Communication

A great deal of our communication is non-verbal and we rarely realize the effect that it has on others. Our tone of voice, our body language (particularly our eyes and face), our attitudes and our feelings, are constantly in communication with others, expressing anger, fear, love, trust, rejection - in fact, all our feelings and emotions. We cannot hide what we mean; we may do so for a while, but finally the truth emerges.

Communication is not just with others, but also with the self, with the Supreme Being and even nature. Being still, focused and open enables us to tune in to others so that we can respond in an appropriate and meaningful way, not simply in a mechanical way.

Here are some common reasons for blocks to communication:

* Too many thoughts, and an overload of words and actions, results in us being unable to think clearly. We lose the essence of what is trying to be conveyed (transmitted) by the other.

* Being lost in our own feelings or ideas. In such a state we do not listen attentively to others.

* Remembering the past in a negative way. This does not allow us to tune in properly to our present and future. When we do not communicate properly with the needs of the present time, we loose opportunities. 

(To be continued tomorrow….)

Rajyoga Meditation For Beginners

Let us practise the steps of Rajyoga meditation: 
1. I hold in my mind the words Om Shanti, ‘I am a peaceful soul’: Let us reflect on this statement, or mantra. A mantra is something that frees the mind from wasteful and negative thoughts, stress and worry. A mantra is usually repeated over and over again in order to get the desired results. However, in meditation it is not a matter of repeating words over and over again without truly understanding them. Otherwise it becomes forced concentration. Concentration of the mind should be natural because, when it is so, the mind can remain in a state of peace and relaxation for a very long time. The result of this is a recharging of the battery of the self, a renewal of energy from inside.  
How do we achieve this state of natural concentration on the thought, 'I am a spiritual being', 'I am a peaceful being'? 
2. I reflect on 'OM’; the consciousness of ‘l am’.What does 'I am' mean? In this thought, the attention is drawn only to the present moment. I have no need to go into ‘I was', 'I will be', 'I hope to be' or 'I should be'. To go deep into the self, I need to be completely in the present. This thought of 'I am' takes me into the consciousness of self-realisation.
3. I focus and concentrate on the thought until I stop thinking about it and experience it. 
These are the primary steps of silence and must be mastered correctly.

Self Esteem

Self-esteem and self-respect are closely connected. One is an integral part of the other. One is not possible without the other. In relationships, when other people are throwing all their negative energy at us, if we can maintain our own self-respect we will be able to remain stable, positive and unaffected. In fact, if our self -respect is strong, we will not feel the need to return the negative energy, which they are sending us, but will be able to return understanding and compassion (sympathy) instead. To regain, build and strengthen our self-respect, we need to practice giving respect to others – no matter what they are like, or what they do. What we rarely realise is that in the process of respecting another, we are first of all respecting ourself.
Exercise: What does showing respect look like? (imagine different ways in which you can convey respect to another person) - What do you think is the biggest inner barrier to developing the ability to give respect to others? Whom could you consciously choose to respect more today than you have up to now? (remember that to be respectful you will need to be non-judgmental)

Self Transformation (Change6) (cont.)

Over the last week, we have shared with you some practical reminders and steps we can take to grow spiritually and bring out transformation (change) in ourselves. Noted below is the last of the series, but the most important one. 

Get Started!

The main part of any journey is to start. Sometimes we hesitate, sometimes we make excuses, but we must not give in to these thoughts. When we accept the challenge to try, the journey begins. When we agree to take the first steps, success is there waiting for us. Faith in ourselves brings optimism to what we do. Optimism and faith open the Horizon of Possibility, and I begin to see what good could be there on the spiritual path, which as yet, I cannot see, or even imagine.

It is said, 'Nothing ventured (attempted), nothing gained.' So why not venture (attempt)? Why not gain?

Self Transformation (Change5) (cont.)

Here are some practical reminders and steps we can take to grow spiritually and bring out transformation (change) in ourselves: 

Develop a spiritual lifestyle
The daily practice of meditation will be aided (helped) if we change those aspects of our life that affect, or weaken our ability to control the mind and live in a state of peace e.g. taking mind-altering substances (substances which affect the mind negatively) like alcohol and drugs, watching violent films or performing other negative actions that strengthen old patterns of behaviour and sanskars that take us away from our true self. 

Many changes happen easily and naturally as we begin to experience the benefits of meditation. Our desires for material objects beyond those that are necessary for daily living reduce as we seek to live a simpler, quieter life. We gain a deeper respect for nature and loose the desire to eat animal flesh, and we become more selective about the company we keep and the things we talk about, realizing that everything we say and do has an impact on us and the world around us. 

As our self-esteem and confidence subsequently grow, we feel ourselves drawn to help others, to share the benefits we have learned from our own inner journey. Life becomes filled with greater meaning and purpose and we want to do our best for the spiritual upliftment for ourselves, for our families and for our communities. 

(To be continued tomorrow….)

Self Transformation (Change4) (cont.)

Here are some practical reminders and steps we can take to grow spiritually and bring out transformation (change) in ourselves: 
Meditate with others
Another great help in maintaining a stable base on the path of meditation is collective practice (practicing together). Through personal practice, I keep my sense of responsibility intact and remain independent. However, without losing these, I can also get together with others at the meditation centre, valuing and learning from their experiences and perceptions (ways of looking at situations) - the group energy brings us to another level of experience, a space of mutual (shared) experience and learning. We learn from everyone, everywhere, all the time; it depends on our willingness to accept certain realities.  
Often we live too much in the past, or future, and so do not realize that the present is the bridge to moving away from the negativity of the past and to creating a confident future. We do not cross this bridge because we live by, or are too influenced by, the other two time zones (past and future). 
Remember that NOW is the opportunity where newness on any level can be created and for that getting together regularly with people who are on the spiritual path is very important. 
(To be continued tomorrow….)

Self Transformation (Change3) (cont.)

Here are some practical reminders and steps we can take to grow spiritually and bring out transformation (change) in ourselves: 
Attend a meditation centre
The starting point is knowledge, or understanding. It is not possible to begin this journey without some kind of route map (directions). There are Brahma Kumaris centers of Raja Yoga meditation throughout the world that provide these maps and help a person begin his, or her, practice of meditation. At these centers, information is shared on how the mind functions, the power of positivity, spiritual values and the art of effective concentration. All of these maps help us to know ourselves better and, when translated into our personal daily life, give us strength in the form of self-respect and happiness. 
A Raja Yoga meditation centre is a spiritual school, where we can learn the original arts of true living; it is a spiritual clinic, where we receive the understanding of how to apply the healing medicines of peace, trust and respect in our relationships; it is a spiritual family, where we realize that each member has a uniqueness and goodness that needs to be appreciated and genuinely accepted, and where we pay attention to avoiding the trap of focusing on weaknesses and the roles of others.

(To be continued ….)

Self Transformation (Change2) (cont.)

Here are some practical reminders and steps we can take to grow spiritually and bring out transformation (change) in ourselves: 
Use 'traffic control'
To remember our original peaceful state during certain moments of the day creates a space for us to recharge and to be released from accumulated negativities, which have influenced our mind without our realizing it. 
'Traffic control', is a method to check and control the flow and type of thoughts that we create. Are our thoughts wasteful or are they useful, necessary, positive, and peaceful? By stopping for a minute every hour, we can step inside, apply a brake to the flow of thoughts and instead focus on the experience “I am a peaceful being (soul)”. This practice has an immediate cooling effect on the mind, and if done regularly, has a very positive impact on our daily lives. 
(To be continued...)

Self Transformation (Change) (cont.)

Here are some practical reminders and steps we can take to grow spiritually and bring out transformation (change) in ourselves: 
Daily practiceHaving the inner discipline to practise meditation by one's self is necessary because, in reality, we have to be self-reliant as only we can step into our mind and bring it long-term benefit. The mind needs to relax and to refresh itself if a person is to feel positive and strong to live each day peacefully and effectively. When this is recognized, time for inner silence every day becomes a personal priority. 
Start each day with positive silence. Before work, breakfast, or doing anything, let us step inside the self for a little while. In this space of introspection (self-observation), we can connect with our original spiritual qualities, charging up our internal battery with positive thoughts for the day ahead.
At the end of the day, we can remove any remaining thoughts of past actions - after all 'past is past' - and send our good wishes where they are needed. 
The daily practice of morning preparation and evening clearing, keeps the mind healthy. A healthy mind is light and focused, not disturbed, or burdened easily. 
(To be continued tomorrow….)

Self Transformation (Change)

We nourish the soul by going into the depths of silence and learning to love and appreciate the self. Giving time to do this will bring about a change in how we go about doing things, and this will start to show itself in improved relationships and in quality of life. By adopting a systematic and practical approach, we can assist the changes we wish to bring about in our life, otherwise old patterns of behaviour and the influences of the world will weaken our determination and efforts, like the sea tide washing away a sandcastle.

Here are some practical reminders and steps we can take to grow spiritually and bring out transformation (change) in ourselves:

Create a space for silence

Creating a space for inner silence is important and we can also create a corner area or a room used only for this purpose. In that place there is the opportunity, for instance, each morning to prepare for the coming day and, in the evening, to unburden the mind of any wasteful thoughts and feelings that have accumulated during the day.

(To be continued tomorrow….)

Creative Visualization

The incorporeal (non-physical) soul, situated in the centre of the forehead consists of three energies. Although each energy can be given a different name, it is actually the same energy, the soul, functioning on three different levels at the same time. These are the mind, which is the thinking faculty (energy) of the soul; the intellect, which is the decision-making and visualizing faculty (energy) of the soul and the personality characteristics, commonly called ‘sanskaras’. 

In the practice of meditation, on one hand, the mind is used to create pure, positive and powerful thoughts or affirmations based on the basic qualities of the soul like peace, contentment, happiness, love, joy, power, etc. Along with that, the intellect is used to create visual images of the same thoughts, which is called "creative visualization". This process brings about a positive change in our 'sanskaras'. This is the basic principle used in the Rajyoga meditation taught by the Brahma Kumaris. Creative visualization may be used in various ways to experience true relaxation of the mind.