Madan Prasad
It is said that there is good and bad stress. The former helps in preparing to swing into action; hence, it’s beneficial. The latter inhibits and dampens the spirit. We are essentially spiritual beings, thus blissful. We begin life from scratch and progress through learning and practice.
Therefore, learning should aim at deepening the sense of the real self. A child is spirited, knows no limits, and is constantly trying. They need guidance to channel the force within positively, avoiding negative influences that adversely affect initiative, creativity, and sensitivity.
Negative stroking distorts the sense of the real self, making us susceptible to stress. Thus, stress is imposed and inherited, not innate. However, the distortion can be removed, and response patterns can be changed. Great spirits like Buddha have said that life is full of miseries, but there are ways to minimize and alleviate them. However, opinions vary among great individuals.
There are other schools of thought as well. The spirit is blissful; hence, seeking bliss is innate, and nothing limited can satisfy us.
A mind anchored in divinity is stable and stretchable, remaining unmoved even amidst storms. A stable mind can create options and escape routes, leaving no room for stress and inhibitions.
“Who am I, and what am I here for?” This is the first prerequisite for preparing to live life in the real sense of the term. Thus, the first step is crucial in determining how we live each day and, ultimately, our lives.
Firstly, why do we get stressed? We evaluate the situations we face, consciously or subconsciously, before acting or reacting. We all build self-images based on beliefs and experiences and utilize them in various situations.
A more effective way to prepare for the day is to stimulate the controlling cells of the brain, Guruchakra, through meditation, and nerves and glands through devotional songs and kirtan, maintaining proper posture and dancing while singing, and fixing the mind on the lunar plexus. This will prepare the body and mind, along with an army of brain cells, to utilize their peak potential, keeping stress at bay.
Life is a battle, and brain cells are the armies. “There are times to prepare, so are the ways,” says Shri Ananda Murti Ji. We can redesign our response patterns by strengthening all strands of life in this manner and turning life into an ecstatic evolutionary journey. We have been designed to live life like this.
Life is lovable, livable, and enjoyable, facilitating the completion of the evolutionary journey in a relatively shorter time, which we can understand and live.
Madan Prasad
