The Gate of Angkor-Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Deep Self-Respect
Spirituality creates the kind of deep self-respect that does not need praise or special attention.
To have respect for the self constantly is to experience progress.
The one who has respect for the self is not dependent on external inputs for having a good state of mind. To have respect for the self means to have the right state of mind and the right way of working with the self, especially when things are not going well. It means to constantly express the positivity that is within. When we are able to give respect for the self under all circumstances we are able to experience constant progress. Especially when we are not able to achieve the desired results or when we are not able to be successful, at that time we need to be good to ourselves. Then we will be able to be the best and do the best with what we have. So we will be able to experience constant progress.
Inculcating Powers Through Rajyoga Meditation -
The Power To Withdraw (cont.)
When I am too open to the world around me, it's as though the arrows of negativity that fly around can easily penetrate my being, so that I lose my power. What others say and do quickly affects me, and I become reactive. This causes a build-up of stress, and eventually burnout, which makes me feel my only option, is to retire from situations altogether, which is not always possible.
I don't want to react; I want to act with concern and reason and effectiveness. When I develop the habit of making a momentary withdrawal in situations of danger, I'm better able to achieve this. Turning within, I'm able to remember my link with the divine, the link of love, the link that fills me with peace and wisdom and good wishes. It's like an exercise: going inwards i.e. connecting with the self, then upwards towards the Supreme and then outwards (in the field of karma). Doing this repeatedly through the day as a discipline as well as at times of danger, I'll keep moving forward with stability and strength.
In order to maintain this power, I have to put a high value on introversion. If I'm too extrovert, I'll become caught up in external circumstances, and won't have power to withdraw available to me at the moment of need.
Soul Sustenance
Am I Creating Negative 'Karma' – Guilt as an Indicator
At the heart of our consciousness, we have a conscience. Our conscience is essentially our basic awareness of truth. From a spiritual point of view, the truth of who we are as spiritual beings is core and eternal truth. If we consider ourselves to be anything other than soul or spirit then we will be thinking and acting against our conscience, against our truth, which is like going against the essence of spirit. We will feel something is not quite right. If one of the pistons in our car engine is out of sync with the others, the engine will sound slightly different from normal. We immediately have it fixed, because we know that if it continues it may destroy the engine. If we do something that is out of sync with the truth, the voice of our conscience speaks to us. But we tend to ignore or suppress it, especially if we are having a seemingly pleasurable experience - we then create the 'sanskars' or habit of ignoring our own conscience. As a result we keep repeating the negative 'karma' and the 'sanskars' of the negative 'karma' are deepened, further ignoring the voice of our conscience. It is a vicious cycle, to come out of which is extremely difficult.
(To be continued tomorrow …)
Message for the day
To experience newness each day is to be creative.
Expression: Sometimes we find things to be very monotonous. There seems to be nothing new that is happening. Days pass on and we tend to become action-conscious only trying to finish the tasks at hand. We feel caught up in the routine not able to enjoy anything anymore.
Experience: Instead of just doing what has to be done in a monotonous way, we need to take a thought each day to experience something new. There is such a variety in each day, we only have to discover ways of experiencing it. When we learn this creative art, we'll never be bored, but will be able to enjoy everything that comes our way.
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