SIMPLE LIVING AND PEACE (Part 2)

Our true identity: Consciousness

There is an internal life energy or Consciousness that resides in every particle of the universe, and is Omniscient (complete in knowledge). It is this Consciousness that,creates, sustains, motivates and transforms all living beings. We are born with this Consciousness, undertake the journey of life through it, and also move on to the unknown by this consciousness. This 'life energy' is the continuum and the constant within us, while all else is ever changing.

This is untouched by and separate from sense-based expressions of emotions, thoughts, likes, dislikes, taste and touch. This is the one "BEING - AWARENESS" that knows every thought, action, inaction within us- yet is silent, is an observer, watching over us like a loving mother- unique and singular in her love for each of her children. Like children we are distracted easily in the attractions of the world and it is role of that ‘Consciousness’ to use any possible tool to bring the child back to stay focussed / healthy.

Water,be it from a river or a well, is essentially the same. But due to exposure to certain minerals, water from one source may be different from that of another; and so may be for different uses-washing dishes, bathing, cooking, or on the brighter side mixed with herbs and used for healing. Through these different uses, texture of water may change but other elements of nature work together to help purify and replenish water to its original essential structure through the cycle of evaporation and rains, irrespective of whether it was exposed to chemical waste or used in healing water serves its purpose. Here water is the metaphor to speak about consciousness.

Our Consciousness is the witness to the demands of our senses, our mind and intellect.It has its purpose - to heal, to take us back home - to Contentment - Peace. It uses all of its power to shake the misunderstanding / pretences that cloud over. It gives all of its power to reveal itself – we only need to reconnect.

Reconnecting to our Consciousness
One way to restore the conditions is to use natural elements from within. Our physical body is embodied with 5 elements of nature. They have tremendous potency to heal everything in nature.

Getting in touch with the elements and triggering its power is the goal. Thankfully using the NATURE ever so gently is the beginning step to healing. Becoming one with them is the salvation. There are also powerful breathing exercises like 'Kaya Kalpa Kriya' that cleanse and activate the basic elements within us and replenish our body, mind and intellect, bringing clarity.

Clarity in thinking helps remembering and identifying ourselves with this Truth / Consciousness that we can relieve ourselves of all struggles - those struggles brought originally due to our limitless identifications with external possessions. All identifications with the external, is only a device to enhance our definition of 'me'. The more these artificial identifications fall, our definition of 'me' collapses into the one and only primordial - Consciousness / Awareness that which we may choose to call SOUL or GOD or NOBODY whatever we wish. From here life moves with nature and remember that nature is rich, bountiful and ever - giving. This is the path to true richness, inside and outside.

Let 'simple living' and being established and staying connected to our Consciousness be the guiding principle in our lives.

Kaya Kalpa Kriya (Life Regaining Program) is a type of Yogic Breathing Exercise - created specially to reconnect us to our source.

-From teachings by Guruji Shri Rishi Prabhakar

SIMPLE LIVING AND PEACE (Part 1)

All species on earth live in balance with nature, accepting what nature gives and working within these limits with the innate wisdom that this is the only way the planet can be sustained. All – except humans.

Impact of consumption on the planet
We see consumption as equivalent to economic success. However, consumption depletes natural resources at an alarming rate. The environment, the earth itself is paying heavily due to this uncontrolled plundering. This would lead to pain and destruction of all species. Our irresponsible, and self-serving action would destroy not only our species, but the entire planet, maybe even during our lifetime.

Impact of consumption on the individual
Limitless consumption and over indulgence (like over eating or watching too much TV) leads to restlessness, hurt and pain physically, mentally & spiritually. As we focus on immediate gratification, we also become fearful and anxious of losing it all. Fear absorbs and motivates us to be protective. The more we have, the more we want – we start to think that our existence and survival depends on those possessions . A sense of emptiness envelopes our mind and makes us feel less than whole. We feel insecure unless we get every new gadget, a bigger house, and a better vacation.

To counter this insecurity , we resort to either over eating or over extending credit facilities to own unwanted goods. Consumption blinds us and separates us from our inner resources of strength & power. We succumb to competition, disappointment and depression , disease & pain. To avoid pain we might resort to pain killers spiralling down to addiction and serious illness.


What motivates us to consume : Identity
We see ourselves as others see us: by our qualifications, by what we do, by what we have to offer to others, by our clothes, the color of our skin, and our looks. We define ourselves by the perceptions of others. Our likes and dislikes are based on this identity. And we run our lives in establishing, preserving and expanding this identity, acquiring and hoarding material possessions supporting that expansion, craving other external identifications that we do not possess. We become so absorbed in this that we slowly wander away from the inner connection with our true nature.

However, many people lost all of their identity, and continued to exist; taking on new identities in different places. If changed once, the identity can be changed all over again. So the question each of us needs to ask is : Is this who I am? Who am I? What is my true identity?

Discover the true identity in part 2 of this article.