Amid global tragedies and violence, many of us grapple with overwhelming emotions and a longing for inner peace. A sense of helplessness and doubt leads us to wonder if we could somehow contribute positively to these situations.
What we say or do originates from the mind: Thinking originates in the mind and creates my reality. What we say or do originates from the mind. Who or what influences my thinking then plays an important role in who or what I become. If I am driven by the need for power, the need to be seen and recognised as someone influential or powerful, all my thoughts and actions are driven by those needs. If I am focused on refining myself to become a more humane person, my thoughts and actions are tuned towards this effort. If my thinking is without judgement or prejudice, if my intention is to connect from the heart with another, if I am not insistent on things going only according to my plan, then there is the opportunity to open up and create space to work with others harmoniously.
The growing competition, comparison, achievements...Man is inherently so focused on himself and his efforts or his achievements that he becomes the centre of his existence. The growing competition, comparison, achievements and need to prove oneself better than others, drives a wedge between him and others. If only we could acknowledge that something higher than us exists within each one of us and that we are all striving to understand what that is.
What does meditation do for us? During these times, meditation has become more important than ever. What does meditation do for us as individuals and for society at large? The very first outcome of the regular practice of meditation is a calmer mind, a sense of peace, and the awareness of an inner connection to a higher presence which helps us navigate life’s many challenges with guidance from within. We slowly let go of the burden of making decisions, which reduces our levels of anxiety, stress and the pressure of life. The chatter of the mind reduces and instead gets tuned to listening to the heart and receiving guidance from within. Meditating on the Divine, feeling the presence within, and carrying the subtle condition through the day as we go about our activities create a beautiful energy in all our interactions.
Undo this enormous baggage: How do we make this shift happen? On our own, this may be very difficult to do as we are quite set in our habitual patterns of behaviour. A tendency to react in a certain way to situations or people seems almost natural to us. It may surprise us to know that these are created or formed over years by the repeated impressions created in us starting with the thoughts we have, our conditioning, our family and peers and many other factors. To undo this enormous baggage that we have collected, may seem to be an uphill task.
A sense of lightness and inner joy: Heartfulness or the Sahaj Marg system offers a simple set of tools and practices which enable us to cleanse ourselves of this mental and emotional baggage that we are carrying. As this cleaning happens, a sense of lightness and inner joy develops in us. Our personality gets transformed with the removal of what is unnecessary for us. It creates a space in our hearts filled with gratitude, acceptance, empathy and compassion. Imagine a mirror within us is getting cleaned and we can see ourselves more and more clearly.
This practice brings wisdom and an attitude: The heartfulness system of heart-based living creates within us a calm, centred and purposeful focus, allowing us to let go of stress, tension, anxiety and indecision. Meditation brings about clarity of thinking, the ability to decide intuitively and a state of inner peace. Our hearts resonate with the Source, keeping us connected in a very simple and intuitive way. This practice leads to a process of refinement in our thinking, becoming purer and lighter, giving us the capacity to handle situations and challenges that may come our way. The experience from this practice brings wisdom and an attitude of going through life without being affected by anything.
A balance between my inner and outer development: Leading a spiritual life does not mean giving up on our responsibilities or livelihood and renouncing everything that is material. The emphasis is on finding the balance between my inner and outer development. When we can work on both, the resulting condition is what creates a harmonious state for us. My attention moves from being ego-centric to being considerate and compassionate to what others may be going through. After all, we are all in the same situation, navigating through life not really knowing what tomorrow will bring. Aspiring to do my best in the present, defines my future. I do not dwell on the past and what could have been.
A ripple effect, positively touching lives: How does my inner transformation help with situations of unrest or violence? I don’t need to travel to a particular country and join the forces there to fight their war. I can change the way I think, free of judgment, blame, prejudice, etc. I could work on my relationships within my family, with neighbours, co-workers, friends, etc. to create harmonious and loving interactions with all. Heartfulness offers us a way to change from within so that the inner condition of peace, love and stillness reflects in everything that I think, say or do. This will impact not only those around me but also create a ripple effect, positively touching lives.
Wouldn’t this be contributing to peace, brotherhood and unity everywhere? There is the possibility that I could contribute to a better environment for myself and for others as well. What I am and what I can become, needs enormous effort and dedication. Meditation, cleaning and a sense of connection to the Source provide the base for this journey. Imagine if all of us took responsibility for ourselves, and started working on our own transformation, changing the quality of life around us, wouldn’t this be contributing to peace, brotherhood and unity everywhere?
Decide if this is a path you would choose to walk on: Can inner peace contribute to world peace? We invite you to try this simple yet effective system of Heartfulness, observe the changes in yourself and decide if this is a path you would choose to walk on.
15,000 certified trainers in 130 countries: Heartfulness is now present in over 130 countries worldwide with more than 15,000 certified trainers. The training and guidance of the practice is provided free of cost to those who are interested. This system is derived from the ancient Indian system of Raja Yoga and is open to anyone over the age of 15. For more information and to connect with a trainer close to you, please visit our website: www.heartfulness.org
Article Courtesy: Ms Priya Hegde
Photos Courtesy: www.heartfulness.org
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