During a recent mindful meditation session at the Dallas Meditation Center the facilitator asked us to be centered and to send the love energy to all. As I tried to do this I realized that we need to work hard to be centered. As I am writing this note, I also remember to practice the same. We all tend to get off track from time to time as something triggers our emotions out of the blue. So we need to be mindful of these triggers. If possible, it is best to recognize them before their onset. If not, even after they trigger us, we need to manage these emotions, send them away and maintain equanimity.

I have come to understand that if we expect others to answer/ explain the reason for depriving us of their love it would amount to placing the key of our peace in their hands. So we must keep the key to peace of mind, joy and love in our hands only.

In a random sampling it is quite rare that any two persons would be operating at the same wavelength. It is extremely hard to understand others as everyone is usually coming from a different place of understanding. They see their truth based on their story, and personal experience. So no one is wrong as all are coming up with experiences labeling these as their personal truth. This changes from person to person based on their own story, background, baggage, comfort, likes and dislikes.

Some are really cognizant of the mind’s tricks, follies, and limited understandings. Once we become aware of it, it gets easier to know that we have unknowingly allowed these piled up emotions/dust consisting of misinterpretation of our worthiness based on our job, title, name & form, success, accomplishments, people’s thoughts of us, approval of us, to mold our belief of our true being. In a way we believed all of the above and made agreement with those false notions.  Now we need to come up with a new thought, a new agreement to see our true self. It took no time to believe what we are not. However it takes time to realize who we truly are. As we keep working on ourselves and shedding layers of ignorance we eventually become ego free.

Even after receiving many reinforcements showing that there is far more to what we perceive to be our reality through this mind, it is surprising that we constantly seek joy/happiness through the mind.

This body is a moving temple. Keeping it in fine condition by adhering to right path of living, to serve family as well as humanity is our primary dharma. It is our sacred duty to also safe guard the purity of our hearts as this is the seat of the divine indweller. In the heart are generated all kinds of emotions. It is also considered as the seat of wisdom. The proper knowing of this instrument that is our body leads to inner joy & contentment.

Constant urge to compete always, to do things in a “perfect” way slowly ceases. We realize we are made in the image of God in a perfect way. We are already perfect beings. Due to our limitedness we are thinking that we are incomplete. In reality we are peeling off the layers of ignorance to find out that in fact we are complete beings. This does not mean we do nothing and have inertia. We realize that we are capable of any thing and everything that is for the benefit of all. We can achieve all without any limits with an attitude of simplicity/humility and a sense of surrender where we take no credit or own any doer ship. We learn to leave all at the Divine feet and allow the grace to confer the results. We are truly willing to accept the gift of Divine grace.

Mind is a tool given to utilize our sense of discrimination for our wellbeing in all areas. Pain and pleasure are from mind. Joy and sorrow are from mind. Mind can be of help to cut through the process of old patterns. It provides a break through from the so-called miseries that are self-imposed by wrong identifications. Mind becomes our friend when we cradle those vagaries, acknowledge their presence and gently allow those raging thoughts to pass by us. Restlessness is the nature of mind. By turning to mind to find constant, unlimited joy is something like handing over the keys of jewelry box to a thief. It only knows to compare, judge, get anxious, get into restless areas. But the mind does help us once we know the technique of not suppressing but silencing its games through mindfulness.

With practice of bringing our mind back to awareness, perpetual rush of thoughts decreases and we quickly master it to move on from negative thoughts to positive thoughts and finally neutralizing all thoughts without leaving any residue. We go beyond clinging, expectations, attachments, and strong likes & dislikes; a beautiful state to remain in 24/7.  At this stage we naturally tend to have a balanced state of mind.

Going through many of our life’s experiences we attain self-mastery. From learning comes expansion/expression. We will know how to safe guard our inner spark/Divine presence that is constantly transmitting its love, light and warmth.  As long as we are constantly protecting it, by looking after it, pouring the oil of faith without distractions, it never diminishes and sheds light to help us navigate and finally find our path/destination in reaching our purpose.