Positive Thinking 35 – Let the IDEA lead to ENERGY

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
Hare Krishna welcome back to our discussion which is the conclusion of our positive thinking series here we will have a recap of our journey and we will have some last words so this is the positive thinking series in which we discussed how thoughts are things how the thoughts that we have, have biochemical effects positive thinking positive thoughts induce health induce health they trigger health promoting hormones and negative thoughts trigger health harming hormones thoughts are things they have vibrations and they have biochemical physical literal effects and we discussed about our odd attitudes instead of looking at the dirty ground we can look at the beautiful sky and we discussed the example of Helen Keller how despite having tremendous afflictions she was always positive and she achieved remarkable things then we went on to discuss how positive thinking should not be treated as a magic wand positive thinking is optimism is not stupidism saying that a half empty glass is half full is optimism but saying that an empty glass is full is not optimism it is stupidism so like that imagining that everything is alright or everything will automatically become alright that is not optimism so for being truly optimistic it is not that we just do some mental adjustment we don’t need just positive perception of reality we need the perception of positive reality the reality at the material level is that there are problems in life the reality at the material level is that we are all going to go old, get deceased and die no matter how much we achieve before that so rather than just delighting that oh we are going on a very good ride but the ride is going to take us off a cliff down we need to recognize what is coming later and prepare for it so what is perception of positive reality that means there is a side to us that is indestructible that is spiritual and that dimension of our life we discussed in the acronym IDEA four principles for understanding spiritual basics IDEA so I is identity we are at our core indestructible spiritual beings who cannot be even touched by the world’s greatest calamities D is divinity things don’t happen by chance or by arbitrary factors there is a divine will that is orchestrating everything for our ultimate long term good E is eternity the best thing that can happen for us is not that our life becomes hunky-dory here in this temporary material world but that we learn to live in such a way that we attain eternal life in the hereafter therein is life’s greatest achievement and therein lies the greatest happiness A is activity we need to not just think positive but we also need to live positive activity we discussed there is karma, vikarma and akarma and how we should choose positive activities virtuous activities which are in accordance with scripture and in accordance with conscience then we will be able to make positive contributions for our own future and for others well being then we discussed the idea at work we discussed how this wisdom enabled Yudhishthira to be solaced when he was devastated after the death of Abhimanyu and it was with this wisdom that Srila Prabhupada overcame herculean obstacles and still went on to attain to do incredible things in Krishna’s service for sharing the wisdom of the Gita. This was the idea at work then we discussed that if we understand that we are at our core souls and it is the soul that is the source of our desires, our consciousness, our volition then does that mean our will power is in our control some people may say that I have will power some say I don’t have will power but actually that the fact is that there are some we discussed these three different ideas that some people say I am the way I am because of my grandfathers did that’s genetic determinism because my grandparents did it or I am the way I am because my parents did it that is formative determinism that is so then I am the way I am because the people around me are the way I am that is social determinism but beyond all these yes our genes affect us our upbringing affects us our social circle affects us but beyond that our actions are determined by also our free will we can choose the way we act and this fourth factor free will can be especially empowered by divine will by God’s grace which manifests when we especially connect with him with devotion so the soul is like a shining jewel but it is covered by grime by dirt just as the soothing white light becomes red when it is covered over by a red film so like that the potent soul becomes weak almost with very little potency when it is covered over by self centered and ignorant desires and then the way to become free is by empowering our intelligence and acting accordingly so we discussed the chariot body analogy within which the intelligence of the chariot here so we need to entrust the reins of our chariot to Krishna by assimilating his spiritual wisdom and molding our life according to that wisdom then we discussed the energy, the principles for positive thinking with all the background E was expectations cultivate smart expectations rather than expecting everything to go according to our desire as in a hotel we understand this world is like a hospital and we proactively cooperate with the divine plan and you see then E, N was nip comparing mentality cherish your uniqueness we don’t compare with others we compare with ourselves and stay on the path to improvement we discussed the story of the bamboo tree then E, the next E was eyes fix your eyes on real success as Einstein said be a man of value not a man of success so even if we don’t succeed always in externally in whatever we are doing if we develop a culture of discipline, commitment, hard work integrity we are succeeding internally and that internal success is the best foundation for external success which will manifest eventually we discussed the story of God asking a man to push a boulder up a hill then R is be resolute avoid by distracting passions and infatuations so be resolute, opinions worldly opinions and worldly passions they can make us just shake like a leaf going here and there with every stray wind but if we are resolute then we can move forward like a missile straight towards our purposeful end then G was gratitude rather than seeing the things that we don’t have and feeling feeling dissatisfied we can focus on seeing the things that we have rather than craving what is there in others plates in their feast we can enjoy what is there in our plate and Y is yes, say yes to God with faith even when things seem to be going wrong if we stay faithful and God will bring out good even through the bad and then these principles if we keep in mind we will find that whatever be the situation comes in our life we will be able to see things positively and positive thinking is not just a matter of thinking we discussed just as the doctor gives a prescription, doctor gives a diagnosis this is deficient, say iron is deficient but along with the doctor gives a prescription, do this and your iron will become normal so like that the prescription was PIES physical quotient intellectual quotient, emotional quotient and spiritual quotient.
Physical quotient can be increased by especially spiritualized diet of prasad then intellectual quotient can be increased by study of scripture, emotional quotient can be increased by associating with spiritually minded people who learn to manage and channel their emotional energy and spiritual quotient can be enhanced by sadhana by especially meditation then we discussed about mantra meditation how sound is an efficient channel for raising our consciousness from the material to the spiritual level and then lastly we discussed that even if we feel that we don’t have time we will be investing time in meditation, we will actually generate time because we will save the time that is dissipated away by stray thoughts, desires and emotions just like a person who invests time in removing a virus from a computer will gain a lot of time, that time wasted in unfruitful work on the computer will be saved. So the idea that is the fundamental principle of spirituality can give us energy and enable us to feast on the PIES in this way spirituality can empower each one of us to become better individuals and to make better contributions in life and most importantly to better our thoughts and to find fulfilment. Thank you.