Meditation can help us all… a counselor can have more conversions, a designer can create more harmony, marketing people communicate better, HR can interact more meaningfully… and so on. For meditation to help, we need to know some vital features of this science… or is it a discipline? I leave that to you to decide.

The Upanishads, illuminating our real nature, say:
“From Delight we came into existence.
In Delight we grow.
At the end of our journey’s close,
Into Delight we retire.”

Our instinctive reaction is to question the basis of these words. Life has its stress and moments are full of scurrying activities that make the waking hours seem less. There are deadlines to be met, chores need attention, relationships need time, and one has to consistently keep building one’s net of material security. Can delight really find itself in this chaos? Are the Upanishads correct in their analysis? What do the sages mean when they ask us to ‘peel away our layers of ignorance so we can once more bring to the fore the light of our soul?’

The Gurus keep chanting: ‘Quieten your mind!’ Is that easy? Is it easy to detach yourself from the frenzied mainstream of living? No, it isn’t. We mortals can never completely STOP the inflow of thoughts. However, by sitting quietly, we can begin to feel more relaxed, also just focusing on our breathing helps lessen symptoms of stress.

I was once talking to Surakshit Goswami, the leading yoga and meditation expert, and he remarked that relaxation is just one of the benefits of meditation. He went on to explain that a quiet mind tends to discretely stay away from being judgmental, critical, and too analytical. Acceptance becomes an intrinsic part of such a mind. When this happens, the mind adopts a quiet stance and decision-making becomes coherent and intuitively correct. The major benefit of a quiet mind is making intuitively correct decisions!

Thus meditation enables us to go beyond the intellectual mind and enter the spiritual heart. This is where our inner self resides and it is not in its inherent nature to criticize or separate through judgments. As meditative abilities evolve, this inner self develops a protective layer against inane and aimless thoughts. If there is any other way to ward off such thoughts, we will anyway discover inner peace and inner joy. The secret here is to promote a stillness of the mind and evolving through stillness. This stillness is not dependant on outer circumstances. In simpler terms, if happiness is relying on outer circumstances, the mind can only assume that it is happy. Once this reliance is done away with, happiness transcends its ‘assumptive stage’ and becomes real! Happiness is thus self-generated. This self generation can be won through meditation.

“True inner joy is self-created.
It does not depend on outer circumstances.
A river is flowing in and through you carrying the message of joy.
This divine joy is the sole purpose of life.”
From ‘Wings of Joy’ by Sri Chinmoy

Another vital aspect is the new-age instant expectations that are so rampant these days. Meditation is not 2-minute fix that you take out of a pouch, heat, and serve! Tell me, could A R Rahman be as innovatively creative if he just sat down and started writing music scores? What no one ever sees is the hours of practice and riyaaz that goes behind each of his musical creation. The same is true with all of us. No good ad emerges without research, browsing, and practice. Similarly, the more you practice meditation, greater will be the benefits. The mind behaves like a monkey; flitting from one attraction to another… it takes patience and practice to evolve this monkey into a Mahatma! Practice exercises of concentration and meditation and then our mind ceases to remain a monkey and we will begin to attain greater peace of mind.

Let me add here that any venture without enthusiasm and energy tends to taper and fizzle out! Therefore, meditate with zest, zing… and a smile!

Years back when I was a cadet at the Indian Military Academy, my PT instructor said: ‘Ek fauji ke liye meditation bahut practical hai!’ We all smiled and thought: ‘Chalo, kuch time ke liye rest karte hain!’ The instructor was seemingly clairvoyant and just said aloud:  ‘When we become more aware of our inner source of peace we will also be able to easily detach ourselves from minor irritations and minor problems. The mind can be tricky and exaggerate small problems into seemingly large and unconquerable problems. You don’t want to see your enemy bigger than it actually is? Do you?’ We were convinced. Inner poise is essential for sane decision-making. In today’s life, it is meditation that will make me market-ready!

The ultimate goal of meditation is much beyond being market-ready or being able to sight the real enemy and aim better! Nirvana is another name given to benefits beyond this… but this can happen only when we lose our sense of attachment to the individual ego and instead become aware of our real nature which is inseparably one with transcendental consciousness. All that I can say now is: Begin before your mind becomes an uncontrollable monkey!

[Arvind Passey]
[2008]
Published in ‘The Learner’

Here are 6 secrets or keys on how to be a successful wealth creator:

1. Know what you want. If you are not as wealthy as you like, there is something you don’t know. It is a clear vision or plan that will help you form a clear picture of your aim. From poetry to art, from minting money to harmonizing relationships, from spirituality to worldly frolics… all need a viable vision and a plan that will work! You will need to write your goals first. Goals that are specific and in detail. Example: I will study the stock market and aim for a portfolio that has an increase of 20% by the end of two months. This goal is specific. It states exactly how and what you will do by a certain date. Simply saying I will increase my portfolio is not good enough.

2. Remain Positive. Understand that none of us experience 100% success all the time. A good attitude accepts this reality. There will always be moments of failure and down time. These are a normal part of any venture as well as life. Remember that wealth is the accumulation of possibilities. Today the greatest single source of wealth is between your ears.

3. Connect with and learn from those who are already successful. Birds of a feather flock together is a phrase that goes beyond mere wild and whirling words and speaks out a truth that is universal. Thus you must spend time only with those who have already achieved the kind of success you seek. The law of attraction says that you will eventually become successful yourself. Besides this interaction, try to read relevant books, audio-tapes and other material that is available on the net. Share your dreams and vision with the like-minded and also those who appreciate your efforts. If you are married, your spouse will be the best friend, philosopher and guide.

4. Never Give Up. Persistence pays! Despite all odds and despite any obstacles and blocks, go on and keep doing what you dream of doing. I remember a sticker slogan from the past: Big shots are small shots who keep on shooting! Wealth creation is also something that happens when you persist over a period of time… no miracles happen over-night! Expecting miracles is like wanting to win the Nobel Prize for the first poem that you write! This never happens…. Not even in the movies. Be real… but never give up!

5. Be Patient. The world of wealth waits for those who have the persistence and patience to wait for the right moments. True success is seldom immediate. Real wealth and success takes time. Those who are truly successful did not experience their success overnight. We live in an instant get it now world and though it may seem like others have experienced instant success this is rarely if ever the case.

6. Do your research. Great ideas do not pop up and get converted into fame or wealth! Great ideas evolve through the sweat of research and involved persistence. Study well what the billionaire does. It may make you a millionaire. Even in wealth creation you do not just go by intuition alone… back up every decision with adequate research and reading.

To conclude, ‘wealth is the product of man’s capacity to think.’ (Ayn Rand) Thus, wealth is not a material gain, but a state of mind. Wealth flows from energy and ideas! The fact that you’ve read this article means you have already taken the first vital step towards wealth creation. Now all that you have to decide is how you will define ‘wealth’!

[Arvind Passey]
[2008]
Article published in ‘The Learner’

Featured image credit: jenny-robinson

Of partnerships that must last.
Life and joy will then form vast
Vistas of progressive bliss
That may have all that and this!

Such instances, trusty bits
Always work like instant hits.
We wish you smiles: heartfelt too
Believe me – we are for you!

[Arvind Passey]
[2007]

Shadows on walls
Happen in times of darkness
Sometimes the mind knows there is light
Just a door away
And helplessness hides
All methods of reaching out
Until we learn the secret of shadows.

Shadows on walls
Are lifeless toys
To teach us a thing or two about life.

Shadows on walls
Are life-sucking demons
When the walls are inside our minds.

©[Arvind Passey]
[2006]

Dreams have been a source of inspiration (and education!) for many creative thinkers, artists, writers, scientists, and other human beings engaged in the voyage of the discovery we call “Life”. Dreams are riches of the night that bring to light the attitudes we’ve outgrown, the difficulties we’ve ignored, and the conflicts that have been affecting us. They can help us to get in touch with our inner wisdom, and can give us the direction we need to move forward.

People who realize their dreams, have a spiritual sense of a greater purpose in their lives and in their “work”. For them work is fun – not a chore. They wake up every day with a passionate purpose – they know that there are great things to be created every day.
DREAMS: A SOURCE OF TREASURE HUNT
We all have unrealized capabilities. Deep within us, a force beyond our comprehension exists. This force has always been there – waiting, simmering and aching to be tapped. Knowing how to tap this power signifies the difference between those of us who are successful and those who are not. The power of your dream means taking something you believe in, crafting it and then sharing it with the world.
The most amazing thing about dreams is their infinite creativity, variety and availability. The mind, regardless of age or intelligence levels, generates new ideas, night after night, spinning endless fantasies that surpass Hollywood’s best efforts. We each have a master artist living in our unconscious, inviting us to a free private screening of works created especially for us each night.

DREAMS: A POWERFUL WEAPON TOWARDS A FULFILLING LIFE

Dreams come from our creative self, thus they are very important. When we realize our dreams – and begin to embrace it and live it, our life starts transforming in such a way that we would wonder how we could have lived our life in any other way.

The power of our dreams comes from our heart. Our heart is our true center. When people “put their heart and soul into it”, they symbolize the power of dreams. An old sage once said, “Your dreams are the children of your heart, the voice of your soul.” Our dreams come from our heart – and our spirit speaks through our heart. Everyone – every person in this world has a dream – a passion – a vision in his life that pulls him and urges him to move forward.

Many people spend entire lives in pursuit of money, power, fame, and more trappings of the conscious mind and ego. But despite their material wealth they land in spiritual bankruptcy. Real happiness and satisfaction in life depends upon how you embrace what you are passionate about! And only by embracing your passions can happiness be achieved.

THE POWER OF DREAMS

Our dreams know all about us. Dreams reveal us to ourselves. They show us how we feel about life. Dreams fascinate us; seeming to come from a mysterious place deep within us, out of the reach of our everyday selves. Only when we pay attention to them, do they become a powerful force for transformation.

The power of your dream is to realize that you are the power of the Universe at this moment. There are three simple things that separate people who realize their dreams from those who don’t.

1)    A deep passion and commitment in whatever they do.
2)    A clear focus and inner clarity of what’s most important in their lives.
3)    An unwavering sense of purpose beyond “the mind”.

Our soul has a clear purpose in this life. Resistance of that purpose can cause pain, struggle and heartache. Being in alignment with this purpose, we experience fulfillment and inner peace. The manifestation of what we want then becomes far simpler.

UTILIZING THE POWER OF DREAMS

Dreams are a risk free way to learn new skills, explore new behavior and make changes in our life. Material flows freely between the virtual realms of dreams and waking reality. It is noticeable that what concerns our waking mind often appears in our dreams. The opposite is also true.
By focusing our mind on specific areas that interest us, we can intentionally create dreams to promote growth and healing. We can develop assertiveness or become more comfortable in making friends by practicing in our dreams.

Working on our dreams can increase our capacity for intimacy by entering our self-awareness. Sharing what we discover in the unedited, uncensored parts of our heart and mind can let us be seen and heard in new and meaningful ways. Dreams can lead us to fascinating safaris through the uncharted territory of our mind and heart. They can be the maps to many of our treasures. A neuroscientist and a Freudian psychoanalyst, though from different disciplines, both agree that dreams help us to deal with our everyday lives. Dreams help us to process information in our subconscious, to help us solve problems. The state of our health can be spotlighted in our dreams. We can utilize our dreams by paying attention to them.

It is best to put on our miner’s cap, and begin to uncover the messages to ourselves buried deep in our own mind. Reach within to reach out!

[Arvind Passey]
[2006]
Written for PT Education