L Monthly E-Newsletter of
BRAHMA KUMARIS CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LEARNING
THE WORD silence is often mis-
construed as repressing thoughts
to keep the mind blank. In truth, it
is a beautiful experience of full-
ness. “Silence is filled with many
spiritual treasures—peace, love,
wisdom, purity, joy—not empti-
ness,” says international speaker
and author Jayanti Kirplani. Hence,
she said, the expression, “Silence
is golden.”
She points out the link
between silence and joy: “If my
mind is in turmoil, or if it is aggres-
sive or fearful, then I’m very, very
far away, not only from peace, but
also from love and joy and wis-
dom, which are the inherent quali-
ties of the self.”
Jayanti recalls that an
artist once asked her if aggression
is important to express something
creatively. “Not true,” she de-
clares. “If you consider the mas-
terpieces of Michaelangelo, Da
Vinci and Beethoven, each one
stemmed from a mind that was
powerful, pure and still.” Not only
does silence imbue art with great-
ness, Jayanti adds; it also inspires
genius in science.
She cites the example of
Isaac Newton, who sat under an
apple tree one day. “When an
apple dropped, he started churn-
ing on the law of gravity. There he
was, just relaxing… an apple falls
and he finds a whole new view of
the world. Then there was Py-
thagoras who, while relaxing in a
warm bath, would conjure mathe-
matical principles—and spiritual
wisdom. He used music to relax
the soul.”
Jayanti also points to
Visit the Center for Spiritual Learning at 1020 Magallanes Drive, Silang Crossing West, Tagaytay City. Contact us at (046) 483 2128
See our local website www.bktagaytay.com, our blog site www.bk-tnt.blogspot.com and our international website www.bkwsu.org.
Peace, love, joy…
and silence
This Christmas season, fill your mind
Europe’s beautiful cathedrals that
were built in the Middle Ages.
“They were created (by minds)
filled, not with angst and fear, but
with the Supreme Being’s love and
the aspiration to reveal His glory.
When there’s stillness in which
© Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University 2009.
The Point
Volume 3 Issue 31 December 2009
there is such a profound experi-
ence of the Supreme, it can be
manifested in the way I express
wonderful things. That’s because
I’m using my very first power,
which I’ve forgotten about—
creating thoughts and feelings. I
understand that this is what my
mind is meant for. It isn’t meant to
just react to situations, but to re-
spond in a creative, positive way
so that the inner experience of
power touches others and they
also feel that strength.”
Dadi Janki, head of the
Brahma Kumaris, equates silence
to peace of mind. “Don’t listen to
things from outside the self. To go
into silence means to become in-
troverted. It means I understand
all the wonderful things that are
inside me. I can look closely at the
quality of my thoughts. Human
beings often think about things
that don’t concern them. I have to
leave these things behind, like all
things of the past. Even the things
of yesterday should not enter my
mind. When you think too much,
you are bound to ask, ‘Why?’ To
become silent means to emerge
wisdom from within. Thoughts
that come in silence are very pre-
cious.”
Even in illnness, Dadi
Janki says one needs not suffer
and actually stay cheerful. Draw-
ing from experience, she says, “My
feeling is that the Supreme is puri-
fying my soul. I get my perspective
right in terms of the body: The five
elements are now in their de-
graded state so illness can cleanse
the physical body. Some become
ill by worrying, some worry when
they become ill. I make myself free
from both of these. When I get
sick, I tell the doctor ‘I am fine,
how are you?’ I always think that
illnesses are an excuse to serve
others, including the physicians
and my visitors.”
 2 The Point
A sanctuary of treasures
I had come unsure; I walked away empowered
NO booming gongs to announce our
arrival, nor a vassal to lead us to our
secluded cocoon. No armies of battle-
scarred guards to wall us off from dan-
ger. The shields for our protection are,
surprisingly, gentle virtues. The elusive
peace we all desire is nestled inside us.
These gems we discovered, all 35 of
us, hungry souls, who trooped to the
CSL on Nov. 14, having accepted the
warm invitation of Sister Salud Idio to
celebrate the center’s sixth anniversary.
We were further enticed with a free
vegetarian gourmet lunch which, we
would find out, had been cooked with
love as primary ingredient.
Lecturer par excellence Merle Pimen-
tel, like a psychiatrist advising her pa-
tients, urged us to realize our inner
power, far more essential, she noted,
than any external manifestation of
power—political, positional or peer
power, or the kind derived from wealth,
physical beauty, and physical strength.
No matter that these elevate one’s so-
cial status, she said, only internal power
is the permanent vital force
Know thyself. This is the basic
strength any man should strive for. We should
all have a clear picture of our uniqueness, our
greatness and wonder. We should be standing
tall, knowing we play accurate roles on this
world stage.
Make sure the thoughts we nurture come
from a wellspring of positive, good, noble
stock. Thoughts translate into deeds so, from
its incipience, we should make sure only qual-
ity thoughts flow from our minds, so that the
whole world can luxuriate in good vibrations.
Keep an account of good deeds. Maintain a
life savings of good actions. When there seems
to be a bankruptcy of goodness in the atmos-
phere, withdraw from this savings account. Do
good now, Sister Merle said. Positive deeds
should never be postponed.
Sparkling truth
One sparkling truth imparted to us that
lovely Saturday was that we should be con-
scious of being souls, more than giving impor-
tance to our bodies. We are what we are be-
cause of the soul within. A body, to use a con-
temporary metaphor, is like a cell phone with-
P R O G
Solace for the Soul, 4pm Sun - 4pm Tue, Dec 27-29
We’d like to hear from you. Write us at thepointfeedback@gmail.com.
out the SIM, which is the soul.
Sister Merle knew for sure that we had the
tendency to backslide when we left the sol-
emn portals of CSL. So, she bequeathed to us a
set of spiritual tools with which to fortify the
inner world we had just rediscovered.
She encouraged us to keep thinking, “I am a
loving soul. I am pure energy. I am peace”…
and, as we interact with others, to consider
them, too, as souls who have come to enrich
us with their own experiences. Pay attention
to the now, Sister Merle said; the past has
taught us its lessons. She shared with us her
Golden Rule of Thought: “You have the power
to think what you want to happen.”
Another important tool is empowered ac-
ceptance of others. Appreciate the qualities of
others, see them in an entirely spiritual dimen-
sion.
And this one, what a revelation! Keep bless-
ing others as we bless ourselves, so that multi-
tudes of blessings permeate the atmosphere,
keeping it spiritually alive and dynamic.
Forgiveness is just as essential. Conflicts
R A M
Volume 3 Issue 31 December 2009
should cease, down to a tabula rasa,
using the virtue of humility as a deter-
gent to wash away the grime of any per-
ceived offense.
Creative visualization keeps us inter-
nally fortified by banishing bleak scenar-
ios. In broad strokes, like a master artist,
we can paint beautiful images of the
wonderful things we dream of. They can
come true.
Precious finds
Gentle spiritual shepherdess Salud
Idio led the afternoon discussions—after
our physical bodies were satisfied with
fresh veggies, organic brown rice and
tasty barbeque, washed down with pan-
dan tea. Sister Salud led us to the realiza-
tion that within our souls are entrenched
clusters of precious virtues—untapped,
unused, forgotten---our own natural re-
sources, limitless, yet sunk in the mire of
unwanted, polluted negativity.
Indeed, human beings should all be
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for
merely possessing these qualities. But
why are we floundering? Why are there
killings, bloodshed and horrific evils?
These innate resources should be
brought to light and revived. For although we
are so gifted, we get stressed and depleted.
Like lost children needing a fresh infusion of
strength, we turn to our Father, the ultimate
Source of pure energy. Prayer or meditation
should be a recharging encounter. Fully re-
paired, once-weary souls become
powerful again, having bathed in His love.
I had come to the lecture weak-kneed and
unsure. Attaining inner peace and inner pro-
tection seemed distant and difficult. But the
gentle prodding of the speakers has embold-
ened me immensely. I give blessings freely,
bestowing them left and right—to vendors
eking out a living, beggars scrounging for food,
colleagues weighed down by a difficult atti-
tude.
I have become unmindful of the mistakes
of others. I have imbibed so much love, peace,
sweetness and reawakened by own qualities.
Now my goodwill overflows to just about any-
one who crosses my path, to fellow pilgrims on
this journey, even those I have yet to meet.
-Yolanda L. Punsalan
 3 The Point Volume 3 Issue 31 December 2009

Care for the care givers

WHEN Brahma Kumaris senior yogi Jayanti Kirplani, called.
regional coordinator for Europe, visited the Philip- Through Larios, he was
pines in September, she encouraged her 1,500- introduced to the BKs. “They Brahma Kumaris lends
strong audience in a public program to experience were heaven sent,” he said.
inner power and protection, and urged the BK stu- The BKs funded the repairs,
a hand, literally
dents to sustain the interests of the guests. including construction materi- and spiritually
In the wake of Typhoon Ondoy (international als for six classrooms. Skilled
name: Hurricane Ketsana), which devasted the me- laborers provided by city hall
tropolis, killed hundreds and left damages close to worked on the rooms. The
the billion-peso mark, a BK teacher sent a text mes- BKs also financed the renova-
sage to one contact who had attended Sister tion of the dilapidated rest-
Jayanti’s program. The contact, Lourdes Larios, prin- rooms for teachers. Recon-
cipal of Barangka Elementary School—in one of the struction took longer than
most-ravaged districts in Marikina City—said her other schools in Marikina due Main Center Coordinator Rebecca Ortega inspects one of the renovated
school was serving as an evacuation center for to the extent of the damage. classrooms at Industrial Valley Elementary School, Marikina funded by
some 500 typhoon victims. The Brahma Kumaris Nonetheless, the school re- the Brahma Kumaris.
offered assistance. opened only a month after
The physical relief that Brahma Kumaris provided the typhoon. lessly the teachers worked, looking after the needs
has strengthened Larios’ faith in the organization “The rooms are more beautiful than the origi- of the flood victims.
and its teachings. For example, the Anger Manage- nal!” exclaimed Pagtama, adding that the BKs also When a BK asked, “Have you eaten?”
ment workshop helped her put a lid on her emo- provided school supplies for the students, plus bed- Opeña’s eyes teared up. No other organization had
tions when she’s under pressure. She said she was dings and cleaning aids. Best of all, all teachers of shown consideration for the teachers’ condition,
struck by the affirmation, “I’m a peaceful soul.” the partner schools were invited to an overnight she said; most groups would come just to drop off
Involved but peaceful retreat at the Center for Spiritual Learning in Tagay- relief goods. She herself was concerned about the
When BK teachers and students came to her tay. “They are also providing rehabilitation for the teachers, volunteers and health workers who
school offering relief and service, Larios as touched, spirit,” said Pagtama. worked practically 24/7, with little food and sleep.
and wept. “I never imagined there were still so First for servers One BK student offered her vegetarian sandwich to
many people who were so caring and loving.” The BKs collaborated with another public school Opeña, who was thankful for her “first meal of the
The Brahma Kumaris brought bath soap and de- in Bagong Silangan, a riverbank community in Que- day.”
tergent, used clothing, biscuits, water, cleaning aids, zon City. Classes had been suspended a day before The principal admitted that they needed physical
pillows, blankets and garbage bags. They served the typhoon hit land, but the school had to be rehabilitation before spiritual service. For 10 days,
lunch for 30 teachers, flood victims themselves, opened by a committee tasked in crisis manage- the Brahma Kumaris prepared meals for the teach-
who were manning the fort. The teachers got their ment. The river had swelled and water inundated ers and volunteers, and gave them some basic ne-
share of relief goods. The BKs likewise brought cans the homes. Some 399 families, or about 3,000 cessities, plus cleaning aids for the school. The BKs
of paint for the classrooms. evacuees, were housed at the school. Eloisa Opeña, also “adopted” 15 families who were not included
Larios marveled, “How can people be so in- the principal, reported a total of 25 casualties from in a local census.
volved, and yet so peaceful?” her school alone. “Bagong Silangan” means Opeña pointed out that the Brahma Kumaris was
‘Heaven-sent’ “rebirth,” but the premises also partially served as a “the first to come, not for the evacuees but for the
Regino Pagtama Jr., principal of the Industrial makeshift funeral parlor, its main court stacked people who served.”
Valley Complex Elementary School, was in a bind. with coffins. They also extended assistance in psycho-social
The school consisted of three-story buildings. At the Opeña had the school cleaned and sanitized but rehab, to help the victims get over the trauma of
height of Ondoy, the floods reached the second the three-month inventory of janitorial and clinic the disaster. Said Opeña, “The Brahma Kumaris
floor, damaging most of the classrooms. “I didn’t supplies were consumed in three days. When the conducted a personal awareness program for
know if we could still rehabilitate,” Pagrama re- BKs met with the principal, she related how tire- teachers, to allay the fears of the teachers.” The
principal explained that
on top of the trauma of
seeing mud-covered
victims and corpses,
then working in a envi-
ronment that reeked of
stench, the teachers
were dealing with their
own losses. Plus, the
school was looted dur-
ing the typhoon.
“The BK program
lifted the teachers’
spirits,” Opeña said. “
They learned to face
(ABOVE) Quezon City Center Coordinator Rosemarie Uy gives words of problems as they come.
hope to the teachers in Industrial Valley Elementary School. I wish all organizations
(RIGHT) Retreat Center resident Timtim with the children of the were like the Brahma
typhoon victims and health workers in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City. Kumaris.”