemy.
It has been rightly said that the past is history, the future is a mystery, only the present is a gift. Indeed the source of all that
What made the youth so poised and confident, amid such sudden and unsettling danger? It is the quality of mindfulness, or existing in the present, which helped him size-up the situation instantaneously and possibly avert a mishap or tragedy. Yet how many of us really heed the present, our precious inheritance.
We are either too preoccupied with the burden of past failures and misdemeanours or engaged in day dreaming about our future. Both are futile exercises in the sense that one cannot be undone, while the other is unknown, unless we take care of our todays. The past-future construct, so deeply embedded in human psyche, lies at the root of our fractured, stress-ridden life.
The modern man, constantly nagged by unfulfilled longings, real or imaginary grievances, is unable to concentrate on basic tasks that require his undivided attention. Take for instance, eating. He is unable to digest what he gulps down disinterestedly,not only missing out on vital nutrients and the energy they provide, but also complaining of gastric complications later.
Contrast this with the mindfulness of a simple peasant who, seated on a platform bench patiently awaiting his train, relishes every bite of his frugal meal as if he were partaking of a royal repast. His posture and unhurried movements reflect the poise and contentment of the one truly merged in present consciousness.
Mindfulness implies complete absorption >>
Similarly, motorists will perform better and avoid mishaps, rash driving and road rage if they stay focused. They might be tempted by sights and sounds along the way or stare at whatever catches their fancy, slowing down involuntarily, oblivious of the traffic around them. Being out of sync with the present ebb and flow invites its own penalties. Somebody is likely to hit them from behind, igniting mutual recriminations.
Mindfulness implies complete absorption in whatever one is doing, with supreme unconcern for results. It is the nishkama karma of Krishna, the million dollar mantra that unlocks the doors to self-empowerment, harmony and success, by synchronising individual efforts with the rhythm of the here and now.
Even a mundane activity like walking becomes a joyous affirmation of the present. No more false or missed steps, tripping or falling into the ditch or manhole, but well directed strides sure of where they are headed. Think of the boost to productivity, performance and teamwork at the workplace where mindfulness is ingrained.
Likewise, every lesson at school and college would unfold a chapter of self-discovery and learning. Mindfulness is highly valued in military life. The commander ordered a trainee sniper to leave after he slipped during a momentary spell of drowsiness in a manoeuvre. He could not brook the innocuous act of inattentiveness because that would have imperilled a real operation, blowing away months of meticulous preparations to overcome the enemy.
It has been rightly said that the past is history, the future is a mystery, only the present is a gift. Indeed the source of all that
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Karmic Connections
Relationship karma operates in all our relationships and starts in each life with childhood family interactions. Relationships are where we learn fundamental lessons in life through contact with karmic connections and soulmates. Karmic connections or soul groups are people we feel instantly familiar with. We have a sense of connection stemming from a previous life or lives either in a positive or negative setting. Soulmates are two people who are extremely compatible on most levels. The connection is usually extensive, spanning several lives and for the most part positive. We can have several soulmates, and they can be in incarnation with us or acting as guides for our present life, helping us and encouraging us from the other side. Our soulmates have generally shared many experiences with us and know us well. All these contacts and relationships are usually intensely emotional, and some of them can conjure up strong feelings either positive or negative, all for a purpose. These experiences and connections happen to provide opportunities to develop the qualities and characteristics we are most in need of. These relationships can often be identified with our patterns of abuse, abandonment, love, manipulation, power struggles, rejection and intimacy: issues we learn and grow from. Power issues are particularly common in relationship karma. People get drawn into dependent relationships where one person holds all the power, and tension often arises when it is time for the other person to take back his or her power.
Feeling ‘stuck’ >>
We may be the victim, martyr, persecutor or rescuer with fixed ideas that rigidly control our lives and hold us back from growing emotionally or spiritually. We may also be a love addict within the relationship and unable to move out of it, which leaves us feeling "stuck." We may be looking for conditional love but need to learn the art of unconditional love, and the ability to "allow." We may be seeking love from outside ourselves when the real challenge is to love ourselves. Perhaps we need to reframe our whole perspective in regards to loving and being loved. We may also be perpetuating an old pattern, such as infidelity or betrayal or even simply very deep love. We may even experience the exact opposite of these as a kind of balancing experience for our development and growth in order to advance a strength or resource we need. Retributive karma can be involved when a person has betrayed their partner in a past life sometimes find that in this life, it is they who are betrayed or rejected. Subsequently they find themselves in a position where they are making some form of reparation for that original betrayal. Perhaps we may also be closely bound to someone by an old vow that needs playing out or releasing. However, we can change or release these patterns by finding a new way to deal with the person projecting the pattern to us. Perhaps we need to acknowledge the part of us that has those emotions and deal with it in our own appropriate way, by fully accepting our emotional self and choosing not to be held captive by our emotions. This can be harder for some people to do than others. General therapy can be very helpful to such people as a way to improve and change limiting patterns. Another way is to go back to the past through Past Life Therapy and deal with issues therapeutically and spiritually in that setting through releasement and healing. Outer difficulties can only be resolved through bringing out the appropriate virtues of mind and soul. We set in motion from the past what comes into the present and our life today is an "emotional learning ground" when it comes to relationships.
Learning from relationships >>
We often choose a particular relationship in order to grow and learn how to complete a full attachment or how to disengage from one and break free from a dependent bond that has been formed previously. All is for our growth, development and evolution. It can be hard for some people today to find that their partner does not develop at the same pace at a spiritual level, even though strong feelings may be present at a physical or emotional level. Such an imbalance can often lead to depression, suffering and sometimes tragedy to the relationship. However, this is all part of the bigger picture for both partners to learn and grow from the experience, each in their own way. I believe that ultimately the spiritual purpose of partnership is to develop wholeness within us, to create freedom and take back or release our power over someone. We are a combination of male and female energies and our challenge is to harmonize the male and female within in each lifetime. This is the key to true balance and spirituality. We each learn our lessons differently because we are each at our own level of growth. So much of relationships is sorting out chaos and emotions and learning to love ourselves. On a higher level, every problem is self-caused and therefore must be self-redeemed. We must awaken from our complacency. In doing this, we begin to see the spiritual behind the physical and our lives open to new awareness.
by Michael Millet
Feeling ‘stuck’ >>
We may be the victim, martyr, persecutor or rescuer with fixed ideas that rigidly control our lives and hold us back from growing emotionally or spiritually. We may also be a love addict within the relationship and unable to move out of it, which leaves us feeling "stuck." We may be looking for conditional love but need to learn the art of unconditional love, and the ability to "allow." We may be seeking love from outside ourselves when the real challenge is to love ourselves. Perhaps we need to reframe our whole perspective in regards to loving and being loved. We may also be perpetuating an old pattern, such as infidelity or betrayal or even simply very deep love. We may even experience the exact opposite of these as a kind of balancing experience for our development and growth in order to advance a strength or resource we need. Retributive karma can be involved when a person has betrayed their partner in a past life sometimes find that in this life, it is they who are betrayed or rejected. Subsequently they find themselves in a position where they are making some form of reparation for that original betrayal. Perhaps we may also be closely bound to someone by an old vow that needs playing out or releasing. However, we can change or release these patterns by finding a new way to deal with the person projecting the pattern to us. Perhaps we need to acknowledge the part of us that has those emotions and deal with it in our own appropriate way, by fully accepting our emotional self and choosing not to be held captive by our emotions. This can be harder for some people to do than others. General therapy can be very helpful to such people as a way to improve and change limiting patterns. Another way is to go back to the past through Past Life Therapy and deal with issues therapeutically and spiritually in that setting through releasement and healing. Outer difficulties can only be resolved through bringing out the appropriate virtues of mind and soul. We set in motion from the past what comes into the present and our life today is an "emotional learning ground" when it comes to relationships.
Learning from relationships >>
We often choose a particular relationship in order to grow and learn how to complete a full attachment or how to disengage from one and break free from a dependent bond that has been formed previously. All is for our growth, development and evolution. It can be hard for some people today to find that their partner does not develop at the same pace at a spiritual level, even though strong feelings may be present at a physical or emotional level. Such an imbalance can often lead to depression, suffering and sometimes tragedy to the relationship. However, this is all part of the bigger picture for both partners to learn and grow from the experience, each in their own way. I believe that ultimately the spiritual purpose of partnership is to develop wholeness within us, to create freedom and take back or release our power over someone. We are a combination of male and female energies and our challenge is to harmonize the male and female within in each lifetime. This is the key to true balance and spirituality. We each learn our lessons differently because we are each at our own level of growth. So much of relationships is sorting out chaos and emotions and learning to love ourselves. On a higher level, every problem is self-caused and therefore must be self-redeemed. We must awaken from our complacency. In doing this, we begin to see the spiritual behind the physical and our lives open to new awareness.
by Michael Millet
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