
Return to Innocence
Why is it hard to forgive others? Usually because we believe
that they are 90% to blame for the problem, that I am not as
bad as they are. So I start to carry the load of other
people's actions. If my ego is too hurt, I will have the
sense of correction, of justice: 'I know I am right', 'That
is not fair'. But if I start to forgive from the heart,
sincerely, then this kind of feeling and attitude begins to
dissolve. I remain humble and this forgiveness will bring me
closer to others. Then I do not carry regrets or anger, I
just let go and remain light.
Thinking Right
Everything depends on our thinking. If I think in the right
way I will be light. If I think in a wasteful way I'll be
heavy. Waste thoughts are dangerous. They waste my time.
They allow the past to come alive, then I forget the present
and question the future.
Living Life On The Surface
In an ideal situation, the thoughts that run in my mind,
should be exactly those that I would like and I want. We do
exert this control, that we possess, over our thoughts, but
it is not complete and it is only sometimes. The more we
become completely engrossed in our daily routine, the more
our thoughts tend to become reactions to what goes on
outside us. That's when they go out of control and our
lives move in an unfocused way. As a result things don't
work out as we might have desired. Then we develop a habit
of blaming other people and circumstances, or we justify our
pain by telling ourselves we are not very worthy or powerful
enough. Often, these two inner strategies go together. The
trouble is, both are cover ups, preventing us from going for
a long-term solution.
In this way, we tend to live our lives on a very superficial
level, without taking the time to find the solution to what
is going on wrong inside. Deeper difficulties remain hidden
inside. I move from one scene of life to another - eating,
watching television, studying in college, getting married,
changing jobs, buying a new car or house, etc. without ever
stopping. All these are part of living, but if I make
them my whole and sole, my foundation, it's as if I skate
across the surface of life without being in touch with the
core. As time progresses, an inner shallowness develops.
Then the feeling keeps growing inside that 'there must be
more to life than this'. I then, find that my relationships
are not working out as I would have hoped and they are
lacking in depth.
Soul Sustenance
Understanding Attachment
Entertainment industries publicize the illusion (false
belief) that in order to be happy we must acquire "things"
and form relationships of attachment to them; that in order
to find love we must possess or be attached to the other
person. This confusion between love and attachment has
entered into all our relationships in a number of ways.
To our conditioned minds it appears to be a contradiction
(error), but it is a basic spiritual truth - to be loving it
is necessary to be detached. Attachment is the root of fear
and fear and love cannot exist together just as day and
night, winter and summer cannot. The idea and the practice
of detachment are found in almost all the paths of wisdom,
over the centuries. This is so because attachment is one of
the deepest habits that we learn to develop, and we do not
realize that anything we attach ourselves to turns into a
trap for our consciousness, for the self, the being. We know
we are attached when we begin to think about someone or
something when they are not present and there is no need to
think about them. Our mental energy exhausts itself and we
have the sensation that we lack control over our thoughts
and feelings.
Each time that we automatically cling (hold on) to
something, we invoke (call for or attract) the presence of
fear - whether it be of people, position, power, money or
even opinion, any form of attachment means that we will fear
harm or loss. Fear takes on many faces (worry, anxiety, and
tension); it prevents our spiritual growth and frightens us
away from or blocks us from love.
Message for the day
The biggest gift is the gift of virtues.
Expression:
Throughout the day, each individual is involved in a series
of activities. A simple thought to give the gift of virtues
makes even ordinary actions special. Each act becomes
special and the fragrance of this specialty spreads around
and touches the lives of others too. Such an individual is
able to contribute to every task with his own specialty and
bring success in the task too.
Experience:
When I am able to express and give the gift of my virtues, I
am able to attain satisfaction with whatever I get to do.
This satisfaction brings in me the inner urge to contribute
some more. I achieve success outwardly too since I have
actually been able to experience inner success. My relations
with others are also harmonious and whatever task I do along
with the others brings a productive result.