Friend, 'spiritual' is your middle name.

1.You don't have to 'be' spiritual. You 'are' spiritual. You only have to allow it to blossom by becoming 'aware'.

2. Spirituality is the greatest gift to overcome any sort of 'problem'. In fact, embracing spirituality makes you stop looking at situations as problems.

3. It makes you aware of the greater purpose of life - self-realization; the so-called 'big' problems become insignificant.

4. It brings direction to one's existence.

5. You develop a sense of balance.

6. You become aware of your mind, your deeds, your words, your actions.

7. The awareness becomes the beacon to your path.

8. Your path becomes your gateway to eternal peace and happiness.

Staying above it.

'Total' awareness takes care of the 'micro' awareness of any momentary situation. One sees beyond the illusion that is blinding the true vision.Awareness is all about becoming aware of one's actions in the context of the bigger picture - of one's journey to the self - the ultimate objective of human existence.

In such awareness,nothing will affect the one who has resolved to go beyond the sporadic calls of fleeting situations. One understands that it's futile to respond without introspecting on the greater impact such reactions could have on one's journey to the ultimate truth.

Work minus the stress

Stress arises when :
a) one does not do one's duty;
b) one is worried about the results;
c) one is concerned about the 'I' who one thinks is responsible for the results;
d) a,b & c.

The key to success in one's work is:
i) performing duty with perfection in execution - you are giving your best shot
ii) without attachment to the very act itself - 'I' am not the doer
iii) and without worrying about the results - i) and ii) will take care of it.

Everything else will follow.

'Om' in a 'coffee'-cup!

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Thiruvannamalai (the temple, Shri Ramanashramam) and Pondicherry (Shri Aurobindo Ashramam).I was having a cold coffee (sans sugar,of course!) at a beachside cafe in Pondicherry when I noticed a familiar shape that had taken its form on the interior part of the cup.Picture given below. Even the 'chandrakala' has not been missed out! Have a look :)

On the path.

Recently, I was reading the anniversary issue of Life Positive,a magazine centred on spirituality.It had several articles by people on how they came to the spiritual path and the experiences they had.

I found it interesting that I was able to relate many of these experiences.Thought of penning down my personal experience here.

Once you are on the path,you begin to do things that sometimes might be difficult to reason or explain to others. I always had a spiritual bent,but there was no compelling reason for me to wake up one Sunday morning seven years back and declare that I have turned vegetarian,a shock to many who know me as one who could not make it through lunch without a fair share of 'military' food. And yet another day, I stopped using sugar in my coffee; started abhorring leather products; became a minimalist in my needs and purchases;stopped using synthetic products; and a whole host of things that many take for granted.

Though this might sound/look extreme, the joy that the path opens up in you is unparalleled.

So are you on the path? Please share!

Imagine there is no time ahead of you.

That very thought is enough to make you shake off laziness and drive your energies towards your duty and the process of realizing the self.

Enjoy the present moment to the fullest thinking this is your only moment.

Awareness is everything.

Doing one's duty without worrying about the results, facing the obstacles that come along the way with courage and keeping the mind far above the tremors of its continuous agitation and understanding that the ultimate goal in life is to attain self-realization; this is the recipe for leading one's life.

Simple as it sounds,it is difficult to practice these principles in our earthly existence. And the key to making it work is constant awareness. Becoming aware of your supreme purpose in any situation - however good or bad - is the secret to transcending it and going beyond that momentary situation or emotion. Before your bigger purpose and goal, these situations and emotions are minions. Awareness of your ultimate goal is the giant fire that can destroy any situation or emotion without getting consumed with it.

So have you kindled the fire of awareness within you? Make sure you keep it burning with inner determination as the fuel.