As an individual who cruised through life unconsciously, I floated through the movements with autopilot on. I was a traveller simply traversing, ill-equipped to see through the dimness of prevailing torment. It gave me a prescriptive character that sketched out how I was to see the world and myself. But quick forward several years, amidst a mental emergency, I chose to embark on an excursion towards individual disclosure. I set out to build up a reason, to be succinct, and to come clean. This journey included the search for life’s most key question of human existence: who am I? 

I thought the pieces of information were to be found in the individual that I used to be. So, I started assembling the leftovers of a profoundly divided past. I unearthed parts of an actual existence once lived and inspected each piece cautiously for a string to weave together the past to the present. I urgently wished to experience some mind-blowing discovery, which would embolden my sense of solidarity and reason. The more profoundly I looked, the more lost I felt. I did not, at this point, perceive the individual I once knew, for she was chillingly hidden beneath overwhelming layers of aggregate injury.

Although I did not perceive the individual I used to be, this did not, as I had first thought, mean I was lost. I had shed the layers of a character that filled its need at some point in history. However, it was not helpful to my current purpose. All through the process of self-revelation, I discovered that I could never genuinely lose myself. Only that we encounter many selves in our journey of life, where each version of self is not consistent and static for any period over time. Ending up includes an interminable phoenix-like condition of re-capitulation. I came to an understanding that I was never lost but had also not yet been found! So where did I begin?

1. Catalyse an identity

Start with yourself. Deal with yourself.
Characterize what your identity is. Refine your character.
Pick your goal and eloquent your Being.

                                                                                  — Dr Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules forever: An Antidote to Chaos 

A proposed work-out: I started by asking myself as to what characteristics I appreciate in an individual. This laid out a perfect set of aspirations that I may pursue, and insight as to what may be pushed aside, as it better not to emulate. As per Dr Peterson’s proposed thought, I organized my thinking around something of real significance – a worthy goal. I chose who I needed to be, and who I wished to be, and pointed resolutely at that with all dedication. This was done on my own terms. I thought of setting things up as I needed them to be, being the individual I should have been, and envisioned, at that point, what that would resemble now. In reflecting on responses to these inquiries, I developed further hopes and aspirations, to move towards. What is more, when these aspirations gradually began to be realised, the deadwood in my life could be burned.

2. Burn off the deadwood:

The truth is something that burns. It burns off dead wood. And people don’t like having the dead wood burnt off often because they’re 95 percent dead wood. Burning dead wood means shedding all the elements of you that are no longer worthy of the pursuits that you value. As you do that, you shape yourself evermore precisely into something that can withstand the tragedy of life and act as a beacon to the world. So let the death of what is insufficient about you, occur and then wait for your rebirth.

                                                                                                                                          — Dr Jordan B Peterson

Once more, this progression is distinctively settled inside an extra-arrangement of inquiries. Consuming dead wood required asking myself – what would be a good idea for me to take forward with me in time, and what is it that I should relinquish? Moreover, at this point, I began to consider what is not in keeping with my newfound aspirations and interests. I remained perceptive of the notion that the more deadwood I consumed wilfully, the less it accumulated around me, and the simpler it became to push ahead in time.   

3. Improve the quality of your actions

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

                                                                                                  — Will Durant

This is not unimportant. My point was to create extraordinary propensities through little small activities (smaller scale schedules). In so doing, I planned to amplify an amazing nature that would be helpful for myself, my companions, family and wider network around me. 

What would be my recommended work? It would be to enquire whether I could set my life up in a way that would fulfil the purpose of my existence. I had to consider what this would this pattern of life would actually look like. At this point, I planned seven days’ worth of activity, which resembled the kind of life I truly wanted to lead. This included managing each part of my life – mental prosperity, healthy diet, work-rest cycles, larger connections, career-building, working-out and above all, spiritual practice. I began to exclude any activity, if I discovered it did not bring profitability, joy or sense of importance to my life. I reconnected with the spirituality of my forefathers, and looked deeply into the Brahm Gyan (The Knowledge of the All-Peravding) that had been shared with me by Mentors in the Sant Nirankari Mission.

Having done so, I was able to return to the question, who am I? This time, with answers.  I have learned that I am basically, and largely, deadwood.  By this, I mean the small insignificant self –, which like our habits, keeps on growing to the point of decimating the real ‘I’, or Self. As my deadwood grows, the Self gets more and more buried under its weight.To come out of it, I have to muster enough courage and strength to lose, and rise above all that is insignificant and ephemeral. What the Mission advocates is sincere association with Brahm Gyan, an age-old formula that the Greeks called the Gnosis. Through its revelation, I found I could connect with the omnipotent power and strength that animates everything and everyone in the entire universe.  I felt a deep association with all life, all beings.

I have discovered that when my ephemeral, temporary nature is removed, my real ‘Me’ – the essence – comes to the fore. It is such an essential Self – the underlying thread, connecting the whole of creation – that is Me.  That is what I am.

Vibhor Bhatia,
Gauteng, South Africa

Faith was peacefully sleeping…

Doubt entered and shook him awake,

Whatever is the problem Doubt?

How can you sleep for goodness sake?

Doubt began frantically explaining,

How he’d been worried all night…

Faith tried to calm the matter down,

He said, ‘Everything will be alright.’

I’m worried that life will slip me by,

I’m doubtful I’ll ever find peace…

Faith, my whole life I’ve been concerned

These thoughts – they never cease.

What if this and what if that?

Oh Faith, I’m weak and afraid…

How is it that you stay calm?

Faith said, ‘Doubt, have you prayed?’

Prayer lets you connect, commune-

It reminds you of the play writer…

When you accept He knows best,

The burden seems much lighter!

What if it doesn’t feel lighter though?

And what if God doesn’t hear?

The problem doesn’t go away, does it?

I’m sorry but my doubts are not clear!

Faith smiled and said, ‘look I don’t know,

What I know is He always comes through,

Nothing can happen out of His will-

He will always be there for you!’

How can you be so certain my friend?

How can you say so for sure?

Faith said, ‘because no one is greater

No one is more loving or pure.’

But look faith, look; my challenge is huge,

How can I not be worried, afraid?

Faith said, ‘Doubt see, my God is bigger-

Believe in the plans that He’s laid.’

Come rest my friend, leave it to God,

The problem is that you just don’t let go-

Doubt smiled, saying, ‘I need what you have,’

Faith said, “God is here for you bro!”

                       –  Sudhir Kundi, Iver, UK

Every single minute of every day, there are good deeds being done by thousands, if not millions, of people around the world. This is really good, and we must be grateful for that, but how much of this is done with selfless intention?

What indeed is selfless intention? Or perhaps on the flipside, what is it not? Let us look into it. This is because we have to understand first of all what we are not, before we can establish as to what we are.

By using the criterion – selfless intention is to act or do something without the thought or expectation of reward/recognition -, it would be interesting to see how charitable deeds, big or small, benevolence, altruism and generosity square up. 

Big profile events – Sports Relief, Live Aid – are popular ways to raise money for people in need, and for raising awareness of such charitable causes. Many celebrities take part. They are keen to help as there is usually a significant impact on their public profile. If this, indeed, impacts on their decision to get involved, can this be selfless intention?

For those of us who donate money or take up charitable challenges to raise money, we are likely to be doing this to ‘help’ those less fortunate than ourselves. If we get a sense of feeling ‘good’ about donating to a worthy cause, then this too is not done selflessly. It cannot truly be selfless intention.

Evidence of good work and valuable support in the community, we can see all around us. This may be in the form of traffic islands sponsored by local companies, who provide plants and flowers to make them look beautiful. My own employer is currently offering support to ex-service people by providing free re-training to help them find employment. As a result of this, we have to sign a covenant to pledge our support for veterans, which allows us to use a special logo on our paperwork, website, and social media. This highlights the fact that we are helping ex-service personnel. This whole exercise is expected to have a positive impact on the business. Although it is a good thing to do, it is not done totally with selfless intention.

Doing charitable work, performing a good deed, or supporting someone is fine. But, if we then post it on social media for personal recognition, it cannot be selfless intention.  

Given these scenarios, we could be forgiven for wondering if it is actually possible to act with selfless intention.

The answer is ‘yes’. It is all possible with the grace of the Satguru. It is the Satguru, who blesses us with the Divine Knowledge, and the asset of ‘selfless intention’. When we see Nirankar and realise that God is within and around us, we become more like God – God who is always selfless. This is why, following the Gyan experience, we really want to serve (do Seva). Doing Seva becomes the most natural thing to do, for someone filled with awe of Nirankar. We see Seva as a joy in itself, without seeking reward or recognition.

Without God knowledge (Gyan), there is always a subtle selfish motive. But with Gyan, selfishness disappears. Everything we say, think, and do, becomes an act of selfless intention. One of the Mission’s verses expresses this beautifully:

A tree never consumes its fruit; it is meant for the world

A river drinks not its water; it flows for the whole world

Avtar says, saints also come solely to redeem the world!

We see selflessness at work in its purest form when we see someone coming to the rescue of another by putting their own life at risk. This could be jumping into a river to save someone who is drowning; running into a burning building to rescue a child or animal; lifting a heavy weight off someone who is being crushed by a car or tree. Subsequent to the event, when we hear of the rescuers describing their act as instinctive, it is always heartening. The giving of no thought to their actions, and even feeling embarrassed by the recognition that follows, is a sure sign of selflessness. This is evidence of the divine spirit that is in all of us. It helps us to understand that we are one, and that we are here for the benefit of all. At this point, there is no ego in their actions.

But, as we know even after the Gyan, the ego comes back in subtle ways. We may find ourselves acting without selfless intent, while our mind turns to ‘helping’ others. This process may make us feel superior, as we are in a position to help. There may also be a subtle desire to be recognised, or approved of, through the act of seva.  This is something we must always be on guard against, for such intentions change the act itself – it can no longer be called seva. Social media may have a strong hold on us, compelling us to post our seva activity.  We should always be aware of our motivations, in this regard. 

We must always live with Nirankar at the forefront of our lives. Nirankar must always be the reason we do everything. The reason we speak, think and act should all be with God and God-Consciousness in our mind. Our life must become a meditation on Nirankar, every moment of every day. If we find ourselves acting with ego, then we must acknowledge it and adjust our thinking accordingly.

But we should also be grateful for the good deeds that are done every minute of every day throughout the world. We should not make a judgement against those who may not be acting with selfless intent. This is because we know full well how subtle ego is, and lure of becoming famous. We should always have compassion and understanding for those who have not been blessed with the sight of God. To judge another in such a way, is also ego!  When a celebrity uses their influence to draw attention to a good cause, perhaps they can achieve what less well-known individuals ever could, such that their involvement is to be appreciated.  We just can’t call it a selfless act or seva, in its purest form.

The one selfless act we can all do is to share the message of Gyan. In so doing, we lead others to the opportunity of experiencing God. There is no benefit for us, but there is every benefit for humanity as a whole. This is God’s work, which is selfless.

May Satguru continue to bless us all. Indeed, may we all strive to act with selfless intent every day, and bring people to the Gyan.  May Satguru bless us every day with humility and selfless intention. May we also seek forgiveness through Simran (our communication with Nirankar through prayer), when we fail.

                                                                                                    – Maggie Fletcher, UK

The greater the storm, greater the rainbow

Symbol of diversity, free to choose

All the colours, not lost in the shadow.

Bridge of connection, a rainbow bestows

Inclusivity beyond reds and blues:

The greater the storm, greater the rainbow.

Spanning the horizon, sunshine not woe,

Storms must be faced before we have the views

All the colours, not lost in the shadow.

The spectrum colours set the sky aglow:

Universal truth, magic in it`s hues

The greater the storm, greater the rainbow.

Under the rainbow-bridge there`s calm below

Bathed by the spectrum, happiness ensues

All the colours, not lost in the shadow.

At the end of the tempest rainbows grow,

And sunbeams dance upon the spectrum`s cues.

The greater the storm, greater the rainbow

All the colours, not lost in the shadow.

Ian Henery, Walsall,UK

Born into the human world, we have always existed. This is because God, who is present within us, has always existed. We are born without fear, without prejudice, without duality, without anger, without discrimination, and without judgement. We are born divine. However, as we begin to grow we are faced with a barrage of images, stimuli, sensory overload that drowns us, encouraging a dual-thinking mind.

More than any other time in history, our senses are overwhelmed with images – TV screens, tablets, mobile phones. The list goes on. What do we see?

They say, ‘seeing is believing’. Is that so? This is a well-known proverb which dates back to ancient Greek times, indicating that we have to see something for us to believe that it exists. Perhaps this is why some people struggle with the concept of God. They maintain that they would need some tangible proof that God exists. In the absence of such proof, they simply do not believe in the existence of the omnipresent God.

Is there really no tangible proof of the existence of God – this beautiful, omnipotent Nirankar? God is, in fact, present in every aspect, every particle of this wonderful creation. That includes each and every human being. Wisdom of Solomon (2:23) reminds us:

For God created man to be immortal,
and made him to be an image of his own eternity.

At the Centre for Oneness, that is why we greet one another with humility, by touching each other’s feet. We acknowledge the presence of divinity in one another. This stops us from feeling superior, dualistic and judgmental.

In the Gospel of Luke, it is written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Luke 4:18

The poor are those who are offered the ‘free gift’, God’s love. God demands nothing in return. Liberty to the captives refers to those who have been bound by the shackles of duality and are freed from the bondage by the power of the Gyan, through the Grace of Her Holiness Satguru Mata Sudiksha ji.

We are no longer poor but rich. We have the freedom to be ourselves; it is exactly as Nirankar made us. The scales from our eyes have fallen away and we are blessed with great spiritual insight. We have met our Soul; we have met with God.

It gets better. Our new sight reveals the divine dance in all of creation. Everything is being born then passes away, and then reborn. What a divine existence. The Gyan reveals the eternal beauty in everything. We seek this beauty and find it in all living creatures, including ourselves.

Everything passes away. But with the grace of Satguru, it is revealed that the essence of us, our God Nirankar, is eternal.

Look around you, look at the fields; already they are ready for harvest! Already the reaper is being paid his wages, already he is bringing in the grain for eternal life, and thus sower and reaper rejoice together”
(John 4:35-36, Jerusalem Bible).

Non-dual knowing is learning how to live satisfied in the naked now, which some called “the sacrament of the present moment.” This consciousness will teach us how to actually experience our experiences, whether good, bad, or ugly, and how to let them transform us. Words by themselves divide and judge the moment; pure presence lets it be what it is, as it is.

At the centre of our being is a point of nothingness, which is untouched by sin and by illusion. It is a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God, which is never at our disposal, from which God disposes of our lives, which is inaccessible to the fantasies of our own mind or the brutalities of our own will. This little point of nothingness and of absolute poverty is the pure Glory of God within us.
(Thomas Merton, CGB 142).

When we touch this domain, through the grace of Mataji, we begin to live a divine existence, which frees all our dross and helps us to see God clearly in everything and in everyone.

                                                                                                          – Helen Richards, UK

How often do you think of ball bearings? When my engineering friend asked me this question, I was totally baffled.

He explained that ball bearings are used in a variety of products – all sorts of medical equipment, motors, turbines, and even watches. Centuries ago, ball bearings were better known as wheels. They were mainly made of wood, and used in carriages. But in 1794, tiny metallic ball bearings were invented, and used in a regulatory clock. This became the blue print for the industrial revolution.

Now they are used in a host of everyday tools and appliances – dental drills, wheels, gearboxes, watches, turbines, conveyor belts at your local supermarket checkout, photocopiers, and DVD players, to name but a few. The chemical, agricultural, automotive, paper and aerospace industries just would not survive without them. Hence, ball bearings are essential for daily life to function smoothly.  

Ironically, I had never really heard of ball bearings before this conversation. Hence, my answer to my friend’s question was ‘no’. In fact, I had never really thought about them at all.

Having done my research, ball bearings, for me, are comparable to what Babaji referred to as the silent heros, who play a vital role in everyday life. Of course, ball bearings are lifeless objects, and lack consciousness.  Yet we can learn something of how anonymously they serve, without reward or recognition.  If as human beings we could become as selfless, it would be remarkable. We would be more fulfilled, silently serving humanity with no desire for name or fame. It would be in keeping with Babaji’s invocation to us – work for the cause and not the applause.

Attributes such as humility and meekness can be easily overlooked, being treated as out of date qualities in a world that is loud and proud. However, they are of great significance. Just like ball bearings, the silent heros of humanity also make the world go round.

The Avtar Bani (verse 102) sums it up as follows:

Devout with every breath,

Sub-servient does remain,

Whatever the Master says

He simply obeys the same

A disciple – however wise,

Considers himself – inept,

Master’s dust, even when,

He’s so wealthy and adept

A devout, negates himself

At the Lord Master’s door

When he errs unwittingly

He simply repents, encore  

A devout works earnestly,

Never ever for any reward

Avtar – such a soul is even,

Lauded by – the Good Lord

Shehenshah Baba Avtarji, the author of the Avtar Bani, describes humble saints as powerful and esteemed. And yet, the disciples regard themselves as nothing. They are undoubtedly masters of love with open hearts, ever ready to give generously. It gives them great pleasure when their hands are working for others. They constantly learn and transform themselves to enable others to be helped supported.

They ensure that our bhavans (prayer halls) are warm, the seating area equipped, and the stage prepared for the oneness gathering to begin. They serve in the kitchen in the early hours of the morning, ensuring that the langar (communal meal) is ready for all to share. They staff the crèche facility, oversee the audio-visuals, volunteer as helpers and mentors in the youth sangat, manage donations, stock bookstall and offer welcome to all who attend the gathering, even when this means standing at the gate with umbrellas during inclement weather. The said saints spend tireless nights, working on the Mission’s literature, organising events and updating social media channels to foster universal access to the message being shared. They voluntarily serve as cameramen, cooks, cleaners and hosts. They visit those in need, render physical seva during large scale tree plantation and cleanliness drives and even donate blood, for the welfare of human beings at large.  When the saints may seem to be inactive, they can often be found praying quietly, sending positive thoughts to humanity as a whole. Babaji, and now Mataji, gave such a blessed insight, that even when the saints are at work in their schools, offices and workplaces, they send positive vibrations to all through their connection to Source.

Although they may not be observed, they are, in the words of Babaji, noticed in God’s eyes¹. They are just like ball bearings, allowing their physical selves to be used as vehicles, in whichever way needed, for the betterment of others.

These silent heros, very much like the ball bearings, always prevail to bring a practical, but harmonious stillness in our lives. May they continue to inspire, motivate and guide us towards stability, peace and joy.

                 – Harishta Kaur, Huddersfield, UK

The natural state of being flourishes at its optimum when one is free of subjugation from alien occupation. The soul, the sole heir to divine inheritance, which is designed, equipped and intended to rule and subdue even the most densely robust precipitations of the mind, has lethargically fallen prey to the colonization of this very mind. In fact, the soul has succumbed to the worst-case scenario of the Cinderella Syndrome.

Is there, therefore, hope, any sliver of light, or a lost slipper to be found?  Many, since the dawn of reality have claimed, ‘indeed, there is!’. But before the soul can embark upon liberation, it needs to acknowledge that it is under the weighty influence of the mind. Once the umbilical cord snaps, the soul goes into free fall, getting farther and farther away from its origin. The Matrix, now a classic Hollywood movie, captures somewhat the essence of the expansive, mammoth grip the mind exerts over the soul. It shows that sheer hypnotic pitch of the mind can corrupt the most arduously disciplined souls.

How can a listless soul, journeying through abysmal cycles of lures and figments, ever hope to escape and achieve emancipation! Let’s take the first thing first. The soul needs to get a grip of itself and get rid of its false identity. It has to accept the truth that it is not the mind, but rather a genuine soul. The soul must acknowledge that it is part and parcel of the highest, superior Entity that commands the entire universe, while the mind is nothing but a fickle invention of its whereabouts.

The mind is that baggage the soul begins to accumulate as it ventures through dark dungeons, experiencing subhuman sentiments on its way to human form. Once the human frame is acquired, the mind further advances its tentacles. What results is a personalized perception of one’s view of the world. Over time the mind assumes a role of such magnitude that it completely eclipses the stature of its very inventor, the soul. In the majority of cases, the mind not only overshadows, but actually drains and derails the soul to what seems to be hopeless opaqueness.

Adding to this anarchy, the mind declares its version of the world view to be far superior to the rest. This is so because certain souls boldly claim that the material world is all that there is in this grand scheme of things; there is nothing before or beyond it. In a broader picture, sadly despite all the technological advances, a deliberately stratified, fashionable, Prozac-driven and extremely fragmented world has come into existence. The current state of turmoil can be credited to the single most infamous entity, the mind.

The monopoly of the mind is nothing short of the 21^st century corporate arena. The factory of the mind produces such notoriously irresistible treats that the soul finds itself completely helpless to see through the hollow projections; it follows it around like a zombie. It is akin to investing one’s entire lifetime in the business of leaning against the shadow of cloud passing in the sky above. Such leaning is absurd, and yet the entire human race has been deliriously enslaved to such a shockingly analogous state, millennium and again. We clutch at shadows, seeking lasting happiness from passing phenomena.

However, there is hope. There is indeed a way for the soul to reclaim its fallen glory and reinstate its legitimate sovereignty. But what is it that can help bring about this coup d’état? What tonic, what magic pill, or regimen is required to overthrow the false authority of the mind? Just because the soul has been deprived of its special status for ages, does it mean that an equally long duration will be required for the damage to be undone?

No, indeed not. Wise souls have advised that freeing of the soul from the unlawful occupancy of the mind is as simple as gently awakening someone from a terrifying nightmare. It’s a like person, shrouded by the dense fog of fear and anxiety a few short moments earlier, suddenly rises to full wakefulness. He wipes away the sweat and takes a sigh of relief, reassuring himself, “oh, it was all just a dream”.

The difference between a nightmare-infested state and an awakened one cannot be measured in miles, knots or even light years; it is dimensions apart. Simply put, the two states are inter-dimensional.

A somewhat similar process can lead to the awakened state of the soul through Brahm Gyan or Gnostic Knowledge. The soul can then echo the same phrase, “oh, this was all just a dream, just a dream; I’ve been set free.”

                                                                                                                              -Kiran Pandey, New York, USA

Positive thinking is an attribute which has great healing power. Statistics show that patients who have undergone major surgery recover better if they are optimists. This provides us with evidence that ‘mind over matter’ can is a real change agent in one’s life.

Research has shown that positivity does not just work by quelling stress, but it also has a positive, biological effect. When one feels safe and secure and anticipates things will turn out fine, it seems to help the body maintain and repair itself.

Conversely, it is well accepted that illness can be brought on by negative thoughts and anxiety. Negative thoughts often manifest as stress, which can trigger neurophysiological responses such as the “fight-or-flight” response, which is thought to have evolved over many centuries of existence, as a response to protect us from danger. Essentially it is an automatic reaction to any real or perceived threat, and helps us prepare to either escape the problem, or battle with it.  However, if the negative biological response continues long-term, or is activated even when risks are essentially in the mind alone, it can increase the risk of conditions as diabetes, cardio-vascular illness and dementia.

It is true that some people are born optimists. Nature and nurture are both at play, and we all have different temperaments when we are born, together with different qualities of upbringing and experience.  However, whatever your natural disposition or social conditioning, you can train yourself to think more positively. Mahatma Gandhi once said:

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.” 

So how can a pessimist become an optimist? And, how does one achieve this happiness?

A tried and tested route is to keep positive company and engage oneself in purposeful endeavour.  Happiness, and positivity for example manifests in saints, in whose presence love and harmony become viral! They have love for truth and humanity. They want every pore of theirs to be immersed in it. They wish to drink from the ever-brimful fountain of God, which nourishes and sustains the whole universe. Such people are free from the stresses of the world. Their misconceptions are removed as they live in the light, unaffected by darkness.  The Avtar Bani (Verse 56) says it thus;

Do keep holy company to gain a full, spiritual glow. 

Do keep holy company to make all impurities, to go.

Do keep holy company to overcome all suffering and pain.

Do keep holy company to end ego and pride’s reign.

Do keep holy company to see and sense the Unseen.

Do keep holy company to attain a prosperous way of being.

Do keep holy company to savour His nectar and sip.

Do keep holy company to put thieves-five in a grip!

Do keep holy company to be calm and still the heart,

With Saint’s touch, Avtar, the mind never falls apart

To achieve true happiness and to spread positivity to those around you, there is no better substitute than spiritual development. When a human being is supported to separate the eternal nature of things, from the temporal and passing existence, it is the path to enlightenment. In the company of the enlightened, it is clear that people enjoy an abundance of positivity. Such an enlightened company is the mind-purifying and de-mystifying agent.

When realizing the truth and surrounding oneself with enlightened beings, all material negativity pales into insignificance. The trials and tribulations of life remain, but one develops the confidence to work through them, even to see them as stepping-stones to deeper learning.  The company of the enlightened, helps one to be positive, and to adopt new thinking and habits.

In this open and affirming outlook, it becomes natural to engage in progressive and constructive action. Simple and basic acts of care and kindness, then bring even greater positivity into one’s life.  Whilst it may be argued that no act is completely altruistic, for we benefit from our deeds, ultimately positivity and happiness are far from being selfish acts, they are much more. It is often how we treat others, and how others treat us, which leads to positivity. For instance, starting the day with a simple smile or positive greeting can make others feel more welcomed. This, in turn, can affect us positively. Ripples of goodness flow, because we get what we put into the world.  

On a more conscious level, we also need to be able to identify our strengths to start to train ourselves to be optimists. The Psychologist, Dr Tim Sharp says,

‘We all need to work on and/or manage our weaknesses and limitations, but there’s no doubt those who spend more time building on what they’re already good at tend to be happier, healthier and more successful.’

Negative talk should be turned into optimism. Real optimism is an active search for, and focus on, positive things, but it should also be grounded in realism. Flexible thinking should focus on positives as often as possible and also focus on challenges when necessary, in a constructive way.

When you cannot do anything to change a problem situation, work towards acceptance. Use thoughts like, “I don’t really need this” or, “Perhaps there is a reason I am not getting what I want, or even “I may just have something to learn from this experience”.

Priorities and expectations sometimes need to be changed to fit the reality of the situation. Instead of dwelling on what is not happening or not present, practice thankfulness for your friends, pleasures, strengths and other blessings. When comparing oneself to other people negatively, one should emphasize that no matter what trait you consider, you can always find people who are either more fortunate or less fortunate than you.

Equally, one should find the useful part in failures, problems, actions, experiences, or situations. You can find good in almost anything, if you look with the right kind of seeing. Failure should be viewed as a learning experience teaching you what doesn’t work, so you can succeed in later attempts. If you have trouble with your child, for example, take pride in setting limits to teach your child, in supporting, and in forgiving your child.  I once heard of a mother who would be so exhausted and annoyed that her child work with nightmares, because it broke her sleep.  Later, she changed her mindset, and felt reassured by the thought that when her child really needed her, she was fortunate to be there to help. Such a small change in attitude, and the whole experience transformed for her.  The amazing thing is, the child gained from that newfound reassurance, felt more secure at night and slept better in turn.

Like other unhelpful habits, negative thinking can be very difficult to change. You can only change it by practice, practice, and more practice. The more you flood your mind with positive thought alternatives by reading and practicing them, the more your thoughts and feelings will change for the better. Many people witness the power of positive thinking when they practice and repeat affirmations for spiritual growth such as, “I will face each new day with peace and love in my heart.” It may take months of daily effort changing your habits of negative thinking before you notice much change in your feelings.

There is a saying that we cannot change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails. In the same way, if there is negativity surrounding us, there may be little we can do to change the person who is showing hatred, or the situation that is causing us distress.  However, by adjusting ourselves, our thoughts, our speech in a positive manner, we can bring positivity to ourselves, and also to others. 

Consider the fact that in winter, grit is laid down to prevent snow from settling and turning into ice, which would otherwise cause slips, accidents and injury. In a similar way, if we allow negativity to harden and solidify, it will always lead us to slip and fall.  We have a choice to melt away negativity and fear with the love and positivity.  This is infact a supremely conscious state, in which we see things for what they are and avoid being diverted from the real purpose of life. Our prime goal as human beings is to know who we really are, and from this wellspring of enlightenment to spread peace, joy and happiness.

-Dr Tina Mohindra (Oxford)

“We are all ordinary people…But even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can, within their own small ways, turn on a small light in a dark room. ” – Miep Gies on The Freedom Writers.

Recently, I came across and watched a movie called “The Freedom Writers”. Not just once but twice, and that too on the same day! To top it off, later I realized that it was Martin Luther King holiday as well. What a coincidence!

This was the part where Erin Gruwell invited Miep Gies to speak in their class after they had read the story of Anne Frank, who is famously known as a survivor of the Holocaust. And Miep Gies uttered these powerful words addressing the students. What an inspirational story and movie. A Must Watch! if you have not seen it and A Must Must Watch! if you have seen it, to really get it. It highlights the true nature and power of a teacher/master, so beautifully.

A real master rules the heart, not the mind. S/he is not just about teaching good things to bring about some superficial and materialistic changes, but s/he is all about ‘becoming love’ inside out, which constitutes a real transformation. Because of that we are able to return to our true nature and do the right things with the best of our abilities at all times.  Ultimately, we are spiritual beings having human experience in this space time reality, called ‘life’.

With a spark of the divine knowledge, a true master shows the difference between what is real and what is unreal, to anyone who seeks it. A true master clearly shows what is temporary and what is permanent. What is ‘nirankar’, the eternal formless supreme power and what is ‘saakaar’, the perishable world.

As we have seen, a rose plant blossoms in spring, with so many rosebuds. These rosebuds bloom into beautiful rose flowers, spreading fragrance, elegance, charm and beauty all around. What a sight it is! But after some time even this great bloom is over and then roses start losing their pretty petals, leaves drop and finally the bloom withers away into the formless. The rose plant silently awaits the next spring and the next bloom.  The essence of the rose still remains though. It is always with the rose plant. It is infact it’s true nature, just waiting for the right conditions to prosper and bloom in full glory.

A true master is just like that. His or her essence is always all around us at every moment. But we must be receptive and be able to tune into that frequency, like a radio station. We need to set our tuner to his or her frequency, teachings, guidance, simplicity and love if we are to receive the ultimate bliss. If there is a clear connection, then there are no disturbances, happiness, joy, love, beauty, kindness, inspiration, exhilaration and much more simply surrounds us. In this state of attunement, absolutely no sign of sadness, misery, regret, revenge, anger, jealousy or ego is to be found. Quite simply, oneness happens.

A true master’s love is to be experienced – it can’t be found by merely reading a few books or hearing sermons being preached in huge gatherings or broadcast on big screens. Once you feel the connection then you are one with your true nature. You are in the divine state of bliss. It is beyond feeling good or happy or mortal. It is the liberation. It is the freedom from all mind, body and conditions. A true master offers freedom. Freedom for the soul. Freedom to grow, freedom to live, freedom to experience, freedom to follow the path to oneness. In fact, freedom is the highest state of mind one can achieve.

You start receiving insights as you tap the creative force of this universe. It is the beginning of a new beginning.  It’s magical. And you are the magician. You are the creator of your own reality and your own journey. Always looking forward to wonderful and fantastic experiences. This life or after life. It is all immaterial!

-Prashant Lande, Chicago