Saturday, May 30, 2009

Blessings

Many times this thought crossed my mind!
"Why do educated people sometimes behave in the most irresponsible manner possible."
Not that I am perfect, but nevertheless the thought. At that moment I would also wonder whether the thought came because the other person's behaviour affected me, was directed towards me, or was I worried because the action was harming the person in question more than anyone else. And unconsciously at that moment I would pray, Oh God please help him/her to react more positively, or leave that particular habit which was more than anything -- self destructive.

Then came the blessings course and suddenly I realized the power to bless was inherent in all of us. Just that we did not use it as often as we should:) and then came this question that Gurudev answered in one of the satsangs.....
Q. Can I take a sankalpa for a change in someone else’s behavior?
Sri Sri: "Do it, take it. Bless them to behave better. When you want to bless someone because their behavior hurts you, it doesn’t work. When you want to bless them because their behavior hurts them, that would work. That is compassion. Say: May you behave better, so that you can be happier."

And I knew I could use the power to bless(Power sounds so funny...:) more and more, to help people around me....How master empowers to always keep the perspective on doing one's bit for people around!!:) To add as he himself says:
"There is no such thing as big seva (service) or small seva. The fruits of both are the same. Do service as much as you are capable of. Put all your energy into it. Whatever service you do within your capabilities will bear good result. The feeling, the intention behind every seva is important."

If your intention is pure and soaked in knowledge and love, it will do its work:))))

I know I can never be grateful enough for your presence Guruji :)...
Om shanti shanti shanti..

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Ego and when to use it

HOW MUCH EGO WE NEED AND WHEN TO USE IT?
Sri Sri :
Who is using the ego? How much we need the ego?
We need the ego when we get depressed. To come out of your depression, you need your ego. Ego says, come on, what is this, nothing can touch me. And when you think you are failing, then, you need your ego.

But, when you think you have succeeded, then ego becomes dangerous. In your success, drop your ego. In your failure, hold on to the ego. Again, accepting the failure…There are two options for you. One is the higher self, the divine or the higher self, surrendering to the Divine. Then what happens, the small ego which identifies itself with the body/mind complex, your thought process, your concepts, breaks from that and becomes bigger.
The whole life is a process of expanding the ego. How much you can expand the ego? Patriotism is nothing but an expanded ego to the boundaries of the land. Patriotism is, you say you are Canadian—that means your ego is expanded to the boundaries from Vancouver to Newfoundland. That’s your ego. But, if that ego expands further up and beyond all the territories–this earth belongs to me. And the Divine belongs to me, the whole universe belongs to me. Then comes the great sentence–So Hum, I am that. I am that. So the expansion of ego.

But this ego, if it is not fully expanded or totally come to the focal point of nothingness, in between it gives you tears, problems, worries. To do work, to face challenges, to take on new things, pump the ego. Otherwise, subdue it. It’s very subtle. You can easily mistake that.

When we say erase the ego, you only mean a different type of ego. The ego which needs someone else for you to be there. But the ego is not there usually at all. Once you know it is there, it’s not desperate. Until you know it is there, a long time has passed by. Till that time it was necessary. Hum?

Ego as the opposite of childlikeness, it’s not necessary. Ego as the stiffness in you, is not necessary. What do you say? So ego has its place. Keep it in the pocket. Even money should be in your wallet not in your head, in your mind.

Similarly ego should be in its place, but not when there is love, when there is oneness, when there is spirituality. When it comes to learning ego should be dissolved.
When ego should be there? When there is a place to fight. There ego is essential. Where there is a challenge, where there is a creativity, ego is essential.

When there is a place to celebrate, no ego.
Where there is a place to learn, no ego.
Where there is a place to learn and accept your mistakes, no ego.
When there is love and togetherness, no ego. There you be like a child, free. Cause if you have ego, what will you learn, you can never do it because you will always take a position and block it and you will not be able to see.
In your perception and in your expression, no ego. When you are to make friends, ego will be a hindrance. When you want to make friends, ego is? Hindrance. When you want to oppose an enemy, ego is a great friend. When you want to negotiate and do a business deal, ego will help. So place everything where it belongs to. What do you say.
Sri Sri.

To add another quote I read, and felt was so true…
“Without control over harsh words and without refinement in expression and tactfulness in behaviour no success is possible.”

If you feel success is eluding you, take a look at how you behave with people around…..
Treating people as if they are objects, mere cogs in a machine, set to fulfil your own personal desires can never get you what you want. Setting your goals in a manner that is self fulfilling as well as beneficial to others, being positive and grateful for all the good things you have, being genuinely interested in people, giving reverence to relationships and people just for their mere presence and not because of how much and what they add to your life, are the reasons that bring nature to work for you...

When you are unable to communicate well, know that the ego has taken over you.
When all your relationships are based on what you are getting from the other, know that its ego.
When you are looking at people only with a view of ‘What can I extract from this person for my own good’ know it’s the ego…:)


“Those who take, eat well, but those who give, sleep well!!” Expect less, give more and sleep well……