How do positive thoughts help?

It is very difficult to stay positive when things are going all wrong in our life.  When we are suffering,  how can we be positive and why should we be?  Does it help to in any way if we stay positive?

YES, it does help to stay positive during adversity.  And in atleast  three ways:

It helps us come out of state of feeling like a ‘victim’ thus reinstating our self esteem.  We don’t feel guilty. We don’t blame self or anyone for the problem.

Our new positive perspective sets Law of Attraction in motion.  We are open to positive help from unexpected sources of the Universe.

And obviously it saves us from going into depression and other interactional conflicts.

What do we mean by being positive –  It is that state of mind in which we are stable, calm and peaceful.  The mind is silent, in a state of relaxation  and not asking questions(like How could or Why did it happen to me).  A relaxed mind will automatically come out with possible alternatives to issue at hand.

How to stay positive –  If there is no solution to the issue like in event of death then By accepting the situation as it happened and adopting  the  right attitude to face the consequences of the same and adopt ourselves to the changed circumstances comfortably.  

In other cases, positivity signals our mind to start looking for any other possible alternative solution.  Thus we are be open to new opportunities and ready to face new challenges.  We do not give up if things did not work out one way.  

A positive person will look at a ‘dead end’ as a ‘turn’ to reach success via a new untested different route.

Remember WHAT WE RESIST, PERSISTS.  So we better stop resisting and be ready to do something to stabilise our inner turmoil.  When internally we are peaceful, our outward actions are always fruitful.

Possible Positive Inputs -  Spiritual knowledge helps immensely in finding a new positive outlook to face the situation as it is.  We can’t find answers to our emotional turmoil in academic books. Had it been there, we would not be disturbed. Few positive thoughts are as under:

I am responsible for my own happiness.  I cannot blame anyone else for my disturbance.  I will correct it with my own will power (by remaining positive against all odds).  Things will work out fine for me.

Whatever is happening is in perfect order and therefore just right in grand drama of the Universe.

All is subject to law of change every second and thus temporary.   Therefore circumstances will ultimately change in my favour. I will not give up.

Going may be tough as of now but there is always end to a long cold night.  Sun has to shine after the stormy days.

I am a special child of God and chosen specifically to come out stronger out of this crisis.  I am a powerful soul who chose this particular tough lesson to learn something out of it.

If some known sources are out to spoil things for you, BELIEVE that there are some unseen sources too out there working things out for you.  Have faith and patience.  Trust Universe and believe in miracles.

Count your remaining other blessings.  Natural blessings like air, water, ether etc are always around for free…to help you overcome hardships. 

When others leave us, we are never left alone.  Universal saviours, our Guardians and Angels surround us and support us invisibly.  Have you noticed feeling calm amidst the toughest time? Know that you are not alone.  Know that you are a powerful soul and you can do any thing.

Sometimes logic fails to define cause of failure.  Never mind.  Forget logic become reasonable and accept outcome without despair.  Results are never same for similar efforts.  Some gain more while some lose all under same circumstances. 

Taking responsibility does not mean finding fault in self. I means I tried earlier, I will try again too.

God helps those who help themselves and also sometimes seek help from the Universe with firm faith.

PS:  In some situations doing ‘nothing’ is also one important solution.  Under no circumstances, accepting a given tough situation can be considered as a failure by an optimist.  A loser thinks on those lines and gives up.  A winner will always accept the setback and make efforts to overcome it and find a new way out.

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani

Noida

Why do we get negative thoughts during meditation????

Negative thoughts during meditation is  like stirring up still and settled sand at the bottom of a jar.

When we are not meditating our conscious mind is active  that Holds memory required for our day to day activities.  Conscious mind stores a very small percent of our total memory. Major part of our memories, thoughts and desires etc are all stored in our subconscious mind. When we are awake our subconscious mind sleeps.

But when we sit down to meditate, conscious mind slows down.  We have only 3 to 4 thoughts per minute in this area.  We are in Alpha or Theta state of brain activity. Now our sub conscious mind  starts to awaken..  The stirring begins.

First thing that comes up is the sand at the bottom of glass that looked like containing clean water from above. The water now becomes muddy n dirty.

Our trash, negative and wasteful thoughts emerge from bottom of our subconscious mind.  Our mind is full of such thoughts.  As they come up and you label them as waste, they begin to fade away.   Beginners of meditation need to understand that this is essential and part of meditation process.

As we continue to make regular efforts to meditate,  These useless thoughts start to vanish.   These are replaced by thoughts of clarity.  The peace and calm starts to set in.  We can now connect to Universal consciousness too.

The  water is now free of sand and crystal clear.

Vandana  Ritik

Noida 

Do we come with a blue print of our life

Yes I too believe that major part of our life is scripted though our emotions and feelings are not part of that.  Our reactions are part of our free will.  We make an intelligent plan before coming but the moment we enter earth that memory fades and during  that period between birth and death we experience the drama of life.  We get involved in our roles so deeply.  

All saints and wise here say that we have to be Knower and observer only and not to get emotionally involved in various scenes of life.   But for many it becomes very difficult especially when hit by tragedies.   Some come out of it and reinvest in life While for some remaining life becomes a burden especially if we are very sensitive. I think, Being overly sensitive is a big obstacle in our development.  Only through being vigilant and with strong will power we can come out of our emotional mess. 

 AND knowledge is the key.  Knowledge of how things work solves the puzzle called life. Here,   It is said we can understand this knowledge and find a way out  only in human body and that most of us waste it when we get entangled in pain and pleasures of this world which is temporary.

  Nothing is permanent here. All is subject to Law of Change.  Only the knower and observer within is eternal.  If only we could remain centered on this 'I' within me that is watching this show of world. But we are so lost in show itself we forget who is watching.

Vandana Ritik
Noida
17 Mar 2015 

Concept of External, is Internal

I am the SUBJECT that we refer to as 'I'.   I am not my body.  I am ALL THAT IS.  As a human, we are meant to probe within and unearth this Subject, the Source, that is seeing, perceiving and experiencing the whole Object world. 

There is no external object because the perception of all so called objects is internal.  These external world 'objects' are experiences of the Subject, within.

The idea of internal and external is made by our mind/awareness/consciousness.  This distinction is made by our mind with the help of 'I'.

Through out life this Subject within interacts with outside objects of this world.  We look at these objects with our eyes.  An images of these outside objects falls on our eye lens, mind understands and interpretes these images.  None of these objects enter in our body in any gross form.  Does it? 

Sun does not enter our body. Eyes see it, mind reads it image and our knowledge gives us information about sun.   Thus this was all an internal, subtle experience.

A.  All images are multiple but Mind is One;
B.  All reflections in mind are same as mind, since both are subtle ( we cannot see or touch either the reflection or the mind.  Both can be experienced only);
C.  All is inner experience.  These experiences / impressions add on to our knowledge.

Throughout our life, we are experiencing and gaining knowledge (memory / impressions) that is also experience.  Thus experience adds on.  All is inner experience. Perception of everything external is internal.  At our own will.  When we are sleeping. Only before wakeful person,  the world is seen, not to sleeping or dead. 

Therefore, we have to dissolve this differential assessment and have clarity.  This duality was due to senses which created multiple impressions on One Mind.  Mind is subtle and so are these images.  We see a red carpet in mirror.  Mirror does not change itself into red, does it?  Mirror stays as it is.  Mind is much more than a mirror.  

Like a mirror, many images falling on mind screen give an impression of manifold ness, multiple objects all around us.  

We have to correct / nullify/dissolve these reflections in 'waters' of mind.

We have to understand that Any reflection( that is subtle) is not different from mind(in which it is reflected). Correct the understanding(of ignorance) that world has many objects. And reach Inner Supreme Source/ presence, through process of understanding after taking this knowledge pilgrimage, which is superior to any physical pilgrimage.

The entire awareness/cognition in mind of external objects is internal.  There is no external world.

THIS WHOLE UNIVERSE IS MANIFESTATION OF SAME REALITY.


Based on Discourses of Swami  Bhoomananda Tirtha

Process of Divine Apology

अज्ञान दशा में बहुत सी लोहे की बेडि़याँ पड़ जाती हैं! मन क्या कहता है कि मुझे समाधान करावो। ‘व्यवस्थित’ है, ऐसा कह दें तो मन को समाधान हो जाता है। और सामनेवाले के लिए खराब विचार आया इसलिए मन को शुद्ध करो, सामनेवाले से क्षमा माँग लो।  (Aptasutra # 1595)

In the ignorant (absence of self-realization) state, many ‘shackles of iron’ are bound. The mind asks for closure.  If you tell the mind ‘it is vyavasthit [scientific circumstantial  evidence]’, the mind will be pacified. And if you have a negative thought about someone, cleanse the mind by asking the other person for forgiveness. (Aptasutra # 1595)

To read more Daily ‪#‎quotes‬ visit LINK :
http://www.dadabhagwan.org/spiritual-media/spiritual-quotes/english/gnani+purush/

We definitely bind karma when we are cause of hurt to someone.   Knowing this, I don't want to be cause of hurt to anyone. 

Therefore, in morning itself before I start my day, I set intention of not hurting or causing hurt or participate in any hurtful gossip towards any being, living or dead, in any way. Earlier I used to apologize to Supreme Power but off late, in my mind, in presence of Supreme Light, I apologise soul to soul to the person, to whom I might have caused hurt in any way, i.e., either through my Speech, action or even thoughts. I also seek strength so as not to repeat the mistake again. 

PS: I don't seek pardon face to face simply because I feel that the person might become offensive and also may be I am still conscious about maintaining my self respect. However, I have noticed positive change in attitude of people I have mentally apologised to....even my 'enemies' have come and hugged me on their own after I have sent them mental apologies.

As per Dada Bhagwan Foundation, we bind karma in state of ignorance, as a mistake.  This happens because we think of ourselves as our 'name' and 'body'.  We forget that we are pure soul, separate from body.  We are only knowers and seers.  We are not running the show of the world.  All our body functions are taking place on their own.  Similarly air, water, sun, earth and space are also not in our control.  Mistakenly we think we are "our name and our role only and nothing else'.   In this state when we cause hurt to someone whether knowingly or unknowingly, it binds karma.  However, if we recall that we are pure soul and then recognise/accept our mistake, repent for it and promise never to repeat it again, it sets us free from this bondage.

Pratikraman (Divine apology) - The Dada Bhagwan Foundation teaches 3 steps process for seeking soul to soul Divine Apology, from the person who has been offended, in presence of Supreme Divine Self (Dada Bhagwan) wherein one does"

Alochana : Heartfelt inner confession of one's mistakes
                 I Confess my mistakes (recall the mistakes you committed with this person);

Pratikraman: Process of apology coupled with remorse for any wrong doing
                 I apologise and ask for forgiveness for these mistakes;  

Pratyakhyam: Sincere Pledge to never repeat the mistakes
                 I firmly resolve never to repeat these mistakes.  Dearest Dada Bhagwan (the pure Self within), grant me the absolute energy not to repeat these mistakes.

Wise have told us to stay in the state of 'awareness'.  Just 'witness' and 'know' what Vandana (substitute it with your name) is doing.  Because 'I' am the 'witness', the 'Knower' wearing the body garment named as Vandana. 

Swami Bhoomanada Tirtha says that  When I sleep the world sleeps for me ( in actual,  world is always there even when I am sleeping) but the 'I' in me that recognises the world has chosen to shut it off during sleep.  After some time, the 'I' in me decides to wake up and again see the world.  We are mistaken when we think that we wake up with the sound of alarm in the morning.  No. No. No.  There is some divine supreme presence within us that chose to wake up at the sound of alarm.  Therefore this 'I' is very powerful.  It sees changes in its body garment from infant to old age.  Caught up in the external worldly drama around, the 'I' forgets its true state (of being pure, powerful, divine SELF).  It mistakenly thinks of itself as Vandana (the body name) whereas it is INFINITE.

When we seek divine apology, we see this soul state in ourselves as well as in the other beings.  Like Shirdi Saibaba advised 'Remove this wall of division between You and ME. We are one and the same'.  In ignorance we think we are separate and end up hurting each other.  However, when light of the true Knowledge falls on us, the veil of ignorance is lifted and the so called 'enemy' appears 'flawless'.  There are many things happening behind the scenes which we need to understand.  And this understanding comes from within.  When we stop, become still and focus on that presence which animates our body.  When we centre on it for sometime, all confusion ends and we get answers and solutions to all our problems.  All is crystal clear.

This clarity requires grace of supreme Self.  This grace will not come to us, if we hold grudges and resentment against fellow beings (because this means we consider others as separate from us).  The process of 'Pratikraman'(divine apology) as described above makes it possible.  We need to seek apologies for hurting someone and also for hurt caused to us by others.  Easiest part is that we need not go and apologise to the person directly.  We may perform this 'service to self' in our own inner 'temple'.

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani
Noida

Who is running show of the world?

I get it. I recently read many books by Dada Bhagwan Foundation, a spiritual group in India (that doesnot promote any particular religion)  says that no individual God is running this world. Every worldly phase is a natural happening governed by Vyavasthit (Scientific Circumstantial Evidences) which requires many elements to come together for an event to take place.  There is no God overhead as the Do-er of it.

A human being is also one of the element. For example, it is wrong to say ‘I’ made tea. Tea could be made when all elements like water, tea leaves, milk, sugar, fire etc were present. I became an instrument to make it. Left only to me,  I cannot make tea on, say, ... a road side because all evidences are not present. He calls these evidences scientific because even if one evidence is missing event will not take place. Thats why he says when an accident takes place, it requires many many evidences to be present at that particular place and time otherwise there will be no accident. I found this quite acceptable.

Now if we combine this with Laws of Karma, it explains so many things.  Like how a particular person swapped the seat and did not go on that ill fated Malaysian Airline that was shot down recently or why the one he swapped the seat with went on that flight.  Evidences were coming together to make this thing happen in a precise manner.  That doesnot mean that this law will let the offenders of crash go scot free.  Even if they escape justice on earth in this lifetime, the scientic circumstances will bring them to justice in one of the next lifetimes.  That time they will not know the reason and would probably crib as to why this happened to innocent.  The karmic repayment is not exact like eye for an eye.  But the feelings and emotions of suffering that is caused due to accidents will be felt by them.

World often confuses Karma.  When it sees someone being slapped, killed, promoted, demoted, successful, sent to prison, it says this is karma, whereas this is not karma.  This is result of karma.  Karma was already formed earlier and this is result of that.  Karma is formed internally through our bhav(intentions),  our inner communication with ourselves.  Universe records it all and through scientific circumstantial evidences arranges for the result and sends it back to us at appropriate time.  It doesnot necessarily come from same person but the result is the same that we caused to someone else earlier, whether knowingly or unknowingly. When it is said that we are creating our reality and that we are responsible for whatever is happening in our life it means that a man is responsible for his bhaav (innert intention) behind any action of body, mind and speech. This is what human freewill is. While tasting the fruit of past karma(intentions), how a man reacts(creates new or no karma) determines his future.  You reap what you sow.

Our hand gets burned, whether we put our hand in fire knowingly or unknowingly.  A willful act involves strict and precise return whereas unintentional action brings returns too in such a manner that person calls it exceptional.  When we hold anger, greed, resentment, pride, hatred, attachment inside for some person, place or a thing, it definitely attracts returns.  Intense feelings create ‘sticky karma’ for which there is no escape in form of close negative lifetime relationships etc.  When we get such returns in next lifetime we are left wondering why things are happening that way since we did not do anything wrong.  None remembers the deeds of the past.

When we hold strong resentment for someone, it follows us into lifetimes till we learn to love that person.  Act of forgiveness is a sure ticket to freedom from negative bondage. This is the reason why saints and wise have advised us to stay calm in all situations, maintain equanimity and forgive all.

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani

Noida

Why are we different from each other?

You explain one thing to ten people but  on inquiry you realise that some of them got it exactly your way while some got it half and a few got opposite or nothing at all. 

This happens because of the difference in the levels of intellect in each individual.  Intellect may be defined as our capacity to understand, assimilate and, if required, use knowledge at the appropriate time.  Our academic learning polishes and refines our intellect but it is certainly not the source of intellect.  We are born with our intellect.  But then, What is the source of our intellect?

As per Brahmakumaris,( the Indian Spiritual Organisation) intellect or intelligence is one of the three faculties of the Soul – the life force - running our body vehicle.  The other two faculties are Mind and Samskars (Impressions) left on our soul by all our experiences.  For example,  when a child puts finger in hot water, it leaves an impression of hot water causing burn so the child will avoid touching hot things in later life.  This is a small impression.  Can you imagine bigger and almost permanent impressions left by our intense Love or abhorrence of any person, place or a thing.  It becomes a strong impression and carries forward life after life till we correct it ourselves.

Now the body garment may change but the soul remains the same and with every birth brings with it the sum total of all the impressions carried forward from previous lifetimes.  You see a child of three years dancing like an expert.  This is very strong impression of one of the earlier lifetimes.  In each lifetime, the soul adds on more impressions and reaches different levels of its own growth. Of course human being cannot remember simply because remembering will cause so much confusion and problems.

In each lifetime, we start from where we left in previous life.   This explains the spiritual reason behind different levels of brain power in each person.

Our souls are on different levels of growth irrespective of age of our body. One person understands even a complicated logic while the other cannot understand even the simple logic, irrespective of body age.  This happens because they are on different levels of soul development and therefore you cannot expect a student of class II to understand books of class V.  The intellect level too works on these lines. 

Therefore, Common sense cannot be on exact level for all. It too differs.

In The Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna advised that each individual has to act righteously i.e., act as per his/her own commonsense, choose the best option (as per their intellect) and leave the results in the hands of Lord (the source that is running show of the world). We are not to judge. People get results as per their own efforts. Doing something is in our hands but how it is going to turn out is in hands of All That Is that knows all your past present and future and gives results accordingly.

Once we understand how we have reached our present state, we realize that we cannot do much about our past but with this knowledge we can now choose to create a better future. 

As per Dada Bhagwan, all visible actions are result of your impressions brought forward from previous lives.  Therefore understand that the real work is undergoing internally.  Now we can use this information, think positively, on purpose, and create positive impressions.  More intensely we pursue this, much better the results would be. 

This is the reasons we have to realize how powerful our own thoughts are.  Till now we  let these thoughts flow, uninterrupted, on their own.  But hence forth we exercise our freewill and choose (deliberately) to check and correct our thoughts.  Feel and think positive about everything. 

This is called living in total awareness.  This is path of Self Realisation i.e.,  Knowing myself,  my true nature.  When we know who we are, we experience our oneness with our SOURCE.

We realise that there is no outside source running our life, we ourselves have created this life and invited our so called family and friends into it and vice versa.  Source is same.  In actual we are responsible. Our internal actions are controlling our results.

This is spiritual law.  Understand it properly and utilize it effectively.   It will never fail you.

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani

Noida

The Science of Karma

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The book 'Science of Karma, ' published by Dada Bhagwan Foundation, states that in the Cause & Effect Cycle, the Effect is result of Cause set by us in motion.  Therefore whatever happens in our life is our own individual responsibility.  This Cause or Seed is our inner intention behind any Action. Action is visible but intention behind that action is not. It is this intention which brings out results. 

This intention is in our hands, our free will. This intention creates our destiny. For example two persons may be giving 100 dollars in charity - one with the intention of getting good publicity/ praise while other person may be giving the same amount but intention is just to help quietly and move on. For same actions our intentions could be different. Therefore results too would be different.  The first one will get mention is some newspaper while the other will be helped when he needs it ( not necessarily by the same person he helped).  But effect will always be there.

One person may take bribe and feel good about it however, the other person is taking bribe but internally repenting about not being able to correct himself. The first one will have to pay back in future because he is sowing seeds for negative result  while the other person is setting up a good intention which will ultimately make him a better human one day.  If these two reincarnate, in the next lifetime, the first one will have to pay back in someway for taking money where not required.  He will pay and feel cheated (he caused this suffering to other and had rejoiced) while the other person will not be accepting any undue payment(he had set an intention of not taking bribe).  This all is happening internally but world will say for the first 'poor fellow had to pay unnecessarily even when it was not required' for the second person response would be 'this man won't take what doesnot belong to him'.   

Have you not wondered when you see, a good man is suffering despite doing all good while a wicked man is successful and not getting caught.  This law explains behind the scene causes/reasons for this. However nature catches with wrong without fail.  So while good man  has an option to bear the effect by taking all his sufferings with internal knowledge of why it is happening. He may take all necessary action to stop his suffering which will stop the moment his account is settled.  But If he cribs and complaints, he will be caught in whirlpool of suffering.  Ancient Indian saints have therefore advised mankind to take all events in life with equanimity because of this reason.  

No body else is doing anything to you.  You are reaping result of your own actions.  Since you are ignorant about working of this law you feel cheated.  But once this law is clear you can check and control your inner working for a better future.

Effect of different intentions is different. This is where our free will comes in. 

Our intellect is supposed to be used, to discriminate between right and wrong and take necessary appropriate action. Because law of cause n effect takes note of it. None is controlling it. We ourselves are controlling it. In fact we are one of the controlling elements in entire scene. So many things are required for any event to take place. We are just one instrument who can make an important change. We have power to change our future. We are also part of this nature, made up of energy. We have advantage of intellectual faculty which other species like animals do not have. They understand love, are smart but their intelligence level is not as high as human. 

A human can think and control his thoughts and intentions. But off late we see many humans have stopped using their intellect and sense of discrimination.  They are going on sense less killing and other crimes. Their behaviour goes down to animal level. They could escape from courts of this world(because of their past accumulated good causes)  but natural laws ensure that they pay for their wrong doing either in this lifetime (if this accumulation is big) or in the next lifetime(then they will wonder what wrong did I do since they cannot remember what they did in previous lifetime). 

Payment is heavier if crime was done willfully and without remorse. Little less if it was not done willfully and happened accidentally. But payment is heavy for sure.. If you keep your hand on hot coals unknowingly does your hand not burn.  

As per this book, intense feelings of Anger, Hatred, Pride and Greed towards any person or thing will definitely bring a result in the next lifetime.  In current lifetime you are settling old scores with your present family, friends, neighbors, even strangers due to effects set by you  in motion in previous lifetimes.  No body meets you accidentally.  Everything around you is due to a reason.  Since you do not remember you remain ignorant.  Strong emotions form  'sticky karma' which you cannot escape even if you are in different body garment now. Look around for sticky karmic entanglements with your own family members.  You cannot escape them.  

These explanations had a bid impact on me.  This is a very deep science and cannot be explained properly in few lines. In all the above discussions my view is simple...no argument...no disputation with views of others .....I AM OK, YOU ARE OK.

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani

Noida

Methods to manage Emotions

Methods to manage emotions.  Difference between emotions and feelings.  How spirituality can help in management of emotions.  Kindly follow the link below to find the answer in a Study conducted for the purpose.

Emotional Control Methods & Strategies Used - My Research Project for Post Graduate Degree in Value Education & Spirituality, 2010-11

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani
Noida

Methods to Overcome Personal Crisis

A Strategic Spiritual Approach to overcome any kind of personal challenge, especially loss of a loved one.  You may follow the link below to my Dissertation submitted for award of degree in Master of Science (Value Education & Spirituality), 2011-12

Overcoming Personal Challenges through Spirituality - My Research Study for Degree in Master of Science (Value Education & Spirituality),

Vandana Ritik Mulchandani
Noida

Laws of Karma

Dada Bhagwan has explained the science behind the law of Karma which I found to be very simple and easy to understand. I am making an effort to revise the same here under.  When we use the word Science, it means it follows certain rules and regulations.  It is in our interest that we understand the rules of karma so that we are more cautious and can regulate ourselves for a better life ahead. This is how we create our destiny.  

Our ancient scriptures tell us that life becomes easy with renunciation. This renunciation is not renunciation of worldly possessions, relations or enjoyments but this renunciation is of EGO. The sense of My-ness which creates inner instability. Ego is that subtle ‘feeling’ that makes me think that ‘I’ (the physical body with a given name) is doing this. For instance, ‘I have done very well in life and am holding the top most position in my office’ or ‘I have always been cheated in life and my life is full of sorrow’. The moment we take credit or discredit for something in our life we are said to have created karma. This is because when we make these kind of statements internally we are feeling pride or low. These feelings have been majorly categorized into four – Desire, Anger, Greed, Attachment. During our worldly interactions these feelings are always behind our thoughts and statements and subsequent actions. This binds karma. Once bound, we have to pay back. Good for good, Bad for bad. Nature of law is such that both these have to be paid back separately. Its not a case of bad karmas cancelled against good karmas. Both are to be settled separately. 

If whole life you have been good than you have to come back(REBIRTH) to enjoy the fruits of these good deeds in next life time. While enjoying this fruit in form of a better life, if you do something bad, you again come back. Because as human being whatever we do, we do love to take credit for the same. It is always ‘I did this’, I did not do that, I settled their fight etc etc. The burden of this ‘I’ with the intention of taking credit is very heavy and it never leaves us life after life. And why is it so????? Because we are using ‘I’ where it doesnot belong. The trick is to use this ‘I’ and be aware simultaneously that here ‘I’ is not my name or my body but the real me i.e, the soul that is ruling my body. If this awareness is present than no karma is bound. In every lifetime, whether we want it or not, if we are not in awareness we bind karma – good as well as bad and then we come back to enjoy its fruit and while enjoying this fruit bind new karma and the cycle goes on. 

Saints have explained it very well that there is great difference between 'I' and 'My'. It is I – the soul which is the inner world whereas My means attachment with the external world including my body and sense organs and everything perceived and understood there of. For example we say, ‘my dress’ and not 'I, the dress", my pain not I the pain. Here dress and pain are different from I. Dress and pain are separate from my true self. It is the EGO, that experiences the pain or enjoys the pleasure of wearing a good dress on the body and soul is merely the witness. We have to be aware of this state of being a witness – look at the world around us from the soul’s point of view and not get entangled. Our body/Ego is the instrument (the nimit). The Planner and the Do-er is the Supreme Power(the 'I' within) - the life force that permeates each and every atom in the Universe -whether manifest or unmanifest. The moment we understand this difference, things become easy. 

Therefore always live in a state of awareness that I am a Soul with my beautiful innate qualities. However, I have taken this body garment to play out a role assigned to me by the Supreme Power(that is giving life and power to the soul) on the stage of earthly drama so that I pay off the karmas created by me in previous lives thinking of myself as Ego/body garment I was wearing in that life time. 

All the karmas are result of thoughts occurring inside our mind – those thoughts on which we lingered for longer duration and developed ‘aasakti’(attachment). Therefore it automatically follows that if I want to breakfree of this karma created cycle, I have to change internally and simply watch what is happening inside me and try changing feeling of 'attachment' to that of 'detachment'. Assimilation of knowledge in this way is the key to attaining liberation. Wise men say this is best we can do, understand this knowledge and than with its ‘light’ continuously contemplate on what we learnt. Try to observe own actions in day to day life from a position of detachment. 

Feel like God and watch what your ego( wrongly placed I-ness) is making you do. So are the actions of others we meet everyday. All are working at the wrong level of I-ness. Therefore, all are innocent because none knows what account they are creating. When an actor performs his part on the stage, he is supposed to play his role well and yet retain his original identity. He is not supposed to get emotionally involved with the role of the character he is playing. He won’t be able to have a normal personal life otherwise. Same with us, we cannot get attached to the other characters in the play. If we do, then our act is spoiled and we come back once again to perfect our act – with same souls who also made the similar mistake and need to pay back or with different souls who have similar karmas to settle. 

Souls of my scene have almost same vibrations as me and in my day to day life I meet so many such souls. With some I am given such a relation that I cannot get rid of it till I pay back my previous debt. Once that is done, either of us is removed from that scene by play of situations. We do have such ‘sticky’ relations in life with whom we do have large karma to settle. Some of these bring pleasure and some pain. All high level souls have given importance to act of forgiveness for this reason. And this makes perfect sense because if we remain attached to negative people around us, they will continue to appear in our subsequent lives. So forgive your offenders as an act of favour to your own self. Needless to say that forgiving SELF too is important.  

We all are various nimits (instruments) in grand scheme of the Universe - like different shaped and sized petals that make a flower complete and beautiful.

Vandana Ritik

Noida

Understanding Shirdi SaiBaba Philosophy

Where do you think God is? As a child I always thought that God was sitting high, up above, beyond clouds, watching over all my actions and would reward me accordingly. Next thought would be, does God have so much time for me? Am I so significant to HIM in HIS huge universe? I thought God was in places of worship. So I visited temples, offered flowers, sweets, donation and recited hymns and prayers that I had read in religious books to please HIM. I often wondered, God is creator of All that is, does HE need all these things which he created Himself? I never saw God taking anything that I offered. My senses were enjoying fragrance of incense sticks, my tongue was tasting the sweet, my ears were listening to religious hymns. It was ‘I’ doing and enjoying everything and feeling satisfied while worshipping the God. But where was the God I was worshipping?

Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha has explained the logic behind idol worship so well.  According to him, the man believes that the idol/image placed in the centre of shrine is God so he bows before it in reverence and worships it. Does that mean all things other than idol/image/symbol is non-God. Is God so limited? Most of us have made God separate and so very distant from us. Obviously we have not properly introspected about the concept of God and what God stands for. ‘Darshan’(vision of idol/image) brings peace and joy to us. However, we should understand that it is not that image which gave peace and joy but it was our own mind which could generate and produce these qualities from within by looking at the idol. Thus the image/idol of God is a reminder, reflection of our own divinity. This can be explained in this manner. A man cannot see himself. So man made a mirror. When we look into the mirror we see our own reflection. When we comb our hair in front of a mirror, nothing is happening to the image inside the mirror. It is merely showing us our own action.

Thus whatever we do to our own self is reflected in the mirror. On its own, mirror is not doing anything. Same is the case with image/idols/symbols used to represent God. These are objects, which the Subject uses to connect to itself. This is initial stage of devotion. After sometime, even these images are not required to connect to the God. One can think of God and invoke the ‘bhav’(intention/ feeling/attitude) of deep fondness, love and reverence towards the all knowing Self. The mind which was confined to only I and my family learns to expand and look beyond.

Thus Mind expands and sees God in all. Everyone is extension of self. When we feel limited we do not feel God. When we connect to the God within, everything turns God. Its all the play of our own mind. Lord Krishna asked us to use our intellect and train our mind to expand beyond our limited physical body. Lord Buddha said I am not in the body, the body is in me.

It is said that we are spiritual beings having human experience. Human birth is given so much importance in our scriptures because only human can use and sharpen his intellect to understand this reality and experience it finally. Walking down the Sai path(method), I have started to understand things in bits and pieces.

In Sai Satcharita, Shirdi Saibaba has explained this in such a simple manner. 

Saibaba said that barring our name and body, something is left. That is the feeling of being alive…..consciousness. This is Self. This is God. We should meditate on this Self that is all knowing. This explains that God is within us. 

Saibaba told his devotees to destroy this wall of ‘teli’ (difference/EGO) and come face to face with God, i.e., SELF, the ‘aatma’/ antaratma(soul). The difference is our wrongful perception of SELF as mere body and its name due to different shapes and sizes of all human bodies. This perception needs to be corrected to know God and realize our own inner spiritual splendour. Anything spiritual cannot be felt and experienced by our five senses. Spirit is transcendental and hence within us because we experience everything within. Like each grain has a seed, similarly each of us has divinity embedded in us. In right kind of conditions, the seed sprouts and reproduces a duplicate of itself. Each one of us has spark of Supreme Divinity in us. Places of worship have been made to provide conditions to ‘water and sprout the seed’ of devotion within us which brings us face to face with our source, the knowledge of God.

Thus idol/image is a trigger point to increase immense love, devotion and fondness towards our own divinity. Even the devotee knows that the idol/image is made up of marble/paper and ink etc. But when a devotee sees an image, all the positive emotions surge within and he finds himself full of love. All the paraphernalia of worship is not meant to please some external object but the subject within. The SELF in us that we represent as ‘I’ is the Subject experiencing this world. This ‘I’ is God. e.g., it is not alarm that wakes us up in the morning, it is something within us that awakens at the sound of alarm. Introspect what is that ‘something that is awakened or was sleeping before the alarm’. God is present everywhere in as well as all around us – visible as well as invisible. In certain things we feel that natural life force energy while in some we do not. This doesnot mean that it is non-God. We should often introspect and try to feel, understand and experience this ‘I’.

We all have God within us but we search for God in outside world. When we focus on our own God-li-ness, we experience oneness with our source and then things start to happen just the way we want. 

This is one reason that Shirdi Saibaba advised his devotees to meditate on SELF. Feel like God and experience the bliss. Deities are meant to invoke this connection within us. But man thinks God is far away and hence feels himself as separate from God without realizing that ‘Jiva’(living presence) within his body temple is presence of God. We need to tune into this presence. 

Hinduism never promised showing God. Hinduism focuses on experience God within, right here, right now. If we study Vishnu Sahastranama(1000 names of Hindu God Vishnu), and understand its meaning, the focus is on attributes of God, ourselves, the Self, the ‘I’ within, the all knowing part of us. This could be the reason as to why Shirdi Saibaba gave importance to these names. We have given many names to God because of many ideas we have about God. These names are holy, they take away poverty of mind. It is our ego that makes us feel that we are separate from God. Otherwise everything is different faces of God. Clay makes all shapes and kinds of potteries. Basic material of all of us is same.

The outside world is reflection of the inside world. All is made up of five elements. When Scientists searched for the smallest particle, it turned out to be space in which electron, protons etc were vibrating. When scientists went far away in space, they again reached the same place – the empty space of vibration. Both the ends look same. Everything around us is vibrating and has consciousness. Thus God is all pervading and interpermeating this entire universe. When we discover the real God that permeates each cell of our being, a sense of deep companionship arises within and the deep lonliness dissolves. One starts to see Self in others and others in SELF. Everywhere is extension of our own self because all objects are reflection of our own personal experience. Everything is God’s representation. ‘Sabka Malik Ek’, ultimately all is one. If we start thinking of second factor it becomes cause of fear. Idea of many brings fear since it suggests separateness. Hence single pointed devotion makes us fearless.

We finally understand that God never ever punished us. It is our EGO that is cause of our suffering. If there is no EGO, we are GOD. So where is God? God is imperceptible to senses, therefore, He has to be within our body. Instead of searching outside, lets take easy route and reflect inside. Never say that worship of Lord is difficult. The Lord is seated within our heart, in us, surrounding us, interpermeating everything around. The Supreme Source that created us is present all around us and within us.  God is attainable and we cannot exist without HIM. HE is near us, constantly present within us, seated in our own heart. God is none other than our own ‘Aatma’(soul – compare it to water), part of Paramatma (Spirit – compare it to ocean). When we understand water, we understand ocean too. Inquire who is this ‘I’. Introspect regularly, think about it often. Lets not be an animal, who takes body only to eat, sleep, enjoy and procreate.

The chief Aim of human birth is to know our own self, our own nature and experience our own reality. This ‘I’ is that part of us which is transcendent and beyond the access of our five senses and all the three ‘gunas’(states of nature). The Supreme Lord is seated in our own feelings, attitudes and emotions which emerge from our mind and mind is supra material. Lets not wait for any special occasion to worship God. Anything that we are doing, lets offer all that as most tender flower to the Supreme. God only wants Love. Let us Love ourself, our own being. Do not see God in limited form. Let heart host an infinite God and expansion take place in our own inner personality. FEEL LIKE GOD to KNOW GOD.

VANDANA RITIK
NOIDA

How do I see God in Rapists, murderer etc.

Giving below the response I received from Revered Self Realised Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha for benefit of all Seekers.
Question:

Thousand prostrations to Revered Swamiji.

Today watching morning TV on Disha, I fully understood God is source and pervades everything around us. Makes perfect sense to me. But one question always crops up. Is He not present in a rapist, murderer etc also? How can I see God in these kind of people who torture innocent children, brutally murder and find joy in killing others. My intellect is not able to find logic of presence of God here. I am definitely  missing something here. I am unable to link karmic laws of nature with seeing God in everyone. I have obviously not understood  something. What am I missing here because I do believe that God is everywhere in visible and invisible form. God is everything around. Only this point is not clear. What am I missing here Respected Guruji?
 Koti Koti pranams at your holy feet.
 Vandana Ritik

Dear and Blessed Vandana Ritik:




Harih Om Tat Sat. Your email of 22nd Oct. 2012 is before me, and I am reading it again.

Dear Vandana, the moment you begin to think that God is omnipresent, omnipresent, omnipresent … your mind has to grow and expand correspondingly. The usual constrictions, preferences and prejudices, would start falling, as you reflect upon the quality of omnipresence. Will you accept a God, who is not omnipresent? Equally, can you accept anything besides or in addition to God?  If God is omnipresent, He alone is, can be, and nothing else. In such a background, discuss this question deeply, reflectively.

 Omnipotence of God makes Him produce a world of infinite dimensions, distances and variety. Infinity or infinitude in any field will mean containing everything and all. And that will mean good as well bad, the best as well as the worst, and everything coming in the midst.


In the case of human beings, in whom are all the other traits confluence, the behaviour will have to range from the best and the worst, in order to become full, ample. Thus, the thief, dacoit, wicked and the rapist, all have a place in the world.

 In all these, who is present is actually God. He is certainly present in the circumferential plane, the segments in between, and in all the variety these comprehend. That is why virtuous and wicked people are alike present here.  Unless this variety persists, comparison and contrast resulting in the evolution of knowledge will not be possible at all.

 So when we say God is present in the rapist also, it does not mean He is not present in the others. He is present in them also, in all. By triggering such a wicked trait, God displays how wretched and inexcusable it is, and what extent of derision and denouncement it will warrant, so that the rational mind can discriminate, withstand and outlive such tendencies.

Suppose God is not present in the rapist, then you will have to say somebody else is present in him. Is that acceptable? What will happen to the omnipresence of God then? God is the impersonal, impartial soul, beyond even the ego. In that spatial transparence, no activity emerges and no effect befalls. Unless, you can comprehend such a zero position within oneself as well as all, you cannot have peace, harmony and unfailing wellbeing.

 So, try to enrich and sublimate your emotions, think more feelingly, in a subtle, deep and comprehensive manner.

 Unless good and bad are equally there before you, how will you have knowledge at all, for which distinctions are necessary? How will you know whether it is bad or good, which has the intrinsic power to survive sovereignly? So, the world is bound to contain the infinite variety that it should.  And this variety should incorporate everything, ranging from the best to the worst.

Love and ashirvaad. Ma Gurupriya and Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha also send their loving best wishes.

Antaraatma,

Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha


Narayanashrama Tapovanam

Venginissery, P.O. Ammadam, Thrissur Dist., Kerala – 680 563, India. Tel: 0487-2278302 / 2278363




 

Laws of Karma

All the visible actions that take place through our body and five sensory organs i.e., eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin, in spiritual terms, is actually karmaphala – effect of a cause (and also effect of past life karma) set in motion by us. Real karma is not visible but subtle. The intention (bhava) that we create in us while partaking this effect creates karma which will bring its effect in the next life time. In this lifetime we are repaying and receiving the effect of all our bhavas we created – knowingly or unknowingly – in past lifetimes. We are reaping rewards of all our subtle thought processes. Natural forces arrange themselves in such a manner that ultimately we get whatever we had really intended for. However, due to ignorance of this law we are left wondering as to why things did not happen the ways we had planned to do.

Karmic law is a naturally occurring scientific spiritual law. It works as per certain specified rules. It is metaphysical in nature and cannot be proved in a laboratory. After understanding laws of gravitation, electricity, etc., human being used it to their own advantage. Similarly once we understand laws of karma, we can use it to improve our future and create our own destiny. Otherwise, we are like puppets in the hands of nature and flow with the current and go in whatever direction life takes us.

Only a foolish would close his eyes and cross a busy traffic road saying “I will be saved if it is in my destiny.” As an intelligent human being, we are supposed to do our best, as per our own standards, and also make efforts to improvise. If despite all best possible efforts things do not work out, then take it as destiny; wait for some time and try once again because only human being has 'Will Power' and 'Consciousness' which can be invoked to create or change one’s own destiny.

Why not take the remote of our life in our own hands? Make efforts to be the Master Karma Creator.

Vandana Ritik

Noida