Thursday, 30 December 2021
Tuesday, 28 December 2021
Liberating Experience
The understanding of Vedanta is a liberating experience. It is a shocking revelation or a giant jolt for those who have never perceived reality this way, for people who see the world as an ultimate reality, where we live and die … and that’s it ! Nothing more , nothing less !
The basic understanding is severely lacking when we see ourselves as
subject and the external world as the
object. The moment we say “I”, we mean there is something else apart
from “I”.
In Vedanta, we learn about the different
states of being.Like, the waking state,
the dream state , the deep sleep state . And we think all of these are us.
Actually, not so !
There is a fourth state which is the
awareness that we ARE the awareness in which all these three states are
manifesting. We are merely watching provided we don’t get involved because what
is real is only US as observers.
I am that which observes , that which is
aligned with a collective consciousness which never dies … it’s merely like an
ocean in which waves come and go. In the same way, episodes within the waking
state and those within the dream states are not real.
We live our physical reality as in a dream and live our dreams like they are real , with all the emotions etc thrown in. Neither are true.
And the deep sleep is the state where all
this happens to us , and we observe. Because, I am not one with that which I
see. I am just the awareness that sees.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Sunday, 26 December 2021
Comparisons
I am devoted to people who are simple,
caring and nurturing. I am devoted to those who value humanity and are humane
beyond pettiness, comparisons and egocentricities.
Perhaps, because I come from the old world
where we could not dream of insulting or disobeying our elders. From a world
that mothers and fathers would always
lovingly counsel their adult children and the children basked in that kind of
nurturing. It was selfless caring, plain and simple, with no agenda attached
other than the well being of their children. I still smile affectionately from
my phone when my mother tells me from the other end, what to do and how to
behave. The inner child is happy and alive.
I come from a world where the parents were
encouraging of education, but strict about wasting time and getting into
frivolous activities … staying out of the home beyond certain hours was
suspect.
Today, when there is a long period of
lockdown, it is like old times . It feels normal. The amount of creative arts
that we were taught through teachers coming home , today stands us in good
stead , for there is just so much to do that there is no time to bemoan thelack
of “party” times .. hours wasted over long
brunches and dinners day after day !
Of course, we too had friends. But the home was where our heart was and friends were precious too, but only available to meet when there was free time from our activities.
Today, when I compare notes with my friends,
they are on the same page ! Happy to curl up with a book or create new products
but not at all clamouring to go out at the slightest excuse.
We saw that world and now , our children
are seeing only this world. We have seen both and are so much richer for the
experience of two worlds in one lifetime.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Friday, 24 December 2021
Energy
Gradually, we find that there are a few people who occupy the space around our energy and who actually strengthen our energy system with love and nurturing .
Of course, the opposite is also true. They
could deplete our energy. But there is
no one to be blamed. We all know about compatible energies and incompatible
ones. And yet, we do keep some incompatible ones around us , for reasons best
known to us.
No harm ! Provided we can protect our
energies effectively. Because we will always find both energies around us. So,
better to learn how to manage ourselves when required because expecting Someone
to change their energies is asking for the moon.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Thursday, 23 December 2021
Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Wisdom
“ What do we expect from life and from
people ?” We can all go ballistic about what we expected and what we didn’t
receive. It is the worst cycle to get
into. It is unending. When you are able to break this only will you be free for
meaningful movement.
It is strange but a fact of experience that rewards are incidental. What we
need to do is our karma , based on certain human principles which give us
respect in our own eyes.
But, what we do is the opposite. Our karma is based on our feelings, our likes,
our prejudices … when this happens, we deviate from our principles and pollute
our karma. We become unsteady. Imbalanced !
The path of principled living should not be given up for anyone because it is
your path of spiritual evolution. No one , however near and dear in this life,
can walk it with you or even help you, except a benevolent and compassionate
guru. Even your children are born through you but are not yours. Their souls
are on a different journey.
Why then do we still use expectations as crutches and are unable to understand
that for whatever good we do here , the points accumulate in the Divine Order ?
Act with good intention and faith and surrender the actions to the Almighty. Do you really think people understand where you are coming from ? Each one of us is too deep for anyone else to understand us. And when they don’t understand, they are bound to ascribe motives.
Meaningless ! It is more our ignorance that
spurs us on, not our wisdom !
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Monday, 20 December 2021
Sunday, 19 December 2021
Motivation
Sometimes, I wonder if we see ourselves the
way others see us ? In a way, it is a good thing to be oblivious ! Live in our own world !
Though , if we did see ourselves from
the eyes of another, , we would not do
the many things we do. We would check our behaviour.
Sensitivity develops only with the scrutiny
by others. We just don’t analyse our own selves while being extra quick in
interpreting the actions of others.
Huge misunderstandings can deplete our
energies big time if we don’t watch out ! Only because we only did what most
people do anyway.. blame someone else ! Without knowing even half of what might
have motivated someone to do what they did.
Old story ! New episodes every day !
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Thursday, 16 December 2021
Truth
Without love and trust, there can be no truth and straightforwardness. We see this all the time . Truth means honesty. And today, the scope for plain speak and truthful simplicity is minimal. Suspicion always stays with us. We always ascribe motives to people when love may be only love.
Suspicion is what arises when there is no
trust. And with it comes doubt.
And this cancels any possibility of a
genuine relationship.
No one takes anyone’s talk badly when there
is mutual caring and understanding.
Sadly, we have moved away from each other
in very unfortunate ways !
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Wednesday, 15 December 2021
Simple truth
We often find it in our hearts to be
envious of certain people. What we don’t know is how much pain they have gone
through to become who they are !
Those who think that some people are born
lucky need to tweak their thinking a little.
We assume this because we don’t really don’t know their stories.
Even a plant weathers so many storms to
become a tree. What makes us think we humans are any different and function
under a different natural law ?
The simple truth is, we walk in our own
shadows. And in trying to walk in someone else’s , we will remain in THEIR
shadow and never come into our own.
So, don’t stop loving others. Just love
yourself enough to experience the wholeness of your being.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Monday, 13 December 2021
Sunday, 12 December 2021
Environment
There is a feel to life. And everyone has a different feel, based on our environment, how we were brought up, what values we grew up with, what our emotional state was, whether we were taught kindness and love … who we grew up with , who our friends were growing up, how much controls we had on us by elders … I can go on and on…
The point I am trying to make here is, how
useless then is it to compare ourselves to others for whom all of the above may
have been so very different from each of us !
It really baffles me that people could get
so obsessive about someone else’s life that they forget that we can only be
better versions of ourselves , not of others. And for this to happen, the focus
is our life, not anyone else’s.
Many of us find it easier to teach the
simple things of life than actually BE simple. It seems quite a contradiction
when you think of teaching as the best form of learning.
Teach yourself to take your own advice and
let others do the same is a good mantra for peace and growth all around.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Friday, 10 December 2021
Competition
Society has always encouraged us to compete
& compare.
This has led us to adopt the belief that
life is a competition.
And we keep comparing & competing with
each other.
However, the truth is that no one is better
or worse, we are just all different.
Hence we need to just perform to the best
of our capacity
And compare only with our previous
performance.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Thursday, 9 December 2021
Wednesday, 8 December 2021
Vibrations
Today, I heard a very interesting
statement. The birth of language was the camouflage of vibrations. We became so
engrossed in talking and expressing ourselves that we lost our inner silence .
Hence, we could not listen to our vibrations and to our intuition. They became
blurred.
This is so true. If you think about it,
this is exactly why you can talk people
into anything and talk people out of anything.
As the influence from outside in terms of
verbal persuasion increased, we lost our own inner voice, a voice which can be
heard in only silence. Silence of the mind. And a mind which is not tainted by
futile talk. A mind that is not misled. And a mind that is employed in
meditation.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Monday, 6 December 2021
Sunday, 5 December 2021
Soul Connections
“If I knew then , what I know now, I would
have handled my life so differently “!
How many of us have said this to ourselves
? But , the point is. We DIDN’T know.
And now, foolishly, we beat ourselves up ! Absolutely not required.
Each of us chose our mother before taking
birth. Why ? Because our agendas of life were connected. So, if the mother was
going through a rough time during pregnancy, the child starts with a birth
trauma.
The situation keeps changing . The parent
and the child too keep advancing in their journey. Sometimes, love binds them
together.
Often, neither is aware of the larger
canvas. But when one learns about soul connections and karma, that’s the
starting point of the healing. We can’t do anything about past but we can
definitely heal, heal,heal everything that we know is not right in our lives
and that of our loved ones.
The one thing we need the awareness and to
ask “why” , because only then will we find answers. Anything that does not feel
right in your gut, or intuition or thoughts, needs to be addressed. Not tucked
away somewhere.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Thursday, 2 December 2021
Effort
What we do when we are diffident ! We may
have an open mind but we would refuse many opportunities as “I can’t do this”
or “ I am not cut out for this” or even, “ I am not interested. “ is anyone
born interested ?
I am quite convinced that if we just say to
ourselves,” no harm in trying it out”, we
have already broken the wall around us. It is a start. Next comes
sustaining the effort. Never anticipate results. It is the joy in just doing
something.
We have a tendency to expect results even
before mastering anything. And what is that ? “ I want to show people I can do
it”. We do most things for other people’s approval.
We seldom think , “I am enjoying what I am doing and that is
most important. I am doing this for ME.”
But even that enjoyment might begin to
happen a few days or months down when we have built this activity into our
daily routine. Like, we start reading a book reluctantly because someone has
insisted. And a few pages later, we get so engrossed that we finish the book
cover to cover.
Keeping an open mind is therefore , a great
starting to acquiring knowledge. After all, if we keep the door closed, where
will the trash air enter ?
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Wednesday, 1 December 2021
Personal capacities
There are so many subtle emotions that we
cannot differentiate between and tend to mix them up.
A major reason is self image . If we gave gradually allowed dependency on others
for our well being, we will develop a
trait of asking for sympathy and seeking love in sympathy towards us. The “woe
is me” attitude which is not worth sustaining.
This is very debilitating in the long run.
People should love us without pitying us because we have projected the “victim
“ side of us.
We don’t realise how much we do this to
keep people in our lives. But we are unable to improve this way, in our
personal capacities.
We need more empaths in our lives and we
have to become one to attract them.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Monday, 29 November 2021
Spiritual Wealth
I strongly believe that every citizen of
this country must take up a cause. This is the only way we are going to wake up
to those around us and their needs. Not only that, we also start waking up to
our own abundance which, sadly, we don't ever understand because we are always
looking to acquire the trivia we don't possess because someone ekse has it.
If we can just do this exercise : put down
what we have on one side and what we want on the other . Just examine how many
things that we want are really worth desiring. And examine the worth of what we
already have.
Strangely enough, we never ask for : god,
give me more goodness, more generosity, more compassion for those around me.
Or, please help me be honest and simple in my relationships.
We ask for more of what money can buy. More
power. More fame. People lining up to praise you to the skies for what you
possess. Gautam Buddha left all the pomp and glory , and years later, emerged
as the most glorious of humans.
The moral : Only in letting go do we find
spiritual wealth and glory.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Thursday, 25 November 2021
State of confusion
Very often, we are not sure of ourselves. A
state of confusion , perhaps. Be clear in your intentions. WHY you are doing
what you are doing. Very often, we do things grudgingly and are not happy doing
them. This is going against one’s real self. There really isn’t any need.
Honesty to ourselves is most important. Keeps the head and heart clear.
At some stage, all of us will realise that
after going around gaining many experiences , we ultimately come back to
ourselves. And if we don’t, then we have a long way to travel in our journey.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Changes
The art of life is a constant readjustment
to our surroundings.
— Kakuzo Okakaura
You must welcome change as the rule but not
as your ruler - Because things do not change; we change as the change is for a
cause. Do you know that it’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort
zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.
Change is often uncomfortable, but always
inevitable. Life has a way of dodging our best-laid plans, so it’s important to
learn how to adapt and roll with the curves we’re thrown.
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous
changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.
Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
It is not the strongest or the most
intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Monday, 22 November 2021
Journey
Pain is inevitable. There is no growth or
evolution without it. The triggers causing pain could be either from other
lifetimes or this one. Even if our life’s path has been chosen wisely and in
the right direction , periodic tests , some intense, will arrive along the
journey. Some will be unpalatable and challenge our attachments.
But you know what ? This is exactly what we
need to reflect on what we want in our lives and what we must accept as not available.
There is another angle too, which is, what we had but didn’t work .
So, at every step, knowledge is incomplete
unless we learn and move in the chosen direction.
The release of knots does not mean
disconnection. It just means smoothening out and getting back into the flow.
Surface waves which have been calmed.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
Friday, 19 November 2021
Spiritual growth
Everything that we possess to go through our life’s journey is like a tool kit: our thoughts, emotions, our financial flexibility , our bonds .. everything. Yes, our relationships too… very much so.
The next realisation is how we accommodate
all of these with love and gratitude. The “I” that has the tool kit is the one
which now needs the wisdom to understand the blessings bestowed upon it.
There are always ways to live , using all
that has been gifted to us. But , along with enjoying the journey, we need to
see that the journey is not fraught with disappointments and depression. That
strife spells out the wrong usage of the kit.
If you have financial flexibility, temper
your entertainment desires with spiritual growth. Spend the finances in
learning, going for retreats , cleansing , healing … or , just praying from
wherever we are. Accelerating the pace of prayer really brings miraculous
results because we are one with God and no third to dilute our concentrated
energy.
Unfortunately, as long as these remain words and theory in people’s minds, there will not be any change . We actually have to take up a commitment to DO and to practice healing modalities for atleast a desired minimum time to observe their effects.
Many of us don’t turn towards this
direction at all. Our choices are directed towards what seems to be , from the
external world, a source of happiness . But, soon, that myth explodes. For,
behind transient happiness lies its opposite: misery.
The sooner we realise that our real joy
lies in developing our soul and witness consciousness, the sooner will we
embark or continue on a journey of a God ordained path.
Money, name and fame cannot be our ultimate
goals. If we have been misled into thinking that they are, life will teach us
that it is not so. And harming God’s beings will definitely not result in any
good. The physical world exists to help our consciousness and awareness develop
a clean channel which reflects God within us. Nothing less. It depends on each
of us as to when we arrive there… in how many lifetimes.
Because I AM THAT.
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
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