Emotionally Intelligent Living.

Our Physical personality consists of the Perceiver and the actor. Our forms of perception, driven by the sense organs of Taste, Touch, Smell, Hear and See, help us understand the physical world. The actor executes the actions based on our perception. The Emotional personality has the Feeler in us, which involves handling our emotions, and the discriminatory personality has the Thinker in us that defines intellect, which further branches into the gross and the subtle. The gross is involved in worldly boundaries and worldly thoughts and the subtle is the contemplator in which lies the spiritual personality. We now live in the age of speed and instant gratification; we have everything instant starting from noodles, to messaging. The media today constantly exposes our minds on the need or speed. We have 15-second advertisements showing achievements, which might take a lifetime, and giving us a false sense of instant possibility. This has driven focus from what is fundamentally important to what is urgently important thereby causing anxiety when one discovers things do not work the way they want it to and it surely doesn’t work in 15 seconds. We begin to live on expectations from our actions, which causes internal stress, rather than on accepting the results of our actions. When the mind is racing with thoughts of expectations and encounters roadblocks anxiety increases and when anxiety increases it leads to stress. Stress is therefore the speed of the mind. To reduce stress we need to decrease the speed of the mind. This is the yogic definition of stress. So, the percolation of stress starts in the mind which affects our breathing (observe your breath in moments of anger or fear), which affects the way, we look (body language in times of anger and fear) and finally affects the individual organs leading to various ailments. When our intellect is inattentive due to external stressors the mind goes wandering, making the senses run helter skelter which causes the body to be under constant pressure and finally break. Therefore to control the speed of the mind we need to first control our intellect which means focusing on our contemplative intellect and seek to understand the greater purpose of our journey on this planet which is fundamentally important rather than get carried away by our gross intellect making us seek temporary accomplishments which are short lived and thereby carry the message of being urgently important to do. Being Emotionally Intelligent, for a start, helps focus on the contemplative you and start the journey of discovery within.

Avatar- Revolution of Evolution

The intrigue that the reviews brought about the movie ‘avatar’ had me visit the theaters to witness this visual spectacle.

Once done with watching the movie, there was this strange feeling that this watch was ordained to discover the much deeper, subtle messages that influenced my thoughts and perception in comparing the 2 species, one on the forefront of technological evolution and the other at the head of spiritual evolution. One ruled by the head and the other ruled by the heart.

The nature of us the human beings in the movie indicates very clearly our evolution in the ladder of spiritual realm and it is that we are very ‘primitive’, compared to the Na’vi. The short sightedness with which we operate right now even on our own planet of destroying for personal and financial gain is a stark reflection of our behaviour in a peaceful alien environment. Everywhere around us today is the blatant display of this short sightedness. We have or are going to very shortly destroy our own Eco-system, that system which is host to our own survival all in the name of material development. There is no doubt in terms of the technological and the scientific advancement what we have achieved (seen even in the movie), though in the process of doing so we have left behind a huge void to fill within us.

All this is fact simply because we have lost bond with the surroundings and forgotten the basic truth that this entire Eco- system is like a matrix, with each and every atom connected to one another. We have thrived on the proclamation of separation based on caste, creed, color, economic status and what not simply to rule the other and in the bargain; it is the planet that is bearing the brunt of our myopic view. This greed to thrust illusionary power on the other has led to frenzied exploitation, be it of resources, people, governments, plant and animal life, basically anything and everything that we can think off.

To top this, we now move to destroy other worlds once we are done with planet Earth and follow the repetitive behaviour that has in the first place threatened our own existence. This is mocking to say the least.

Switching to the Na’vi, here is a species that recognize the matrix of creation. The deep understanding of the web of connectedness to everything around them, so much so that killing for a reason is also felt as something that is inappropriate given the place of that being in the web. There is a sense of community living where every individual understands and supports the well being of the other, at times of crisis the collective power of the entire species is brought together to heal or even higher to revive. The profound acceptance that the Na’vi has of their dependence to their Eco-system for their own survival is so very evident. The matrix across entire ‘Pandora’ is so strong that wild beast at times of crisis collectively group together to ward off threats posed to not only their survival, but also to the survival of creation in their setting.

The power of such an unfathomable connection can invigorate the collective will to face a much technologically superior race and greater still have the humbleness to forgive once it is all over. Wonder if the same can be said of us Human Beings.

The elements of the spiritual plane, of truth, compassion, connectedness, love and forgiveness is manifest for all to see.

Marvel at what can be achieved if the two, science and spirituality, head and heart unite.

Children as potential

The recent instances of 2 children committing suicide shockingly at the age of 11 and 13 reinforces the ever increasing pressures that children face today by a societal belief that studies and marks define success and the need for children to grow up through self-discovery no longer exists. This is a trend that is now increasing due to parental beliefs that are skewed.

This extreme behaviour is driven by parents who want to live their dreams through the eyes of their children, and somehow pressurize them into doing what might not be a natural for that child. Parents fail to realize the potential that these children have as in the above case of the 11 year old girl, who was appreciated for her dancing and forcibly stopped from pursuing the dancing lessons that she was taking and instead hassled her to study. The sheer disappointment of not being able to pursue a strength in her for reasons unknown to her led her to believe that she had reached a dead-end and the only way that she could get back at her parents was by killing herself unaware of the consequences of taking the extreme step.

Imagine, if the parents of a Rahul Dravid or a Sachin Tendulkar had forced them to become Doctors, we would have all lost two great cricketers and got two doctors whom we would have been scared to go to!

The key lies in recognizing the potential children have in themselves and nurturing the same. This does not mean that studies take a back seat; it just means giving the child its due recognition and allowing it to blossom in its strength rather than force it to adopt an extreme behaviour unaware of the hidden costs.

The choice is obvious, do we as parents want to live our lives through the eyes of our children and live with the guilt of the penalty? Or do we accept the strengths and the potential available with the child and allow it to blossom?

2012, My Place in the ascension

Recently there is a huge buzz with this now cliché word ‘2012’ and all that it supposedly brings with it, so much so that mainstream media and prominent organizations like NASA have stepped into either glorify or debunk all the theories that this timeline brings with it. Now, the release of the movie ‘2012’, that too on Friday the 13^th of November, has added to the ‘panic’ and/or ‘expectation.

The initial feel for the movie is one of awe, simply because of the amazing special effects and the undying spirit of the human race to fight against odds in overcoming trying situations and the will to triumph. The 2 and a half hour roller coaster ride brings out the elements of Hollywood in true style, maybe more than that.

Staying with the 2012 phenomenon and dwelling into it a little deeper, what even the movie depicts is the great cleansing that Planet Earth our ‘Gaia’ is currently on. There is now irrefutable evidence of the localized weather changes and the tremendous displacements that it is causing all over the globe.

Planet Earth is on a re-birthing process and right now in the middle of the labor pains. The cleansing that is depicted in the movie is more on the fire and water elements of the physical world; fire burns the present and water cools and cleanses for a new beginning and that is what we are headed for in the times to come.

The pace at which this process is happening is also quickening and that can be observed in our daily lives all around us. In everything that we are setting out to do, there is a innate tension to get it done as of yesterday!

Let us be sure of one aspect, all of us are experiencing the shift, in some way or the other.

At this juncture it is very important to just take a step back and think to ourselves, which is and where is ‘my space’ in this ascension? Where do I fit into, in this higher shift in consciousness as a part of creation on planet Earth?

The answer; How we attune ourselves to the coming transformation defines how we experience the transition to the higher level of consciousness. Those who accept the transition and the ascension will find the prefect set of circumstances to do so, inner intelligence will guide them, while those of us in the denial mode, though deep down aware would find those set of circumstances that influence our thinking at that point in time. What we think is who we are in creating situations in sync with that thinking.

The Mind as No-thing

This morning in the middle of meditation, I found myself immersed in the 'monkey mind' chatter that it is so famous for. There was a feeling that I was in the thought stream for a very long time and in fact gotten immersed in it so much so that it must have been quite a while before the question......what am I thinking about?.

Then it was the subtle request to myself, "If you can be immersed in deep thought for so long, can you also immerse yourself in the here and now.........for so long"?

Suddenly there was nothing rather no-thing to think about and this created a unique situation of uneasiness for a short period of time before the chatter began again! At the same time there was this flooding of emptiness that was so quiet and comforting.

That was the time that it dawned that the mind is totally unemployed when in the 'NOW', I had read about this and at times have felt it' though fleetingly, this time it was in full knowing of the no-thingness that felt overwhelming and then the scare, by which time I was again back to the stream of thoughts.

Ever wondered how scared our 'monkey mind' is when it has no-thing to do? this is because when its very survival is threatened, it tries all that it can to get back into the thinking mode as fast as possible to give itself the comforting factor that it is back in control!

Enquiry versus Inquiry

Very many a time we are at the crossroads of reflection and decisions. We usually end up there and ask the question "Why this and why now". Immediately, we are guided in our misguided wisdom of the 'monkey mind' to look at the external to place the blame. The mind reaches out to find all the reasons and the excuses from its immediate environment and at the same time looks to search for similarities in the past.

We then justify the situation that we are currently in to everything that we possibly can think of and obtain solace as we think that the fault is somewhere 'out there'. We then turn to our religious systems that promise cures by the way of rituals.

This is the mode of 'enquiry' that we are all conditioned to believe, driven by the system that we are a part of.

At times like these the only solace that we need to adapt to finding the 'cause' is to turn within, to look at what part of our being is pushing itself to be expressed, what part of us has been denied the right to express by the 'monkey mind'. When we divert our attention to the inner-self that is a store house of information to handle these situations, the ignored part of our being is given a chance to express itself and begins the process of healing that it has been looking for.

The self is equipped enough to find the options to come out of the situation and express itself in all the glory that it so is. The matrix of creation comes willingly forward to guide and help with no pre-conditions, judgment of either the self or the situation. Creation is so magnanimous that it does not question anything as doing so means questioning itself!

This starts the journey of healing in this plane 'the plane of demonstration' that we have come to call our 'home'.This is the process of 'inquiry' that leads us to dismantle our conditioned and perceptive belief system as it no longer helps the new awareness that we have developed and the new journey that we have chosen to undertake!!

From Ignorance to Light!

The festival of lights is here and the time for celebration surely follows. Can we make a pact with ourselves that we will continue the celebration long after the festival is over? this is the question that we need to answer.

Any occasion has with it a shelf-life that does not sustaining. As soon as the occasion passes the residue be it of celebration or otherwise lasts for a few days, maybe even a few hours before it regresses into the background of our minds. The 'monkey mind' does not stay with the occasion long enough because of its inherent trait of 'jumping' from occasion to occasion or situation to situation wanting more of the same or falling further into the depths of ignorance.

Ignorance here is the belief of perceived reality based on external stimuli mainly driven by the senses. We are ignorant that this perception is temporary and keeps changing. We refuse to accept this fact and go looking for more from the physical environment that we are all a part of.

Moving from this ignorance or darkness to consciousness and light is the journey to continued celebration.This frees us from the perception of physical reality and establishes a connectedness with the source and keeps us grounded in the face of changing situations.

Connectedness helps us to realize the impermanence of that situation thereby freeing us from the roller-coaster emotions that we experience in this plane of demonstration.

Have a great festival and keep the celebration of connectedness flowing!!!! See you all after Diwali folks