The art of forgiving. To forgive oneself means to learn from mistakes.

Brought to you by B.K.Vasudevan

Courtesy:Brahmakumaris Business and Industry wing

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The art of forgiving. To forgive oneself means to

learn from mistakes.

Situation

• When I forgive myself for a mistake that I have committed

• I usually think that I have to forget it.

• To think that I can forget my mistake and everything will be all right is Carelessness.

• I then find that I am not able to experience progress.

Solution

• Whenever there is a mistake, I need to realize the seriousness of my mistake.

• Once I have accepted my mistake in my mind,

• I don’t have to think about it again and again and worry.

• All I have to do is learn from it and move forward.

• This will enable me to experience constant progress.



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The art of forgiving.To forgive the self is to have the

ability to forgive others too

Situation• I sometimes find it very

difficult to forgive the mistakes committed by others.

• I keep remembering their mistake again and again.

• I make an attempt to understand but am not able to understand their behaviours and so find it difficult to forgive them.

Solution• When I have love for

myself and am able to learn from

• all that happens, I am able to forgive myself.

• When I know to do this ,I can understand the others too from their perspective and can easily forgive them.



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Situation• When someone does

something wrong to me, I keep holding on to it.

• I continue to keep it in my mind.

• Which influences all my future interactions with that person.

• Even if he has changed, I remind him of it with my own unforgiving attitude and thus he finds it difficult to sustain his change.

Solution• I need to develop the

power to forget the other person’s mistakes and remember hiss positive actions.

• when I give him the space with a conducive and positive environment, I make it easier for him to realize his mistakes.

• He will then be inspired to bring about a change by overcoming his weakness.

The art of forgiving.To forgive means to forget

the mistakes of the past



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The art of forgiving.To forgive is to use the power of love within me

Situation • When I have a

difference of opinion with someone, usually I am not able have any love for that person.

• I find it very difficult to talk to or interact with that person with love.

• I then either reveal my negative feelings through my own behaviour or avoid that person altogether.

Solution

• At the time when I have had a problem with someone, I am able to use the same power of love for others but not with the person concerned.

• So I need to recognize the fact that the power of love is there within me but is not being applied at the right place.

• This little reminder will enable me to forgive with love.



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Becoming an exampleMy words are effective when

I become an example.

• Situation• I am not always listened to

when I am giving correction or suggestion to someone.

• Even if the correction is given with love it does not seem to work.

• So I find myself at a loss how to make the other person understand.

• I only feel I have to use more words to make it more clear.

• Solution• In order to make my word

effective, I need to practice them in my own life.

• When I first apply them in my life and thereby become an example for others, my words would then have a desired impact on others.

• I then find myself achieving the desired results.



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Becoming an exampleThe one who is free from the desire for

name and fame is the one who gets natural recognition.

• Situation

• When I make a positive contribution I usually expect to get recognition for it.

• I might not always say it in words but there is always an expectation that others should recognize my contribution.

• Solution• I need to make sure that I

enjoy whatever I do.• Since the task itself

becomes enjoyable for me, recognition is not important for me any more.

• The more I become free from expectations, the more I may get the love from others and recognition too and I become an example for others.



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Being EnthusiasticThe one who is constantly flying with zeal and

enthusiasm brings progress in others too.

• Situation• Whenever problems comes

my way, I tend to feel heavy with wasteful and negative thoughts.

• At that time I am not able to feel free and light.

• When there is heaviness in my mind, I can’t move forward with enthusiasm and thereby find it difficult to contribute for others’ progress too.

• Solution• Whatever the

circumstances am faced with ,I need to make special effort not to reduce my enthusiasm in any way.

• The more I am able to be enthusiastic, the more I am able to contribute to the progress of others too, along with my own progress.



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Being EnthusiasticTo be free from carelessness is to be

constantly enthusiastic.

• Situation• When I see others work

with their weaknesses, sometimes I tend to become careless.

• I think that since others have the weakness, it is okay for me to have it too.

• Such carelessness doesn't let me be enthusiastic and make effort to bring improvement in myself constantly.

• Solution• When I see some one

working with some weakness I need to pay special attention not to work with that weakness too.

• I need to remind myself of the negative influence of that weakness on others and keep myself free from it.

• This will enable me to move ahead with enthusiasm.



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Being Enthusiastic The method to stay in constant enthusiasm and to keep others enthusiastic is to see

specialties in others.

• Situation• Many times while I am

sincerely working towards my task, I find myself losing my enthusiasm.

• I might also find people not very happy with me or my work.

• I do make an attempt to understand their feelings and fail to do so and further reduce my enthusiasm.

• Solution• I need to develop the art

of looking at specialties in people.

• The more I am able to see their positive qualities, the more I am able to relate to them with that specialty.

• This encourages the other person further to use that specialty and increase enthusiasm.



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Being HonestHonesty gives me the persistence

to solve the problems.

• Situation• If my reaction to problem

or people is to give-up or to run away, it means I am deceiving myself.

• I will not be able to get rid of the situation by making a physical change because I will find myself faced with the same difficulty with someone or somewhere or in some situation

• Solution• Instead of trying to

change the situation, honestly need to recognize and transform the limitation that is in me that is causing me trouble in the situation.

• Once I use this art, I will find myself mastering each situation that I am faced with.



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Being Honest Where there is honesty there is flexibility.

• Situation• When some one challenges

the truth of what I am saying I generally tend to argue and prove my point in order to prove myself right.

• When I argue in this way, it only shows my own stubbornness and doesn't help in any way to reveal the truth. Where silence doesn't help in revealing the truth , argument never will because the other person is not in a position to listen to me at that moment.

• Solution• I need to realize that I

cannot influence human beings with arguments alone or by blowing them with great guns of my truth without giving consideration to their viewpoint.

• But when I try to understand them, they will be eager to know the truth themselves.



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Being HonestHonesty brings progress.

• Situation• Honesty is usually

associated with telling the truth or being open to others.

• I do have such honesty.• Yet sometimes I don’t

experience progress as much as I should.

• This is because I am not always honest with myself.

• I thus find myself not experiencing sufficient progress.

• Solution• More than anything else I

need to be honest with myself. That means I need to introspect and check within and change myself.

• Such internal checking without cheating myself , i.e., without giving excuses to myself helps me to experience progress.

• I'll then never stop when faced with difficult situations, but will continue to move forward.



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Being Patient Patience means

to know that the “seed of selfless action” will surely bear fruit at its own time.

• Situation• Sometimes while in a task

I tend to get carried away with the result.

• I begin to expect the fruit of what I have done immediately.

• Without the recognition of the fact that the result might take some time to come, I begin t get caught up with my own expectations.

• This makes me even give up what I am doing.

• Solution• When I make contribution

for some thing, • I must develop faith that

whatever has to happen at the right time ,

• I don’t have to eat unripe fruit, i.e. not get carried away with immediate results but wait patiently knowing the fruits of my actions will ripen at its own time.



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Being PatientPatience brings harmony in relationships.

• Situation• When there is a

misunderstanding in a relationship I hardly put in any effort in order to understand others.

• I tend to become impatient and don’t listen to others to understand them, because of which I start making issues about them.

• This only further increases the misunderstanding.

• Solution• When I have a difference

of opinion with someone, I need to give some time to understand and listen to the other person without preconceived notions.

• Only then will I be able to understand the other persons point of view.

• This practice will enable me to evaporate any misunderstanding I may have with others and bring harmony in relationships.



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Being PatientThe one who is patient experience

constant success.

• Situation• I always expect things to

happen fast.• Even with a little effort on

my part I expect big results.

• Because of my impatience I just cant wait, I jump to conclusions and react without understanding the situation.

• Thus I find it difficult to experience success in whatever I do.

• Solution• I need to understand that

the fruit of the seeds I sow will come at its own time. This gives me the patience to wait without expecting results too fast.

• Also patience allows me to be calm even in the most negative situations.

• Thus I will be able to experience success in whatever the immediate result of my action might be.



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Bringing Equality When there is equality in what I understand,

desire and do, there is success.

• Situation• I usually recognize the

need to bring about a change in myself from the signals I get from different situations.

• I also feel strongly that I have to change, but most times I find myself not bringing these signals into action and my change is limited only to understanding and having a desire.

• Solution• As soon as I understand

that I have to change , I have to work at bringing about a change in myself immediately.

• I need to tell myself that there is no better time than now when I can bring about a change.

• I then find myself successful in all I do.



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Bringing Equality To bring equality in my thoughts and actions,

with understanding is to be truly successful.

• Situation• Although my

understanding of right and wrong is really good, I am not usually able to feel successful.

• This is because I notice a mismatch between what I know and what I want. So I am able to bring that knowledge into action.

• Solution• A conscious effort need to

be put in from my side to compare and see which is better for me –what I know is right or what I feel I want.

• When I compare in this way, I will be able to change my desires in accordance with the right thing.

• When these two match, I will be able bring into action too, So I will be successful.



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Constant Progress real progress can be experienced

when I am faced with obstacles

• Situation• When faced with obstacles

in my path, I usually tend to have negative feelings.

• I either experience fear or irritation and I don’t enjoy the work any more, my total focus being on the result.

• I only wait for the outcome not really bothered about the effort that I need to put in

• Solution • When I am encountered

with a Difficult situation, instead of seeing it as threat, I need to see it as an opportunity for growth.

• I need to evaluate myself and see where I stand and use this understanding to bring improvement in myself.

• I will then not stop when faced with obtacles,but will experience constant progress in my life.



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Constant Progress All desires end when there is the one desire

to experience progress.

• Situation• It is believed normally that

in order to progress one need to have desires.

• Yet I find that desires are not always fulfilled.

• Because of this I tend to experience unhappiness and discontentment.

• Then I am not able to appreciate whatever comes my way.

• Solution• I need to replace my

desires with one desire i.e. the desire to experience progress.

• With this thought, I will be able to make the best use of what I get in the right way.

• When I move forward in this way making the best use of everything I will be able to experience constant progress.



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Constant ProgressTo accept criticism positively is to

learn and progress in life.

• Situation• When I am faced with

criticism ,I usually tend to react negatively to the one who is criticizing me.

• I then begin to defend myself, by giving a lot of excuses.

• Due to this I am not able to open to learning and so am not able to take the chance for progress.

• Solution• There is a saying: “You

cannot see your back others can”.

• The other person’s evaluation however embarrassing, should be recd as an opportunity for learning.

• I need to develop the humility to learn.

• Even when someone corrects me, I need to understand that this teaching was necessary.

• I need to be grateful, constantly learning and progressing.



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Constant ProgressThe real effort for self progress

is to be honest to the self.

• Situation• When something goes

wrong, I usually try to protect myself by giving excuses to myself and to others.

• I do not want to appear wrong and so continue to defend myself and my mistake.

• But this attitude does nit help me to bring progress in any way as I am not able to learn anything new.

• Solution• When there is total

honesty to myself,I will be able to learn from each and every situation that I am faced with.

• I need to develop the love for my own self progress and keep moving forward with all that I learn by being honest to myself.



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Creativity in LifeTo be creative is to bring newness

in each step.

• Situation• Sometimes there is a

tendency to get bored with whatever I am doing.

• Although I am doing everything to fulfill my aim and moving continuously towards it. I am not satisfied. The day seem to drag on without bringing any real joy to me.

• At such times I begin to question myself on what I am doing.

• Solution• I need to be creative and

see what newness can bring in whatever I am doing; small or big.

• That means, to add quality to what I am already doing.

• I can also practice, thinking of something new to do each day.

• Then there will be something new to look forward to and things will be interesting for me.



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Creativity in LifeInner satisfaction brings creativity.

See next slide for enlarged view

• Situation• Quite often I find myself

trying to keep pace with the things that I have always been doing, I seem to be caught up in the routine to the extent that I experience monotony.

• I then cannot think of any newness that I can bring in my life.

• Solution• It is only with my inner

balance and satisfaction that I can bring creativity in my life.

• For this, while doing the routine jobs that I am involved in throughout the day, I need to make a special effort to keep myself content with the things that are going on. I also need to think of new innovative ways of doing them.

• Then I will not experience boredom in my life.



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Earning BlessingsThe way to get blessings is to be

open to learning.

• Situation• I do face both negative

and positive situations in my life.

• When I am faced with negative situations I usually seek help or blessings from God or someone who is great.

• So that the negativity in my life will fully finish.

• But it doesn’t usually happen so.

• Solution• The method to receive

blessings is to go on learning from the experiences of life.

• To learn means never to repeat the mistakes that have happened in the past.

• This consistent learning acts as a stepping stone which makes me constantly learn and move forward.

• I thus receive blessings from others too.



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Earning BlessingsTo contribute selflessly is to move forward

with the blessings of all.

• Situation• Many times I find myself in

situations where there is a problem and I seem to be part of the problem too.

• I try defending myself but people do not always understand.

• At such times there is no solution to be found ,and I find myself talking again and again about the problem

• Solution• I need to become part of

the solution instead of just being part of the problem and talking about it.

• To be part of the solution means to make some contribution in order to better the situation.

• When I do whatever little I can, I continue to receive appreciation and blessings from those around me.



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Earning BlessingsThe one who accumulates blessings at each step attains easy success.

See enlarged view in next slide

• Situation• While working towards my

aim I sometimes find myself becoming so focused on it that I don’t care for those around me.

• I achieve what I set out to at the cost of my feelings and relationships with others.

• Thus I find others being displeased with me.

• Solution• Behind every success

there is the support of a strong pillar of blessings.

• So I need to check each day on how many faces I put a smile on and if I have enabled others to be content with me.

• This little aim will enable me to be more sensitive to the feelings of others and I will get their blessings and good wishes.



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Experiencing Inner “Power” To be embodiment of power is to be free from effort.

• Situation• When I am faced with a

difficult situation, I usually try to make my mind positive at that time, but I find it very difficult to do so.

• I then give up making effort thinking that I don’t

I don’t have the power to change the nature.

• I continue to work with the weakness and strengthen it further.

• Solution• In order to overcome my

weakness I need to become an embodiment of power.

• For this I need a long time practice of being powerful.

• Then the power that I want will emerge at that time.

• Like a master, I’ll be able to order my inner powers to perform and be free from the effort of changing negative to positive.



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Experiencing Inner “Power” The one who wins over situations

with the power of one’s own stage is a winner.

• Situation• When difficult situations

come my way, it is usually my own stage that is affected.

• I feel disheartened, or frustrated which makes me feel helpless in the situation.

• I can then do nothing to bring about any change and lose out to the situation.

• Solution• Whenever a difficult

situation comes my way I need to remind myself that the situation is here only for a short time as a test for my own stage and to give me a chance to progress.

• This thought will help me be stable in the worst situations and will enable me to learn from what has happened in order to improve myself.



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Experiencing Inner “Power”True power lies in understanding the

significance of every situation.

• Situation• When a difficult

situation comes up, lots of questions come up in my mind.

• I don’t understand why that particular incident has happened. I begin to feel helpless and powerless in it.

• I can then do nothing to change the situation.

• Solution• Whenever there is a

difficult situation, I need to understand the significance of that situation.

• There would be surely be some reason for that situation to have happened.

• When I understand it, then I can diagnise it correctly and feel in control which will naturally make me feel powerful to handle it.



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Experiencing Success Where everything is done according to the right method there is success.

• Situation• When I don’t achieve

success I sometimes do get tempted to opt for a short cut method, which might be temporary success.

• Temporarily I do strain some thing, but in the long run I find that it isn’t so beneficial after all.

• In fact I sometimes find an adverse effect of it.

• Solution• Whenever I am involved in

a task, Specially if it is a difficult one, I need to make sure that I am following the right method.

• Whatever is done according to the right system has better probability of being successful.

• This way I find myself continuing to achieve success.



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Experiencing Success Real success is to experience internal progress.

See blowup of image in next slide

• Situation• The usual definition of

success is of visible success – of profit, increase in status etc.

• Success is also understood as that ideal state where nothing goes wrong.

• But I find that is usually not possible for that to happen.

• And because of it I do not experience constant success.

• Solution• What is important to

experience constant success is not what I achieve outwardly but what my experience is within.

• As long as I am working on myself i.e. I do internal work to remove my own flaws.

• I can watch and enjoy my internal success, whatever the outward situation may be.



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Exploring Inner TreasuresTo use the treasures within is to increase them.

• Situation• Whenever there is a

difficult situation, I always expect others to listen and understand.

• And so I feel helpless as the situation seems beyond my control and I don’t feel I can do anything to change it.

• Then I don’t make any attempt and the situation remains as it is.

• Solution• Instead of looking at

others I need to look within and I’ll find a lot of treasures that I can use to influence the situation.

• These treasures of my own inner powers and virtues are such that the more I continue using them in the different situations I am faced with, the more I find them increasing.



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Exploring Inner TreasuresMy power enables me to look after and

use the treasures within me.

• Situation• Within me are a lots of

treasures – the treasures of thoughts ,powers values that I have not been using fully.

• The power within me enables me to recognize and use these treasures in a worth while way.

• The more I am able to work with them I find them increasing.

• Solution• I need to explore the

treasures within me and try and discover which treasure I have that I can work on.

• Even if I think of a simple specialty of mine which I could make use of, I would find it increasing and I would find others benefitting too.



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Exploring Inner Treasures The one who knows to look within

finds solutions to all problems.

• Situation• Whenever I am faced with

a problem immediately I look outside hoping something will change.

• When nothing happens I begin tom look for support or guidance from others.

• When I don’t get that too I tend to become upset.

• As long as I am upset I can never find the solution.

• Solution• The first thing I need to do

as soon as some thing goes wrong is to go within myself. It is here that the answers to all questions lie.

• When I relay on my inner self rather than on situations and people, I will be able to remain clear and cool which will immediately help me in finding the required solution.



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Freedom from BondageFreedom starts in the mind

not by cutting ropes.

• Situation• When I find some kind of

bondage in my life, either through situations or people, I feel uncomfortable and try to break free from it.

• Yet I find that it is not easy to do so.

• I rarely ever can think of looking within if there is any bondage in my own mind.

• Solution• I need to understand the

fact the bondage is infact not outside but within my own mind.

• Also that nothing is forced on me but whatever happens to me is my own choice.

• When I thus take responsibility, I truly take charge of my life and will not complain.

• Then I will make the best out of every situation and experience true freedom.



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Freedom from BondageTo be free from negativity is to be truly free.

• Situation• All of us like freedom and

we expect that others should give us the chance or opportunity to express ourselves, as we like to do.

• But sometimes this type of freedom is misused and I am not able to do the right thing.

• Such actions based on false freedom are harmful to others and myself too.

• Solution• True freedom is to be

totally free from negativity.

• When I can free myself from the negative influences I will be able to take up responsibility for my actions .

• Then everything I do will be right and sensible.

• This will automatically give me the freedom to do what I want to by using the freedom for benefit.



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Freedom from BondageThe one who experiences freedom

in the mind is the one who can bring benefit to others.

• Situation• There is usually the

feeling that there is no enough time for the ‘self’.

• And there is no time to spare for others.

• The more I think about myself I don’t seem to be able to be free for anyone else.

• Then I find my days just pass by without being able to bring any benefit to others or myself.

• Solution• Instead of taking out time

separately for bringing benefit to others, the only need to see how I can help others wherever I am.

• I would be able to do this, only when I am free from the weaknesses in my own mind.

• This will help me to be available to everyone around.



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Fulfilling PromisesTo make my promise practical

is to benefit at each step.

• Situation• Some times I make lot of

promises to myself and to others and also to God.

• At such time I am very confident of what I am saying but later find that my promise doesn’t come into action.

• So that promise gets wasted as I don’t take benefit from the intensity of that moment.

• Solution• When I make a promise to

bring about a change in myself I need to immediately make a practical plan that will help me make the promise practical.

• I also need to make sure I understand why fulfilling that promise is important for me.

• Along with this I also need to remind myself again and again about it till becomes practical.



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Fulfilling PromisesFullfilling promises with

determination enables one to overcome all problems.

• Situation• When I see some

weakness working within me I usually make a promise to myself with lot of enthusiasm.

• But if I face even a little opposition or difficulty in fulfilling this promise. I tend to lose hope and usually give-up trying altogether.

• Solution• In order to bring about a

change in me and fulfill my promise , I need to use the virtue of determination.

• When I find myself becoming careless in it, I need to remind myself of the importance of the promise that I had made.

• This will enable me to overcome the obstacles that come my way in bringing my thoughts and words onto actions.



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In HarmonyTo understand others

is to be in harmony with them.

• Situation• Usually I expect others to

have the same level of understanding as I have.

• I am not able to accept or understand the other person’s behaviour or words if they are different.

• Thus I form an attitude towards the person and am not able to get along well.

• Solution• I need to recognize the fact

that like the musical notes we all are different.

• Only when I harmonize together that can I create a beautiful tune in life.

• I will then not expect the other person to change according to me but will learn to understand and blend my personality with that person.

• In the process, I will make myself ‘more’ than I am and so will the other person.



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Inner PeaceThe more I experience peace within,

the more there will be positivity in my life.

• Situation• I usually try to change

myself and my negativities by working on each of them separately.

• I might be able to overcome some but being connected to the other weaknesses I find the negativities reemerging again.

• Then I find the negativity influencing all my thoughts, words and actions.

• Solution• I first need to make a

promise to myself to maintain my own inner positivity.

• Once I do that, I also need to make an attempt to practice relaxing my mind and remaining calm before I do any important thing.

• When I practice in this way I will be able to keep my mind calm and this calmness will bring contentment through which there will be positivity too.



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Inner PeaceExperience of true peace

brings easy success.

• Situation• Whenever things go

wrong, I find myself worrying a lot about the situation or the things that are going on.

• Then my mind is no longer in peace but is busy worrying and breaking the situation into pieces.

• I then feel that I don’t find the accurate solution but am going around in circles.

• Solution• While I am working to

find solutions, It is more important to first work at my own before I make an attempt to try and find solution.

• With the right state of mind, I will find that the right decisions are being made by me thus giving me the right results.



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Inner PeaceWhere there is peace

there is patience.

• Situation• My usual reactions to the

stimuli around me are programmed, so I tend to be impulsive or react hastily to situations.

• I don’t give myself time to think or understand the situation properly.

• Because of this lack of patience, I lose out on many things and I don’t realize that I am losing out.

• Solution• At all times I need to make

a conscious effort to keep my mind peaceful and calm.

• I especially need to pay attention to this when there is a difficult situation.

• With this state of mind I am able to deal with situations patiently because peace generates power which in turn brings patience.



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Inner PeaceThe power to listen brings inner peace.

• Situation• Sometimes I find myself

hurt even though other person did not mean anything.

• This is because I am hearing the words but not able to understand the meaning behind them.

• This brings misunderstanding and conflicts and even spoils relationships.

• Solution• When someone is

telling me some thing I need to listen to the other person rather than merely hearing his words.

• When I am able to understand the intentions behind his words ,I am able to have a better understanding of other persons mind, thereby developing empathy instead of just creating conflict.



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Inner StabilityNegative situations can be transformed into

positive with the power of stability.

• Situation• When faced with negative

situation ,usually the mind gets affected.

• Lot of questions arises in the mind that don’t allow me to be stable at that time because of the thoughts.

• Although it is in my hands to work at transforming the situation I don’t make use of this chance but only end up adding to the negativity.

• Solution• In a negative situation it is

necessary for me to maintain my own inner stability.

• I need to free myself from wasteful thoughts.

• Then the negativity in the situation will finish, first in my mind and then in the situation itself.

• My own internal stability will help in finishing the influence of the external situation.



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Solar System Inner Stability True victory lies in maintaining

inner stability even with chaos around.

• Situation• Normal reaction for

anyone in a situation where there is chaos and confusion is to react with inner confusion too.

• This confusion actually further magnifies the negativity of the situation due to which I am not able to take the right decisions.

• Solution• When I am in a chaotic

situation, the first thing I need to do is check my own inner stability.

• Even if there is negativity in the situation I need to keep my mind free from any kind of fear, tension or confusion.

• With a calm clear mind and powerful intellect I will be able to give my best in the situation.



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Inner StabilityThe power of stability

can transform any situation.

• Situation• When there is a difficult

situation, the first reaction is usually negative.

• In spite of not wanting to, I find myself having a storm of waste thoughts.

• Such waste thoughts do not allow me to get the right solution at that time.

• Then my words and actions become negative too.

• Solution• The practice of one

positive thought every day helps me to maintain stability constantly.

• It takes a long time of practice in order to experience stability in a difficult situation, because it is not possible to bring stability after the waste thoughts have come in my mind.

• Therefore sustaining the effort is essential.



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Maintaining BalanceSuccess comes to one

who maintains a balance of being a master and a child.

• Situation• When I make a

contribution in the form of a advice or suggestion, I usually do it with confidence.

• That means I am sure of myself and am a master.

• But the problem is usually encountered when people don’t accept my suggestion.

• I am then not able to accept their decision or criticism.

• Solution• I need to maintain a

perfect balance of being a master and a child.

• It means that along with being a master while giving the suggestions with authority, I need to have the consciousness of a child while it is being heard.

• That means I am ready to accept the comments or criticism that might be faced with.



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Maintaining BalanceThe balance of generosity

and economy brings success.

• Situation• In the process of being

generous I sometimes find myself wasting a lot of my resources, be it the treasure of time or that of words.

• I then find myself having to put in extra effort, which I could have avoided had I been more careful with my treasures.

• Solution• Success lies in striking

a balance between generosity and economy.

• Before I give my time or directions to someone, I need to recognize if that person is worthy or capable to make use of them.

• I need to give to the extent that the other person can take.

• Then my treasures will be saved.



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Maintaining BalanceThe balance between

firmness and love brings change in others.

• Situation• When I want to bring

about change in others I speak with firmness.

• But sometimes this firmness takes on the form of rudeness because I don’t make an attempt at combining it with the right attitude.

• I justify at that time saying it was necessary.

• Solution• I need to pay attention to

be firm when I have to work with my authority.

• But along with it I need to pay special attention to be gentle and sweet while administering my authority.

• When I take care of this and am thus balanced, I will be easily able to bring about the desired result without mush effort.



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Maintaining BalanceWith the balance of love and discipline,

energy can be saved while speaking.

• Situation• Throughout the day I find

myself having to give explanations or corrections to so many people.

• When I do this I find that I have to use a lot more words than necessary.

• In the process I tend to waste a lot of my energy and find myself exhausted.

• Solution• In order to save my inner

energy and to use fewer words I need to have the balance of love and discipline.

• Discipline will enable me to give the right directions while love will make my directions effective.

• So just a few words would be enough to get my message across and make it effective.



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Relationship with GODThe method to experience

lightness is to pass on our burdens to GOD.

• Situation• When difficulty comes

my way, I usually carry the entire burden of it myself.

• I don’t want to give away the burden in spite of knowing the fact that I can do nothing about it by feeling heavy.

• Even if I want to give ,I don’t find anyone who can share my burden.

• Solution• The way to feel light

even during difficult times is to pass on my burdens to God.

• When I give the burden to him with faith, I begin to experience lightness and this will enable me to search for the right solutions.

• When the mind is busy looking for solutions , it is further able to experience lightness.



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Relationship with GODTo praise GOD means to follow his directions.

• Situation• When I think of God I

usually think of him as being the highest and feel inferior in comparison to him.

• As I see him as the one full of all virtues, I don’t ever think of taking anything from him, but go on seeking or begging.

• Yet I am sure of what response I am getting from him.

• Solution• When I praise God and am

appreciating his virtues, it also means that I need to make effort so imbibe those virtues in me.

• For this I need to follow his directions, the right path that He is showing.

• With this little effort that I make I find that I no longer need to ask or seek but can take all I want as a right.



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Self MasteryTo be a master is to be free from ones own

weaknesses.

• Situation• I am usually under the

control of my own weaknesses in a negative situation.

• I first respond to the situation with my weakness and then try hard to change my thoughts.

• But I don’t find myself succeeding and the weakness get the better of me.

• Solution• I need to develop the

consciousness that I am a master and the weakness within me is my own creation, and so it is totally in my control.

• When I develop this consciousness I will be able to overcome my weaknesses easily, instead of feeling bound by it.



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Self MasteryTo be a master means to use the powers that I have at

the right time.

• Situation• I do have lot of powers

within me which I can use in different situations.

• But I sometimes find that I am not always able to emerge the right power at the right time.

• So sometimes in spite of having the powers within me, am not able to use it because it doesn’t come to use when I require it.

• Solution• I need to practice being

the master having control over all my inner powers.

• The more I practice being the master, the more I will find my powers working perfectly under my order.

• Then I will be able to use the right power at the right time.



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Self MasteryTo be a master is to be

able to experience freedom.

• Situation• Usually whenever

things go wrong I find myself caught up with my own weaknesses.

• I give in to them and find myself totatally bound.

• This in turn makes me feel heavy as I feel helpless.

• Then I will never be able to overcome them.

• Solution• I need to remind myself

of my own powers and the fact that my weakness

is my own creation and I am the master.

• The more I remind myself of this, the more I will be able to experience freedom and use these powers.

• Then Ill be able to experience freedom, whatever the situation.



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Self respectTo be in the awareness of my own specialty is to be

free from negativity.

• Situation• When I perceive negativity

in others, I find myself very easily influenced by it.

• I then react negatively to them and am not able to maintain my own positivity.

• All my specialties remains hidden in such a negative atmosphere and I continue to be negative too.

• Solution• Like a rose I need to

maintain my originality and uniqueness while being amongst the thorns.

• Instead of blaming others and their negativity for my own negativity, I need to practice being positive and working with my original qualities.

• Then I will never complain but will always use my own specialties.



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Self respect Self respect increases when

one learns to converse positively to the self.

• Situation• The usual way to talk to

the self is to talk to the most superficial aspects of the personality, those which are related to fears (including those of the future), complaints and mindless repetition of things in the past.

• Such talk to the self only lowers the self respect to a great extent.

• Solution• Not only when my mind is

going towards waste and negative, but at all times, it is important that I talk to the mind with love, as I would talk to a child.

• Like a mother would lovingly explain to the child, I need to teach my mind with love.

• This creates true happiness within and my self respect increases.



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Self respectTo be seated on the seat

of self respect is to use virtues in life.

• Situation• It usually seems very

difficult to use the virtues within us when the people around are not doing so.

• At times using negativity seems much easier.

• In spite of not having that particular weakness predominantly, say of anger, when there is provocation from the outside we tend to react with that weakness.

• Solution• In order to free myself

from weaknesses and work with the virtues within me ,I need to make sure I am seated on the seat of self esteem.

• For this I need to recognise and appreciate some specialty or uniqueness within me.

• Then I will be able to stabilize myself in the state of my self respect.



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The virtue called ‘Humility’Humility wins respect from all.

Jesus Christ showed humility as he washed his disciple's feet. • Situation

• Humility is usually misunderstood as weakness or lack of self respect.

• So the usual reaction to criticism is either being defensive or being aggressive.

• My reaction in this way to criticism doesn't enable me to win respect from others.

• Solution• If I have to win respect

from others, I need to practice ‘staying’ in my self respect, whatever be the situation.

• When I am giving respect to myself and others and am clear of my good intentions, behaviors and actions, then I don’t have to demand respect from others.

• My forthrightness and humility will earn other’s respect.



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The virtue called ‘Humility’Humility helps me maintain

good relationships with others.

• Situation• When involved in some

thing that I am doing, I naturally come into contact with a lot of people.

• I sometimes find that I am not able to get along with certain people.

• I find it very difficult to maintain a good relationship with them and finally avoid dealing with them altogether.

• Solution• The first thing to do is to

avoid thinking that I cannot get along with some because of their personality.

• When I remove this mental block, I will be able to see good in others.

• This will enable me to pick up and acknowledge their positive attributes.

• This humility will help me strengthen relationships.



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The virtue called ‘Humility’To be humble is to be a source of happiness

to all around.

• Situation• Some times I find that I

don’t mean to be negative to others but people seem to be displeased with me.

• When there is any kind of sorrow experienced or if others are experiencing any negative feelings, it means I am not working with my inner humility.

• Solution• I need to develop regard

for all around me.• When I work with this

regard there will be humility within me.

• This naturally enables others to experience happiness.

• To such extent that even in the most negative situations others will experience happiness.



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The virtue called ‘Humility’Humility brings true recognition.

• Situation• Whenever I do some thing

nice I want to be recognised.

• I want others to appreciate me and my work.

• But it is usually found that the more I look for recognition the lesser I get.

• So I end up feeling disappointed when I don’t get the desired recognition.

• Solution• I need to maintain my own

self respect and contentment.

• This is possible when I have the satisfaction of having done the task well and I acknowledge myself for that.

• Then there will be no expectation, whether others give me recognition or not.

• Gradually people will start acknowledging my work and contribution.



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The virtue of ‘sweetness’Words are effective

when truth is combined with sweetness.

• Situation• It is usually believed that

when I speak the truth, I need to be frank and outspoken.

• And with this attitude I sometimes tend to become harsh in my words too.

• I believe that only when I am assertive this way, will my world be effective.

• But practically it is found that when my words are without sweetness I find only temporary results.

• Solution• In order to have lasting

effect when I have to give correction to someone I need to take care that there is sweetness in my attitude and my voice too.

• Only then will there be the desired effect in the words I speak and I will find he person bringing about change in himself.



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The virtue of ‘sweetness’To be tactful is to use words

filled with sweetness and pure feelings.

• Situation• Sometimes being tactful is

seen as twisting words to suit my convenience.

• So I find myself bluntly speaking out what I want to say or twisting words and changing the truth to a certain extend.

• Such words do not bring me success.

• Solution• I need to make sure that

my words or filled with sweetness and pure feelings for the other person, specially in delicate situations.

• I need to be open and say what I have to. But with love.

• This is true tact which will have its effect on others.

• Then no one will ever be hurt with my words.



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The virtue of ‘sweetness’Positive thoughts always result in sweet words.

• Situation• Sometimes when I have to

correct people I find that I speak more harshly that I intended.

• I give myself the excuse that I just put on words of harshness, but did not mean anything in my heart.

• But I find that such words sometimes result in others being hurt.

• Solution• I must check my own

attitude before I think of correcting someone.

• I need to make sure that there are only good wishes and pure feelings in my heart for the other person.

• Then whatever the words I use, they will be sweet too.

• Such words will then have the right impact on them.



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The virtue of ‘sweetness’The fragrance of sweetness spreads

happiness and increases success.

• Situation• We are usually task

oriented and are focused on the task on hand.

• We don’t pay that kind of attention to relationships too.

• This attitude creates an environment that doesn't allow us to increase the efficiency of our work.

• But we do not realise this.

• Solution• I need to pay special

attention to maintain relationships also, along with the work that I get done.

• The sweetness within me spreads around positive vibrations to those around and creates a conducive environment that increases efficiency of the task.

• Everyone will naturally be able to benefit from this.



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True HappinessThe one who experiences happiness is the one who is

successful.

• Situation• Usually success is

associate with what I achieve.

• When I achieve what I am working for I experience success.

• But when I don’t achieve what i expect, I lose my internal happiness and begin to feel that I am not successful.

• Solution• I need to work at

maintaining my own internal happiness, whatever the result I get.

• Even if I have not achieved what I have set out to, there is surely something that I have got.

• It could even be a learning which makes me better.

• When I continue to be happy under all circumstances, I am truly successful.



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True HappinessThe one who recognizes the needs of others is the one

who gives real happiness.

• Situation• I usually make effort to

give.• Yet I sometimes find that

people are not able to be happy with me.

• What I give is usually based on what I feel the other person needs.

• I thus continue to give and begin to expect from others too.

• I am disappointed when I am not appreciated.

• Solution• I need to be a giver in the

true sense.• Before I think of giving, I

need to recognize the needs of others.

• The more I keep myself sensitive to other’s needs

the more I will enjoy what I am giving and will have their appreciation and blessings.

• My happiness will then increase too.



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True HappinessTrue happiness is that which

spreads around to others.

• Situation• I sometimes find myself in

situations that are positive, yet I am not able to experience that real happiness or find that others are not being content with me.

• I then am not able to understand the reason nor can I do anything about it.

• I tend to justify at such times that I cannot please everyone.

• Solution• When I am, really happy

with something, there is a natural desire to share it with others, this sharing enables me to spread the happiness to others too.

• Also when my happiness is based on truth, I find that there is no harm for others and only benefit for all concerned.



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True Happiness To work with inner happiness

is to progress with lightness.

• Situation• Usually I do take care

not to give sorrow to others, but I sometimes do take sorrow from the words and behaviours of others.

• This disturbs my own inner state and I am not able to work with lightness.

• Then I find that UI am not able to be effective in my work and I experience set back in my life.

• Solution• As much as I am careful

not to give sorrow to others, I need to pay special attention not to take sorrow from anyone.

• That means I need to remain light even if someone criticizes me.

• I need to take it in the right spirit and see that I learn from it without letting any negativity.

The art of forgiving. To forgive oneself means to learn from mistakes.

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Transcript of The art of forgiving. To forgive oneself means to learn from mistakes.