In order to grow stronger mentally, as well as spiritually, we read books and listen to experienced spiritual teachers. However, most importantly, we need to learn about ourselves, our capabilities, limits, values, and hopes. After we know ourselves well, outside influences will not be able to sway us in the wrong direction, and we will feel capable of dealing with difficult situations.
As we start to explore a more spiritual way of life, we look for material that can guide us. The internet and bookstores can provide information on how to become more spiritual, and live a better life. We can read about the meaning of life, and ways of becoming more successful in all that we do. There are many techniques for achieving desirable goals such as happiness, success at work, and at home. Listening to lectures or reading about the life and work of an inspiring person are additional ways of learning.
However, no one can tell more about yourself than you. Without looking inside, and building strong foundations, you will find yourself like a leaf in the middle of a storm, having no control over the direction in which you are moving. This is why it is essential to know who is the REAL you. Spend twenty minutes a day meditating, looking inside without judging yourself, or finding excuses for this or that behavior. Just observe yourself objectively as an outsider would do. Since we copied and adapted much of our behaviors, people who observe themselves are able to trace specific behaviors to the time they were adapted. For example, a person will observe that he started talking in a certain way after seeing a movie ten years ago. Or that he is being fast to get angry, imitating a parent’s behavior. After such an observation, he might realize that in his REAL nature he is not an angry person.
We all have some characteristics, such as irascibility or argumentativeness which we adapted over the years. We don’t like them, but learned to live with them in coexistence. After doing something you don’t like, sit quietly and reflect on that event. Go back to the event and that which preceded it. Without judging, just observe what triggered your reaction, and what could you have done differently. This exercise is similar to pointing a flashlight at a dark corner of the room. With this exercise, by “pointing” awareness at a behavior you don’t like, you will peel away much of the old you.
Continuing with this exercise, and similar others, you will realize that everything you do and much of your thoughts are goods borrowed from someone else. Much of it served you well for a long time; but it’s time to re-examine, and discard of that, that is not serving you well anymore. It is a good idea to keep a log, writing down your observations. One note of caution: to truly learn about yourself, you need to do it without an ego, or judgment. Instead, have love, and compassion for yourself, as well as the ability to forgive.
Knowing yourself well is the key for establishing goals that fit the TRUE you. And with it, brings true happiness to your life; not only when you reach them, but throughout life, as you work to achieve those goals. Knowing yourself is also the key for building strong spiritual and mental foundation, allowing you to be strong and flexible like a leaf on a tree during a stormy weather.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
What Does G-D Want?
One Friday evening, as I was preparing for meditation, I decided to meditate on the question, What G-D is expecting of us? I started with visualization of bright light from the center of the universe entering my body through the crown chakra, going down through my spinal cord to the ground and back, filling and surrounding my with bright light. After I felt the presence of the love of the universe in me, I started to climb up to higher places, closer to the center of the universe. There I sat quietly, absorbing the unconditional love and unlimited good-hearted the universe is offering anyone who cares to accept it.
Feeling this pure presence of love, I asked the question, “What G-D expect of us?” Immediately, I saw myself standing in the middle of my classroom with students sit around me. I saw the light from the center of the universe entering my crown chakra, and through my heart chakra, spreading to the students. I was a tool through which the light and love of the universe could reach them. I don’t know what I was teaching, my words were not important. What made it possible for me to fulfill this role, was my willingness to spread light. I was a tool without an ego, knowing it was not about me, still feeling true happiness, knowing I was fulfilling my higher purpose in the Big Plan of the Universe.
But enough about me, the question was about the expectation from all people. So I asked it again, and saw another picture; a picture of a lawyer standing in a courtroom, speaking and defending truth and justice. This lawyer, like all of us, had a choice to make, and by choosing truth, he became a channel for the light of the universe to spread on earth. And by doing so, he too fulfilled his highest purpose in life. The energy of light and love also expresses itself through truth and justice. The message was that every man and every woman can make the choice of becoming a tool, a channel for the light of the universe to enter and touch others around them. It is true at work, no meter what you are doing, and it is true at home with family and friends.
You can choose to become a channel for the light by having thoughts of light. Expend your awareness and transform your thoughts, so you will be able to transmit more and more light. Be kind, loving, and compassionate to people and situations around you. Practice being patient with people. Love is the strongest energy in the universe, but it never forces itself on others; it’s only offering itself to those willing to accept it.
You can ask, “What if I choose not to become a channel for the light?” Imagine a sun ray with freewill. It carries the sun’s energy to the earth, but half way through, it decides that it doesn’t want to do it anymore, and stops. Where light doesn’t reach, darkness exists. The ray didn’t create darkness, but in its absent, there is no light for plants or people to grow. Darkness, negative energies, do not exist on their own, they can exist only in the absent of light. So when we choose not to be a channel transforming light, we allow darkness to manifest itself.
Like the sun’s ray, you transport the light, but are not responsible for how people choose to use it. The light from the sun creates the right conditions for life to exist. The ray of light touches the leaf, but there its responsibility ends. The plant will grow to fulfill its potential on its own. The same is true for you. You transform light to your surroundings. However, people will do with this energy what the will. You cannot force people to accept it; this is their choice. People have freewill and lessons they need to go through; with love and compassion, let them learn.
In this meditation, I was shown a great truth about the purpose of life – now you know it too.
Feeling this pure presence of love, I asked the question, “What G-D expect of us?” Immediately, I saw myself standing in the middle of my classroom with students sit around me. I saw the light from the center of the universe entering my crown chakra, and through my heart chakra, spreading to the students. I was a tool through which the light and love of the universe could reach them. I don’t know what I was teaching, my words were not important. What made it possible for me to fulfill this role, was my willingness to spread light. I was a tool without an ego, knowing it was not about me, still feeling true happiness, knowing I was fulfilling my higher purpose in the Big Plan of the Universe.
But enough about me, the question was about the expectation from all people. So I asked it again, and saw another picture; a picture of a lawyer standing in a courtroom, speaking and defending truth and justice. This lawyer, like all of us, had a choice to make, and by choosing truth, he became a channel for the light of the universe to spread on earth. And by doing so, he too fulfilled his highest purpose in life. The energy of light and love also expresses itself through truth and justice. The message was that every man and every woman can make the choice of becoming a tool, a channel for the light of the universe to enter and touch others around them. It is true at work, no meter what you are doing, and it is true at home with family and friends.
You can choose to become a channel for the light by having thoughts of light. Expend your awareness and transform your thoughts, so you will be able to transmit more and more light. Be kind, loving, and compassionate to people and situations around you. Practice being patient with people. Love is the strongest energy in the universe, but it never forces itself on others; it’s only offering itself to those willing to accept it.
You can ask, “What if I choose not to become a channel for the light?” Imagine a sun ray with freewill. It carries the sun’s energy to the earth, but half way through, it decides that it doesn’t want to do it anymore, and stops. Where light doesn’t reach, darkness exists. The ray didn’t create darkness, but in its absent, there is no light for plants or people to grow. Darkness, negative energies, do not exist on their own, they can exist only in the absent of light. So when we choose not to be a channel transforming light, we allow darkness to manifest itself.
Like the sun’s ray, you transport the light, but are not responsible for how people choose to use it. The light from the sun creates the right conditions for life to exist. The ray of light touches the leaf, but there its responsibility ends. The plant will grow to fulfill its potential on its own. The same is true for you. You transform light to your surroundings. However, people will do with this energy what the will. You cannot force people to accept it; this is their choice. People have freewill and lessons they need to go through; with love and compassion, let them learn.
In this meditation, I was shown a great truth about the purpose of life – now you know it too.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
WHEN A LESSON IS A PAINFUL ONE
Since everything in life is a lesson, one of our most important responsibilities to ourselves is to be aware of the things that happen to us, and the ways in which we respond. However, when a lesson is a painful one, we tend to get frustrated or angry with the messenger, thus missing the message the Universe sent us.
We act, hope and pray that lessons will come in positive and joyful ways. Being conscious and loving allows us to learn many lessons quickly and joyfully. In this way, we improve our lives. We stop hurting ourselves and others, become more patient, loving and forgiving, and start to see life’s blessing. We stop fighting with our parents, siblings, or others close to us. It’s not always easy to take the high road, but the feeling of doing the right thing for our soul, brings with it a sense of purpose and happiness.
Inevitably, there will be some unpleasant lessons. When that happens, usually our first reaction is to find someone to blame for our “misfortune.” If we feel that someone wronged us, we get upset with that person, and at times even look for a payback. We become so preoccupied with how it happened, and who to blame that we forget there is a higher purpose for everything in life. At this point, we should attempt to see the higher purpose of this experience. Remember, for example, that the pain you feel after a friend hurts you is a manifestation of a lesson which comes from a much higher place than the one your friend is in right now. You should not condone hurtful behavior, but remember; everything that happens to you, brings with it an opportunity for the soul to evolve. Realizing that this friend was only a tool for a lesson that came with much love, will help direct your energy and response in the right direction.
Understanding that the lesson you are experiencing was given by the Universe with the outmost love, you learn to respond with love. This does not mean hugging those who hurt you, but checking with your higher self for the proper response. This will help your soul learn, evolve and grow closer to the Source of all things, to God. Even if you decide to leave a relationship, wish no harm to the parson you leave. Think about those times when you were capable of hurting others, and take joy in your new ability to consider forgiveness as a way of responding. Know that if this person knew better, he or she would never hurt you, nor themselves. Have compassion, since that person is not yet in a place of love and light. Have patience knowing that the love of the Universe is working with him too. Finally, after looking inside, and seeing the love that is within you, use the goodness of your heart, and find the right way to respond to a painful lesson. Doing so fulfills your higher purpose, allowing your soul to evolve.
We act, hope and pray that lessons will come in positive and joyful ways. Being conscious and loving allows us to learn many lessons quickly and joyfully. In this way, we improve our lives. We stop hurting ourselves and others, become more patient, loving and forgiving, and start to see life’s blessing. We stop fighting with our parents, siblings, or others close to us. It’s not always easy to take the high road, but the feeling of doing the right thing for our soul, brings with it a sense of purpose and happiness.
Inevitably, there will be some unpleasant lessons. When that happens, usually our first reaction is to find someone to blame for our “misfortune.” If we feel that someone wronged us, we get upset with that person, and at times even look for a payback. We become so preoccupied with how it happened, and who to blame that we forget there is a higher purpose for everything in life. At this point, we should attempt to see the higher purpose of this experience. Remember, for example, that the pain you feel after a friend hurts you is a manifestation of a lesson which comes from a much higher place than the one your friend is in right now. You should not condone hurtful behavior, but remember; everything that happens to you, brings with it an opportunity for the soul to evolve. Realizing that this friend was only a tool for a lesson that came with much love, will help direct your energy and response in the right direction.
Understanding that the lesson you are experiencing was given by the Universe with the outmost love, you learn to respond with love. This does not mean hugging those who hurt you, but checking with your higher self for the proper response. This will help your soul learn, evolve and grow closer to the Source of all things, to God. Even if you decide to leave a relationship, wish no harm to the parson you leave. Think about those times when you were capable of hurting others, and take joy in your new ability to consider forgiveness as a way of responding. Know that if this person knew better, he or she would never hurt you, nor themselves. Have compassion, since that person is not yet in a place of love and light. Have patience knowing that the love of the Universe is working with him too. Finally, after looking inside, and seeing the love that is within you, use the goodness of your heart, and find the right way to respond to a painful lesson. Doing so fulfills your higher purpose, allowing your soul to evolve.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Starting a New Journey
Turning your life around can be exciting and joyful. New ideas will appear, and you will try new ways of acting, talking and thinking. Nevertheless, old ideas and friends which don’t fit anymore might create confusion and doubts. Be patient - start by learning the rules of your new path.
Being spiritual brings with it exciting times. Start by looking at life in a positive light. See the blessing you have in your life, and imagine those which are awaiting you. Because your thoughts attract energy, just by focusing on the positive, you will bring new and positive things into your life. In the same manner, a person looking at the glass as half empty, manifests for himself less than what his potential allows. Some changes happen quickly, others take longer to materialized, so don’t give up when not all of your problems are solved immediatly. On the contrary; develop endurance, compassion, and positive attitude; those are the weapons of choice for spiritual people.
Internalize the first essential truth you need; if you want to change a situation around you, you have to change first. For example, if you always argue with someone, and don’t know why it happens, then the next time you get into an argument, think about what you could have done to prevent it. You will see that in a short time the arguments will stop. This awareness of the things you do and say will help change many things without confrontations, or the need for others to change first. Often, the changes in you will cause others to change the way they interact with you, so as to match your new energy.
Life is a long series of lessons, so be forgiving with yourself as you examine your behavior and habits up to this point. Some of your old habits are good and worth keeping, even expending. Focus on them more, and naturally you will have less time and will to spend on habits you don’t like. Many of those habits you don’t like will vanish without any effort on your part. This will make the transition where by new thoughts and people enter your life a smooth one, while old, less developed thoughts, and relationships, which don’t fit anymore, will wither. Thank those thoughts and relationships exiting your life, for they protected you, and helped you become who you are.
Finally, develop the habit of working for something, not against something, and you will be a happier person. Working against things which are wrong in your life is like rowing against the current. By paying attention to that, which is positive in your life, you attract more of the same to yourself. By amplifying things such as positive attitude, patience, forgiveness, and love of yourself and others, you create a new reality for yourself. After all, you dwell where your thoughts are.
Being spiritual brings with it exciting times. Start by looking at life in a positive light. See the blessing you have in your life, and imagine those which are awaiting you. Because your thoughts attract energy, just by focusing on the positive, you will bring new and positive things into your life. In the same manner, a person looking at the glass as half empty, manifests for himself less than what his potential allows. Some changes happen quickly, others take longer to materialized, so don’t give up when not all of your problems are solved immediatly. On the contrary; develop endurance, compassion, and positive attitude; those are the weapons of choice for spiritual people.
Internalize the first essential truth you need; if you want to change a situation around you, you have to change first. For example, if you always argue with someone, and don’t know why it happens, then the next time you get into an argument, think about what you could have done to prevent it. You will see that in a short time the arguments will stop. This awareness of the things you do and say will help change many things without confrontations, or the need for others to change first. Often, the changes in you will cause others to change the way they interact with you, so as to match your new energy.
Life is a long series of lessons, so be forgiving with yourself as you examine your behavior and habits up to this point. Some of your old habits are good and worth keeping, even expending. Focus on them more, and naturally you will have less time and will to spend on habits you don’t like. Many of those habits you don’t like will vanish without any effort on your part. This will make the transition where by new thoughts and people enter your life a smooth one, while old, less developed thoughts, and relationships, which don’t fit anymore, will wither. Thank those thoughts and relationships exiting your life, for they protected you, and helped you become who you are.
Finally, develop the habit of working for something, not against something, and you will be a happier person. Working against things which are wrong in your life is like rowing against the current. By paying attention to that, which is positive in your life, you attract more of the same to yourself. By amplifying things such as positive attitude, patience, forgiveness, and love of yourself and others, you create a new reality for yourself. After all, you dwell where your thoughts are.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Why We Are Not Happy?
Young people want to be happy, but once they are not, they believe something is wrong with them. We are told that in order to find happiness, we need have a lot of money, buy the newest products, drink, and party. This false notion led millions of people to unhappiness. The truth is that in order to find happiness, we need to look inside.
Everywhere we look, we see happy, good looking young people smile at us from billboards and TV commercials. They ask us to wear what they wear, use the electronics they use, and buy what they drink or eat. They promise that if we do, we too will feel and look happy as they look. And overtime, we start believing we must look and behave like them to be happy. We shop, party, have sex early, consume alcohol, legal and illegal drugs, and still can’t find long lasting happiness. And, eventually, when this life style fails us (which it always does,) we feel alone and at lost, having no clear direction or purpose. We become restless and “edgy,” and, at times, depressed.
The good news is that nothing is wrong with us; we just have being misdirected, looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. It is important to be happy in life, but happiness is not life’s purpose. Allowing our higher self to evolve is! Find a worthy purpose for life, follow this road and it will bring you many moments of satisfaction. Once starting your spiritual journey back home, your higher self will feel calm and composed. You will feel that the worst is behind you, and from here on things will get better. There are still many bumps on the road ahead, but you know things will be okay at the end.
Stop chasing happiness; it has existed inside of you all along. You can only get temporary “high” from things such as drugs and alcohol because they are substitutes for satisfaction and happiness which come from within. When you connect to a higher truth, find a purpose, and start helping yourself, as well as others, you will experience many satisfying moments. Those moments will touch you profoundly and bring happiness to your life. You will become happy because you will know you are on the right track, doing the right things, not because you drank or partied last night. It’s a very different life style, one that leads to true fulfillment.
Money will not bring you lasting happiness either, so don’t wait for it to start your spiritual journey. On the other hand, you don’t have to give up money to become spiritual because the two don’t contradict each other. Rich but spiritually empty people are not happier than poor and spiritually empty people. However, the soul of a poor man who never traveled, but likes to help others, will reach higher than the soul of a rich man who saw the all world but wasn’t charitable. Don’t even wait until you know what is it you want to do in life. Connecting with your higher self will help set your priorities based on what is right for you, not the expectations around you. Adapting to a spiritual and meaningful life style, will not always be easy, but connecting with your soul and letting it evolve will allow you to fulfill life’s purpose.
Everywhere we look, we see happy, good looking young people smile at us from billboards and TV commercials. They ask us to wear what they wear, use the electronics they use, and buy what they drink or eat. They promise that if we do, we too will feel and look happy as they look. And overtime, we start believing we must look and behave like them to be happy. We shop, party, have sex early, consume alcohol, legal and illegal drugs, and still can’t find long lasting happiness. And, eventually, when this life style fails us (which it always does,) we feel alone and at lost, having no clear direction or purpose. We become restless and “edgy,” and, at times, depressed.
The good news is that nothing is wrong with us; we just have being misdirected, looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. It is important to be happy in life, but happiness is not life’s purpose. Allowing our higher self to evolve is! Find a worthy purpose for life, follow this road and it will bring you many moments of satisfaction. Once starting your spiritual journey back home, your higher self will feel calm and composed. You will feel that the worst is behind you, and from here on things will get better. There are still many bumps on the road ahead, but you know things will be okay at the end.
Stop chasing happiness; it has existed inside of you all along. You can only get temporary “high” from things such as drugs and alcohol because they are substitutes for satisfaction and happiness which come from within. When you connect to a higher truth, find a purpose, and start helping yourself, as well as others, you will experience many satisfying moments. Those moments will touch you profoundly and bring happiness to your life. You will become happy because you will know you are on the right track, doing the right things, not because you drank or partied last night. It’s a very different life style, one that leads to true fulfillment.
Money will not bring you lasting happiness either, so don’t wait for it to start your spiritual journey. On the other hand, you don’t have to give up money to become spiritual because the two don’t contradict each other. Rich but spiritually empty people are not happier than poor and spiritually empty people. However, the soul of a poor man who never traveled, but likes to help others, will reach higher than the soul of a rich man who saw the all world but wasn’t charitable. Don’t even wait until you know what is it you want to do in life. Connecting with your higher self will help set your priorities based on what is right for you, not the expectations around you. Adapting to a spiritual and meaningful life style, will not always be easy, but connecting with your soul and letting it evolve will allow you to fulfill life’s purpose.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
