“If there are teachings, instructions or corrections to be given, always give them with a lot of love, and no trace of anger.”
Wisdom needs an inner space—a field—in order for its seed and its saplings to flourish. Put poison onto the earth in that field and the seed will be destroyed, but supplement the ground with all the good things that nourish a little seed of wisdom and you give it a good chance of growing healthy, strong and fast—the tree it grows into will be far more beautiful than if the seed were neglected. This is a reality. If we poison the field of our mind, then whatever wisdom was beginning to grow is gone; it is killed. Which poison most destroys the human mind? Criticism.
How do we overcome the all-too-common human urge to criticise? One of the best ways is to develop another skill, or human power—the ability to let go. Each day of our lives carries a thousand different experiences. Perhaps even a million different experiences! We have to find a way of keeping hold of the experiences that are useful—the things that help us learn and grow—and of letting go of those that are damaging for our minds. We have to learn to sort out and separate, pack up and keep together those skills we will need for tomorrow, but also how to settle, end and dispense with things that are no longer useful.
We can access the ability to let go and also to carry forward qualities and thoughts we are go-ing to need tomorrow through our own spiritual power. If we lack this spiritual power, we will not be able to decide what is going to be of value—what will help those little seeds to grow—and what is not so useful; what is simply going to be a burden or even poison the soil that those seeds are rooted in. When we realise how precious the space inside our head is, then we have to make a choice. Do we want to fill it with good things or dead, negative things? Any action based on giving—on concern for others, compassion, generosity and charity fills us with strength. When we start looking at the weaknesses of others, our strength, our innate wisdom, is reduced. Every time our energy focuses on the weakness of another it drains that inner power. If that focus is then translated into actual critical words or gossip, then that is another huge drop in energy for the soul. Negative criticism of the self, the past, or others, creates a massive energy loss.
We can turn all this around. We can create good thoughts, noble thoughts, elevated thoughts, and thoughts of goodness, compassion and love. If these thoughts are translated into words, words of inspiration, encouragement, and support to help others, then there comes a wonderful influx of energy into the soul. If as a result we are able to express this new-found energy in action and actually do good things in life, the power of good action is such that good things not only happen externally, but strength grows within.
We regain our inner spiritual power with the combination of good thoughts, good words,
good actions, and deeply focussed meditation. When we have that inner spiritual power again within our being, we are able to consistently do good things in our lives; existing not only for the self as a human individual, but to serve a higher purpose.
B.K. Jayanti is Additional Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris.
