Instinct Explained By Rebirth

Every baby has some tendency or another from the moment of birth, tendencies formed by past thoughts and actions. The soul does not inherit tendencies genetically. All that is transferred genetically is the physical appearance, the colour of eyes, shape of nose etc. There is a certain amount of influence acquired in the new situation, as in the saying; "He has his father's bad temper". The fact that the soul was born into that family to pay off its accounts one way or the other, indicates that the soul has performed similar actions in a previous birth. That someone has a fear of heights, someone else a fear of being enclosed, indicates that they had suffered from similar experiences in a previous birth. The soul's desire for peace and happiness may be termed as "instinctive" but is certainly not biological.

10 Deadly Sins of Negative Thinking

I like this article very much and want to share this with all of you. This article is taken from karmicmantra.com. Please take time to read...

Life could be so much better for many people, if they would just spot their negative thinking habits and replace them with positive ones.

Negative thinking, in all its many-splendored forms, has a way of creeping into conversations and our thinking without our noticing them. The key to success, in my humble opinion, is learning to spot these thoughts and squash them like little bugs. Then replace them with positive ones. You'll notice a huge difference in everything you do.

Let's take a look at 10 common ways that negative thinking emerges - get good at spotting these patterns, and practice replacing them with positive thinking patterns. It has made all the difference in the world for me.

10 Deadly Sins of Negative Thinking

1. I will be happy once I have...... (or once I earn X).

Problem: If you think you can't be happy until you reach a certain point, or until you reach a certain income, or have a certain type of house or car or computer setup, you'll never be happy. That elusive goal is always just out of reach. Once we reach those goals, we are not satisfied - we want more.

Solution: Learn to be happy with what you have, where you are, and who you are, right at this moment. Happiness doesn't have to be some state that we want to get to eventually - it can be found right now. Learn to count your blessings, and see the positive in your situation. This might sound simplistic, but it works.

2. I wish I were as ...... as (a celebrity, friend, co-worker).

Problem: We'll never be as pretty, as talented, as rich, as sculpted, as cool, as everyone else. There will always be someone better, if you look hard enough. Therefore, if we compare ourselves to others like this, we will always pale, and will always fail, and will always feel bad about ourselves. This is no way to be happy.

Solution: Stop comparing yourself to others, and look instead at yourself - what are your strengths, your accomplishments, your successes, however small? What do you love about yourself? Learn to love who you are, right now, not who you want to become. There is good in each of us, love in each of us, and a wonderful human spirit in every one of us.

3. Seeing others becoming successful makes me jealous and resentful.

Problem: First, this assumes that only a small number of people can be successful. In truth, many, many people can be successful - in different ways.

Solution: Learn to admire the success of others, and learn from it, and be happy for them, by empathizing with them and understanding what it must be like to be them. And then turn away from them, and look at yourself - you can be successful too, in whatever you choose to do. And even more, you already are successful. Look not at those above you in the social ladder, but those below you - there are always millions of people worse off than you, people who couldn't even read this article or afford a computer. In that light, you are a huge success.

4. I am a miserable failure - I can't seem to do anything right.

Problem: Everyone is a failure, if you look at it in certain ways. Everyone has failed, many times, at different things. I have certainly failed so many times I cannot count them - and I continue to fail, daily. However, looking at your failures as failures only makes you feel bad about yourself. By thinking in this way, we will have a negative self-image and never move on from here.

Solution: See your successes and ignore your failures. Look back on your life, in the last month, or year, or 5 years. And try to remember your successes. If you have trouble with this, start documenting them - keep a success journal, either in a notebook or online. Document your success each day, or each week. When you look back at what you've accomplished, over a year, you will be amazed. It's an incredibly positive feeling.

5. I'm going to beat so-and-so no matter what - I'm better than him. And there's no way I'll help him succeed - he might beat me.

Problem: Competitiveness assumes that there is a small amount of gold to be had, and I need to get it before he does. It makes us into greedy, back-stabbing, hurtful people. We try to claw our way over people to get to success, because of our competitive feelings. For example, if a blogger wants to have more subscribers than another blogger, he may never link to or mention that other blogger. However, who is to say that my subscribers can't also be yours? People can read and subscribe to more than one blog.

Solution: Learn to see success as something that can be shared, and learn that if we help each other out, we can each have a better chance to be successful. Two people working towards a common goal are better than two people trying to beat each other up to get to that goal. There is more than enough success to go around. Learn to think in terms of abundance rather than scarcity.

6. Dammit! Why do these bad things always happen to me?

Problem: Bad things happen to everybody. If we dwell on them, they will frustrate us and bring us down.

Solution: See bad things as a part of the ebb and flow of life. Suffering is a part of the human condition - but it passes. All pain goes away, eventually. Meanwhile, don't let it hold you back. Don't dwell on bad things, but look forward towards something good in your future. And learn to take the bad things in stride, and learn from them. Bad things are actually opportunities to grow and learn and get stronger, in disguise.

7. You can't do anything right! Why can't you be like..... ?

Problem: This can be said to your child or your subordinate or your sibling. The problem? Comparing two people, first of all, is always a fallacy. People are different, with different ways of doing things, different strengths and weaknesses, different human characteristics. If we were all the same, we'd be robots. Second, saying negative things like this to another person never helps the situation. It might make you feel better, and more powerful, but in truth, it hurts your relationship, it will actually make you feel negative, and it will certainly make the other person feel negative and more likely to continue negative behavior. Everyone loses.

Solution: Take the mistakes or bad behavior of others as an opportunity to teach. Show them how to do something. Second, praise them for their positive behavior, and encourage their success. Last, and most important, love them for who they are, and celebrate their differences.

8. Your work sucks. It's super lame. You are a moron and I hope you never reproduce.

Problem: I've actually gotten this comment before. It feels wonderful. However, let's look at it not from the perspective of the person receiving this kind of comment but from the perspective of the person giving it. How does saying something negative like this help you? I guess it might feel good to vent if you feel like your time has been wasted. But really, how much of your time has been wasted? A few minutes? And whose fault is that? The bloggers or yours? In truth, making negative comments just keeps you in a negative mindset. It's also not a good way to make friends.

Solution: Learn to offer constructive solutions, first of all. Instead of telling someone their blog sucks, or that a post is lame, offer some specific suggestions for improvement. Help them get better. If you are going to take the time to make a comment, make it worth your time. Second, learn to interact with people in a more positive way - it makes others feel good and it makes you feel better about yourself. And you can make some great friends this way. That's a good thing.

9. Insulting People Back

Problem: If someone insults you or angers you in some way, insulting them back and continuing your anger only transfers their problem to you. This person was probably having a bad day (or a bad year) and took it out on you for some reason. If you reciprocate, you are now having a bad day too. His problem has become yours. Not only that, but the cycle of insults can get worse and worse until it results in violence or other negative consequences - for both of you.

Solution: Let the insults or negative comments of others slide off you like Teflon. Don't let their problem become yours. In fact, try to understand their problem more - why would someone say something like that? What problems are they going through? Having a little empathy for someone not only makes you understand that their comment is not about you, but it can make you feel and act in a positive manner towards them - and make you feel better about yourself in the process.

10. I don't think I can do this - I don't have enough discipline. Maybe some other time.

Problem: If you don't think you can do something, you probably won't. Especially for the big stuff. Discipline has nothing to do with it - motivation and focus has everything to do with it. And if you put stuff off for "some other time", you'll never get it done. Negative thinking like this inhibits us from accomplishing anything.

Solution: Turn your thinking around: you can do this! You don't need discipline. Find ways to make yourself a success at your goal. If you fail, learn from your mistakes, and try again. Instead of putting a goal off for later, start now. And focus on one goal at a time, putting all of your energy into it, and getting as much help from others as you can. You can really move mountains if you start with positive thinking.

Guide to Cultivating Fabulous Friendships!

A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world. - Lois Wys

Few people would dispute the benefits of friendship. Friendship cannot be created once. It must be created over and over again. People and priorities change. What worked yesterday may not work today. We must nurture our friendships so they may flourish with us through our changing lives, and that’s where this guide comes in. The problem seems to be how to fit our friends into an already overcrowded life.

Choose friends wisely. Focus your energy on people who make you feel good.

We all know the saying, "you can't choose your family". So, make sure you're smart and choose friends who are worthy of your valuable time and attention. It sounds harsh, but you cannot keep every friend you have ever made. No one has the time and energy for that. If you don't consciously choose which relationships to focus on, you’ll spread yourself too thin and you'll have less to give to those who deserve it most.

Do not be fooled by glamour and street cred. A person's behavior is much more important than their words or how they represent themselves. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you. People who make your day a little sunnier, simply by being in it.

Make time. Prioritize Relationships.

If you have to really think about the last time you were in contact with a friend, then it was too long ago. Life can run at a crazy pace. We may think of people, then something comes up and we never call them. The month ends, another comes along, and again that call is never made. This is how relationships peter out. It starts to feel easier to walk away than struggle back through the neglect.

Don't fall into the habit of thinking I'll "try and find the time". It's a cop-out. You cannot find time. You make time. Every day you decide where to put your attention, and those activities will in turn create your day, your week and eventually your life. Be mindful of where you focus your time and energy. Does this match your values and how you want your life to be? There's no use saying "my family and friends are the most important thing" if you work 80 hours a week and never see them. Be conscious of how you spend your time and choose to prioritize the people in your life.

The easiest way to make time for friends is to organize future gatherings while you are all together. Make time for that first meeting, and then work out the timing of the next one. That way you'll manage to regularly see each other and there is less stress all round. The reality is most of our relationships need work. Make the time to send an email or give a quick phone call to show your friends they matter. Otherwise how will they know?

Treat others how you want to be treated.

This is one of the first lessons my mother taught me, and it is probably the most important. You may have heard of the law of attraction, which states that what we project to the world will be sent right back to us. This means you must decide what qualities are important to you, because you cannot receive what you do not give.

Personally, I don't think you can go past honesty, loyalty and integrity as a foundation for choosing friends. Be considerate. Don’t make plans you won’t keep. Be a safe haven for your friends, someone they can rely on. What qualities rank highly for you? Do you just want some laughs every now and then, or people who will be there for you when life throws you a curve ball?

Have fun. Share rituals. Laugh Often.

Any long term relationship, friendships included, can fall into a rut. Take the time to have fun, maybe do the activities you loved when you were young. If life isn't fun, then what's the point? Misery shared is still… well, misery. Focus on joy and laughter and your friendships will stay a positive presence in your life.

Hold onto rituals. They connect you with your friends and your youth. Shared memories help define our life and how we see ourselves. Don't throw them away just because they're getting harder to manage. The key is to negotiate. Maybe you used to have weekly poker games, but now you have three kids, so what do you do? Have the poker games once a month, and let your partner also have a night out to re-connect with their friends. You’ll both benefit.

Accept people the way they are. Suspend judgment.

Some people are good with phone calls, others are not. Some people always know the right thing to say, others seem to have a knack for getting it all wrong. The key with managing friendships and reducing conflict is to accept people the way they are. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Fighting your friends' natural personality is a losing battle. We cannot control other people, and frankly, we have no right to try. The sooner we accept this, the easier all our relationships become.

Respect boundaries.

Don't criticize your friend's partner, children, parenting style or family. This is always a no, no. We may all like to rant about our loved ones, but we do not want to hear anyone else do it. This is a golden rule. Stencil it on your forehead if you must.

There will be disagreements. Stay calm. Don't make mountains out of molehills.

Drama is a part of life, but we don't have to wallow in it. Things happen, ugly words can be exchanged. This is the nature of human relationships. Before you react to a hurtful situation with a friend, always stop and breathe. Try not to react in anger. Express your feelings honestly, but calmly. I'm not saying that it's easy, but it is the best way to minimize conflict and angst in life. And bottling up feelings doesn't help either. They just fester and we stay angry and are unable to move on.

Accept that friendships change and sometimes end.

Although I've had the majority of my friendships since I was a teenager, there are times in life when people change enough as to have nothing in common anymore. Sometimes this is temporary, other times it's not. Either way, the best thing you can do when a relationship falters is to let it go. That doesn't mean immediately deciding not to see each other anymore. Letting go means choosing to see the friendship as it is now, and releasing the need for it to be something else. Relationships have an energy of their own. They can ebb and flow. Sometimes you're not quite clicking, other times you are. Petering out friendships can be very stressful, but change is a part of life and relationships which do end can still be treasured for what they brought before. They don't have to be a mistake. And every time a gap appears, life will usually move in to fill it. Maybe this will be in the form of a new friend, or a even better relationship with yourself. Keep an open mind and an open heart, and wait and see

Treat yourself with kindness and respect, and others will do the same.

This is probably the most important point. You cannot be a friend to others, if you are not a friend to yourself. Have you ever noticed that some people are taken advantage of by everyone. They attract users and frauds like honey. This is not a coincidence. If you want other people to treat you with respect, then you need to be the first person in line to respect yourself. Being a good friend does not mean being a doormat. The kinder you are to yourself the happier you will be. The happier you are, the more you have to give to others. It is one big merry-go-round of happiness. Join the ride.

Source

Chicken a la Carte

This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.

Directed by: Ferdinand Dimadura
Produced in: 2005

Change Is Good Movie

A strong message for motivating everyone...

Click here to watch the movie.

Finish Strong: An Inspirational Movie

Click here to watch

Self-Realisation And Karma

Self-realisation is the recognition and understanding of the soul's actions and reactions. Unless we have a deep concern for this we cannot progress. We must see if an action is beneficial and channelled into the service of others. For then it is of service tot he self. If we do happen to perform some harmful action, our knowledge and yoga will give the power to change, and to realise 'past is past'.

Mind Can Heal Diseases

Dr. Albert Mason, an anaesthetist, came across an unusual sixteen-year-old boy, who was admitted to a hospital for the treatment of fish-skin disease. His whole body was covered with black warts. As the skin transplant operation did not succeed, Dr. Mason thought of using powers of suggestion. The boy had good concentration and was accepting suggestions well. In the state of relaxation, the suggestion that the warts from his left arm would disappear indeed worked in a few days. When the wonder case was shown to the surgeon-in-charge, he was amazed and explained that this is an incurable disease. The second attempt in curing the right arm and the third attempt in curing legs also resulted in a good measure of success.

The mind plays a subtle role in curing an illness. With the power of the mind, we can reduce and even eliminate many of the ailments we suffer from. Everything depends on the mind. The creative power of the thought is the greatest power of all.

Taken from a book entitled "Self-Empowerment" by Bridget Menezes

The Loss of Perspective

The forces which interact to produce the phenomena of world history and geography: souls, matter and God, are threaded by the law of karma. when there is mental communication with God, the soul's relationship with matter changer. This means that the internal love-link that the soul has with the Supreme is reflected in the performance of the soul in the material world and in the degree to which the soul has mastery over matter; firstly over the senses of the body and through that, over the colours, shapes and sounds of the material world.

We have continually sought to understand which way to act, but have lost our sense of direction for various reasons:

• We forgot that we were soul-actors.
• We became lost on the stage.
• We became over-identified with our costumes - the physical body.
• We lost sight of the story of the drama.
• We forgot that we were residents of the soul world.
• Due to body-consciousness the soul severed its subtle connection with the Supreme Soul.

Spiritual Vision or Drishti

In a state of high self-regard, the awareness of oneself as a spiritual being performing pure action, brings the awareness that other beings are also souls performing through their bodies. When there is this drishti; this way of seeing another person as a spiritual being, when the attitude of soul-to-soul is maintained, then there is true communication and pure interaction and the desired state of peace, happiness and purity occurs automatically. If you achieve a state in which you are naturally peaceful, pure and happy, you can be sitting anywhere and, because the thought vibrations emanating from you, the soul, are of such high quality, other beings are necessarily receiving your service.

Solace In The Company Of The Polite

We all realise the importance of practising virtues and qualities in life, such as politeness, tolerance and patience. Many of our problems and much of our sufferings are caused by a lack of politeness and a false sense of pride.

An envious person cannot tolerate another's achievements or growth. This happens because we forget our own unique identity and talents. We need no selfish motives. With the virtue of tolerance, we will be able to see wonders happening, not only in us but in others as well, because with tolerance we will automatically practise patience.

People always find solace and comfort in the company of polite people. They talk less, listen more and never argue unnecessarily in order to prove their point. This quality is generally not expressed in words but automatically manifests in one's behaviour. The vibrations of this quality are naturally and easily transmitted to others.

Taken from a book entitled "Self-Empowerment" by Bridget Menezes

The Yogi In Action

By definition, a Raja Yogi in one who has a mental link with the Supreme Soul, the source of all goodness. This, coupled with an understanding of the laws of action which govern the behaviour of souls, means that one does not have to renounce society in order to achieve enlightenment. Rather, the soul filled with illumination faces society directly with understanding and the compassion to serve it and to elevate it so that it.

The soul becomes elevated not by the renunciation of responsibilities or worldly duties but by a renunciation of the negativity that exists within the role being played. The Raja Yogi does not try to escape social obligations but rather purifies them through becoming filled with light, love, peace and happiness. This stage of self-awareness and God-communication imparts a subtle richness into one's life-pattern.

There are those who believe that the elevated state is beyond society and its trimmings. They fine a quiet spot in the jungle or a monastery and contemplate deeper things. There are others who are stuck in the quicksand of their problems, and believe society's renunciates to be saints. However, holiness and virtue are qualities attained in one's life situation, not in running away from it. The Raja Yogi understands that the elevated state is not merely a matter of elevated thoughts, but elevated actions for the benefit of the self and the world. We are what we do and not so much what we imagine ourselves to be. The external circumstances are merely the unfolding of what we are internally.

The Steps Required to Return to the Perfect, Natural State - Conquest of the Vices and Inculcation of Virtues

Through yoga with Shiv Baba, the shadows of negativity will naturally be replaced by His virtues. While in action, it is necessary to reinforce the experiences of meditation by avoiding negative and wasteful thoughts and to consciously develop the divine of tolerance, serenity, humility, compassion, sweetness, generosity and clarity.

Waterfall Meditation Experience

The Steps Required to Return to the Perfect, Natural State - Conquest of the Senses

Sense-gratification prevents me from working in the region where spirituality is effective. The soul tumbles at the mercy of the senses, sense objects and sense experiences. Even in dreams, the senses and sense objects pervade. Those who are entirely preoccupied with the material world find difficulty in remembering God and developing spiritually. The mind has to be disconnected from the engines of the senses, and connected to the powerhouse of spiritual energy, God. The senses draw our mind towards the various flavours, colours, sounds and sensations. When we have satisfied one desire, we buzz like a bee from one flower to another searching to satisfy another. The memory of sensual pleasures takes us again and again to the objects of desire. Such desires cause many interfering thoughts in meditation.

The mind can only be truly concentrated on God when it is beyond the pull of the senses. Even in the last moments of life, the senses and their objects stand in the way of a quiet departure from the body. From birth to death, the soul labours under the illusion that the senses and their objects are the sources of happiness. It can only reach and realise the Supreme Soul by crossing the minefield of sense attraction and excitement.

In the same way that a rocket shoots beyond the earth's gravity, the soul realises that the beauty of things and people is illusory and is able to fly to the true source beauty, Shiv Baba. It is the soul that bestows life and beauty to the otherwise inanimate body. One who looks to physical beauty without seeing the spiritual beauty is like one who tries to taste a beautiful fruit which is only made of clay.

The Steps Required to Return to the Perfect, Natural State - Having an Aim and Object

It is the end of the cycle of 84 births and we know the balancing of accounts is drawing near. We know the new age must be one of complete harmony, and it is being established on the basis of souls becoming pure now. So the souls align themselves to become as royal, pure and elevated as Lakshmi and Narayan. Thus the mind, intellect and sanskaras are aimed. An aim and object for one's life ensures the right steps. As far as the aim is clear, the steps and efforts will be full of determination.

The Steps Required to Return to the Perfect, Natural State - Knowledge

Out of the renewed relationship with the Supreme Father comes a deep awareness of what is beneficial and what is unbeneficial, what is spiritual and what is physical. The soul naturally gains a distaste for grossness since it knows that this impedes its relationship with God. Our appreciation of the deep wisdom of Baba leads us to a love of all things. We thus come out of the whirlpool of lust, anger, greed, ego and attachment.

Through the practice and development of yoga, Shiva Baba builds the soul up, recreating it by renewing its spiritual strength. It is not a matter of changing the self. It is a matter of returning to one's true self through the link with God. I experience everything directly from the source, so I need nothing. A non-violent restraint of the mind - not to thoughtlessness - leads to the love-born remembrance of Shiva Baba.

The Natural Way of Life

Though we live unnaturally, we strive to find and understand peace and harmony in a natural way. For example, the tranquility of nature appeals to the vague recollection of the original nature of peace which lies in the subconscious.

Through contact and relationship with God the veneer of falseness built up over many births is stripped away. Though we have bodies of different colour, size, age, sex, we have to look at and understand everyone as souls acting in the drama of life with each other, with other species and with the elements of matter.

The Perfect Code For Living

Clearly, human beings are more than just social animals or creatures of habit. The ancestors of humanity were perfect, divine beings, and then, through rebirth became more and more attracted to matter, and fell by degrees. Those very souls are alive today, scattered amongst so degraded. Indeed, everyone who has ever been born on this world is still here!

Since the end of the Silver Age there have been many attempts to regulate the slowly degrading behaviour of human beings. Laws and taboos have become so complicated now, but because the loss of understanding was an inner one, all imposed systems of reform and restriction have had little effect.

If established policies and regulations are based on false premises, then naturally the effect will not be real. For example, nowadays just look at the plethora of legislations, law courts, judges, lawyers, penal codes, prisons and police. At the same time, look how little lawfulness there really is. Certainly everyone is breaking the divine laws of harmony.

In the religious field, movements of voluntary penance intended to punish the human spirit for its waywardness, could do little to stem the downward flow of the drama.

The self, God, the 'home', the purpose of life, the past, present and future have al been forgotten. In action, what is truly wrong and right has been forgotten. This is why God gives us the perfect code for living. It is that perfect balance of love and law which plants the sapling for the golden-aged society.

Perfection In Life

Real perfection is achievable on earth. That humanity aspires to be better is actually proof that his perfect state has been previously experienced. The Golden Age and Silver Age were dropped from history and exist now only in myths and legends and subconscious feelings. The search for the Holy Grail, the Fountain of Youth, the Golden Fleece or the Nectar or Elixir of Life are allegories of the search for perfection. Real events have merely perpetuated in the human memory as myths.

Perfection is the aim of human existence. The seeds are sown here and the fruits are received here. Both the perfect and imperfect states exist on earth. A perfect life in perfect surroundings is just as valid as an imperfect life in imperfect surroundings. When heaven exists there is absolutely no trace of hell and when hell exists there is no trace of heaven. The state of perfection in the Golden Age and Silver Age is a hard earned reality.

Liberation And Liberation in Life

Each soul has experienced liberation both in the soul world and in physical world; the former being liberation from matter and the latter the liberation from the soul world into matter. The degree of liberation is relative to each soul's part.

Some souls take a maximum number of births (84) per cycle and consequently spend very little time in the soul world. They have accumulated such spiritual power and such a high level of perfection through their efforts in the Confluence Age that they play bigger roles and such a high level of perfection. Other souls take the minimum of one birth per cycle and spend the rest of the 5000 year drama in the soul world. However many births a soul takes, it has the experience of both liberation and liberation in life relative to the role that it has to play. Even a soul who takes only one birth per cycle has an experience of both liberation and bondage.

Most religions, unsurprisingly, lay greater emphasis on the liberation from the flesh in the company of God, and not on liberation here in this world. The reason for this is that the majority of souls began their parts after the end of the Silver Age and so complete and unlimited liberation in life is not within their experience.

How To Calm Down

Be determined and decide to do nothing for a few minutes.

Find a quiet spot and sit in a comfortable position.

Close your eyes and begin to consciously relax every muscle of your body.

Start with your toes and work your way up to your forehead.

Breathe slowly. Then try to listen to the silence in your mind.

You will notice how your thoughts begin to slow down.

If thoughts interrupt, just watch them come and go.

Always return to your original self and you will begin to experience peace and calm within yourself...

Continue for 10 minutes and practice doing this once or twice daily.

After a while you will notice how easily you can cope with external situations with your power of silence.

Taken from a book entitled "Self-Empowerment" by Bridget Menezes

The State of Perfection

History is a many-pronged fork pointing to as many different concepts about the perfect state of the self as it does about God.

In classical Hinduism, there is the idea of perfection through the merging of the soul with God. The soul is supposed to lose its individual identity and leave the cycle of birth and rebirth. The aim is to get away from this world of "nothing but suffering" and spend the rest of eternity "merged in the light of God."

There is also a belief that the soul transmigrates through 8,400,000 species and then ultimately arrives at the Godhead as a "perfected being." Some of these perfect beings are believed to voluntarily take rebirth here to help those less fortunate than themselves. There are so many messengers, prophets, saints and sages, supposedly here to the salvation of humanity; yet their teachings are at variance. Each one has a different thing to say and a different way of showing it.

In the Judaeo-Christian philosophy, the idea of perfection has been reduced to the goal of one life and a thereafter of either the bliss of "heaven" or the damnation of "hell". These alternatives are meant to inspire hope or fear as the basis of action. Faith takes the lead. Without an understanding of reincarnation it is impossible to explain, for example, the purpose of a baby who has a life of one day and thereafter eternity in "heaven" or "hell". This contravenes the law of karma. How could such an insignificant cause give such an extended effect? In recent Eastern and Western traditions, the possibility of perfection has hardly been mentioned. The majority of beliefs assert that the perfect state only comes after death and that all efforts should be directed towards a good "after life".

In contrast to the idea of perfection in "another region", there is the idea of a perfect life in a perfect society in this physical world. The ancient Egyptians believed in such a perfect paradise-known as the "Osirian Fields"-where men and women lived as equals. There was harmony and an inexhaustible abundance of fruit and grains; complete prosperity. In order to go there after death, on the day of judgement, each one's heart was weighed against a feather. If the heart was heavier than a feather, the soul was sent to a fiery hell. The legends of all the religions pertaining to "paradise on earth" are strikingly similar to this Egyptian idea.

Discover the Spirit Within

From The Heart of God

How would we know God if we met Him or Her? Would we know? Would our heart or our mind tell us? Would we believe someone else if they told us that they had met God?

There are many kinds of knowledge, most of it derivative. However, if we are given knowledge by another, do we know it in the same way as when we personally experience it? I may learn all about being a mother by reading about it or hearing someone speak of it, but can I ever really know what it means to be a mother without raising a child myself?

We may say that we know about God because we have read and heard about Him or Her. We may have prayed or called out or sung to Him or Her. We may have had a profound experience that has given us faith. Alternatively, we may have decide that God either doesn't exist or that any traditional concept of God is not for us. Whatever our opinion is, how do we know?

The Effect of Raja Yoga on Physical Health

In the spiritually "de-magnetised" condition, the soul is completely at the mercy of the surrounding physical and vibrational phenomena, and its life force flows outward and is dissipated. In the body-conscious condition the aging process and deterioration of the cells is accelerated through the hyperactivity of the senses.

In the spiritually "magnetised" condition the reserve occurs. By shunning grossness and remaining in the state of yoga with God, the body and brain cells are rejuvenated as if by some spiritual elixir. The sensory tumult is stilled in the midst of all possible temptations. A fathomless peace descends on the mind which has the remarkable effect of "cooling" or "de-exciting" the sense organs so that they don't impede spiritual progress.

The state of the body is a reflection of the state of the soul not only because of past karmic factors (illness which comes as a result of past negativity) but because of its present state also.

For example, when the emotion of fear passes through the mind, the endocrine system starts pumping adrenalin through the body to prepare it for a surge of energy; to run away in huge strides. It is easy to note the cause-effect relationship between fear and adrenalin. In the same way all of the mental oscillations provoke compensatory secretions throughout the body. Internal rage is accompanied by heavy breathing, fast heart-beats, red face and so on. This relationship between body and soul is the reason most physical diseases spring from a psychological origin. It stands to reason that any lessening of harmful secretions through diminishing emotional causes will promote sound and lasting health.

Of course there are other factors which give rise to health problems; pollution, unhealthy life-style, lack of exercise, wrong diet etc. Through Raja Yoga and its consequent positive lifestyle and through a pure vegetarian diet, ill-health can be minimised. The removal of stress and tension has to be one of the most important advantages. Stress plays a huge part in provoking simple problems like headaches and indigestion, chronic problems like asthma and ulcers, or long-term illness such as heart and respiratory problems or even cancer. Health and order in the soul bring health and order in the body.

Raja Yoga Meditation

A brief experience of Raja Yoga meditation.

Positive Thoughts Create Right Attitude

Positive thinking means we are able to see the shining light even in darkness. It is the key to happiness.

It helps us to be optimistic because whatever comes in our lives has two sides, a dark side and a bright side, like a whiteboard with a black spot.

If we see the whiteboard, we are optimists whereas if we se the black spot, we are pessimists.

If there are wasteful thoughts and I try to battle with them, it is as if I am giving them life and strength.

So we should look at the bright side of things each day and refrain from seeing the dark side.

Take from Self-Empowerment by Bridget Menezes

Introversion

The greatest key to inculcation of divine virtues is introvertness. Introvertness necessitates speaking only what and when we must which saves time and energy. Where talk is useful. I take part with enthusiasm and delight. Otherwise great benefit exists in staying in silent remembrance. Introvertness does not only refer to being physically silent but as much as possible having attention on one's internal stage and progress. Likewise extroversion does not only refer to attention-seeking behaviour but essentially to having one's attention pulled by people, things and circumstances thus creating an inner vacuum. The process of yoga takes the soul from sense-gratification to blissful awareness. The basis of freedom from vice is the love of the incorporeal, the eternal. No devotion, pilgrimage, occult power or exercises are greater than the purifying effect of love for God based on knowledge of Him. Without love, spiritual endeavours further bondages. Without knowledge they can be dangerous.

Who am I - Meditation Commentary

Positive Qualities

Every scene of the drama calls upon positive attitudes such as humility, tolerance, compassion, mercy, sweetness, cheerfulness, contentment, patience and fortitude. These are the shock absorbers in life ensuring the smooth and easy passage. The world of the Golden and Silver Ages is the world of positivity. I must incalcate that positive approach in this birth. The method of acquiring these qualities is to see and imbibe only the goodness of others. When I know I still lack something myself, will I concentrate on the faults of others and ignore my own? Since Shiv Baba is the source of all goodness, I learn to drink only from that One. The goodness I see in others was created by Him. I learn not to drink the dirtiness of human flaws and weaknesses but to have love for all and pure vision towards all. By loving God, I feel complete and natural and easy with everyone. I am helping in God's work of re-establishment of the new world.

How To Leave The Influence of Body-Consciousness

If there is one vice present others are not far behind. So too, if there is one positive quality it can take the soul forward to perfection, gradually embracing all other virtues on the way.

By focussing on my virtures, not stay on my defects, they will strengthen. Beacause the destination in Raja Yoga is high, defects are bound to apprear. If, instead of becoming unhappy, I look at my strong points, without ego or body-consciousness, and seeing them as gifts from God, they will take me far beyond negativity.

The negative approach of trying to tackle the vices is like a little boy trying to plug up all the holes in the wall of a dyke. Eventually he runs out of fingers and toes to block the holes and is unable to stop the flow. The positive approach is to take God's help. I go beyond the defects that keep appearing, bey seeing myself more and more in the mirror of His qualities.

What else but virtue can I give to God? Only the love that is in my heart. I am then able to serve the world with honesty. If the soul says, "It's too difficult to carry on", Shive Baba will say, "Who told you to go alone? Just sit in my lap and I will carry you. You are like a child learning to walk, who wants to leave its mother's hand but falls over. Stay in my lap and I will take care of you." The soul takes the positive approach and goes on inculcating positive natural qualities. Automatically, the vices are replaced by virtues.

It is sometimes difficult to realise that any problem or disturbance I feel is because of the influence of the vices within the self. No-one or nothing external can really upset me, but I upset myself. By not blaming anyone else if I am unhappy I free myself. The more I become free from body-consciousness, the more tolerant and accommodating I become. Because I am no longer intellectually in bondage to my own identity, I no longer categorise others according to physical criteria. I don't try to impress them with my qualities but with the qualities of my highest Father.

Knowledge of God and His acts impresses upon me that I am His heir, the inheritor of His qualities. When I know God and His most beautiful form and abode, I can develop to my maximum potential and thus experience constant happiness.

Forms Of Body-Consciousness - Laziness

When the weight of past sins is heavy it produces a type of spiritual sluggishness that hampers the effort to change thought, words and actions. The laziness on a subtle level deludes the soul into imagining that "Everything is alright. There are no problems. I'm OK." The soul rejects the impulse to make internal efforts. There's an expression in India that spiritual endeavour "isn't as easy as going to your aunty's house". Many desist from practices like meditation after only a few tries because laziness pulls the soul towards complacency which it mistakes for contentment. Laziness, you could say, is one of the main perpetrators of a negative state of mind, robbing zeal and giving birth and sustenance to the other vices. All of the above negative forces surface in the mind at any appropriate situation unless the soul is in the sweet remembrance of the true Mother and Father. When I know myself from God, these vices and their offspring such as sloth, vanity, jealousy, fault-finding, etc are intruders into the original texture of the soul. In front of me, I can see a state of complete freedom, and it is a state definitely without these negative forces.

Forms Of Body-Consciousness - Anxiety And Worry

In the natural state there are no ripples of gloom. I am perfectly peaceful and content. Nothing disturbs me. In ignorance I am worried when expectations meet disappointment, when someone to whom I am attached goes away or has an accident. Worry saps the life-energy and drains away courage, zeal, reason, memory and happiness. As a yogi, the only worry I have is forgetting God and my relationship with Him.

Forms of Body-Consciousness - Fear

Fear exists only when we are body-conscious. It is the result of attachment to the physical body, identity, possessions or status. If I am fearful, any harm that the body may be subjected to may cause me to lose my sense of distinguishing between truth and illusion. As a yogi, I know and understand how the soul is related to this body and to this world. I understand completely that death or loss is nothing but a change of circumstances which can be viewed impartially and with complete security. My life is in God's hands and my actions are according to His directions. I am resolving my karmic account so I have nothing to fear from the consequences of my past actions. Fear of an unknown future, which is common to most, is replaced by the assurance that everything I am doing in yoga is guaranteed to have a positive result for eternity.

Forms of Body-Consciousness - Greed

The natural state is one of sharing and self-satisfaction; to have nothing but to have everything. With greed, I build walls of material possessions within which I run around in circles in the race of self-aggandisement, accumulating this, acquiring that.

Greed robs the soul of its dignity as it becomes lost in the pleasures of the senses, especially taste and colour. The greedy soul, stripped of its royalty, attempts to substitute inner wealth with material things.

Greed for food, possessions, power or ambition, hinder the development of spirituality in the soul. The greedy soul can never be content. I have "greed" only for the wealth of knowledge and the love of God. I can appreciate beautiful things but I have no desire to own them. True natural love brings calmness but greed is a fire that burns within and agitates the mind to constantly search for things to acquire and accumulate.

Dadi Janki On Science And Spirituality

Watch this.

Forms of Body-Consciousness - Anger

Anger is the negation of love, which indicates that the angry soul actually needs love. It burns the soul and others in connection with it and disturbs the natural state totally. People mistakenly believe that anger can bring a situation under control thereby creating a "satisfactory situation". But when I am not satisfied with myself I cannot be satisfied with others nor can I satisfy others.

Anger is a spear that wounds feelings. When I react with anger, all I am really doing is damaging myself as well as the other. When there is preoccupation with selfish desires, plans and motives, the soul lays itself open to anger attacks or its related forms: envy, jealousy, impatience, annoyance, irritability, disgust, backbiting, sullenness, violence, contrariness, sulking. Each time anger is expressed, harmful secretions flow through the metabolism causing many physical disorders, such as ulcers, heart trouble and psychosomatic problems.

Forms of Body-Consciousness - Ego Or Arrogance

Thinking highly of one's wisdom, wealth, physique, beauty, experience, social status or family creates the delusion, "I should be loved or respected for these things." This self-love, or rather conceit, removes all sense of reality and generates many false notions. On top of that it usually backfires. Searching for respect and regard through a glorified image of myself, will not find it. It just breeds discourtesies. I think that the whole world revolves around me and should listen to my opinions. Both the "superiority complex" and the "inferiority complex" ("I am the best", or "I am no good") are forms of arrogance because the thought process is egocentric and the repeated word "I", "I", "I" is predominant. Because of internal confusion of identity, the soul wishes to find security by winning the attention of others.

The natural state is love for one's true self and others. Ego is love for the physical identity and its temporary masks. Even though we suspect we are weak, we seek to prove our strength before others. As yogis we redirect this self-love to God and through that love-bond, we are able to love all others and maintain our self-respect. We remain unaffected by praise or insult. The soul no longer sees the world relative to itself. It can see others in their own right and naturally respects their opinions. In the ego-centric state I am the "sun" and others are my "planets" but in the yogic state God becomes my "sun" and I see all others in relation to Him rather than in relation to me.

Forms Of Body-Consciousness - Attachment or Possessiveness

Pure love is spiritual. Its misplaced forms are attachment and lust. But people regard attachment as the "glue" that keeps the household and family unified. In reality, the people or things that I consider as "mine" end up as my captors binding me in a net of worries and fears. The people or things that I cling to through attachement are compensations for the insecurity of the soul to lost in matter. Spiritual love is unconditional but attached love imposes so many conditions according to the likes and dislikes of the parties involved. Instead of being the thread of happiness and unity as it is supposed to be, it is the cause grief and anxiety within any relationship.

For example, a child is born and the parents think, "This is our child, thank God." Yet if the child were to die they would weep and become lost in a maze of negative thoughts, none of which could bring back the child. In this case, the "child" is the body which has died not the soul. The parents are not the creators of the personality, the soul, but only of its vehicle. The soul is the child of God and no human soul has the right to own another through the words "my" or "mine".

In this case, as with lust, we can also see that the basic motivation behind attachment is selfishness. I place importance on a relationship only because I feel there is benefit in it for "me". In body-consciousness those benefits are illusory, transitory. A yogi clings to the attributes of God and becomes unburdened from the subtle chains of attachment to limited things and beings. He becomes unlimited, unbound. The natural state is one of comprehension and freedom and no possessiveness, or "my-ness".

Attitude Can Influence Our Lifespan

Since we spend a major portion of our lives at a job, our attitude towards what we do influences our lifespan. Mind you, it is not what we do, but our attitude towards it which matters.

Two men were moving some stones to erect a church. When asked, "What are you doing?" One answered, "I am lifting rocks." The other said. "I am helping to create a temple for God." This visionary approach to our job, realizing the long-term impact it has on people and the world, is superior to the short-term, 'How soon can I get out of here' approach. The better approach facilitates greater motivation, accomplishment and enjoyment. These positive emotions will have a positive impact on our long-term health.

If our attitude towards work or people is negative, we will not enjoy our work and adversely undergo stress. It is not the work but the attitude which causes stress. People spend hours on their hobbies and yet never get tired.

Take from Self-Empowerment by Bridget Menezes

Why Does the Soul search for Peace, Love and Happiness?

The search for true values is a constant preoccupation. In body-consciousness we mistakenly think that the physical world and physical relations can provide peace, love and happiness. However these are not the properties of matter, not of the physical identity, but the true characteristics of the soul. This has to be realised.

Imagine a scene in which you are surrounded by all your favourite things; food, music, fragrance, scenery and companions. Just about to enjoy your meal, the telephone rings and you are told that a person close to you has just dies. Instantly, that scene of "favourites" melts into an insipid and superficial experience. Something has happened that shakes the soul and it can no longer enjoy those things. At the same time it finds itself inadequate in the face of the bad news as understanding and power are missing. Life is full of experiences such as this and it becomes clear that physical things are not the sources of peace, love and happiness, but that understanding and inner strength are.

One of the basic facts of human psychology is that we do not seek or desire something that has not been experienced previously. For example, if one has never tasted a mango, there cannot be a burning desire to have a mango. This suggests that desires might be arising from previous life experiences. Infact, it is impossible for a human being to act or desire outside the field of his or her own experience. The search for peace, love and happiness is so fundamental to the human spirit because these are the original and true qualities of the soul itself.

Forms of Body-Consciousness - Lust

Souls are points of light without gender. Love is natural between them. Seen in this light, lust and frustration are only due to a lack of real love. Transitory sexual enslaved enjoyment is nothing compared to the loss of awareness it entails. We understand that there can be no lust between souls.

I see all others with pure brotherly vision. I love the soul, not the outwardly shape and form of the soul's body. Lust robs me of physical and spiritual strength and leads me even more deeply into sense-gratification. Trapped in the world of flesh and bones I am a slave to colour, form and touch. Throung the loss of reason and self-awareness, I fall into attachment.

The curtain descends on my power of discrimination as the intellect is weakened. Lust is a feeling that waxes and wanes. As it waxes, correspondingly, spiritual vision and understanding dims. As it wanes I come back to my senses. The desire to satisfy the sexual craving is perhaps the most basic of instincts related to body-consciousness. The egocentric desire to safisfy, basically the sense of touch, robs the soul not only of its reasoning power but also of its self-respect.

When there is the realisation of the power of the soul and of the opportunity to be an instrument for world benefit, sexual desire can be sublimated easily. As the soul is involved in uplifting others, assisting in their spiritual birth, the constant preoccupation with sex and its ramifications, that normally assails someone living in the Iron Age, fades very naturally. Eventually the emotional storms that accompany it cease. In fact, when the sense organs are used in service of others, the karmic reaction is that they are purified.

The Benefits of the Knowledge of the Cycle

In meditation the soul is able to fly above all limitations and sees and feels the reality of the Golden Age. If the soul allows itself to slip back into ordinary every day consciousness, just by seeing and relating to the impure world around it, it may feel that the Golden Age is a fantasy. However if there is true soul-consciousness and the experience of the original stat of the soul, then the aim and object is attained. In a cycle we are merely becoming what we were. In a cycle the past is the future, and the present is the future.

Inspiring Stories - A Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read, beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, a young boy approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement, "Look what I found!" In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn- not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And declared with overacted surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you. "The weed before me was dying or dead, not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied,"Thanks, just what I need. But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time that weed-toting boy could not see he was blind. I heard my voice quiver, tears shone in the sun as I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play, unaware of the impact he'd had on my day. I sat there and wondered how he managed to see A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.

How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.

And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine. And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose.

And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand, about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

Confluence Age - The Age of Illumination

When there is the absolute decline of practised truth, it is then necessary to re-establish the world of truth. The one eternal Seed, the one who is able to perceive all events of all time periods, comes to reveal the story of our history. It is a story of long ago but of only yesterday. That story of a world of truth, of love, joy and purity stirs deep feelings from the long buried past in our hearts; how these original divine human beings danced their way gradually into the stage of distress and then searched to re-discover that world. What were living memories had faded into forgotten dreams. But now the vision of a united and spiritually regenerated humanity, something that all religions have dreamed about, is given concrete existence in His teaching and yoga with us.

Iron Age - The Age of Death

The search for something higher is becoming desperate, as impurity and decadence become extreme. Human beings by this time are totally chained to the vices, creating unlimited sorrow and unrest. It is the age of utmost decline in moral, ethical and spiritual values. Conditions of chaos and anarchy under the guise of democracy have totally overtaken the system of divine monarchy. The masses are continually being incited on the basis of differences of language, religion or political belief. People are against themselves, others and nature. The world is divided and power games are rife. The actions of caring group may benefit some but it is always at a cost to others.

Religion as a basis for living is supplanted by scientific thinking. Science is a "god" which reduces everything to material values. Perverse thnking permeates all levels of society. The poor are against the rich, blacks against whites, brothers against sisters through obliviousness of our common origin. There is total disruption in family life, which is reflected in the community, in the city, in tha nation and in the world.

Towards the end of the Iron Age all conditions become extreme. Society becomes degraded and dehumanised. The persuit of material ambition is held as the sole aim and object of existence. "Eat, drink and be merry" is the catchphrase of the masses without thought for consequences.

Respect is replaced by conceit, mistrust and sexual promiscuity. There are many demonstrations and revolutions. Power changes hands rapidly and in the final hours of the Iron Age, the weapons and equipment are manufactured which can bring about the physical transformaton of the world. Souls are liberated from their bodies and return to the soul world. The river of history has run its full course.

Copper Age - The Age of Duality

This age is the beginning of recorded history. The virtuous state, or the ability to perform truthfully, has been lost and that missing gap has to be filled in. Thus the search to gain back the lost paradise begins, though is is truly "lost". The elements of nature combine to produce changes of catastrophic proportions, so much so that even the buildings are buried to such a depth that architectural traces are only now being discovered. The ways and acts of the deities, however, are remembered and they become the figures of our myths and legends, devotion and worship.

The original race is shattered over the face of the earth. Some of these "pockets of civilization" become isolated and in such hostile conditions rapidly degenerate, forming "primitive" or "tribal" societies. Large groups of immigrants from India emerge in Egypt, Sumeria and Babylon, still carrying remnants of the most elevated culture and technology the world has ever known. However, unable to meet the challenges offered by the harsher conditions, they too experience rapid decline. We find a preoccupation in the mythologies of all the major, ancient civilizations about a "lost paradise" and the "beautiful gods and goddesses" who ruled there. Pantheism proves that our ancient civilizations are descended from the original deity civilization.

Ideologies emerge in an effort to rationalise and revert the fall that is occurring, but no-one has sufficient power to bring the tatters of humanity back together. Such attempts have instead served to separate various cultures ever more.

Silver Age - The Decline

Inevitably the slow decline of things starts to be noticed. As spring imperceptibly creeps into summer, the Golden Age paradise becomes a "semi-paradise", a Silver Age.

Its beginning is marked by the changing of dynasties; from that of Lakshmi and Narayan to that of Rama and Sita which lasts 12 generations; this is remembered as the "Moon Dynasty". The deities (so called for their divine actions) are discharging their original power and qualities through their actions which effects the whole kingdom. Comparing the Golden Age and Silver Age is somewhat like comparing the effect of the sun on colours at full-light and its effect at half-light. The colour and beauty of things are still there but their richness is a little dulled.

In the relationship amongst souls there is still pure love, but the population is increasing, the kingdom is expanding and for convenience is divided into principalities. Material resources are therefore being spread more thinly over a wider area to meet a greater demand. The souls who entered this play are gradually becoming attracted to the things of the senses. Material beauty first allures the soul more and more in each successive birth, into the world of the senses and sensual desires. Though there is hardly any negativity or sorrow, the quality of all things is a little less. There is a difference in the degrees of bliss, power, purity and prosperity.

Golden Age - The Age of Truth

In the beginning, each member of society plays exactly that role for which his or her natural qualities are best suited. Some have the qualities to be rulers and others have the qualities to be subjects. It is a hierarchical society based on divine virtues. This means that different roles are based upon intrinsic qualities and not on false notions of grandeur and social inequalities. Because each soul plays the role to which it is best suited no one complains or covets the role of another. Though there are rulers and subjects, there is neither enforced authority nor submissive subordination. The rulers are simpy those who have the greatest virtues and natural wisdom.

The system is held together like a perfect, crystal lattice. Everything is at its highest stage of purity and beauty. Concepts such as value, profit and loss, misery, poverty, sorrow and death do not exist. In a society whose members have much more that they need, trade and exchange are carried out mainly for distribution purposes. With such universal prosperity, and internal and external harmony, shortage and the misery it entails are unimaginable.

The system of the Golden Age is not a conscious philosophy in practice but rather a natural manifestation of a society whose members are in the highest state of natural soul-consciousness. They instinctively feel their realities as souls and not bodies. Being soul-conscious they are automatically the masters of their sense organs and of their environment.

This picture is not the idealized paradise; it does not pretend a perpetual youth of blissful innocence. It is the peak of human civilization in every field of human endeavour; teaching, music, government, drama, linguistics, painting and science. Science is such that it comprehends and harnesses the forces that govern this planet without destroying or polluting the environment. It is the purest use of science and technology at its highest level.

Only the best materials are used in the construction of perfect architecture, the best that nature can provide: gold, diamonds, rubies, etc. The world is a garden in which the seasons vary slightly. Art, dance and music are at their most expressive. There are no norders of land, sea or air. The soul is in perfect balance with all others. Everyone enjoys good health. There is no need for laws or law courts. The only law is love.

The Story Of The World Drama

Contrary to popular theory, our ancestors were neither monkeys nor cave dwellers but human beings who had a deep and natural understanding of the world they inhabited. The original population was small though growing slowly. This period we have termed as "prehistory" simply because written and reliable records of things and events started only about 2,500 years ago. The first age in which everything is at its highest level of purity can be called for simplicity's sake, the Golden Age. That is followed in sequence by the Silver, Copper and Iron Ages and ultimately there is a period of transition from old to new, impure to pure which can be called the Confluence Age.

Be Mindful of the Law of Cause and Effect

Values are neither physical nor material in nature, yet people attempt to obtain them through material things. It is like trying to build castles in the air but beginning at the top instead of with the foundation.

Today, everyone is expressing unhappiness in one form or another. Who is responsible for this sad situation?

No one actually. If we understand the laws of creation, then we know we are responsible for our own state of being. The first law is that everything is created new. Nothing old can be created. You cannot build an old house, nor bake stale bread. Ignorance of this law is why many people grumble when they are unhappy;

By understanding the law of cause and effect, there will be fear within us of causing harm to others either through our words or our actions. Whatever we do to others, comes back to us. If we keep this in mind, we will be safe and stable.

Taken from a book entitled "Self-Empowerment" by Bridget Menezes

The Cycle of Time

In recorded history, time has always been an enigma. To some, time is merely a regulator. Everything they have to do is divided into hours, minutes and seconds. In the modern world it is normal to be slaves to time. To others, time is seen as a continuous subtle thread to which all events and scenes are tied. Whichever, time stands as the measure of processes. Though time is not tangible, it can be understood. The nature of time can be described by the processes which it measures, or in other words, the processes which take place within time.

All the processes of nature are cyclic; day and night, the four seasons, the phases of the moon, the motion of the planets, the cycles of water and carbon, etc. Yet scientists still cling to the idea that historical time is linear, that there was at some moment a beginning.

Human beings thought that the earth was flat until it was discovered that one could travel in a straight direction for a certain distance and arrive back at the same point. So after the invention of the telescope and the voyages of the great navigators we had to change our understanding of the world, and in this way all subsequent scientific theories have continued to change and become more refined. Through the "apparatus" of meditation and spiritual knowledge we penetrate new dimensions and come to a cyclic understanding time.

One theory that scientists have postulated is that this is an expanding universe in which originally all matter was densely concentrated, and there was a great explosion since which time all matter has been expanding outwards. This is called the "big bang" theory. One thing this theory overlooks, however, is the most basic of all cosmic principles; the law of cause and effect. What was the cause of this "bang"?

One the other hand, most would agree that time and space are infinite. Even the symbol of infinity, the figure eight written sideways, suggests something that has no beginning or end. One can safely say that the law of cause and effect operates forever. Each point in the cyclic flow of events gives cause to the next point, until eventually it arrives at the same point that it begins from. Time as a cycle is the only possible way that we can bring infinity and the law of cause and effect together and tie them neatly into one "unified field".

World History Is A Drama

The interplay between souls, nature, God and time is what constitutes the cycle of world history. We shall call it the world drama. God is the director, the souls are the actors, nature is the stage and the movement of the drama is time.

The drama is the story of human souls, their rise and fall, victory and defeat, happiness and suffering, knowledge and ignorance, liberation and bondage. It is the story of the play of good and evil forces and of the different stages through which the souls pass in five different epochs. It is a story of how the souls mistakenly identify themselves with their perishable bodies and how this leads to a decline in all levels of human activity. This decline then reaches its extreme until souls turn again to God and restore their former spiritual heights. Decline, consequences of the law of cause and effect, the emergence of vices, the increase in worship, the advent of pure souls as founders of religions, the emergence of many religions, the growth of fanaticism and confusion, war and disease, and finally the liberation of souls from their self-created bondages; these are the salient features of the drama.

Just as in an ordinary drama, an actor, wearing a suitable costume, acts out his part at a predetermined time, so in the world drama, the soul-actors perform their roles, each at their assigned "cue". This role lies dormant in the soul in the form of impressions, until the right time period triggers the qualities inherent in the soul and it makes its appearance on the stage.

Those impressions become thoughts, which are then translated into words or actions. The total role of every individual exists in latent form within the soul while the soul is in the oul world. When the soul appears in the physical world, theat role begins to manifest. The soul begins to act and after the accumulation of birth upon birth of action, it eventually becomes trapped in their consequences. It forgets its own origin, and is instead bound by various identities, objects, ideologies and relationships, and starts to search for a way out of them.

The world drama, or world history, is but the collective play of all the individual parts of the soul-actors. The soul awaits in the soul world, "backstage" until the situation is conducive for it to enter the drama. Once each soul is here, it must remain until all souls have come onto the stage. At that time there is major transformation and all sould except for a few return home to the soul world. And the drama begins again. The only possible way that life can thus eternally continue is if time is cyclic.

Important Points in Raja Yoga Practice

Yoga is not something we do but rather something we have. It is not that we spend 23 hours in an extrovert state and only one hour in introspective self-effort. In this sense, extroversion means to have the attention drawn by all the goings-on outside the soul. True introversion, also, does not mean to sit in a cornet and not peak to anyone, it means to pay attentin that all thoughts, words and actions are flowing in the right direction. In this respect, the churning over of points of knowledge throughout our active hours strengthens and maintains the yogic state of mind like nothing else.

There are five basic points to churn over. Create your own thought commentaries around each point.

Who Am I?
I am a soul. The body is my chariot. All human beings are souls, too, my brothers and sisters. I see them with spiritual love. Whilst walking and talking I see others as souls. Maintaining this vision I transcend all the barriers of worldly differences.

Whose Child Am I?
Just as I naturally have the awareness of being the child of my physical father, receiving sustenance and a form of inheritance, so too I can have the natural consciousness of being a child of the Supreme Father. I can reflect on the sustenance and inheritance I receive from Him.

What Is My True Religion?
No matter how much surrounding turmoil there may be, I can remember that my true religion is peace and purity. Just as people may resist conversion from their religions, I resist any attempt to pull me away from my true religion.

Where And What Is My Home?
Just as people love their homeland, I can have the same natural love for my original home, the soul world. At the same time I can be aware of my original form of light and power. In this way I can transcend any situation that faces me. I am also aware that I have soon to return home and so I must settle all my karmic accounts.

How Is The World a Drama?
With the consciousness of the cycle of 84 births, I can see my role and the roles of others in a perfect and unlimited drama. Even though others and I are playing parts, we are separate from the roles. Now that I know the Directore and story of the whole drama, there is no point in getting upset over tiny little scenes. I know the beginning, the middle and the end of the drama and so I can re-emerge the sanskaras that I had in the beginning; those of peace, love, purity and happiness.

Is It Possible To Control The Flow of Thought

Before doing any action we first have to think. Yet how much time do we spend developing the thinking faculty, the mind? With a little knowledge of the power of thought and soul-consciousness, I can remove all inner storms and enjoy a tranquil existence. With knowledge I can control any mood which and bring enormous benefit both to myself and to all others with whom I have contact.

We spend most of our time searching externally for fulfilment. This means that the soul becomes totally at the mercy of what is going on externally. If the scene is unpleasant or even if something very minor goes wrong, I become worried and upset. Through the practice of soul-consciousness and meditation, I can remain strong and content, come what may. I am a soul and I have my own store of peace from which I can draw at any time. I do not need to practise complicated breathing exercises or strenuous physical posturing. I can draw on my own experience of just being a soul wherever I am, countryside or city, home or work. Thus meditation is a continuing experience rather than a static one.

The understanding of the self as a soul is the foundation of all spiritual experience. If you have practised some form of meditation before, it is likely that you were asked to concentrate on a flower, a dot on the wall, the picture of some great saint, a candle flame or maybe even to endlessly repeat some words which are little understood. To concentrate, I must have a focus that is certain and easy to visualise. Very simple and naturally, I, the soul, on the wings of my thoughts can fly to my eternal and highest home and experience my original attributes.

As I begin to practise soul-consciousness, I learn to detach myself from the diverse and difficult situations around me and turn naturally to my home and the Father of all souls who dwells there. The mind becomes automatically controlled by this flow of peace. With the fundamental understanding of the distinctions between soul and body, the spiritual and the physical, I begin to meditate.

Consequences of the Law of Karma

Understanding the Law of Karma makes me aware that each action (or karma) causes a return, a consequence; equally, events (and their effects) can only occur when there has been a corresponding cause. This means that whatever circumstances I'm in at the moment - whoever or whatever is compelling me or repelling me and whatever I am experiencing - is the consequence of my own prior thoughts, decisions and actions. Understanding the Law of Karma gives deep significance to concepts such as responsibility and justice.

Sometimes the Law of Karma is only half understood. Someone may think helplessly, "If whatever is happening to me now is because of my past actions, then there's nothing I can do about it". But if the past created the present, the present also creates the future. Instead of being a slave to one's past, understanding the Law of Karma inspires us to actively participate in creating our own destiny.

"The first thing we do is take a breath.
Then we must give it back.
This is the rhythm of life.
This is a natural law of reciprocity
Where everything and everybody is affected.
You start by taking what you end up giving.
This is the law of cause and effect.
This unwritten law encompasses every action we perform.
This is the law of perfect justice.
We always get the return of everything we give."

What is Karma

Karma is the activity of the soul through the body; thinking, breathing, seeing, touching and moving are karmas. These take place according to the law of karma: for every action there is an equal and apposite reaction. The types of action which we do reflect our inner state, and forms our "character". Since we are responsible for our actions, we have to consider their effects on others and ourselves. Even our thoughts affect and create the surrounding atmosphere.

Meditation Practice

This is what I normally do. First of all, create a meditation spot at home whichever you think is suitable, comfortable to sit. Make sure the place that you choose is quiet as well. Listen to soft music or commentaries (I prefer to use discman). Allow your body to relax by taking a few deep breaths. Keep your eyes open, gently focusing on a point in the distance. There is no need to look at anything in particular. Turn your attention inwards and concentrate. I know it is hard to do this at first, but after a while you will get used to it. You can still hear sounds, but there is no need to pay any attention to the outside world; just let any sounds wash over you. Similarly, you may see movement but don't let your eyes be drawn to anything. Raja Yoga Meditation is not about stopping thoughts so much as creating thoughts about your true spiritual identity. Concentrate on thoughts and feel what they mean for you. Take as much time as you wish. If your concentration lapses at all, just gently coax your mind back to the thoughts and re-focus. Meditation requires practice to achieve satisfying results like thoughts will slow down or mind becomes clear and so on. By doing a little meditation every day (10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening), it soon becomes a natural and easy habit, which generously rewards you for the effort it involves. Just as simple as that. What about you?

Way To Beat Stress

We all play losing games at times and do things that are self-defeating - like not eating well, not getting enough sleep, working excessively long hours and getting too little rest. Mis-managing time is another losing game. Procastination, leaving for work at the last moment and spending too much time on low priority tasks, can considerably heighten our stress levels.

Stress results from our reaction to our physical or emotional circumstances. Since we can control our emotions, it follows that we alone can rid ourselves of the stress which besets our life. We have the option to channel our energy towards the right activity. Stress, when allowed to gnaw at us, multiplies manifold. We begin to associate the stress caused by one event, with all past similar events or situations, thereby making our current problem much larger than it actually is!

How can we become stress-proof or at least be armed to handle tension? By prioritising activities. Do not worry if you are unable to carry out all the tasks planned. Use time in a worthwhile way. Be realistic about your own capability. Tasks which are beyond your capacity can be delegated to others, while you concentrate on those which you can manage well.

Taken from a book entitled 'Self-Empowerment' by Bridget Menezes

Positive Mind Heals Body Rapidly

When my mind is positive, my body heals rapidly. My positive mind influences the healing process of my body. I had mild ashma before, now it seems that my ashma is almost gone. Before I join Raja Yoga Meditation last year, I had a hard time, that is almost every night I had ashma attack. That is why I am saying that the positive mind heals body. It really happened to me and it really helped. If I complain and ask for attention, I make the lives of others miserable, whereas, if I remain peaceful and take my medication quietly, I get the good wishes of those around me. I practice yoga meditation because I want to remain in a state of positive mind. This is where I find my inner peace. When I'm at peace, I can think positively. When I have a positive mind, I can know the difference between good and bad. Our mind is so powerful. It controls our body. If we don't control our mind properly, a negative mind will start to control our mind, and we start to get sick and do negative things. Don't let it be... Mind and body are inextricably linked and we should learn to keep our mind peaceful and our nature simple. Locked within our minds are choices about happiness and pain and the choices we make affect our health accordingly.

Raja Yoga Meditation

Raja Yoga Meditation is the means to channel good thought energy into one's mood. It means to turn the thoughts away from those of anger, greed and frustration to a far higher level of peace and contentment. To get started on meditation, all we need is 10 minutes of time a day. It is practiced with our eyes fully open. People always have no time. But can we imagine that we can sit down and gossip on the phone for hours, go shopping for hours, go clubbing for hours and so on (no obligation, okay?). I am talking from experience. Meditation brings peace. Everybody wants peace. Who else in this world do not want peace? Meditation is like a tap flowing into a bucket of dirty water. Eventually the dirt will be washed away.

Before, I used to be very emotional and I would cry over small things. I used to be stressed at work and would get sick easily. I used to take "Prozac" that the psychiatrist (doctor) prescribed to me due to my depression. I used to be depressed and always think that I am useless and always think of wanting to end up my life. I was lost for nearly two years. I don't know where I belonged. It was a terrible time for me. When I think back, I feel so dumb. Who should I blame for my depression? Nobody... I should blame myself for taking all these suffering. Oh well, the past is past. Now, I just concentrate on the now and I practice meditation. I feel at peace everytime I meditate. I try not to think about the past and future too much. Sometimes, too much expectations can lead to disappointment. While too much thoughts of the past can lead to anger and vengeful feelings. I don't want to suffer like this anymore.

Now, I realise that my depression is caused by my own self. This is my biggest realisation that has changed my life. Through Raja Yoga Meditation, I learn to know about myself more. Questions like who am I, where I came from, and other unanswered questions, all have been answered.

During the initial stages of meditation many wasteful thoughts do come. This is due to the soul's longstanding habit of thinking aimlessly. The mind has been attracted or repelled by everything and everyone. The soul has been buffeted around from one experience to another, one scene to another. I must break the negative cycles of worry, doubt and confusion within, by recharging the soul with my own original attributes of peace, purity, love and joy. I must make sure the engines of my senses are not burning up the vital fuel of inner peace.

That's all for today. Thanks for reading.

Soul and Body Consciousness

The soul is conscient energy, aware of its own existence. Consciousness can be described as the feeling "I am" or "I exist". If you examine any thought-decision-action process, you will find that behind it, there is always the feeling: "I am something or the other".

Consciousness is thus the springboard for thought, decisions and actions. In other words, the soul reacts to external circumstances according to how it regards itself at that particular moment. For example, a surgeon is able to perform surgery when there is the consciousness of being surgeon. That very consciousness unlocks or gives the soul access to all the information and experience related to being a surgeon. The soul when it has the consciousness of being a soul is able to have instant access to its own original qualities.

There are two different basic levels of consciousness; "I am a body" or "I am a soul", the former, illusory and the latter, real. When the feeling is "I am a body", the thought process is trapped in the limitations, problems and vision of the physical identity. Its reaction to others is on the same level.

The Original Nature of The Soul

Today, I'm going to share with you about the original nature of the soul. As I mentioned earlier, the soul uses the word "I" for itself and the word "my" when referring to the body; "my" hand, "my" mouth, "my" brain, etc. "I" am different from "my" body. But, what has happened to the original nature of the soul?

I, the soul, am originally a star-like point of perfect peace and purity, twinkling in the golden-red expanse of the soul world. I am fully charged with spiritual evergy which naturally manifests as love, joy, peace and purity when I first come into this physical world. Gradually by taking many births, I become attached to the senses and the various sense objects and I forget my original attributes. Then I become a slave to five basic negative forces; ANGER, GREED, EGO, LUST and ATTACHMENT. These forces have their roots in body-consciousness, or the illusion that existence is entirely physical. My ability to control matter is supplanted by matter controlling me. Anytime I suffer disappointment, worry or anxiety, it is due to the effect of any one of these negative influences.

I forget the heights of spiritual attainment and the delights of supersensuous joy thinking myself to be a body and I search for peace and happiness through the sense organs. I mistakenly pursue worldly pleasures in an effort to regain my former state. I forget my true identity, nature, home and my Supreme Father. I know that while controlled by these negative forces, I cannot come back to my normal state of peace, happiness and bliss. They are not welcome in my internal "house". Until the vices have not control over the soul, I will never restore my original qualities of peace, bliss, love, purity and knowledge.

People afflicted by anger lose their temper and become excited at the slightest provocation. Yet, when the event is over they find 'peace' in reverting to their normal temperament. The same applies to all the other vices which are at the root of all emotional disturbances, strains, tnesions and imbalances.

If I contemplate on my original nature and do everything with the realisation "I am a soul, not a body", my original qualities reappear naturally. They are my basic attributes. It is worthless seeking them externally. It is like the musk deer running after the sweet smell of musk, unaware that it is coming from its own navel. Peace of mind is my property. It automatically flows from within me once I am soul-conscious.

Whatever thoughts are in my mind, that is the state I experience. Soul-conscious thoughts bring peace of mind. Body-conscious thoughts disturb me. It is I who decide what state of mind to experience. I can either be the essence of peace, or in a turmoil. It is I, the soul who has the power of decision. The situation should not dictate to me. Soul-consciousness is the mind's food that strengthens the intellect and keeps me beyond the influence of negativity.

That is all for today. Thanks for reading.

Causes of Anger

Ego (eg. I am right, I am perfect), arrogant, forget self original qualities, unfulfilled desires (eg. high expectations, demand), position (eg. my religion is better than yours), deception, deformation and judgemental (eg. I think you should/shouldn't...), betrayal of friendship, lack of consideration, lack of justice, insecurity, sensitivity, rejection, create principles, ignoring others view, comparing results, jealousy, stress, financial hardship, unhappy relationship, disharmony and so on.

And who causes all these? I, myself. It is because I have chosen to be angry. Nobody else. I allow the situation to control myself. Happiness is our right, nobody allow not to make us happy. Nobody can make us angry if we don't want to.

Anger

I have attended an anger management course sometime in December, 2005 at Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre. Mr. Arun Doshi, a retired CEO, who is also a meditator, shared with us how meditation can be used as a tool to effectively manage the force of anger. After I attended the course, I realised that anger is caused by our own self and not by other people. But how? Everytime I get angry, I check back with myself and ask myself why am I getting angry? It is I who wants to get angry. It has nothing to do with other people who makes you angry, right? It is I, myself... Anger comes in many forms and the damage done can last for years.

My sharing today is about anger. What is anger? Anger is the negation of love, which indicates that the angry soul actually needs love. It burns the soul and others in connection with it and disturbs the natural state totally. People mistakenly believe that anger can bring a situation under control thereby creating a "satisfactory situation". But when I am not satisfied with myself I cannot be satisfied with others nor can I satisfy others.

Anger is a spear that wounds feelings. When I react with anger, all I am really doing is damaging myself as well as the other. When there is preoccupation with selfish desires, plans and motives, the soul lays itself open to anger attacks or its related forms: envy, jealousy, impatience, annoyance, irritability, disgust, backbiting, sullenness, violence, contrariness, sulking and etc. Each time anger is expressed, harmful secretions flow through the metabolism causing many physical disorders, such as ulcers, heart trouble and psychosomatic problems.