Colour Everything With Love

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The purpose of meditation is to look inword, to reach a state of inner spirisoul’s connectedness with God and all life. We are strengthened by the fearlessness that comes with identifying with soul. e live in the knowledge that we are immortal. By looking inword, we go to the source of wisdom from which all outer knowledge is derived. Through meditation we can go beyond the door of death to meet the bliss and beauty that await us beyond. We no longer live in fear of death.
Saints who have seen past this world say that death is not something to fear, but something to embrace. Kabir said, “The death of which other people are afraid is a surce of happiness for me. It is only with death that I attain everlasting bliss.” St Teresa of Avila has said of death, “I do not die. I enter into life.”
For enlightened beings, life as we know it on earth is sleep. Death and entry into the kingdom of God is waking up. St Paul said, “Oh death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
Behind many fears is the fear of loss, pain and death. Having experienced our immortality, our fears begin to dissolve. The soul, in its state of oneness with the Lord, fears nothing. It only fears ignorance of that oneness. In reality, sin is merely ignorance of truth. Sin means being unaware of God and the lows of truth and love that govern all the universes. It is a simple formula: virtue is what brings us closer to God, sin or evil takes us away from God.
If we walk on the path of righteousness, observing the laws of non-violence, truthfulness, chastity, humility and selfless service and spending time in our spiritual practices of meditation, then we have nothing to fear in this world or in the beyond.
When we see the same Light that is within our soul in all other soulds, we experience connectedness with all forms of life. With such a bond of unity, we realise that all beings are members of our family and life becomes one joyous reunion with everyone we meet.
The joy of family gatherings extends to the whole of humanity. Love permetes all our dealings because we are among our universal familty and friends. By journeying within, we can reach this state and consider all creation our familty and all places our home.
Unending bliss is ours when we look inward. Sufi saint Shamas-iTabrez offers a glimpse into this state of bliss: “Please do not ask me about my inner state of being. My senses, intellect and sould are intoxicated, and they have achieved a permanent bliss of intoxication. The roots of these trees are drinking the secret wine of love. Have patience, because one day you too will wake up into this state of intoxication. In my mind, there is a festival of intoxication. Feel the effect of the wine of Divine Love, so that even the walls and door are intoxicated.”
When we are in love with an earthly beloved, the whole world takes on the colour of love. We see things as rosy and blissful. Similarly, when in a state of bliss from within, it colours the whole world in bliss. We then see ecstasy wherever we look.

The Speaking Tree, Page: 18, 18, March, 2011
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I Love You

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It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderely gentleman in his 80s, arrive to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in hurry as he had an appointment at 9 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him look at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On examination, it seemed to have been healing well, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and re-dressed his wound. While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired about her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognised him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?” He smiled as he patted my hand and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.”
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goosebumps on my arm, and thought, “That is the kind of love I want in my life.”

“Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.” – Kahlil Gibran

The Speaking Tree, Page: 04, 6, Feb, 2011

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Its’ All About Love, Really

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If the youth finds spiritual teachings uninteresting, it is perhaps not their fault. Maybe we need to reinvent the way we impart to them spiritual values, says Swami Sukhabodhananda.

For every minute that you are unhappy, you lose 60 seconds of joy. The ability to be happy is a part of spiritual living. Spiritual means to heighten the spirit and on ehas to look to enhancing the spirit.

Worldly life is never opposed to spiritual living as long as one is aware and committed to growth. If you learn the art of learning, then one door of spirituality is open and hence music or movies could help one in that direction. A spiritual affirmation is: Always be a student of life. Learn to listen to music in a way your heart opens. Sant Kabir said: “By reading books one does not become wise but if one learns to love one is truly wise”. The heart of education is education of the heart.

Let us take an analogy from the recently released movie 3 Idiots. The hero has a heart and knows how to love life, to enjoy and to serve. The movie so beautifully and entertainingly conveys this great spiritual learning. Love is more important than sheer success is the strong message. Success without joy and love is an empty achievement. This echoes the management saying: “Most of us are busy climbing the ladder of success only to find it is leaning on the wrong wall.”

The film 3 Idiots revolves around goodness rather then the rat race to reach the top. Is not goodness the foundation of spirituality? Helping people in need is a great quality. Is not being caught up in ego a spiritual derailment? The chief protagonist in the film convinces us that he is not caught in an ego trip of being on top and being appreciated — he just does what is right and good, and what is the need of the moment. The trap to beware is : “Whatever is mine is good and the great awakening is to ask, whatever is good, can it be mine?”

In the film Kurban one comes out with the feeling that a terrorist also has a heart. Even thought the terrorist “falls in love” for his personal agenda, later on, true love triumphs when he does his best to save his pregnant wife. In every one there is both goodness and badness. Which aspect we choose to activate is what will determine the outcome, good or bad.

So often one becomes a victim of others’ mischief, but to negotiate with their goodness is a spiritual art.

Well-made films with good themes could impart valuable spiritual lessons but one needs to decode them wisely. Entertainment can be a great source of learning. All you need is an open heart and mind to grasp it. Enjoy as you learn.

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Reflect on this

A young boy loves his dog so he spends his entire pocket money in nursing the dog when it is sick. While he is trying to push the medicine down the dog’s throat, the dog pushes the boy and the medicine falls down. The litttle boy gets angry and says: “I will not waste my money on you”. As he was turning away he sees the dog licking the medicine on the ground. Then he realises that it is not the medicine the dog rejected but the way it was being administered. If the youth finds spiritual teachings uninteresting, it is perhaps not their fault. Maybe we need to reinvent the way we impart to them spiritual values. And maybe the gap is, in a way, being bridged by the world of entertainment in the form of good films that are rich in positive content and implication.

If you listen deeply to music, if your heart is openand mind still, music can be a great spiritual learning. The problem has never been love but love that is not directed in the right direction. Music opens up your heart and your heart is guided with a calm mind. Both are achieved throught music. In fact it is said music is next to meditation.

The Speaking Tree, Page: 02, 28, Feb, 2010
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First Love – An Article

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Perhaps nothing is ever quite as painful as getting over your first love. It’s not just any old break-up; this is the boy/girl who taught you what it means to fall in love. You thought you’d spend the rest of your lives together. You have loads of jokes and memories of the time you spent together. Now that it’s over, you’re scared to death you’ll never find anyone to ever replace them.

The second time, I’m here again to start somethin…  I wish I could start over. I am trying, fighting against but words are still  behind, why? I don’t know. My hands, fingers- they are shivering to strike the keys. I find, I cannot do again… I ask myself then when again, when are you going to sit here again. Just a simple answer, I don’t know.

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