01.04.2014

Good Feelings
Good feelings for others
are like ointments that heal wounds and re-establish
friendships and relationships. Good feelings are
generated in the mind, are transmitted through your
attitude and are reflected in your eyes and smile.
Smiling opens the heart and a glance can make miracles
happen.
Ego
Ego is one of those vices which some
would class as 'good to have'; it allows one to be
'positioned' and 'noticed', and 'respected' even.
However the thing with ego, specifically subtle forms of
ego, is that it sits you on a false seat. Then when the
truth reveals itself, which it will, there will be
realization and pain. And also the shame of knowing that
everyone but you always knew.
Unlike any other vice, ego cripples the intellect's
ability to discern. Ego adopts a form based on a
specialty - on whatever is good within the self - and so
disguises itself in that. It attracts the soul and it
deludes it so that it is difficult for the self to
recognize that this is ego.
Like salt mixed in sugar, it is not obvious and not
everyone would know. However the moment it is tasted and
experienced the truth is revealed. Its character and
taste cannot remain hidden and salt can never be sweet!
Everyone will be able to taste it except you. For the
self it is something that has to be realized.
Watch out for that attractive form of ego!
Imbibing Or Absorbing Spiritual Knowledge
The first step into
experience, particularly the meditation experience, is
knowledge. What does it mean to 'know'? Knowing involves
four steps, which ultimately give the mediator the
experience of realization: The first step of knowing is
information. With information, our intellect opens to
new ideas and opinions. The second step of knowing is
knowledge, when we begin to reflect and think on the
ideas and views that we have listened to. At this point,
we often have to select only a few of the ideas we have
heard, as it is not always possible to reflect (think)
on all the information that is fed to us. In order to
deepen our understanding, we reflect on the information
and sometimes discuss our findings and thoughts with
others. The third step of knowing is when we move from
thinking to doing, that is, from knowledge to wisdom.
Wisdom is gained when we commit ourselves to 'doing'.
Knowledge translated into our everyday behavior is
called wisdom, which, in turn, is called quality life. A
life of quality is where personal values are not only
realized but also lived and experienced through our
practical actions. Doing, or practice, naturally brings
us to the fourth and final step of knowing, which is
called truth.
Soul Sustenance
Stepping Inside …
One aspect of meditation is that it teaches us to face
life from the inside.
It takes us to that point of stillness where we find the
strength to change and heal the inner self. In that
silence, we are able to find perspective and insight. In
a deep state of introspection, we clearly observe our
thoughts, seeing our true motives and intentions behind
our words and actions; when we understand that our
intentions are perhaps not quite right, then we are in a
position to say to ourselves, 'Hold on a minute!' When
we use silence to check our thoughts at that level, then
we begin to realize that many of the things we are
thinking about are not really worth thinking about. At
this point, we become spiritually economical, which in
fact leads us to becoming very generous. A lot of
precious energy is lost, both mentally and emotionally,
on wasteful and negative thinking. Ninety-five percent
of our time is wasted on thinking about others; we go on
and on with a string of expectations from others, which
becomes like a hammer of demand on other people's heads.
Take a combination of expectations and demand, and
what does it equal? Conflict!
When we learn to become silent and to reflect on our
inner self, we start feeling satisfied with what we find
inside, expectations from others gradually come down and
there is a deep sense of contentment.
(To be continued tomorrow …)
Message for the day
The one who is a
special flower keeps spreading the fragrance of virtues.
Projection:
Being in situations that are not
always positive it seems very difficult for us to be
positive. As is our environment and the situations, we
find, so are our own responses, too. That is, we find
ourselves reacting negatively in a negative situation
and positively in a positive situation.
Solution:
We
need to remind ourselves that we are a special flower
with our own specialties. The more we remind ourselves
of these specialties, the more we are able to spread the
sweetness of this fragrance to all - whatever the
situations may be.