Does the world really need another great war? April 15, 2014

image by axinia

Unfortunately the situation in Ukraine is getting worse, and it looks like a war is about to start…But I cannot get rid of a feeling that it is all being made of and conducted between USA and Russia, according to some prior agreement. At the surface it looks different, but while trying to get a bigger picture, this is what comes up for me.

Recently one high rank Austrian banker told me “After all…we had no war since 60 years! So much money has been printed, so many weapons produced…the world economy is stagnating…it needs a way out”. How brutal it may sound, but a war brings an economic boost.This is probably what the politicians think of.

But of course I have no idea what the real reason is (Who can actually have any? The true backgrounds are mystery anyways)…and of course my only heart desire and everyday prayer goes to Ukraine, that a war will NOT take place. And lots of people do the same, I know!

A philosophical question which bothers me about this situation is of another kind.

Since the 1970 there was a strong feeling in the world that people, more than ever in the human history are discovering their inner Self, getting to Spirituality. It looks like a global transformation is taking place…And a question comes up….Have the Earthlings not evolved since the last World War? Have they not become better, more satisfied, more knowledgeable, advanced compared to their ancestors? For instance, even on the material level, according to life standards the world population had the best life ever in 2013, .

All that gives an idea that probably we have evolved at least a bit, we are different now!  – The recent happenings show however that such mental techniques as propaganda, no matter on which side, are able to brainwash almost any deep and intellectual soul. The situation around Ukraine shows how badly people are falling into that trap despite all their seeking, evolvement, working on themselfes…That’s shoking!

Does it mean, the world will never change? It is that unless and untill everyone has even a single drop of hate in the heart, the danger of a war is always there?

I do hope it will, but so far I cannot see it. Probably it’s still a long way to go.

 

LOVE, and loads of it to everyone!

axinia

What I learned from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict March 29, 2014

image by axinia

Since I am Russian and my beloved husband is Ukrainian, the story of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict around Crimea and more has a lot been in my attention. And because I have no TV at home and read Internet very selectively I could more or less survive the information war. But even if I try to minimise the information flow by getting possibly the first-hand impressions and facts from the people involved, I am still getting a lot of buzz from the world Russian-Ukrainian community…. It is really hard to stay cool!

However the hardship of the situation helped me to learn two great lessons. And I hope many more people will be able to see it in the same way.

1. THE TRUTH CANNOT BE SEEN IMMEDIATELY.

This is something we learn throughout the history of humanity but obviously always forget when something happens: We are not able to find out all the reasons, all the real players and all real facts about any historical happening unless and until some time passes. The amount of totally useless thoughts in the heads of people trying to analyze the reasons and forecast the develop of the situation around Ukraine and Russia is terrifying. The heads are overheated and people keep on this nonsensical reactions. The truth is   – we will not be able to see the Truth right now. It is much more importatnt to keep a cool head and a good meditative state, and to point out the attention to the overall benevolence.

2.A SPIRITUAL PERSON SHOULD GO BEYOND THE COUNTRY-IDENTIFICATION.

The current situation shows dramatically what huge damage to a personal development can identification with one’s nation of origin bring. Many people whom I knew as nice and spiritual, suddenly went mad about being Ukrainians or Russians, really hating the other side and some even breaking their friendships with “the enemy”. How horrible is that?!? Horrible and very sad to observe. Doest it mean all our talks and beliefs in some kind of spiritual development are mere self-illusions? This current test shows where we really stand.

It seems to me that even though in the 20th century some patriotic movements did good to some countries, we live in a different time now. What I can conclude from the current Russian-Ukrainian issue, the patriotism is only contra-productive, bringing bitter division and hate. I believe that people who consider themselves sensible, good-hearted and wise should really go beyond this false identification. It is time to become one, to accept and love people regardless their place of birth. It would be great if one day the whole of mankind would realize that. But if the spiritual people will not come to it, the rest will never come.

Let us go deeper in ourselves and honestly ask ourselves what our patriotism gives us except of an Ego? Let us go beyond, let us become one.

LOVE
axinia

 

5 spiritual qualities which grant success in material life August 26, 2013

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Spirituality has become a popular word and yet in the mainstream understanding it is still something “unpractical, unreal”. I would like to point out several interesting moments about the practical side of spirituality.

When the spiritual base of a person is touched and developing, some qualities start manifesting more stronger, clearer. It is not that non-spiritual people don’t have these qualities, but just see for yourself:

1.ATTENTION Having a good attention is crucial for all sorts of jobs and daily life. Normally the attention of a person is much disturbed and overloaded, or spread. A spiritual person always keeps attention on his/her inner being, reflecting/introspecting every single minute. This is a great attention training.  A master of attention can do so many things only by pointing out this fantastic instrument to the right direction. Literary, it save much time and efforts in accomplishing any task.

2.AWARENESS Being aware of what you are and what is happening around is obviously important but few people possess that. Awareness helps in every situation, but in particular it makes us alert and attentive. And this means being efficient!

3. TRUST A spiritual person is the one who is easily being trusted by everyone. Why? Because a spiritual person is always sincere, innocent and benevolent. And trust is the soil of all relationships, and thus the important condition for any success, For people are everything.

4. FLOW A spiritual person is almost permanently in the flow – it is known as the state of “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.” This is what everyone wishes to have but a spiritual person achieves easily because he/she is “tuned” with the Divine and everything goes smoothly when the “instrument” is really well tuned.

5. LOVE As trivial as it may sound, but the ability to love people it is the greatest power of all, and it is crucial that a truly spiritual person loves everyone, not just his family and friends…or God (for God and people are actually one and the same thing). The love which flows from the open heard of an enlightened personality opens the hears and inspires everyone around. This love elevates! No wonder everybody coming across this sources of love is bathing in it and is ready to assist in everything possible. Thus tasks are easily accomplished and all is well :).

There are surely more qualities, this 5 just came to my mind first. As you see there is nothing unusual in them, but the amount and the intensity of these qualities are mostly stronger in the people of Spirit therefore they can actually have a wonderful life in the realm of material success and comfort.

LOVE

axinia

On Mastery July 1, 2013

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If you are the master of a great factory, and all the machines work by your will, are you happy, restful and peaceful when you come home? You may be the master of a whole army or of a whole nation, or of many nations – when you are at home, are you peaceful and happy? The answer is “no”, and this shows us that another mastery is needed. A man may be the master of a whole army, but if he has a stroke or paralysis all of his mastership is gone and he can do nothing. It shows us that this mastership is passing. Mastery of the self is needed. It is not more difficult to gain than the other mastership, but a man will never give as much will power and spend as many pounds tomorrow. The results of the other mastery are much subtler, much less perceptible.

This mastery is taught by those who are born to be masters, to those who are inclined this way. It is taught by repose and by control of the activity, which keeps everything in this universe in movement.

This mastery is difficult to gain in the world. At every step it becomes more difficult, but you cannot run away to the caves and mountains; you must stay where you are. If you ran away and lived in the caves and mountains, the attractions of the world would draw you back again. In running away there is no safety; you would try to be content in the mountains, but your eyes would long to see the world again, your taste, which was used to different food, nice food, would not be satisfied with leaves and fruits.

Life in the world, which brings a person into contact with all sorts of undesirable people and affairs, makes spirituality more difficult, but at the same time it affords a test of will and of spirituality. One may be more spiritual in a cave in the mountains, in silence and in solitude, but there one will never be able to test one’s spirituality: whether it is strong enough to bear the contact of a contrary environment. To be ready for all responsibilities and all activities, to have a family and enemies, to say to the worldly person, “I can do all that you do, and more than that,” and at the same time remain spiritual – that is the greatest spirituality.

To be without cares or occupations may make spirituality easier, but when the mind is not occupied very undesirable thoughts and desires come. It is mostly those who have no work and no occupation, or who have a master, whom they must please, has less opportunity to following what is not desirable.

Reading the life of Shiva, the Lord of all Yogis, one will see that after a long, long time of Yoga he was tempted. Likewise, Vishvamitre Rishi, after a very long time of Yoga in the wilderness, was tempted by the fair ones from Indra, the decree of whose court has always been to hinder the advancement in spirituality of the rare ones. Though Machandra was a very great Yogi, he also was tempted and taken away form the desert by Mahila, a Hindu queen. Brought to her court he was married and made king, and among the flattering surroundings and luxurious environments he lost all his great powers achieved in the heart of the wilderness. It is easier to gain mastery in the wilderness, away from all temptations, but the mastery you gain in the world is of much more value; for the former is easily thrown down by a slight stroke, while the latter, achieved in the crowd, will last forever.

Why we are looking for paradise March 19, 2013

 It is very interesting to study the lives of the great in the world. We find that some great people have almost arrived at the fulfillment of their undertakings and just before they had reached the goal they have lost it; and there have been some great people who have attained the ultimate success in whatever they have undertaken. You will always find that the souls of the former kind are the ones who were gifted with great power and yet lacked faith, while the others were gifted with the same power, and that power was supported by faith.

A person may have all the power there is, all the wisdom and inspiration, but if there is one thing lacking, which is faith, he may attain to ninety-nine degrees of success and yet may miss that very one whose loss in the end takes away all that was gained previously. There is a saying in English, ‘all’s well that ends well’, as the Eastern people say in their prayers, ‘make our end good’; for if there be a difficulty just now we do not mind, because there will be success, the real success, in its completion.
It is in this outlook that we can find the secret of the idea of Paradise, the paradise which has been spoken of by the elevated souls of all times, and in all scriptures you will find a reference to paradise is a hope in the hereafter, a hope in the future.

 When someone finds that there is no justice to be found in life, or beauty is lacking, or wisdom is not to be found anywhere, and goodness is rare, then he begins to think that justice must exist somewhere; all beauty, wisdom, goodness must be found somewhere, and that is in paradise. He thinks, ‘It exists somewhere. I shall find it one day; if not in this life, I shall find it in the hereafter; but there is a day when the fulfillment of my hope, my desire, will come.‘ This person lives; and this person lives to see his desire fulfilled. For in reality the lack that one finds in a person, in a thing, in an affair, in a condition, will not always remain. For all will be perfect, all must be perfect; it is a matter of time. And it is towards that perfection that we are all striving, and the whole universe is working towards the same goal. It is in that perfection that the thinkers and the great ones of all times have seen their paradise, because through man it is God who desires. Therefore it is not the desire of man; it is the desire of God, and has its fulfillment.

by Hazrat Ihayat Khan, “the Sufi Message”

The queen archetype November 26, 2012

The queen archetype is one of the most popular in collective consious of mankind regardless the culture and epoche. It is not by chance that little girls all over the world dream of being princesses – it is not a  silly childish wish but a deep longing for some special powerful qualities. And have you ever thought about the sagnificance and meaning of a crown on top of the king/queen’s head?

As we know, the C.G.Jung’s concept of the archetype is derived from the repeated observation that, for instance, the myths and fairy-tales of world literature contain definite motifs which crop up everywhere. We meet these same motifs in the fantasies, dreams, deliria, and delusions of individuals living today.

The four female archetypes of the Faerie, the Wise One, the Lover, and the Queen are found in most cultures and provide insights into female patterns of leadership. As is the case with her male counterpart, the King, the Queen is the most complex and mature of the female archetypes. This is because the image of a Queen who serves as a center for the mature ordering of things includes and transcends the other archetypes of the Feminine. Indeed the most powerful embodiment of this archetype is the Great Goddess—The Great Mother. This cosmic image is the equal to that of an all powerful God, the source of complete cosmic power, but at the same time is more accessible, less menacing. Images that may point to such a Great Mother, a supernatural Queen, are among some of the earliest human depictions of a higher power.

I like the way Shri Mataji addresses that archetype in her lectures, here is what I picked up from her talks on queen qualities /Raja Lakshmi principal. You can check how far this queen archetype is present in you (I guess it works both for females and males).

The aim of Spirituality is Pleasure October 19, 2012

image by axinia

Even though Spirituality has become a trend and many householders (normal citizens, not ascetics) are seeking and finding their spiritual practices the understanding of it remains  a bit perverse: the mainstream and often the seekers themselves perceive Spirituality as the opposite to the pleasures of life. What a wrong idea indeed!

Now I would like to make a few statements that some people may find shocking. But let’s face it, this is what it is!

1. Any longing for self-development and evolution – which sooner or later anyways leads to a spiritual practice is the most egotistical acting because it means the INDULGENCE in the SELF. Seeking the Spirit and finding it is in fact the most powerful longing of a soul and is the driving force behind all uplifting actions.

2. Being a spiritual person means having a lot of FUN! In the light of the Spirit one sees many things differently, for instance angry or idiotic people just make one laugh. One starts not only seeing fun in many situations, but also enjoying situations which for a non-spiritual person may be unbearable.

They call it a lifehack August 20, 2012

They call it a lifehack: As you know, lifehacks are anything that is a solution to an everyday problem, frustration, etc.

Meditation is a true lifehack because it makes you feel good every day and sets free the hidden powers within.

The next big thing is that it gives you a knowledge how to manage difficult situations easily, and even improves your health improves your and relationships with people.

On top of it, a meditation practice makes you an admirable and attractive and that makes you succeed easily in anything you want (studies, jobs, people).

People who practice meditation over years have notices several advantages meditation brings into the daily life management:
 
Fist of all, your attention improves. A sharper attention allows you to grasp ideas easier, you just put your attention on to some subject, and you can understand the depth of the matter and notice the facts much easier than usual. The fact is that people who meditate need less time to lean any difficult subject compared to others.
 
Meditation can definitely make you more balanced and happy. People will love being with you! You’ll get more chances. Everyone welcomes you and is eager to assist and recommend you. 
The meditation practice gives you a fantastic ability to see things how they are, beyond any mass media brainwash. The knowledge of how and why things really happen gives you a better insight into the global processes of modern society as well as your own life. You become truly efficient and can manage a solid stuff at a short time.

As the popular saying goes: DON’T VEGITATE, MEDITATE!

useful links: freemeditation.com

Is it true that Russians have the strongest will power? August 2, 2012

image by axinia

Again I am  here with the will power topic. Recently I talked to one American friend about handling difficult situations of “mental discussions” – when you keep arguing with someone in your thoughts, and the person has no idea about it. Apparently it is a widely spread phenomenon. When people cannot speak out they prefer to discuss it “within”. This thing can definitely make one mad!

I remember having such an experience only once in my life, some years back – for two moths I could not stop thinking about some conflict situation. Even though I have a long-term mediation experience, this work-related relationship issue was such a torn! I applied all possible yogic techniques, nothing helped. Every free minute when I was not directly busy with something else, I kept giving my arguments to the person I had an issue with. Isn’t it idiotic? At some point I was so fed up with it and really did not know what to do. And then…I decided to apply my WILL POWER : I started stopping this thinking immediately when I noticed it rising up. The next second I would say “stop it now” and indeed, I managed to completely diminish the issue by using my will power only!

When I gave this example to my American friend and ask him why don’t other people use their will power for solving hard problems, he said: “Well you know this is a very Russian thing, Russians have strong intellect and can use it powerfully. The Western people are weaker in that, they would moan and groan about and go to a psychologist/psychotherapists and wait until someone else will bring the relief. I know several Russians who solved their problems like you did but I don’t know any Westerner who would do that”.

Yogis are most desirable candidates for jobs July 25, 2012

Meditation makes you more balanced and joyous. People love to be around happy people, and will understandably enjoy your company. An inner magnetism will start to be expressed, and somehow, you may not know why, but you will find almost everyone eager to work with, or for you. 

Interestingly in the job world you become a desirable candidate for any recruiter because of your charisma and dynamism. The reason behind this is that regular meditations increase your energy level and you yourself will start emitting vibrations, or essentially everything positive. People can feel it and they actually love it, even if they do not understand the source of it.

This is what I’ve learned from several recent recruitment experiences: among many candidates people who meditated were selected as the best, although the recruiter or client knew nothing about the yogic background of a job candidate.

People practicing yoga and meditation are more luckily to be selected for a job.

So the new career rule says: MEDITATE and you will be successful!

🙂 axinia