Life as it is......EPISODE 14 : OBSESSION

What is obsession? Obsession is a state where one become extremely self-centered and in continuous state of wanting to entertain or entertaining his/her impulses which is inexplicable to reasoning. It is an impulse that people do not want to ignore despite knowing the ill-effects of it in term of time, health, money and relationships. When there is a chronic recurrence of thoughts or impulses, which at times may lead to extreme behavioral changes, we can call that state as being or becoming obsessive.

People can be obsessive of many things in life. At times people just do not realize that they are obsessive with many things in life. People can be obsessive of love, beauty, food, health, status, lifestyles, relationship, sex, clothes, studies, work and the list will go on endlessly. Obsession is not a healthy state of mind because it keeps on harping on the same need for a long period of life and may make one lose their focus on other aspects of life.

If an object or subject of obsession is not met, a person may experience three levels of feelings, which are resentment, anger and fear. These are not healthy feelings. They can leave tremendous damaged and impact to our nervous system. Persistent and increased degree of manifestation of each feeling may result in long term depression which at times can be fatal or suicidal.

Resentment provokes bitter memories of past experiences. Harboring on these bitter experiences makes one kill the life instantaneously and fail to live the present. While, anger arises from immediate after effect of an argument or misunderstandings in the present. Anger is not serious and can disappear within hours or days. But, if prolonged it will turn into resentment and this can be very complicating. Out of anger and resentment fear arises. Fear is always related to future. Past experiences create the trauma and this lead to fearing of a repetition of the same.

Copyright by Wintere26.

Date: 10 November 2008.

Life as it is......EPISODE 13 : SPIRITUALITY

Life evolves around spirit for survival. A person without spirit is worst than a dead man. To expand across this mystery of spirit, religions and sectarian beliefs were created, and I believe still being created by mankind. To become subtle and receptive to world man began to explore nature from different aspects, one of it by placing him as an object of experiment. Mankind places themselves under certain kind of restrictive orders which refrain them from harming themselves and also others. These restrictive orders gradually converted into moral codes of conduct which do not apply to all simultaneously. A lot of do's and don't's applies here. Each accepts the manner that suits their temperament and adjust themselves accordingly. Under the cloak of spirituality people still have the opportunity to chose what they like and ignore that which do not fit unto them. This is human right. Let each choose their own path(s) and live rightfully, right to the fullest, so long they do not trample others. But, what is this term 'spirituality' exactly means? Quite often I repeat the same question to myself , only to leave the question to remain where it was, and walk away within my mind. I feel spirituality is a most misunderstood concept when it comes to talk about God. I am not saying that there is no God. God for some, consciousness for some, nature for some and nothing for some. This belief in a God doesn't serve any purpose if one fail to understand and relate themselves to what is wanted in the name of God. God do not ask us to surrender everything we have, nor God ask us to keep everything we have. God says, 'share' what you have. Your compassion, tolerance etc.etc. Most often, from my personal observations people mistook spirituality as an act to correct and moralize others in the manner they think and behave. But, never to correct themselves. Anyone with common sense can tell that spirituality cannot be a blind concept to continually justifying others on various grounds. Failing to understand that each is created with different mould, many going around telling people to jump into one same mould, which is theirs!!

What one does in the privacy of one's life is none of anybody's business. Spirituality is not pointing one's finger at others. Spirituality is unconditional acceptance of entire creation and being one with them. Spirituality is not curses in the name of hell and Satan, but continuous unbreakable love and tolerance surpassing human faults. Spirituality is a dignified state where one sees all as being part of oneself. When one is able to see all as being part of oneself, all the differences and judgmental attitudes will cease. Then, life shines eternally for them. A heart filled with compassion is the abode of the Lord. Let us together pray that this wisdom dawn on us, so we will be able to love all impartially. Until then we travel together, with compassion.

A life full of religious codes and conducts are meaningless without an iota of compassion for mankind, especially for one's so called enemies and the suffering lots. Peace be unto all.

Copyright by Wintere26.

Date: 8 November 2008.

Life as it is......EPISODE 12 : WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

Every day is another day in life. Life is cyclical. Yes, we can't deny that. Things may repeat many times at different phases of time. Yes, life is cyclical. What was yesterday's dream, may have become today's reality. What was yesterday's pain, may have become today's pleasure. What was yesterday's love may have become today's hatred. Things go on repeating in life. Yet, not many of us realize that. Why? Because, our mind deceives us to believe that every experience is a new experience though the taste, sight and sensation may just be the same as before. There is nothing wrong in repeating experiences if we gain some happiness and pleasure along the way. We naturally, try to avoid pain and wallow in pleasure all the time. Pleasure is just an interval between two sorrows. And, likewise sorrow. we may have come across this statement many times in our lives, yet its truthfulness and the reality it stands on, never dawn on us. Let us live life as it comes. Do things that we love. Show gratitude towards life. Every little things in life matters to us. Do not push aside anything nor take things for granted. Grab not that which belongs to others. Always learn to give for good cause. Set aside time for good things. Remember, life is cyclical. What goes around will come around. May peace be unto all.

Copyright by Wintere26.

Date: 1 November 2008.

Life as it is......EPISODE 11 : DEEPAVALI, JUST DEEPAVALI? NOT MORE THAN THAT?

It is Deepavali day, the festival of light. This is one of the famous festivals among the Hindus. Well, every festival dwells on lights. Name one festival where there are no lights or fire to represent goodness and to ward off darkness. Hindus from every nook and corners of the world celebrates this event to mark the beginning of sunshine in their lives, especially in their minds. They pray for many things such as well being, wealth ranging from good family, good crops, good money, good partners, good children, good education, good good good and many many good things in life. It’s ok. There is no harm in asking for many good things, instead of asking for one bad thing.

God is gracious. He gives and gives. But, a question we may ask on this special day, are we ready to take and make use of everything God given in a rightful manner? This means sharing the good things with our unfortunate brothers and sisters irrespective of race and religion. This also means willingness to sacrifice the good things blessed when there arise occasions where others may be in demand of those things. Are we ready?

Deepavali starts with early morning oil bath. Hey common guys…this doesn’t mean that we pour buckets of oil over us. In Hindu tradition applying some oil on the body signifies an act of purification, then they will wear new clothes; lighting of oil lamps, followed by prayers at home and going to temples. Festive mood is not over yet with all those activities. Now it is time to invite and serve our friends and relatives. As part of the tradition, some people would pack some Deepavali cookies to be given to the neighbours. Talk about Deepavali, we can’t run away from TV programmes, movies and also some cultural activities. Great. Go and enjoy yourselves. Get immersed in the spirit of Deepavali with fireworks. Let the children run free today. Lets everyone be liberal in thoughts and moods. Be positive. Lets initiate the goodwill and brotherhood among mankind.

Then, what? We forget Deepavali? And, wait for another year to come by? Together with the celebration, let us remember that this day act as a reminder as well. Reminder? One may start to scratch his/her head? Yes, dear friends and relatives, it is not just a celebration but a reminder to us to forego at least one habit which doesn’t serve well to us and also to society. So, every Deepavali is a moment to shed the wrong kind of habits and replace it with some positive ones. We can do that. It is not only during Deepavali, but also during every festival or every religion the followers must aspire to give up at least one bad quality in them. Then the meaning of true celebration will descend upon our arid mind. The significance become clear. We too can lighten ourselves from unwanted elements. God Bless. May peace be unto all.

Copyright by Wintere26.

Date: 27 October 2008.

Life as it is.......EPISODE 10 : Be PRACTICAL

I go for jogging everyday. But, what surprises me is that it never tire me. I remain fresh as before. I wondered, why? Then, I realized I must be mad to jog in my mind. It just goes to say, that anything entertained by our mind will not come into fruition, unless it is applied practically.

Life is practical. Don’t spend money and time to understand imagination, resentment, religion or strive aimlessly to understand rites and ceremonies. Live a simple life with ample love and compassion. Thinking about living a simple, do we need to crack our head to profess a religion by cutting off ties with families, friends and the societies? Think simple. You need not strive hard to live such a live. It is our nature, our birth right. Many spend time in understanding the principles laid in the religions without least awareness that these so-called principles lie within each one of us. Try to understand and embrace more and more people within our fold of love. Render help to as many needy individuals in term of food and education. Live the life. Don’t spoil the life with extreme beliefs and cultures. Move on the surface and let your mind swim deeper. This journey is a travel from our little ‘self’ to the big ‘SELF’. It ends where it begins.

Don’t growl at others. Cool down in the hours of utter dismay. Spirituality has no religion. It is beyond ideologies and religions. Only LOVE speaks. Let us be the torch that lit up people’s life and not to burn them unto ashes. Peace be unto all.

Copyright by Wintere26.

Date: 18 October 2008.

Life as it is.....EPISODE 9 : MEDITATION

People meditate. Meditation is a process. A process of being mindful of every little act performed consciously. To harness the after effect of mindfulness we need to find a quiet and clean spot, preferably close to nature such as mountains, by the river, trees or lakes. Nowadays, it is not that easy to find a quiet and clean spot, so one’s own private room charged with good aroma and aura can be used too. There we should sit and contemplate on every act of mindfulness performed during the day. As we consciously move our thoughts from one act to another, a profound and pristine feeling would arise. Of course, this need to be done on regular basis, at the same time everyday, wherever one goes to. So, if we take time to ponder over the actual meaning of meditation especially for the lay man, we will come to grasp that it is not merely sitting in a rigid pose by closing one's eyes and remain motionless for hours. Meditation, as mentioned earlier, is a process of consciously monitoring our actions and subsequently the thoughts. Assiduously practiced over many months, can guarantee one the pleasant effect of meditation. Like the leaves that fall during autumn, our mental agitations too will slowly give way as our meditation gets better and better. Once we realize the real purpose of meditation and its benefits we will realize that meditation is a continuous process of establishing oneness with nature. And, at the end of each mindful day we sit and contemplate to stream the energy of meditation. If correctly practice, we will see the harvest immediately. Happy meditation.

Copyright by Wintere26.

Date: 17 October 2008.

Life as it is.....EPISODE 8 : PRAYER

Someone once said, "...in prayer I am talking to God, in meditation God is talking to me". Well, each person has something to share when it comes to God.That's good. Prayer is powerful. It gives us a sense of reliance upon an energy which is deemed as energy of existence or GOD in common parlance. In prayers we pour the depth of our happiness in the form of gratitude and splash the grievances in the form of bitter tears. Either way, Prayers help us to compose ourselves and identify the root cause of our desires and pain. I am talking about genuine prayers where one loses oneself in essence of the self. Genuine prayers helps to calm our mind by means of slowing down our breathing pattern, thus indirectly reduces the agitation of the mind, or some may call it inner chattering. We should not pray to get our prayers answered, but pray to be relieved of attachment to sensory pleasures which is the primary cause of every mental agitations. It is not easy, but it is possible. Prayers are known, if daily, to have created a state of mental balance where our physiological processes functions at its best and give us a better health. Pray not to get what you want, Pray that you may want what you get. It doesn't matter if GOD is there or not there, always remember to pray, for that is the very basic of our yearning towards non-attachment. That is life too.

Copyright by Wintere26.

Date: 16 October 2008.