03.11.2014

Heads and Hearts
To handle yourself, use your head. To handle
others, use your heart.
Understanding The Difference Between Physical
Yoga and
Spiritual Yoga
Hatha yoga uses force and discipline in
an attempt to unify the energies of the body
with those of the consciousness. Through
physical postures and breathing exercises, which
are sometimes quite difficult, through hatha
yoga one is able to achieve considerable
control over the body metabolism and attain a
remarkable level of physical health - that is
beyond doubt, and to a limited extent bring
about spiritual benefit. If the soul is able
to achieve that posture mentally, as done by a
Rajyogi (one who practices Rajyoga meditation as
taught by the Brahma Kumaris), then sitting
physically in a certain position to achieve the
same becomes less important. In fact, with
practice the soul is able to adopt a mental
posture according to whatever situation it finds
itself in.
Perhaps the most famous posture of all is the
padmasana or lotus posture. Rajyogis put
themselves in the padmasana mentally. Besides,
when the soul is fixed in the loveful union
with God, the physical posture is not so
important. Padam in English refers to the
lotus flower and is a symbol of detachment. Just
as the roots of the lotus grow in the bed of the
pond but the flower is a thing of radiance and
beauty, floating on the water untouched by the
mud and slush, the Rajyogis live in the world
but beyond it. Even though their roots are in
the muck of society, they maintain a mental
posture of detachment and mental purity. Living
in the thick of things, they remain pure
observers and a source of beauty and radiance
for others. Those who concentrate only on hatha
yoga believe that by first disciplining the
body, they will be sufficiently relaxed and
controlled to undertake the practice of
meditation. Rajyogis on the other hand are able
to easily enter the state of meditation with the
thought, "I am a peaceful soul, the child of the
Supreme Soul, the Ocean of Peace", which makes
the attempt to reach self-realization by
performing physical exercises less important -
especially for spiritual upliftment.
Furthermore, Rajyoga can be practiced by
anyone of any age or physical state because all
that is required is the subtle power of thought.
This is a clear contrast in the approach of
Rajyoga.
Independence
Liberate yourself from the bondages of the mind.
It is wasteful thoughts that won't allow you to
attain true freedom. True Independence is to be,
in dependence of only GOD.
Soul Sustenance
Churning Spiritual Knowledge
(Cont.)
We had discussed a few benefits of churning
spiritual knowledge yesterday.
Some more are as follows:
3. The knowledge that we have becomes more
real: and so can give more effectively to
others. We can use the jewels of knowledge in
serving others. This knowledge will have much
greater power and be of much greater help to
others than any form of scholarly or bookish
knowledge.
4. Our personality changes: Limited views
and thought patterns which give birth to various
obstacles can be finished by churning. Our
outlook towards life becomes very broad and we
become completely content internally so that
name, fame, respect, insult, etc. don't affect
us, they seem totally insignificant.
5. Natural bliss: By churning, spiritual
knowledge becomes a source of bliss. Because of
the spiritual happiness and intoxication that
comes from churning, our faces will become
radiant and we become instruments to attract
other people towards spirituality.
6. Our concentration power increases: By
acknowledging and not suppressing impure
thoughts we will easily clear negative thoughts
within a short period of time. Our concentration
power will increase. We will be able to clear
and burn impure or waste thoughts, and easily
become an embodiment of positivity.
Message for the day
To
pay constant attention towards positivity is to
be free from tension.
Projection:
To pay attention means not to think, speak or do
anything waste, negative or even ordinary. The
one who keeps attention in this way and also
allows no negativity from outside to go within,
is always free from tension. There is also the
proper use of everything that is available.
Solution:
When I am able to pay constant attention and
also use the inner treasures within for a
positive purpose, there is the use of the inner
potential. When there is the recognition and use
of this potential within in this way, negativity
finishes; just as sunshine finishes darkness.