Brahma Kumaris: January 2017

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 31-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 31-01-2017
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The Invisible Law Of The Universe (Part 2)

Newton’s third law of motion states that every action is followed by an equal and opposite reaction. This law is one which talks about physical forces but on a spiritual level, every karma – positive or negative will result in me receiving a result of the karma. I receive this result either immediately or after some time or after a few births. This result comes back at me either from a person or from my own physical body or from my surroundings like my workplace or family. Of course, there is no need to mention that the karma’s result is positive if the karma has been positive and negative if the karma has been negative. Also, unlike as in the case of physical forces, where the magnitude of the forces can be measured, on a spiritual level, the intensity of a particular karma – how positive or negative it is, cannot be measured. But we generally express in normal discussions that this was a positive karma and can differentiate it from a negative karma. So each time I perform an action, even if I am not aware consciously, a result of the action gets stored in my future destiny. This is the invisible law of the universe – the law of karma or the law of action and reaction on a spiritual level.

Also, the result or the fruit of the karma is not something which we can point out. E.g. this morning you get angry at your office colleague and two hours later you meet with an accident. This does not necessarily mean that this was the fruit of the karma that you performed in the morning. Similarly, you donate some money for welfare purpose today and after two days you earn a profit in your business does not mean that the profit is a result of the donation. This is because we perform karmas continuously. Some of them are positive and some are negative and they result in positive and negative sanskaras being stored in the soul respectively. These sanskaras, as explained in yesterday’s message, attract positive and negative situations respectively from our surroundings. Also, how positive or how negative the action is, also determines the result of the action which comes back to us in any form. A more positive action will attract a more positive result and a more negative karma will attract a more negative result. This is the law of karma.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 31-01-2017
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Humility wins hearts.

Expression:The one who is humble is able to put the other person forward. Such a person recognizes, appreciates and uses the specialities of others for the success of any task. So, along with giving the best, he is also able to bring out the best in the other person too. So, he is able to do the best in any task.

Experience: When I am humble, I experience harmony in relationships. I am able to learn from the different experiences and make myself better and better each day. So, I experience success in all I do. I am also able to win the hearts of others and get good wishes from them.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Monday, January 30, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 30-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 30-01-2017
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The Invisible Law Of The Universe (Part 1)

We are living in a world full of uncertainities i.e. a world where anything can go wrong in a second. Have you ever wondered what the reason for this is? Tomorrow you step out of your house and you could meet with an accident. You appear for a job interview and inspite of all your hard work, you don’t do as well as expected. Also, sometimes within a few seconds, a close relationship with a friend or a close associate turns negative because of a misunderstanding and you are no longer on good terms with the person. Or in some cases a person, because of his or her own thinking, suddenly goes through an episode of depression. He or she is unable to concentrate his mind on managing his or her family as before. So life events are as unpredictable as the weather.

We have all got used to watching news on television and reading the newspaper and everyday we listen to all these unexpected events. Events are happening in the lives of people around us and all over the world. Does anyone ever wonder why the world is tiring in this way or why the world is no longer that permanently peace and happiness filled? As we spiritual beings spend more and more time on earth, the quality of our actions is coming down. Also, the energy of these actions which radiates into our immediate surroundings is of a similar nature. This energy keeps coming back at us repeatedly. Each time we think a negative thought, speak a negative word or perform a negative action; the thought, word and action is forgotten after some time. But all of them leave a negative sanskara or subtle impression on the soul. This attracts negative situations from the people around us and from the nature’s elements in the form of negative situations of different types. Situations arise in the physical body, role and relationships, sometimes immediately, sometimes after a few days, months or years and sometimes even after many births.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 30-01-2017
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To have the right attitude is to add meaning to circumstances.

Expression:Circumstances are like objects. They are not alive but they come to life depending on the kind of attitude that one has. If the attitude is positive, there is the ability to make situations positive too. But if the attitude is negative, even the most ordinary situations seem to be negative. So every action done with such an attitude creates a negative impact on one's own life and that of others too.

Experience: When faced with a situation, if I am able to look at it in a positive way, I am able to make the best of the situation. I accept the situation as it is and I am able to be happy and light. This positive state of mind creates a great impact and it spreads around touching the lives of others too.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 29-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 29-01-2017
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Providing Emotional Support To Your Loved Ones

What do we do when friends and loved ones come to us for, and expect emotional support from us? Spirituality teaches us the right technique of providing emotional support – the technique of detached involvement, which is the technique of not being overawed, of not being affected ourselves by the emotions of others. If a friend, colleague or any loved one is upset and we also get upset (because we love them – that’s what we normally say), we cannot provide them the necessary support or the assistance to see why they are reacting emotionally and how they might change the nature of their emotions by themselves. True love for someone would mean that I am able to provide them that. While being concerned is fine, but by becoming upset, seeing them upset simply aggravates the situation and adds fuel to their fire.

By remaining detached, we can be more effective in our ability to care, listen and help them think clearly about the situation, they find themselves in. Only if we are stable, and that can happen only when we are detached, will we be able to provide them stability. We can encourage and empower them to change their negative reaction to a more positive response, and thereby generate a healthier energy. If we become over-involved in someone else's problems, there is a risk that our own judgment will be affected negatively. This is why making decisions and choices under the influence of your own and others' emotions is normally ineffective.

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Message for the day 29-01-2017
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To be powerful is to destroy unwanted habits.

Expression:To be powerful means to be aware of one's own hidden powers and to use these powers in destroying old unwanted habits. It is to apply a powerful brake to the thoughts in a second, so that there is the ability to master the situation. Such a person does not fall prey to the situation but makes effort to become a destroyer of the weakness in a second.

Experience: When I am able to use my inner powers I am able to apply a brake to my thoughts in a second. I am able to finish old unwanted habits and be free from the burden of having to be with negativity. So I am able to be a master who is well equipped to face all situations in life. And I am able to be successful both in relationships and in my work.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 28-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 28-01-2017
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Internal And External Attachments (Part 3)

Each time we attach ourselves to anything which is external or internal (we have mentioned some common examples of both types of attachments in the last two days’ messages), we create fears, amongst which the main one is the fear of loss of what I am attached to. The attachment not only gives rise to fear but also brings with it emotions like anger, ego, sadness, jealousy, greed, comparisons, hatred etc. All these emotions have their roots in attachment, which gives rise to insecurity.

Any type of attachment out of the ones mentioned in the last two days’ messages or some other is a sanskar that is so deeply embedded inside us that it seems normal to us. It is just a sanskar but it has immense amount of power and it manages to imprison us completely, but most of the time we do not even realize we are imprisoned. The negative emotional states connected with this kind of attachment create a state of internal mental pressure or an inner emptiness and make us feel absolutely helpless at times. Over a period of many births, we have become so accustomed to these attachments and the various forms of suffering connected with it that we have started believing that these are an integral part of the human personality and human life since the beginning and are, therefore, natural. And so we continue with the sanskar and even keep strengthening it, never ever thinking that it should be removed. We do this with internal stress and unhappiness to the point that even our health gets affected adversely. The natural state of the self is free and not attached in this way to anything. Attachments, whether external or internal, are acquired at different points of time in birth-rebirth cycle and are not natural or there from the beginning. All the things mentioned in the last two days’ messages have existed from the beginning but attachment to them has not. The present suffering indicates to us that these types of attachments are something abnormal or not natural.

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Message for the day 28-01-2017
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The best way to change others is to remain peaceful.

Expression:When there is behaviour seen which is not to my liking or approval, there is a tendency to get upset and worked up about it. So immediately, this is brought into words and actions also. Getting agitated or excited doesn't however solve the problem. When there is the ability to remain peaceful, the right solution is found and there is the right response to the problem at hand.

Experience: When I am able to maintain my inner peace under all circumstances and with all people, I am able to use the power of my thoughts to bring about a change in the mind of others too. I find myself discovering the power of my inner potential and am able to use it for my own benefit and that of others.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Friday, January 27, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 27-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 27-01-2017
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Internal And External Attachments (Part 2)

We had explained some common examples of external attachments yesterday.

Some common examples of internal attachments are attachments to:

- your ideas,
- your beliefs,
- your opinions or viewpoints,
- your memories,
- a certain way of thinking
- a particular virtue/virtues or specialty/specialties,
- a particular power/powers,
- a particular sanskar/sanskars - either positive or negative, etc.

Whether the attachment is external or internal, the act of attaching is always internal. e.g. if you attach yourself to your job, you will say my job. Your job is something external, but you hold on to it inside you - inside your consciousness.

(To be continued tomorrow...)

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Message for the day 27-01-2017
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To be merciful means to transform the pain and sorrow of others.

Expression:The one who is merciful always has the feeling of mercy and is able to help those who are in need or in distress. Such a person is able to bring about transformation in others too because of his own pure feelings. He is able to put in effort that becomes a contribution for the progress of others.

Experience: When I have mercy for others, I am able to accept their feelings, emotions and behaviour and provide them with the right kind of mental support. Then I am able to give them courage without being influenced negatively with their feelings of pain and sorrow. So my mercy influences myself positively too as I am able to keep myself positive under all circumstances.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 26-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 26-01-2017
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Internal And External Attachments (Part 1)

Attachment can be on two levels - either internal or external.

Some common examples of external attachments are attachments to:

- people, - objects, - your physical body, - your position or role in your family, society or in your professional field, - money, - places, - physical comfort/comforts, - the way you look or dress up or your physical personality in general, - a particular skill/skills, - a particular interest or hobby like watching movies or playing a sport etc. - your routine or a certain way of working at home or at the workplace, - respect from others, - how people see you or behave with you or what they think of you, etc.

(To be continued tomorrow...)

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Message for the day 26-01-2017
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To transform waste into something purposeful and powerful is to remain light.

Expression:To successfully transform something waste into something powerful and meaningful is to look beyond the situation and see what it has to teach. When there is the ability to do this, there is the ability to go on in spite of the most challenging obstacles. There is the deep understanding that nothing happens without a purpose. There is no time or energy wasted in wasteful company.

Experience: When I understand the significance of everything that happens, I am able to transform in a second. So I am able to remain light because I am able to put in sincere effort and free myself from the burden of waste. I also find that there is no problem in my relationships too, as I am able to understand others and behave accordingly.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 25-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 25-01-2017
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Carrying Pure And Positive Intentions (Part 3)

As we step into life’s different situations, let us ensure that every single thought, word and action is filled with newness in this year. Let us also be full of enthusiasm and joy and never lose our contentment to any difficult situation. Can we, when in a negative situation, become positive and powerful in less than a second? Can we become free from negative thoughts and unnecessary thoughts when we desire and at the speed required? Let’s look at these questions in our life. Let’s not just celebrate the beginning of another year. But, let’s bring a close to the weaknesses of the mind and become strong and determined. This is what God wants from us. This is celebrating the New Year with happiness and then give happiness to others. We all are pillars of strength for the world. The stronger we become, the more strength we will be able to give to others. We see people around us in pain and sometimes in difficult situations, don’t we?

So the highest intention for me, as a good human being, is giving to others what they require. So let’s not just think of my interests but also give others peace, love and joy. This is performing actions of charity of the highest type. And while making our roles full of success, let’s think of how my office duty or workplace profile can benefit the workplace or the office in a bigger way. Let me earn money, but also think of donating some money to God’s task of world transformation. These are good and noble intentions. While I look to become a better human being, let me not keep the goodness to myself and feel happy but make others also good human beings by sharing my kindness and love with them. And while we look to make our relationships with our family members and friends loveful and full of happiness, let us also keep an eye on our world family and make it full of unity, love and co-operation. So, let pure, positive, noble and selfless intentions adorn every action of yours in the New Year. This will make it beautiful for everyone.

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Message for the day 25-01-2017
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To have a clear aim of where the action will lead is to be successful in everything.

Expression:Many a times it so happens that one acts immediately seeing a situation. But the one who is successful analyses the situation and predicts the outcome of the action that he performs and then acts keeping the end result in mind. Because of knowing the consequences of the actions before actually performing that action, he is able to continue putting in effort in spite of the challenges and difficulties. So he continues to give his best to the task.

Experience: When I am able to give time to myself to think before performing any action, I am able to take the opportunity to be clear in my thinking. The consequences of the action I wish to take are clear in my mind and so, the action taken to overcome the situation is right. Hence, I receive easy and sure success.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 24-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 24-01-2017
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Carrying Pure And Positive Intentions (Part 2)

Whenever we start a task in the New Year ahead, we need to check and analyze what our intention behind every action is. Suppose our intention is of a negative emotion like greed or ego or selfishness. Then although the action may be good, the result of the action will not be as per our satisfaction and to the extent we desire. God is the Highest entity in this world and He performs the highest actions, which are not only noble, but also extremely positive and pure. But He never has any selfish motive or negative intention while performing the action of giving happiness to human beings. On the other hand, He not only has a pure intention, but He does not get any return for the actions He performs in any way.

On the other hand, human beings not only perform actions sometimes, with a negative intention, but they are also looking for a return for their actions in some way or the other. This is because human beings are not free from desires and God is completely desireless. So, as we begin a new journey in our lives in the fresh year, let us look at our intentions behind every action. Let us live our lives in a spiritual manner by looking at not only our own benefit behind every action but also the benefit of others. Also, let every action be done selflessly, without any false motive or interest. In the way, we will remain satisfied and much more happier. Also, the more happier we become the more our qualities will flow into every action and make them more and more full of success.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 24-01-2017
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To search for solutions is to use resources for the right cause.

Expression:Usually a lot of energy and time is wasted to find the cause of something that goes wrong. But thinking about that only wastes the resources that could be used for finding solutions. So it is not necessary to understand the causes but to find solutions. So the one who understands this fact is able to make the best use of available resources to correct the situation.

Experience: Being focused on the solution rather than on the problem, I am able to use all my inner resources in the right way. I am free from complaints and am able to put in effort to do the best in the given situation. I am constantly happy and content because I know that there is a solution for every problem.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Monday, January 23, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 23-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 23-01-2017
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Carrying Pure And Positive Intentions (Part 1)

We all have entered the New Year and we are all looking forward to it with great joy and enthusiasm. Also, each one of us has their own aspirations and ideal ambitions for the self, for our work, for the relationships with our friends and family and for the world in general. For the self, we are looking to becoming better human beings with lots of qualities. For our work, we are looking to do well in our profession, to be successful, to rise further and shine in different ways and to be seen respectfully by people at our workplace. For our relationships at work or family or with friends, we are looking to give happiness to everyone and make stronger bonds with everyone so that gives us strength and makes other content. For the world, we are looking to make it a beautiful place, where everyone lives in harmony with each other. Also, all of us contribute to its development on a physical as well as an emotional level.

So, we all have a certain purpose in our life and that’s a very good sign of our lives. It takes us and our lives higher in all ways and also keeps us focused and goal-based. But behind these life purposes and an enthusiasm for a New Year ahead, there is something that all of us need to take care of - a positive and pure intention. Every single second of our lives carries an intention behind it. What this intention is lies in our hands. We may want to be good human beings or may want to be respected by everyone and also create a better world and perform excellently at our work. But are we doing all this for an honest reason or are we looking for a false purpose inside these life purposes – of earning a big name only, or for becoming egoistic with wealth, or so that people see us as well-known or to be seen as very charitable? Let’s reflect on this.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 23-01-2017
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To forgive is to give correction.

Expression:When there is forgiveness, the harm of the mistake is forgotten. The mistake itself is remembered only to the extent that the correction is to be given. So there are no negative feelings expressed even while giving correction. And the words that are used are few but prove to be very effective.

Experience: When I learn the art of forgiving I am able to be free from the burden of negative and waste thinking. So there is never any difficulty in giving correction when necessary. The mind is free from the attitudes of the past and it creates harmony in relationships even if the opinions or personalities don't match.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 22-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 22-01-2017
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The Limitless Mind

If we compare the two entities – mind and matter – the most obvious difference between the two that comes to the forefront is that one is non-physical and the other is physical. Another very important difference between the two is that whereas on one hand, matter has limits, in the sense, that’s its fixed in time and space. The mind, on the other hand, is beyond limits, in terms of physical parameters. It’s not fixed in time and space.

When we take a close look at what is going on in our mind, its power becomes visible to us. Since its not fixed in space, it can link me to a friend in, as far as, Washington or Singapore in less than a second. My mind can even move in many different directions at once. Since the mind is not fixed in time, I can think about yesterday, or about fifteen years ago; about tonight, or the next three years. That’s the reason we can say that the mind is limitless, hence powerful.

Thoughts also have different levels of power. Sometimes they fly past the mind leaving hardly any impact on us. At other times, they are accompanied by such feelings so as to influence our entire perception, even our complete inner mental state. Thinking about a visit to Kashmir I made last year, for e.g., I could find myself carried back mentally into the beautiful experience and its attached emotions. Filled with happiness, I will even radiate this happiness to others nearby, through my thoughts, facial expressions, words and actions. On the other hand, thoughts about the death of my close relative a few years ago will have an opposite impact on me in the present moment.

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Message for the day 22-01-2017
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To do something altruistic each day is to ensure happiness.

Expression:When there is the thought to do something altruistic for someone every day, there is the ability to give happiness unconditionally. Whatever the relationship or whatever the personality of the other person, the one who develops the habit of doing this, is able to remain a source of support for those around.

Experience: The best gift I can give is to give happiness and to finish sorrow. When I am constantly thinking of this, not for any reward but just for the sake of it, I am able to discover and enjoy the fruit of that action. I am free from expectations and am able to enjoy the action itself.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 21-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 21-01-2017
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Projection Of Mental Energies In Relationships

Sometimes in relationships, you believe that the other person is hurting you because they do not meet your desires, but in such cases how can you know if it is really true? Let’s go a step ahead; does the belief that they are going to hurt you influence the situation until in the end it happens? Perhaps they won't hurt you. Your belief that the other is going to hurt you is not so powerful that it will necessarily affect the other person. But it affects you yourself. They may not hurt you at all finally, but you will end up hurt, you will become emotionally ill, even psychically ill sometimes. The symptoms will begin to show themselves and you will say: Did you see? I feel hurt, I keep telling you so. So your belief caused you to get hurt and not the other.

The other person isn't you. In relationships, a moment comes when you don't know if it is their fault or yours, if it is their responsibility or yours, if that person has caused the irritation inside you, or if it was you, if that person began the argument or it was you, if they created the conflict or if it was you, because we project (throw) our energies onto each other. All of this drives us to frustration. A lot of power, negative or positive, is needed for a person to be able to influence others with their consciousness, it is easier to influence ourselves. This is a basic principle of human relationships, which we don't understand. We don't understand, and the reason is that we don't see ourselves, because we are always looking at the other, putting the responsibility onto them, blaming them, criticizing them.

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Message for the day 21-01-2017
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To be clean at heart is to give happiness to others.

Expression:The one who has a clean heart is the one who always tries to do the best for those with whom he comes in contact. Thus, the person develops the ability to accept others as they are and ignore anything wrong done by them. Instead, he is able to do the right action without losing the balance. So such a person brings happiness for himself and for others through every action he performs.

Experience: When I have a clean heart I am able to have an experience of my inner qualities. I am able to enjoy the beauty of the different relationships, each relationship and each person being unique. Thus others are able to get in touch with their inner beauty too. So there is happiness experienced by all.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Friday, January 20, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 20-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 20-01-2017
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Fulfilling Desires By Changing Your Belief System (Part 2)

We have been holding a lot of incorrect beliefs as to what can lead us to back to our eternal and original state (these states were discussed in yesterday’s message) and many of our actions are based on these beliefs. We have mentioned a few examples of incorrect beliefs below. There are many more, which you could reflect on.

Lust and attachment increases love in a relationship.

Anger is necessary for success in relationships and is important for getting work done and gaining respect. It provides a mental upsurge of energy.

Greed attracts physical prosperity and brings happiness.

Ego is power; a person with no ego is generally timid or submissive.

Worry prepares us for the worst, worrying for someone close is expressing our love for them.

Being emotional and crying for our loved ones in bad times, is expressing love for them. Being emotional and crying in good times is expressing and experiencing joy.

Gossiping increases social bonding and gives one an experience of joy.

Jealousy inspires us to do better and achieve more.

The Supreme Teacher changes our belief system and not only makes us aware of these incorrect beliefs but reconditions us by incorporating correct beliefs inside us so that we start performing karmas or actions based on them and start progressing towards our eternal and original state.

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Message for the day 20-01-2017
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Humility is to respect everything that comes our way.

Expression:To love simple things is humility. It teaches to respect all that life brings. That means there is an ability to appreciate and value everything appropriately. So one is able to use everything that comes one way to the fullest extent for the benefit of the self and that of others.

Experience: When I am humble I am able to remain focused on my inner peace and not lose my sense of personal well-being. I am able to simply learn from everything that happens to my life and add on to this sense of well-being. No situation is difficult or impossible to work on, but I am able to overcome all challenges with ease.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 19-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 19-01-2017
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Fulfilling Desires By Changing Your Belief System (Part 1)

One most important characteristic that differentiates the Supreme Soul from human souls is that the Supreme Soul is the only entity that exists in this World Drama that is completely desire-less and remains that way eternally. If we were to make a list of desires that human beings have, we would name a lot many and various different types of desires. Whatever karma or action any soul performs at different points in the World Drama, whether positive or even negative, pure or even impure, they are all performed to fulfill these different types of desires. But when seen from a spiritual perspective, whatever the external form of the desire may be, the internal desire is always very simple – to go back to its eternal (or inert) state of peace or original state of peace, love, joy and power. The eternal or inert state of each soul is the state in which it exists before it begins its journey of birth and rebirth, when it resides in the soul world and the original state of each soul is the state in which it exists when it has just begun its journey of birth and rebirth i.e. at the beginning of the birth-rebirth cycle. Even negative karmas based on the personality traits of anger, greed, ego, lust, etc. may externally seem to be filled with violence or impurity, but internally, each time any soul performs such karmas, all it desires is a return to its eternal and original state (we shall explain this in tomorrow’s message). But it does not realize how these karmas take the soul away and not close to these states.

This is where the role of the Supreme Soul comes in. The Supreme Soul is completely desire-less and possesses the capability, knowledge and power to fulfill these desires of the soul.
Being the Supreme Teacher, He guides and teaches us what are the right karmas or actions that can help us fulfill our desires and take us closer to our eternal and original state and which actions, take us away from it. Also He is the only one who can teach us how to connect with Him so that these desires are fulfilled, because he is the Ocean of all the qualities that exist inside us in our eternal and original state and connecting with Him fills us with these qualities. The connection and the right actions, both, are vital for our progress.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

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Message for the day 19-01-2017
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To be a giver is to be flexible.

Expression:The one who does not expect from others, but is able to give others from whatever resources he has, is the one who is flexible. Being flexible means to be able to recognize the other person's value system and moulding one self according to it without losing touch with one's own value system.

Experience: When I am a giver, I do not expect others to change according to my value system, but am very easily able to find a way to adapt to the other person's value system. I never expect from others to understand me, but am able to understand others. So there is never any feeling of negativity for anyone.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 18-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 18-01-2017
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Stars Of Success (Part 3)

We are all blessed with different specialties, which we need to always use in giving joy to everyone and taking them closer to goodness. This is because the more specialties people see in us, they will gradually want to become good human beings with divine qualities. Also, the most beautiful way of making a nicer world in which everyone lives in happiness is interacting with everyone and sharing something good that exists inside us with others, at every step. Be a mirror in which people see their positives also and also realize their negatives and change them soon. We see people full of niceness and inner virtue wealth and beauty, who are like these. They are like right hands of God who are fulfilling God’s task of creating a world full of peace, love, contentment and joy. It is said that even God loves and respects some of us more because they are the reflection of His goodness and they are representing God down here, while He looks from up above. They overflow with immense love and joy and are constantly inspiring people with their treasures and filling them with the same.

So come lets all come together and shine like stars in the sky and bring light in the world by using our talents, qualities and specialties in every single action of ours. When we shine brightly, others in this world will join our hands and the world will be filled with the light of joy with everyone giving love filled blessings to others and taking the same from others. Such shining stars are amongst us and they will give the world a new direction by performing such beautiful actions of love and harmony. God says – Come, my sweet children, help me with your goodness and you will help the planet become a reservoir of happy and loveful living.

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Message for the day 18-01-2017
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To have an open mind is to be prepared for mistakes too.

Expression:The one with an open mind is the one who is able to see things for what they are and accept them. He is able to take the lesson from each situation that happens and move forward with confidence. He never lets any situation or even his own mistake discourage him, but he is able to move forward with renewed confidence.

Experience: I am able to learn from my mistakes and be ready for the next learning too when I am able to keep my mind open. Each mistake that happens is also a beautiful teaching when I am willing to learn. With each new situation I find myself growing very beautifully within.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 17-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 17-01-2017
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Stars Of Success (Part 2)

People who are beautiful natured and very very specially gifted in lots of ways achieve a lot in their lives. They say some people are so lucky that they are born to excel in different spheres of life like in human relationships, at work, in becoming better human beings and at everything else they do. Life for them is about giving to everyone and contributing to life in different beautiful ways. We all know that goodness gives happiness to all those around, but at times in different life’s situations, we fail to bring our qualities into action. So true success as a person is using qualities at every step and becoming a hero actor in life, the one’s whose actions everyone looks up to and takes inspiration from. And success at the level of personality brings success in every other sphere of life.

We all play different roles in life and every role requires certain skills and talents to make them full of success. A talent-filled person stands out as special in this world. But if we want to give happiness to everyone while experiencing success, we need to be special as a person too. Talents are sometimes physical in nature but our goodness adds beauty to these talents and makes us seen as special stars of success. Also, the more good natured we are, the more talents we acquire and God also fills us with many many specialties that make us a complete person. Such complete people make the world a special place to live in and they also make God extremely proud.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 17-01-2017
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To use one value with commitment is to guarantee the use of all values.

Expression:Values are related to each other as if they were members of a great family. For the one who is committed to one value is the one who is able to emerge the other connected values. Such a person is able to add quality to everything he does and speaks.

Experience: When I am able to recognise my own special value and use it with commitment in my daily life, I am able to experience success in all I do. This is because I have the satisfaction of giving my best and of having added quality to everything I do.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Monday, January 16, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 16-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 16-01-2017
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Stars Of Success (Part 1)

All of us our sparkling stars of success born with many specialties and talents which we bring into actions as we grow up. There are some of us special ones who bring these beautiful characteristics from our past lives. Some of us develop new characteristics or specialties as we grow bigger and shine in different ways in life. God is our loving and beautiful spiritual Mother and Father, who is an ocean of specialties and beautiful qualities and powers and we are all His spiritual lovely children. The more we love God and remember Him with a deep heart, the more His qualities and talents we imbibe inside us. Sweetness, humility, respect for all, good wishes for everyone, care and love are some of these lovely qualities which we can take from our spiritual parent. God is the one and only non-physical Supreme Star of peace, love and joy and the sweetest One in the world. We see these virtues in some of our close ones, whom we interact with and such nice people radiate these qualities to everyone around them all the time. They fill life and life’s different scenes with beautiful colours, painted by the brush of good and pure action.

People who are blessed with lots of qualities, receive a lot of love from others and are respected by all and are the real lucky stars of the world. They make their beautiful fortune in life and in doing so; they touch the lives of many. God loves such beautiful angels more than anyone else as they live upto His virtues and adorn His heart always. It is said that there are many who admire God’s qualities but the luckiest ones are those whose qualities God admires.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 16-01-2017
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To look closely at one's own behaviour is to bring about a positive change.

Expression:While it is easy to talk about what other people should do to change themselves and their behaviour, it is also important to see what one can do to bring about a change in oneself. When there is the ability to look in this way, effort is put in continuously to change old unwanted patterns of behaviour and replace with more desirable ones.

Experience: When I am able to take a closer look at myself, I am able to see which trait in my personality is getting in the way of my progress. This knowledge helps me accept myself with my shortcomings and yet have the courage to bring about a change easily. So I have the satisfaction of working on myself.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 15-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 15-01-2017
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Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 3)

In yesterday’s message we had discussed how some of us believe that our life script has been written by God and we do not play any role in the same. In this regard, it is very important to state that respecting, thanking and remembering God in good as well as bad times is obviously very very good and the right karma but submitting ourselves blindly to God’s will is an inactive response which prevents each of us from using our free will to make any choice at any moment and shape our future. While there is a master plan which is being played out on the stage of the world, a part of the plan is that we each have free will and an opportunity to decide our actions and responses. We need to realize that each one of us possesses an intellect, which absorbs the capacity to discriminate right from wrong, good from bad, from God and decides how to act on the world stage.

In this regard, there are two aspects. The first aspect is – God writes my life script completely for me without me playing any role in the same. The other aspect is - I perform actions and create my responses, based on God’s knowledge of good and bad karmas which he has given me, so as to shape my destiny and write my life script accordingly. There is a fine difference between these two aspects, the second aspect being the correct one. This knowledge given to me by God is stored in my intellect; I am the master of it and can decide how to use it to play my part.

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Message for the day 15-01-2017
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Patience brings easy solutions.

Expression:What one cannot achieve with pressure can be very easily achieved with patience. Patience brings a state of calm inside which helps in finding the answers that already lie within. It gives courage to work on the problem in a cool and relaxed way till the solution is found. It brings creativity even to mundane things.

Experience: When I am able remain patient even in the most challenging situations, I am able to remain calm. I don't let go of my inner peace but am able to be aware of my own inner resources. I am able to retain my inner strength which gives me courage to find the solution for every problem.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 14-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 14-01-2017
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Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 2)

In yesterday’s message we had discussed how we possess the potential in our hands to write the scripts of our lives, our destinies. Some of us do not like this idea because we have been taught since we were small that life is all about luck, but this incorrect belief does not let us realize the immense internal power or potential that we possess of shaping up our destiny, our future. By resigning ourselves to a life of luck, we do not use our potential and conveniently avoid doing the inner work of becoming awake and aware of who we are as spiritual beings and the masters of our own destiny. This is why waking up from the sleep of this wrong belief is the first step towards empowering ourselves, towards taking responsibility for our life, for our present, our future.

Also there are some of us who hold the belief that the course taken by each one of our lives is not written by luck but is decided by God, so it is egoistic on our part if we believe that we can write our own scripts, interfering with the plan that God has in his mind for us. So in times of challenges in our lives, although its not wrong to pray to God at those times, we commonly use words like - if God would like it, I shall overcome this obstacle or I will be successful in this particular task or my health will get okay or I will pass this exam etc. In times of happiness, although it’s not wrong to thank God at those times, we completely submit ourselves to God’s will, thinking that it is he and he alone responsible for what good that is happening in my life. In the case of the sorrow we forget that although God can help us to some extent, whether we will surpass the sorrow or not is very largely dependent on our past actions which are influencing the present situation. In the case of the happiness, we forget that though God’s blessings do help and work, our past actions are a very important dominant factor which is creating situations of positivity in our present lives.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

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Message for the day 14-01-2017
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True detachment gives a chance for others to grow.

Expression:Where there is detachment there is the ability to let go. There is also an equal amount of love, but along with it is the ability to give others an opportunity to be themselves. One's own attitude or expectations don't colour the perception and others get a chance to express themselves easily and naturally.

Experience: When I am detached, I am also loving. I am able to watch with inner happiness all that life brings into each one's lives. Neither do I take over other peoples' lives and feel disappointed when things go wrong, nor do I leave them to their fate. I am able to see their inner capabilities and get each one to become self-reliant.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Friday, January 13, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 13-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 13-01-2017
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Playing My Part As A Hero Actor (Part 1)

While just as beings we reside in the soul world, as human beings we play our many roles through many physical bodies in this beautiful world drama on this amazing, colorful and round stage called planet Earth. Each day is filled with multi-million scenes in different locations on this very big stage. Some scenes are directly related to us, some indirectly and a lot many aren’t related at all. Each scene that we are directly involved is an opportunity to not only play our role in the best possible way but also as a result shape the role in the most appropriate way possible. Therefore, we are all hero actors who by playing our roles as well as possible, create the script of our own life i.e. create our own destiny.

And do remember doing this has a positive influence on others’ scripts also, which rebounds back to us and in return helps us in our making our scripts better. While we have been given a role to live the entire birth right from childhood to old age, we possess the power, the remote control to dictate and control as to how exactly we will live the day, the year and each year of our present birth, our present role. Each day offers us multiple options as to not only how we act but also how we respond to the world around us and our script or destiny gets shaped up according to the options we make. Our destiny is decided not by what happens to us or around us, but by (i) how we act (sometimes the actions are responses to external events and sometimes they are not) and (ii) how we respond to a million events and circumstances which we encounter as we make this complete journey of life.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

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Message for the day 13-01-2017
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The best comparison is the comparison with oneself.

Expression:The one who is comparing oneself with what he was and seeing how he can improve or how he has improved is the one who is constantly bringing about progress in his own life. On the contrary the one who is comparing himself with others is the one who is constantly finding excuses and leaving behind the opportunities that he gets for bringing about a change.

Experience: When I am free from excuses and free from comparison with others, I am able to be light even in the most challenging circumstances. I am not caught up with my own mistakes or those of others, but am able to constantly add on to my treasure store of experiences and be richer and richer with every new challenge faced.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 12-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 12-01-2017
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Discovering God (Part 3)

I love God a lot, Thank you God, O God please help me, O God please forgive me, O God where are you, O God please make me healthy, O God please grant me a child, O God please make my mind peaceful, O God please shower my life with success and prosperity, etc. These are some of our common cries in God's name. We say and they all reach Him, but do we ever wonder how much God loves us, how much He is ready to help us and grant us all of these desires or help us in bringing them in our lives? Does God help each one of us equally? We know He is impartial and loves each one of us equally but at the same time He is a parent who also knows which children of His are more full of qualities than the others. Also, He knows which children of His from amongst the world population have performed higher karmas or actions in their complete journey of birth and rebirth. Also, He knows those who are very very pure and humble, not only in the present but also who have been like that in many many lives. He also knows how much do we remember Him with a clean heart in our present and how much have we remembered Him in our past births? God knows our present as well as our past equally correctly, on the basis of which He sees us.

There are two sides of God's personality. On the one hand He is loveful and so His love and respect for all His children is equal. On the other side and at the same time, He is also lawful. So, He chooses to be more loveful and respectful for a few, based on all the things He knows about us. Its two sides of the same coin. Both sides are a part of the coin and its only a Supreme Being like God who can keep a balance of both these sides so beautifully. You might question this, but God is commonly a strict being with some souls who are lacking in qualities or whose actions are of a low quality. We are talking about those souls who are under the immense influence of the five vices - lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego, which are like Ravana's ten heads. These ten heads are a symbolic representation of five vices in men and five vices in women. Remember Ravana was Ram's enemy, where Ram is a symbolic representation of God. So, if you want your mind to be blessed with the presence of God or Ram inside it, make sure Ravana or the five vices mentioned above are no longer a part of your personality.

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Message for the day 12-01-2017
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To be a leader is to lead by one's own example.

Expression:Everyone knows what is right and what is not. But the one who is able to live by what is right, and shows the same in his words and actions is the one who is able to inspire others to bring about a change. There is then no need to speak a lot of words to inspire others.

Experience: When every action of mine is qualitative , I find that people look up to me for guidance and support. When people look up to me and take inspiration from me, I am able to keep attention on my words and actions so that whatever I speak and do is beneficial for myself and others.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 11-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 11-01-2017
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Discovering God (Part 2)

Love for God is incomplete without a complete realization of who God is and what are His nature's different characteristics. Also as the saying goes in Hindi that God as He is and what He is, only a few in crores and even from those few very few will realize Him completely. There can be crores who think about Him and even love Him very much and also realize Him partially or incompletely. But only a few extremely pure minds will realize Him completely and accurately and also become like Him. These selected few are amongst us and absolutely normal humans but the only specialty they have is that they are extremely pure and humble. As a result of which God reveals Himself completely to them. Purity of the mind, which means a mind that has made itself completely free of lust and anger, which means not only words and actions but our thoughts are completely free of these two emotions. Also, humility or egolessness while performing actions. Such a mind will be able to perceive God and His nature completely and experience His love in the sacred space of His mind. You might say that what is life without anger and ego as life without these is not possible but then ask those who are on a journey to free themselves of these emotions. They are getting closer to God more and more each day and making others around them a part of their closeness. Such people are very few but they exist and are looked upto by God also.

It is like the taste of the mango. The one who has tasted it can only know its taste and say it is absolutely delicious. God is the most beautiful being that exists and to have a close relationship with Him means becoming as beautiful as Him over a period of time. As a result we get to know Him more and more in return and fulfill the spiritual heart's desire. This desire exists inside each one of us, but is sometimes hidden because we have become over-involved in materialism and forgotten our eternal relationship with Him.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

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Message for the day 11-01-2017
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To be free from the identification with negativity is to be always light.

Expression:The one who identifies with his negative traits is always thinking about it. There is a trace of this negativity that is seen in everything he does or talks. He is not able to be free from this negativity because with each passing day the identification with it becomes stronger. Slowly others too start perceiving him in the same way.

Experience: When I am able to be free from the identification with my negativity, I am able to be constantly light. There might be situations or people who might provoke my negativity, but I am able to maintain my inner positivity. This is because I have managed to finish my identification with the negativity.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 10-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 10-01-2017
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Discovering God (Part 1)

When remembering God in our daily lives, we need to sometimes stop and look inwards and ask ourselves that do we remember His complete personality? That means do we, while remembering Him, relate to Him in various different ways? Also, do we remember His different roles and responsibilities for which He is remembered all over the world? E.g. do we remember God as only the Supreme Father or do we also sometimes see Him as an extremely loveful mother, the One who sustains us with His love and is extremely forgiving while seeing our mistakes? Or, do we remember God only as a strict parent, the One who judges and punishes but forget that He is the Ocean of Mercy also? Or, do we remember God as the Ocean of Peace and Love but not as an Ocean of Power, by connecting with whom, we can overcome all our weaknesses and become as strong as Him? Also, do we remember God just as a Teacher, who gives us knowledge and not as a Guru? He is a Supreme Guru who can purify us so much that all our sins of many lives, performed because of ignorance, can be cleaned by His remembrance. Also, do we remember God as someone from whom we can absorb qualities and powers only or someone from whom we can learn the secrets of how the soul functions? And also learn from Him how the soul plays its different roles in the world drama? The list is endless of what I could be missing while trying to discover God and His personality.

Just as in pure worldly relationships between humans, unless we have known a person for long and know all aspects of his personality, which we commonly call nature, we are not able to have a close relationship with him. That relationship could be your parent or a very close friend or even an office colleague. Also, one person can be someone with whom we are so close that being with him or her, gives us the joy of all worldly relationships. There can be one person in your life who is like your parent, as well as a friend as well as a teacher and also like a guru, but all of them are not the Supreme or they are not completely perfect. In the same way, God is one, but can play different roles and relationships at the same time, but He is the Supreme or perfect in all these relationships. This is the beauty of God.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)

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Message for the day 10-01-2017
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The one who is clean and clear inside is the one who becomes a mirror for others.

Expression:When there is the ability to realize and bring about a change, there is also the ability to make oneself clear and clean inside. Such a person naturally becomes a clean mirror for others to see their own perfection. He becomes an inspiration for those around for bringing about the best from within.

Experience: Each and every moment of my life, when I am able to work to bring about a change in myself constantly, I am able to remain in touch with my inner qualities. I have the joy of experiencing my inner perfection, which naturally flows and touches the lives of those around.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Monday, January 09, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 09-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 09-01-2017
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Crossing Negative Circumstances (Part 3)

In order to have a wider perception and not to drown in any negative situation i.e. not to get affected by it, you can position yourself in a positive way. Instead of losing respect for the self and developing a negative consciousness, if you make your consciousness positive and stabilize yourself in respect towards yourself, in maintaining your positive and powerful self-esteem and a healthy distance (not necessarily physical distance, but rather by not letting the situation absorb you), you will be able to have an eagle's vision. From above, everything looks smaller. It is easier to get over something small. You can. I am a victorious soul or I am a destroyer of obstacles are examples of positive consciousness.

Whatever happens, it is important to always be aware that you create your thoughts and you allow the situations to have greater or lesser impact inside you, according to how you see them. Learn to create thoughts full of courage, trust and determination. Spirituality and the practice of meditation helps you do just that. Those thoughts, charged with positive energy, will help you to allow each situation to pass; to really overcome it and leave it behind; for it not to remain alive in your thoughts or in your memory.

With the power of a mind that creates thoughts full of good energy, wherever you go, you will create a pleasant atmosphere. Your vibrations will create spaces full of beauty, love, trust and peacefulness; spaces where all those who enter will remove their masks and will connect again with their true self.

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Message for the day 09-01-2017
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Contentment makes one virtuous.

Expression:The one who is content is free from selfishness, yet is concerned about filling the self with inner treasures. Such a person finds his stock of treasures always full and overflowing. So his thoughts, words and actions are those that are constantly bringing benefit to those around.

Experience: When I am always content, I always experience myself to be victorious. I am easily able to learn from all situations and use all my experiences to move forward. Also I become a giver. I thus get the love and good wishes of those around me and am also able to experience constant progress.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Sunday, January 08, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 08-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 08-01-2017
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Crossing Negative Circumstances (Part 2)

The challenge lies in knowing what the strategy is to learn to live through negative situations without allowing them to influence our emotional and mental state.

In order to achieve that, in the first place, we should change our interpretation. Instead of interpreting the situation as an obstruction, interference or barrier to our path, we need to change our perception. We can ask ourselves questions like: What has this situation taught me? What does it say to me? Remain detached, observe and listen before reacting immediately. From detachment, observation and listening we can have a more practical and wider perception.

We are the creators of our realities. Reality, in itself, does not create for us stress, pain or unhappiness. It is our way of looking and interpretation of reality that brings about these reactions. Therefore, we have to review how we perceive situations and with what beliefs we interpret and judge them. Reinterpreting the situation, the concrete reality, implies allowing the old perception to die in order to make room for a new vision. Without the old dying, the new cannot be built correctly. Instead of seeing people or situations as obstacles on the path, we can see them as opportunities to practice patience and tolerance, to know how to listen, thank and love. They allow us to widen our capacity to co-operate and enlarge our heart so that we might be more generous.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 08-01-2017
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Cooperation brings beauty and growth.

Expression:Everyone seeks for cooperation from others, but the beauty lies in cooperating with others. True cooperation is that which is given with the heart and touches the lives of others positively. It inspires others to be cooperative too. This is the true help that one can extend to others.

Experience: When I am able to be cooperative with others and provide them with the help that they require, I am able to enjoy the joy of giving unconditionally. I am free from expectations from others and I am able to enjoy the growth that I perceive in others. I don't expect others to change for me but because they can improve.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Saturday, January 07, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 07-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 07-01-2017
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Crossing Negative Circumstances (Part 1)

There are periods of life in which it seems to us that there is someone or something who gets in the way of our path. Circumstances, instead of going in our favor, go against us. They are barriers that make it difficult for us to reach our objectives; they are interruptions that prevent us from feeling satisfied; they are situations that seem to reduce our feelings of success.

When we find ourselves with these scenes that appear to block our progress towards the aims and objectives that we have set out for ourselves, we tend to have negative thoughts; we feel anger and rage, or we feel sad and unenthusiastic, as if we don't have the strength to either overcome or transform the situation. Rather it is the situation that overcomes or overpowers us and leaves us exhausted. Some people are not prepared for this to happen and put all their strength into fighting the situation. They do so with feelings of anger, revenge and injustice. Often it becomes a process that wastes their energies and leaves them exhausted, without achieving a true solution.

It is possible to live through situations without them causing such an emotional energy loss. That does not mean that we become cold and insensitive to what happens around us. It is a question of living through situations without drowning into them. If we drown ourselves in them we won't be able to help others or ourselves. We will be lost, like the shipwrecked, at the mercy of the waves, the tides and the winds. We will have lost the control of the steering wheel of our ship – our life.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 07-01-2017
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True spirituality is that which makes one practical.

Expression:Usually spirituality is perceived as something that has to be kept separate from the normal daily life. But true spiritual life is that which is very practical. The one who is able to fill himself with spiritual power is able to use this power for being better and better in his practical life.

Experience: When I am able to recognize the inner beauty and am able to give myself time to be in touch with this spiritual aspect, I am able to be powerful and beyond chaos in all situations. I am able to go within to find the immense power and use it in practical situations. So I find myself being successful in practical situations.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Friday, January 06, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 06-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 06-01-2017
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Awakening The Positivity Within (Part 3)

In yesterday’s message, we have already shared examples of situations which are self-created. These situations are created by my own mind, sometimes triggered by an external situation and sometimes there is no external event responsible for the situation. Then there are other situations of the physical body, relationship based situations and situations related to my workplace and home. All these situations are partly external and partly internal i.e. there is an external event present which is a reality and cannot be overlooked. This is true except in many cases when the situation is perceived as a situation but that is just a perception of a person with a negative perception, but in reality the situation does not exist. In all other cases, the situation is present and that is a fact accepted by even a person with a positive perception. Depending on how we perceive the situation, how we react to it and what thoughts we create on seeing it, the situation becomes big or small in our own mind first. But there is another aspect – sometimes some life situations are threatening in nature and can disturb the most powerful of souls. Of course the intensity of the fear varies from person to person depending on the perception. A calm mind with a powerful intellect can face all these situations. Also, techniques like meditation which are taught by the Brahma Kumaris will help you in doing that.

Meditation is a process of thought training - just like a cricketer will practice very carefully how he will time each ball that he faces to achieve the desired result of a run or runs scored. In the same way, I learn how to give each thought of mine value and create only positive thoughts for those few minutes of meditation. These positive thoughts are based on spiritual knowledge and are thoughts about the spiritual self and the Supreme Being. These positive thoughts are created very slowly, step by step and carefully. This meditation practice of about a few minutes everyday is our training for actual negative situations. Then, due to this practice, we remain calm and create only positive thoughts and keep the negative thoughts away which cause disturbances in our mind.

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Message for the day 06-01-2017
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To be strong is to be free from the influence of the body.

Expression:To allow the body to influence the mind is to be doubly ill. The one who allows himself to be doubly ill is not able to deal with the illness of the body. On the other hand, the one who is powerful in the mind is able to maintain the inner strength in spite of the disease and so has the power to put in effort to finish it.

Experience: Instead of being conscious of the disease of the body, all I need to do is to maintain the consciousness of being powerful internally. Then I would not be afraid of the disease of the body but will have the courage to deal with it. I am able to see the disease as something temporary and will soon find myself rid of the illness, as I am powerful within.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thursday, January 05, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 05-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 05-01-2017
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Awakening The Positivity Within (Part 2)

Do you know that on an average we create a new thought every 2 seconds or even less that? This speed increases very regularly when we panic and are in discomfort or under the negative influence of an external situation. We call it external because the me or I which is internal is not the creator of the situation. Even the physical body is external. Except for situations from my own negative personality characteristics, which are completely the creation of the internal me or I, all other situations are external. There are various examples of situations in the form of negative personality traits which are completely internal. E.g. on a particular day I feel gloomy or sad without any particular reason. On another day I experience thoughts of ego of my own nature or positive qualities or powers which are all internal. Sometimes I experience fear but there is no particular person or object or situation which I fear, it is just a passing phase. I am just frightened for no particular reason or on another occasion I feel I am unsuccessful although everything in my life is going fine. On another day I am worried about falling ill, although I am completely fit and nor have I met someone who is ill or listened to any news regarding poor health. So, my worry is completely self-created. These are examples of situations created completely by me.

Then, there are situations from my own personality characteristics which are triggered by outside situations. Such situations include something that I read, saw or heard which has caused a negative personality characteristic to emerge inside me. Examples of such situations are – my friend has been more successful in his or her academic career and seeing that causes thoughts of jealousy to emerge inside me. In this case, this is my self created situation but it was triggered by another person or external event. He or she did not cause me any harm and did not create the situation but I created the situation only because of my thinking. Another example of such a situation - I fear my boss at office solely because of his position being superior to me. He or she is a very nice person and is extremely polite with me and never tries to dominate me, but I feel dominated because of my thinking. Or another day, I heard a piece of news about how people are dying of heart attacks. This creates thoughts of fear inside me although I don’t suffer from any symptoms like uncontrolled high cholesterol or high blood pressure which could possibly lead to that.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 05-01-2017
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To have knowledge means to remain cheerful.

Expression:The one who has the right understanding based on accurate knowledge is the one who is able to remain content even during difficult situations. Since there is a clear understanding about situations and the people around, there is no difficulty in giving the best under all circumstances. Such a person uses all challenges to enrich his own capabilities.

Experience: When I am able to use knowledge as a weapon in a positive way, I am able to understand everything that happens. I understand that there is a reason for whatever happens and there is something to learn from every situation. So I am not upset with the varied situations I am faced with, but am able to remain cheerful enjoying everything that comes my way.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 04-01-2017

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Soul Sustenance 04-01-2017
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Awakening The Positivity Within (Part 1)

Positivity is our nature which we sometimes lose in our busy lifestyles. It is like the necklace which is around our neck, but we don’t realize that and we search for it all around. When we start the day, we need to fill our minds with positive points of information from a positive source. These points strengthen our mind and protect it from the negatives which surround us. Very often like the necklace, positivity is lost temporarily and is very easy to find, but the negative influence does not let me think of the ways of becoming positive and regaining it.

There was once a rich trader who always found a reason to become upset because of the smallest of reasons during the day. Every morning he would decide to remain positive during the day and would promise himself that he would not let his mind be influenced by any difficult problem he faced. But, as soon as he used to start his trade or business, because of the complicated nature of his work, he would fall prey to one or the other problem. These problems would be either from the work itself. Or problems would arise through the money he handled, or from his work associates or sometimes due to a problem created by his own mind. A mind that easily succumbs to difficulties can be compared to a home where a little problem in the form of a little mouse enters and brings disturbances in the whole house. When the house owner manages to get rid of the mouse and thinks everything is okay, a cat enters and adds her side of troubles and has the house owner go busy in trying to get it out of his premises. The cat is then followed by the dog’s entry and the whole day the house owner spends in this way. The moral of the story is - the one who remains disturbed attracts disturbances, which he keeps trying to send away. This process or mindset of trying to keep problems away and becoming over-involved in doing that, in turn attracts more problems. So, remain calm when the first problem of the day comes and don’t become over-involved or confused in trying to keep it away. This is the primary step to keeping problems away for the whole day. Calmness attracts a problem free environment around me and also keeps me content, powerful and peaceful.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 04-01-2017
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Even the impossible becomes possible with determination and there is sure success.

Expression:The one who is determined is the one who never gives up in adverse situations. He is able to use all the challenges as a means for self-progress. He is never deterred with situations which seem difficult to handle, but is able to creatively bring out new ideas that help him to cross over the obstacles with ease.

Experience: Determination brings confidence in me and in my ability to achieve what I set out to achieve. I am able to remain confident and sure of my own success. This confidence gives me the encouragement not to let go half way through, but to do something till the end. With each obstacle that comes my way that seems to deter me from my path, I find myself improving and progressing, making myself better and better. So I am able to experience success constantly.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

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