Living Wisely Living Well | With Asha Nayaswami

Never accuse or confront anyone. First ask him, as supportively as possible, “Did you do it?” If he says yes, then ask him, “Why?” Give him the benefit of the doubt. If no doubt exists, respect at least his right to make his own mistakes. Thus, he will know you for a supportive friend. And isn’t that a consideration you yourself would like from everyone?

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If your emotions become upset, drink the antidote to every emotional poison: kindness. Be like Jesus, who calmed a storm by commanding the waves: “Peace. Be still!” Disturbed emotions can affect the whole body: the digestion, the nervous system, the heart rate, the breath, even one’s mental clarity. Is it really worth all that trouble over things you probably couldn’t change if you tried to?

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If you are angry, it may be only because your idea of how things ought to have been has been outraged. Reflect on how many views can be held on any subject. Seek the rest point in yourself, midway between the pairs of opposites. Dwell there calmly. In inner stillness you’ll be able to address every issue effectively.

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Think of yourself as a student of truth, and of life; never as anybody’s teacher. If your duty in life is, in fact, to teach others, consider what a privilege it is to share with them what you’ve learned from life. Never feel that anyone owes it to you to accept what you tell him.

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Has something or someone angered or upset you? If so, work on correcting that emotion in yourself. Just think: Someday—perhaps even later this very day—you’ll find yourself involved in other concerns. Emotions don’t last. Why let yourself stew in that pot? It is you who are being cooked! Don’t react until you’ve restored your own equilibrium.

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Wish everyone the best, and, whatever specific individuals do, life itself will always support you. Bless everybody, and you will yourself be blessed. We receive back from the world in exact proportion to what we give out to it, and with the same intensity.

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Dare to dream greatness. Seek it above all, however, in the sight of God, not in human eyes. To seek approval from people is like building a house on a bog. Approval is worthwhile only if it comes from those whose loyalty is first to truth. To dream greatness is not a presumption, if one aspires to do great, noble deeds that will inspire others. Try, above all, to fulfill God’swill for you. Ask His help in your efforts to help others.

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If you see anything in others that displeases you, ask yourself, “Does it really matter? There are so many wrongs in this world! The best I can do is simply to give up being displeased!” What we don’t like in others is usually a reflection of some fault we have in ourselves. What we dislike in the world, too, usually points to something we need to change in ourselves—at least in terms of willingness to accept the inevitable. Learn to accept life as it is. I don’t say, Never try to improve matters. Do improve them if you can, always calmly and in support of the good. But realize that there are simply too many wrongs in the world for all of them to be improved very much. Your first need, always, is to remain calm and undisturbed in your Self.

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Stand by whatever lessons you’ve learned from life. People may urge you to see things their way, but the only truth you can ever really know is one you’ve experienced for yourself. Change your mind only when new experience obliges you to see things differently.

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If you want to succeed in life, concentrate your powers. No one, if he wishes to penetrate a field of ice, presses down on the whole field. He drills with a sharp instrument at one point. Similarly, the densest obstacle can be penetrated by calm, focused intention. By seeking God through the little opening of your own ego, you will soon find yourself swimming in the sea of cosmic bliss.

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