Thanking the higher power - a lifelong commitment of a daily discipline, a prerequisite for the internal journey to begin

To me the term ‘higher power’ is not restricted to the world’s definition of a god or THE god.  In terms of my free style writing and preliminary thoughts, I perceive this as the higher nature of all, irrespective of whether one is an agnostic, an atheist, a follower of any specific theism (monotheism, polytheism etc.) or even a lesser life form. In a broader sense, it is impossible to give a precise description of what I believe to be beyond human intellectual capacity. However, in the context of our soul advancement, I personally think it is the minute energy embedded in each form of creation and at the same time the colossal energy from which every creation emerges uninterruptedly. Well these are just my feeble attempts to express my limited understanding of what I sincerely consider to be ‘the formless mute truth in motion - the all.’

For you, it could mean something similar or completely different and likewise your experience and awareness of this could be on par with mine or much greater. Since our thoughts vibrate at different levels, I urge you to read this with an open mind and replace my definition of the higher power with yours. It is worth noting that when referring to the higher power here, I am using the words ‘it’, ‘he’ or ‘god’ for the ease of writing, you have the flexibility to address the higher power as per your discretion. I encourage you to allow your own thoughts to shine and connect with your interpretation of the higher power. It is necessary to note that the objective here is not to enforce my understanding or opinion of the higher power onto you as the reader but to make a precise point – that regardless of how each of us conceives it, thanking that higher power continually and with sincerity is the focal point of this piece of writing. Let me paraphrase, consistent and sincere thanking of the higher power you believe in or know of is a prerequisite for your internal journey to begin.

Allow me to share with you a short story of little me and my daddy to illustrate how my internal journey began. (Note you'll come across quite a few of my conversations with my father if I continue to write and provided you continue to read, he is my greatest inspiration.) I was about 4-5 years old. Dad and I had finished the ‘ring a ring o roses’ nursery rhyme. Ha! How I enjoyed seeing him falling down repeatedly, the naughty me still laughs! I vaguely recall the lengthy bedtime story daddy narrated to me that night and like every night my eyes were staring out the window, checking to see if the stars were out. Just before I headed off to my lala land of dreams, father decided to share with me something that went on to become a daily ritual and a part of my existence since then. He asked me to close my eyes and concentrate on the power that runs this universe and much more, somewhat like god. The rule was I must not ask this power/god for some favour but instead I must say my thank you to him for everything good I’ve been bestowed with. Coming from a Hindu family at that tender age this power to me meant Lord Rama, the protagonist of Indian epic Ramayana, whose fascinating tales took me to some utopian wonderland. Although my daily thanking started off exclusive to my childhood favourite Hindu avatar Rama, from an early age both my parents made it a point to introduce me to the concept of the higher power which is beyond any form or religion, and probably non-existent to some school of thoughts. Like many other parents, they often emphasized on the importance of respecting each religion and to consider all forms of god as one. At the same time, they also ensured that I be considered of other people’s point of view and do not preach my version of the higher self or god to people of other faiths or non-believers/atheists. Father asked me to try to see him in all instead, and let me tell you I ain't good at that one! A bit out of context there, but I think it was important to briefly highlight the mindset I'm coming from.

Fast forward it to the present. My version of the higher power has modified over the years but my thanking has continued. There aren’t many nights when I haven't thanked the higher power for all the good I’ve received. Those nights when I didn't say my thank you, it was rarely due to forgetfulness and I must admit that I was either too lazy or too overjoyed and didn’t want to partially focus on this just for the sake of it. On the contrary, at times I wasn't in a good spirit or happy to appreciate things in life. Those days I would close my eyes and frankly express my feelings, doubts, resentment etc. and go to sleep. Nevertheless, I always had this gut feeling that something bigger is around. I also admit a bit of cheating, in that along with thanking, I often can’t help but request this higher power to guide my family and me and to take care of us. However, my inner voice tells me that everything is in its place for that moment even if it seems imperfect or illogical to believe.

So many years have passed by this way. My little version has grown and my young daddy has gone old. I'm now a parent myself and daddy has become a grand dad. My recent visit to him, somehow I started with this awkward conversation and reminded him of that night. I told him that I still thank the higher power each night. I asked him if he also does the same. His simple words of reassurance were ‘yes I do and I never stopped to’. We went back to the conversations we had some 25-30 years ago. My heart was filled with immense joy because at that very moment we both touched each other at another level of consciousness. We were more than a father and a daughter; we were two souls in union with the same spirit. I am glad I brought up this topic with him.

I hope my short story reminded you of a special moment you had with your parent(s) and or child(ren). Moving out of that story, it hurts to realise that not every child grew up with the privilege of connecting with either of their parents as this bonding brings out the best in both the parent and child I believe. In case you have missed out on this connection with your parent/child/someone special, allow me to remind you that the greatest attribute of our being is our resilience. It is never too late to create special bonding with yourself and those around you. I shall put this line of thought to rest for now and may elaborate on it some other day. Coming back to the current subject matter, remember there is no adversity big enough to stop you from bonding with your higher self. As you accept this, I hope you do make a lifelong commitment to incorporate this daily discipline of thanking the higher power without any expectations in return. You'll be surprised how effortlessly it takes you on an inner journey to your real self. You'll pass through doors to higher planes that you never knew existed before, let aside finding them to be closed previously. Age isn't a barrier and know that nothing is restricting you. Despite whether you believe in god/higher power or not, everything continues to be vibrating and you got this opportunity to be present in this time and space;
you didn’t just happen to emerge from thin air. Thus, it is crucial to recite your thank you and express your gratitude with intent, even if it means thanking your own consciousness. By saying your sincere thank you, you are acknowledging the force higher than you, allowing it to reveal itself to you. We may identify ourselves as an atheist, a theist or anything in between, but we can’t deny that thanking is an impartial universal expression of graciousness for all. We all do say our thank you and encourage our children to do the same even for trivial things. For instance when we buy them a material thing (like an iPad) or do some special thing for them (like taking them on a picnic). The same rule applies here, we are more precious than any material thing (be it an iPad) and our life is more special than any other trip (be it a picnic). If we thank wholeheartedly and encourage others to do the same with gracious for things of little relevance, how can we not appreciate and thank the intelligence above all wisdom? What could we lose, and what may we gain, ever thought of that?

When I have that spark of overwhelming happiness or contentment from within without any particular reason, I believe this little thank you I recite each night to the universal mind is my secret to access that peace. As such, if there is one thing I must pass onto my children, future generation and share with others before my body goes to sleep and mind takes a rest, it would be to thank your higher self, the higher power, not just for the spur of the moment or when you visit your holy grounds but every day or every night. It takes as little as a minute and a moment of undivided attention is all you contribute. I am extremely grateful to my father for sharing this with me without worrying whether or not I'll understand him or doubting if I'll continue this lifelong commitment of a daily discipline or not. He showed me a short cut way to peace and to higher power.  That was his job. He did not deprive me of my freedom to create or acknowledge a version of the higher power that best resonates with me. That job was purely mine. Likewise, I am only sharing my thoughts and experiences with you of acknowledging and thanking that intelligence which is higher than all our knowledge put together. One can’t deny the higher forces that exist just because we have limited awareness of it. Nonetheless, remember ultimately it's your right to pick your version of it, to consciously and cautiously choose your path to peace.

I'll end this with one note: get up, wake up, open up to your higher self. I urge you to acknowledge that higher power and to never stop thanking him with sincerity. Even when your thoughts are covered with clouds of blue, and peace seems to be out of reach, know that sometimes we are not in the right spectrum to see things clearly. The Universal Law, the higher power puts everything everywhere into its right place, including within this temporary sphere we take so seriously called life. Don’t forget to do your bit, share this act of thanking with your loved ones for that would be your ultimate legacy and contribution to your generation and to this acquisitive age we exist in.

May peace, light and love be with you.

Monita.

Forgiveness - an initial step towards inner peace and outer harmony

Before you make up your perception of me, let me be plain honest - as an adult, I am not a forgiveness guru and in extreme cases, if given an option, I would rather ask my thoughts of forgiveness to come to mind another day when I'm feeling more benevolent. This is not something I am proud of and regardless of this side of my nature, I felt compelled to write my thoughts on this as one of the very first topics for my blog. Mainly, because deep within, I feel this is most important for my (spiritual) growth and as a matter of fact, for anyone else's. I believe that when we make a conscious decision to forgive and to let go of our grudges and resentment, we create space for more positive energy to flow through us. Therefore, though it is not my cup of tea, I consider forgiveness as my wake up coffee.

The mayhem before the forgiveness:
My understanding is that since the majority of our species do not have the privilege to interact with extraterrestrial beings but are stuck with fellow humans, topped with our extreme heights of humility to treat ourselves as a separate entity from our higher self, it is inevitable to miss out on a few impolite and disrespectful people in life. As a result, often someone's intentional non-justifiable, unfair, rude, and obnoxious behaviour or action creates feelings of deep resentment within us. The challenge is how we forgive such people, and mind you I am not talking about someone who jumped queue at your local fish market but more like when a person seriously demeans you or physically harms you. Needless to say immediate real life assistance is a must for the latter. 

So what really is forgiveness?

Forgiveness to me is the act of consciously volunteering to let go off any grudges and resentment against the offender. And I'll be frank, to me it does not mean being obliged to trusting or even socialising with the repeat offender(s). The keyword here is repeat, unless of course you plan to go on a long unpleasant merry go round adventure that has high prospects of causing further oppression.

Then why is it hard for the majority to forgive easily?
Most likely, because a lot of us including myself, have learnt along the way that an unjust or bullying behaviour is an unacceptable cowardice trait. Or possibly because in contrast, a lot of us have grown old either being a constant victim of this or witnessing this happening with an ease around us thus we consider it normal to victimize another. This just perpetuates animosity.

This leads me to the next question - what could ignite the flames of destruction in people to deliberately hurt another at an emotional, physical or mental level?
Jealously, selfishness, insecurity, inferiority complex, sadist nature, controlling nature, uncontrolled arrogance, hunger for money, overdose of power, inappropriate role models, damaged emotions while growing up, being lured by those in authority or even worse - a combination of these and much more! In summary, it is due to one giving preference to their darker side whilst failing to be sensible and sensitive towards others. I find it difficult to believe that people could be in denial of their negative behaviour, attitude and action because such perpetrators often do so very cunningly. 

Nevertheless for me, the path to forgiveness becomes smoother when I:

(1) analyse the whole situation - I talk about it to myself or to someone close and let the emotions sink in,
(2) accept the nature of forgiveness - that forgiveness is a process and it could be slow depending on the severity of the offence,
(3) appreciate myself for not being the offender who could be in need of empathy,
(4) realise that by asking myself to forgive the offender I am not agreeing with the offence but instead stopping it from interfering with my inner peace,
(5) remind myself how easily I used to forgive people during my childhood phase,
(6) focus on the need to guide my adult self out of negative internal chaos and external experiences, and
(7) thank the higher power/universe for giving me the opportunity to strengthen my character. 

And now the act of forgiving:
Having thought of forgiving is a good start. However, committing to the action itself can be quite challenging. No joke, at times it is more daring than confronting the offender. Not only does it requires patience and endurance but also sanity to deal with and handle questions from non-witnesses who haven't given a cent to your life otherwise. However, I must admit that despite these hiccups, forgiving brings with it a feeling of lightness, a genuine satisfaction, and much more room for internal brightness. There's also some substantial perks and rewards for the health and beauty freaks. We all heard it helps boost immunity to several diseases, calms down the nervous system, reduces signs of ageing, and adds life to the remaining years ahead. View forgiveness as life sustenance. 

In conclusion, I think forgiveness is a very noble deed; it's the act of being kind to ourselves as well as to those who haven't been kind to us. We can't force people to change for the better but we can better ourselves by acknowledging the fact that none of us are perfect - that to me unveils sublime courage. For the beginning of a positive journey, it is crucial that we bring to an end all travels towards past bitterness. As such, no matter how impossible it seems or how untrue it may sound, fortunately I somehow do manage to bring myself to a state of peace and harmony where I focus on the spirit within the offender and see its unity with mine. (Not for long yeah!) This generates an electrifying sense of gratification from within and though briefly, it reveals to me the subtle power of the spirit within. Forgiveness thus is a treasured gift I've given to myself and a thoughtful gift (sometimes an unclaimed one) I've given to the offender. Generally, it results in healing of two souls therefore, in my opinion it is mandatory (not an option) and an initial step towards inner peace and outer harmony.

However in saying so, these are my unfabricated viewpoints, coping mechanisms and mindful steps toward forgiveness. Are you aware of yours? Unless you are an easily forgiving being, it may be worthwhile doing your own soul search and consider gifting yourself and the wrongdoer with some genuine forgiveness. Or maybe you know where you currently stand and are happy with your progress but never shared your perspectives on forgiveness with your loved ones, your family especially your children. I would urge you to involve them in some stimulating discussions. Chances are one day they will be grateful you did and who knows your little effort may inspire them to be considerate of themselves as well as all around them and that is a big accomplishment, don’t you agree?

May peace, light and love be with you.

Monita.

Who are we? Certainly not a pretender!

I never was a pretender, and no longer can resist my nature.
My craziness is pouring out, thanks to my genes taking over.
It's that dot I come from on your world map, the waters I belong to run deeper.
Let the sun in me shine, let my wings take a flight.
Let my sacred tomb rise, let my noble soul be wise.

I never was a pretender, and no longer can resist my nature.
Let me remind you you are me, let me awake the you in me.
Let me shout yell jump and scream, let my love flow out of my skin.
Let me bring to surface our purpose, let me live it with you together.
Remember you are not a pretender either, let go of all and embrace your true nature.

On this note, I think I am getting in my element peeps. Bother taking your own road to adventure?

- Monita.

About my blog

My blog is very simple. It's about my raw, uncensored, unpolished thoughts with an attempt to reveal who I am, without being narcissist or biased.

Unlike most blogs I have stumbled on in the past, mine is not focused on generating a profit, promoting a business, or showcasing a professional expertise. By no means am I contemplating it to be wrong in any way. In fact, I acknowledge the many interesting, informative and useful blogs out there. I also appreciate people investing their time and resources in sharing their knowledge with others.

Nevertheless, my effort to maintain a blog while juggling personal and professional roles is driven by one primary force - to nurture my true self and to urge others to do the same, in their unique way. I am concerned that this massive transformation towards a contemporary society is putting mankind, particularly our children at a vulnerable position of restricting their thoughts only to the mainstream educational system and conventional social norms. However, on a brighter note, I believe we are more than ever equipped with the resources and freedom to obtain an understanding of the finer essence of our existence. Thus, it would give me personal satisfaction if this blog could urge the readers to not confine themselves to a set boundary but aim to fly freely.

Besides, I find this effort worthwhile and beneficial for my growth. It gives me the platform to entertain my creative thoughts, the canvas to display different colours of life, and the opportunity to utilise time to some constructive soul search. This is work in progress for me and I aim to reflect it on this blog with a lot of integrity and transparency, and a bit of sensitivity and creativity. 

If you agree that enriching our soul is utmost important, are willing to expand your consciousness, and do not fear scrutinizing your thought patterns if required, then this blog may interest you. At the same time, I do not wish to force my personal opinion and thoughts onto anyone. It is my earnest request that the readers form their own opinion, discover their unique path and recognize their true self. It would be wonderful if through my blog, I can stimulate rich internal discussion.

With these words, I welcome you to my world of thoughts, my blog. Happy reading!

May peace, light, and love be with you.

Yours truly,

Monita.

About Me - Life is too short to not be our true selves

Monita Mala is my name not pseudonym and I am not acclaimed with some sensational persona to brag about. I did not discover the antidote to deadly cancer causing cells, I did not launch a spacecraft to Mars or be it moon, and I hold not the CEOs title for some multimillion dollar German brand. Likewise, neither am I the author of any of New York Times best-selling titles, nor am I honoured with a single gold medal for representing my country in any particular field or for putting my life at risk on a military mission to save my fellow citizens. (Yet I am here - talk about confidence!)

Like everyone else, I am fundamentally a soul and whilst in this human form, it's only appropriate that I live and let live. In however little way, I contribute to society through my personal and professional work, I get immense satisfaction and gratification in doing my best.

I strongly believe that we should not limit ourselves to the various roles we play and designation we get assigned to, because in actuality, we are capable of offering much more in our own unique way. I also believe that we should prioritize contemplating on our thoughts and give utmost importance to enriching our soul.

That's  me in a nutshell. I hope you got my point and share a similar vision for yourself and your loved ones. Life is too short to not be our true selves. I urge you to think, consider and act on that.

May peace, light, and love be with you.

Yours truly,

Monita.

Allow Yourself

It takes you to another world, another era, almost like another lifetime.
Beyond control, yet comes naturally, and aligns all like it was meant to be.
This makes me believe we really have many births, and are connected from past lives.

Doesn't matter if it makes no logic, there's no benefit, but pain attached.
It is not an attraction, more than affection - the spirit we get drawn to.
The aura we get lost in, the soul in which we discover ourselves again and again.

Once touched by this we find purpose to our existence, time seems to stop yet life just begins.
That magical moment never disappears and cannot be destroyed, though we keep changing and evolve by the minute.
It's not an imagination, a dream or fantasy, and this mystical experience is just a little fraction of its authenticity.

It's like a deep exotic ocean from the surface, which is pure and blissful at the core.
Some find attributes of divine in this, while some see this as the divine himself.
With beauty and boldness, allow yourself to immerse in this light called love.

- Monita.