Quick Reads From Awakening Wholeness: a book that helps young leaders develop compassion for Myself, Others and The Earth.
Our Mission is supporting Youth Globally in learning Compassion for Oneself, Others & our Environment.
The whole of existence is love. And this love is meant for your understanding and evolution. It wants you to be awake, happy, and healthy through your understanding and choices. What can we do to be open to this love? How can we receive the infinite hugs that existence is sending us every single moment? When you put the first letters of the words “Humility, Understanding, Gratitude, and Service” together, you see the word H.U.G.S.
These are the four doorways to awakening Compassion and being a part of the compassionate dance of existence. Let’s look at each one briefly:
Understanding
When people decide that they own the Earth and its creatures, and behave non-compassionately with them, we have lost touch with the truth that the
Earth belongs to all. Our human-centred arrogance as a species speaks of a lack of understanding about the interconnectedness of things.
We live on the brink of disaster because we do not know how to let life alone. We do not respect the living and fruitful contradictions and paradoxes of which true life is full.
~ Thomas Merton
All of life is so beautifully intelligent; I would unhesitatingly even say perfect! Seasons come and go, and people go through intense suffering to learn how to come back home to being one with life. Babies of all species are joyfully made and born; they learn and grow up. Their biological mothers nourish them, as does Mother Nature. Beings arise from the elements and then merge back with them, only to take on new forms.
The dance of life goes on eternally. Our current predicament as a species arises from having strayed away from the natural rhythms and wisdom of life. How do we live with understanding, being conscious of this wholeness?
Pause once in a while. Just be still. Chill!
You do not have to sit for 20 minutes; just 2 minutes is good enough. And do this several times a day, watching your breathing. Listen to what’s going on outside and inside your body. It’s just about taking a present moment from life and looking at the gifts that life is now bringing us.
Spending time in nature is another way to deepen your understanding. Take a walk in a forest or a park, or simply stroll down the street, being present to what’s happening. Sit in the sunshine for a bit, soaking in the rays. Thank the sun for the vitamin D it is helping your body produce through photosynthesis. Yes, you heard that right! Sure, you are not a plant, but your body does synthesise molecules to produce vitamin D using light (photons) streaming in from the sun.
I believe that everything (yes, every single thing) happens for a reason. Everything that happens is a challenge or a test, but whatever happens, happens for the best! When we awaken to infinite compassion, storms will still come. And when they come, we will choose our response with understanding.
There will be great uncertainty, pessimism, and reactions. Our intention will be to remain anchored in the silence, peace, and surety of the heart. We can choose to either contract in fear and become smaller and more fearful, or stay anchored in love and soar, using the storm like a good surfer would use the surf to move onward and upward. And remember that no matter what is happening, this too shall pass.
One of my mentors, Swami Bhoomananada Tirtha, told me three things when I was a young person like you. These seeds of thought have helped me enormously: Firstly, he said, “Say to yourself, everything will strengthen me. If a storm comes, that’s fantastic. I get to practice being positive in the face of darkness. I will strengthen my ‘staying calm muscles’. I will grow in resilience and positivity.”
Secondly, he taught me to remember that this too will pass. This situation is not going to be here forever. Remain anchored in the eternal, and don’t get swayed by things that are not permanent. And finally, he said, “Tell yourself that we are in one of the most challenging and one of the most beautiful times in all of human history. This is the time for transformation. It is the time of change.” It is the time for the transmutation of the human race into something that is more wholesome, more loving, more compassionate, and more joyful. And this is the time we are in. And all of us, all of us together, are really participants in this beautiful drama of transition, creating new lives for everyone together.
A lovely metaphor from one of my favourite masters, Ramana Maharishi, has helped me remain peaceful in tough times. It is to think of yourself as the screen in a movie. When there is a scene of flooding in the movie, the screen does not get wet. When explosions blow up buildings in the movie, the screen does not get ruptured. Remember that you are the screen of infinite awareness. And this screen is pure peace and unbroken joy. Everything else is a series of passing images on the eternal screen of awareness. This is the deepest understanding of life.
Life has its own arrangements — in-joy and joy — in the process of being a loving partner.
~ Diken, 34, India
We need to learn that along with happiness, joy, and excitement, we must also let ourselves acknowledge, feel, and process sadness, anger, regret, etc.
~ Sanam, 33, India
We are all God’s children, just with the difference that some are differently-abled. We should be equal to all and give everyone their due respect. It is not our money, wealth, and fame that will decide our position in society, but our doings, our compassion, and our feeling of oneness towards others that will choose our position in society.
~ Anoushka, 15, India
All you need to do is look at things differently — from a new perspective — when you can’t find a way out. Make your own; it’s all about the experiences you already have and the experiences you will gain. Everything in this life is a lesson; every problem has a solution; you just have to be patient enough to find it. It’s all about a positive perspective.
~ Srishti, 21, India
