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

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

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

Quote of the day

Tip of the Week

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

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

THE ALL TIME CLEANSERS

The market is flooded with all kinds of cleansers with different aromas. Shoppers can have a field day trying out new ones every day if they so wish. How good we feel when we feel fresh after using a fragrant lavender or a jasmine gel or soap! You would imagine that this “feel good” factor would sustain through the day. But, this may not be true at all. The moment we transfer our body consciousness into our mental and emotional consciousness, these cleansers lose their fragrance.

The most effective cleansers for every human being are in the form of mind cleansers. The mind is really at the core of all pollution, aided by the ego.  When the mind becomes tarnished by low self worth, it goes into comparisons, depressions, self rejection perceived as “other” rejection, snowballing into defiance or aggression as a self defense reaction. In this mode, the easiest and most rampant results seen among people are spoiling relationships, transferring blame to external factors and an unwillingness to come out of the shell to observe ourselves like others observe us.

Cleansing such complexities is very tough when we look for help and help is not available. Anyway, eventually, we have to work at cleansing ourselves.

There are many cleansers available if we find it in our hearts to use them.

COMPASSION is one. To feel a sense of kindness towards those who are going through a negative phase and are enveloping you in it, however unwittingly. Compassion demonstrates an understanding for such people.

FORGIVENESS is the next. “Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do”, is one of the Commandments in the Bible. Forgiveness was supposed to be a way of life, which, today, is very hard to find. Our ego often boasts of having forgiven, but genuine forgiveness has two sides: to forgive and to be forgiven.  This two way forgiveness is deeply cleansing in terms of bettering relationships as well as cleansing past karma.

CLEANLINESS: We look at cleanliness in terms of hygiene, referring to cleansing the body, our homes, the kitchen utensils we cook and eat in. But cleanliness also means keeping the purity of thought, word and deed in our daily lives. We often fail to do so, submitting to our reactionary mode to cause more and more damage everywhere and spreading negativity instead of cleanliness.

SELF CONTROL: Giving in to desires and wants, adopting unethical means to achieve those wants, inability to control anger or hatred, meting out injustice and many such impure initiatives can be removed with self control.

Life presents many challenges and it is tough to practice using these cleansers. Ultimately, those who don’t do not make a habit of cleansing may end up paying a heavy price with their health or losing valuable relationships and run the risk of isolation.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

National Committee Chairperson, All Ladies League ( www.aall.in )