Victory of Humanity

Every part of the universe is connected and interdependent, if not directly, indirectly. 

Attachment to a few parts, exclusive of others is the doing of the Ego. 

Investment creates attachment, but unfortunately we forget that we have unknowingly, invested in the Whole and not just the parts. 

The reason is, that which lives in every part is One. That One is acting and is being acted upon. 

When this is truly realised , humanity shall understand that every part ,big or small is a piece of something like a puzzle. Each part being in its rightful place benefits all or One. Even if one part is left behind, every part has not fulfilled itself. 

Spiritual teachings help us understand what this rightful place is. 

The emotion is the compass and the location is the one which flows harmoniously in the divine river. 

Today, the world is horrified in observance of violence,diseases and natural disasters. 

Unfortunately, we are addressing these issues in an allopathic way. 

The ancient traditions have always thought in a cyclical order, symbolized by the Chinese dragon, the swastik and the yin and yang. 

The pressing world problems, such as the aforementioned are symptoms of grief caused by unconscious behaviours such as: 

1. Unsustainably and irresponsibly altering nature in a way that is unfriendly to the environment, for 'personal gain'.  

2. Cleaning of that which one thinks is one's and dumping in that which one thinks is another's. 

3. Using political power to serve oneself or only a community one identifies with. 

4. One country sponsoring and facilitating violence in another. Also, one country doing the same within itself, due such perverted psyche. 

5. Ethnocentrism , neo-colonialist and jingoistic behaviours. 

The root of such unconscious behaviourial patterns is the forgetfulness regarding the unity of all. The world is not just my family. The world is me. 

Before any teaching, be it educational/religious/cultural, this basic principle ought to be taught. 

Gandhi's vision of Stateless enlightened self rule is a byproduct of this understanding. 

From such understanding,shall stem solutions leading us to world peace. 

Our trade, administration,science and technology and development shall be applied for the benefit of all parts of ourselves in a wholesome , inclusive, integrated and comprehensive manner. 

Just the way, Ayurveda treats the root problem and the symptoms disappear.  So ,after understanding this reality the roots of structural violence that has caused not just lopsided development but the 'development of underdevelopment' as expounded by Andre Gunder Frank , a sociologist and an economic historian (according to Frank, capitalism has not really developed the Global South but has caused development of underdevelopment), shall be treated.  

Then naturally, conscious behavior shall lead to equitable, sustainable  and balanced (with respect to regional, gender, economic disparities, etc.  development and the victory of humanity or Surajya. 

Then hopefully, reading the daily news would be a joy. 

Humans

The one who loves the most is the one who grows the most. 

The one who has the maximum sweetness of heart, is the one who learns the most.  

The one who is hurt the most, is the one who understands the most.  

The one who has gone through a lot , is the one who is truly confident. 

The one who is the most vulnerable, is the one who trusts the most.  

The one who trusts the most is the one who is the most courageous.  

The one who is the most introspective is the one who is the most discerning. 

The one who agrees the most, is the one who needs validation the most.  

The one who appreciates the most, is the one who has the most clarified perception.   

*Applies proportionately when one isn't as extreme on the spectrum.  

Life

The movie 'Life of Pi' is an illustration of the human need for purpose. When Pi reached the coast ,he was heartbroken to see the tiger he took care of, go into the forest without looking back at the person because of whom he survived. Later on, he realized that he was alive because of the tiger.

Our lives on this Earth are Ego-dependent. We thrive due to a purpose/something to correct/ a vision to manifest/a desire /something to attain/attachment. The lack of these may make us crazy because we are very intelligent. 

Not the achievement, but the process of attainment makes us manifest our divinity, experience the flow state and discover our capabilities. It creates a space for expansion. 

A life in which everything is provided for, nothing needs to be done and there is no wanting is not a life on Earth.

We have come here with the acceptance of the reality of contrast and that we have the wherewithal to survive and come out even more able than when we entered. We have come to play in this game /dream /vacation knowing that we are immortal and one with the infinite. This knowing and connection with Source is the secret of faith and true power. 

The Ego is just a necessary tool for survival, it is a part of the game. 

Spirituality helps in realizing the gap between the Being and the Ego. All of it is done by being truly present in the present. The key is to be and not control so much. To receive while being present and not to judge. Our job is to enjoy the ride while we are on it. We came for it. 

Analyzing, complaining, criticizing, judging, etc. are unconscious behaviors. Use the Ego to better your life but know that you are using it, so that it doesn't use you. Use it to live a better life, the way you want it. Get it because you can but always know that the real end is not the the goal. 

The end is the present. The end is life. The present is life. 

How important is it for you to live according to a society while living in it?

Society or more specifically, civil society is a summation of many families. According to Aristotle, a family is the smallest and a primary unit of any society. 

Stability and safety in a civilization is based on it's norms and ethos. These are developed through centuries of societal experiences. Their aim is to promote, law and order, justice, peace and continuity. 

Thus, the civil society, a non - State actor was prior to the State and created it as it's limb of enforcement.

The State always serves the civil society and works for it’s benefit.

Aristotle also said that a human being is a social animal. Our survival is dependent on interdependence.  Not living according to the society is against our instinct of self preservation. Not considering what is appropriate in our society while living in it shows lack of regard for it and lack of understanding about the society. Such behaviour might disturb others. 

However, J.S.Mill, a classical liberal , in his book ‘On Liberty’ ,1859 emphasised the importance of personal freedoms. According to him even if one man’s views are different from the entire society, his view’s must get due consideration, as only this will guarantee progress, freedom of thought and expression and true democracy. 

 

He also said that all actions can be divided into two categories, self regarding actions and other regarding actions. Self regarding actions are those that only affect the agent. Self regarding actions must not be regulated (unless the agent is unreasonable due to insanity, intoxication, etc.)  unlike other - regarding actions. 

His critics argue that many a times self regarding actions can affect the society indirectly. To this, his defense  is that the society can influence the actor through persuasion but not through coercion. Similarly, his insistence on democratic dialogue ensures that the society continuously goes through a process of analysing itself and thus progressing. 

Interdependence is natural to all organisms and hence, living according to the society is essential for survival. Acting in defiance of social ethos is like self destruction. However, this does not mean that there is no hope for a dissenting opinion. Freedom of speech and expression can be used to influence the society by starting an authentic, peaceful and democratic dialogue or debate.

However, this can best be achieved in a society that is spiritually mature as then, people will keep their egos aside, do self introspection and budge from their stand if they are convinced and actually listen to what is being conveyed instead of already always listening. 

Self- rule or swarajya is the key to social development.

Love and insecurity

Love is such a profound emotion. It creates belongingness, security, affection and intimacy. Love provides a non- judgmental space for vulnerability and this space allows the flowering of human personality.

Apprehension, convoluted thinking and insecurity are all created by the ego-mind. It creates false scenarios due to it's rejection of the present moment.

The ego is happy when the present serves it but creates the same level of unhappiness when the present is not as it wishes it to be. Realization of this conflict allows the light of the soul to fall upon the mess created by the ego. This light cleans it all up. It purifies whatever it falls on.

Whatever we think we are and whatever we believe we have, came from nothingness and will go back into nothingness. The everchanging nature of life makes people say that life is harsh. Life is not inherently harsh. It is harsh to the ego because it desires, longs for, possesses and gets attached.

Just being in the present moment with total acceptance, wherein the ego is not at play , leaves us more powerful than the ego. Why? Because then, we are free as we don't need things to change. 

Overpowering of the ego by the soul through the light of consciousness makes us inspired, peaceful and resilient. The soul does not create fear, insecurity or other negative emotions. It is pure love and acceptance. It transforms whatever comes in contact with it.

How to feel better when you're feeling low?

We all can be happy and vivacious if we are truly ourselves. However, due to the way the society is made and due to our socialization, sometimes, we get lost, feel no motivation and wonder about the purpose of our lives. We come out of this and then again go back into it.

Each one of us has what it takes to make a positive difference if we take responsibility of how we feel. So, I came up with a few ways to sail over rough tides.

Note- Journalling is fantastic and can be used with each of these methods!

1. Acknowledge and meet your needs. 

We are unsatisfied if our needs are not met.  We learn to act as if all is okay, instead of meeting these needs. We cannot not have needs. Please go through Maslow's hierarchy if needs or google 'human needs'.We must understand that we deserve to have them as our birth right and we deserve to have them met. For example, allow yourself to drink hot chocolate when you're feeling low, if that makes you feel  better. Also, along with needs we all also have the potential to meet them. Self growth is all about increasing this power.

We must find ways to meet these needs directly. If we don't, our egos will create drama and meet them indirectly. Thus,  let's be bold enough to be vulnerable enough to directly request people to meet them. People will meet them because we all have a need to meet other's needs.

2. See challenges as opportunities.

Challenges make us realize our capabilities. They make us humble and teach us sportsman spirit. They shine you diamonds.

3. Take care of your mind. 

I have been meditating upon waking up and before sleeping at night for15 minutes each by using a preset timer of 16 minutes. This has been helping me tremendously.

While sleeping at night, I take my attention to feeling my body from the inside. This involves paying attention to my breathing , heartbeats and other sensations. This has been helping me to understand and calm myself better as I can be at the interface of the being and the body.

Other ways are healthful sleep, recitation of mantras,  practicing mindfulness and regular physical exercise.

4. Trust the universe. 

Being a rational person, this was difficult for me to learn but easier to follow through because it is a mindset shift. It means believing that things happen because of a reason, looking back, the dots will connect seamlessly and that the universe had planned the sequence of events better than you have imagined. 

5. Be real in your communication.

If your feelings are not communicated , the relationship feels incomplete. It is better to confront or confess as soon as possible because a time lapse allows the ego to create drama.

Honesty prevents stress. However, first be honest to yourself. Take time to feel your emotions by just sitting with them. Although this process is more difficult than distracting yourself,  it is the most transformative spiritual practice. Not allowing yourself to feel your emotions prevents you from living the purpose of your birth.

6. Be in the present moment. 

Be mindful of the present and focus on one task at a time.  Be aware of all your senses at every moment. This way you'll not be on auto pilot but have do activities rationally and mindfully. Multitasking is unproductive,  stressful and does not foster creativity.   

7. Look for things to appreciate.

Appreciation is your true nature. It's vibration is higher than that of gratitude.

You will invest in your body, education, career,  house, family and friends only if you see value in them in the first place.

If something has to be improved, one must first believe that it has the potential of improving and the potential to positively benefit one upon improving.

8. Socialize

This is a legit. need. Talk about your feelings. Communicate freely with people. You'll know more about yourself and the world. 

9. Feed yourself well.

Improve your diet and make sure you get enough breathing exercises through pranayam/physical exercises. 

Feed your mind with inspiring and uplifting content. Happiness is not meant only for vacations. You'll be happy on vacations if your happy on your job, because happiness is a state of mind.

I discovered and learnt these methods as I coped with emotional and physical trauma.

I am not in my best emotional state right now and I've seen these work like magic.

The deeper the lows the more you'll value the highs, I assure you that. 

What is reality?

Sapiens, A brief History of Humankind is a popular book by Yuval Noah Harari. He has explained the process of creation of our civilization.

My question is, what is the lesson that the readers of his book are learning?

I hope the readers realize that reality is created. In-fact, reality is a myth and even myths are realities based on how they function.

Most of the things we "know" are actually things that we believe in. 

Knowing that all was created from the idea to create, empowers us in two ways.

The first way makes us realize that in reality, nothing is real. Whatever we say is real, is real. Language helps us influence and get influenced into believing in the "reality".

This understanding leaves us free. We understand that life is empty and meaningless.

This openness leaves us free to create whatever we wish to. This, is the second way the knowledge about the process of creation empowers us.

Even feelings, although feel real, are the result of the meanings that we make out of the world. The world that we experience is in our minds. We are not in it, it is in us and we are always creating it.

The knowledge and acceptance of the "belief" or "reality" (?), that we are creators, can be adopted because it empowers us and works.

If something does not work, drop it.

Flow

Being centered, present, grounded, thoughtless and focused on the task at hand makes one forget one's ego-mind and thus can purify perception.

Appreciation

Criticism and complaining creates guilt and resentment. They do not create change. Change is created by acceptance, taking responsibility, freedom and appreciation.

Criticism is a story of a fault finder. It creates the need for criticism for its own survival. Constant criticism creates beliefs and identities that need it. Maya survives on interdependence.

Appreciation creates focus on the wanted and creates attraction towards it, thus creating what is wanted. 

Negative thinking is perverted and not natural. It is the creation of our ego-minds which keeps itself entertained with stories. Strengthening of the ego-mind makes us loose control. True presence can create peace and allows us to purify our perspective. This can create a paradigm shift. The most empowering story is no story at all. 

Creating David

Stop for a while and feel your heartbeat. Notice, how it goes on, without you having to do anything. Life comes naturally to you. If anything comes in the way of you living life fully, it is what you do. Every effort or resistance is such an action. When you observe the nature in you, your nature will evolve because you are giving it a chance to do so. Awareness purifies. You are not what you like or dislike. You are the preceptor and your vision is as clear as you purify it. You are the creator and your creation is the outcome of your will and perception. Your will is the result of the perception of yourself. Be clear and transparent so that what is in your heart can be your nature. 

Need and nature

The cause and effect relationship between need and nature is so strong that they are like two sides of the same coin of existence.

Here, nature refers to the physical and environmental nature as well as the inner nature of a living being. Evolution is nothing but adaptation for survival. As long as there is life, nature and needs will not die.

Nature evolves to meet needs and on the other hand it also creates the needs. Needlessness (referring to freedom from needs) arises upon death and then remains no nature. Freedom from our needs allows us to have a nature that is independently decided by us. However, as long as we are living and more so due to our egos, we are affected by our needs.

Positive or negative approach to needs decides evolution or degradation. Here, the values of positive and negative  are in terms of how much closer or further one gets from needlessness, respectively.

The environmental nature exists only to fulfill needs. Once needs are vanquished, nature will be needless and will vanquish too.

These "coins" are dealt to us by source for the same purpose. Upon the completion of the purpose, they last no more.The purpose is attainment of needlessness which is actually the realization of completeness.

The Being and The Ego.

   Complete and still incomplete and whole but still a part.A being is not just the mind or body, but consciousness. Consciousness is all pervading in all existence. A being is a part of this consciousness. Awareness is more than knowing. Awareness about this unity is very freeing , although we continue to have our egos and the body.

   Birth was not meant for the attainment of anything but for the experience/ journey.  A wish to attain something leads to attachment. Attachment is not possible for the Consciousness, because it is in all subjects and objects. Flow in life by letting life flow through you, unattached. What matters is not what you attain but who you become while experiencing life. Attachment to any situation, past or future makes our happiness conditional. This is the ego's work. The being's nature is unconditional happiness and love.

   Control over the mind and body becomes easy by control over the ego. Ego is necessary for survival, but beyond that, it has immense potential to inflict pain. If life was a map and ego was using it, the North would be insecurity.

   The being is too resourceful and fulfilled to be insecure. Objective self introspection enables us to understand our beliefs and egos. The enlightened ones are beyond beliefs and egos. They are aware. Chiseling what is not you will uncover the being. Unforgiveness towards any situation/ person is against the nature of the being. The being is aware of the oneness in all matter, space and time. 

Internalizing this leads to peace.

There exists an invisible and subtle medium around us. Here situations, feelings, experiences , objects, etc., exist before manifesting. They are there because we desire or expect them.

Beliefs in us , which are effects of our egos allow or prevent us from manifesting.

Any decision or action is not truly determinative of the consequence. The effects of actions are determined by our beliefs about the action and it's consequences.

Any goal/ end shall not truly satisfy. If there is any satisfaction worth having, it is satisfaction in the present.

Nothing is really good or bad. Get above likes and dislikes /preferences and basing your satisfaction on the happening or not of something in the future.

This brings relief from burden and worry.

Recognize the oneness of all. In reality, all are for one and one is for all. The good of everybody is good for you. The universe works naturally , smoothly , reliably and based on laws.

Becoming one with this stability, brings peace, open mindedness and satisfaction. This is true power and understanding. 

Freedom to act.

Sometimes, it is essential to just act. Of course, after being sure of what one wants. As we take actions, we learn about our aspirations and inadequacies. This must be used constructively to promote growth and development.

Yes it is possible to regret after taking some actions, but, in loosing something, there is always something to gain; we only need to keep our perception and mind open to realize what we have gained. When all dots are connected backwards, everything becomes perfect, whole and complete. It has always been like this, even before the actions.

An action is just a medium to manifest our thoughts and desires; it is a medium for the grace of God to flow. What we lose is always so small and insignificant compared to what we gain in experiencing the process. The key is not in the physical manifestations but in the transformation and evolution of ourselves. Change or addition to our memories, habits and characters is a side-effect. This impacts the rest of our lives. The treasure always lies inside. The stakes are never too high to act because no action can take away this treasure away from inside you. Thus, action, whether introspective or interactive with the material world, is just like playing, just for fun. This joy and evolution of self is at stake when one does not act. We might loose and win here and there, but in the end this will not matter. What will matter is the quality of the experience. A high quality experience is marked by good feeling qualities like focus, engagement, concentration, excitement, 'flow' (as discovered by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) , enjoyment, pleasure, thrill, love, friendship and joy.

So let's play for the sake of playing. Maybe this is why, Radhanath Swami said, "Life is a vacation". Always remember, there is nothing to lose. You are free. 

An energizing visualization

    All of us have challenges. The causes of our unhappiness are numerous. They seem to be coming from outside, against us. I was personally enriched by the following experience and I'd love you to have it too.

Be in a comfortable position. Relax your body and mind. Let me take you to a place which I know you'll love. You'll come above yourself.

     Allow yourself to grow beyond your physical body. Expand yourself and engulf the area around you. Keep enlarging yourself to include your locality, city, state, country, continent and gradually the entire Earth.

 Look at it. Now you are outside your ego, your identity. Go higher and bigger. See the whole solar system and gradually other solar systems. The heavenly bodies have become tiny for you. Rise, higher. Observe how the galaxies are rotating in an orderly fashion. There is so much beauty, coherence, integrity, harmony, clarity, intent and order in the universe. It is a part of you.

     Imagine yourself as a baby and feel so, including the innocence and the negligible ego.

Now imagine a kid ( you at five years of age), who comes along , takes your hand and leads you higher. The kid is in a superman pose as she is pulled towards something and still, is actively going in that direction and taking you along. The kid is super excited, happy and content. This chips off on you. 

     The child takes you into a yellow globe. Here, as soon as you'll arrive, you'll are in a meditative mode. You'll flow inside this globe. It is full of some material which is nutritious to your soul.

What do you have here that you do not have on Earth? Fullness, peace, pleasure, satisfaction, availability of everything you need, simplicity, joy, fun and every possibility that you want. There is perfection. Here you do not want or desire anything. You can stay here forever. This place is yours. It is your home, a place where you are re-energized, refreshed, re-vitalized and rejuvenated. It will always remain the same.

     Out of curiosity, when you look around, there are other such globes for other people. You desire  more people to have and enjoy these. 

     You can stay there forever, and, you know what kind of lives are possible on Earth. You appreciate the varieties and the opportunities it offers to exercise your  will, desires, etc. This home will always be there for you to come back to. Staying here, you have no desire and no goals, you are in a playful mood. You realize your nature in the absence of ego.

      You come to Earth to play. You know it offers contrasts ( unwanted experiences) but that does not bother you because you also know that you have come to play and about your home. You have nothing to loose and only to gain! So you come back :)

     

     As you come back, you develop your ego and can stand in the way of you realizing your ego-less nature. When you realize this, you can be at your home, sweet home; even on Earth. Being at home is a way of being. If you choose, every place you are at can be your home.