Human beings have an amazing capacity to store memories. Our memory is so sharp that once something bad gets imprinted on it, that bad thought keeps emerging on the screen of the mind – over and over again. Even though there are dozens of good things happening in front of our eyes, nevertheless, we regurgitate, repeat and remember only those things that have been imprinted on the memory.
It is important to step back and observe our thoughts when we engage with old, painful memories. When you start observing your thoughts, you will be able to see that they are wasteful thoughts. In fact, you will also be able to see that there are more negative thoughts than wasteful thoughts. Wasteful thoughts are not useful at all, but negative thoughts are worse; they give birth to conflict inside us. Once we think negatively about someone, we start to battle with them internally. Internal battles diminish the truth deep within us, and then falsehood starts working.
Once falsehood takes over, three things start working within the mind: imagination, rumour and hearsay, and past, recorded memories. Then a very subtle process starts to take place in the consciousness and all this stuff gets filed away. Inside our consciousness is the mind, the intellect – our ability to discriminate and discern what is right and wrong – and our sanskars – the personality traits that form our character. And so, when falsehood takes over, all three things – imagination, rumour and past negative memories, get mixed up within us.
The first, and most fundamental, lesson we teach in Rajyoga meditation is to understand that I am a soul – I am a spiritual being. On one side then, we have the awareness of being a spiritual being, a soul, but on the other side is the awareness of being a body. One is soul consciousness, and the other is body consciousness. When you are aware of being a body – of having body consciousness – you are thinking about your own body, bodily relationships, and possessions, the world outside, and other people’s nature and personalities. This is what fills your consciousness.
In our meditation course, we teach that it is better to become soul conscious. Soul consciousness is a more elevated state to be in than body consciousness. When I really experience the subtlety of the awareness of being a soul, all the body-conscious stuff that has deeply filled my consciousness is gradually removed. When I am in the awareness of being a soul, I can experience my innate original qualities – of truth, peace, love and happiness – and the experience of all these qualities gives me so much power that I am able to forgive and forget all the negative things recorded within me.
The late Dadi Janki was Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris.