25.04.2014

Heavenly residence in Maldives
Contentment
Contentment is a great
virtue, though it may not attract one's attention at
first. Those who are truly content are usually quiet
about it. It is a pleasure to be in their company,
because they are full, peaceful, and generous.
Respect is to
recognize and appreciate the unique role of each and
everyone.
Each one
is unique with his own specialties. When you recognize
the role of each one, you can understand that he is
playing his part accurately. Then you can acknowledge
even the smallest contribution and you'll be free from
expectations. When you find yourself having negative
thoughts towards any one, make the practice of looking
at one specialty in that person and relate to it. Also
tell yourself that without the role of this particular
person the drama would not be complete.
Analyzing Success
And Failure
You feel positive and joyful when
you realize that you are successful. However, when
failure comes to you, you feel defeated. The definition
of success and failure varies from one person to another
and according to the stage of life that you are in. It
is important to have success and failure well defined
for yourself, because, based on your definition, you
feel greater or lesser inner wellbeing, happiness and
wholeness. There are also different levels of success
and of failure. For example, for some the greatest
success is to be happy and radiant, whatever happens
inside or outside. If one manages to keep happy in the
face of failure, for them it is a success. Because to be
happy means that I am connected with my essential worth
or inner self, my being is awake and alive. Failure does
not reduce my vitality, my contentment levels. The
greater or fewer external achievements do not reduce the
quality of the inner being or of being happy. The
important thing is that you believe your own definition
of success and failure. Some ideas can be shared that
can act as guidelines, but, in the end, each person has
to create their own guidelines, definitions and factors
leading to success and failure. Basing ourselves on
these guidelines and beliefs, we evaluate our successes
and failures. You can reflect on what true success and
failure mean for you and, according to those meanings,
centre your attention on the values and efforts that
lead you to achieve your objectives.
(To be continued tomorrow ...)
Soul Sustenance
The Spiritual Concept Of Becoming A Trustee (cont.)
In the physical world,
one common example of a trustee is when a
multimillionaire does not have any heirs, he or she will
leave his or wealth in the hands of a trustee or a group
of trustees, to ensure the right use of his/her wealth
as per his/her last wish.
Another common example is of trustees associated with
temples and welfare organizations. All the wealth and
ornaments that devotees offer in temples out of faith,
love and devotion for God or all the wealth and property
that people give in charity to welfare organizations is
taken care of by a group of trustees.
In all these cases and more, while taking care of the
wealth, honest trustees always keep the consciousness
that this is not their wealth or property and will
always use it in the right way, as they have been
directed. This is called ‘keeping the trust’ of the
owner/owners of the wealth, hence the word trustee.
In this way, now as a trustee, throughout the day I keep
a consciousness that the treasures of my mind, my
thoughts, words, actions, virtues, powers, time, my
physical wealth, physical body etc. are the Supreme
Being’s property and I have been appointed as a trustee
to take care of them. In this way, I will use these
treasures in a positive way, for a positive purpose (as
mentioned earlier for a purpose of bringing myself and
other close to a state of truth) only; in a way the
Supreme Being wants me to and has instructed me to do
so. This establishes a relationship of detachment with
the treasures I possess and also brings about my
spiritual self-growth.
Message for the day
True respect comes
not from what one does but how well it is done.
Projection:
Respect is usually associated with
what one does, i.e., it is usually associated with
position, status etc which is associated with the job.
When there is such an attitude, there is a tendency to
look at the people around in a superficial way, missing
out on recognizing their true worth.
Solution:
We need to recognize the fact that true respect comes
from doing well whatever is being done. We need to
recognize each one's virtues and qualities revealed
through the behavior. This enables us to have true
respect for others. We then no longer look at what one
is doing as important, but will be able to appreciate
each and every one's contribution.