​Anger is an emotion that is very difficult to manage. People who have a problem with anger tend to obsess over "should-s" and "must-s." They tend to think about their own feelings and the thoughts of others. They may ignore the positive things in life, or they may allow small irritations to build up to the "final straw." Then they blow up over something that really should not have bothered them in the first place.

At an apparent level, we may feel that anger is bad, only when it is uncontrollable, as it can potentially lead to violent behaviors. But that is not the case. ALL anger is bad in one way or another, because it leads to a lower sense of self-worth and wellness!

We find that at times, anger is exhibited in more passive ways, such as sulking or ignoring people. In the latter case, a person may attempt to hide their feelings or harm themselves. Self-harm is most common among young people. These behaviors are often the result of past experiences that were never fully processed and expressed.

​Therefore, learning to identify the causes of your anger and then addressing the core points can help you feel more empowered and in better control of your feelings. 

You will realize that no one external has true power over you! Others cannot push your buttons… because ultimately you hold the key to how you feel. Instead of feelings merely happening to you, as if they were some 'reaction' to others people's triggering actions, you will realize that you have the ability to choose your thoughts and actions and these in turn will determine how you feel! 

At the onset, keep a simple goal- where your starting aim could be to reduce the amount of anger you feel in any given instance and reduce the time it takes you to restore back to normal balanced functioning before the triggering situation. 

Learning to not only manage anger, but actually "letting it go"… takes time, discipline, and sometimes even specialized help. In this regards, close friends, well-caring family members or a close-knit support group, such as a spiritual community can help you in myriad of ways to understand the underlying issues behind the anger. They can help you to strategically resolve them, while at the same time, also provide loving support to address and overcome those challenges. 

There is an ancient teaching by The Buddha which clearly indicates how being angry is not only futile, it is actually detrimental and self-harming!

​Keep in mind that choosing not to be angry is NOT about condoning a situation or someone's actions/ behavior! Letting go of anger is not the same as 'agreement'. 

What you are doing by letting go of anger is that- you do not let any external situation or any person have control over your inner well-being. By "letting go of anger", you choose to take back your power which you can then steer towards taking appropriate actions to address the situation… take actions that are in accordance with the Universal principles and also your own wellbeing.

Categories: 
Ancient Wisdom,   Buddhism   and   Self Development

Keywords and Tags:
#angermanagement #letgoofanger #noanger #Bodhisattva #Buddha  #Ascension #SpiritualLiving    #RaisingConsciousness #ConsciousLiving  #Buddhism #teachingsofBuddha  

Meditation is a practice that involves focusing one's attention on one object, thought or activity. This allows for a person to become mentally clear, emotionally stable, and calm. The word meditation comes from the root word- ‘medi’ indicating median or center. So basically, meditation allows you to center and stabilize at all levels- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Many religious traditions have some form of meditation practices. Meditation (dhyana), which is the earliest recorded form of meditation, can be found in ancient Hindu texts called the Vedas. You can check out Vedic Ways to learn more about this wise ancient culture.

Meditation plays an important role in both Hindu as well as Buddhist contemplative repertoires. Mediation allows one to traverse beyond the usual mental noise to reach a state of calm where, one can truly hear their inner calling… it is an inner space where one can listen to the soul-urge and divine guidance. Meditation is the foundation of any real spiritual practice. 

​Categories: 
Meditation,   Self Development ,  and   Ways To Relax

Keywords and Tags:
#meditation #Dhyana #samadhi #dharana #benefitsofmeditation  #consciousliving   #centeringyourself    #spiritualguidance #spirituallesson #selfdevelopment #journeytooneness  #yoga  

​As one progresses on their spiritual path, it is but natural to start getting various ‘special’ abilities. These are called “siddhis” (loosely translated to accomplishment) in the Vedic tradition. Most people tend to get very amazed by these new ‘abilities’ they acquire.
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This can be a major challenge since, these very abilities then become their stumbling blocks! Many a times, people get so enamored with what they can accomplish that they get even more caught into the ego of ‘being the do-er’ of those abilities. Instead of viewing them as gifts from the Divine, to be utilized… to further conduct the unfoldment of life!

​When we have any special abilities, those are not ‘ours’ to enjoy or to exhibit, but we become an even greater part of the Divine plan. The Divine unfolding of life happens, and we, as the spiritual seeker utilize the siddhis, our spiritual accomplishments, at the appropriate times to become the ‘nimmit’ (causing factor) of those events and scenarios.

Universal Laws apply at ALL times... and so, in case we believe that with our new spiritual abilities, we can bend rules or get away with doing self-serving actions, then that is not the case at all! Law of Karma is one of the key Universal Laws and so, we are bound to get retribution or reward in accordance to our action- when we utilize our siddhis for the greater good and in accordance with the Divine plan, then there is the reward of ascension to even higher energy dimensions and at the same time, if we use our spiritual accomplishments to further material pursuits, then we will get more mired in this world of delusion (maya).

To the one who is already quite advanced in the spiritual studies, this blogpost will make perfect sense. But for those who are just getting started or have not still started on their journey, it may not make much sense. So, I will put this in even simpler words…

Our spiritual accomplishments are not ‘ours’! They are obtained by Divine grace and all the glory goes to the Divine. As and when required, we can utilize our special abilities, but the credit… the glory still goes to the Divine and our using of those special abilities still needs to be part of the Divine action-plan and in accordance with the Divine guidance.

Do take some time to reflect on these words and see how you can better utilize its deeper meaning to further your spiritual practice…

​Categories: 
Think On This   and   Self Development 

Keywords and Tags:
​​#siddhi #divineplan #divineglory #accomplishment #achievement #spiritualprogress #walkingthepath #consciousliving #empowerment #thinkonthis

Sometimes people confuse between Joy and Happiness… Joy is an inner feeling. Happiness can be expressed in the external world. Joy is a way to internally connect with purpose and meaning. Once we deeply connect with our inner core, then we feel joyful, though our external situation or circumstances could be full of strife and challenges! On the other hand, Happiness usually involves pursuit of ‘something’! This is the real reason why most people define Happiness by saying things like ‘I will be happy when I accomplish this or become that’ and so on…

Joy requires some initial work towards living a ‘Conscious and Connected Life’! It requires us to be mindful, live consciously and connect with our inner being- but once we connect with our higher self, it allows us to endure hardships and trials.

Happiness on the other hand is a choice people make by the other choices they make in their life. Every choice we make is inadvertently linked to our beliefs, ideals, and values! People make a choice to be happy by making purposeful and meaningful choices in their life! Because of this, what can make one person happy is not the same for another people. But where joy is concerned- that is not the case… when we are in-sync with our authentic self, we feel Joyful…

Happiness is often viewed as the opposite to sadness. Though this can be misleading since it is very much possible to feel both ‘happy and sad’ at the same time and many a times, about the same thing! For e.g. you get an exciting new job offer in another state and are happy about leaving the next and exploring the greater outside world… BUT at the same time, you know that you will miss the safety, support and cocoon of being at home with parents. So, in this case, you will be feeling happy and sad about the same topic of taking up a new job away from home.

Joy on the other hand does not have any opposite per se! It springs forth in our mind and heart as pleasant feelings and sensations because of our connection with our true self, making us do activities that are in-sync and in accordance with our genuine authentic self!
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Every person has the ability to establish such a deep connection and feel profound joy in their life!

​When people face challenging situations in life, many a times, they wonder- “why me?”. Doing this puts you in a powerless victim mindset. Instead, if you are to consider positive side of that situation and believe me, there is always some positive side, then it will help you to come up with creative ways in which you can resolve that particular situation.

For e.g., let’s say, you lose your job. Now, you may think- how can there be any positive side to this? True, you will feel upset and pressured with respect to your career, particularly if you lost your job without any notice or severance pay. But, at the same time, not having to report into work every single day, gives you lot of free time. You can utilize all this extra time to learn a new skill or take up that activity which you have been meaning to do for a long time! 

When we approach problems in this manner, it not only improves our overall mindset, but it gives us the required mental framework to always see the best in any situation… and a positive-mental makeup is very attractive. For all you know, as you join a new hiking group, you may meet someone who ends up offering you a new job.

We have all heard the adage- “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. This is not just a cute phrase.

When we truly understand the wisdom of those words and put it in action, we find that it can bring about a ‘refreshing’ resolution of not only the problematic situation at hand, but also bring about a deep and profound transformation in you. We start to view life not as problems and challenges, but as chances and opportunities… and doing this brings on further goodness! 

​Categories: 
Think On This   and     Self Development 

Keywords and Tags:
​​#toughtime #stormyweather #unexpectedevents #accomplishment #achievement #goal #ambition #positivethinking #walkingthepath #consciousliving #empowerment #thinkonthis

When we get stuck on some issue, most of us are conditioned to “think” even harder! Now- to some extent that may make sense. But the criteria to deciding which approach we should take, should depend on the problem at hand.

​Some problems are purely empirical. Then in that case, it may make sense to “think” more- after all, our mind is the best tool we have that can think thru, analyze and come up with amazing solutions. BUT, if we are looking for creative ways to address a scenario, then “thinking” will not help; since by the vey construct of the mind, it is limited by the information that it contains and how it processes that information.

Look at it this way- let’s say, you and I are both equally intelligent and have similar thinking capabilities. But you are very knowledgeable since you are a voracious reader and an avid traveller- knowing about various life experiences, which I don’t even know can exist! The phrase “we don’t know what we don’t know” is very true when it comes to evaluating mind’s capabilities and limitations.

Let’s say in this example that I have average knowledge with an average exposure to life experiences and we both are presented the same non-empirical problem- since your mind has many more previously input knowledge/information- it will be able to evaluate and analyze the situation more comprehensively than me and also come up with a ‘supposedly innovative” solution. With my limited (average) knowledge/information I would be no match for it. The reason I am writing “supposedly innovative” since your mind is still limited by its own bounds- it may have a much larger boundary than for me or most other folks- but still it is limited and anything you come up with from the mind is bound within those experiences, those parameters. 
 
That is why to be truly innovative, we need to go beyond the mind and access that something- from which, from where, everything is created! It is the energy that nature goes to, and it is the same energy nature utilizes to ensure each of its creation however small is created in perfection. That is why it becomes important to learn to quell the mind and go beyond the mind in a calm presence, so that we can get insights which can help us to obtain true, deep and comprehensive understanding into a situation. This in turn will allow you to really “think outside the box” and be innovative in your solution ideas.

At the present time, many people are feeling stressed, strained, and overwhelmed!!

​There are many reasons for it- right from the shock and isolation of these past several months, to seeing challenging-situations overturning each day, the concept of ‘life as we have known it’…

People are feeling fearful for themselves and their loved ones. If one is caught in the middle of such a scenario, then it surely is a time of attentive action for them. But for the rest of us, who get bombarded by such news, this is a time for some reflection, introspection, and preparedness.

We need to remember that ultimately all life-experiences happen from within and in accordance with that- even rejuvenation and healing happens from within. 

So, if you are struggling with some aspect in your life, then take a few minutes out each day to reflect on how you can tap into your own inner resources, within the depths of your heart and inner core to find solutions and address your situation and create your overall wellbeing. 

Each one of us, is a vibrant part of life and because of it, we have been given the ability to maintain our vitality and vibrance- we just need to pay proper attention and take appropriate steps to tap into that inner resource. Something to think about as we traverse thru these challenging times…

​Categories: 
A Message For You,   Emotional Wellbeing, Self Development, Think On This and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#healing #health #vitality #wellbeing #innerwellbeing​  #specialmessage #naturalhealth  #wellness #naturalremedies #healthandwellbeing #walkingthepath #consciousliving #workingwithenergy #empowerment #energymodulation 

​Once Ji Won and Juma were discussing about how we as individuals give a lot of importance to people’s opinions. Even as a child, Ji Won was always concerned about what everyone thought of him. It was always important for him to atleast maintain face, in any situation. Since he was appreciated for his good looks from a very young age, he had grown up to depend on his appearance to pull himself out from any challenging situation. 

He asked Juma, “why are people so enamored by appearance?”

Juma replied, “our five senses provide us the ability to experience our world. But the sensory input from all these five channels is not equal. Eyes, our vision provides maximum input and because of it, we find that anything that appeals our eyes, attracts, and draws us to it. Though unfortunately, it is always short-lived.”

“What do you mean?” Ji Won asked.

Juma replied, “you see, the sensory input from all these five channels go to the ‘control & process mechanism’ which is our mind. Initially, the mind feels drawn to what the eyes see as appealing. But mind is very fickle, unless there is something deeper to keep it anchored, it tends to lose interest very fast. That is why we find that even though people date a person they find ‘attractive’, the marriages that last are not the ones that were based on looks but on some other deeper quality about that person, it could be their intelligence, their caring heart and so on…”

Ji Won thought about how he had always dated Korea’s most beautiful women, but after couple of evenings of fun, he had found them silly and boring. He said, “what you are saying makes total sense. I have seen it in my own life. Then why do we give so much importance to looks? Why don’t we pay more attention to other qualities in a person.”
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“Because the allure of appearance is very strong. One either needs to have a strong intellect that can see beyond the appearance and know what is truly important or one needs to have gone thru pain and suffering after falling prey to good looks, to obtain the wisdom to see beyond someone’s appearance.” Juma said with a smile.

The book,   it is a   SEOUL   CONNECTION   brings you help with your spiritual journey by providing wisdom, guidance, hope and support in a fun story format. It shows how we can address our shadow side to lead a joyful, happy, and magical existence! It will help you to walk your life-path   with clarity and courage-   your own spiritual path to ascension…
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​Check it out: https://amzn.to/3svYHLg

​Categories: 
Ascension,   Book Excerpts,    Relationships, and   Self Development

Keywords and Tags:
#ascension #MaitreyiParadigm #SeoulConnection #kdrama #seoul #Korea #hallyu #motivation #magicallife #hope #emotionalsupport #magic #inspiredliving #PracticalLessons #consciousness   #consciousliving   #walkingthepath   #JumaVera   #bookexcerpt

This is an excerpt from Juma's latest book:   it is a   SEOUL   CONNECTION

The book,   it is a   SEOUL   CONNECTION   brings you help with your spiritual journey by providing wisdom, guidance, hope and support in a fun story format. It shows how we can address our shadow side to lead a joyful, happy, and magical existence! It will help you to walk your life-path   with clarity and courage-   your own spiritual path to ascension…
​
​Check it out: https://amzn.to/3svYHLg

One of the evenings, as they sat enjoying fresh bread and wine on the porch, Ji Won asked Juma about love. He asked her, “what do you think is the meaning of love?”

Juma replied, “it is the most touted and misunderstood word in the dictionary!”

Ji Won smiled and agreed. He was in the entertainment business, where ‘love’ was frequently used and abused. They even had a heart sign in Korea, which all the celebrities freely used to show appreciation to their fans. He had indulged in that behavior too, not because he wanted to, but because it was part of a marketing strategy that was given to him. Though in recent times, he had pushed back on it. Ji Won took a sip of his wine and asked, “why do you think that is?”

Juma said, “because people do not know themselves.”

That seemed a strange answer to Ji Won. He thought she would say something about how people do not understand the true meaning of love or people do not understand the different types of love that we feel, but instead of speaking about love or another person, she was indicating that people misused the word- love, because they did not understand themselves!

​“Please explain,” he said.

Juma said, “all our experiences happen within us. The nature of our reality makes it seem like they happen outside, but in fact they happen within ourselves. Think about it for a second, you are drinking that wine. Even though that action is external to you, but the experience of enjoying the taste of the wine, its aroma and so on, where are you experiencing it?”

“I feel it inside of me.” Ji Won replied.

“Exactly! Now let us take this line of thought a bit further. Now, take the time to truly evaluate and sense what exactly you are feeling within as you drink this wine and then express what you feel. Given your analytical bent and amazing English vocabulary, I am sure you will do a great job.” Juma said with a smile.

Ji Won took a sip from his wine glass. He closed his eyes and really sensed the wine in his mouth. He noticed how it felt as he swallowed it. He sat still with his eyes closed and a calm peaceful expression on his face.

Finally, after a few moments he opened his eyes and said, “I had read that there are many fine nerves in our mouth that can provide phenomenal sensations, the closest I had ever felt that was during a passionate kiss, but what I just experienced was even more amazing. It was like the experience of wine just exploded into a million amazing sensations. I know I speak English very well, but I don’t think I can describe what I just felt. In fact, I don’t think I can explain this feeling even in Korean.” Ji Won replied, still stunned by the sensations he had just experienced.

Juma said, “people rush thru life. If we are to take the time and experience life with complete attention and depth, then we will see that each simple act becomes astounding and phenomenal. What you experience is an amazing sensation, beyond words and description. You cannot define it. You cannot express it. And at the same time, you cannot deny its existence or its profound impact on your psyche, your very being-ness. What you are feeling is ‘love’. It cannot be described, but if we need to describe it, then that would be the closest way to put it.”

Ji Won always thought of love as with respect to someone or something. He could not believe that taking a sip of wine had anything to do with love. But at the same time, he could not explain the sensation he had felt- not just in his mouth but in his entire body. It still tingled and blood rushed through his veins even at the thought of what he had just experienced. He was confused. He asked Juma, “So you mean to say that love is not something we feel for someone or something but that it is a sensation that we feel within ourselves? Is that right?”

“Yes.” Juma replied.

“Does it have anything to do with wine, what I mean is, does it have anything to do with wine being an alcoholic drink- or can we feel it with anything?” Ji Won asked.

“Love is what you experience as a state of being, of awareness. When you are in that state, then you could be eating a piece of bread, just walking down the beach, or idly looking at the sky, you will still feel that amazing ‘indescribable’ sensation. It is who you are, your state of existence.” Juma explained.

“Sorry. I still don’t get it. I always thought that love involved someone or something else. The object of my attention, a person or a thing that I sought, I craved. Isn’t that correct?” Ji Won asked.
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“Unfortunately, that is how most people think of it, because when they are seeking someone or craving something, it is the only time they give maximum attention and because of it are able to experience a little portion of what can be experienced as love” Juma said.

The book,   it is a   SEOUL   CONNECTION   brings you help with your spiritual journey by providing wisdom, guidance, hope and support in a fun story format. It shows how we can address our shadow side to lead a joyful, happy, and magical existence! It will help you to walk your life-path   with clarity and courage-   your own spiritual path to ascension…
​
​Check it out: https://amzn.to/3svYHLg

Categories: 
Ascension,   Book Excerpts,   and   Self Development

Keywords and Tags:
#ascension #MaitreyiParadigm #SeoulConnection #kdrama #seoul #Korea #hallyu #motivation #magicallife #hope #emotionalsupport #magic #inspiredliving #PracticalLessons #consciousness   #consciousliving   #walkingthepath   #JumaVera   #bookexcerpt