Why must I accept this???

I write this a day after my beautiful place of birth was bombed by three separate attacks by terrorists killing and maiming its citizens randomly only in order to uphold the twisted idea of patriotism and brotherhood espoused by its perpetrators.

It is the perfect time for me to question the idea of 'acceptance'. Am I to accept what happened to my city? Am I to accept it as a non-violent follower of Gandhi and his teachings of peace that brought my country to freedom from Colonialism?

I know the mind is screaming at the top of its voice, to avenge this attack. An eye for an eye. The argument veering towards righteousness using morality and justice as its excuse. They were wrong, they need to be punished. Your city was attacked and it is your moral duty to fight back and "correct" the equation.

And then, I received an email about a young Indian techie who started a helpline using twitter in the spur of the moment which grew from a list of 5 people willing to help victims to 500 in a few hours. It made me remember the power of acceptance just when I was on the brink of forgetting.

The power that flows within when we accept what is/has happened and focus on whats possible. Were we to give ourselves the gift of accepting what is more often, we would be enormously grateful for the hidden power that lies beneath. The power to transform oneself from feeling helpless and angry to feeling hopeful and calm.

There is never a good reason to avenge anything or anyone. We all live in a time when the slogan "war on terror" does not seem comic-tragic, if not highly misguided. What does it say when  one nation can declare war as its primary intention to bring about peace?? With what higher moral authority can that nation then simultaneously denounce the act of terror by another?

I pray that we all are reminded of the blessing that acceptance brings into our lives. Acceptance as the magical treasure trove within us which can light the way through our darkest hour if we are willing to believe in its promise of total transformation.

Is that really so??

A regular practice of self inquiry in some Buddhist spiritual traditions revolves around the question "is that really so??"

Seems like a fairly insipid question on the surface but when one does ask oneself, one is brought face-to-face with one's deepest held beliefs and presumptions..

So the belief, "I am not good enough.." is a good starting point.  Challenge your arguments. Ask yourself honestly where you picked up that notion? Is it really your own voice or somebody else?

Once you have committed to this question sincerely you will realise the first fluttery feelings of freedom. Freedom from self-limited thoughts and negative emotions. Closer to the truth of who you really have always been and are.

That is so!

EFT is even better than you think!

The Moment of Peace

I am gifting myself an hour of peace, stillness and spaciousness..will you???

www.themomentofpeace.com

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Looking into the mirror

My version of Louise Hay's Classic Mirror exercise

Go to a mirror and look deeply into your eyes. Try to resist all impulses to touch your hair/adjusting or beautifying any facial features. Resist from judging your face superficially, like scowling at your nose etc ;)
Then as you are connected to your eyes alone, stay there. Stay.
Observe what comes up. What it feels like? What needs to be acknowledged? What is behind that stare? Nothing? Too much?
Then ask yourself who is looking at yourself?
Is it the person you are today, at this moment of the day in your life?
Or is it some version of yourself? A younger version who is perceiving yourself? If so, how old is she/he?
The same self that was hurt, was scared and did not have the tools and ability that you have today?
Go back to the feelings/emotions/thoughts that you are experiencing just now as you lock your gaze in the mirror looking into your eyes.
Ask again, who is this persona?
Are you willing and ready to play the role of student instead of a victim of your pain?
Are you ready to step back from the story your mind is replaying in your head which brings in the emotions and instead watch yourself step into a place of power. The power that the present moment brings when you realise that you are not a child anymore. No you are an adult. Say aloud the current date. For eg, it is MAY 20, 2011 4pm on Friday.
Take a deep breath.
Then,
Say to yourself
I am ready and willing to be a student of my wounds instead of being a victim.
I am the observer in the theatre of my life and choose to learn the lessons that make me grow.
I am safe, always protected and loved.
All is well, All is well, All is well.
And so it is.

Have a beautiful light filled day!

Trust and Fear

Published in Living Now Magazine

To have the thought,"Maybe he/she does not love me anymore', "I do not have the ability to do this", "'I will do that when I have a bigger house/more money/get thinner", "I cannot show my true emotions, it will make me seem weak", "This has to happen now or else I am a total failure" etc etc is the very FIRST step in recognising that these are the same mental patterns which bring about the negative emotional states of fear and distrust. Being aware of them is the primary access point to actually transforming them into a source of strength which we were not aware of before!

Next time you have these thoughts realise that you have left the present moment and are dangling in the mind's favourite hang- out place:"The FUTURE"! The only way to foster more trust is by remembering that YOU are in charge of the thoughts you have. If particular thoughts do not allow you to connect with your ever-present inner joy and faith; let them pass without judgement. Much like a house guest. Why? Because they are after all in your house..your sanctuary.

Our minds want a rationale for trusting a particular event or person , it asks ,"but give me the full facts of the case here before we can proceed here..". That proof can of course never be satisfactory as the mind which shuts out our true voice also regularly shuts out daily miracles that are unfolding everywhere. Infact we could counter the mind by asking,"how can I not trust?? look at the beautiful universe andthe love I am always surrounded by".

Once the mind slowly stops its chatter, what is left is but a sense of overwhelming peace. The hang-out place for TRUST! :)

The issue of Closure

Of late every time I have watched the headlines on the news or a talk show the topic of closure gets bandied about a lot. The question every one asks, "So does the death of Osama provide you with closure? " or " Does the death of the world's biggest terrorist give its victims a sense of closure?"

A closure connoting a gaping hole which has been left bleeding in the hearts of those who have lost a loved one and been left bereft since which has now has been sealed. But this means that we somehow believe that something or someone out there has to change before you can start feeling peaceful. Before you can acknowledge the love in your heart once again. This precludes one's free will to choose. To choose to be OK. To choose to live in the present and look at the life you have chosen as a gift. A journey of your soul that has evolved and seeks to grow with each experience if you allow it.

Like Marianne Williamson points out in A Return to Love:

It is not the hurt that you felt or the love that was denied to you in the past but the hurt that you feel and the love that you deny yourself now that is source of all your suffering.

Let us not forget what history has taught us. Hate begets more hatred. The seeds of any truly positive transformation are sown with love and forgiveness. It is the only way to personal peace and freedom from the tyrannies of the mind which keeps us locked out in the past or dangling in the uncertain future.

Forgiveness is not condoning any act but claiming your own power to choose to be happy in every moment. Forgiveness is not giving up or resigning with a broken heart. Forgiveness is an act of power, a very effective but under-utilised action from the bottom of your heart.