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Soul Sustenance 05-12-2012
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Frozen Perceptions
Like water, which over a period of time freezes and takes the form of frozen ice
cubes, when kept in an ice tray; perceptions of different things, people and events,
inside our consciousness, which come onto the surface of our consciousness regularly
i.e. we shape our thoughts, words and actions based on them, regularly, take the
form of rigid perceptions over a period of time. These rigid or 'frozen
perceptions', which sometimes never liquefy in our entire lifetime, are commonly
called our beliefs, which can stick in our consciousness like ice cubes and be difficult
to uproot at times. One of the greatest harms that holding to a set of beliefs does
is, that it doesn't let us see from other peoples' point of view.
Let's say two people look at the same painting from two different points in a room.
One describes what she sees and how the painting looks to her. Then the other describes
how the painting looks to him. Both perceptions are bound to be different to some
extent. They are different because they look from different angles, different points
(places) of viewing in the same room. So who has the right view? Neither. But what
both of them see is right from their point of view. Another e.g. is, there is Mrs.
A at my workplace, whom over a period of time, I have been seeing from a certain
point of view and have started perceiving to be inefficient. Bringing this perception
into my consciousness repeatedly has frozen this perception inside my consciousness
and it has taken the form of a belief, which may be incorrect or correct, partially
or completely. Now even if three different people who have all seen Mrs. A from
three different points of view i.e. in three different set of circumstances, and
have seen three different shades of the same virtue i.e. efficiency in her; come
and share their different, but all positive and right perceptions with me, depending
on their respective circumstantial view, I will not agree with them and not respect
their perception because a person with unfrozen perceptions would at least give
a hearing to others' perceptions, but someone with frozen perceptions, i.e. with
fixed beliefs, is not able to that and is not able to empathize with or see from
others’ point of view.
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Message for the day 05-12-2012
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The one who is aware of the attainments is the one who is content.
Expression: Sometimes, there is a tendency to compare ourselves with others
and find ourselves lacking in some way. This creates unhappiness in us and we are
not able to remain content. Comparing ourselves with others or having expectations
makes us miss out on perceiving the attainments we have in our life. And we are
not able to experience contentment.
Experience: Instead of looking at what we don't have, which is usually the
practice, we need to make effort to see what we have attained or what we are attaining.
Once we make this practice, we will be able to look at the positive aspect in our
life, which will enable us to remain content under all circumstances, i.e., in both
positive and negative situations.
In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris