Life 23 (Jul 14 - Jan 15)

[winston]

The distinctive human problem from time immemorial has been the need to spiritualize human life, to lift it onto a special immortal plane, beyond the cycles of life and death that characterize all other organisms.

- Ernest Becker

[winston]

[b]When your heart is filled with good thoughts and feelings, all that comes out of the senses - your speech, your vision, your action - will all be pure. [/b]

– Baba

[winston]

What is the single most important quality an aspirant must possess, to ensure success in the spiritual quest?

The quintessence of the scriptural texts is this: Realise that the awareness of Divine or Brahman cannot be won by the accumulation of wealth nor by giving away the riches. Nor can it be achieved by reading texts, rising to power, acquiring degrees and diplomas, or performing scriptural sacrifices and rituals.

The body is an anthill, with the mind inside as a deep cavity. The mind has hidden in it the serpent named ignorance or nescience (a-jnana). The serpent cannot be killed by resorting to satisfaction-oriented works.

Spiritual wisdom (jnana) is the only weapon that can kill it. To achieve spiritual wisdom, you must have ‘Steady Faith’.

Meaning, that person alone, who has steady and unwavering faith, can certainly secure wisdom.

- Sutra Vahini, 'Stream of Aphorisms of Brahman'.

You worship with faith and you experience Grace. Faith results in Grace, without your being aware of it.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What is the need to indulge in spiritual practices?

Generally, people get drawn to sense objects, for they are victims of instincts. And instincts come along with the body and aren’t derived by any training.

The infant seeks milk from the mother, no training is needed for this. However for the infant to walk and talk, some training is necessary, because these actions are not automatic but are socially prompted, by example and by imitation of others.

Training is essential even for the proper pursuit of sense pleasure, for it is the wild and untrained search for such pleasure that promotes anger, hatred, envy, malice, and conceit.

To train the senses along salutary lines and to hold them under control, certain good disciplines like repetition of the name, meditation, fasts, worship at dawn and dusk, etc. are essential.

When one is asked to do such spiritual acts, one has no inner prompting at all. Still, one shouldn’t give up in despair.

No one has a taste for such practices from the very beginning, but constant practice creates the zest.

- Bhagavatha Vahini, Ch 1, 'The Bhagavatha'.

Knowledge that is not put into practice is like food that is not digested.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes in to us at midnight very clean.

It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands, and hopes we've learned something from yesterday."

- John Wayne

[winston]

Why should we persist in our spiritual practices and how long should we continue?

The infant doesn’t know the taste of milk. But by taking it daily, it develops a deep attachment for it, such that when milk is to be given up and rice substituted, it starts to protest. But the mother doesn’t despair; she persuades the child to take small quantities of cooked rice daily, and slowly, the child starts liking rice and gives up milk.

Milk though once its natural food, is replaced by rice through practice, to such an extent that if rice is not available for a day, the child feels miserable.

So too though sense pleasures are ‘natural’ at first, by means of practice and listening to the wise, slowly the joy derived from listening and recapitulating the glories of the Lord is grasped.

Over time, the company of the worldly who chatter about the senses or sense-objects will no longer attract; the company that exults in the Love of Lord becomes sweeter and then you begin to genuinely experience the Divine.

- Bhagavatha Vahini, Ch 1, 'The Bhagavatha'.

Character is built up by constant practice of good actions.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

75-Year Study Reveals 5 Secrets to a Happy Life

Did you hear about the 75-year long study that researchers at Harvard University conducted to unearth the keys to living a happy and meaningful life?

After following the lives of several hundred people since 1938, here's what they listed as the top 5 secrets that will lead you to greater happiness, joy and fulfillment:


1) Love Is All You Need

I’m sure you’ve heard the cliche that it’s “lonely at the top”…

One of the most important findings of the study is that relationships are what really matter in life.

You can have all of the money, success and power in the world, but without close, loving relationships, you’ll most likely never experience true happiness.


2) Regardless of How You Begin Life, You Can Become Happier

No matter how bleak your childhood was or how difficult the circumstances you may find yourself in now, it’s never too late to turn things around.

The researchers found that the key is to change what you choose to focus on.

If you focus on what’s not working in your life, you’ll notice more and more of what it is that you don’t want - and life will continue to look dimmer and dimmer.

But, if you switch your focus to love - to where it’s present in your life and to how you can cultivate more of it with others - you can go from being the saddest person you know to being the happiest and most fulfilled very, very quickly.


3) Close Connections = Greater Joy

The study also found that the closer the connections or social ties you have with others, the happier, healthier and less stressed you’ll be.

Take note that this doesn’t mean that you need to have dozens and dozens of close friends…

Most people would find that many connections difficult to manage!

Instead, it has to do with the QUALITY (not the quantity) of the connections you do have.

The more you feel accepted and like you can “just be yourself” with the people around you, the more fulfilled and happy you’ll feel.


4) There’s Zero Correlation Between Money & Happiness

While making a good living can give you the freedom to travel, splurge on luxury items and do more of the things you love…

Getting paid MORE money doesn't mean that you’ll feel MORE happy.

The study found that feeling a sense of contentment in the work you do is the key to living a more meaningful life, rather than how much money you get paid for it.


5) Care Less About What Others Think or Say

The study also found that worrying about other people’s opinions is one of the biggest blocks to our happiness.

While it’s good to be open to criticism in order to learn and grow into a better version of yourself…

Spending too much time and energy on what others think or say is a recipe for unhappiness.

Instead, embrace uncertainty and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Life is short, and at the end of the day, if you take a moment to reflect and you know you’ve done your personal best…

You’ll find that you soon begin to feel happier and more fulfilled without even thinking about it


Source: Dharma Rose

[winston]

Happiness is the real nature of your being. It becomes clouded by the thought process.

- Dr. Pillai

[winston]

Jim Carrey’s Mystical Experience and the Secret of Life

In this short video, Jim Carrey describes his experience with enlightenment.

http://www.mindbendingvideos.com/jim-ca ... t-of-life/

[winston]

What is the significance of being in the company of the pious and listening to the Glories of the Lord?

Exulting in praising the Divine is the hallmark of the real good. Avoid being in the company of people who revel in sensory talks.

Choose to spend your time in the company of the Divine and be engaged in the Lord’s activities. Only those who act in accordance to the above are the Divine’s own.

Reading and enjoying the stories of the glory of the Divine in a sacred hall, temple, shrine, or hermitage of a saint, or being in the company of the virtuous and the good — that is a source of great inspiration and joy.

You can approach pious people, serve them, and listen to their exposition of the glories of the Divine.

Taste for such wholesome literature is the result of accumulated merit and effort. Listening will be enough in the beginning; later, the stories will arouse interest in the nature and characteristics of Him, and the aspirant will seek and find for oneself the path to realisation.

- Bhagavatha Vahini, Ch 1, 'The Bhagavatha'

Constant reflection on the glory of the Divine helps to transform and transmute the body, mind and spirit.

Source: radiosai.org