Wednesday 30 December 2015

Types of consciousness

We have to understand the three main types of consciousness:
Body consciousness
Mind consciousness
Soul consciousness

Most of the time, we are preoccupied with the first two. We groom the body, look after it and nourish it because we live by our external image. People judge us by this look as well. Cultivate a studied smile, the right body language and tone and often, you can get away with less cerebral content in your speech.

Right alongside, the mind is busy working overtime to support the body with all kinds of reasoning, whether it be with awareness or a lack of it.

The soul consciousness is necessary to bring to the forefront because as humans, we must know that we are here to use the body as a vehicle to purify our karma and consequently, the soul. This then should be our focus. But it isn't. 

There needs to be a bridge established between earthly activities and our soul activities. This bridge is the heart. The heart loves, period! What discriminates is attachment. When it is clearly understood that it is attachment that leads to hatred, we will start living in our hearts and without discrimination.
                                                      
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Tuesday 22 December 2015

BE AN OBSERVER

There is a very subtle but clear difference in my mind between looking at a “problem” and an “issue”. The moment we are steeped in what we perceive as a “problem”, we somehow tend to get sucked into a vortex which not only depletes our energy levels but also clouds our intellect, only because we are involved too deeply.
An “issue”, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to loom so large in our minds that it engulfs us. It seems “manageable” and our mind does tend to give us solutions more often than otherwise.
The difference here is actually notional and totally depends on the levels of the modes of positivity verses negativity that exist within us at the time. The truth is, solutions lie within us at all times. Sometimes, we see them and sometimes we can’t see them. Many a time, we don’t WANT to see them. Our state of mind, perception, ego and intellect define our ability to emerge as successful solution givers.
I read a very apt quotation the other day. “The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice you give others”. To accomplish this state of mind, it is essential to be clinical although it can be difficult for many. The word “clinical” does not merely apply to the medical profession. Any issue or problem, if viewed clinically and dispassionately can be overcome successfully. We just need to remove it from our emotional body and put it in front of us to analyse and deal with it. The moment we succeed in removing it from our subtle body, we revert to our natural state of balance and clarity for decision making. To be a detached observer can bring forth amazing solutions, resulting in a satisfied and happy feeling.
So, the next time, you face a “problem”, know that you need to immediately ask yourself, “What advice would I give someone else who came to ask me about a solution for this “issue” that I am facing at the moment?”
However, this can be done only if we are in a state of awareness of what is happening within us with our thoughts, emotions, biases, ego states and whether we are more reactionary in our habits or more pro active? People who are pro active are naturally more aware individuals because they act from their higher selves.
Let us become aware of our higher self and learn to be in constant touch with it constantly. Believe me, life will be amazingly beautiful and happy.
Surekha Kothari
www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

Tip of the week


Living in the Past

Memoirs are what memories create. Some happiness, some tears, some agony. As we grow older, we seem to start dwelling on the past very naturally. I always used to wonder why the older generation talks so much about their past. I guess, when we are younger, there is so much to look forward to. Our energy levels are high and life seems to stretch in front of our line of vision as having many goals to look forward to. Towards the evening of our lives, a saturation point is reached for many people. Some others retire from their workplace because they have to. Some pass on their work to the next generation. Some opt to resign and take life easy after many years of hard work.


For all of these people, there seem to be many experiences in the past to talk about. There is a lot of learning there for those who listen. But, to handle a phase of inactivity or less activity can get very difficult as well. Not everyone can accept this phase graciously.


Our sense of self esteem depends hugely on how occupied we are, and, more important, how this places us in the eyes of the world. When our identity comes from the approval of others, anonymity can be very unsettling. If life can be viewed as a series of phases, it would be easier to accept changes, both within ourselves and the external set of circumstances.


What is really the issue here is that there is little to look forward to. There are no new goals for many. Actually, the world has opened up so many opportunities that we can learn something new every day. Recently, I saw a computer class with seventy year old individuals and I was thrilled! When so many new vistas open up the Mind, and we have the child within us alive and motivated enough to keep learning, the present and future become so exciting that the past ceases to be a compulsive memory and remains dormant within us, to be brought up at will when lessons from it need to be remembered.


The productive use of each present moment is the key to living rather than existing on past memories just because we don’t see anything before us that would adorn our present and future.




        Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com