The essence of meditation

When there is a big problem you can’t resolve, it is common that you just let your mind fly a bit, beyond the problem…

When you are so happy that laughter cannot express it and you decide that, instead of sharing with others, you just let your thoughts fly very high…

When you are feeling so peaceful that your mind gets calmed and even reality seems to slow down…

Meditating is basically to abstract yourself from reality and turn your mind – which generates thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions – towards something else.

By meditating you allow yourself to go out of the box you are at the moment and find other possibilities, other avenues to ride the chariot of your mind.

I have been meditating for almost 40 years and although I can name you at least 10 benefits and I can describe the method to meditating by heart, I still have to capture its essence every single day.

Because every day my mind tries to dive into the problems that come up in my life.

Every time I am happy, my mind generates so many thoughts on how to share that happiness with others.

Whenever I get some moments of peace, I want to go to sleep or just relax by watching or reading something.

To meditate may be a struggle, or a game in which you are the one who will be victorious. It depends on several factors, but with a good method, you will be able to control your mind.

However, the essence of meditation is not about controlling; it is about liberating and focusing. I have learned that, instead of controlling my thoughts and mind, I can free them from several subtle chains and I focus onto something powerful and beautiful.

When the mind finds solutions, pleasure or peace in that direction, meditation becomes natural, the struggle ends and you win this subtle game.

 

Do you want to meditate? I recommend you go to Brahma Kumaris and check the raja yoga meditation.

Controlling your mind, control your destiny

Mind control was a term used quite often at certain levels not long ago; in fact, there was even a (very expensive) course dedicated to teach people how to control their minds!

First, let’s understand the mind. From a spiritual perspective, mind is a part of the being responsible for generating ideas, thoughts and feelings, emotions and sensations.

Mind is considered by many a crazy horse, with no means to refrain or to detain. Others appreciate the power of the mind, generating, well, all we see around us! Except nature, of course.

So, how to REALLY control the mind? Probably that is the wrong word; instead of CONTROLLING, we need to handle or to manage it.

There are two ways to accomplish that. The first way is to look for silencing the mind, totally. Even though that is not possible, it is the aim of many spiritual practices, including certain types of meditation. As a clarification, it is not possible because there is always a white noise in the mind, sound or image.

However, with a proper meditation, like the Raja Yoga Meditation, you may reach a point in which your thoughts – voice, images – are replaced by feelings and it will be almost as if there is total silence. In that case, the mind will be under control and whatever experience is desired, it is possible to get it, especially if it is positive and powerful.

And what about managing the mind when things go wrong or under pressure. It will be much more difficult, but it is feasible to do it when things are quiet; in many people’s practices, meditation is done early in the morning so there is silence all around.

A final consequence of that positive management is a better control over one’s life. After all, what we do is a direct fruit of our thoughts; by managing their creation, we manage our own life.

Secrets of reincarnation

Since I was a child, I have believed in reincarnation. For me it is like a car: it works, even though I don’t have any idea how it does. Or I didn’t…

Reincarnation has given me responses to many things that happen and for it, its concept and application can change lives completely.

When I came into a spiritual path, the Brahma Kumaris, I learned several secrets about reincarnation that shed even more light, and I am sharing them here:

I will start with the impact of being aware on the present life; there are two main impacts I would like to highlight. The first one is the fact that we start to think more GLOBALLY as reincarnation implies the person could have lived in different places, have belonged to different religions and even have had bodies of multiple colors, genders, etc.

The second impact I see on people who are aware of their past lives is that COINCIDENCES change into incidences, by giving an explanation for strange things that take place or, at least, it turns life more interesting.

By knowing about reincarnation, I can design my next life. Reincarnation laws are variable from one school of philosophy to another, but in general, they are associated to karma laws. So, whatever an individual does, speaks or even thinks, that will come back to them and probably, in their next life. In this line of thoughts, if anyone wants to have a good (next) life, be a good person and do good things.

On the other hand, those of us who know about reincarnation, we understand punishment very well. It is the same as the former point, but focus on the bad actions, word and even thoughts we perform. As we will have to live their fruit in our next life, we should live this life in a stage of awareness.

A last secret is related to relationships and that is they are mostly defined by karmic laws. That means we have probably met our relatives, close friends and other people who impact us in former lives. I like the focus of Brahma Kumaris, particularly in this aspect, which is instead of thinking this person is a karma, I can create a healthy relationship with everyone, assuring that when we meet again in our next lives, the meeting will be sweet instead of sour.

I do hope these secrets help you to live better and if you really don’t believe in reincarnation, I guess these can be used as tips for your life.

The role of God in the TikTok era

Well, if you look for GOD and add TikTok, you will find a whooping 235 million results… But, of course, the results are of all kinds because to try to use such a high element of spirituality comprised in the shortest video possible, it is quite difficult.

My experience of God is a life-long one and it goes beyond reading or studying, suffering or joy, understanding or believing. Although those short videos can be helpful, they cannot convey the greatness that God has.

He is known at the Brahma Kumaris, an organization to which I have been affiliated for forty years, as the Ocean of all Virtues, because that is what He is: an Ocean that comprehends all that is good and powerful.

And yet, He is also known as being just a point of light… An extremely concentrated form of energy. The words in other languages are sindhu for ocean and bindhu for point, rhyming an experience, like a living song.

We are similar to Him, but so different. We are different than Him, but so similar.

Experience God through meditation, contemplation or prayer; let that experience fill your mind and actions.

Also, enjoy those short videos, without depending on them to decide what God really is for you.

Overcoming the effect situations of high-impact

Two scenes come to my mind. The first one was when I was still a child and I broke my arm while practicing judo; my master at the time did not handle the situation well and I was not treated as I should have been. When I finally went to a doctor, many days later, I was told that it was too late and that I would forever have trouble doing certain movements.

Another scene was in my late teens; I was just coming to Brahma Kumaris, this wonderful spiritual path that I have been following for almost 40 years. A teacher was giving a class and she was a psychologist, so she shared a concept unknown to me until that point, related to the impact of situations with a high emotional impact. I experienced such clarity that many of my problems up to that moment (and in the future as well) started to make sense and it became easier for me to find solutions.

I mention these two scenes because they exemplify a lot of what a trauma is: the encounter of a person with a high-impact situation. There are several examples:

• Physical, as in the case of my arm.
• When you lose the job on which you depend so much, a financial trauma.
• Relational, in the case of the death of someone or the dissolution of a family.
• Emotional, which can come from an experience of abandonment.

However, the question here is how to overcome these high impact situations as they cannot be avoided (most of the time). But there is nothing that really prevents us from handling their effect.

From my previous narrative, I would suggest two things:

The first thing to consider is to get help from someone who can really cooperate in the work of relief and healing.

Second, reflect and understand the effect of this on life, particularly habits that can emerge and affect life negatively.

By doing this, you can initially alleviate the impact of the situation, process what happened and, consequently, begin a healing path, transforming the trauma into a learning experience.

The superman

There is a concept I have heard a long time ago: a superman.

No, not the one from comics… but a Super-Man, a man who is super, extraordinary, and today is a day to talk about the possibility of being a superman.

We could think of a superman as a man with riches or any resources that make him amazing, like a millionaire helping children in Africa or a poor man who, with his work is able to send his child to college.

But I see a superman as a person – not only men – who is able to overcome any limitation and enable others to do so, and today I am remembering one of such a people.

Brahma Baba was a superman and I have met many superwomen and supermen he has helped them to become it; I want to count myself among those fortunate ones.

 

Do you know any superwoman or superman? How much has that person influenced you and helped you to bring about the best of yourself?

Maybe is it you that superperson?

The essence of meditation

When there is a big problem you can’t resolve, it is common that you just let your mind fly a bit, beyond the problem…

When you are so happy that laughter cannot express it and you decide that, instead of sharing with others, you just let your thoughts fly very high…

When you are feeling so peaceful that your mind gets calmed and even reality seems to slow down…

Meditating is basically to abstract yourself from reality and turn your mind – which generates thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions – towards something else.

By meditating you allow yourself to go out of the box you are at the moment and find other possibilities, other avenues to ride the chariot of your mind.

I have been meditating for almost 40 years and although I can name you at least 10 benefits and I can describe the method to meditating by heart, I still have to capture its essence every single day.

Because every day my mind tries to dive into the problems that come up in my life.

Every time I am happy, my mind generates so many thoughts on how to share that happiness with others.

Whenever I get some moments of peace, I want to go to sleep or just relax by watching or reading something.

To meditate may be a struggle, or a game in which you are the one who will be victorious. It depends on several factors, but with a good method, you will be able to control your mind.

However, the essence of meditation is not about controlling; it is about liberating and focusing. I have learned that, instead of controlling my thoughts and mind, I can free them from several subtle chains and I focus onto something powerful and beautiful.

When the mind finds solutions, pleasure or peace in that direction, meditation becomes natural, the struggle ends and you win this subtle game.

 

Do you want to meditate?

I recommend you go to Brahma Kumaris and check the raja yoga meditation.

The magic in meditation

Less than 40 years ago, I was going through a crisis. Although in hindsight it was quite a typical teenager crisis, for me it was the end of the world.

Then I got in touch with meditation and I have learned a very beautiful technique, raja yoga, imparted by the BrahmaKumaris in my city, Sao Paulo, Brazil. And it was magical…

No matter how much people talk about benefits of meditation, I feel it does not cover the reality because of its impact on my life. Just a few things that happened to me:

• When I started to meditate I clarified my goals in life. In this way, I could manage my existence as a leader of myself.
• My health started to improve in all levels.
• My relationships… I was able to get rid of expectation and start the journey of acceptance.
• I was also able to leave my shyness and start a professional career that was worthwhile.

In relation to meditation, magic is not so much in transforming stone into water, but to shape the stone in such a way that is capable to hold the water.

This is a series of posts on MAGIC…

P.S. Check also this video in my channel - https://youtu.be/ijD9atWiM6M

The eyes of a leader

In the year 86, I have met one of the greatest leaders I have ever known. Much before I heard of all theories and examples of female leadership, before I even thought about studying the topic of leadership, she was already performing it, and very successfully.

I then ask myself: what went wrong with leadership? News and social perception indicates a big lack of leadership in the world, and I guess Dadi’s method could be used to recover a bit of that.

Dadi Prakashmani was the leader of Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual university originally from India, to which I am part for almost 40 years. Her smile and energy used to motivate anyone just by seeing her and probably that is the first thing all leaders should take into account: smile…

But I would like to focus on her eyes, from which you would experience: you are the most important person in the world and I am your friend.

Her eyes used to see others’ specialties, even when they were wrong; of course she would notice others’ errors and correct them, but the feeling was that it was like a mother: I love you no matter what, but I must correct you because I want you to be the best.

Last things I could see in her eyes that could be helpful for any leader:

• There used to be a deep calmness that could calm us very deeply, more than anything we have experienced.
• At the same time, there was such a power; it was as if she was telling: you are going to win, don’t worry about that.

What do you see in your own eyes, leader?

Everyone feels you are part of their lives - Reason 53

We live in a human society, which could be defined as a huge network of people who share values, resources, teachings and much more.  If it could be seen physically, it would look like an archipelago of connected living islands.

This definition does not cover however the feelings of belonging and that is exactly where leaders work more efficiently, while managing and dealing with people.

Dadi Prakashmani[1] was a leader who rose up to the head of an organisation of thousands of people at the time, after its Founder passed away.  She could have faced hard opposition if she was not able to make others feel part of her life and reciprocally, she made others feel she was part of their lives.

Her awareness as a spiritual leader was one of a pure spiritual attitude and the intention of serving others.  She went beyond the sense of connected-living-islands and entered people’s hearts, with her smile and practical support.  She would receive co-operation by stimulating others to be happier and more peaceful.

It does not matter who the other person is, a leader always finds a door or a window through which to enter their heart.

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[1] Dadi Prakashmani (c.1920 – 2007) was an Indian woman of Sindhi origin who administered the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University from 1969 until the time of her death 38 years later.  The number of students increased from about 3,000 to almost a million during that period.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

Your specialties inspire - Reason 15

All of us are special and we have qualities that are unique in our context.  Those specialties impact our family and friends, our jobs and the contribution we give to the community.  Specialties define us in relation to how others see us and also how we feel about life, and can therefore become valuable components for self-esteem.

A normal person can experience qualities that help harmonise relationships, increase self-esteem and attain some success, but a leader is one whose specialties will motivate others.

Many years ago, I had the chance to be with Dadi Prakashmani, the then Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris[1].  We were in a car, without translator; Dadi spoke very little English and I spoke very little Hindi.  This would be a problem for many people trying to communicate, but not for us …

Going beyond words and cultures, she gave me the best leadership seminar and the greatest inspirations ever, all in about an hour.  This is because it came from her own life, and from those specialties that flowed and influenced her words as the powerful leader she was.  In fact, I don’t remember what she said as much as how she said.

By being a leader, a person does not need to talk too much.  Actions and behaviour will do all the speaking, since the leader’s specialties will resonate with the others’ hearts.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1] Dadi Prakashmani (c.1920 – 2007) was an Indian woman of Sindhi origin who administered the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University from 1969 until the time to her death 38 years later.  The number of students increased from about 3,000 to almost a million during that period.

A life to be remembered

A big part of my life has been dedicated to three things: changing the self, helping others to change themselves and reflecting on leadership and how organizations could work.

In relation to the first two aspects, I follow the steps of someone I did not have the honor to meet in person: Prajapita Brahma, who passed way a few years after I was born, left a legacy that is an important treasure for me.

His life is an example in terms of dedication, renunciation and attainments during his own change process. He created a unique methodology of meditative yoga in which God takes the main place; by remembering God, speaking powerful words and performing actions in a spiritual awareness, he showed us that method gave good results and enabled us to change the self.

On the other hand, he created a spiritual university, challenging many assumptions about spirituality. For instance, he put women in a high position, something unheard of at that time. Also, the service done by this university is totally voluntary, so it is done with lots of love and gratitude in the heart.

This week, I was remembering him a lot as on the 18^th, Brahma was remembered, after having passed away in 1969. Remember means becoming, and so I go on my own path of self-transformation.

The power of facing consequences

One of the most common games played in our society is the blaming game, that silly contest to see who is the most stupid to take the fall… And yet, that is probably what we are all looking for in our leaders today: someone who willingly takes the fall.

How refreshing is when someone says sorry or it was my fault. But quite often what we hear is I am not going to apologize or they are the ones to blame!

When I wrote my first book, The pathway towards Self-Leadership, I was able to discern very clearly two different concepts which are used in similar situations: guilt and responsibility.

The first one is behind the attitude most people have and, really, who wants to be guilty? After all, they are sent to jails or exiled somewhere. They are even legally killed in some places.

When someone makes a bad decision, guilt is hardly the solution. It only makes things worse and everyone becomes very heavy and upset with whatever happens.

But responsibility is something else as people naturally like to be responsible; it is part of who we are. A responsible person is admired and praise, these people are able to change their own lives and other people’s existence.

However, you see, it is easier to be guilty… A person goes to jail and he does not have to bear anymore the responsibility of whatever happened, while a responsible person has to be working and living with his own mistake, looking for solutions and working on that.

This is why we all should take some course on how to face consequences. It is really enriching and it helps to build our own personality.

A friend was telling me about his realization when he saw that all the businesses he started failed. He told me about the emotional burden he felt; relieved by his religion and the presence of his family, and at some point he decided to take over one business. He took over responsibility over it; he talked to very angry clients and rebuilt their trust. Slowly he started to see things get right.

Responsibility has an interesting effect in people and it can be compared with going on a roller-coaster: it is scary, but with the right attitude you will enjoy a lot.

In the case of my friend, the support from his religion, his wife and parents helped a lot, it was crucial in his success. The technical part – budgeting, strategy and calculations – was of course what customers saw, but I am sure that was not what they felt… After a while in the process, a project came through, associated with the embassy from another country, to represent part of their interests. He and his company were just in the crawling stage of their recovery and yet, he decided to try it out. You can probably imagine the amount of documents they required, how much scrutiny he would have to go through and yet, he got it. I am sure it was more due to what they felt than what they saw.

A few tips to develop that sense of responsibility, so that you would never ever again would go through the blaming game:

• Don’t whine or complain, just understand what is happening.
• Firstly in private, accept your own responsibility and see what you can do to fix what needs to be fixed.
• Don’t think, at least initially, about things that are out your responsibility limits, leave that to other people.
• If others are somehow responsible for what is going on, completely or partially, create a strategy to talk to them and get them to do the right thing.
• Learn the lesson and create a plan, so that error does not happen again (don’t trust your own promises).
• Talk to people you trust, embrace your responsibility in front of them.
• Do whatever is required within the limits of your responsibility; don’t think about the present cost or time you would need to spend.
• From time to time, follow up.
• When you start with the fixing part of your responsibility, celebrate your actions, by buying a nice chocolate or enjoying the sunset. Seriously, do it.

Welcome to the I am responsible-game. Enjoy it and win as many times as you want.

This article is dedicated to the Brahma Kumaris and particularly to its founder, Brahma Baba, who faced all consequences with a smile and a spiritual attitude.

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Marcelo Bulk is a Brazilian business consultant, author and coach, resident in the beautiful city of Bogota, Colombia. He has been working for more than 30 years in his own personal development and he has been a volunteer with the Brahma Kumaris, travelling worldwide.

Valuing your money

For the common person, the main difference between capitalism and socialism, or communism, should be clear when it reaches their pockets. The dream of a person in a capitalist system should be earning more and more, whilst the dream of a person in a socialist system would be to earn the enough for their own lives and something to spend extra... Beyond ideologies, money is in the minds of people.

Money has emerged around millennia ago, used as a method of exchanging, better communication and even as an improvement to human civilization. Sometime ago, people started noticing money turned into a smaller god...

Religions went against them, people from all backgrounds are chasing after them... It is a hated-loved god, but no less a god that intimidates and defines how we should behave, what is important and even how we should live our life.

Trying to avoid money has not been successful, although there is a trend of a more humanized use. That was clear in Davos and in the WUF7, two events that gathered the world attention and pointed to a different direction than money...

Is it our little god threatened? Not really... Our society lives on money for too long to just quit that. What is happening is a redefinition of money... Better, it is a redefinition of life as itself.

Many years ago, I heard the explanation about money from Dadi Janki, Brahma Kumaris' leader. A teacher of meditation related what Dadi talked in relation to money: it is the fruit of mind and body, combined.

Good money is exactly like that: your thoughts, emotions and feelings combined with your time and physical, or brain energy. Money is sacred in this sense, since it came from a lot of work from your side.

With that awareness, you can use money in a worthwhile way, so that you don't spend it just like that. After listening to the explanation, I've realized spending money is kind of an art.

It is good to use money for your own needs and others' needs, when they rely or depend on you. Use your money for saving for the future, for one or another thing that gives you extra joy, then donate how much you can to a place that tunes to your own sense of being.

And you see money coming to you... Instead of being a lesser god, money turns back to be an instrument for our civilization and our desire to expand and innovate. Money ceases to be a dream and it becomes a means for that dream you have to come true.