What happens to us in life is very much a reflection of our mental states. While a calm and collected approach to meeting the issues of life can quite often ease us through the problems, an agitated mental state is likely to complicate matters. It is good to understand the link between our mental states and how the circumstances in our life shape themselves. The loving application in that direction can move us towards healthy and vibrant living.
Life on this planet is difficult. Problems come from many directions and people flounder under their impact. It is almost a miracle that the vast majority of people, notwithstanding the above scenario, manage to keep their heads above water. However, only a small percentage of them are completely at ease with life, irrespective of whether they meet with success or failure. Some people rely on religion or meditative methods to prevent the boat from sinking. Those approaches certainly help the people but they serve more as a shield against the onslaught of life rather than help the people be at ease with life and relax them right through their being. So, we ask “If religion and associated methods can only answer the issues partially, what can help us in a deeper way?”
Our interest in answering the above question would imply an adventurous attitude, the willingness to explore and discover hidden currents of life, and the associated patience. These ingredients would, doubtless, sooner or later bring about an inward integration that makes us meet life squarely and be its friend. In the following paragraphs, we look into some factors that can function as catalysts in the above process.
Observation and understanding: It is good to observe the link between our mental states and the circumstances in our life. Soon we notice how a calm disposition with regard to nagging issues brings about the favorable change. We also notice that this observation makes us understand that we can be in the driver seat of our lives. We see the possibility of being in loving contact with our aspirations and letting them manifest in our life at their own time. The matter of positive thinking is only a small subset of this.
Moving with the same speed as life does: We bring in a dynamic psychology to be in tune with life; that is, we don’t complain but do what is needed to keep moving with life at its own speed. That kind of trust in life gradually turns us into meeting all issues with confidence and love. It would also imply that we accept life in toto and meet it vibrantly. This is often indicated by people who have a near death experience (NDE) as their primary transformation by the experience.
Understanding what lies beyond the apparent: When we release ourselves from belief systems and show interest in understanding the esoteric side of life, we develop a progressive attitude towards living. They expand our perspectives and stop us from revolving within the flux of self-centered activities. We begin to pay attention to others as well. If they are interested, we would be their wayside companions in exploring the loftier purpose of life. We would never be an emotional member of any group, religious or otherwise. The resulting calmness paves the way for intelligent living. We appreciate the poster that has a nice scene and a caption that says, “The world belongs to the cool enthusiast.”
The soul aspirations and the mental desires: We begin to sense the difference between soul aspirations and ego demands. That makes us appreciate the sacredness in all relationships, be it with human beings, the other living beings or with the so called inanimate things.
Messages from near death experiences: Those who return from a NDE tell us a great deal about how the personal world one lives in is intimately linked to one’s mind - its outlook and reactions to circumstances. In this connection, the NDE of Anita Moorjani (nderf.org) and her expressions are particularly meaningful. The following lines are from her presentation.
“The word “impossible” has no meaning to me anymore. I look at everything in our reality, including things like illness and aging, so differently and I challenge anything that is considered “natural” or “normal”. To me now, everything feels like human construct – that is, just another product of personal and mass belief. Having had the experience I have, it feels like nothing is real, but every single possibility exists. I now live my life knowing that I can create my own reality based on these new truths that I have learned.”
By paying attention to the aspects mentioned in the above paragraphs, our zest for living increases and we lead a meaningful and compassionate life. We move gradually into happy waters, live with laughter and enthusiasm and, when the last day comes, we can leave with serenity in our hearts.
Related matters are covered in the website http://spirituality.yolasite.com
Gopalakrishnan T. Chandrasekaran was born in Madras (now Chennai), India. He received his doctoral degree in Coastal Engineering from the North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA in 1978; served on the research and teaching faculty of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India, the North Carolina State University and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait.
Aside from his professional involvements, he was interested in the philosophic issues of life for the last forty years or so. This led him to the messages of Ramana Maharishi, Lao Tzu, J Krishnamurthy, UG Krishnamurthy, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Eckhart Tolle, Marcus Aurelius and similar Masters. His book entitled “In Quest of the Deeper Self” is the outcome of his reflections on those and his wish to share the outcome with others.
Gopalakrishnan is a member of the International Association for Near Death Studies, Durham, NC, USA. He lives in Kodaikanal, a hill town in the southern part of India, with his wife Banumathy who also received her doctoral degree from the North Carolina State University, in Organic Chemistry. Now they are both retired and currently involved in developing a fruit farm at a village 20 km from their residence. They have a daughter and son who are both married and settled.
Blog: http://nde-thedeeperself.blogspot.com