Experience is not what happens to you

 image by axinia

Quotaion by Aldous Huxley.

Why Hinduism is not becoming popular in the West?

 image by axinia

The British colonizers discredited Hinduism as being merely backward superstitions, and even today, whereas Buddhism is very much in fashion with American and European intellectuals, Hinduism is largely ignored.

Given that all the essential premises of Buddhism are already contained in Hinduism, including how and why it is helpful to be able to control the senses, it is a shame that so few Westerners are interested in what it has to say…

Giving and forgiving: one case study

 photo by axinia

Today is the Easter in Russia, and may be that is why I can`t leave the topic of forgiving. One intresting example I just experienced last week: it fits so well the theme and may be will help one or the other to overcome this greatest hurdle of non-forgiving.

Some days ago I was accused of doing something I definitly did not do - at least not on purpose. The thought of someone accusing me of doing something what is against my principles was not a pleasant one. Obviously it was a misunderstanding, and it had to be cleared. The next day I went shopping for a friend`s birthday present and suddenly saw a lovely tie.

My second secret weapon: forgiving

 photo by axinia

I wrote about my first powerful weapon several times, for example here and here. It is the power of innocence. The power of a child in a person. This power lays in the base of a human being as a “childness”, manifested through innocence, wisdom, spontaneity and living in the present. In a daily life full of competition and performance pressure I naturally use this quality to act according to my own principles and - actually - for the benevolence of everyone around. That makes my life very easy and enjoyable in every moment. But there is another trick that makes my life even more comfortable and colourful. In my way I would call it my second secret weapon - the power of forgiving.

Since the message of forgiving was given by Jesus Christ two millennia ago, not much has happened in the human awareness in that direction. Luckily recently the word “forgiving ” is getting some shape in the modern human minds. After 2000 years! Better later than never, indeed.

Amazingly, people find it extremely difficult to forgive. I remember one Christian (!) lady proudly told me ” there are things in life one CAN NOT forgive!” - interesting, isn´t it?  Let`s see how it works and why forgiving is actually a very easy thing.

Your Heart: is it weak or strong?

 photo by axinia

It is not merely romantic nonsense to say that the heart is the seat of your love and compassion. It is a fact. We open our heart to those that are closest to us both in a physical way (by demonstration of affection and generous action) and in a subtle way though the feeling of tenderness and overwhelming concern we have for them.

We say someone is closed hearted when they seem uncaring and selfish, and we call them open hearted when they give to all without a question. These are real examples of power of the heart to help or hinder our enjoyment of life.

A weak heart chakra can show up in may different ways, for example through mean spirited actions, or though deep insecurities which drive us to be selfish through fear. We can find evidence of a weak heart centre in those who are overly neurotic or frail, or in those who question everyone`s motives. Even overly ascetic people can be victims of this problem.

The descrete charms of the world bourgeoisie

 photo by axinia

 

In the mouth of Society are diseased teeth, decayed to the bone of the jaws. But society makes no efforts to have them extracted and be rid of the affliction. It contents itself with gold filling. Many are dentists who treat the decayed teeth of Society with glittering gold.

- Khalil Gibran, (1883-1931) Thoughts and Meditations

 

Ask most people what they did on holiday

 photo by axinia

Ask most people what they did on holiday and they`ll tell you about the great sights they saw, the grand events, the glamour, the extremes in weather, environment or people. But they`ll be hard pressed to remember the small things, like the market they passed through on the way to the cathedral, or the beautiful flowers they saw on the path to the beach house. Yet it is the small things which give substance to the reality of the whole experience. 

Meditation teaches us to enjoy the journey as a whole and not to waste time peering into the future to catch a glimpse of the destination. We learn that the flowers at our feet are unbelievably fragrant and beautiful, of only we would stop for long enough to appreciate them. We realise that patience is a power that cannot be cherished too much. It is the bedrock of peace, contentment and our spiritual desires.”All good things come to whose who wait”, is an ancient proverb, and how true it is. 

HOW TO FORGIVE: it is easy!

 photo von vova

Forgiveness is strangely enough something very difficult for many people. Especially for Christians - while it is the Jesus Christ who brought that message of forgiveness!

Living and Europe and particularly in Austria that is famous for being very catholic I meet lots of people who can not even think of forgiveness. Normally forgiveness is not the topic one likes to discuss. Then how do I know that? Though my experiences of giving self-realisation at Sahaja Yoga programmes or at some other occasions.

One condition to get self-realisation is to forgive oneself and everyone - otherwise the energy of Kundalini cannot pass the Agnia Chakra and get out on top of the head. And also because of non-forgiving one may experience some pressure in the head (btw, headache is often the result of non-forgiving!)

The truth is that forgiveness is not only easy but also pretty necessary for everyone. In fact, it is a matter of common sense!

Trend Blend 2008 and my Top 10 Trends

 

Nowandnext.com and Future Exploration Network have once again collaborated to create a trend map for 2008 and beyond. 

I love the positions like Spirituality, Collectivis, Karma Capitalism  and Search for Meaning on the Society Line (yellow).

The cross stations named are: Digitalisation, Virtuals Worlds, Globalisation, Anxiety and Ageing.

I find really cute the trend of making things: the Internet has allowed people with weird and wonderful interests to find each other. Hence hobbies that everyone thought had died out are now enjoying a renaissance because individuals and small groups all over the world find it easier to find each other.

Or this smart one: Someting for nothing -  One of the emerging business models in the closing half of 2007 was giving stuff away for free in the vague hope that customers could one day be persuaded to part with money to upgrade their experience (or subscription). This has been labeled ‘Freemium’ and is, perhaps, the way that all digital products and services will be ‘sold’ in the future.

And I was very amused about Russian nationalism!

Some other intresting trends: Reality mining, 3-D printers, Virtual protest, Simplicity, Celebrity worship, Networked risk, The attention economy.

My top 10 out of this list are:

MORNING PRAYER

photo by axinia

MAY I THIS DAY

BE WHAT YOU`D HAVE ME BE

MAY I THIS DAY

SAY WHAT YOU`D HAVE ME SAY

MAY I THIS DAY

BE PART AND PARCLE OF THE WHOLE

AND MAY MY THOUGHTS BE

OF A REALISED SOUL

MAY I THIS DAY

HAVE LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND

GOD, BE IN MY HEART AND IN MY MIND

Prayer by H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi