Friday, June 07, 2013

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 07-06-2013

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Soul Sustenance 07-06-2013
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Spirituality In Practice (Self Introspection)

On the screen of your mind, make an appraisal (note) of what has happened throughout the past week…

Think about the awareness that you have had of yourself… think about the actions you have taken…Have they been based on a positive consciousness of yourself? Can you see the intentions behind your actions? Are they pure and positive?

Now, slowly and gently, I focus on my inner self… I observe myself… Does my life carry meaning and a purpose… Is there learning and growth at each step?

Do I possess inner strength… Am I able to use powers like the power to tolerate, power to co-operate, power to face in my everyday actions and experience success at every step… If so, do I feel strong and secure…

Do I remain in self-respect and as a result respect others… Do I love myself and have good wishes for each one that I interact with…

Do I feel calm and at peace… free to experience my inner qualities… Are my qualities visible through my actions…

And now, for a few moments, I am going to create feelings of peace and serenity for others… I am going to share thoughts and feelings of peace with others… this is practical spirituality…

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Message for the day 07-06-2013
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With the balance of love and discipline, energy can be saved while speaking.

Projection: Throughout the day we find ourselves having to give explanations or corrections to so many people. When we do this we find that we have to spend a lot of words. In the process we tend to lose a lot of our energy and find ourselves tired.

Solution: In order to save our energy and to use fewer words we need to have the balance of love and discipline. Discipline will enable us to give the right directions while love will make our directions effective. So we find that just a few words would be enough to get our message across.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 06-06-2013

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Soul Sustenance 06-06-2013
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The Alphabet of Change

Awareness - First, become aware of what you need to change in yourself. What is preventing you from attaining contentment? What habits are blocking the way to realizing your full potential?

Belief - Many people think that a change in their personalities is extremely difficult. But in fact it is a reality that lies within your power. It might be useful to ask yourself questions such as * What has held me back from change in the past? and * What are the stages by which I can bring change about?

Commitment - Motivation is the key to commitment. We need to want to change, rather than feel it is a duty to ourselves. Try writing down a list of commitments in the form of statements beginning with ‘I will’. They should come directly out of, and be connected with, your overall vision.

Discipline - We cannot change unless we are able to maintain a steady course over time. Think of each sign as a major landmark passed. Even if we find ourselves slipping into old habits, that achievement of even a little bit of change cannot be taken away.

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Message for the day 06-06-2013
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To serve with the heart, with love is to guarantee success.

Projection: When we have to be of help to others, we sometimes find ourselves doing it with force. We don't seem to be really interested in doing it but situations or people seem to be forcing us to do it. We, then, don't enjoy what we do and also don't find the benefit of it either to others or to ourselves.

Solution: We need to consciously make an effort to see what people are benefiting when we are helping them. With this conscious effort we are able to help others with love without feeling the heaviness of what we have to do. Thus, we find our actions to be much more fruitful.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 05-06-2013

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Soul Sustenance 05-06-2013
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Comparing Atom And Atma (cont.)

The human body is also a complex pattern of physical energies. Atomic particles build together to form the organic structures and inorganic minerals which perform the body's chemical interactions, thus forming the basis of the hormonal and nervous control of the body. What we see as old or young, ugly or beautiful, male or female, is also the effect of these differing levels of physical energies between neighboring atoms. However marvelous a machine the body may be, it is the presence of the soul which makes it function.

One of the basic differences between souls and atoms is that while souls can exercise choice of their movements, where and when to go somewhere, atoms cannot obviously exercise such choice. In a way you could say that a soul is a point-source of spiritual energy that has awareness of its own existence. Atoms do not.

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Message for the day 05-06-2013
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Problems can be solved when there is the faith that every problem has a solution.

Projection: When faced with a problem, there's a lot of thinking that goes into it. We sometimes end up only worrying about the problem thinking that we are trying to find a solution. But worrying never brings any solution. We only end up getting disheartened and give up trying. What then remains is just the problem and a lot of waste thoughts.

Solution: Instead of worrying about the problem and wasting time, it's important to work for the solution to the best of our ability with the faith that the solution will be found. Even if we are not able to find a solution at that time, it is important to have the faith that it will be found. Only then will we be able to relieve ourselves from worrying.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 04-06-2013

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Soul Sustenance 04-06-2013
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Comparing Atom And Atma

The knowledge of the laws of the physical universe is based on the atomic theory. The atom is seen to be a point-source of energy, and different energy levels and vibrations between neighboring atoms give the appearance of form, color and heat. It has been established that the entire material world we see around us as a variety of forms and colors, light and heat, is formed of these point sources of physical energy or atoms. The most beautiful scene in nature is merely a pattern of energy waves and vibrations. The sense organs select the vibrations and relay a message to the mind where all images are formed. The eyes see some of these patterns as light forms and colors, the nose pick up odors. In the same way sounds, tastes and sensations are detected and all of these are transmitted to the mind.

Atomic theory appeared originally in Greece and in India. The English word atom came from the Greek word atomos meaning indivisible. This word is similar to the Hindi word atma which means self or soul and refers to the conscious energy of the human as being an indivisible and un-destroyable point of non-physical light.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

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Message for the day 04-06-2013
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To be a master means to experience inner power in a practical way.

Projection: Each one has a lot of powers within, which we can use in our daily life while dealing with practical situations. Knowledge of these powers is of course there within each one. And along with it there is an intention to use them too. But during the time when it is necessary to use them, it becomes difficult to make them practical. So the powers within are just wasted away.

Solution: We need to learn the art of using the right power at the right time. With the recognition of the powers within us we also need to develop the consciousness of being a master. As a master we just need to order whatever power we need at that time and these powers will surely come to serve us. We will then surely be victorious in all situations.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Monday, June 03, 2013

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 03-06-2013

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Soul Sustenance 03-06-2013
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The Spiritual Concept Of Becoming A Trustee (cont.)

In the physical world, one common example of a trustee is when a multi-millionaire does not have any heirs, he or she will leave his or wealth in the hands of a trustee or a group of trustees, to ensure the right use of his/her wealth as per his/her last wish. Another common example is of trustees associated with temples and welfare organizations. All the wealth and ornaments that devotees offer in temples out of faith, love and devotion for God or all the wealth and property that people give in charity to welfare organizations is taken care of by a group of trustees. In all these cases and more, while taking care of the wealth, honest trustees always keep the consciousness that this is not their wealth or property and will always use it in the right way, as they have been directed. This is called ‘keeping the trust’ of the owner/owners of the wealth, hence the word trustee.

In this way, now as a trustee, throughout the day I keep a consciousness that the treasures of my mind, my thoughts, words, actions, virtues, powers, time, my physical wealth, physical body etc. are the Supreme Being’s property and I have been appointed as a trustee to take care of them. In this way, I will use these treasures in a positive way, for a positive purpose (as mentioned earlier for a purpose of bringing myself and other close to a state of truth) only; in a way the Supreme Being wants me to and has instructed me to do so. This establishes a relationship of detachment with the treasures I possess and also brings about my spiritual self-growth.

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Message for the day 03-06-2013
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True respect comes not from what one does but how well it is done.

Projection: Respect is usually associated with what one does, i.e., it is usually associated with position, status etc which is associated with the job. When there is such an attitude, there is a tendency to look at the people around in a superficial way, missing out on recognising their true worth.

Solution: We need to recognise the fact that true respect comes from doing well whatever is being done. We need to recognise each one's virtues and qualities revealed through the behaviour. This enables us to have true respect for others. We then no longer look at what one is doing as important, but will be able to appreciate each and every one's contribution.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Sunday, June 02, 2013

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 02-06-2013

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Soul Sustenance 02-06-2013
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The Spiritual Concept Of Becoming A Trustee (cont.)

While it’s important to realize that the treasures mentioned in yesterday’s message are my treasures and they possess immense potential since they help me grow spiritually by their right use, it is also important to maintain a relationship of detachment with them, because we live with these treasures all the time and it is very easy to get caught up with them and become attached to them. Where there is attachment, there develops ego and the treasures start getting misused. An important concept in this regard is that of trusteeship. The Supreme Being while sharing the knowledge of these treasures and the method of using them, also shares, that for our benefit, once we realize what these treasures are, we should surrender these treasures to Him. This is an invisible or non-physical surrender, not a physical or visible one.

Once these treasures are surrendered to Him, unlike worldly surrenders, the treasures don’t remain with Him, because being an Unlimited Donor and being Incorporeal (bodiless), the Supreme doesn’t keep them with Himself and returns them back to us. Anyways, the surrender is deep but is on a mental level and not on a physical one. But, while returning the treasures back, the Supreme Being presents a condition in front of us. He says that since these treasures now no longer belong to us, we need to remove any sense of ownership over them and become a trustee while taking care of and using these treasures only for the purpose instructed by Him, the purpose of bringing the self and others closer to a state of truth (as explained in yesterday’s message). The word trustee comes from the word trust. In this case the Supreme Being says that He wishes and hopes that we keep His trust and don’t breach it at any cost, at any point of time, in taking care of and using ‘His’ treasures, because don’t forget, although the treasures are with us, there are no longer ours.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

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Message for the day 02-06-2013
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Self-respect increases when one learns to converse positively to the self.

Projection: The usual way to talk to the self is to talk to the most superficial aspects of the personality, those which are related to fears (including those of the future), complaints and mindless repetition of things in the past. Such talk to the self only lowers the self-respect to a great extent.

Solution: Not only when our mind is going towards waste and negative, but at all times, it is important that we talk to the mind with love, as we would talk to a child. Like a mother would lovingly explain to the child, we need to teach our mind with love. This creates true happiness within and our self-respect increases.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Soul Sustenance & Message for the day 01-06-2013

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Soul Sustenance 01-06-2013
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The Spiritual Concept Of Becoming A Trustee

Spirituality introduces to us a very beautiful concept of trusteeship. At first, I realize that as a spiritual being or soul, I possess the treasures of my mind, my thoughts, words, actions, virtues, powers, time, physical wealth, etc. Even my physical body is a treasure. While I may have many a times misused these treasures earlier, now I learn how to use them correctly for my spiritual upliftment or the long term benefit of me, the soul. As per the Supreme Being’s instructions, I use these treasures for a positive purpose of bringing not only myself but others also, closer to a state of truth, a state in which the soul experiences its original virtues of peace, love, joy, purity, power, wisdom, etc. By doing that I, in return, experience spiritual self-growth.

Each time I deviate from this purpose, I come down spiritually, or I do not grow spiritually. This is a different type of existence as compared to before when I did not even realize that these were treasures in the first place. A treasure can be defined as something of immense value. So, these physical and spiritual energies or resources (mentioned above) which I own or possess, become treasures because by the right use of them towards myself and others, I can increase my value. Here we refer primarily to the spiritual self’s value. Once that is increased, the physical self’s value also increases as a result.

(To be continued tomorrow…)

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Message for the day 01-06-2013
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Faith enables one to bring solutions to problems.

Projection: When problems come, we tend to overreact to it or exaggerate it to such an extent that it becomes a trap for us. Instead of working on the problem we fall prey to it making all our thoughts negative. Once we are caught up in negativity we will neither look for, nor find solutions.

Solution: Each thought of ours is important when working on a problem. Instead of making our thoughts negative, we need to remind ourselves that what we are going through is a test which we must pass with honour. When we have this thought, all our energy will be focussed on working to bring a solution.


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris