One more time: Predestination, Free will and Karma

I had a little “flash” last night while in “meditation” on this topic that I’d like to share.

Most individuals are afraid of finding out that their personality is a made up product of their minds, which in turn are only layers of conditioning. It is that fear the one keeping us with the continuous thought that “I am separated from everything else.” Thus, free will is another belief going along with the idea that “ I am separate.” When a religious belief is based on the mind, duality is unavoidable. That is, there is “I” separated from “you,” “them” and “God.” That is why, self exploration through “meditation” or “contemplation” is encouraged, to find out through our own experience.

Therefore in mainstream religion or spirituality, there is separation (duality) and free will as cornerstones of their idea of how Life is.

However, there are many instances when predestination is obvious. In my case, I had accurate predictions about my Life. Things that I was told will happen in my “future” which has happened. Perhaps that is not the experience of many but maybe this video of a scientific experiment could help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VZqho-8iJY

Read the comments on that video and we may understand with how much passion many are willing to defend their ideas of free will. After all, they are just ideas. What “it is” will happen whether we are aware of it or not.

In the Brahma Kumaris, there is the philosophy of an “eternal recurring cycle of time.” That is, time is cyclical and repetitive just what Nietzche pointed out in his “eternal return.” Then, Am I a puppet of destiny?

Of course not. We do not feel like that, we make “choices” right? although… there is no “I.” 🙂 Neither is there something as “time,” although we have made up our world of senses ruled by “time.” Can we see that we are slaves of our minds and perceptions through the sense organs? What we call “real” is the experience of the mind, but to discover what is beyond and “real” from another perception, we need to abandon the mind. Naturally.

As we can see, our unwillingness to be open to discover and investigate is hindering the development of our consciousness. Rather we attach to ideologies or ideas and label them as “truth.” It is safe. It is easy. I can find lots of support from others and make our own little club. “we have the truth” others do not. We are the “chosen ones.” That is self delusion.

If there is karma, there is self. Correct?

It depends on what we call “self.” For most “self” is about “my” ideas, behaviors, conditioning, memories and family genes making up an “individual,” which is given life by our own minds. However, is there any self while in deep sleep? Of course not. We do not need a scientific proof of that. We have experienced ourselves that. Any karma there? Yes. There may be things going on affecting what I believe “me” is, even while “I am not “ there which “I” will be aware of when I come back. Thus, there is karma going even if there is no self.

Q: Is karma predestined?

It happens while I am aware of it or not. While I wish it or not. It is simple action and reaction based on the quality of “my” intentions or past intentions.

Q: Then, I do not have to DO anything if everything is predestined?

Without DOING my part, things will not happen. For instance, I want a job. It will happen if it is predestined, right? No. without doing my part, karma, there is no reaction to that action. Whether that happens or not, that is according to the laws of karma.

That “DOING my part” it is what is known as the “role” to perform in Life.

Basically: I need a job (free will) but that need happened through previous karma (predestined.) I got a job because “I” searched for it (free will) but also because of karma of the right jobs lining up in my search (predestined.) Do we see the game? “We” are not separated at any moment from what we perceive as Life. Thus, this idea of being a separated self is an illusion but a very persistent illusion which makes our Life “real” although illusory.

Q: One more thing: This accumulated karma has to happen to “someone” right? But you just said that there is no self. 🙂

Correct. There is consciousness. That is the Ocean itself. A drop of it plays a role, which we call an individual embodied in a physical body. This individual is in a particular set up with family, friends, etc. Thus the experience of that role will be felt as “I.” BUT, there is no possibility of feeling anything without that which all sentient beings share, which is consciousness, the Ocean itself.

The drop of Ocean cannot feel anything unless it was the Ocean itself.

Q: Well… I do not understand.

Ok let us make it easy and comfortable. Let us call that drop of water, the soul.

As we can see… None of the above is necessary to gain self awareness, self realization. It is only a past time of the mind, a waste of time when what truly matters is to realize the Ocean, consciousness, the “real” self, Brahman, etc. Names are abundant, the experience is all it is needed to “understand.” Paradoxically, we are already that which we are looking to realize.

Change: The gist of everything

Today is a special day in my “spiritual” development and wanted to share this article. If you read something in this blog, I highly recommend this article. In my view, it is worthwhile to read and understand.

Last article was about Tilopa’s “six nails.” He wasn’t “teaching” anything but merely describing a state of BEING which is known as “no-mind.” To understand that, we need to go first into the mind.

If you are “new” or “seasoned” in the path of “spirituality,” or “searching for truth,” the most important thing someone could do in my experience, is to have a deep look at their own mind AND to be aware of their own emotionality or unresolved traumas. That is all. 🙂

How deep you go into those 2 rabbits’ holes is what will give you a state of BEING.

Most psychologists or psychiatrists studying the mind, would like to understand the mind from the mind. Their approach is very limited. It is only a description, a comparison against something idealized as “normal.” In “spirituality” however, there is a need to be aware of the mind but from AWARENESS itself, which is completely different than the mind. How do you get there?

By sitting and looking at the wall. Literally. Doing “nothing.” The caveat is that if “you” DO something, awareness will not be known.

That is, if you sit with the purpose of knowing awareness, you are gone! Sit there without a purpose. Just for the heck of it. Thoughts arrive, outside noises appear, inside noises arrive, watch.That is hard to do for mind-driven individuals, who want to “achieve” something for “time is money.” That is why, these individuals are into another path which is not self-realization.

There is no purpose. No motive other than perhaps rest and relax. (If we want to call that a purpose. That is the “sixth nail” of Tilopa.)

Here is a nice explanation from Osho:

Notice that he calls that “meditation.” I like to call it “contemplation,” someone else may call it “mindfulness,” or whatever label. How about “sit there and do nothing.” Labels are not important, but the experience, “your” experience is.

In this state, things happen to you. Change happens as we develop the habit. Nobody does anything. Little by little, awareness appears as a shy rabbit sticking its nose from its rabbit hole, then the head, ears, etc. It is in that state how we can look, observe, watch, become aware of the mind, so it looses its grip on us by doing nothing. Just by becoming aware of it. Becoming AWARE is not a DOING. It happens.

Then, I recommend this video:

You will fully understand it when you have experienced a bit of the above.

Some may want to use their thoughts to change another. Some may want to use their thoughts to change themselves. Others do not want thoughts to interfere and fight with them, but yet others become AWARE of thoughts and drop their identity from what the mind says, reacts, imagines or recalls. Then, CHANGE happens without changing anything.

Good to remember: “When we DO something (intentionally, with purpose,) we do not allow for change to happen naturally, for Change is all there is.” When we sit, rest, relax, allow… then Change happens… 🙂

So Hum

This writing I feel may be important for a seeker. Hopefully you will bear with me. During my days in the BK movement, there was a phrase used in their “scriptures” (Murli) it was written something like this: “ Hum so, so hum.” If I recall correctly the meaning given was something like “ I am that, that I am.”

Then, it could have been written as “Hamsa” or “hansa” (in sanskrit= swan) which typically refer to as the “soul.”

Moreover, the word “hamsa” has roots in arabic meaning “five,” and also I read somewhere in Hebrew meaning “five.” There is a symbol of a hand (right hand of course, which means cleanliness or purity as opposed to the left hand which in India is related with cleaning yourself) with an eye in the middle which is believed to mean “protection, power, strength, the five chakras, the five senses, etc.” also known as the “hand of Fatima ,” (Islam) or the “hand of Miriam” (Judaism.)

As we can observe, so far I have been given information which has many interpretations but it could be relating to the same thing.

As I experience it now, the word “so Hum” is a symbol which also could mean the sound of breathing: Inhale (hum) exhale (so) which in related with “that which I am.”

What is that which I AM?

I found this interesting explanation which I quote and link: ”This eternal nature is conveyed better in the Hebrew than in the English. The first time God says I AM (“I AM WHO I AM”), the Hebrew says, “Ehyeh asher Ehyeh”,  which translates as “I will be what I will be.” When God then tells Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent you” (Exodus 3:14), it is “Yahweh.” Yahweh is the third person version of Ehyeh, which is first person. Yahweh could also be translated as He will be. “

If you were able to follow up to this point, I see the convergence of different symbols into “I AM.”

There is also a spiritual group believed to be lead by St. Germain speaking about the “I AM” equaling that to God.

Many use their affirmations as “positive thinking,” a way to strength the ego- “I” but, it also goes beyond that depending on which stage of your spiritual path you are in.

When you have experienced a “presence” in you, other than the ego coming from the mind, we can understand that there is “something” which cannot be explained but felt and which has been labeled in so many different ways and changed and misinterpreted in hundreds of ways. That “something” I have been trying to explain in the last 2 articles.

Ramana Maharshi also gives a glimpse into this “presence” which he identified himself with. It can be called “God, consciousness, soul, spirit, I am, SO HUM, etc.

Whatever I have shared above has only meaning for those living in the mind, perhaps an intellectual, researcher or religious follower. It is the experience what only has meaning for me and through that we can understand the rest of the “puzzle.”

We are all one. Consciousness, God IS ( I AM) manifesting in every living being at different levels, at different stages. It is that which is imperishable because has never been born. Has always BEEN.

The mind dictates our sense of individuality. When the mind rules that is a particular drop of the ocean; ego arises and we have created that kind of society where ego rules. That is our perception of individuality. Yes, a drop of the ocean is an individual but it is also the Ocean, God, Consciousness, Brahman, SO HUM.

Do we see that? Better yet, have we experienced that?

In the Brahma Kumaris there was this mantra: “Remember Me alone.” Meaning to remember God alone. Many religions and self-realized individuals will say the same, although language and the listener conditioning, likes and dislikes gets in the way of a clear understanding. You have to experience it to know.

May next year (tomorrow,) be that time for you!

Words and their influence in Spirituality

It is unfortunate that we need to use words to try to explain what cannot be explained. What we call “spirituality” or living Life, is beyond the realm of words and therefore the understanding of those come by assimilating an experience and not by intellectual understanding.

On the internet, I see plenty of information about anything and even about “spirituality.” There are plenty of quotes from masters, gurus, saints, etc. However, many of those quotes are out of context and even the words used are not the exact words uttered by those individuals.

For instance, take the words of Tao Te Ching. Many individuals will only recite them and use them out of context. When the idea behind those words of the “Tao” are understood, that is because of the living experience we have had. That realization can seldom be put into words to explain to another without those words being misinterpreted.

That is why we end up with “easy” religion and “spirituality for all,” as the words used to explain their ideas and philosophies are only behind the general ideas of “good” and “evil,” that is the antagonism of good vs. bad.

Thus, something “spiritual” or “religious” just supports the ideas of what is “good,” “moral” and “acceptable” by the majority and easily denies and condemns those other words representing what is “bad,” “evil,” “immoral.”

As I am here writing these words, I wonder then: “What is the point of sharing through words many things which will be misunderstood by many?”

The answer for me at this point is that “few” will identify something positive since they had similar experiences. That is the end of it.

Truly, I see the need of words to inspire others and those words need to be “black” or “white.” Easy to digest without much trouble. However, do not hope to find something deep in those words. For example: “Perseverance is the glory of Christ.” That is a thumbs up for Christians as it is the meaning of the words “Yoga with Baba” for BK followers. However, what do you mean by perseverance? How do you act when you believe that your action demonstrates perseverance? Is it only perseverance what you believe to be or there are other forms of it? Can perseverance ever be detrimental?

Nevertheless, the word perseverance has a wide positive connotation. It has good social marketing. Can we teach someone to be perseverant? The short answer is “No.”

The long answer is that perseverance cannot be taught when there is the purpose to teach it as it is with any other so-called “virtue.” We need to BE the ideal to teach it, that is the ideal of perseverance and someone else who is watching us, the student; should be able to detect that. It is said that “when the student is ready the master appears.” Well, ready means when the student is observant and has done his “homework” in Life to get to that point where he will see someone in action and “get it.” The student recognition is merely the perception of a reflection of the mirror of Life. In that case, the “master” could be anyone. This act of recognition is true knowing that it is free of any sort of intellectual cultivation, or effort to achieve something.

In this world of technology where we could get plenty of information to “become better,” by signing up to many websites and face to face classes, or even in planned retreats, all we can hope for is “inspiration” which is important but superficial.

In the past students and masters used to live together, that is how the student used to learn from the master. I wonder how that changed into a mere transmission of words and fancy terminology?

The Tree of religions and the formation of souls in Paramdham

It is the understanding within Brahma Kumaris, that souls occupy a “place” in the soul world according to the religions that those souls belong to. The founder of every religion is the head of that particular “section.” It is interesting to notice that since every soul has a “part recorded,” then what is the need for such arrangement? There is no need for it.

Even if a soul was located in some “far away” part from the top, when the time comes for that soul to appear on the physical stage, that soul will be there. It is automatic.

Another consideration is the meaning of the label “religion.” It is usually taught to mean “re-ligare” or to reconnect [with God.] That meaning has been attributed to St. Augustine, but there are several etymological meanings: From a sense of “right or moral obligation” to “respect of what is sacred.” That is from dharma to worship and anything in between.

Nevertheless, a religion is a socio-cultural phenomena made by humans for humans. The accuracy of history of religion can be contested. However the anthropocentric view of spirituality is evident. An organized religion is only important in the human world. To put together a relationship of souls with religions but forgetting about souls of animals, is without a doubt an issue.

It is infantile to believe that a BK shouldn’t eat meat, because it is “tamopradhan” food. That is only to negate something by placing a label with negative connotation to it. The unavoidable fact for those believing in souls, is that in every animal there is also a soul. While some humans may believe that souls of animals are lower than humans; that is only from that anthropomorphic view but that cannot be the way the Universe dictates. Why?

There is no evidence given by Life and the Universe itself, showing that humans are above any other species. Do we see that? When there is an “act of God,” animals and humans will perish equally. The gift of Life is the same for both.

As we are aware of the law of “karma,” we could easily observe how an experience given to another, will be experienced by the giver as well. This is not punishment or reward (again, that is a human conditioned way to understand Life) or “justice,” it is merely cause and effect.

An animal could eat and kill another animal to survive. That is a given according to that consciousness. However; as that consciousness evolves, we could observe a human being with animal tendencies with the added human conditioning of gaining “profit,” in their minds. That sense of living for profit is very human, indeed.

Within the human species, there are different sets of consciousness. For instance, while some may refrain to eat meat; there are different reasons for that decision, showcasing the state of consciousness of such individuals. For instance, someone may do it for “health reasons,” which is the typical profit in mind reasoning. Others, may do it because they do not want to be part of the in-humane slaughter of animals. There is a sense of compassion and empathy. That shows a different, more evolved consciousness within the human race. However, when a religion states that “You should not eat meat because it is impure or Tamopradhan,” that is the imposition of fear to someone who may not be ready to take the jump. If that person still resides within the more animal like consciousness, that person will repress and suffer what is not yet natural for him.

In a nutshell, that tree in Brahma Kumaris should reflect consciousness and not religion as the boundaries of going near the “seed” of the tree.

The existence of God

Does God exist?
There are only 2 possible answers: Yes or No.
Reasonably, there can be many arguments against or for.
Experientially, the “special” few will share their experiences to the many.
The many will become followers, believers…

Therefore, there are many who are “right” and many who are “wrong,” depending on the chosen belief. An intelligent person wants to align with those who are “right” so he too can be “right.” That is the silly game of the mind.

“God” is without meaning to those who are only interested in a simple “yes” or “no” or for those interested in being “right.”
“God” has meaning for those who are looking for a way out of suffering, those who are searching for hope during an otherwise, meaningless life. A simple yes or no will not quench their thirst.

Religions have their own versions of “God.” Christians have a God who has existed in their awareness for 2000 years. Brahma Kumaris has a God, who has existed for 100 years for those believers. Both gods are different. “Eternal Life” is the only thing they have in common.
If a Hollywood movie star gives his opinion, such as: “God does not exist. I believe in Science,” or “Everyone has their own take of God. My God is as I want him to be.”
Those statements make sense, they are reasonable, however; completely meaningless.
Those movie stars, have not started the journey of searching for answers in Life for suffering hasn’t knock at their doors enough times yet. “Searching” is not about reading books or information.

To know the answer of that question is a journey: Deny God all you want. It may take many years or a Life time. Then, it is guarantee that you will believe in God. At the end of that journey, you will have the answer.
OR believe in God all you want. Join religions, convert others, etc. Then, naturally, you will deny his existence. At the end of that journey, you will have the answer. The believer and the atheist are the same.

The “yes” and the “no” will take you to the same place as long as we go through the complete “yes” and the complete “no.” Otherwise, we will only have beliefs, even though rational, logical; those beliefs will only serve to divide people through the use of labels but there will not be a bit of meaning, able to affect our consciousness.

A complete journey will change our consciousness, although we don’t know when. It just happens.
All we have to DO is to allow for change to happen. The “truth” of the answer of the existence of God, is in the honest search which brings a journey.
No one can give you an answer. We need to find it ourselves.

The ones who truly know, cannot talk about it. Why?
The answer: Compassion.

The mind and its extremes in BK Life

One of the characteristics of a person being utilized by his own mind, is that he will go to extremes as part of his beliefs and ego needs.

Brahma Kumaris will offer that experience, but if we are not AWARE, we will miss the chance.
For instance, a follower who has believed in Brahma Kumaris for a long time and has invested resources to support his belief system, is going to “teach others” as he will believe that he is DOING good to others or that he is BECOMING someone “special.”

The ego needs a way to expand. “My beliefs are TRUE therefore, I am helping others who cannot see what I can.” This sort of grandiose is only showing ego. A person who is UNAWARE, will not notice such pretentious life. It is no longer about “self-realization” but to “self-realize others.”

Let us say that this person gets disappointed and leaves the BK system. More likely, if his ego is starving for recognition; he will go to the other extreme.
Now, he will preach “salvation” from the BK system.
Observe that this person is DOING exactly the same thing, but in opposite direction.
That is a DOING of the mind.

Most of the time the extreme is proportional. That is, the deeper we go on one side, the mind will go into the other at the same intensity.

Observe that Brahma Kumaris teachings are of no consequence for those who are AWARE. What matters is to observe “ME,” to observe how is it possible to believe on having the TRUTH just to go to the other side and deny it, but still saving face as a “SAVIOR” in both instances.

It goes something like this:
“I believe in BK teachings. I AM good because I spread them. A few years later: I don’t believe in BK teachings. I AM good because I am saving others from it.”

We are not aware of the dualistic mind.

Isn’t “self-realization” what “spiritual” seekers want?
How is it possible to pass the opportunity to observe their own mind?

The conditioning is great. As a BK, we see Life as “good or evil.” (duality.)
Out of the BK experience, still the same duality exists. The EGO perceives that “I was wrong,” so the way to make things “right” is to go against what was embraced before. I must redeem myself.

In “spirituality” there is no such a thing as “God realization.” But when “the others” is very important in our Life and our dependency is great; then “god realization” weighs more than “self-realization.”

Also, there is no such a thing as “DOING service.” You ARE therefore, that is what is serviceable or non-serviceable. To DO a recipe of things believing to be the “right” thing, despite not BEING congruent with that DOING, is lack of honesty.

Any follower who is expecting for words to show them “truth,” is kidding himself. If those words aren’t according to my experience, I am lying to myself.

The original teachings of Brahma Baba through his experience have been changed. There have been many people (leaders) putting their hands on these “teachings.” This is a frequent experience when regular people surround someone who is in the process of changing his consciousness at a different level. These followers are more concerned in spreading their “truth” and making it available to the masses, rather than learning themselves from that unique experience of witnessing someone closer, going through the process of self-realization.

So why Brahma Baba does not show up and take a stand against those BKs who are misinterpreting his teachings?

Brahma Baba had his chance to act. He did while “alive.” Now, others have the opportunity to act as well. This is not about “making things right.”
That is a human limited vision based on a strong conditioning. In the unlimited, it is about the experience that will be able to change consciousness. To allow everyone to “act” as they need to; for at the end of the game; we know that in fact it is a predestined game, and everything will be as it has to BE. What is “good”? What is “right”? Obviously what is happening in the Drama / Life. Therefore, nothing is “bad” or “wrong.”  Do we have the openness to consider this?  Many like to throw their human morality into the picture and then want to be self-realized at the same time!! This, does not mean either to be “immoral.”  Let us not go to the extreme of mental dualities. It just means to have acceptance, amplitude, “open mind,” to appreciate things beyond our narrow intellectual perception, our “black or white” illusion of a world full of color.
Therefore, OBSERVE your own game. Become AWARE of it… a “detached observer” of it.  

For the common good.

Lust is the greatest enemy

Please take a look at this link:
http://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/3/verse/37

Supposedly, it is a translation of the Bhagavad-Gita. One of the “holy scriptures” of Indian origin.
There, it is explained that lust is not only “sex-lust” but it broadens to another word “desire” which is then explained as the interplay of greed and anger.

Confusion is apparent.
Someone who merely acts by following words, will not understand the meaning of what those words are pointing out.
As a consequence, “desire” has been labeled as “bad” in many religions:  “Desire is the cause of Suffering”  has been said.

Full of words, we are unable to grasp anything but confusion.

The Brahma Kumaris Murli points out: “Lust is the greatest enemy. From the beginning to middle to the end.” But then, the new word “sex-lust” appeared in Murlis as to become specific of the type of lust.

In turn, that statement has labeled sex as something “bad,” “sinful.”
That is their perspective.

Sex is not sinful or bad. The people involved in it, make sex into something enjoyable, blissful or something to be ashamed of.

That is the importance of understanding BEING rather than DOING.
In a “beginner’s consciousness,” actions are considered “good” or “bad.” Nevertheless, the BEING of the one performing the actions is not considered at all.

Sex, more than any other activity will manifest this clearly.
Most individuals do not know of the benefits of sexual energy. Sex is for them, an outlet to their violence, triggered by nature’s impulse to reproduce. Greed and anger are manifested through human sexuality.

As explained in a previous article, when dealing with masses of people, it is easier to express ideas in a “black or white” fashion.
Sex is “bad.” End of report. That is a commandment for all followers.

Although most followers will fall into the category of expressing anger and greed through sex; it does not mean that this is a license to generalize and belittle human sexuality.

There are those who will defend sex, not because they have experienced well-being and renewal through this energy, but because it is a readily available outlet to express their violence, greed and anger masked in the experience of pleasure with the payoff of lower vitality (through constant ejaculation aka orgasms.)
That interplay is what makes sex so complex. It is a layer of pleasure having underneath other emotional layers, with the potential of loss of vitality for most.

Observe your impulses. Observe the energy behind them, the feelings. That awareness will bring a different perspective.

“Sex-lust is the greatest enemy.” How do you “conquer” it? The yogi will put his “will-power” or “yoga power” to overcome it.

That is a never-ending fight within.

Enemies and friends are the duality that fogs the mind. There is no conquering, there is only full understanding, acknowledgement.
When sex-lust is neither a friend nor an enemy, we could observe it, learn from it, accept it and let it go.

Have we observed that everything that we accept in our Life as “ours,” will go away in time? If we don’t reject it neither accept it, it is not “ours.”
Not being ours, we are free of it.
A mind that is not trapped in the duality of accepting and rejecting is an empty mind, free, open.
Love is there. Paradoxically, Love is not of the mind.
When there is Love, there is no Lust.

For the common good.

 

Bridging opposite beliefs

Intellectual debates about “truth,” “righteousness,” “God,” and so on are USELESS. Avyakt7 has done his share on that in the past. However, if you feel compelled to debate, by all means DO IT. Reinvent the wheel.
What matters is consciousness and that is not changed a bit by intellectual talks.
If someone is convinced by an argument, it does not mean that this person has a new consciousness. “Compassion” in a person is not there because he was convinced through an argument. Openness to Life will not be part of  our consciousness unless we abandon the conditioning of the mind.

The above is not a recipe for “success.” It is merely a general observation.  Just as we have arrived at this point in time with heavily conditioned minds, the opposite will happen as well: De-conditioning.
There is nothing to DO, but just to OBSERVE that is happening and that every time we rely on the mind to be the driver of our lives, we can only drive through the lanes of conditioning.

Once we embrace a particular religious group in search of God, truth, righteousness, purity, etc. we will contrast society’s ways with our current religious conditioning. There will be antagonism. That is why, every religious group, political party or “chosen one” group believes to be “better” than anyone else. 
The mind creates that contrast based on ideals of what “should be right.”

Life does not have a moral value of what is “good or bad.”
That is  only a necessary human invention to live in society.
Life offers experiences to be experienced and those arrive through their full range, which will be experimented at particular times. 

Today I may be a criminal. I am not saying that this is “right or wrong.” I am saying that “I” will experience the consequences of that role just to change to the opposite, a “saint” or whatever other “good” label, opposite to “criminal” we could think of.
On the same token, a “saint” now is on his way to become a sinner, if that wasn’t part of his experience before. Our society has taught us to judge others, because we believe in a law, protocol or moral value, above the reality of change. A person should conform to that value, if that person deviates then a label to condemn that person will be used. Behind that label, there is a strong feeling of disapproval or even disgust.

Please OBSERVE that Life offers a range of experiences. Humans on the other hand are caught up with the “limited” version of that: You are a criminal now, a convict, you are “evil.” But… I am “good.” Be like “ME.”

I am not saying that to be a “criminal” is “good.” Avyakt7-NG is stating that good and evil are limited human perspectives. “Yin and Yang” are labels for 2 opposite but complementary forces which work together to make changes in the Universe. 

That is why, there cannot be “God” without a “Devil.” There cannot be a “theist,” without an “atheist.” It is through their apparent conflict how changes happen in the world.

What we label as “bad”  is a necessary experience for the one experiencing, so it is “good” as well: Someone may be suffering a disease. Through that experience, there will be learning. There will be change. That experience will not last forever. That person has the capacity to go through that particular experience. From that experience we could learn to reach out for help. We could learn that our health is precious. We could learn to feel the support of our loved ones practically. We could learn that once the experience is over, the medicine will magically appear, perhaps through ways that we had rejected in the past (i.e: oriental medicine vs traditional “take a pill” medicine.)
It is that experience the one that will open up our consciousness.  In Life, “to learn” means to “open up” and not to understand intellectually.

That openness will make us “good” without following books, philosophies or religious teachings. 

But if we remain conditioned, then all we can DO is to compare ourselves with others. The “poor me,” syndrome will appear and with that lack of self- esteem.
We may think: “That is “bad.” I shouldn’t have low self-esteem.”
That is a limited perception.
In the “unlimited,” low self-esteem will bring the movement into the experience of a higher self-esteem. That is the range of experiences. So, why pick a moment of the whole experience to label it as “good or bad”? 

Our mental conditioning will keep on telling us that “this shouldn’t be, this shouldn’t happen to ME,” etc.
That will prompt the “atheist” to look for a “God.” Suffering does it every time.
The inflated ego needs to deflate. That is the range of experiences.
Is to have an inflated ego, good or bad?  That is a silly question. That is just part of the whole experience.

Life is to be Enjoyed according to our consciousness. But if this experience of living Life is not enjoyable; then we are taking ourselves too seriously.
Relax. It is time to laugh at this “I.” The “worst” that could happen to the “I” is to die… and that may not be “bad at all.”  Death will happen anyway… so why not enjoy while “I” am AWARE of MYSELF.
That will bring “good karma,” and others will feel “good” around ME.
Isn’t that what “God” and the “atheist” alike want? That is what  a “theist” and “atheist” have in common. That is the bridge to their differences.

For the common good.

Consciousness is not the “intellect.”

In Brahma Kumaris most “Sakar Murlis” speak highly about the “intellect.” (A good intellect, the power of the intellect) as a matter of fact, the intellect is one of the 3 aspects of a soul, according to BK knowledge.

The word “buddhi” is used and its translation is “intellect.”
Someone with a western mentality, conditioned to believe in the powers of reason and logic, will immediately believe that reason and logic equates “intellect.”

Avyakt7 was praised many times as having a “good intellect” by BK members back in my days as BK. What was the origin of that? Because avyakt7 could “churn” the Murli.

Although to “churn” the Murli is highly intellectual, it has no connection with a “higher” consciousness.

This is an example of a translation that leaves a lot to be desired.

The word is consciousness.

Consciousness is part of the role of soul. That consciousness will develop through Life experiences. It can go “up” or “down” (just to give it labels so the explanation could be understood) from previous consciousness; but all is according to the range of experiences that need to be experienced.
“Entropy” is another word that loosely is translated as going from “order into chaos.” That translation is typical of a conditioned mind through the teachings of our society.

Upon further observation in Nature, we could perceive that chaos and order go together. Order will bring chaos little by little and Chaos at its utmost state will move into Order.

Brahma Kumaris knowledge is static in nature and uses referential points. For example, it divides the world cycle into 4 states: “Satopradhan, Sato, Rajo and Tamopradhan” to conveniently fit the 4 ages in the Kalpa.

This mental separation automatically brings adherence of the follower to a particular state (Sato) and rejection to another (Tamo.)
In fact, if the follower was to realize that there cannot be “Sato” without “Tamo,” then his attitude and vision could change. This is to be “unlimited” as BapDada points out.

How is it that BapDada in the avyakt Murlis, has added new light through new terminology that is not typically considered by a BK?
That is something for every BK to “churn” about.

Sakar Murlis have their place, but to go beyond the knowledge of “black or white,” means to go into the avyakt Murlis.

For the common good.