Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

What makes a good mirror? Firstly, it must be clean. If it is not clean, you will not see your reflection accurately. Secondly, it must be true (flat), otherwise it will not give you a true reflection but a distorted one. Thirdly, a mirror doesn't judge, it only shows you the truth and then you are free to judge yourself.

Have you ever looked in a mirror expecting to see one thing, and then you see something else completely different? A mirror will show you how you look and not how you want to look. Thus, we notice a contrast between how we want to look and what the mirror reflects. But this is good, because, otherwise, how would you know what you need to do to produce the desired image?

I'm very lucky to have a mirror. I have a few, but one has proved to be most true. When I see his behavior, his dharna, it becomes obvious to me that I'm lacking some of those behaviors. I see a contrast. The way he treats others is very royal – again, another contrast. And all the while, I don't feel any judgment from him. Even when he makes an observation about me, it's just a remark, not a criticism.

Not many have such a mirror, and so I feel quite fortunate. I feel it is a gift. He does a great service because he inspires me (without saying anything) to reach my full potential. He shows me what is possible.

I think it would be a fine thing to become a mirror. What a beautiful service to provide to others. But it requires remaining clean, remaining true, and remaining free from a judging and opinionated attitude. In fact, a mirror will not even know that they are acting as a mirror, because they themselves will not see faults. Having seen my mirror, I know this is possible – and so I'm constantly checking my mirror to see how I'm progressing. If nothing else, it's something to reflect upon.

Thank you for reading. For more information on Raja Yoga philosophy see www.bkwsu.org.

How Do We Serve the World?

How Do We Serve the World?

These days, there are many who want to save the world, but where do we start? Do we eliminate poverty first or starvation? Do we secure human rights or end disease? Do we teach scriptures or teach self-sustainability skills?

What is it that we are really trying to eliminate?

Is it poverty, hunger, injustice? No, what we really want to eliminate is suffering. But instead of focusing on suffering itself, we get distracted by the many causes of suffering.

To a degree, one can choose not to suffer, just as two doctors did in a Channel 4r documentary, Medicine Men Go Wild - World of Pain. In researching tribal pain rituals, one doctor experienced during one of the more painful rituals that, eventually, he reached a point where he no longer experienced pain.

Equally, with a clear understanding of our situation within the global picture, we can go beyond emotional suffering. The clearest example of achieving this is the liberation of India from British rule.

Liberation

Gandhi liberated India by giving the country a sense of purpose and teaching them an elevated lifestyle. With purpose they didn't mind a little suffering for their cause - a little hunger, a little less wealth, a little hardship for a temporary period - in order to bring about a greater benefit. Gandhi empowered the Indian people to face their hardships.

Gandhi's principles of self-sufficiency and living by independent means is what eventually freed India. While they were dependent on British products, they were slaves to the British government. When they removed that dependency, they became free - the British had no power over them.

We are trapped by the dependencies we create for ourselves - job, status, family. Yet if we really want to liberate the world, we first have to liberate ourselves.

"I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as sombody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself and I had to make good."

~ Oprah Winfrey.

Thank you for reading. For more information on Raja Yoga philosophy see www.bkwsu.org.

Finding My Happiness

Finding My Happiness

I've been back from India for nearly a month now. I'm sure you're all waiting for pictures. I travelled with a professional photographer (from Spain) who gave me a copy of her photos and so I have loads, but there are now too many to choose from! I also travelled with a nurse from Cambridge, so I felt very safe. ;D

It was an interesting trip - totally awesome! But not without tests! I was fine when someone else grabbed my luggage by mistake. I also coped with being thrust on stage in front of the general public (about 60 guests?) and asked to divulge deep spiritual wisdom over the next 30 minutes. Sadly, I did not have that much material. In fact, I have never divulged spiritual wisdom in a public talk before and so I was really caught off guard. I think I spoke for about 5 minutes - and it wasn't terribly deep nor terribly spiritual! I was better prepared for the next public programme though.

What really tested me was when we left Goa and headed towards Madhuban. We got to Ahmedabad, expecting a taxi to pick us up to take us to Mt. Abu (this is what we had requested). However, we were told we could not travel that evening and had to wait until the next morning. Disappointment #1. Next, when we arranged to go to Mt. Abu, we were told we couldn't go up the mountain, but had to stay in Shantivan. Now, there is nothing wrong with Shantivan, but my heart was set on Pandav Bhavan. Disappointment #2. When we got to Shantivan and requested a room, a brother quickly ran over. 'Foreigners are allowed to go up the mountain - no need to stay here.' Great, we were headed up. I was happy again. The hired car took us to Gyan Sarovar. We asked to be taken to Pandav Bhavan, but we were again told no. There was a transport ban at that time and so they felt it was better we stay put. Disappointment #3. The next day, another sister from Cambridge arrived in Gyan Sarovar. She requested Pandav Bhavan. They let her go. And I was wondering, 'Why can't I go?' Disappointment #4 + jealousy. The following day, those from Pandav Bhavan came to visit Gyan Sarovar. One brother staying there suggested I ask again. I did. By the end of the day, the three of us were allowed to move to Pandav Bhavan. I finally got my wish. But I didn't feel happy. Disappointment #5.

I kept good company - people who were light, kind, funny, sweet, etc. I was hoping some of their good humour would rub off on me. Nothing was working. I was completely needy but unable to satisfy those needs.

Then I recalled something my teacher mentioned in one of the public programmes in Goa. He was speaking about happiness. Who are the happiest people? The wealthy? The poor? The givers? The receivers? The takers? What group?

Statistically, the givers are the happiest. Then my teacher gave some examples from his own experience. I thought about this and wondered, 'How can I use this to find my own happiness?' I realized that the whole time I had been in Rajastan, I was thinking only of myself and my desires. I was not of any use to anyone. This realization was quite hard because I suddenly realized how ugly I was.

From then on, I was determined to be there for others, to give, to put others first, etc. The whole experience turned around for me. I was light. I was happy and enjoying myself. I was enjoying others and being with others. I was not so concerned with what Heather wanted, but with what others wanted and how I could fulfil their needs / desires.

Coming home, there is a tendency to want to return back to 'me, me, me'. I have to keep checking and tweaking my attitude. It's not easy, but I'm sure the results will be well worth it.

Thank you for reading. For more information on Raja Yoga philosophy see www.bkwsu.org.