
Like a Torchbearer
Like the torchbearers, carry a flame of light
wherever you go.
To carry the flame is, to let the light shine
through your smile.
Pass the torch onto everyone you meet, because a
smile makes everything light, and makes everyone
feel better.
Stubbornness
When someone disbelieves me I usually tend to
argue back and try to
prove my point to the others but find that I am
not able to convince
them. Yet I find that the more I talk the less I
am listened to. And I
only end up getting frustrated. When someone
challenges the truth of my
words, I need to check within myself if there is
something that I can
correct or learn. When I learn to do this,
instead of being stubborn
with what I have to say or blaming others, I
find it easy to tolerate.
Spiritual Lifestyle - Achieving A Balance
A balanced and fulfilling spiritual life is like
a table. It stands on four legs and if one leg
is shorter than the others then both balance and
equilibrium will be difficult. The four legs or
pillars of a spiritual life are given below in
the form of four subjects. If any of the
subjects is not a part of our lives or is a part
of our life, but not to as great an extent as
the others, then the overall balance of our
spiritual life will be affected adversely
(negatively).
1. Daily spiritual study (knowledge or gyan)
Daily spiritual study provides the right quality
of nourishment for our mind and intellect, the
two important energies of the soul.
2. Daily meditation (spiritual yoga)
Daily meditation provides the means to explore,
discover and reconnect with oneself and with
God.
3. The inculcation and development of virtues
(dharna)
Giving some time each day to the conscious
development of our character (virtue) helps to
eliminate any negativesanskars or
personality characteristics (vices) arid
improves our ability to build positive and
harmonious relationships. The quality of our
relationships is a mirror reflection of our dharna.
4. The service of others (seva)
A life purpose based on some kind of service is
the foundation of personal growth through the
practice of giving. Finding appropriate ways to
use our increasing spiritual power and
understanding (through the three subjects
mentioned above) for the benefit of others is
the most satisfying way to use our energy today.
It also ensures happiness for the present as
well as for the future through accumulation of
positive energy in the form of blessings of
those who are served.
Soul Sustenance
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.
Message for the day
Easy nature makes tasks easy.
Expression:
The ones with an easy nature constantly think of
solutions instead of problems. So such
individuals are free from the burden of problems
and are constantly contributing to make things
easy for themselves and others too. The right
environment to bring out the best result is
naturally created by them.
Experience:
When I have an easy nature, I am able to put a
full stop in a second with great ease. I am not
caught with the waste questions and
exclamations. So I am able to enjoy everything
that comes my way and move forward constantly
with lightness.