Tag Archives: peace

How To Keep Growing

Be open-minded and teachable like an unspoiled child.  – The Urantia Papers

being teachable

The biggest malady we all suffer with is not being teachable because we’re so married to our respective perspectives! Our ego comes into play with the pretext that it’s saving our face, but does it really do that? Sometimes my son will point out an error I’ve made and I naturally tend to defend and explain myself. Often for a few moments at least I’ll stay that way before I realize that I’m holding my ground against my own child and that too when he’s right!

like a child

How can we be like a child? The scriptures exhort us to be ‘childlike’ not childish. Have the faith, the expectation, the outlook, the ‘now-focus’ and the joie de vivre that’s so natural to a child. We can do it if we remind ourselves to do it and practice it as much as possible! May you be the child you once were!

Daily Affirmation: Today I AM childlike.

Recommendation: The Urantia Papers

The Urantia Book: Indexed Version with free Audio Book on DVD (Can only be played on a computer with a DVD drive.)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

The Gift

Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.Eckhart Tolle

it’s now

As you read this you do so in what is the current moment. Let’s pay attention to the breath, to where we’re sitting, to what else is on our mind, to our surroundings, to our hopes, our desires and most of all to the observer that observes all this. When we identify directly with this observer we enter the present moment more fully. We can now experience life as it is, in all of its beauty and glory.

the future has arrived

Chances are that the moment we live right now is one we had feverishly anticipated a while ago. Even if that’s not the case we can find amazing positives about our life and situation today. Let’s whip out our journal or utter a prayer of deep thanksgiving for what we are and what we have. This moment is a miracle if we only see it as such. Let’s embrace this gift!

Daily Affirmation: Today I breathe in the Now moment.

Recommendation: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual EnlightenmentKindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

How Surrender Leads To Peace…

5.12 This man of harmony surrenders the reward of his work and thus attains final peace: the man of disharmony, urged by desire, is attached to his reward and remains in bondage. The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 5)

surrender

What happens if we do our best in any given situation and have no expectation regarding the outcome? In relationships we love, we give and we care; at work we focus, we work towards goals and deliver excellence, and we expect not a certain result. In other words we surrender to life while living life to the fullest.

peace

Surrendering is surely not an easy practice. We think thoughts constantly and many of them have to do with what we expect will happen next or later. So it’ll have to be a new mental muscle that we slowly develop. Because when we do, peace drops into our midst quenching the thirst produced by our constant striving.

Daily Affirmation: Today I give my best and expect not.

Recommendation: The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics) by Juan Mascaro

The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

The Secret ‘Formula’ To Being Happy

You can be happy if you know this secret: Some things are within your power to control and some things are not. Epictetus

what we can’t control

Even things under our control can be cause for dissatisfaction and unhappiness. For example we might want to make breakfast and end up spilling egg on the floor. That could be cause for frustration, especially if we’re running out of time in the morning. Even things under our apparent control sometimes spin out of control. 

what we can control

What we can control is our perspective, our attitude and our reaction to an event. I learnt from Jack Canfield many moons ago the following equation:

O (outcome) = E (event) * R (reaction)

The outcome (happiness) is the result of an event that occurs and our reaction to it. We control our reaction to any life event, situation or relationship. When things appear out of control, we ought to slow down, collect our full being, ask for input from Universal Intelligence and then decide on our reaction to the event.

Daily Affirmation: Today I control my reactions to events.

Recommendation: The Center Within by Fred Harris

The Center Within: Lessons from Heart of the Urantia RevelationKindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

Caring For Self & Others

Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get. H. Jackson Brown

caring for self

There are some great people who focus mainly on taking care of others. Often they neglect to take care of themselves. Caring for the self can involve many dimensions:

  • Focusing on a life of purpose and vision
  • Forgiving self and improving other aspects of self that lead to less guilt
  • Taking care of our health and general well-being

When we care for our self first we’re often in better shape to care for others.

caring for others

It appears that the whole universe is built for connection and for relationships. As we grow in self-awareness and become less selfish we notice that there are others who can be served. Quality attention put into our relationships yields quality results. What can be more important than family and relationships?

Daily Affirmation: Today I care for self and others.

Recommendation: Love Thyself: The Message from Water by Masaru Emoto

Love Thyself: The Message from Water III (v. 3)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

Love Is The Greatest Reality

5.3 Know that a man of true renunciation is he who craves not nor hates; for he who is above the two contraries soon finds his freedom.

5.7 No work stains a man who is pure, who is in harmony, who is master of his life, whose soul is one with the soul of all.The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 5)

balance –> freedom

Balance appears to be a key to success, peace and happiness. When we’re even minded (at peace) our physical brain frequencies hum at a lower rate (alpha). This allows us to receive direct input from Universal Intelligence. That’s where the freedom comes from. We feel at ease, we’re not disturbed and we gain insights from the Creative Source daily!

the one soul

We are all connected at source. The stuff that reality is made of is the same stuff that our souls are made of. The way to connect to that ‘stuff’ is via a restful mind that uncovers the treasure trove of love inside us. That love guides us into understanding and experiencing how we’re all connected. Harmony results.

Daily Affirmation: Today I AM love.

Recommendation: The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics) by Juan Mascaro

The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

Peace Beyond Understanding!

The peace of Jesus is, then, the peace and assurance of a son who fully believes that his career for time and eternity is safely and wholly in the care and keeping of an all-wise, all-loving, and all-powerful spirit Father.The Urantia Papers

the real secret

The real secret to life is to attain ‘the peace that passeth all understanding’. Such a peace cannot be found by chasing our desires. It cannot be found through meditation alone. It certainly cannot be found in other earthly pursuits. But such a peace is possible amidst all that we do undertake, all that we do experience, and in all that we are. It’s a state of mind.

peace at last

As humans what we really seek is true safety, love and peace. If we’re at peace, all is well in our life. It means we’re happy with our circumstances, our relationships, and we’re not clamoring and suffering for anything. Such a peaceful state is within our grasp. It comes not from achieving such a state first but from having faith in a benevolent creator (or order) first. We must believe that such a force has full control over its creation and that there’s an intelligence and wisdom that proceeds from it that cossets us in love and understanding. We’re ultimately safe, nothing or no one can harm us and we are loved more than we can know. Believe and rejoice!!

Daily Affirmation: Today I AM safe, I AM loved and I AM peaceful.

Recommendation: The Urantia Papers

The Urantia Book: Indexed Version with free Audio Book on DVD (Can only be played on a computer with a DVD drive.)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6