Mirror's & coverings

A mirror's quality is to reflect light. But when covered with dust it losses that ability. The thicker the layers of dust the longer it takes to clean. We may have to use different cleaning materials to clean it - water, soap, brush, cloth etc. But once clean, the mirror starts reflecting again, returns to its original form, doing what it was meant to do.

Same as people. Our true selves are clean and pure. But the distractions create layers & the real self seems lost. To clear these layers one needs to associate himself / herself with the divine via engaging with nature, involving ourselves in service, being aware & doing what is right , eating right foods, and so on.

Observing the Satvik way of life helps clear the layers caused by the excessive Tamasic & Rajasic activities of ours.

And then we can return to our true selves!

Feel good factor

Have you noticed the feel good factor after doing something that is right? After doing a good deed? after helping someone? WHen we do something for another person or an animal or even a plant.

Why does this happen???

Its because in those moments we are close to our true nature - We are doing what is right. We are helping others and the world at large.

The more you do it the better we feel. Give it a try.

RIDE in your life

Reduce - wastes, distractions, desires,
Increase - focus, good deeds
Dedicate - everything to God
Experience - the joy of giving

Santa Claus and God

Kids want Santa to notice every tiny good deed of theirs and ignore the mistakes, especially big ones. We want Santa to give out presents based on the good deeds, but he usually balances the good & the not so good.

As adults they want God to watch over the small & few acts of kindness and ignore our malicious thoughts & in appropriate actions. Again God notices everything.

Santa & God, sounded as a good analogy to me with the above example that I heard a in a recent session.

Ink & Paper

If paper is clear and crisp its easy to write on.

If its moist or crumpled, that makes it difficult to write on.

Crumples are like obstacles that need to be overcome in the spiritual journey. You can straighten the paper and manage to write on with extra effort.

Distractions are like moisture, and when knowledge comes its becomes fuzzy. So it takes time for the paper to dry and then some knowledge is is like dabs of ink and we need to start again to get clarity.

Worldly knowledge & Spiritual knowledge

Here by worldly knowledge the reference is to our degrees and knowledge about the material world.

Spiritual knowledge is referring to the knowledge about self & God and the relationship.

A worldly knowledge is always comparing and some underlying competition. He knows this better , she can do this better , she is prettier , he has more wealth etc

From spiritual perspective - all are Gods people, we all have God in us, God made everyone beautiful, God sent each of us here to do a task et all

Worldly knowledge makes you a doctor, architect or engineer. If with that you are lucky to have the spiritual knowledge , its a great combination. You treat people as God and that you have the opportunity to serve them.

And as in the Gita, this awareness changes our Bhav or intention and hence the impact of connecting us to God.

Action & Reaction

We all have heard of this phrase and there is also a scientific logic to it as well as spiritual karmic base to it.

But here is another perspective with respect to it.

When a child does something wrong & how a Mom reacts!!

1. The Child has already told Mom about his mistake - She says never mind we all make mistakes, glad you have figured out & learnt it. So kid was honest & aware of his mistake.
2. Someone tells Mom - So you make a mistake & not tell. And then outsiders telling me. Anger & Disappointment. Kid may be aware but did not share
3. Mom senses it & Child denies - Mom gets very mad. Child thinks not telling will be ok. But he postpones the problems that grows exponentially 

So it boils down to Awareness, Honesty & Intention of the child's behaviour before, during & after the mistake or incident. 

The Crane & the fish

Once a crane after much wait & effort gets a big fish. He is very happy with his catch. So to eat in peace it decides to fly to a quite place to eat it.
Soon other cranes & vultures start to follow the crane, primarily to try & get the fish. Now the crane has to flap its wings faster and keep flying and cannot land to enjoy his fish.
The it flashes to him that the fish is the cause of his misery & if he drops the fish he will be left alone.

The fish denotes the material possessions & the other birds chasing denotes the rat race in the material accumulation. Even when we get what we desired it does not ensure peace.

But when we drop the desire & drop out of the race and go on our individual path we are happy.

Apple products

Everything is I Phone, I Pod, I Pad....the "I" is part of the product name and can denote ego and can also be a reminder that each of us who own these things have many forms of ego

On the flip side its God saying "I" am there with you in the phone, in your hand held devices and everywhere

On another note it can be interpreted as the phone does its job not the "I". So "I" is not the doer its using the phone to do what its built of.

Just like we humans were made to do some social good & reach God and we are the executors of Gods will.

Wahe Guru

Wa He Guru ...a little modification without any offence, gives more depth and some more cool meanings to it

Wo He Guru

Wow he (is) Guru

Woh Hi Guru

Way (is) He (the) Guru

Power of thought

For those who doubt this, just imagine your favourite dish & it makes you salivate. Think of the person you hate & it makes you agitated. Thoughts about a tragedy brings tears. Remembering a person you love or a pleasant memory makes you smile.

A thought can make you angry, happy, sad and so on.

A thought is more powerful than we know.

That is why even thinking of God, we get blessed.

The Gita mentions the importance of Bhav / Intention behind every action. The attitude underlying the action is most important. However just having good thoughts & no action is not what it's suggesting.

Guna's a revisit

Just a quick reminder as we need them from time to time !

Tamas - Black, Lazy, lethargy, inaction, negative
Rajas - Red, Activity, action with noise & opulence, positive
Satwa - White, Action with equanamity , balanced, calm

A kite , Laxmi & Saraswati

Paper flies by chance & Kite with capability 

As per the ancient scriptures, there are eight types of wealth. Wealth is not only money. Of course, bank balance is wealth, progeny is also a type of wealth, so is health. If you have the confidence that you can create wealth in any situation, even when the economy is not doing well, you will have courage. That courage and confidence is a wealth. The ability to make friends is a wealth. Knowledge is also wealth. 

The goddess of wealth, Laxmi, is floating on the lotus. She moves with the wind. The Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, is on a rock. A rock is stable. Once you have learnt knowledge, you have learnt it for life. Wealth is not an end in itself. It is the means to an end. Laxmi moves from point to point (monetary wealth is not a constant) where as knowledge stays with you forever. 

Atma & Zero

Just another mathematical & spiritual thought

0 * anything = 0
0 / anything = 0

Atma + anything = atma

Atma - anything = Atma

0+0=0
0-0=0

Just like "0" can change the value depending on where it is place.
Atma makes matter alive

And multiplying with 0 gives 0

When we see Atma in everyone we feel oneness

Pray

We pray when we need something.
But true prayer is being thankful for what we have .

Prayer is not a ritual: it is a surrender.

Some more things to think about when we say PRAY!

P - Please 
R - Remember
A - Atma &
Y - You 


P - Pure
R - Relation, of
A - Atma &
Y - Your self


P - Peace, when you
R - Rise
A - Above
Y - Your self