Art of living

The only way that these days, one can retain relationships is being perfect in the presence of people and NO weakness must show. Want to cry? Go to the restroom, sob to your heart’s content and paste the perfect smile on that face before venturing back into the crowds. In short, bottle up! And then we wonder why there are increasing cases or depression, even cancer!!!

Ultimately, it is all about contacts and group activities. If you are desperate to belong, well, you have to pay the price.

Especially if someone treats you badly, giving it back “sweetly” denotes the art of living well. After all, suffering is self-inflicted, isn’t it? Who asked anyone to so sensitive to callousness and insults? A rhino Hyde required, please!!! Or otherwise, sit in loneliness. For you will be shunned!

The art of living in this world is perceived this way. If Sri is trying to teach you another form of this art, then will it penetrate a trained thick Hyde steeped in the material World?

With so much pettiness, self-seeking and value less existence, a large part of the world may still be insensitive to abuse and knows how to return negativity with cloaked negativity. The question is, which form of the Art of living do we subscribe to? Because both seem to “work” for different purposes.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Consciousness

On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, let me dwell on the only sermon given by Buddha, in which he didn’t utter a single word. When he held up a flower, the whole congregation was silent, not understanding it’s significance, except one. Mahakasyapa looked at it intently and smiled. Buddha handed over the flower to him and said, “I have said what can be said and what cannot be said.” From that day Mahakasyapa became his successor.

In this ‘Flower Sermon’, Buddha drew our attention to the importance of direct experience, shorn of intellectual analysis. Flowers embody both form and formlessness. They arise from the earth and return to it, drawing attention to the formless consciousness of Oneness.

The simple act of seeing a flower can usher in a meditative state of intense awareness

William Blake said it wonderfully:

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand

And eternity in an hour.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.comSpeakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Resolutions

We must keep reinventing ourselves ever so often! And rejuvenating ourselves, too!  Life’s challenges will keep coming but this exercise will keep us energized.

Flip life on both sides of the coin so it becomes easy to accept one side and switch to another with a toss. Once the coin and the ability to flip it is on our side, it is an exciting game and gives us the control in our hands, at least some of the time.

To be too intense is not the answer. Focus and taking balanced strides makes a lot of difference. Redirect yourself with every challenge and look for resolutions.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Unbridled ego

An unbridled ego, when unleashed among friends, family or acquaintances can be extremely damaging! It just destroys all value systems within such people.

Despite atrocities and destruction, goodness still prevails, though hanging by a slender thread, or the world would have come to an end. 

The most difficult thing to do is to withdraw our inner self when required. Because this is what a wise person does. It is not only about what to do but what not to do as well.

Actually, the unrefined ego makes choices that are harmful and can have a very isolating influence. It disrupts the flow in relationships and will always attract people who are not necessarily there to extend friendship. The ego bypasses straightforward people in a heart beat . All it wants is to be fed with praise, however false. So, ego driven people have no need for sincerity in relationships. They simply don’t dwell there.

The time now is a difficult one and we make it more so, due to our ignorance of the basic principles to adopt, especially when in society.

The calibre of influencers will help the transition into infusing more balanced parameters into people along with the wisdom that precedes this.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Transformation

Once again, I am reminded of prophecies regarding the downfall of human beings in kalyug. The recent worst-case scenario: this election is demonstrating it. One may as well recognize that not much falls in the category of the virtuous. That we can fall so low! ANYTHING to gain power. Even betrayal of your own motherland! Where does this stop? When does it stop? Does it stop at all? You can actually put up your own country for sale? It offends sensibilities and inspires disgust.

Maybe, just maybe, we are seeing an about to happen transformation for the better, that all the darkness shall be blasted out in favour of light. God knows we need it!

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Morality

How would you define morality? Can there be a set of moral values common to all? Sure! Because what is wrong cannot be right. But who defines what is right and moral? Today, anyone can do anything and get away with it. Mostly! Where are the values that prevent people from venturing into the space of others so easily and without remorse or guilt? We want. We take. No looking left or right. This cannot really go on forever. Something has to give and once more, some semblance of decency that befits Indian culture must return to stay.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.comSpeakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Truth

What is fair? What is just? And what is truth? Actually, there isn’t any simple answer. Because we are constantly exposed to so many angles of the same story, so many different perspectives, that we arrive at our personal perspective and understanding of the truth and take that as gospel truth. Our convictions are also based on several viewpoints which culminate into one so called “truth. And we hold onto it at the cost of conflict with another person’s views.

But truth lies somewhere between all these perspectives and our understanding may not be quite there. That is why it is not wise to judge. You really don’t know. What you think you know may not be anywhere close to the truth. And therefore, it is not really wise to get into discussions of this nature.

So, better not to claim to know and hence, avoid judgements.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Spiritual Health

It is important to train yourself to understand that YOUR life and your spiritual health is THE single most important thing or atleast, should be, for you. You have to and must keep your focus on your well-being, and this should certainly not depend on someone else. Whoever it may be.

If you notice, the moment you stop taking the words or actions of others seriously and stop applying them to yourself, you begin to feel your energies lightening. Many must have experienced this. The heaviness leaves you. You can think more clearly and resume your own activities with a new vigor.

There is much to be said about taking things with a big pinch of salt.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Practice

Your feelings are your own. You don’t need anyone to understand them. And no one really can. Because people can only judge you by surface reactions. No one has the time or interest to know you. And there is no need. You just need to know yourself.  Because you don’t thrive on certificates by others but by knowing who you are and becoming immune to what people think of you.

If only this one thing can be achieved, that is, immunity to other opinions of you, your personal progress can be accelerated.

People always say this is very difficult. But it does become easier and more liberating with constant practice.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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Experience

Today, I am This. My experiences from all lives , some of which are experienced in this life, are sacrosanct, good or bad , as both teach me lessons if I know how to learn the lessons inherent in them.

This minute, I can connect with my consciousness to understand where I am not thinking right. The past, the thoughts , the reminder of the unpleasant are all leeches which one has to pluck out and throw away, however painful the process might be for the body and the mind. Is there anyone who can like the leeches gripping you for ever ? No.

But we do have the others in leech form that are painful and agonising but we seem to revel in our pain. Very difficult to understand ! Still more difficult when they come from outside . Not that self inflicted pain is more reasonable ! Every pain is a choice and has a solution.

There is just not enough understanding and therefore, error in prioritising. It is like sitting down and waiting for the lion coming after you, to swallow you.

When “I” identifies with “me”, we are weakened by that ego which can be very destructive if we don’t watch out.

So , we need to use the power of NOW to get wise.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.comSpeakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

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