L Monthly E-Newsletter of

BRAHMA KUMARIS CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LEARNING

The Point
Volume 3 Issue 28 September 2009

Taking full charge of my experiences

Understanding the process frees me from all hurts
WHETHER we are aware of it or not, we useless thoughts and emotions.”
experience meditative states from time Further, she says, “When we create
to time. It could be in the form of day- thoughts with an emotional element, those
dreaming, communing with nature, feelings will leave a deep impression even
listening to soothing music or just chill- on the physical level. The longer we dwell
ing out by ourselves. Meditation is our on those thoughts, the greater our tendency
natural state. to generate them unconsciously.”
On a deeper level, meditation is a She explains: “The hurts that we carry
means to tap inner power. For one are very deep and our expectations are very
thing, it enables us to recognize pro- high. If those expectations are not met, feel-
found truths: One is the self being ings accumulate. We don’t even realize it
more than the physical body, and the but very often on the surface we may be
second is the Source of Truth. too polite to express ourselves. But we carry
London-based international lecturer the hurt inside, suppressing them. And so
and author B.K. Jayanti points out that there’s a build up.”
the foundation of meditation is experi- Consequently, we are not able to still the
encing the soul as an energy inhabiting mind, let alone enjoy meditation. “More
the body. With the understanding of important, we miss out on the simple joys
being a soul and using the body as a and contentment that are rightfully ours,”
medium of expression, we can take cautions Jayanti. “If I’m not content, what’s
charge of the nature of our experi- wrong? What is inside of me? Sometimes
ences. it’s too painful even to look at it. How can I
“If, throughout the day, the mind is heal myself? How can I have the power to
occupied in external things, then with- forgive?”
out that foundation of soul conscious- Getting out of the negative cycle of think-
ness and detachment from the body, ing starts with opening the heart and ac-
meditation takes much longer or cepting that we cannot do it alone. Jayanti’s
maybe it’s just a struggle and doesn’t prescription is for us to direct our thoughts
actually happen.” “Like mountain water, good feelings are soft and to the Divine, the only way to feel the love
Jayanti adds that concentration will occur sweet but also very powerful when maintained.” and happiness guaranteed to provide enduring
only when our feelings, emotions and moti- well-being:
vations are completely clean and pure. For “The Supreme Surgeon is my healer, and He
instance, when things are beyond our control, it that. I have to look after my feelings. If I allow can heal me if I’m willing to let go of the burden
is best to remain calm and just connect with the myself to take sorrow from the situation, I won’t that I’m carrying and if I declare that I really don’t
Source. “If I’m responsible for the situation, then be able to focus.” want it any more. Should any demons and ghosts
let me do right actions. But if I’ve done the best She continues: “To develop the power of si- come up from the past, I shouldn’t face them
that I can, and the situation has not improved lence, clean out the mind—and also the intel- alone. The Almighty is by my side to protect me,
and there are other factors that aren’t my re- lect, which manages thoughts. The mind is linked so that once and for all evil spirits can be chased
sponsibility and there’s nothing more I can do, I to the thinking process, as the heart is with feel- away.”
am responsible for my own feelings and state of ing and experiencing.” Jayanti compares the transformative process
being. If that situation has sent my mind racing, Jayanti describes the mind as an area of con- of meditation to a rough stone whose rough
what kind of meditation can I have?” tinuous activity. “Thoughts surface into aware- edges are softened by the mountain stream:
What makes it hard to concentrate? That is ness like bubbles,” she says. “Many thoughts are “Like mountain water, good feelings are soft and
attributed to remembering situations and nega- linked with desires or emotions. Sometimes they sweet, but they are also very powerful when
tive feelings spurred by an unpleasant event are manifested in the functions of the body—the maintained. They will remove my own rough
and baggage. Says Jayanti, “Maybe over a pe- heart throbs with excitement, the stomach sinks edges over time and do the same for others if I
riod of time I’ve been carrying sorrow and hurt in fear, or the mouth salivates in expectation. continue to do what I know is right. I just have to
for whatever reason. Maybe other people are These thoughts and feelings emanate from the maintain the flow by keeping connected to the
out of line; even so, they are responsible for soul. Understanding the process frees us from Source.”

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.
© Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University 2009.
 2 The Point Volume 3 Issue 28 September 2009

Sharing, caring without expectations

SITTING among more than a hundred people give," she said, "I expect nothing in return. And I
one Friday afternoon, Helen Northey of Hong don't ask why I should give. I tell myself I just
Kong says she felt "everyone's special regard have to."Being sensitive to the needs of others
for each other and for the service they do.” is one way of caring for oneself, too, she
Nuns, priests and seminarians from stressed.
several Catholic communities; school princi- Helen, a managing editor of a Hong
pals, teaching staff, guidance counselors and Kong publication, said she was “touched to see
media crews:health and business professionals people from such diverse traditions, faiths, and
and local government officials from Tagaytay educational philosophies sit together and share
and neighboring cities and towns of Cavite the same interest to build a caring world.”
Province had come to the Center for Spiritual She added: “When people dialogue,
Learning to experience the process of caring learn from each other, and remain secure in
and sharing. their choices, the outcome or flow-on can only
People should not live just for them- be bigger and better."
selves, said Sister Sheilu, a Brahma Kumaris On the other hand, Dadi Janki, Brahma
senior meditation teacher based in the univer- Kumaris Chief Administrative Head, as quoted
sity's main campus in Mt. Abu, India. A higher by Sr. Salud, CSL coordinator, said, "If you don't
purpose is to live for others, she said. experience caring and sharing, you cannot be-
BK Sheilu shared personal anecdotes Sister Sheilu: Caring is sharing. come complete because caring and sharing
that taught her what it means to care in a spiritual are wholeness by definition.
way. True sharing is not based on selfish motives, she said. "When I
FREEDOM FROM STRESS
Bond of protection On Sept. 17-18,
ABOUT 100 regular students of Brahma Kumaris from Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Pangasinan,
Baguio and Mindanao, spent the Aug. 7-8 weekend at CSL to celebrate Raksha Bandhan, an
the program "7 AHA!s of Highly
Indian tradition featuring the tying of a bond of protection on a sister or a brother to signify Enlightened Souls" tackles freedom
brotherhood. from stress and learning to
For the BK students, the festival is an occasion to renew their pledge of purity. live peacefully, lovingly and happily.
Visiting teacher Sister Sheilu said purity also requires not hurting anyone, being thankful to
those who point out our defects, and imbibing virtues from everyone. "Each person is
unique, different and special," she said. Thus, respect for all is always a good thing to remem-
Solace for the Soul, 4pm Fri - 4pm
ber." Sun, Sept. 25-27

A second look at malunggay

PEOPLE starting on a vegetarian diet
are often in a quandary about pro-
tein, the building block for maintain-
ing body functions and repairing tis-
sues. It’s not unusual for many to
backslide into eating chicken or fish
after a week of a boring and un-
planned diet of boiled or steamed
vegetables and bread.
One of the best of sources
of protein is the moringa oleifera or
the malunggay. Moringa is a tree that
grows in tropical climates. Touted as
a complete food, moringa contains
four times more calcium than milk,
seven times more Vitamin C than in
oranges, thrice more iron in spinach
and four times Vitamin A in carrots.
Lactating mothers are usually given
moringa in tablet form, fresh in salads
or cooked in soups. It’s a natural en-
ergy booster, yet it also helps the
body to relax. Moringa strengthens
the immune system because it con-
tains glutathione, a natural anti-
oxidant. It also manages diabetes,
lowers blood pressure and choles-
terol.
If you’re not convinced
about moringa and are still a strug-
gling vegetarian insecure about not
getting enough protein, aim for a bal-
anced diet: a minimum of five serv-
ings of whole grains, more than three
servings of vegetables and two to
three servings of legumes or soy
products. Variety is the key to enjoy-
ing a meatless diet. Caption please Malunggay leaves