THE POWER OF IDEAS

Plato was right: ideas rule the world, and, as men's minds will receive new ideas, laying aside the old and effete, the world will advance: mighty revolutions will spring from them; creeds and even powers will crumble before their onwards march crushed by the irresistible force. It will be just as impossible to resist their influx, when the time comes, as to stay the progress of the tide. But all this will come gradually on, and before it comes we have a duty set before us; that of sweeping away as much as possible the dross left to us by our pious forefathers. New ideas have to be planted on clean places, for these ideas touch upon the most momentous subjects. It is not physical phenomena but these universal ideas that we study, as to comprehend the former, we have to first understand the latter. They touch man's true position in the universe, in relation to his previous and future births; his origin and ultimate destiny; the relation of the mortal to the immortal; of the temporary to the eternal; of the finite to the infinite; ideas larger, grander more comprehensive, recognizing the universal reign of Immutable Law, unchanging and unchangeable in regard to which there is only an ETERNAL NOW, while to uninitiated mortals time is past or future as related to their finite existence on this material speck of dirt. —From a Master's Letter

In times of crisis, in the outside world or in our inner world, people are apt to become impatient and to exclaim: "This is no time for philosophy; this is the time for action!" But can right action ever be divorced from philosophy, the love of wisdom? Are we to cease being lovers of wisdom because we must act?
As has been so aptly said: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed." Those defences must be in the nature of great ideas capable of inspiring men and women to noble action. Yes, it is ideas that are the movers of our minds and it is the quality of their energy that in turn determines human behaviour. We speak of the "influence" of an idea. We say that ideas are "contagious." We know that when the ripening of an idea is due, when its hour strikes, so to speak, that idea will spread with a force that nothing can resist. The power of an idea for weal or for woe is a factor to be reckoned with and modern psychology has come to accept it.
The silent magic inherent in great and universal ideas was recognized since the remotest antiquity. Such grand and noble ideas have a magnetism all their own through which they exercise their own beneficent influence and spread far and wide.
The very polarity of man can be changed through the ideas he holds and lives by, and no idea has greater power for good than that of the existence in every human being of a Divine Ego. This forms the basis of all spiritual philosophy and of all spiritual discipline. It will regenerate and transform the person. It will inspire and heal him.
The Spiritual Leaders of the World are true Psychologists. They know that Plato was right and that ideas do rule the world. They make use of this basic law in their compassionate service of humanity. Cycle after cycle they set in motion true and sublime ideas for the benefit of humanity. These ideas once set in motion move on, influencing the minds of men and women for good, reawakening in their origin, their divine destiny. Again and yet again, do the Great Enlightened Ones strike the keynote of Truth and, reaffirming the Eternal Verities, generate a spiritual current for the elevation of humanity. It is thus that are born all spiritual movements intended to free the human mind from the dominion of ignorance and selfishness, of prejudice and superstitions, and to direct it towards "the kingdom, the power, and the glory" of Brotherhood.
Thus was born in our world on the 17th of November 1875 the Theosophical Movement of our era. Conceived in the realm of the Spirit, in line with all previous efforts to free the human mind, it was launched through the instrumentality of that valiant woman, H. P. Blavatsky, in the city of New York. This month of November marks, therefore, the 127th Birth Anniversary of the present Theosophical Movement. It was launched into the world for the healing of nations and the redemption of Man. The great Truths it set in motion pertaining to the Immortal Spirit are charged with magnetic currents of healing power. They call men and women away from creedal exclusiveness, as from gross materialism, and reveal the blessings of a life of service as opposed to the life for self. Says Madame Blavatsky:

The love of truth is inherently the love of good; and so predominating over every desire of the soul, purifying it and assimilating it to the divine, thus governing every act of the individual, it raises man to a participation and communion with Divinity, and restores to him the likeness of God.

The long-exiled Spirit of man must be given its rightful place, and this can be achieved only by asserting man's divine nature. We must endeavour to gain conviction of this mightiest of all truths and then learn to eradicate in ourselves all desires that are selfish and separative, making our minds pure and clean and worthy to be instruments of the Divine. The Future of Man is like unto a God, a creative builder, a wise educator, a compassionate healer. The Theosophical Movement was started to lighten the way to the "new order of ages" and to make easier the travail of its birth. To this task each and every one can bring his own contribution. Our epoch is a great challenge. Let us meet it with understanding and with resourcefulness. Let us ideate on the Eternal Verities, those archetypal ideas which belong to the realm of the Spirit Immortal, and which possess the power to liberate our minds from the bondage of sense and lift them to the region of pure thought, to the vision of truth, goodness, and beauty. Thus purified and regenerated, let us translate our vision into wise and self-sacrificing action.
Let us take courage then and have full confidence that if we remain true to the higher moral and spiritual ideas and values one day we shall witness the full victory of the Spirit. Have not the Sages of old proclaimed: "By unrighteousness man prospers, gains what appears desirable, conquers enemies, but perishes at the root"?
Our reverential salutations to the Blessed Ones whose benediction sent H. P. Blavatsky to our world to restate those Sublime Truths for the benefit of all humanity.

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Unity of everything in the universe implies and justifies our belief in the existence of a knowledge at once scientific, philosophical and religious, showing the necessity and actuality of the connection of man and all things in the universe with each other; which knowledge, therefore, becomes essentially RELIGION, and must be called in its integrity and universality by the distinctive name of WISDOM-RELIGION. It is from this WISDOM-RELIGION that all the various individual "Religions" (erroneously so called) have sprung, forming in their turn offshoots and branches, and also all the minor creeds, based upon and always originated through some personal experience in psychology. Every such religion, or religious offshoot, be it considered orthodox or heretical, wise or foolish, started originally as a clear and unadulterated stream from the Mother-Source. The fact that each became in time polluted with purely human speculations and even inventions, due to interested motives, does not prevent any from having been pure in its early beginnings. There are those creeds—we shall not call them religions—which have now been overlaid with the human element out of all recognition; others just showing signs of early decay; not one that escaped the hand of time. But each and all are of divine, because natural and true origin; aye—Mazdeism, Brahmanism, Buddhism as much as Christianity.
—H. P. Blavatsky

SELF REALISATION

Self-realization is a concept that has become widely popular in the Western World. It has been greatly influenced by some Eastern religions. For instance, for the Hindu religion self-realization refers to a profound spiritual awakening where there is an awakening from an illusory self identify image (Ego), to the true, divine, perfect condition that the individual is. The branch of Advaita Vedanta is the one that has especially developed this concept.^[1]
Furthermore, the method of meditation Sahaja Yoga, created in 1970 by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, defines self realization as a connection with your self or the first encounter with reality.^[2]
One of the definitions in the Western can be found in Merriam Webster's dictionary. It defines self-realization as “fulfillment by oneself of the possibilities of one's character or personality”.^[3]
Also, Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, American psychologists, developed the concept of self-actualization in Humanistic Psychology. Maslow defined then self-realization as “the impulse to convert oneself into what one is capable of being.” ^[4]
Based on Maslow, the most common meaning given to self-realization is that of psychological growth and maturation. It represents the awakening and manifestation of latent potentialities of the human being -for example, ethical, esthetic, and religious experiences and activities.^[5]
The concept of self-realization has became very popular since the founding of Self-Realization Fellowship by Paramahansa Yogananda. But what does it really mean when we talk about self-realization? The Webster's Dictionary defines self-realizationism as:
"The ethical theory that the highest good for man consists in realizing or fulfilling himself usually on the assumption that he has certain inborn abilities constituting his real or ideal self."
Further, Webster's defines self-realization as:
"The fulfillment by oneself of the possibilities of one's character or personality."
However, such Dictionary explanations are not really very enlightening for anyone on the spiritual path. This is not really surprising, since the scholarly interpretation of what constitutes the Self is not on the same level as the interpretations of our Philosophers. While dictionaries normally refer to the entire person, the individual, or to a person in his best normal physical and mental condition, Philosophers refer to the Self as pure Consciousness, pure Awareness, pure Beingness, Atman, or even God. Philosophers have mentioned the act of self-realization for centuries. Ramana Maharshi talked about it and Shankara before him.
Most of us identify the Self with body and mind and therefore find it difficult to equate God with the Self. Simply equating God with the Self can sound like sacrilege or the product of a megalomaniac. But when the Self is explained as pure Awareness, which means without thought and individual identification (ego) of any kind, then it is clear that megalomania and sacrilege is not really an option because that would require an ego. Understanding the Self as pure Awareness brings us closer to the understanding of self-realization. If the Self is pure Awareness, then all we have to do to realize the Self is to quiet our thinking. Where there is no thinking, there is no ego. Where there is no ego, there is the Self. After all, we do not really cease to exist when we cease to think.
This condition of being aware of one's Self reveals one's own eternal Being. Since God is pure Awareness and our Self is pure Awareness, the two really compare as the water drop compares to the large body of water. Thus, while it is not correct to say the Self is God, it is correct to say that the Self has the same qualities as God and is in no way different. God and the Self can only be understood as omnipresent Awareness.
Since the Self is already there at the center of our Being, Self-awareness is actually a more correct term than self-realization because realization implies a first Self that could realize another, second Self. However, there is only one Self and to realize the Self means to BE that Self. Only the ego can speak of realizing the Self but only the Self can be the Self. The trick lies in distinguishing the Real (the Self) from the unreal (the ego) and that is accomplished entirely by moving our attention away from the unreal and keeping it focused on the Real, the experience of I-AM.
Because we all erroneously identify with the ego, or the combination of body and mind, all efforts to realize the Self are falsely felt as an attempt of self-destruction. For that reason, in his "Autobiography of a Yogi" Paramahansa Yogananda quoted both Shankara and Ramana Maharshi.
Shankara: "Knowledge cannot spring

MAKING EVERY MOMENT COUNT

We do not manage time. Time just keeps on passing by whether we are there or not. For anywhere from a few minutes to a bit over one hundred years we are on this earth passing through time. Each of us has the job of managing ourselves during our pass through time. When we begin to talk about managing ourselves we must talk about how we think to ourselves. What we think profoundly influences what we feel and what we do. Thinking has everything to do with how you decide to manage yourself and your time.
"Decide" is the key word. There are literally hundreds of times each day when you decide how you are going to spend your time. For the most part, however, these decisions flash by in an instant and you are not ever aware you made the decision. That is because most of your thoughts are automatic. The thoughts have been programmed through days, weeks, and years of repetitions. So when you want to change how you are going to manage yourself you will need to take a look at these automatic thoughts.
Now don't for a moment think you are going to change ALL your automatic thoughts. It is really not possible. Imagine what would happen if you tried to rewrite every line of programming in your computer at the same time. The computer would crash and so would you. There is no need to rewrite all your automatic thoughts because most of them serve you very well. They let you tie your shoes, drive a car, and do hundreds of other useful things "automatically." There are usually just a few you need to change. The trick is finding and replacing them.
The easiest way to find them is to find the situations that trigger the thoughts. Look back over your daily schedule and be honest with yourself about how you spent your time. Find the periods of time that were wasted and take a hard look at the beginning of that time period. What were you thinking in the moments before you started to waste the time? For example, thoughts like, "I can't get anything done in 15 minutes, I will goof off instead." Next, come up with thoughts you could think instead. Something like, "I can get at least one good paragraph of an article written in 15 minutes."
The next step is to actually catch yourself in the moment and replace the time-wasting thought with the more productive thought. If you are like most people, the process of learning to catch yourself using time wasting thoughts and replacing them with productive ones will be an effort. But a little time and effort applied every day will pay huge dividends in the future.
Dr. Kevin Polk is a goal and time management coach, writer and speaker. Do you need to get rid of that frazzled feeling and have more time for fun? Drop him a line at doc@timedoctor.com or visit http://www.timedoctor.com. For a FREE subscription to his monthly "Time Saving Tips & Tricks" put SUBSCRIBE in the BODY of an email to timesaver

POWER OF INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION can be a powerful thing. It can
keep you going when all around you cries out
"quit!" It is even more powerful than motivation,
as motivation gives you your basic reasons to keep
going--it tells you why you want to do what you do,
because motivation is based on goals. These, in
turn, may be based on necessity want or desire. But
inspiration fills those reasons with hope, possibil-
ity and enjoyment and keeps the “grind" from becoming
too grindy.
But just what does inspiration consist of? I
posit three elements: purpose, vision and mission.
1)Finding your purpose is the crucial first element which will give you the inspiration needed to move forward in life. The purpose of your life, as Rick Warren reminds us, "is greater than your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions." And it begins with God. "Your were made by God and for God--and until you understand that, life will never make sense. And His purposes are revealed in His Word, the Bible. That's why I include quotes from the Bible in every issue of this ezine.
2)Once you realize your purpose, you will begin to have a vision. Proverbs 29:18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish." A vision is the first step toward turning
your motivation into inspiration. A person with a
vision sees down the road. He can sense what it
will be like six weeks, six months, a year, two
years, five years and more ahead.
But how do you get a vision?, you ask. First, of course you need to sense your purpose. But having done this, you need to narrow your perspective. You can’t
attempt to "ride off in all directions at once,"
so to speak. Try to decide what it is you are
looking for, so you’ll know it when you see it.
In other words, try to have in mind some general
goals as to where you want to be six months a year,
etc. from now. These goals will not only form the
basis of your motivation but should also serve to
limit to an extent the scope of your activity.
Next, try to locate and choose an opportunity
(buisness, career or job) which you feel is right for you--which will fulfill your purpose and thus further your vision. This may be easier said then done, as there are many choices which sound good. You may come upon an outstanding one right away, purely by chance. If so, latch onto it. But you will probably have to pick several at first and study the things which each one offers and try to
evaluate the potential of each one as you see it.
Settle on the one which you feel has the most
potential with the least amount of hassle(preferably
one that is totally Internet driven as opposed to
one where you have to spend time calling potential
prospects by phone).
Once you have chosen your field of endeavor, (your career, job or company) stand behind
it in every way and don’t quit or change your mind.
B.C. Forbes said "Without loyalty, nothing can be
accomplished in any sphere..." Think of yourself as
being in it for the long haul, no matter what. And
try to envision, based on what you know, how things
will be down the road. Keep that picture before your
mind, and never doubt. Napoleon Hill said "What the
mind can conceive and believe it can achieve,"
and the Bible says, in Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen."
Once the vision stemming from your sense of purpose is firmly implanted in your mind, let it become your driving force. Let the vision excite
you with the possibility of its fulfillment and you will
automatically begin the next step--you are on a mission.
Your mission is to bring about the realization of the
vision. If you keep the vision in mind, you will move
forward in the mission, accomplishing enthusiastically
step by step that which is necessary to bring the vision
into reality. You will have developed a sense of excite-
ment, importance and urgency which will keep the fires of
inspiration burning in your heart and moving you ever onward and upward.
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Article written by by James M. Becher, Bible teacher, publisher of the Ezine, "Inspirational Success Tips" (mailto:inspirationalsuccesstips@Freeautobot.com), and author of "OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM, A Novel of Biblical Times (www.publishedauthors.net/jamesmbecher/index.html) and "IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY, A Tale of Times & Truth (www.publishedauthors.net/jmb-impj/index.html)