Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Be the best "you" you can be

No one is completely free from the influence of the three qualities of nature as
long as they are still in their mortal body. People become different in their
mental tendencies based on the various combinations of the three qualities and
as a result of their own choice of good or bad actions in the past. It is
important to fulfill the societal duties that result from those tendencies
that, combined, become one’s own true nature. Some people will be “destined,”
so to speak, by those tendencies to become spiritual seekers and serve society
by becoming priests or even monks and nuns. Others will see the wisdom in
avoiding over-indulgence in sensual pleasures and will have the inner strength
to naturally lead people by their example. Those who have a more intellectual
understanding of things will serve society best by jobs that require mental
effort. Those who tend to think that only the things they see in this material
existence are real will often be the ones who perform physical labor. While
there are many combinations and permutations of these broad categories of
people, what is important is that you choose a path that is in harmony with
your own inner nature. Don’t try to be someone you are not. Work within your temperament
to better yourself by making good choices and benefiting others with whatever
you do.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Sensual pleasures are like poisoned candy

Sensual pleasures are like poisoned candies; sweet at first, but if you indulge too much they will make you sick, perhaps to death. The activities that lead to lasting joy are often a little bitter at first, but become sweet as time goes on. They are born of the ability to clearly perceive what is really in your best interest. Most pleasures involve satisfying sensual desires and ultimately lead to suffering if they are not done with restraint. Finding pleasure in laziness or intoxication is a result of misunderstanding what pleasure really is and arises in a mind that has been deluded. That kind of pleasure-seeking is self-destructive both in the beginning and at the end.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Your energy goes where your mind directs it

If you are resolutely consistent in your practice of meditation you will find that your mind and senses gradually come under your control. When you calm the fluctuations of the mind and stop being a slave to indulging your senses you will conserve energy and have more inner strength to exert a strong will. But if your will is strengthened only to be used to fulfill your personal desire for wealth or longing for the fruits of your other efforts it will keep you bound to the inclinations of your individual ego. Will power that is used to cling to bad habits like overeating and oversleeping or that can result in dwelling on fear, grief, depression or conceit is misplaced. What you focus your mind on determines where your energy goes. Always be careful not to dwell on things that are negative.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A person who performs all of his or her
actions without attachment to the results is acting in a way that does not
involve the ego. When you can act without ego and still do everything to the
best of your ability, with courage and enthusiasm, you will not be affected by
the impact of success or failure. When you act ruthlessly and with greed in an effort
to get what you want, you will easily become overly jubilant with success or
depressed with failure. To act dishonestly with malice or deceit sets in motion
a series of consequences that will lead to disturbing fluctuations of both body
and mind. Similarly, if you become lazy and procrastinate you will find
yourself easily dejected and unhappy with the life you have created for
yourself.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

An enlightened person knows that behind
everything that can be perceived is the one undivided indestructible light of
God. Most people only see the differences in people and their thoughts and
actions. They are quick to criticize others for their actions or attitudes, but
they cannot see that their own bad habits or negative opinions are the result of
the same thing, i.e. just another attitude or belief. Worse yet, some people
see one bad trait in someone else and decide the whole person is bad. They
never consider the other person’s motive or the possible reasons that compel
their actions. They just thoughtlessly see the trivial differences while
justifying all their own personal convictions and inclinations. Such thinking
ignores the truth about the real condition of humankind.

Monday, January 23, 2012

People knew about the subconscious mind long before Sig Freud

People who lack this knowledge of the five elements that impact every action of thought, word and deed lack the ability to discern the influence of the subconscious effect of their karma. As a result, those without this discriminating wisdom egotistically believe that they are choosing all their actions and are responsible for the results. They just don’t understand how things really work. They don’t realize that their choices are a result of the influence of the three qualities of purity, dynamic energy and inertia as well as the impact of their past actions which imparts a kind of destiny to the final results. Though it may appear like you have free will, your choices are heavily influenced by thing outside of your immediate control. You do have the choice to perform those actions without desire or attachment, thus removing the cause of karma and encouraging proper choices in the future.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

How karma affects your life and what to do about it

On a deeper, long-term level, performing your actions properly (i.e. without desire or attachment) will free you from their residual consequences (your karma). All of your actions have five elements that bring them about; your individual ego-based personality that performs the action, the thought that generates the action, the various instruments of thought and knowledge such as your brain and senses, the actual function performed by your body’s arms, legs, mouth, etc., and one’s self-created destiny (from your karma) that acts like a presiding director over the choices you make. By performing your actions without desire or attachment you will eventually be released from the influence of that destiny and you will be free to choose the actions that are truly in your own best interest. As it turns out, those actions that are in your best interest are those which also benefits others, so performing all your actions properly will cause your evolution to spiral upward toward eventual union with God and absolute freedom.