Shaivism Today Soul Speak ( 8 ) - A new year resolution

LET IT BE THE YEAR OF POSITIVITY!

Yet another year has passed us by.
Yet another  'New year'  is here!
Some of us make our personal resolutions at this time, and not without reason; Since the human brain is accustomed to work on linear signals,the first of January marks a good starting point for
re-programming our mind set. I too,have had my share of  resolutions year after year, mostly to be frittered away in a matter of days..

And this time,I sat down to reflect on why our will is not strong enough.There could be a plethora of reasons, but reasoning itself embarked on the fact,that since all things are connected, one resolve ,without the other, does not work. We know from our workplaces ,the importance of Teamwork. Well,our mind needs that too. A resolution,therefore,must be such that is holistic,
full. Holding in its content all the small bits of the team of good resolves.
It should be affirmative,not negative; that is, rather than thinking on what I should not do,
how about focusing on what I could do...
 Again a huge number of thoughts came up
and among these, all the noble ones found their summation in the one word "Positivity".
This lead me to the understanding that to " Let it be the year of positivity",
was an uncomplicated resolution that would take care of teamwork among thoughts,as well as goodness. And that too,without asking for an Olympic standard of genius and spiritual wisdom...
In eastern mysticism,the wise attribute all 'lucks' to three broad categories:
A) Adi Bhautik ( Those created by elements of Nature)
B) Adi Daivik ( Those created by higher powers)
C) Adi Aatmic (Self created)
While we can do little for the baby that is born blind , or an earthquake that destroys our homes and tenements ( Adi Bhautik), or the evil that resides in men as greed and expresses itself in oppressing others ( Adi Daivik) ; however, there is much that we can do about our own thoughts and their power ( Adi Aatmic).

A contemporary mystic, and my dear friend Lillian Too,in her brilliant book"Inner Feng Shui",
( an excellent tool for anyone that wishes to tune in to their positivity) explains about this power:
"You can make yourself distressed,bring tears to your eyes,simply by thinking of something sad -
a tragic event,the loss of a loved one,a sad movie.In the same way,you can make yourself confident by thinking about your achievements,and make yourself excited by thinking of your loved one.Your thinking will control your moods.The extent of this control will vary from person to person but thoughts determine your state of mind. Now let's look at your state of luck.You can make yourself feel lucky by thinking of all the good things that happen in your life.All the opportunities that came your way,all the big breaks you got. All the good health you enjoy.You are lucky even to be alive,what with all the wars,diseases and accidents in the world! When you adopt this perspective of life,you realise how really lucky you are.
Or,you can make yourself feel unlucky by thinking of every bad thing that has happened to you.
The toast got burnt.You slipped on the bathroom rug.You missed your deadline.You lost that promotion.You never win at lotteries.No one appreciates you.Everything that can go wrong with your life,has gone wrong.

You can compound these feelings.You can strengthen feelings of good and bad luck by adding further thoughts to them. Thinking lucky thoughts brings you good luck.
thinking unlucky thoughts brings you bad luck.
It is as simple as that!"
  I laud  Lillian's ability in sharing such profound wisdom in simple terms, with millions of seekers the world over. This is what transforms one's personal resolution into a transpersonal guidance for all. Everything is within you, the Sages have repeatedly exhorted throughout the struggle of man over circumstance, and in due course of time ,even the Bhautik and Daivik smile on the efforts of a dexterous meditator...
Begin with your self created luck,yes, and that which seems to be beyond you,will one day,
twinkle in the palm of your hand....Start now, Let this be the year of positivity.

( This article was written about 20 years ago )

~ From the notes of Shail Gulhati, Author of SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.


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Shaivism Today Soul Speak ( 6 ) Everyone wants Happiness

Everyone wants to be happy.This is a simple observation. One, that has been noted throughout time,and as the scientists would quip, this is a fact that has 'tested positive' for all beings of the world!

The mystics go a step further; Divine intention is simple,
they teach; God created, so that all of creation may be happy. And the 'Truth' about the purpose of life,is to find abiding happiness. We want to be happy.The very expression betrays that it is not so (yet). We want to remain happy,that is,even if we find ourselves having a good time, it doesn't last for long,and the world becomes an ocean of sadness again.

So,what has gone wrong? Let's take a look at what gives us pleasure. A promotion, a new car, a date with 'that someone you really like', a delicious meal, exciting clothes, that enrapturing concert, a heavenly landscape, and so much more. But you only have to scratch the surface of these moments, for a closer view,and strange as it may seem, none of them turn out to be the cause of happiness.
I repeat, by themselves,none of them are more than 'neutral events' . They are not all complete,without an important participant- You.
A delicious meal is good, yes ,but when you're hungry,not if you're already stuffed! A promotion is great,but only when you know,its because your ability has been acknowledged,and not for some other motive or compulsion. A new car sounds cool!but what of that nagging anxiety about repayment of loan schedule? Not to talk of the disaster an exciting date can eventually turn out to be if it is not founded on ethical sanctity.
So your appetite,your mood,your inner knowing,these matter more than the object or event at hand. It is quite clear,that for your joyous occasion,your common denomination is required. And if, of course,this is obvious, so silly then, that we went wrong where we were looking, when we looked outside! Hmm...

Clearer still,should be the understanding,that integral to your happiness,is, your knowing of your Self. And what is this"Know Thyself"? How does one come to such knowing? You have begun by noting that in order to enjoy something,your senses have to be okay, and tuned on.
For example,the heavenly landscape wont do anything for you, if you've lost your eyesight.So it is not the object that is responsible,but neither is the physical organ of sight the cause of elation.It is something more. To enjoy looking at snow capped mountains,you must like inwardly,what you are viewing. Suppose you like playing in casinos instead? What if you are inwardly thinking of the great games you missed at Las vegas? You are not going to be happy then,are you? Conversely, someone else,who loves mountains,might find himself stuck in a casino,feeling life's burden as the dealer deals out a hand...

Happiness,then,is something deeper than the outer object, more inward than even the five senses. Contentment,as they say,is a state of mind. So,we are talking of perception.And here comes the problem! Since,even the mind is fickle,the source of lasting joy that we are speaking/seeking of, must surely be even beyond mind. And we move to the inner spirit,the higher Self. Our seers have tracked this for us,dexterously,with Sadhana and Tapasya, Ruhaniyat and spiritual rapture. Out of their mystic vision and meditative insight have they proclaimed with authenticity and authority ' The art is to revel in your Self,your innermost,the core, the ever existent,never changing,where,even the mind is stilled in awe: Your essence,which is,but the essence of God residing in you.' In the east,we call it Atman.

There is no joy greater than experiencing your Self,no joy greater than knowing that which enables you to know.That,which is knowledge itself. It's inherent nature,is joy,because,simply,it is in union with God all the time! If we are able to become conscious to this happy state that has always been, we then re-cognize that it is our own light whence all happiness emanates, And we shall have fulfilled the purpose of our individual lives,we shall have arrived.
But this is not the end,awakening is only a beginning!
Buddhas,spend the rest of their lives fulfilling all of life. This is the design for the unfolding of man's veiled Divinity. Practice makes perfect, and there are a number of different spiritual ways leading to the one summit of the
Self -illumined state. You may begin with what suits your present attainment and spiritual temper, but begin now! You may take a cue from brother scientist's penchant for "positive test",and practise positivity! By the way,it has given me gratifying happiness in reminding you of the sameness that rests within you,waiting for your centering.
( This article was first written in  2001)Shail Gulhati is the Author of the books :SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.
The Yogi and the snake
Shiva Poetry
NAAM ROOP- A Tribute to the Divine
And Life Said.