A scholarship in the University of Life

A scholarship is given according to a set of criteria, like merit, diversity or inclusion, athletic skill and financial need[1].

Now, many people consider life as a university – I am included in it. So, what are the criteria in this University so anyone get a scholarship?

Probably the main criterion is effort and endeavor. In my experience, life does reward when someone goes beyond their limitations.

The second criterion is their contribution to the community. I feel EVERYONE contributes something to their community – family, neighborhood, city, country and the whole world. According to that, a reward is waiting for them.

A third criterion is their energy and vibration. Seriously, it is extremely important what others spread around, even though it is invisible.

And the scholarship? A few examples:

• Help will come when the need is there.
• Basic needs will be fulfilled.
• There will be an abundance of opportunities.
• Angels will come on the way, that is, people who will extend a hand or will teach an important lesson.

What are you waiting for? Inscriptions for a scholarship in this unlimited university are open.

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[1] According to a definition in Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholarship

 

Religion and spirituality: preaching vs. leading the way

Religion and spirituality are in constant struggle, even though you don’t know it.

On one hand is the very powerful institution of religion: there are a few problems here and there, but religions all over are increasing their numbers in terms of people and temples.

On the other hand, is spirituality: the Cinderella of human spirit, with not much structure, but lots of good intentions and, yes, the number of spiritual groups and tendencies, and the number of people enrolled to them have increased a lot too.

Now, let’s look at it in a different way in which there is no struggle; spirituality is the subtle background that is the essence of religion. In fact, a very religious person is very spiritual too, and spiritual people are often associated with a religion.

But it is true that religion – the religion common people practice – is more focused on the form, that is, scriptures and rituals. On the contrary, spirituality emphasizes the practice, the BEING.

In other words, religion may be only preaching while spirituality is leading… Still, I do believe they are not opposite and here are three examples that may help

• Your religion talks about being charitable and you do, from time to time. Spiritually, you can also be charitable by giving others vibrations and good wishes. Always. Both are necessary and useful.
• By being religious, you have to go to your temple every week or so. By being spiritual, your practice is daily and you don’t have to go to a temple necessarily. When you go to a temple, just be spiritual; when you are spiritual, just feel like your house is a temple.
• The scriptures tell stories or describe a code of life. Spirituality makes your live those stories and change your own life.

What do you think about religion and spirituality?

Your vibrations help … enormously … - Reason 33

Vibrations are based on thoughts, feelings, emotions and attitude which are all invisible, but they can be felt and impact in decisions.  They influence people in relation to how they feel about a situation, words used, work and other aspects of life.

For the employee, it is the vibration he or she receives from the boss for arriving late or for having done a good job, that is, it is that unspoken energy, an important piece of the communication process as vibrations give a certain strength to words, making them more powerful, more energising, more joyful, or more sad.

Leaders refine thoughts and feelings in such a way as to make better decisions and to create an influential environment, so others feel empowered.  In other words, they create proper vibrations.

As an example, many years ago during a session of Call-of-the-Time Dialogues[1], a very old Indian lady, Dadi Janki, came into a marvellous Victorian-style room where a group of leaders had gathered.  Although some of the people had not met her before, everyone became very silent and after Dadi Janki left, people commented how they felt powerful energy coming from her, they felt in total peace.

A similar thing happens with any leader: their vibrations can change a person’s state of mind or way of working.

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

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[1] Call-of-the-Time Dialogues is a programme organised by the American scholar Peter Senge and the Brahma Kumaris.  It gathers leaders of different areas for a dialogue on a specific topic or a retreat.  http://www.brahmakumaris.org/us/partnerships/callOfTheTime

The communication power: thoughts, attitudes and vibration

One part of our communication not only does not happen in words, it is completely invisible. And yet...

Is it possible you don't feel the "vibe" coming from your boss when you enter the office - much before he starts to speak or stands, so you can see his body language? I am sure you do...

One event comes to my mind. I have received an email which was really not nice for me. I started to respond in an aggressive way. After preparing the email, I was able to reflect and I have changed it into a softer version, keeping the assertiveness in it. However, I was surprised when I received that person's response... She was in reality responding to THE AGRESSIVE EMAIL, not the assertive one, even mentioning something I have deleted and she couldn't imagine... Any guess? Yes, she felt my vibrations.

Well, vibrations do not interfere with the tangible world, at least that is what most people think, but the reality is this is a fundamental and crucial part of your own communication. So, before any speech, writing any email or get into any conversation, try to:

• Reflect on your own thoughts. Check yourself for aggressiveness, hate, jealousy or any negative feeling for that person or those people, and make your best to change it into something positive.
• If you can't change your thoughts... Try to not communicate right now, reflect a little more. If you can't, then honesty is possibly the best policy and you can start your communication on the reasons you are upset.
• After changing your thoughts, check your own attitude. Do you want to help or criticize? Are you concerned about others or just upset with what they have done? Change your attitude if you feel it is negative. Otherwise, look for a better moment for communication...
• Vibrations... They are the result of the former points. Remember they will remember how they felt in your presence or the energy they have received when you sent them an email. Meditate before, even though it is just a minute, and that will help your own vibrations enormously.

Remember that even though this is intangible, people will feel it and that will taint anything you tell them.

The art of social service and spiritual welfare (The 16 celestial arts)

One of the basic human principles is the will to give and help each other. It is natural. In fact, in Internet you will find lots of free things - free things that were prepared by someone who was willing to give it freely.

Of course, what we see in the world today is such a deep need by people that most professionals are not inclined to help the other, except if they have the time, the money, if it is easy, convenient... It is also natural: as human beings, we have the tendency to help first those who are closer to us, our "tribe". Later, the concept of "clan" helped the tribe to be larger. In a later evolution, nation and religion, race and even sexual orientation became a reason for a sense of community and help.

But still, you won't be able to help everyone you want and everyone who needs your help. It will be hard and difficult. On this path of self-development, I have met with several people who help in a very altruistic way, but whose bitterness still confuses me. After all, isn't helping another person one of the best ways to get happy?

If you read "Emotional Intelligence", by Daniel Goleman, you will receive many points that support that idea. Yes, there are material aspects you have to consider, but some aspects are related to emotions and feelings, and many times they are more important than the physical one. After all, if someone you know has lost her or his son, there is really nothing physical that can help the person...

So, it is important to learn the art of helping others with your mind and vibrations. Let's go back to our childhood; I am sure at least at some point you have fallen and felt pain. Just try to remember people helping you at that point. Yes, someone probably tried to apply a medicine or even took you to a hospital, but I am almost sure (and I can see you smiling here!) that you will remember first those who hugged you, or carried you. Those who whispered words of encouragement were more important for you than medicine.

Can you also carry others in your arms, hug them and whisper words? Sometimes you can do it, other times you won't be able to do it. Try this... If you know someone or a population is suffering of something, try to visualize them. See them in the screen of your mind, smiling and peaceful and you would wish them to be. Send them that peace and inner joy. Do that for a few minutes. Then, if you can do something physical, do it, but "hug them" first with the arms of your mind. Let them feel your love deeply in their heart.

When you master that art, something amazing will happen: you will learn how to heal yourself. The logic is that you cannot heal someone else if you are not even able to heal the self...