Our sacred bond with Nature

"This subject of total well-being would not be complete without considering the environment.  Wouldn’t you say? Our physical bodies are part of the environment.  The traditional definition of health is the absence of disease.  The World Health Organization has redefined health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being.  But, the definition I really like is the optimal integration of mind, body, spirit and environment." Day 37 

The same Spirit that moves within us, that same Source of all the energy within us; that Supreme Consciousness that exists within the core of our being, is also in the natural environment.  The entire living world, all of Nature is an expression of the same consciousness that is within us. We have a sacred bond as that consciousness is sacred, life around us is sacred.

Do you recognize life in plants, in animals, in every atom and every molecule?  Do you recognize that there is life force and there is the presence of Consciousness? What does it mean to you as an individual? Are you environmentally conscious?  Are you aware of the natural environment?   

As guardians of this world; as creatures with powerful brains, with the faculty of the intellect, we need to protect our world.   It begins with us developing that consciousness of the environment and the more we come together in a collective way, the more we can influence the environment. This earth belongs to all of us and taking care of it belongs to all of us.  Let us do it in the way that we can, whichever little way we can.  Let us make a step towards being environmentally conscious and in our social consciousness, include Nature.  

We have a responsibility, let us not deny it. Let us take care of our wonderful world.

peace,

Reena

Let food be your medicine

"Today, we look at the influence of food on our well-being. I am going to begin with the saying of Hippocrates, who is considered to be the father of Western medicine. This is what he says: “Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.” He is telling us to be very careful as to what we eat. We take medicines to get better, to help restore our state of health, and in some cases to prevent diseases. So, we need to treat food with respect. " Day 36

As a seeker after true well-being, true happiness and  freedom,  it  is important to look at the influence of food on your well-being on our journey. You should eat in such a way that it should help you to survive longer and be more healthy. You should eat to live and not live to eat, not just going after the pleasure of taste, eating any and everything, indiscriminately. 

You must look at quantity, quality, how the food is prepared and how you  support the digestive process so that the essential nutrients are extracted for the body's survival and fitness.Another aspect to the process of eating is  how you  feel emotionally and physically. It is better to be stress free; the most powerful thing you can do is eat in an atmosphere of peace, calm and joyfulness. 

The process of feeding your body, which carries the soul, should be a sacred process because the body is a temple of your spiritual being. It is like an offering; in the same way we make offerings to the Divine, whether it is  mental, physical, or emotional offering, we need to think of food as an offering. In the yogic teaching they say: that food is God, food is Brahman.

You  have a responsibility for what you eat. Give attention to what you eat, how much  and how you eat. Treat food as Divine.

Be body conscious while spiruitually centred

" There is a saying: If you do not use it, you will lose it. Here we are speaking about your precious physical body and its need for activity. Are you in touch with your body? Are you really body conscious, and so centered in spiritual awareness that you can be aware of the needs of the body in order to be fit and healthy on the journey?  Day 35

The physical body is a creation of Nature to fulfill your life's purpose in this lifetime.It has an intelligence of its own. Therefore we need  to work with it in a way to keep it at its best.   To understand the body and relate to it in the best way, you have to give attention to it. Listen to it, understand how it works, understand what its needs are.

Learn to use the chakras to create a better relationship with the body.

Breathe into the navel chakra until you could feel there is prana in the body; the body will actually want to become more active. Also ensure that you bring the heart chakra in, so that you have a passion, you really honour the body and begin enjoying the body.  Bring in the brow center with focus and vision. Visualize the kind of body you want. Visualize how healthy you want to be and hold that vision very firmly, supporting the lower chakras. Hold in your mind the importance of good health. Staying in the base chakra allows you to ground in the world and enjoy physical activities. 

Then if you are able to access more of the crown, you will fill the body with great peace as you do everything in wonderful stillness, in connection to the Source of all vitality, all love, all mental strength. Your body will then enjoy the experience of being alive, healthy and fit. It is the consciousness that is important; and it is the focus that is important as you support the lower chakras. 

 When you begin your day, it is important to be centered in your energy being.  You need to come into soul consciousness as best as you can. This is when you can really  maintain the body in optimal condition, if you  are in a greater state of awareness.

 Hearing this message today made me feel really guilty about not giving the body the attention that it deserves. However,I do feel some hope that I can  draw grace from the Universe when I make the right effort and choices to keep the body healthy. I am reminded of the tools that I have within to strengthen self-discipline, and to keep that strong desire for a deeper connection with the Higher Power.

peace,
Reena

Pranayama - managing life force

" Today the subject is Pranayama; it is the management of the life force within us.  ‘Prana’ can be translated as life force and ‘ayama’ means extension, drawing out, controlling, restraining.  So pranayama means extending this energy, managing this energy."  Day 34

Prana abounds in the Universe. According to the Yoga tradition, in our pranic body, we have seventy-two thousand (72,000) channels through which prana can flow.  There is prana (subtle energy) in the air that you breathe.  When you breathe the air into your being, your pranic body picks up that life force and it recharges your body.  The breathing is a step in controlling and being in touch with this life force. 

At the navel centre, the Manipura chakra is a storage area of prana. When you learn the yoga breathing and you breathe into the navel area, you can actually store an abundance of prana in this area that can be like a reserve. When you begin to learn to control the subtle energies behind the breathing, you find that you are more in command over this invisible life force within you. You can bring healing energies through the pranic body, recharging the nervous system; stimulating body functions from a spiritual level; bring about healing within the body; and influence the space around you with this vitality, with this presence.

Over the years, I have learnt several breathing exercises and I do enjoy them when I practice. However, the challenge has always been to keep a discipline and practice every day. The message today is a powerful reminder of the power of pranayama to awaken chakras even more  and to energise the entire body using this pranic energy that we can become aware of in the breathing.

peace,
Reena

Be emotionally wise

" Emotions are powerful streams of energy generated in our consciousness. We need to understand them; we need to use them appropriately and we need to use them wisely on our journey to freedom and true well-being.  Our spiritual Consciousness gives us a heightened awareness, and this heightened awareness on the spiritual path is an invitation to see more in the consciousness. Not just thoughts but also emotions." Day 33 

The most powerful companion for love is when the brow chakra opens up. Then it is able to support love in a very powerful way. It is therefore important that head and heart work together, that there be a balance in wisdom and passion on the journey. Otherwise we will never be able to explore the fullness of the heart which allows us to love in greater measure, and to move from selfish loving to selfless loving.  

Therefore we need to be aware of every emotion that passes our consciousness.This is described as having emotional intelligence: to be appropriate in terms of our emotional posture to bring out the best in our relationships, even if it is a relationship with our own physical body.

I have been working to develop a more loving relationship with my physical body, to actively care for it by giving it the right diet, rest and some exercise,which I know needs a great deal of improvement. I also try to  nurture the body with healing meditations and to cultivate an attitude of  reverence towards it as the temple for my soul. I therefore appreciate the importance of head and heart working well together to energize and create well-being in the body. 

Be emotionally wise! Stay spiritually connected to the source of all love – your spiritual being.

peace,

Reena

The power of prayer,mantra and affirmations

" Today I want to deal with the subject of prayer, mantras and affirmations as tools to help us on the journey: to protect the mind; to energise our being, and; to lead us towards accomplishing our vision. " Day 32.

Prayer  is a powerful tool on the journey, a way of reaching out to that  Supreme Power, acknowledging that Power; giving attention to It; seeking help.  But we also need to see the Universe’s response to our prayer and to use it effectively. Throughout our journey, we can use the power of prayer very positively, very powerfully, to hold the mind firm in that awareness of a Supreme Power; to connect with it and to stay in its consciousness, being a perfect instrument.

We have the use of mantras as a gift on the spiritual path. Mantras are also very powerful tools, creating vibrations in the inner and outer space that are harmonious. They have tremendous healing potential.  It can be a marvellous journey towards healing and towards that space of freedom, repeating these sacred words.

Mantras and prayers can be affirmations.  Affirmations centre us in a certain awareness and as we repeat them, they hold us there, keeping our minds strong on the journey.  They align us to our vision and as we keep on repeating them, they energise us, helping us towards our goal. 

When we repeat affirmations, prayer or mantras, the first step is to listen to it as we say it; and say it continuously with awareness, holding the present moment until the affirmation, prayer or mantra begins to stay in the mind very powerfully.  So it moves beyond just the voice.

This message resonates deep within me for I know and feel that I have been tremendously blessed by the power of prayer,mantras and affirmations. I would say that this talk validates my experiences. Prayer for me is very personal, just a conversation  with a Greater Power in a deeper space. I continue to use ancient mantras for healing and harmony within myself and I feel very empowered when I repeat  affirmations.

I strongly recommend these as powerful tools to strengthen our connection with the Divine, to hold our minds in a positive and protective space, to help in the healing of our bodies, to keep us aligned to our vision and to hold us on our journey.

peace,

Reena

Going beyond the mind

" How do we get to that state of mental well-being where our mind becomes our friend on the journey? -when it becomes quiet, meeting our wishes, and rises to the occasion when we need it to.  What is the secret to peace of mind? That  is an important aspect of total well-being – to achieve that we have to go to a space beyond the mind." Day 31

It is important to remember that you can live in the world, be involved in everything else and still have that inner space of freedom and true well-being as you go on.  You can live in the world but not be of it. How is this possible? There will always be challenges on the journey, but you have the tools to deal with it. 

You  need to understand that there is Divine Order in the Universe; that everything that happens, happens for a reason. There is meaning and purpose in every event! When you begin to see Divine Order, even though you might be challenged,you learn  how to surrender, and  look carefully at the object of your desire and how firm you are, so that you do not give your power away to any other pattern of behaviour in you that will lead you away from your goal. 

Be discriminating and  maintain a discipline of behaviour,  thinking and  acting that is in line with your desire – your vision.  The secret to peace of mind lies in your total alignment to your vision that nothing can distract you, and your mind supports you completely.
Ask  yourself: What does it mean for me?  What lesson does it have for me? What is my learning outcome from this event?  What is the blessing that I am receiving in terms of my spiritual growth?
 

peace,
Reena

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