Opportunities

 There is a strange mechanism at work in the universe. The moment you start living with gratitude and grace, not giving space to any dark thoughts/ energy, there are some opportunities that come to you to serve humanity.

I have wondered about this and concluded that while we are in a state of chaos, HE does not want to burden you further. But your burden is self-created. And only YOU can elevate yourself from this situation to a higher plane.

Life really works like clockwork if you let things happen, without getting affected.

God is within and around us and HE can propel

You into meaningful activities if you let HIM.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Adversity

 With every so called adversity, rejuvenate yourself. Life is to be lived, not to be lamented over. You can either give energy to your dark memories and experiences or create your own happy space with the many cherished memories. And create new ones.

I don’t know if anyone of us is infallible! It is for each of us to rewire ourselves wherever and whenever any thought, speech or action produces discomfort. And sure, it happens to us all.

At such times, look within immediately and go to the root of the discomfort. It is always within you. Not outside

The moment you gloat about your success; life confronts you with yet another challenge. So, be aware of the blessings upon you and live in gratitude.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Parameters

 There is always something and often many things we need to work on within ourselves. I agree that everyone is not motivated equally and at the same time,  to work on themselves. Only humans can have weaknesses and limitations. The larger picture of the agenda of karma we carry into this life determines our nature, our reactions and pretty much our psyche.

But we flounder when it comes to learning our lessons. The universe provides ample opportunities for this though.

Sometimes, I wonder what  all the hate and conflict does to the insides of people who practice these actively. I think it only burns and harms the practitioner and no one else. Yes, people react negatively to hate because the biggest criminal wants to be loved at the end of the day. And even words of cruelty and hate have the power to kill.

It is so mind boggling to see people make such negative choices for themselves. But karma has a large role to play. We don’t know it. Therefore, even if we don’t know its extent, the parameters of living must generally be based on goodness, gratitude and forgiveness.

We tend to cut the branch that we are sitting on, with ingratitude to our Creator and harshness to the world. Nothing good really comes out of this.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Quote of the day

 

Gratitude

 

Why do we go to a temple or a church ? There are no two replies to this. We make the effort to go because we feel good. We say there are beautiful vibrations of so many people having prayed there for years. The older the temple or church or any other religious place, the better !

We need to visit these houses of worship with the awareness that we are actually responding through the inner deity present with in us which connects to the deity present in a sanctum sanctorium. This gives a new expansion to prayer.

And yet, that awareness does not stay with us . The world draws you in the moment you leave the shrine. This is what we need to train our minds for. Make your day an extension of your prayers. We only have the present moment. So, we need to use every present moment to keep the divine in the forefront so that we are able to look at every person and situation in a positive light. To know that it comes for a purpose and to nudge us to move towards the divine presence within us.

I love this line, which comes from a quote by Melodie Beattie:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."

And I would add this thought — that without gratitude, you can turn any paradise into hell.

Without gratitude, every choice you ever made will always feel like the wrong choice.

Without gratitude, summers will always be too hot; winters will always be too cold.

The music will always be too loud, the movie will always suck, the teenagers will always be too rude.

Without gratitude, people who vote or worship differently from you will always be monsters in your eyes.

Without gratitude, you will always feel you were born into the wrong family.

Without gratitude, the waitress will always be too slow, and you will always get the worst seat on the bus. Without gratitude, every driver on the road except you is an idiot.

Without gratitude, life is A Misery.

The alchemy of all alchemies —is gratitude.

Even if we learn nothing else, we must learn how to say THANK YOU and Stay blessed forever

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Ignorance

 I often think of why and how we find it in our hearts to be ungrateful at all ! Right from gratitude to God for this life as a human being, to every little support that we get from nature, from our loved ones, from a pin to an elephant.... everything needs gratitude. For every human connected with our lives, endless gratitude. Gratitude for what we have and are, to what we don’t have or are not meant to have, for there is always a reason for everything.

For teaching us , for spurning us so that we turn to God, for rejecting us so that we understand that our source is not this world.

The inability to see what is so obvious is the same trait that exists in people who, otherwise, profess to be intelligent in many ways.

Only the heart can go beyond. To perceive the value of gratitude . Because it is the bridge between the world and source, between earth chakras and divine chakras. It is indeed a pity to waste a life in ignorance, that gratitude begets more worthiness to receive more abundance.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Gratitude

 What is it that we old timers were taught about living gracefully ? About making sure we said our “thank you” and “ please” to everyone. First, at home, for even small acts by our parents and siblings and staff . And of course, to others thereafter. The habit was formed at home. That’s why we believed that charity began at home.

In short, we learnt that taking any one for granted was akin to bad manners and was not appreciated.

I have often wondered why gratitude is so hard to feel and if felt, then hard to express. Is it due to carelessness , or, a feeling of entitlement , or ????

I guess change is imminent, though, sadly, the traits we valued and which gave respect all around should not have been a part of that change.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Memories

 Sometimes, the clouds suddenly disperse and the sun shines in all its glory. And sometimes, we wait and wait for it to emerge from the clouds. Exactly the way life happens. Sudden happiness and often, we have to pass through “ this too shall pass” phases. And they do pass.

Just remember not to store the wounds and the reasons for them. That won’t help. What WILL help is dropping those memories. Forgive. Forget. Gratitude. Abundance. Nothing lasts. So, why should memories ?

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Realization

 

One of the worst traits we can have and should definitely not have is ingratitude. It’s a popular saying that the people who you meet going up are the same people you will meet coming down.

A saying in Gujarati, translated, says, in life, there may come a time when we may need even a particle of dust. This is not to say that we should use people according to our needs. It means that whatever the circumstances, be grateful for everything because everything and everyone is important in their own unique way.

We grumble when the sun is so intense that it burns but if there was no sun at all? When we get heavy rain that causes damage to property but fills up the catchment areas and provides an abundance of water, should we curse it? Imagine what would happen if there was no water for us?

Two mantras in life are valuable.

One, this too shall pass

Two, it could have been worse

Everything is so relative in this world that only contentment can help in sustaining gratitude with the realization that what we have is a lot and this thought is enough to fill us with a sense of abundance and well being.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Quote of the day

 

Quote of the day

 

Quote of the day

Quote of the day

Truth

There was a time when truth prevailed more often than not. Today, the rumourmongers and mischief makers, inspired and encouraged by vested interests have spread such a wide net of falsehoods , misinterpretations and misrepresentation of facts and reality that people are in a state of utter confusion. What to believe and what not.

Money exchanges hands and “ facts” are born / created. We have all become storytellers. There are many twists in every tale , reality being a huge casualty. But who cares !! People want to believe what appeals to them, not what is the truth. So, everyone watches the “Tamasha” while reality quietly sits in a corner , ignored and rejected.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Quote of the day

Soul connection

Someone asked a question the other day. If you are close to two people and they fall out with each other over an issue, whose side would you take? A loaded question for sure. A tough one, too ideally, everyone would like to maintain both relationships. And why not, since you were never the involved party. Why do you have to be torn between the two anyway, right?

But there it is. Sometimes, there WILL be a tug of war and then? If you gave the courage, you should be on the side of what is right, and not the person involved.

But, right might be what appears to each person as a different perspective. When both people think they are right, what happens then? We invariably become fence sitters in the name of tact and diplomacy. The thought being," I don't want to spoil my relationships. Let them work

It’s out. It may not always be that simple when people are expecting you to take sides.

In life, there will be cases such as these or some others, where people may go away from you. And prefer to stay away for no fault of yours. It is okay. It doesn't matter. It is not your business to worry about the why's and how's. A clear conscience is the only yardstick we should use. And after that, let people stay if they will and let go if they won't. There will always be a soul connection.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

SpeakingtreeBlog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Quote of the day

Consequence

We have become very good at pinning the blame somewhere, as long as no fingers point at us. History evolves every day, with new events, new thoughts, and new ideologies. But to be honest, all these are inspired by one or a few controlling men. We have more sheep like people who are followers. Naturally then, if there is a no mind situation, the stronger will get stronger and rule the no mind ones. And history keeps documenting the changes.

But we never learnt to live in the present moment and never tried to influence the masses to action resulting in peace. Gandhiji did, with a lot of sacrifice and got killed but we only talk about his character and morals today. And that too, sitting in our comfortable homes over a glass of wine, probably feeling important just discussing what the channels are airing, blaming someone or another again.

We have lost ourselves, however much we might have gained materially. Of no consequence if we have lost our souls.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

SpeakingtreeBlog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Quote of the day

Talent and creativity

Sometimes, when you go to a show expecting nothing, you get mesmerized by the fantastic unexpected as I did this evening and as did many others.

The one hour, one woman play "Elephant in the Room" by the incredibly talented Yuki from Bombay was a treat that I was happy not to have missed. For the first time, I witnessed a touching portrayal of the human side and the anguish of Lord Ganesha as a little boy who had his head severed and replaced with an elephant head. Within this theme, Yuki weaves many characters and many little stories through Ganesha setting out to find his original head. She also touches upon contemporary topics brilliantly.

To keep the audience fascinated through her impressive and effective body language. acting, dance postures, incredible voice modulation for every character she played, from a hunter to a spider to a hyena and more , is certainly not a mean task. And Yuki did it with aplomb.

With simple settings and improvisations of characters with just a robe or a stole and super lighting and sound effects, the show is truly an unforgettable one.

FLO chose a daring, modern play but the Chennai audiences have come of age and responded with a thunderous applause between every scene and at the end of the show.

What talent and creativity can accomplish!!!

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

SpeakingtreeBlog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari