Showing posts with label Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 September 2019

Everything is changeable


The days your heart is full are the days you come closest to bliss and to Godliness. Everything around you is positive. Only good news comes your way. The people close to you are communicative. You feel love and grace. A perfect day!
Spoils us for those days which are not so perfect because in our ignorance, we start expecting every day to be a replica of that one perfect day. A lot of this syndrome has to do with our expectations. We know every day is not going to be the same but we still feel bad and stressed when it isn't.
Perfect days also have a lot to do with our responses to the situations during the day. We can choose to smile or frown and that takes care of the mood setting for the day.
It is not wrong to say that it is in our hands to turn the mood around to a more positive one. An honest attempt may work, but not each time. Sometimes, our own energies may not side with us and sometimes, those around us may overpower us to succumb to an outcome not designed by us nor expected.
But you know what? At the end of the day, everything is okay and will pass to give way to a new phase yet again. There is no scope to feel triumphant. Things are constantly in a state of flux. Everything is changeable and changing constantly. That's life.
Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Tuesday, 22 January 2019

Victimhood


A strong message that we need to give people is that of recognizing the aspect of victimhood within themselves and shedding it at the earliest. When you compare yourself with others and find yourself lacking in a few things, you feel life hasn't been fair to you. Victim of life!
When people don't treat you well, you feel you are not wanted, Victim again; without realizing that THEY may be struggling to get out of their victimhood moments which stretch into years for many. Similarly, you see relationships falling prey. One dominant the other victim, the power play! Sensitive people often go under very quickly. And the game never stops, because one of the two is living a victim's character.
Victimhood may be the result of many things. Low self worth, inability to derive moral and spiritual strength, depending on others for love and caring, not able to live with themselves and many more. But the bottom line is, if you sink into victimhood, you sink period. It is very difficult to come out of it. So, please don't let anyone push you into that corner, not even your near and dear ones.
Stay wholesome people. And emerge stronger each time you face any situation. After all, who is going to accompany you out of this world? Certainly not those who were instrumental in your receding into that mode.
Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Sunday, 17 December 2017

Purity

Envy makes people do one of the two things: either putting down the object of envy directly, or deliberately putting up other people in their presence, especially when in a group.
Forget methods for a minute! It is just so sad that there is that need to feel envious.
I remember the simple question we were asked in school. How do you shorten a line without touching it? And the answer was, by drawing a bigger line next to it. Very positive!
But in this case, it is hardly positive. The method is the same but intentions so different. It is really the intention that determines all action and outcome. And the origin of any intention is either positive or negative.
Simple! If we kill to save or protect a life, that is positive. But if we are overly generous but inwardly not well wishers, whatever we do lacks purity, because the intention lacks purity.
Purity is simple. And positive intention is simple, too. There are no layers of deviousness there, nor required either.
Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Thursday, 28 September 2017

Analysis

All these years of my practice have taught me that the one single enemy within is insecurity. It is like the nucleus of an amoeba. Everything undesirable emerges from it.
I can be insecure about innumerable things. Starting at birth, with my environment. Maybe, I was not a wanted child. The family never accepted me. Maybe, I grew up in isolation...a neglected child. Could be my family was financially not sound and I had to pinch pennies....and circumstances like this....
People seldom realize what has transpired in the lives of individuals they meet or know, and how and why they have become the way they are today...
Character and personality are not traits only from one life. We have multiple personalities living within us. Kids who display certain qualities don't do it coincidentally. There is always a good reason.
So, insecurities build up from childhood, not only because of incidents that happen in this life but also those from other lives that we are here to neutralize.
An analysis of these insecurities will bring up effects like anger, complexes, diffidence, lack of self worth, envy , jealousy etc.
In fact, insecurities are directly proportionate to the self image. Feeling good and worthwhile is important to survival. And self image is generally based on the illusory self and therefore, cannot sustain itself, as all illusions cannot and do not.
So, try the antidote to insecurity. Strip away the surface layers of reactions one by one. Realize the power of love as being able to achieve miracles and discard anything that your soul within revolts at. Listen to the voice of the soul from within and understand what the Universe tells you about your life and how to live it. Gradually, you will succeed in dropping all insecurity, the biggest being that of the inevitability of death.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Monday, 7 November 2016

Confidence

People who are actually reserved or unsure, maybe quiet or even shy tend to get misunderstood as egoistic or arrogant. It is our limitation of the mind that brands them so. Isn't it? Being unable to make them open up to us can also be our weakness.
Life takes different turns for different people and not all of them can have a "don't care" attitude. Some may become introverted, too.
So, next time we see withdrawn people, we should seek them out and try and boost their confidence with our kindness rather than judge them wrongly.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Friday, 28 October 2016

A sense of compassion

To forgive and be forgiven is the most beautiful feeling. It removes many blocks within, cleanses our energies and gives us a new impetus to start over. It is often a difficult exercise. But if we look at every human being as a soul and all the layers as meaningless as the ones we pile up on ourselves, we might succeed in developing a sense of compassion.
To let go of grudges and resentments and to try and forgive completely is beautifully demonstrated by the "paryushan" week by the jain community. They ask for forgiveness within their family and friends and anyone else they have hurt. And this requires a subjugation of the ego, although temporary for many. Being human, we do tend to lapse. However, it does teach us and make us aware that we need to make it a part of our lives gradually and with practice.
Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Age Comparison


It is lovely sitting around the fire on a cold evening. Just like it is lovely to sit around your children to warm your heart. Good comparison…but fire destroys, too. As a symbolic fire in relationships.

It is sad to see disorientation between new age kids and parents. I wonder why love is not enough. There is much imagery in relationships today…sometimes; children are even ashamed of their parents, their dressing, their behavior, their social etiquette, that they look and talk down to them.

When you get into your late 50's and 60's, and see people and loved ones leaving this world one after another, it seems unimaginable that anyone should disregard the value of their near ones . It is not their fault that they were from a different environment, growing up. That they only learnt what they were allowed to learn at that time. That the freedom today was not given then. And many other circumstances due to which they became what they are today.  

Surekha Kothari


surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Sunday, 21 February 2016

Memories

It is so amazing how we are born in one place but settle somewhere else. Actually, do you know that even land pulls us towards it? We have had several past lives and in the places that we have unfinished business, we also have a tenure of residence or a visit.

You get a deja vous in certain places you visit. I distinctly remember such situations in Rajasthan and in Chittoor in particular and all of us have these memories. Yes, land definitely calls out to us have these memories. Yes, land definitely calls out to us.

Sometimes we exhibit certain traits of the land we have lived in, like a deep interest in certain music or dance or even dressing styles.

Quite fascinating!                                                                   

Surekha Kothari                  


surekhakothari.wordpress.com


Tuesday, 9 February 2016

About "Titiksha"

I want to share what my mother told me today...about "titiksha". It means, without worry, grief or tears and without resisting the flow of life and events, to tolerate everything. A tall order, right? But there is more!

This is just ONE quality of a peaceful person. The others are: decisiveness, obedience, sacrifice, love, generosity, happiness, silence, patience and tolerance.

These are pearls of wisdom from our spiritual texts and Masters who lived these qualities.

                                                    
Surekha Kothari                   
surekhakothari.wordpress.com