Go Away Swampy

There is a scratchy little voice that makes a noise in the dirty puddle. Maybe, it comes from some peculiar creature called Swampy who has made the puddle his home. Swampy is a dirty little monster with a mouth that turns down when he smiles. You can’t look into his eyes, because they’re covered by his eyebrows; when he laughs, his laugh sounds like a set of squeaky door hinges. Swamy has long arms floating, bending and grasping like snaky spider webs. You do not notice them until they’ve reached out and wrapped themselves around you and started pulling you towards his swamp. He wears heavy boots up to his waist so you never know how deep he is. When he clings to you, you feel as if you’re dragging bags of cement. Swampy will make sure you hold on to all your negative thoughts and behaviours. For example, when you criticize and blame others, Swampy will shout with delight. “Lt them have it!” he’ll say. “Get mad!” Show them you can’t be pushed around!” Swampy will fool you into believing he is your friend. It’s strange, though, how he can seem so right and yet make you feel so awful. If you listen to Swampy you will never work hard. He’ll remind you, “Where is all that work going to get you? Ulcers? High blood pressure? Besides, look at the others who will benefit. Indian Railways, for example, what has it really done for you?” Swampy has some advice about helping other people. “Listen,” he’ll say. “People are using you. Watch out for yourself. No one else is going to do it for you. About the future, Swampy predicts nothing but utter hopelessness. “Don’t you read your newspapers and watch TV? There’s nothing but sickness, violence, tragedy and danger out there. Don’t expect too much out of life and you’ll never be disappointed. You’re much better off right here in the swamp with me.” Swamy has three more friends in the puddle with him. When they sing, it sounds like little stones in a dustbin. We do not know why we listen to this awful music- but we do. The names of his three friends are Fear, Doubt and Hate. Let’s consider getting Swampy out of our lives.

Reflection: Swampy will take just about as much of you as you give him. What will you do for shutting him out of your life?

Cammy Bean's Learning Visions: Top Tips for Writing Better ELearning Scripts (Ses...

Cammy Bean's Learning Visions: Top Tips for Writing Better ELearning Scripts (Ses...: These are my slides from my session yesterday at Learning Solutions here in Orlando: Top Tips for Writing Better ELearning Scripts. ...

What It means to be a lighthouse?

We all know that our words create action. The gap between what you say and what you do, between what you promise and what you deliver, is like a drain in the road. The drain is where water escapes, just as your power will seep away if there is a difference between your words and your actions. Ask yourself everyday, were your thoughts, words and actions aligned? Ask someone else what they saw in you too. Feedback is the food of all positive change.

But, I would suggest you to be a mentor for yourself. Learn to be your own guide... like a lighthouse guiding you through all the rough waters of the sea. If you fail to keep a check, you know what would happen. This check over your words and actions will keep you moving ahead.... safely to the shore. So, let you thoughts control your words, and your words your actions to do what you want to do and to do the thing that is 'RIGHT'.

Letting Go - Who, What, and Why?

When something gets taken away from you, let it go. If it’s a person who chooses to leave you, let that person go too. When you let go, and don’t cling on, you will not suffer.

I came across these words at the time when I was in those states of … letting go someone… that someone whom I thought existed just for me…. But time is the best teacher. It will teach you things at the right time so that you can take care of life in a much better way. Had this teacher taught something, without any context, may be I would have never learnt it. But, time waits, like a teacher, to come and teach you the lessons on life only when you are ready to learn those lessons, just as a tenth grade teacher will have to wait for a second grade child to clear all the grades through nine to reach there and learn what is required, because only then, will the child have the ability to understand and absorb things which will be helpful to clear or make way for future endeavors. True… Being detached does not mean you don’t care. Being detached from someone helps you to see the truth about Life. To accept the reality that no one can control others…. For ever… everything is temporary, every person is temporary… they exists for a purpose. When the purpose is fulfilled, the person or thing will just disappear… no matter how hard you may try to keep it or control it. .. whether money, or relationships. So… Don’t blame nor rejoice …. What you just need to do is transcend that love, that desire hat creates attachment. Through detachment of worldly or materialistic things, arises the attachment with God….. the Supreme Being …. Being attached to Him causes no suffering. There’s only joy… only love… only peace… Amen! In a let go, there’s just inner peace – and no suffering ever!

Sparks of purity

Words!

They are all around me! I see them. I use them. Harsh words, soothing words, biting words; words that give pain and sorrow; words that give joy and pleasure. They are vital to communication. When words are spoken there are reactions, negative or positive. Either thoughts are triggered or emotions fired or actions performed. Words colour our behaviour. And how lovely it is to hear words that are calm and free from rancour and aggression. To hear words that lift the soul and leave it with renewed vigour. Such words are the sparks of purity. It is important to remember that my speech indicates what is in my mind. As the thinking, so the words uttered. Mental calmness makes my words calm. A pure mind makes for pure words. It is said that speech may exalt someone to kingship or send him to the gallows. I should never let myself indulge in false, bitter and vicious speech. My words should reflect my true, inner nature, that of purity and peace. Words, once spoken, can never be recalled. They reverberate all around, beyond our control. Today, as I utter words, what effect will they have on those who hear them? Will they be the words that are poisonous and cause pain? Or will my tongue be like that of the nightingale, sweet and so, so very soothing and lovely to the ear? Peace ends when you are emotionally involved in a situation. The practice of being an independent observer helps you stay stable and calm. It is the best way to approach a decision in any circumstance.

Inspirations from Brahma Kumaris

Anger

Anger is an acid that does more harm to the vessel in which it is stored rather than to the person on whom it is poured. Sin Bin

It's a great idea in sport. Too many fouls and your out of the game for a short period. The same happens in real life, but we are not aware of it. Sin essentially means forgetfulness, or more specifically, to forget yourself, to forget who you truly are, a pure, peaceful and loving spiritual being who occupies and animates a physical form. It is this forgetfulness that makes us commit what we call sinful action. If you are insulted by another person, and you become angry in response, the sin is the anger which you create not the insult. You are asleep to the truth that you just hurt yourself, and that you are the creator of your anger not the other person. And now you have a recording in your consciousness that contains an image of the other surrounded by the energy of anger. You put it there, not them. Next time you see them, up comes the anger again, and in that moment you are at your least effective, paralysed by self created anger, you are effectively out of the game until you cool down. Interesting isn't it. Never get angry, at anything, or anyone, anytime. It's a sin! The influence of gossip

I cannot afford to overlook the influence that other people have on me. To what extent do I check that I am not being influenced by gossip? Negativity in the mind is like poison. Negative thoughts are the seeds of negative actions. Gossip and guessing bring sorrow, heaviness and distrust. Hear no Evil; See no Evil; Speak no evil; Think no Evil. Higher than the sky

Keep wearing virtues as your ornaments. Keep loving others. Keep giving regard. You have to go beyond the stars. Keep thoughts higher than the sky, and abundance of patience like the earth. Keep spiritual love in your eyes. Send Peace

The call of time is to send thoughts of peace and power to the world. Your world

The world of your mind is filled with peace, the world of your eyes is filled with love, and the world of your heart is filled with truth. Thought vibrations

Every thought creates vibrations. Vibrations are like sound waves or radiations. No obstacles, no hurdles can stop them. Mother's Love

A mother teaches her child with love and patience until the child learns. Be a mother and teach your mind to have positive thoughts and to let go of worries. Then when your mind needs peace, it will obey you. Spiritual Healthcare

Silence, happiness, love and blessings are important aspects. Happiness leads to good health. It is only you who can give this medicine to yourself. Some bring illness to themselves through anger, greed, unfullfilled desires, expectations, suppression of feelings and relationships not based on true love. Look in your heart, you will know where your illness comes from. There are three ingredients for a long and healthy life: live with attention but without worry; use time in a worthwhile way; keep your thoughts pure, positive and filled with strength. Forgive

To tolerate someone else's mistakes is one thing. To forgive them is even greater. Inner Beauty

"Wow...that's beautiful!" Is either a cry or a thought when faced with the mountain sunset, a spectacular view or a well formed man or woman. But where is the beauty, where is the appreciation of beauty, where is the ability to discern beauty? It is within our own consciousness. For the essence of who and what we are is beauty itself. The essence of beauty is not found in the body, a face or a mountain - they only stir the essence of beauty within our own spirit. And that beauty is not only something we taste within ourselves, but it emerges in our character as virtue, and in our life as care. For what is virtue, but love in action. The next time you say, "That's beautiful!" know that you speak of yourself, and it is you who are beautiful. Always were, always will be. Meditation

A racing mind that reacts sensitively to little things indicates thinking that has lost its spiritual strength. Meditation restores that power. Change

A fearless soul learns to adjust, understanding that change is the only constant in our lives.

Panch Vikaras that destroy the soul

Kama, Krodh, Lobha, Moha and ahankaar are the original Vikaras mentioned in Gita. These five thieves came to be identified out of the many others within humans because of the obstruction they are believed to cause in man's pursuit of the moral and spiritual path. The old Pali texts contain three lists of evils and factors which obstruct meditation and moral perfection. The list of five 'hindrances' (nivaranas) consists of sensuous desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and sceptical doubt. These hindrances blind man's mental vision and make concentration difficult. The list of ten 'fetters'(sanyojanas), which bind beings to sansara, comprises the following: belief in a permanent individuality, sceptical doubt, belief in the efficacy of mere moral observances and rituals, sensual passion, ill will, desire for existence in the material world, desire for existence in the immaterial world, conceit, restlessness and nescience. In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, redeem your mind, and adore the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Sexual desire, anger and egotism will be dispelled, and all troubles shall end. ((2)) (Guru Granth Sahib Page 501 line 22390). Thieves are roaming freely.

Arrest them before they arrest you.