We need to find a way of living a life full of meaning, in response to the current human condition. The root cause of all that is wrong in our world lies in the spirit. We have a consciousness problem, and this has manifested in the physical world. Therefore, the solution lies with us, in our consciousness. Spirituality investigates the invisible mechanisms and principles, working on the level of consciousness. There are many ways of categorising the spiritual principles involved, but here are seven principles that contribute to making life more meaningful.
1. Choose what you wish to see…sometimes a situation arises that is not to our liking. We then tend to focus on the situation and do not see all the other beneficial aspects on offer. There may be lessons, dividends, opportunities that the situation is bringing, which we will not notice if we only concentrate on how uncomfortable we are feeling. But as is our vision, so is our world, and so is our life. Instead of trying to change the situation or people involved, upgrade the vision, and see what happens. We may not have a choice of what comes in front of us, but we do have a choice of what we see. Let us not simply go through life, but grow through life.
2. Be aware of who you are…most people live in the doing and having zone. All their energy of consciousness is wrapped around the identities concerned with what they do and what they have. All this brings continualemotional ups and downs. To live as a being is very different; no longer identifying the self by a job label, nationality label, religion label, class/caste/sect/tribe label. When we practise being the soul, spiritual energy – then we move from the materialistic zone to the spiritual. Live as the being.
3. Keep the heart clean…to keep the heart clean we have to let go of temporary desires. Temporary desires are ‘wants’, and eternal desires are ‘needs’. We may want praise, attention, appreciation, prestige, possessions, property, power, acceptance, approval, to be admired.Behind all of these, what the soul really wants are the eternal desires. These are love, peace, and happiness. These needs already exist in everyone, in seed form. The seeds need to be watered to germinate and grow and that is what happens in meditation; meditation waters the seeds of truth and lets them emerge. The more this happens the fewer external demands we will have. When we clean out the selfish temporary desires from the heart, the universe cooperates with us, and life delivers.
4. Have patience…the fruit of patience is very sweet. Impatience is like eating raw fruit. Patience allows the fruits of life to ripen. Patience, tolerance and introversion are needed to see the hidden treasures behind every situation. If we are willing to focus on self-improvement with maturity and patience, the fruit is always very sweet.
5. Understand and experience a deep relationship with the Divine Being – God … God is pleased with an honest heart. The cleanliness of the heart is what attracts the help and cooperation of God. We need to keep checking the cleanliness of our motives. God is not in the business of fulfilling selfish desires, but with honesty in a relationship with God, we will find that life will unfold in the most unimaginable way, and bring me the deepest, pure desires of my heart.
6. Take the first step of courage… because then God gives 1,000 steps of help. It does not work if we say,‘God help me and then I will try’. No, first I must take the initial step of courage to do the right thing, even if only in thought, and then help and cooperation comes from many directions. Our own courage activates the help and support of the Supreme Being. It is like magic. Never relinquish courage.
7. Nothing is mine! I can lose nothing. When we begin to live as a steward or trustee, not abandoning responsibilities, but taking care of all that is needed, there is a different mindset.When we understand that we have nothing to lose, it is so liberating, and everything that is meant for me will come to me at the right time.
Living a life of meaning, not only improves our own lives but those of others – in such a way that the whole of the human condition is finally transformed.
Yogesh Sharda is the National Coordinator of the Brahma Kumaris’ services in Turkey.