6 Essential Keys To Spiritual Development

6 Essential Keys to Spiritual Development

1. Control of thoughts.
2. Control of our actions.
3. Equanimity.
4. Understand every being.
5. Complete openness.
6. Inner harmony.

1. Control of thoughts is indeed important towards your spiritual growth. We must master our thoughts, particularly our train of thought. The way thoughts whirl about in our souls, how they flit like will o’-the-wisps; one impression arises here, another there, and each changes our thinking. Our minds are the most important thing that we possess. The thoughts of the mind are actually lived out in the person. We must learn how to use our minds and even control it. The mind is a sponge. It takes in everything that is subjected to it, whether go or bad. It is extremely important to control our thoughts and only allow what we want into our minds. God created us with something by which we can guard and protect our thoughts. The special something we were given is our Will, means we can CHOOSE what we want to receive into our mind. Our minds are gold mines. Why would we let thoughts come into it that rob us of a life of abundance and good health? So, think positively and attracts all the best things in our life.
Our feelings (emotions) also influent by our thoughts. Feelings are of two kinds: Good or Bad. We either feel good, or we feel bad. These feels are indicators as to what our minds are set on. If you FEEL lack, that is because you are THINKING in terms of lack and that makes you feel bad. If you feel abundance that just means that you have thoughts of abundance and thus have good feelings. Are you feeling bad? Change the focus (By the use of your Will) of your thoughts! Are you feeling good? Keep (Again, through the exercise of the Will) feeding the thoughts that produce these good feeling(s)

2. Here it is necessary, occasionally at least, to act in ways that are not precipitated by anything external. Whatever is initiated by our place in life, our profession, or our situation does not lead more deeply into higher life. Higher life depends upon such intimate matters as one’s resolve to do something that springs completely from one’s own initiative—even if it is something absolutely insignificant. No other actions contribute anything to the higher life. Think before we act, in order to control our actions, we have to control our thoughts first.
Here are some practical suggestions:
We must keep our minds clear of negativity. Do not get influent by the news media that will make you mad, sad, depressed, or worry.. There is nothing that important on the news. News comes by seeing and hearing. These two senses are the main way our mind if affected. Why waste valuable time listening to slanted, biased media demean other human beings, the country in which we live, and show us the lowest forms of humanity?
Don't blame others for the life we live. We are responsible for controlling our thoughts and thus our destiny. Don't envy people who seem to have it all. Most of them got that way only because they think differently than you do. If you are failing in your life it's because you chose to.
Train your minds, change your brain and discipline your actions. What will you do with your mind? Don’t waste it on watching news, playing video games and other meaningless activities. Instead, exercise your mind through reading, playing Sudoku, joining workshop like photography, drawing, health talk and etc. Live your life to the standard you desire.
Another suggestion is to read. Most people stop reading after they leave school. Even those who read, read novels, magazines, and newspapers that do not improve their lives one bit. Read good books that will improve the way you think. Read books like THINK AND GROW RICH, THE GO-GETTER, THE SLIGHT EDGE, THE SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH, BEACH MONEY, and many, many more. These books feed your mind with creativity, hope, encouragement and so much more. Read about Thomas Edison, Napoleon Hill, Henry Ford, and others, who against all odds soared into the stratosphere taking humanity to new heights.

3. Equanimity is a state of mental or emotional stability or composure arising from a sense of temporal detachment from reality. People fluctuate back and forth between joy and sorrow. Thus we allow ourselves to be rocked on the waves of life. We must reach equanimity and steadiness. One must become steadfast and even-tempered.

4. Nothing expresses more beautifully what it means to understand every being than the legend passed down to us by a Persian story. Try always to approach what is wonderful in every phenomenon of outer reality. You will see that everything contains an aspect that can be affirmed.
Sharing, praying and helping each other enhance spiritual intimacy. Since sharing is caring, it’s good to share. Praying together is probably the strongest knot that binds people. Once you have developed the habit of talking about your faith and praying together, you can begin to encourage each other's spiritual growth. Help each other in spiritual development. When you help people, you learn more!

5. Change our patterns and open our minds. Most people judge new things according to the old things they already know. But we must not confront a new communication immediately with our own opinion. We must instead always remain alert for the possibility of learning something new. We must develop the ability to listen, because it enables us to encounter matters with the greatest possible openness.

6. We receive this after we have developed the first five keys. Those who have the other qualities are also inwardly harmonious. Anything is possible if you open your mind to infinite possibilities.
You can make a difference. You can live a life way beyond where you are now. You can better yourself and those around you just be learning to control your thoughts and thus your living. Be a light to those around you, a beacon of hope to those in despair and you will be rewarded accordingly.

Life is like a ……………………….
Reflections by participants at the Senior Citizen Center of Hindu Temple, Bowne Street, Queens – Facilitated by Rathi Raja Feb 4, 2009

Meena Mani
Life is like a Pencil
Your parents and teachers try to sharpen your brains while you are young.
You have falls and hardships and you become blunt.
Sometimes you think you are sharp and hurt other people’s feelings.
Other times you are blunt and ruffle feathers anyway.
Each experience sharpens you constantly and hopefully matures you.
But in the process your life expectancy is shortening and
Finally when you leave this world
Nothing is left of you but the shavings or your contacts with people.

Radha Sankar
Life is like a Car
We drive it.
First we get comfortable within.
And the best part is we are in control to steer.
In whichever way we want to go.
It can be in a safe path or the wrong path.
Which may lead up to a crash.
So we are in control of our life.
Do you want to change your life? Do you want to be a success? It all starts with the way you think.

References:
http://www.messagestogod.com/blog/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equanimity
http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-How-to-Control-Your-Thoughts&id=1424793
file:///C:/Users/Toshiba/Desktop/my%20homework.html
http://www.kyria.com/topics/marriagefamily/marriage/spirituality/17.60.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equanimity
http://rathiraja.wordpress.com/