Where there is true respect there is humility

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Message for the day 07-07-2011
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Where there is true respect there is humility.

Projection: The more respect is measured on the basis of something external, the greater the desire for recognition from others. The greater the desire, the more one falls victim to ego and there cannot be humility.

Solution: I need to start the day with a thought that brings self-respect. I need to tell myself that I am special and also use this speciality throughout the day. I will then not dominate or limit the freedom of anyone but will naturally work with humility.

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Soul Sustenance 07-07-2011
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Anger Management And Prevention

As you increase your self-awareness, you will also see how your anger begins with a moment of irritation towards a person or situation. If you then give attention to that irritation by replaying or revising the event in your mind, which is like giving water to a plant, it will grow into frustration. And if you water the frustration, it will grow into anger, which, in turn, will develop into rage.

Don't suppress and don't express your anger. What's left? Transform (change). The transformation of anger requires you to realize the root cause of your emotional pain. The realization comes by understanding deeply the self or the soul. When you see the cause it gives you a choice a) to stop creating it or b) continue creating it. Unfortunately, although many see why they cause their own anger and acknowledge responsibility for their creation, they continue to keep getting angry. They find many ways of justifying their anger. They have an 'anger addiction'. They are angerholics.

Are you ready to see the root cause? Do you want to make new choices? Isn't it time to break your emotional addiction? 

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

The one who has respect for the self

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Message for the day 06-07-2011
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The one who has respect for the self is the one who gets respect from others.

Projection: Every human being has innate worth which is pure and virtuous. Faith in the self brings out the potential within and this brings respect for the self. Self-respect makes us self-reliant and brings respect from others.

Solution: In order to get respect from others, I need to increase my own self-respect. For this, all I need to do is find something unique in myself and each morning remind myself of this speciality. Also let me make sure I work at least once with this speciality throughout the day.

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Soul Sustenance 06-07-2011
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Understanding God's Role In The World Drama Clearly (cont.)

There are certain unchangeable laws which govern the interplay of the soul, God and nature. God will not infringe those laws. He will not grant favors to some and not to others. Nor will He remove sin unless the devotee himself begins to make the efforts necessary. He is immune to both praise and insult.

God's greatness lies not in the ability to interfere with events when He chooses. It lies in the fact that He alone is the only one in the universe who abides by these laws perfectly and forever. His might is purely spiritual. The Supreme Father, Supreme Soul, uses His power for the benefit of the world. He uses His qualities to transform it when it reaches extreme degradation. Human souls enter the world and little by little, through birth and rebirth, lose some of their original powers through the contact with and influence of matter. Because of losing their qualities, matter starts to "dominate" and defects and weaknesses appear in the soul, causing one to depend more and more on "body-consciousness." Values change, virtues change into vices and the spiritual, and consequently physical, atmospheres become darker. In this kind of dark atmosphere, we rightly believe that God, who is the Almighty, is the one who can teach us the perfect laws of living, who can empower and purify us through spiritual knowledge and meditation and as a result help set things right.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

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Respect is to recognize

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Message for the day 05-07-2011
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Respect is to recognize and appreciate the unique role of each and everyone.

Projection: Each one is unique with his own specialities. When we recognize the role of each one, we can understand that he is playing his part accurately. Then we can acknowledge even the smallest contribution and we'll be free from expectations.

Solution: When I have negative thoughts towards any one, I need to make the practice of looking at one speciality in that person and relate to it. Also let me tell myself that without the role of this particular person the drama of my life would not be complete.

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Soul Sustenance 05-07-2011
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Understanding God's Role In The World Drama Clearly (cont.)

God has no direct influence on nature. It is not He causes the change of seasons, kills or grants babies, makes airplanes crash, causes earthquakes, floods and terrorist attacks. This is the play between human souls and matter directly. The laws of nature are not the laws of God. The laws that human beings are following at this moment are not the laws of God. He teaches us His laws – the perfect laws of living; we learn them and make our lives perfect –as a result of which the world remains in a perfect state full of peace, love and happiness for some time. But then we forget the same laws and the world falls down to an imperfect state, devoid (without) of the virtues mentioned above.

God has been considered to be so great, so beyond understanding, and some convenient automatic phrases have developed: "It is the will of God... everything is the will of God", or ''I'll be here next week, God willing." How can one say: "God is beyond understanding", and also say what His will is? If God is an ocean of love, surely His will is the reflection of that love. It is not His will to kill people, nor is it His power to bring them back to life. It is not He who makes the grass grow and the wind blow. It is not He who is the energy that binds the atoms together. It is not He who gives us our roles. It is because we have misunderstood His almighty nature that we seek His favour in the churches and temples: "Grant us this ....", "God forgive me..." and so on. Though we flatter Him to give us this and that, when something goes wrong, or a relative dies, He is the one who is blamed, "It is the will of God" – we feel and speak.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

The importance of taking happiness

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Message for the day 04-07-2011
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The one who is truly happy knows the importance of taking happiness as much as he knows how to give happiness to others.

Projection: In order to be fully happy, it is important not to take sorrow from situations or people. Usually we pay attention not to give sorrow but it is now equally important to just take happiness from whatever happens.

Solution: In order to be fully happy, it is important not to take sorrow from situations or people. Usually we pay attention not to give sorrow but it is now equally important to just take happiness from whatever happens.

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Soul Sustenance 04-07-2011
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Understanding God's Role In The World Drama Clearly

All those who accept the reality of God believe that He is all powerful. It is believed He can do anything and everything, that He is some sort of invisible magician who first of all created this vast universe from nothing, and continues to manipulate its workings whenever He chooses. It is thought that all that has been, is and will be is created and controlled by God. Some go so far as to say that the total cosmos is the mind of God. This has been a constant point of dispute.

Firstly, there are three distinct and eternal entities, each having its own powers and functions. There is God, there are souls and there is matter, or nature, together producing the scenes of creation.

Secondly, there are two fields of existence: the physical and the metaphysical. Both fields act, react and interact to produce this incredible, universal drama of which we are all a part, including God. Fundamentally, on the physical level there is the interaction between souls and matter which produces all phenomena. On the metaphysical level there is the interaction between souls and God, the remembering and forgetting of Him, which gives the interesting plots and by-plots to the movement of events that we call world history.

Thirdly, 'eternal' (mentioned above) means that God neither created Himself, nor human souls, nor matter. When we deeply understand the law of 'karma' or the law cause and effect which in short means that every soul has to be bear the fruit for each action committed by it (whether good or bad), we can see the impossibility of God being the literal physical Creator of this world and human beings.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

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Happiness comes when there is self-sovereignty

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Message for the day 03-07-2011
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Happiness comes when there is self-sovereignty

Projection: Being a self-sovereign enables to have control over the self. If not, when there are negative or difficult situations, there would be sorrow. When there is control there will be no expectations from situations to change, but there will be the courage to change oneself.

Solution: When things go wrong, instead of worrying or waiting for things to change, I need to remind myself that I am a self-sovereign and I will be able to bring about a change in myself. When I work on myself and change I can be happy.  

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Soul Sustenance 03-07-2011
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Take one of the following virtues or values (qualities) per day and spend five minutes thinking about its meaning and its application during the day.

Harmony (Unity)
Forgiveness
Trust
Flexibility
Courage
Gentleness
Freedom
Understanding
Benevolence (Kindness)
Patience
Enthusiasm
Tolerance
Serenity (Peacefulness)
Co-operation
Generosity
Humility (Egolessness)

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

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Happiness is earned by

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Message for the day 02-07-2011
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Happiness is earned by those whose actions and attitudes are pure and selfless.

Projection: When the actions are pure and selfless there is no trace of negativity. Where there is no negativity, the mind becomes free from feelings of guilt, fear etc. This automatically ensures constant happiness.

Solution: If there is no happiness, there is definitely some kind of negativity. So check the actions that you perform. Let them be not only for your benefit but also for the benefit of all and you will find that you are able to be in constant happiness.

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Soul Sustenance 02-07-2011
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Freeing Oneself from Hatred (cont.)

To free yourself from hatred, you will have to take four important steps:

1. Understand that hate is not healthy. When you have a feeling of loss you feel sad. This feeling of sadness, because of the situation, generally gets created inside you before the feeling of hate, anger or frustration. Understand your emotions by observing them closely.

2. Accept that you are responsible for your own rage.

3. The other is free to act as they like, you can't change them, but you can improve your response.

4. Be prepared to observe, challenge and change the beliefs and perceptions that you base yourself on and that create your emotional pain. Some of these beliefs give force to your rage and block your learning. For example, when you think that it is good that you are angry, the belief is that to feel rage is the natural and normal reaction amidst certain situations. Another belief is that anger causes the adrenaline to flow in you and you consider that it is a healthy addiction, that it makes you feel 'alive', that having sudden surges of adrenaline makes you feel energetic and strong. You use any excuse to feel bad and, thanks to that excuse, your level of adrenaline rises!

Emotional suffering indicates to you that you have to change something in you, but you don't change anything. You ignore the messenger and the stress that you create continues to grow. Finally, it turns into such a habit that, if you relax and 'de-stress', you feel uncomfortable! You have got used to your stress.

Become aware of the need for you to evaluate your beliefs and their impact on your life. That way you will be more prepared to change and improve your habits. This is the first step to achieving it.

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

True happiness

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Message for the day 01-07-2011
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True happiness doesn't come from external things or people but from within.

Projection: As long as we depend for our happiness on external sources, there is every chance that we are disappointed. True happiness is that which comes from within. It is to enjoy and cherish each moment. When we do this our happiness spreads to others too.

Solution: Let me take this thought today to smile at everyone and everything that comes my way. When I believe I am happy I will be able to take even the negative things in the most positive way.
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Soul Sustenance 01-07-2011
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Freeing Oneself from Hatred (cont.)

Take a moment to reflect upon the last time that you hated someone. It might be difficult to see that your rage is created by no one but yourself. Although it 'seems' that the behaviour of the other person is responsible for your emotional state, the truth is that the hate is your reaction. Each response that you create might be a conscious choice. You forget that you have the choice because it seems that the hate comes out of your inside in a natural way. In reality, you are allowing yourself to act driven by your automatic pilot, where your subconscious habits, which are based on your beliefs and your perception, influence, shape and control your conscious thoughts and actions. That is the sign of mental and emotional laziness; in that state, your intelligence 'sleeps' and it is impossible to think with clarity and take precise decisions.

It is said, "It is impossible to get angry and to laugh at the same time," Rage and laughter cannot exist side by side and you have the sufficient power to choose either of the two. Each time that you choose to get angry due to the behaviour of another person, you are depriving them of their right to be what they choose.

(To be continued tomorrow …)

In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris