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Remembering the One Sowing the Seeds for Change
Quote for 2009
"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."
Thomas A. Edison
New Year's Message for 2009 given to BK's but a good message for the whole world:

"Everyone celebrated the New Year. Continue to celebrate every day as the day for self-transformation and world-transformation. Each day is new for transformation every day of this year. Every day is for new service, every day is constantly for new zeal and enthusiasm. Not a single day is for worry or other thoughts. Let every day and night be spent in zeal and enthusiasm. In this New Year, you definitely have to do something new each day for the self, for the world and for service. Have such a determined thought, bring time close, become perfect and, becoming equal to the Father, fly and continue to make others fly. Good night. Achcha." - Avyakt message, 31 December 2008

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Last Updated: 11/23/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 43
Sign: Aries

City: Cambridge
State: East
Country: UK
Signup Date: 1/19/2006

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Monday, November 23, 2009 

Current mood:  content
Category: Religion and Philosophy


Cats and Dogs

It's been raining off and on today - and when it was raining, it was raining cats and dogs. Which got me thinking. About cats and dogs.

I used to have cats myself. One got ill. And ended up in animal hospital. And didn't get better. I had to make a decision - keep paying the high costs of the hospital in hopes that he might recover or put the poor dear to sleep.  I let my partner make the decision.  We put the cat to sleep and paid off the debt that had racked up in the first couple weeks of care.

I love animals.  I grew up with horses, chickens, rabbits, dogs and cats.  We also had at one time hamsters, fish, parakeets and hermit crabs. But one thing I learned through all of this is that their life span is shorter than ours.  They come and go.  And sometimes they go sooner than you would expect.  And I have suffered sadness as a result.

At the time, I didn't realize I had a choice.  People get so attached to their pets.  And when the pet dies or gets ill it creates a terrible sadness for them.  It's as if they are creating, fostering and nurturing their eventual great sadness just by getting a pet in the first place.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  Instead of getting attached to the animal, remain loving yet detached.  In other words, know that the animal is with you for a short time and that they could leave at any moment.  If I had seen my pets in this way, then I would have suffered less and enjoyed them more.  Doesn't that make better sense?  

I can see this clearly now with pets (I'm not sure if any other animal lovers can - I hope so), but we can also apply this principle to everything.  Wealth (if you have it) is only here temporarily - use it wisely now.  Family and friends could go any time - enjoy your moments with them now.  My house might not be standing tomorrow - enjoy the warmth and comfort now.  

Walking in the rain (which was like cats and dogs) I felt so fortunate that at this very moment, I have a daughter and she is in a good school, and I have a house to sleep in, and food in the fridge, and a family, etc.  Today, this very moment, I have so many blessings.  And I am appreciative.  Tomorrow, I may have none of these things, but I will have had them. And that is precious.  

It is a myth to believe I own anything.  I don't.  It can all be gone tomorrow.  But what I do have is my self (the soul), my place in the family of souls and my relationship with the Supreme Soul (God).  Everything else is just icing on the cake.  And right now it's beautiful.  
4:12 PM 
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009 

Current mood:  determined
Category: Religion and Philosophy
 

Learning from the Best

When you decide to learn a profession, like barrister, doctor, etc, you study under an expert, someone for whom you have high regard.  But it's not a case of just reading his papers, or reading about him.  No, you get to know everything about him - you learn how he thinks, how he looks at things, how he reacts.  You study his nature, his qualities.  You imbibe those qualities so that you, too, can be an expert.

In Raja Yoga, we say, why should it be any less when studying under God? It's not enough to read about Him.  No, we examine His qualities and nature and aim to copy them. We learn His vision and adopt it.  Only in this way can the children emerge their true nature as God has intended it.

2:45 PM 
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Monday, October 05, 2009 

Current mood:  contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy

In Getting Unstuck - Standing Tall

In my last blog, Stuck, I describe a condition I often find myself in - that of knowing what is good for me, but being unable to act on it. I can list many methods for getting past this obstacle, but really, these methods turn out to be temporary at best. It's just a means of using smoke and mirrors to trick ourselves into doing what is good for us. What we really need is something that works consistantly.

I mentioned a shift in perspective. This, I believe, is the key. When I shift perspective, I can get a true assessment of what action is required, and then it's up to me to act. I can do this if I have a clear vision of where I want to be and where I am right now.

For example, I am at my happiest when I am serviceable. This may or may not be an active type of service. It may be that I'm merely a support. However, if I'm feeling discontent, I don't feel like being serviceable (I don't feel like making the effort). So, if this is the case, am I an active support?  When I'm in a slump (in quicksand), am I able to be serviceable?  To be my happiest? The answer is obvious, but worth confronting. 

To be a support, I need to be more like the mast of a sail boat. Flexible enough not to snap. Rigid enough to provide strength and support to the sails so that they can perform their function. I am no good if I'm hanging about below deck or getting involved in navigation - I am most useful when I stand tall. If I lose this vision of myself and start trying to be a rudder or a center board, then I create problems for everyone. My perception is wrong.

So to overcome obstacles, I have to remind myself of my true vision, my passion, my purpose. And then the pieces should all fall into place - effortlessly.
5:34 PM 
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Monday, October 05, 2009 

Current mood:  determined
Category: Religion and Philosophy


Stuck

There are phases I go through where I feel really stuck.  It's like slowly sinking in quicksand, I've got a rope tied around a tree, but I've got no interest to grab it and pull myself free.  

Perhaps I expect some sort of super-hero to fly down and rescue me.  Or maybe I don't have time to pull the rope, I'm still organizing the floaty sticks or categorizing the fallen leaves or making up my todo lists.  Or perhaps I've got one more email to send, one more blog to write, one more status to update before I can leave this muck and mire.  

Or, perhaps, I decide to try the rope, but I choose a bad day and my arms tire quickly. I get disheartened and I give up.  I decide I'm not strong enough to do it.  So I eat a box of doughnuts instead.

Do you ever experience the same?

Whatever the reason, at some point we just have to wake up - snap out of it - break the downward spiral and start moving upwards again.  It requires a healthy dose of reality and a major shift in perception, i.e.  it's more important to pull myself out than to have nicely organized floaty sticks AND time is of the essence - why waste time in muck and mire when I can be enjoying the sun and sea?




6:00 AM 
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Friday, September 11, 2009 

Current mood:  happy
Category: Religion and Philosophy


Why Can't I Just Be Happy? (Why Do I Need a Reason?)

I left a status in Facebook suggesting I was extremely happy (I believe I used the word 'intoxicated').  My nephew asked me what I'd been eating.  And a few asked my why I was so happy.  But I didn't have a reason, it was just one of those blissful moments that sprang on me. 

If I could  bottle that happiness, I'd be a millionaire.  I mean, isn't everyone looking for happiness?  And this is what keeps sales and marketing types in business.  They keep promising happiness, and we keep buying into it. 

So, what happens when someone stumbles onto happiness?  The world can't accept that.  They want to hear that happiness came from a product or event or situation - it gives them hope at achieving their own happiness.   If happiness only comes like a winning lottery ticket falling out of the sky, what chance have I got?  

Raja Yoga teaches that happiness is one of our original qualities, it is something that we already have, but something that has been buried for so long.  It's the necklace that the princess lost and could not find, only to discover it had been around her neck the whole time.  And this is why we get glimpses of this happiness.

When we recognize that happiness is already ours, then we can start to emerge these feelings.  We can start looking at the obstacles that keep us from feeling happy - such as fear, anger, insecurity - and remove them.  Eventually, those glimpses come more frequently and last longer. 
11:17 AM 
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Sunday, September 06, 2009 

Current mood:  cheerful
Category: Religion and Philosophy


Let the sun shine out!

My teacher often jokes, 'It's supposed to be sunny today, so my happiness level will go up.'  Hmm, maybe he's not really joking - maybe he means it!  But the idea is that we should NOT allow our happiness to be dependent on the sun - especially if you live in England! 

There was a song I learned as a child - Let the Sun Shine In.  But what if there is no sun?  Instead, we should be introverted, cultivating that little sun within, giving it power, letting it grow, so that we can let that sun shine OUT!  And by letting that sun grow and glow within us, we benefit ourselves, but we also benefit others. 

So take some time out today and everyday to cultivate that internal sun - then it won't matter what the weather is.



9:05 PM 
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Friday, September 04, 2009 

Current mood:  adventurous
Category: Religion and Philosophy


Living Magically

I have friends who have experimented with living magically.  I can't honestly say what they mean by this... I can only guess it means to live without worries knowing everything will come into place when it needs to - so stay light, happy and attract all those good things that are your birthright - peace, love and happiness.

Another friend recently wrote to me along similar lines.  He writes, "...if the body receives waste food, it becomes weak,  feels heavy and is unable to carry out even its normal functions;  if it receives healthy food, [it] can perform many skills.  In the same way, if the soul receives waste in the form of wrong thoughts, it becomes weak and the weak mind cannot perform magic."

What sort of magic can a strong (disciplined) mind perform?  I'm clutching at straws, but I would say 'lucid dreaming'.  If we know that this 'reality' is really just a dream, then with this awareness, we can intentionally move throughout the dream.  We have control over the body and the actions of the body.  We don't take any sorrow from the dream (after all, it's just a dream) but observe it as a form of entertainment. 

May you find your magic.
9:22 PM 
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Wednesday, September 02, 2009 

Current mood:  contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy


Silence is Golden

We've heard this phrase before.  And in this day and age when there is more noise, more activity, more confusion, the saying becomes more and more true - silence becomes more valuable.

I was listening to a talk by Sister Denise (2002) where she encourages more silence.  We get so wrapped up in 'doing' and in 'good works' that we forget the value of silence.  In silence we can really make a connection, whether that connection is with yourself or with a supreme being outside of yourself, it's important to make that time in order to maintain clarity.

One of the points in Sister Denise's talk was that we often substitute 'good works' or 'service' for silence.  But this doesn't work.  Why?  Because it's through silence that real accumulation of power takes place.  It's in this time that we gain focus and self respect.  It's in this time that we give the body the time and rest it requires so that we don't get over-tired.  It's in this time that we stabilize our stage as a calm, peaceful, content being.  Once we are in this stage, then our actions have the right effect. 

Tell me, if you were to be served by someone who is frazzled, anxious, or distracted, would you have confidence in their service?  Or would you be slightly on edge, wondering if you're asking too much of them?  A stable stage puts others at ease and spreads contentment.  A stable stage in myself is a gift to those around me. 

So, indulge yourself in silence.  Soak in the golden riches that is your birthright.  Reach that stable stage of peaceful contentment.  Go on, you (and those around you) are worth it!
3:30 PM 
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009 

Current mood:  determined
Category: Religion and Philosophy


English Holidays

Having gained British citizenship, I'm now gaining experience of British holidays (vacations).  The English weather is not too extreme.  You are not likely to get snow storms, hurricanes, heat waves, earthquakes, etc.  It can happen, but it's rare and so you can rest assured you will have a low risk of natural calamities.  However, the weather will chop and change without warning and so you do have to be prepared for sun one moment and rain the next.  And each British holiday goer has different tactics for dealing with the rain. 

There is no guarantee how long the rain will last, how heavy it will get, if winds will accompany the rain, etc.  Some are happy with just an umbrella.  Others will carry waterproofs.  Still, others will refuse to wear anything cotton (takes too long to dry) and just continue to stay out in the rain, knowing that it will stop eventually and that they can pull out their latest best seller and resume reading when it does.  Rarely will they pack up and head for cover - that is just too much too ask, jetting back and forth when a few drops are felt.  After all, they are on holiday and don't want to wear themselves out.

I rather like their resolve.  They are prepared (in their own special way), they have a system that works, and they make the most of what they've got.  And if they want a sunny holiday, the continent is just a hop, skip and a cheap flight away.

Learning from this, I aim to make this part of my spiritual practice - to be prepared for the bad weather, to ride it out knowing it will stop eventually, and resume my efforts when it does.  To just take it as it comes and remain stable and make the most of what I've got.

 
7:50 AM 
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Monday, August 17, 2009 

Current mood:empowered
Category: Religion and Philosophy


Living in an Upside-Down World and Loving It!

This is really part 2 of the previous blog.  I hadn't planned a part two, otherwise I would have tacked on 'Part 1' to the previous blog.  But sometimes just talking about a topic is not enough - it helps to have real examples, and show the application in a practical way.  At least, this is what I will attempt to do and I hope it will be helpful!

I explained one self-belief which, when re-written reads, 'Sometimes I'm not happy and sometimes I don't cope, but that is ok.'

Some other NEW beliefs are (I'll leave you to guess what the old beliefs were):

'Sometimes people want different things from you and you can't please them all, and that is ok.' 

'Sometimes people expect unrealistic things from you and that is ok - it doesn't mean you have to fulfill their expectations!'

'Sometimes, while finding a solution to the problem, the problem changes and another solution is required, and that is ok.'

'Sometimes I don't come up with the best solution the first time around, and that is ok.'

'Sometimes people aren't happy with the ideas I come up with, and that is ok.'

'Sometimes people don't wish to implement my BRILLIANT solutions, and that is ok.' (Yep, this is slightly arrogant - oh well.  Sometimes I'm slightly arrogant and that is ok.)

'Sometimes life seems unfair: people seem mean, harsh, stingy, uncaring, stubborn, and that is ok, because sometimes we just can't help ourselves.'

'Sometimes I don't feel like being loving, happy, caring, and that is ok.'

'Sometimes I just want to run away, and that is ok.'

What really makes me feel powerful is when I look at the above and knowing that any one of those statements can present itself at any time, because I've already accepted that it can happen, I leave myself with a choice in how I respond.  And having choice is having power.

If I don't believe that I can be unhappy, then when I am unhappy, I have no choice but to shelve that feeling and soldier on pretending to be happy.  Whereas, when I know I can be unhappy, then when that feeling pops up, I can either allow it to disable me, or I can choose to let it run it's course as I get on with things without letting it disable me.  With choice, I'm the master, without it, I'm a slave.
5:23 AM 
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