FMT LETTER: From Retna Devi Balan, via e-mail
Almost half a year has gone by. Many resolutions would
have been made at the eve of the New Year and by now we would have either
succeeded or faced another failure. Well, let’s put all of those aside. Most
likely our minds are not burdened by any new resolutions. Most likely, we all
have settled into a pattern of living.
I have a proposition; consider today as the beginning
of a new age, not a new year but a new era. On this day, find a quiet place,
preferably in the laps of nature such as a park, seaside or lakeshore. Look
back at the past calmly. Just watch. No criticism, no regrets, just watch with
a deep awareness. Become aware of how we have behaved, what we have done and
what were our thoughts. Reflect deeply on the quality of live we have lived.
Truly speaking, ‘what if’ has no place in our lives.
The Bhagavad-Gita says, “Everything that
has happened has happened well. Everything that is going to happen will also
happen well.” This concept is widely used by the modern age gurus to create an
understanding that life has a pattern and its ultimate purpose is for each soul
to realise itself and the human nature to attain a higher level of existence.
Each of us will look back and think that we could have
changed something if we had done it differently. Today we are a little wiser
than what we were five or 10 years ago. Never use today’s level of maturity to
evaluate past decisions. At that time that was our level of knowledge and so
that is how we behaved. Today we have changed so we think differently and
therefore behave differently. Looking back at the past and thinking about ‘what
ifs’ is like sitting on a rocking chair, gives us something to do but never
takes us anywhere!
Whatever we do, however hard we try, we will never be
able to change the past. It has taken care of itself. When we learn to accept
this whole heartedly, we will grow stronger to face the present with an
undivided mind. Living each moment with complete awareness is the greatest gift
we can give ourselves. One great Zen master was asked, “What is the secret to a
blissful life?” He replied, “Eat while you eat and sleep while you sleep.”
What exactly does that statement mean? It means
complete awareness in whatever we are doing. It is not eating while watching
television. It is not talking while eating. Especially it is not thinking of
something else while eating. Same thing, when we go to sleep, just became aware
of going to sleep, nothing else.
No planning for the next day. No thinking about what
happened that day. If we have to do all of these then do them at least an hour
before hitting the bed. The mind needs to shut down and go blank when the head
reaches the pillow. Just relax and feel the pleasant sensation of drifting into
sleep.
This applies to every aspect of life. Whatever is
happening, give it the best attention and do it well. The action of awareness
within ourselves will open up so many new dimensions for us. Our awareness will
make us realise that though we think we are individuals, in reality we are all
part of a collective consciousness.
Each of our thought, emotion, word and action
contributes to the collective consciousness. The collective consciousness works
on the basis of what we sow we reap. Please understand clearly that whatever is
happening in our lives is actually happening through our choice but it was not
our conscious choice.
Our subconscious mind is always working on something.
That something becomes part of the collective consciousness. When there is
enough energy to support that something then it manifests (happens) in the
physical world. Perhaps some of us would have experienced a situation whereby
something we feared very much comes to pass. Fear is a very powerful emotion.
It has tremendous energy to attract. So when we fear something deeply that
thing happens.
Understanding the mechanics of the universe is an
entirely different subject. For the moment it is enough for us to start the
process of becoming aware. The moment awareness awakens many unconscious
process can be stopped. That itself will begin to change the quality of our
lives. Learn to give out positive thoughts, radiate positive energy and slowly
the equation in the collective consciousness will change.
Currently the collective energy is on the negative
side because most people are living without awareness. Their fears and
negativity is accumulated in the cosmic energy. As a result more negativity
happens. We don’t even have to try to wipe out total negativity. It only takes
51% energy to tip the balance. If 51% of energy turns positive we will start seeing
more good things happening.
It takes only a drop of poison to contaminate a barrel
of milk but takes an entire ocean to destroy a drop of poison. (Also the core
concept in the movie “Dasavataram” with Kamalhassan as the lead hero). My
request to my friends and to all those to whom this message may be passed, let
us live our lives with more awareness and spread the message of awareness.
If we find ourselves thinking a negative thought, then
just say ‘cancel, cancel’ and replace it with a positive thought. If we find
ourselves reacting in a negative manner, pray to God to remove that negative
emotion and pray that our hearts be filled with love and peace for humanity.
Become aware of each word that is being used. In case
a negative word comes up, say ‘stop!’ and replace it with a positive word.
Become aware of each action so that it is in line with our awareness of
creating positive energy. Let all of our thoughts, emotions, words and actions
bring encouragement, peace, love and joy. Let us live with an open heart
without fear and with nothing to hide.
Let us change ourselves to become ambassadors of
positive energy. Let us step together to create a new era. Today’s change will
build a better tomorrow. I wish all of us a happy beginning.
(Retna Devi Balan, Free Malaysia Today, 17 May 2012)