Find the root cause of your natural tendencies. Analyze these tendencies.
Watch them with equanimity and quietude. Do not get entangled.
My two cents ---
Most of our actions are governed by our natural tendencies. These tendencies make us think and behave in certain ways. Pujya Shree Mota compares this to a river flowing within its banks, incapable of changing the direction of its flow.
The first step is to watch this flow of thoughts and emotions. A little reflection will reveal that this flow is fueled and guided by sex, anger, infatuation, arrogance, jealousy etc. Most of the time we think, feel, and act based on these natural tendencies, just as the river keeps flowing within its banks for eternity.
But as human beings we have the power of choice and free will, and are capable of changing the direction of this river. For this to happen, however, you must reflect with a peaceful mind and some degree of equanimity.
NAAM-SMARAN ( JAPA ) IS AN EXCELLENT TOOL TO DEVELOP THESE QUALITIES.
Ashwin
PUJYA SHREE MOTA
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
LIVING AWARENESS ( ભાવ )
Keep alive the sense of purpose ( spiritual development ) in any work, conversation and behavior. Remember that all the activity is done to accelerate the journey to achieve our goal. Create a habit of always remembering living awareness of the purpose ( BHAVA ) during reading, writing and performing any action.
My two cents ---
You encounter pleasant and unpleasant situations during the day. It may include jealous or friendly co workers , generous raise, pink slip, tedious commuting, birth of a child etc. To remember and keep
alive the living awareness of Sadhana during these different situations is difficult. The secrete is to start somewhere and if the effort is genuine, progress is sure to come.
You may ask " what is the living awareness of sadhana? ".
Take an example of tedious commuting. You can get upset and unhappy everyday or enjoy the ride listening to music or news. But there is another way. Think and feel that this is an opportunity to observe your self (enjoying, angry at times, amused, emotional etc ), correct your self and in the process little advancement towards spiritual path.
TO HAVE THE AWARENESS OF THE WHOLE PROCESS AND FEELING THE GRATITUDE TOWARDS GOD FOR GIVING YOU THIS OPPORTUNITY IS THE LIVING AWARENESS
( BHAVA ) OF SADHANA.
You can practice this when other driver cuts in front you!
Ashwin
My two cents ---
You encounter pleasant and unpleasant situations during the day. It may include jealous or friendly co workers , generous raise, pink slip, tedious commuting, birth of a child etc. To remember and keep
alive the living awareness of Sadhana during these different situations is difficult. The secrete is to start somewhere and if the effort is genuine, progress is sure to come.
You may ask " what is the living awareness of sadhana? ".
Take an example of tedious commuting. You can get upset and unhappy everyday or enjoy the ride listening to music or news. But there is another way. Think and feel that this is an opportunity to observe your self (enjoying, angry at times, amused, emotional etc ), correct your self and in the process little advancement towards spiritual path.
TO HAVE THE AWARENESS OF THE WHOLE PROCESS AND FEELING THE GRATITUDE TOWARDS GOD FOR GIVING YOU THIS OPPORTUNITY IS THE LIVING AWARENESS
( BHAVA ) OF SADHANA.
You can practice this when other driver cuts in front you!
Ashwin
Thursday, September 16, 2010
SERVICE
You serve GOD when you serve others in need. One who lets you serve is obliging you by giving the opportunity.
There is no question of claiming anything as yours in this world. GOD has given you and you give it to others. Nothing belongs to you in this world.
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My two cents ---
An excellent guideline to follow while working as volunteer or just helping out your family and friends.
When volunteering you must have noticed bickering, insults, infighting etc. This happens even in the best of places. Pujya Shree Mota has clearly mentioned that if you can not follow above principles, than better not serve others. You are doing injustice to others and yourself. It increase your ego and you get entangled into messy situations. This is written not as a discouragement but as a caution. It should not be the excuse for avoiding service all together. Use of discretion ( vivek ) will go a long way.
Next time when you get the opportunity to serve others follow the guidelines. GOD has given you the opportunity to develop yourself and at the same time helping others.
You develop humility along the way.
Ashwin
There is no question of claiming anything as yours in this world. GOD has given you and you give it to others. Nothing belongs to you in this world.
--------------------------------
My two cents ---
An excellent guideline to follow while working as volunteer or just helping out your family and friends.
When volunteering you must have noticed bickering, insults, infighting etc. This happens even in the best of places. Pujya Shree Mota has clearly mentioned that if you can not follow above principles, than better not serve others. You are doing injustice to others and yourself. It increase your ego and you get entangled into messy situations. This is written not as a discouragement but as a caution. It should not be the excuse for avoiding service all together. Use of discretion ( vivek ) will go a long way.
Next time when you get the opportunity to serve others follow the guidelines. GOD has given you the opportunity to develop yourself and at the same time helping others.
You develop humility along the way.
Ashwin
Thursday, September 9, 2010
INTROSPECTION
"Be attentive to yourself.
Be introspective.
Live only in your own world.
Do not let yourself become entangled in extraneous matters.
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My two cents ---
The main thrust of this "pearl" is to study oneself only, and not to bother about anything else. The intention here is not to become passive and lazy. In his writings, Pujya Shree Mota has made it abundantly clear that you should do all work that comes to you with diligence and love. Here he is asking us to refrain from entangling ourselves intentionally in somebody else's business. It requires a great sense of discretion. Non-intervention should never be an excuse to hide or promote laziness.
Ashwin
Be introspective.
Live only in your own world.
Do not let yourself become entangled in extraneous matters.
-------------------------------
My two cents ---
The main thrust of this "pearl" is to study oneself only, and not to bother about anything else. The intention here is not to become passive and lazy. In his writings, Pujya Shree Mota has made it abundantly clear that you should do all work that comes to you with diligence and love. Here he is asking us to refrain from entangling ourselves intentionally in somebody else's business. It requires a great sense of discretion. Non-intervention should never be an excuse to hide or promote laziness.
Ashwin
Thursday, September 2, 2010
GOD'S WORK
"Understand that all works coming our way belong to GOD. Perform them with love and without hesitation.
All incidents and happenings are for our own good. These activities need to be done with a clear understanding that they are for our own benefit and self development.
GOD'S mystic and auspicious purpose is behind all happenings."
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My two cents ---
There is one clear benefit when you perform your work as GOD'S work. The first thing that happens is that you encounter and confront your ego as soon as the work is started. That gives you the opportunity to observe yourself and make corrections along the way. A sense of discretion ("vivek" in Gujarati) develops along the way as well. The works are done outside but they are directed from within.
If enough awareness is created within, then inner guidance enters the process. The moment inner guidance (not your own ideas and wishes) is accepted, the ego starts to loosen its grip. From that point on, you become GOD'S instrument and one small piece of the puzzle in his grand design.
It is of the utmost importance to start the process and not just read and entertain yourself. So next time, when a confrontation happens outside, enjoy watching the confrontation within and gain some insight about yourself.
Ashwin
All incidents and happenings are for our own good. These activities need to be done with a clear understanding that they are for our own benefit and self development.
GOD'S mystic and auspicious purpose is behind all happenings."
--------------------------------------------
My two cents ---
There is one clear benefit when you perform your work as GOD'S work. The first thing that happens is that you encounter and confront your ego as soon as the work is started. That gives you the opportunity to observe yourself and make corrections along the way. A sense of discretion ("vivek" in Gujarati) develops along the way as well. The works are done outside but they are directed from within.
If enough awareness is created within, then inner guidance enters the process. The moment inner guidance (not your own ideas and wishes) is accepted, the ego starts to loosen its grip. From that point on, you become GOD'S instrument and one small piece of the puzzle in his grand design.
It is of the utmost importance to start the process and not just read and entertain yourself. So next time, when a confrontation happens outside, enjoy watching the confrontation within and gain some insight about yourself.
Ashwin