How to become an angel

screenshot from youtube

"Very few have such dharna (practice) that they can be called angels.", says Dadi Janki, the 99 year old administrative head of Brahma Kumaris Meditation.

"Always do what is right and others will follow your path.  This is the way to become an angel", she explains.  "Everything that we do, everything that we say and everywhere that we go- all that has to be (aligned to) the truth.", she continues.

Dadi Janki simplifies the truth in three points.

First, remember who you are.  You are a soul, a sparkling star, a spiritual energy.  You have everything you need inside of you: power, peace, purity, happiness and love.

Second, who do you belong to?  You belong to the Supreme Soul, the Father of all souls.  We call Him in different names.  We converse with Him in different manners but we all belong to that One who lives beyond.

Third, know that everything is good.  This is the knowledge of the drama.  Understand that each one is playing his part accurately in this world stage.

She also cautions, "Do not perform actions that are devoid of truth because they will prevent you from becoming an angel.  Be careful of what you think and say because you will increase the burden on your head if you get into negativity."

She clarifies that, "an angel touches the earth only to perform good actions and then he goes beyond".  Therefore she advises, "Remain light and do that which is good."    

Then, she challenges everyone, "Do you have the pure feeling that you should spread peace and love in all four directions?...This is what we need to be doing? Do we have any other work to do?

Dadi Janki, the 99 year old yogi

image from http://brahmakumaris.fr

I change my mind, I don't want to be a monk.  I want to be a yogi like Dadi Janki, the administrative head of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.

I had the good fortune of listening to her classes for 5 consecutive days when I was in India. Just like before, she left Shantivan, the campus by the foot of Mount Abu where 24,000 meditation students from India have converged, to attend to 500 foreigners from 50 different countries.

Unlike before though, she had to be wheeled into the stage and  four  people had to help her walk and seat on the gaddi.  She was thinner and paler, too.  Two years ago, when I last saw her, she entered the room by herself with the energy of a toddler. 

However, when she opened her mouth it seems as though a young king is speaking.  She was still very articulate and sharp.  Her voice was filled with so much power that it's a stark contrast to her frailing physique.

"This body has aches and pain everywhere but I am a conqueror of matter", she said with the gusto and strength of an army general. "There may be pain in the body but that is not what I should be focusing on".

Instead she encouraged everybody to remember God.  Like a cheerleader she commanded, "Say from your heart Mithe Baba (Sweet Father), Pyare Baba (Lovely Father), Sukriya Baba (Thank you Father)!".

"By making God our companion, there's an experience of Godly intoxication", she explained. "Stay beyond sound and the more you'll experience His company"

"Enjoy being in solitude. Enjoy being in God's company.", she said with the intoxication of a lover of the One Beloved. 

Then like a strict teacher, she queried with her signature raised eyebrows and wagging finger, "Do you have that inner quietness? that inner silence? Do you experience that solitude?"

"I wish that all of you feel that love (God's love)...it is that love that makes us go beyond these things", she sweetly expressed like a grandmother giving blessings to her grandchildren.

Dadi Janki is truly a yogi, one with a mind that's beyond the material because it is only connected to God.  Her only wish is that everyone feels this deep love of God as well so like her we can fly above the mundane.

I want to be a monk

A recent weekend retreat made me revisit this long-lost, forgotten dream.

Flashback
Four years ago, on my first trip to the raja yoga's headquarters in India, despite all odds, I squeezed in an appointment with the administrative head to tell her that I want to surrender.  In my head, this meant that when I get back home I will quit my job, leave my family, stay in the meditation center and teach yoga. Like a giddy first-timer, I awaited a favorable response.  However, Dadi Janki, the 93 year old spiritual leader looked at me sternly and said, "Only when you are light and accurate".

Present
At the moment, if I resubmit my application, I think I will still be turned down.  Yes, I am light but I'm not yet accurate.  I've been wondering,  "Why not simply rest on my easy nature?".  After brooding on this, I realize that if I allow myself to be so carefree, I may just fall off the cliff as a result of my carelessness.  Accuracy is the string which allows the kite of lightness to fly.  Without the right discipline, the kite will fall to the ground or go wayward in the vast horizon.  I now understand that a strength ceases to be a strength when it reaches its extreme.  Like a highly organized person without concern or sensitivity for others may turn out to be arrogant and controlling.  A sweet charismatic person without the ability to discern may end up being dependent on people or condoning even of wrong behavior.  Therefore, the right dose of complimentary virtues is required to bring about the best version of me as a strength needs to be balanced by another virtue for it to fully realize its power.  I do need to be light and accurate.

The Plan
Being a monk (that's how I prefer to call the volunteer raja yoga teachers who stay in the meditation centers) is still at the top of my bucket list.  If I ace being accurate, I think I will get it.  Now, as I finish the things I have to finish as I journey towards my goal, I will do this one thing- be on time (for every appointment, meeting, or class) !

Meet My Surrogate Mother in India

Dadi Janki, the 97 year old administrative head of Brahma Kumaris
Photo from http://www.lokvani.com

She entered the hall like a child- eyes sparkling, hands clasped, and voice excitedly greeting all the 200 students of raja yoga from various parts of the world.  Dadi Janki, the 97 years old administrative head of the Brahma Kumaris left the gathering of 24,000 meditators from India at Shantivan, the largest complex by the foot of Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India to meet the a few hundred yogis at Pandav Bhawan, the first and smallest of the three campuses in Rajasthan which rests on top of the mountain.  Such is this leader of one of the world’s largest volunteer organization, she personally sees to it that each one is taken cared of.

In Hindi dadi means senior sister, but she was more of a mother to meditation students in 130 countries.  The evening she met with us, she told us of stories of the early days of the yagya (gathering).  Before bidding us good night, she handed each one of us ice cream with special mango slices (she specifically asked the kitchen to reserve it for the foreign students).  The next day, she sneaked in time in her busy schedule to meet the group again before heading back to the huge gathering in Shantivan.  This time she brought another gift- a book she authored. 

Words for the World

In her newly released book, Words for the World, Dadi Janki provokes the reader.  She asks, are you the soul who “who plods through life, carrying a burden, as if forced?  Or are you free?”.  She also states that the devil is inside of us.  Contrary to the belief that the devil lurks out there, she says that it is “linked to our faulty personality traits”.

Moreover, she demystifies the absurdities in the world.  She reasons that depression persists because “we no longer have enough material to keep our thoughts good”.  She explains that insecurity thrives because of too much dependence, pointing out that “so much power of the soul/self has been lost that people are hardly able to enjoy being alone”.  She underlines that the falsehood, loneliness, emptiness, and violence in the society is a result of deviating from our inner truth.

Then, she presents the solution- “charge the mind”.  She prescribes “developing one’s inner stability” through meditation.  She encourages the reader to remember the Supreme Father and through this receive the power to “put a brake on thoughts” which are wandering here and there.  She invites everyone to go into silence to be cognizant of the mechanism of our mind and observe the trappings of negative and unnecessary thoughts.  Silence then allows one to move away from the wrong way of thinking because it is in contemplation that we discover our inner treasures.

 

Beyond Words 

Dadi Janki does not sit down and write.  This publication like most of her previous works is a compilation of the classes she gives around the world.  She does not want to be called a speaker though, she says she merely shares what she has experienced in her spiritual practice.  

I stand in awe of this 97 year old jet-setting yogi.  She speaks with such child-like animation and enthusiam and yet commands an international volunteer organization with mastery and precision.   As I eat my ice cream, I watch her give instructions to the senior teachers and inquire about the whereabouts of things to be accomplished as they take their turn to get their toli (sweet).  At such a senior age, she is tireless.  She met us for chit-chat at 9pm after a full day, met the senior teachers afterwards until near midnight.  The next day she was at the hall at 4am conducting meditation, giving class after breakfast, then traveling back to the campus by the foot of the mountain (by car but it's not an easy 1-hour ride given the zigzag road) to conduct more classes to the local students.  

Indeed as described in her book, Dadi Janki provides a working leadership model for all those seeking to integrate both male and female qualities into their personal and professional lives.

Becoming Free from Subtle Anger

by Dadi Janki

Dadi welcomed everyone with the words ‘Om Shanti’, explaining that these words mean: I am a being of peace.

Anger and peacelessness disappear with the words ‘Om Shanti’. Peace brings smiles and peacelessness makes us wilt. Anger is expressed in many different ways, through our faces, eyes, and mouths. Dadi asked if we gathered today to become free from anger and asked if it was possible to become free from anger.

The key is to remember God with your mind and then remember your highest form. Our minds are tools that get trapped. The symptoms of a tired mind is stress and confusion. Subtle aspects of anger express themselves in different ways and then it’s as if your mind becomes a dustbin, collecting rubbish and giving rubbish.

The medicine is ‘Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil and think no evil’. Then you will become like an angel. The face of angels sparkle so much. Their faces are peaceful. They have tolerance and are content.

Dadi said that she wears white, has empty pockets, but is happy. She asked if we got angry if we didn’t get what we wanted. Often we wonder what others will say if we don’t have something a certain way and we move forward in this way.

Desires manifest in thoughts. ‘I want this’ or ‘This should happen’. Often we think, ‘This should happen like this’ and, if it doesn’t, we might not be angry, but we won’t be happy, we will not be pleased. In relationships, even with children, this is what is happening these days.

If we’re not happy with each other, it isn’t a life. Since childhood, at the age of 11, I had a deep feeling I would be of use to God and to the world. I asked myself, even to this day, Is God pleased with my life? Is the world happy?

Why don’t you get angry with me? You don’t, because I don’t want anything from you and you don’t want from me.

Of the virtues, purity must come first and then peace. If there’s any impurity, or dishonesty, then there cannot be peace.

If pain comes to us, and we can come back into peace, the pain dissolves. We have stored a lot of pain inside, whether that pain is of the body or of the mind. When we cultivate pure thoughts, the mind begins to heal. With positive thoughts we experience peace.

We have to check our thoughts and ask why we don’t experience peace. Our heart is broken in many pieces. It’s taken sorrow from everywhere. Whose job is it to bring back what has been broken? Humans can speak bitter words that break a heart and yet the same mouth can also say sweet words that heal a heart.

What are we taking benefit from? I may have seen something or heard something, but did I experience peace, love, or good wishes for someone through that? To reform the self, I need constant attention not to see or speak of anything negative. Then I can feel energised.

There are two causes of the symptoms of anger: desires and attachments. With attachment, we are afraid to lose what we have, even if it’s unnecessary. We need to be simple and a sample.

When we accumulate a lot, we fall ill. We are stressed because of illness. Then, stress becomes the illness. Stress creates a loss inside. First, take care of the mind, the heart, and the intellect. Let my mind be free from desires, my heart be free from attachment, otherwise, my intellect cannot do what is right. It will be influenced from the outside. The intellect knows what’s true and what’s right and wrong, but it doesn’t have the feeling in its heart. And so, despite knowing what is good, what is charity, it cannot do it. The intellect cannot follow to do what is right.

Link your mind with God and your heart will start to feel. Then the heart will be able to converse with the mind. Then you can transform yourself and make changes. My wisdom and good wishes will support you.

Dadi shared a story of a person with three friends. One friend stayed with the person all of the time. The next one was around occasionally. And the third one was rarely around. When a difficulty came, the person asked each friend for help. The one who was always there said that he couldn’t help. The one who was there occasionally said he couldn’t help. But the third one said that he could help. Then Dadi asked the audience who the three friends were. The first one was the person’s body. The second one was the person’s friends and family. And the third one was the person’s good karma, good actions. We must ask ourselves, if we leave our bodies now, who will support us?

Our bodies cannot help us. Our friends and family will leave us at the crematorium and get on with their lives. It’s our good actions that will help us in our time of need and what we take with us.

When we keep our attention focused on performing good karma, we get God’s support. In the world, we get punished for performing sin. But the Supreme Soul is so good that He doesn’t punish. He gives understanding.

God helps us finish our accounts, the past, and create an elevated future.

We store the hurt we’ve taken and then one day it comes out, after years of suppression. Then we cannot tolerate any more. It’s strange that in this world we can train animals to be sweet, but we can’t train humans. But humans can transform themselves.

We must pay attention to the quality of our thoughts. A negative thought becomes a constant flow. They create storms in our minds. Whatever we suppress depletes us. Our mind and body doesn’t work well. We must also deal with weak and waste thoughts. These thoughts make us unable to deal with what is going on around us. We get irritated and develop arrogance. We need to develop pure, elevated thoughts. These thoughts generate humility. Then we can deal easily with life and have no complaints.

We cannot engage in giving or taking sorrow. We need to think in such a way that we bring blessings. Dadi said she doesn’t ask God for blessings or power. If we did, God would turn a stern eye and said, “You are a soul, a child of the Supreme. Don’t you think you have power?” There should be so much intoxication over all we have inherited - love, power, blessings, and courage. All God wants is for us to continue looking in His direction.

Whoever I remember is reflected in my eyes. If I remember them, I will draw their remembrance to me. Of our five fingers on our hand, only one indicates direction and can point to the Supreme up above. That same finger should also point to the self. It should not point outside of itself. If it does point outward, then you can be influenced by the outside. This is how you open the door to let rubbish inside. If you have that rubbish inside you, how can you belong to God? God tells us to let go of everything and pay attention to Him alone. Manmanabhav.

Then God will make the line of the intellect clean and clear.

There is one condition attached to having a relationship with the Supreme. It is either with the situation (bat) or God (Bap).What can we do when we cry out in distress? What can God do? We have to realise we are the authority. We can become like a jailbird, caught and trapped in situations and relationships. Birds are meant to fly away. When birds are in a cage with other birds they get comfortable being fed, just chirp, and don’t fly anymore.

Dadi inspired everyone there to achieve their goals of becoming free from anger. She asked people put their hand up if they wanted to accomplish this. (Everyone put up their hand.) She said that it was now or never.
It’s amazing what the power of a clean thought in a gathering can achieve. It isn’t a matter of time studying, some may study for 20 year and some for 20 days and if they’re touched, they will progress greatly. Dadi explained how and now. It is the qualities of truth, love, peace, humility, and patience that will enable us to become what we’re meant to be. We must be all of these qualities in a natural way.

When there is a fire, do we add fuel to the flames - or cold water? When someone gets angry, if I start to heat up and get angry myself, how will I help the other to become free from anger? We have to give good vibrations and good feelings to cool people down and dissolve a potentially negative situation. We must feel that nothing is difficult. We must see the specialities in others and nothing will be difficult. There is nothing to worry about.
Three virtues are essential: tolerance, patience, and contentment. If you have these three, you are free.

Om Shanti

Excuses

by Dadi Janki, Oxford

Recognize who is Dilwala (the Comforter of Hearts). Ask Him what He has in His heart for you. Have chitchat with Him about yourself and about Himself. Tell Him the things of your heart. It is dangerous to tell other people the things of your heart. No need to complain that there is no one who will listen to you. Spend time in Baba’s (God's) room. He is ready and waiting to tell you beautiful things. Speak with Baba (God) about loving things of the heart. Taste this and see. Then you will also find someone who is thirsty to listen to such things and will take benefit from this. These are private matters, but you can taste it and allow others to taste it too. Even though Baba (God) loves so many, He never stops loving me. Therefore, there is no need to have jealousy; in fact we can be happy that others are also receiving His love. Think about the beauty of such a heart where there is no jealousy and no limitations. Does the soul understand the things of Baba’s (God) heart and make itself good? Let your heart be touched by Baba (God).

God says, don’t just sing my praise, but steal the virtues of all and become praiseworthy.... those who are full of virtues (gunvaan), become those who make the donation of virtues (gundaan). You can enable others to become virtuous when you don’t see their defects. Make your eyes good and intellect refined....Simply take the goodness from people, maybe they don’t even realise that they have this.

Make the donation of knowledge, virtues, power and time. Give love and affection to the family and give time in service, then even time will become pleased. Even if you don’t have anything else, give people the donation of time. If you are giving someone time but they are not taking benefit from you then just keep giving but give in a subtle way. All you need to do is give love throughout the whole day. The things of the heart reach everyone. You may not be doing any physical activity, but consider each one to be very good, observe the uniqueness and goodness of each one. Collect this goodness and you will never become sad.

Some people wonder why sadness comes suddenly, without any obvious reason. Once a sad thought (oodasi) creeps into your mind it takes over. Its starts ruling you and so you become a slave (daasi). Such thoughts not only rule over you but they make you consider that to be okay. These thoughts then steal your happiness. You need to remain detached and loving. Everything is good. There are many methods to become free in a second and become successful.

It is a big mistake to catch hold of the situation or let it catch hold of you. You then make others your companions to listen to you and become surrounded by judges and lawyers. This is what wastes a lot of time. Judge yourself. You don’t need to hire a lawyer to win your case. Become such an example and embodiment of support for all so that they can be uplifted.

Ask yourself what you need to do. Become an example for others so that they can receive support and be uplifted.

When you just say ‘om shanti’ morning and evening, the path ahead becomes clear and you develop wings to fly. A bird never asks how to fly, it flies naturally. Put a full stop and the situation is finished. Fly and keep flying, this is service. Even if you feel that you are ready to fly but others aren’t, then become like an aeroplane. People automatically prepare themselves in advance to go in an aeroplane. They pack up, prepare their visa and wait for the flight. The aeroplane waits whilst everything is checked before the pilot and passengers arrive. Everyone is instructed to wear the seatbelt. The plane then taxis slowly before picking up speed and flying off. Make your effort the same. There is no need to see what is happening down below. If something is happening, you have to be detached, you cannot get off the plane and jump down. You have to reach your destination and stop worrying. Just keep giving good vibrations. It is now time to go home. We have packed already, become first class passengers and go with royalty.

Making excuses is what causes sadness. Happiness provides the wings of zeal and enthusiasm. When people see you fly, they too will want to come and see what is up there. They will also become free from fear. Zeal and enthusiasm enables you to fly.

You are all sensible. When you remain engaged/occupied, you won’t be confused about anything. There won’t be any sadness or depression. When all of you begin to fly, there will be great splendour. There is no need to do anything else.

Become God's Right Hand - Messengers of Peace

Keynote Address of Dadi Janki- 6th June 2010, Inauguration Programme

Our message of peace should reach every corner of the world.

We are all messengers. Speak from the heart and the message
will reach another's heart - it will give an experience of peace.
This year, I found that there is an intense desire in everyone,
everywhere to understand what spirituality is. This is because
science gives only temporary experiences. However, if you
know how to go into deep silence, the attainments you will
be for long term - eternal!

Everything is filled with falsehood and violence - it has reach the
stage of unrighteousness. Now more than ever before, it is
important for religious and political leaders to understand that
we all have to learn to come together and unite. This is our
message. This new place is a place for everyone to come
together - to clear all differences between languages, religions,
colors. It is a tension free space - because there
is attention. Our attention is within, on our own self.

In this - we have to learn three things. To live in the world,

one needs to learn how about the things of the world - money,
houses, cars, etc...But we also need to learn how to take care
of this body and for this I need to understand that I'm the
driver and I will be able to manage the car well. Today, all
of you should leave with a driver's license to drive your own
car! Learn to pay attention on what to think, what not to
think, where the light is red and where it's green. Everything
should be done at the right time and in the right way.

Secondly, sometimes you say, OK, I don't want all those extra
things, but at least I need something. People who think like
that go to God with a list of things. Very few pray asking to
know how to experience peace or love.

Thirdly, there is too much thinking about others - this one
shouldn't be doing this or that. We fill our heads with this.
We create libraries of all different kinds of information. Now
it is time to make your brain and heart free. I don't need
anything. Combine east and west and become best. This is
not a message, it's a reality.

I don't want people to say that I am better than before. I
want us to change night into day - to dispel the darkness
and give sight to the blind. Then all types of desires will
finish. What do I have to do for this? Time gives signals
and God says - do this. What He says, should
become visible. In our eyes there should be spirituality
and love towards everyone. Become a practical example
of these teachings so that others see me and also want
to become like that.

We have to be like good machinery, free of weaknesses.
Where does the power to be like that come from? From
a good atmosphere created through our internal pure,

peaceful, elevated and determined thoughts. You'll
see wonders. Don't let anything from the outside touch

you and if there is emptiness inside, let God fill it. Then,
whatever God gives me, I should distribute to others.

The message of Raja Yoga is not difficult - become a master
of the mind and senses by realizing that you're child of God,
the Ocean of knowledge, peace, powers, virtues, etc... Just
be like Him. Look at God and only follow Him. It's not that
you have to follow a guru, no, follow God's directions. Make
your inner feelings like His - good wishes and
pure feelings for all. Constantly keep checking and changing
your feelings so that there isn't even a drop of pollution inside.

We need to create this kind of atmosphere for the world-for
our safety. Become clean inside and you will be safe. I myself

have to clean myself. Make this commitment to clean the self,

and keep the inner mirror of heart very clean. Then you'll see
God not only above but in front of you. When you look through
a glass, you see many but when you look at a mirror, you only
see the self. So become such mirrors so that others see themselves.

Do not have the ego of "my" and the attachment of "mine". Remain
free and become God's right hand - a light hand. Perform such
actions that it becomes easy for others to be cooperative with you.
If you are light, those helping you will never give excuses and say,

"I can't do this". Be light, take might and everything will work out

right. Don't compare yourself with others. Have the awareness that
I'm soul in a body and God is the one making me do things. With this
awareness you won't lose your happiness. Heaviness comes when you
think of yourself as a doer. Within one second become light and take
might from God.

Om Shanti