It is common during these challenging times for people to give charitable donations to express their care and concern for humanity. They donate money to a good cause, provide the funds to build the new wing of a hospital, or even do something simple, like give money to a beggar on the street. These are wonderful charitable acts, but we can see that they have limited effect. They may alleviate some suffering for a short period, and they may help the donor feel good for a while, but the reward for that donation is short-lived and with a limited effect. No matter how much money or time is donated to worthy causes, the world still seems to spiral out of control. So perhaps we should consider making a different type of donation, one that does not require great wealth, name, or fame. Can I become a spiritual donor?
Each one of us comes into this world with a special gift and a unique role to play. As a spiritual donor, we use our spiritual awareness to nurture and donate our subtle inner gifts, the special and unique qualities that come across through the roles you play - in the way you live, the way you perform your daily tasks and interact with people around you. This special gift could be calmness, it could be unconditional love, it could be courage. It’s your specialty – perhaps you are patient or flexible, perhaps you have determination. Your inner gift, when nurtured regularly, is infused into your being and doing, and it comes from the soul. When we live a spiritual life, it becomes our goal and responsibility to share our inner gifts with the world.
Regular meditation helps us cultivate and empower these inner qualities. We can think of them as our inner treasures, our inner gifts that we can donate to the world. Let me spend the time to discover what my own inner gifts are. Let me take the time to consciously recognize, connect to, and empower through meditation the gifts that lie within me. As my connection to these qualities becomes more real and natural, I can begin to fill my thoughts, words, and actions with the essence of these treasures. This consciousness makes my inner gifts visible to others and inspires others to tap into their own subtle powers. When we make a true donation from within the soul, its invisible and subtle. The gift of calmness during upheaval or the gift of determination during a time of obstacles makes a real and lasting impact on the situation and the people involved. Imagine how different the world would look if each one of us committed to making this kind of spiritual donation every day. How different would the world around us seem? Become a true spiritual donor and watch the magic happen.
Contentment
Contentment is a special virtue to have in life. It is said to be the king of all virtues. Just as a king will have everything, if you have contentment then you will have all the other virtues in you. The visible sign of being content is cheerfulness on the face and happiness in interactions. How does one experience contentment? Often we find two extreme ends of how contentment is interpreted and achieved. Some think that they have everything in life and they don't need to make an effort for anything else so they are content. Others think that they want to have everything in life and so they constantly struggle and make an effort to achieve things so that they can be content. So what comes first? Does attainment in life bring contentment or does contentment in life bring attainments? Many compare themselves to others and try to match their life with them. Comparison takes away contentment. While it is good to be inspired by the life of others, it is not good to compare and feel dissatisfaction.
As the saying "Count your blessings", check what you already have and appreciate all the gifts you have been provided in life. They could be small things but it is important to feel blessed and content with what you have. That feeling of contentment makes the mind free from the illusions of chasing after things out of ignorance. A free mind is able to see the higher values and therefore be inspired to make the right efforts to achieve various things in life. But this effort is not for acquiring something instead it is for sharing something. Contentment is experienced when you use your thoughts, words, time and money energy in a worthwhile way. So the real contentment is felt when you are able to share what you have with others without any strings attached. In other words an act of sharing without any expectation. Otherwise there is a subtle expectation of having something in return for what you are giving. It could be in the form of acknowledgement, appreciation, praise, reward etc. But a true act of selfless giving naturally makes you worthy of appreciation and praise. One does not need to chase after them. At this time true service for humanity is to be a role model of contentment and happiness. When others see you happy due to inner contentment they feel secure being around you. They feel inspired to take something from you or feel that they can bring changes in their life so that they can feel contentment like you do.
So take a moment to check and see how you can bring contentment into your life. Take time to appreciate what you have and be inspired to share something or another with others to increase the feeling of contentment within.
Attitude
The way we think about something or another, the attitude we have towards that which happens to us or around us, the company of the thought we have, creates our stage of mind. For a second, think about the concept of a "seat". When you have a good, high quality seat you can set yourself comfortably and feel that you are stable and solid. In the same way your stage of mind is also like a seat. Some thoughts create a powerful, stable and solid state of mind while others are like a weak and wobbly seat. When I think of myself as a soul I have a golden opportunity to build a seat that is rock solid. This is because soul consciousness reminds us of the eternal connection we have to God who embodies all spiritual powers, knowledge and truth. So, are you ready? Think of yourself now to be an imperishable spiritual being that is listening to these words through the ears of the body, and let's practice sitting on a powerful this seat of awareness:
"I the soul, the child, am never never alone. No, I always belong to, and am combined with my Parent, God the Wise Ocean of Strength. No matter what happens, being with Him and looking at Him I am reassured - everything is OK and will continue to be OK as long a you just hold me with you in your awareness"
From today until tomorrow evening we invite you to practice sitting on this seat and observe the stage of your mind. This seat creates a stage of happiness and of being carefree - without any worries. Just remain constantly set on this seat, never get off, and you will continue to swing in a swing of joy. Try and see for yourself. To remember again and again means to practice. Simply finish the tendency to forget.
