WORD FOR THE DAY
Friday, Jan. 30

You don't get to choose how

you're going to die. Or when.

You can decide how you're

going to live now.

Joan Baez

Thought for the day Friday 30th of January 2009

"It takes just one breath to blow out a flame. But if you feed the flame, the same breath that threatened to blow it out will make it stronger to the point where nothing can resist it. The flame is a symbol of the spirit. If you do not feed your spirit, if you neglect it because you supposedly have better things to do, its flame will become so weak, any difficulty whatsoever will extinguish it. This happens to so many people! They drag themselves around, they eat, they drink, they potter about, but their spirit has been extinguished. But there are others who nourish the flame of their spirit with prayer, meditation and contemplation until it becomes so powerful, life’s hurricanes only make it greater. Yes, the same difficulties, the same obstacles that devastate some people strengthen others.
You must not count on the power of the spirit, telling yourself it will come to your aid in times of difficulty. The spirit is only powerful if you nourish it; only then will it come to help you."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Thought for the day Thursday 29th of January 2009

"You will never progress unless you stop to review your life from time to time and go back over what you have done and said, so you can become aware of your blunders and your mistakes. Of course, you won’t be very happy about the observations you are forced to make; you will be sad, maybe even ashamed, but that’s fine, that’s how you will improve.
But in order for this discontent not to become a destructive obsession, you will have to restore balance. How? By feeling good about others. This inner attitude will prevent you from falling into negative states, which could lead to discouragement or even despair. Focus on what is beautiful and good in everyone, particularly in those who have contributed, through their genius and virtues, to the evolution of humanity. Take them as models, and then, while you are noticing your weaknesses and inadequacies, at the same time you will be projecting yourself forward into the future. You will see yourself possessing those qualities you appreciate so much in others, and you will never lose courage."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

WORD FOR THE DAY
Thursday, Jan. 29

Many an individual has turned

from the mean, personal,

acquisitive point of view to one

that sees society as a whole

and works for its benefit.

If there has been such a change

in one person, there can be

the same change in many.

Mahatma Gandhi

Thought for the day Wednesday 28th of January 2009

"There is no shortage of ideas, that is obvious: there are all kinds circulating in the world. But what are these ideas? How to get rich, how to fulfil one’s ambitions, how to control others, how to enjoy oneself… And humans charge after these ideas without asking themselves where they’re leading. They don’t know that an idea is a magical power that determines, directs and organizes all the particles of our being. Our whole physical and psychic being tends to conform to the ideas we carry in us. An idea always acts as a centre, as a summit, from where it controls and gives orders.
So, you must be vigilant; before you accept an idea, study it carefully, for you are preparing to introduce a living entity into yourself, and once it’s inside you, you are forced to act on it in order to satisfy it. If you don’t wish to be led into an impasse, try to accept only noble, luminous ideas."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Thought for the day Tuesday 27th of January 2009

"Once you have decided to walk the path of light, always continue in the same direction, whatever happens. You can change everything else, but never give up your divine orientation, your high ideal. And above all, understand one thing: stability does not mean immobility.
To be stable means to be faithful to your commitments and continue on your path in spite of everything. And that’s hard, harder than being nice, helpful, kind, generous or courageous. When you are in a good mood, you promise yourself you will always walk the path of light, even if it’s difficult. But a few days later, you find yourself in a different state of mind, and you no longer remember making these resolutions. Where do you think that will get you? To enter the mysteries, you have to be able to say, with the initiates of ancient Egypt, ‘I am stable, son of stable, conceived and begotten in the land of stability.’"

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

WORD FOR THE DAY
Tuesday, Jan. 27

Everything that irritates us

about others can lead us to

an understanding of

ourselves.

Carl Jung

Thought for the day Monday 26th of January 2009

"A gesture, an action, is neither pure nor impure of itself; what is pure or impure is the intention, feeling or desire that compels people to make a gesture or carry out an action. Purity means being able to inwardly raise one’s con­sciousness, whatever one is doing, so as to be able to capture elements of a greater subtlety, a greater luminosity, and thus bring something positive to others. You love someone… If, in your relationship with them, you are not bothered about doing this, even if you content yourself with a few caresses, a few kisses, under the pretext of remaining pure, you are in fact impure, and the effects will be the same as if you had indulged in debauchery.
I would like you to be very clear about this: all contact, all exchange which does not have a spiritual, divine aim but seeks only selfish satisfaction produces the same impurities. But if you have the sincere desire to help, to enlighten and to bless the person you love, this desire will purify both you and them."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Thought for the day  25th of January 2009

"All those who take an interest in spiritual science in the hope that it will give them the secret of rapidly resolving all their money, health and relationship problems should drop their illusions. Spirituality does not perform this type of miracle, it doesn’t sort things out for you, but it does give you every opportunity to become a changed person. If you know how to work patiently and persistently year after year to bring order to your inner world, to purify, enlighten and sanctify it, one day you will become a new creature. Not only humans but the whole of creation will feel you emanate a peace, harmony, light and love encountered only rarely. These are the only miracles you must expect from spirituality.
Believe me, what really counts is the purified, illumined life of beings conscious of the reason for their existence on earth. One day, because of this work on themselves, their whole being will be a reflection of the divine world."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

WORD FOR THE DAY
Sunday, Jan. 25

If your heart were sincere

and upright, every creature

would be unto you a looking-glass

of life and a book of holy doctrine.

Thomas a Kempis

Thought for the day Saturday 24th of January 2009

"It is certainly interesting to think about when a certain part of the Old or New Testament may have been written, whether there was one author or several, and to examine the vocabulary and compare it with that of related languages. But this approach, which consists of analysing, delving and dissecting, often leaves nothing but dust and ashes in its wake. Understanding the sacred books, whether it’s the Bible, the Vedas, the Zend-Avesta or the Koran, requires discipline of a different kind. It is thanks to their disciplined way of life that the patriarchs and prophets, who were initiates, were able to raise their consciousness as far as the divine world. We too must adopt this discipline if we are to rise, as they did, to the place where they received their revelations. There is no other method.
So if you want to read the Bible, begin by asking yourself what you need to improve in your life, and don’t worry about understanding everything immediately. The second rule is to place yourself in a receptive state, so you can give the images and feelings aroused by what you read a chance to carry out their work in your subconscious. In this way, the more you read and re-read the Bible, or other sacred books, the more you will feel a sense of inner clarity."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

WORD FOR THE DAY
Saturday, Jan. 24

Whatever your life's pursuit

-- art, poetry, sculpture, music,

whatever your occupation may

be -- you can be as spiritual as

clergy, always living a life of praise.

Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan
Bowl of Saki

WORD FOR THE DAY
Friday, Jan. 23

Each minute of life should be

a divine quest.

Paramahansa Yogananda

Thought for the day Thursday 22nd of January 2009

"Even the most sophisticated machinery is incapable of giving us an idea of what human beings are. There will always be something more to them than what we can see. This is why they have no knowledge of themselves yet and why medicine doesn’t know them either. Yes, medicine has no understanding of the creatures it works upon! How many doctors tend still to see human beings as machines! They are unaware that humans are inhabited by forces, entities and intelligences capable of producing elements in their organism that were not there previously. They are unaware that, beyond the physical body, humans also possess subtle bodies: the etheric, astral, mental, causal, buddhic and atmic bodies. They do not understand thought or will, much less the soul and spirit. So, how can anyone imagine doctors will be able to find the right way to take care of people?
For the sick to be healed, it is not enough to deal with their physical body; you have to reach those elements and entities that are higher up, in the subtle realms, and on which the good functioning of the physical body depends."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Thought for the day Wednesday 21st of January 2009

"If I warn you against seeking occult know­ledge and powers, it is not to prevent you from becoming a clairvoyant, healer, astrologer, alchemist, mage, cabbalist or anything you like. On the contrary, I want to make you capable of going as far as you possibly can in acquiring knowledge and powers. But I know that’s not where you should begin, if you really wish to progress on the path of evolution. Humans are instinctively drawn towards certain things that are undeniably interesting and important but not essential. Learning to live is what is essential; yes, I mean learning how to behave in daily life. Then, you can let yourself develop this or that faculty and become a healer, clairvoyant, cabbalist, alchemist, etc., but not before. So long as you haven’t dealt with the question of how to live, you are exposed to every danger, no matter what you do. I know this way of looking at things won’t please you or whet your appetite, but if you take it seriously and apply it you will soon see results."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

WORD FOR THE DAY
Wednesday, Jan. 21

All respectability, all honor is

meaningless if it drives you

against your nature. What can

you do if you are not a lotus flower,

but just a marigold? Enjoy being

a marigold.

Chandan

Thought for the day 18th of January 2009

"A man and woman meet: for a while they are anxious to please each other. But the day they begin to live together, they no longer feel so obliged to make an effort. You will say that everyday life is so engrossing, there are so many worries, obligations and things to think about! I agree, but there is at least a solution: to keep a bit more distance. Yes, even when men and women live together, it would be worth their while to observe a certain distance, so they can avoid falling into the prosaic familiarity that characterizes their daily life when they are not being vigilant. It is often lack of vigilance that causes men and women to lose their love.
It’s good for couples to keep something hidden and mysterious with regard to each other, so they can sustain their interest and curiosity for something new and unknown. It is this unknown element that protects and nourishes the attraction they feel for each other."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

WORD FOR THE DAY
Saturday, Jan. 17

Stillness within one individual

can affect society beyond

measure.

Bede Griffiths

Thought for the day Saturday 17th of January 2009

"The intellect and the heart provide useful, indispensable tools, but they are not enough to guide us along all the paths in life we have to travel. To be able to travel these paths, we need to develop a third faculty: intuition. Intuition is similar to the intellect insofar as it’s a form of intelligence and to the heart insofar as it’s a form of sensation, but this intelligence and this sensation are situated on higher planes.
You will say, ‘But this faculty you’re talking about is clairvoyance!’ No, people set great store by clairvoyance these days, they make a great fuss about it. It is very real as a faculty, but it only allows one to see the objective side (the shapes, colours and movements) of the astral and mental planes*. You can be clairvoyant and not understand anything you are seeing if you don’t know how to interpret it. So it doesn’t get you anywhere, and it’s even dangerous. Whereas, with intuition, you may not see anything, but you understand things much better than if you saw them, for you live them and feel them."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

WORD FOR THE DAY
Friday, Jan. 16

There are many fine things which

you mean to do some day, under

what you think will be more favorable

circumstances. But the only time

that is yours is the present.

Grenville Kleiser