by Aruna Ladva, Brahma Kumaris London, England, submitted by Etta Stevens
Well-being cannot be rushed. Nature has perfect timing in life for healing. Often when we get trapped by all the external show, we fail to appreciate the real qualities and virtues that fundamentally underpin our life. But the Universe will always give us a sign and signal to remind us.
Lately I have been influenced by a story that I heard, and since then I have been using the essence of that story and applying it to my life. The story goes like this …
One day two friends planned to go out for a long hike together. At some point they stopped in a nice spot somewhere for lunch. As they were getting out their lunch packs, Rodi noticed that Muskan had a beautiful 6 cm diamond in her bag. So Rodi, on seeing Muskan’s diamond decided to ask:
“Wov! Where did you get that?”
“Oh! Somebody gave it to me.”
“It’s beautiful. May I see it?”
“Sure … Would you like it?”
“Really?”
“Yes, you can have it if you like it. It’s a real diamond.”
“That’s really gracious of you. Thank you so much. Are you sure?”
“Definitely!”
The two friends continued walking and chatting and then later separated and went home. A few days later, Rodi called Muskan, and said she wanted to meet her. Muskan agrees to meet. Rodi brings the diamond with her and returns it to Muskan, who was quite surprised to see the diamond returned.
“I’d like to return this diamond.”
“But why?”
“I don’t want the diamond. I want what made you give up the diamond!”
One can see how this works in so many ways in our life. Is it the thing (diamond in this case) that we need, or is it the bliss, contentment and peace of mind (that Muskan had) that we seek? The key thing is what lies behind the action and motivation.
This is applicable to every area of our life. So, when we are stuck in any queue; when we are impatient; when we are intolerant; when we seek attention and respect, when we run after money and things … keep in mind … what is the real thing that we are after. If we were to get to the root of that, imagine how happy and blissful and content we would be?
Many people chase after position and power, without ever realizing what they would do with that once they had achieved their aim. Is it just to be seen to have power? If I do not know how to use that power wisely, then holding that position and power, is not really of any use to myself and no use to anybody else.
That’s why the path of spirituality and meditation teaches us the importance of being able to master the self. Learning how to master the senses is the way to master the world. We must be able to control our inner world of thoughts, long before they extend out into the world through our words and actions. This is attained through self-discipline and self-management, because it all starts with the “self”. As we begin to lose the plot then we try more desperately to control everyone and everything on the outside, and we all know how badly that works out
for everyone.
I love how this spiritual path alone makes us so rich from the inside out. I do not need a penny, praise or a position to turn me into somebody. I do not need to seek validation from the external world, because I am the master making myself from the inside out. How? With every choice and thought I create, and with every decision I take, I am making myself the master of my life. I am my own best teacher. I am my own best guide. I am my own best friend. You will not get a better friend than yourself to befriend you. When you actually love and respect yourself, then you are Powerful. And here I do not mean in the ego sense, but from recognizing my own self-worth.
Back to my topic … wellness cannot be rushed. I say this because this is our REAL and ‘REEL’ work and it takes time and patience, and a lot of self-love. You cannot just think you are doing the yoga; doing the exercise; eating well and having good thoughts. It is not about ticking all the boxes; it is about mastering the self quietly from the inside. This is what gives one a sense of self-respect and self-confidence. And this is what creates our stage of mind. Yes, stage of mind not state of mind. A stage is something I stand upon, with faith and confidence. It’s a stage of mind from where I act, just like an actor on a stage in their role. So, what is your stage of mind? What is the basis and foundation of your stage? Is it your values, your virtues, or is it something else.
Let’s take time to be with the self, to be in solitude to reflect on what is really going on in the soul. Let’s appreciate the real effort of returning the soul back to its original, diamond like pure and powerful stage. It’s Time… to be content … from the inside!
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