By Dhirasanta dasa
There is a very effective method to come out of ones daily mental conditioning. This method is to think and act for others interest and not in ones own little ego circle which is often quite limiting, full of repetitions and actually most of the time a little boring.
Look at our lives and distinctly see if we are helping to relieve the miseries of others. Usually most of our thoughts and arrangements are about what isn't working in our lives. Yes, problems will be there and many of them will stay there. But we are all bigger than our own little problems.
These experiences, problems, and challenges are part of our particular battlefield that we have to deal with to meet Krsna on the other side. That's why Krsna says one who is dear to Him is unaffected by happiness and distress. They're not seeing themselves as the centre. As we think, act, plan, our strategies more in this way, then we will see so many issues, problems, and stagnations in our own lives are minimised or removed.
Besides practicing our spiritual vows we may also wish to honor 8 other principles. These are The 4 Principles of Community Building and The 4 Principles of Balance.
The 4 Principles of Community Building
1. Treat everyone you encounter as if the success or failure of your spiritual life depends on the quality of your interactions with them.
2. Reflect on the person you love the most, and aspire to treat everyone with that same quality of love.
3. View all conflicts as your own fault first.
4. Realise that people in your present environment might very well be the people with whom you will live out your life, and who are likely to be with you at the time of death.
The 4 Principles of Balance
1. Place more emphasis on having loving Vaisnava relationships. See all interactions as a cry for love or an extension of love.
2. Go the extra mile with regards to the care and protection of women and children. The Bhagavatam mentions that when elders, brahmanas, cows, women and children are not protected, not only does the individual who doesn't do those things suffer, but the whole society or community suffers.
3. Have a healthy balance with regard to our spiritual life and our material life, but make sure the secondary supports the primary.
4. Remain chaste to our own spiritual practises, but not to be sectarian. We are to remain loyal to our one religious tradition, but to respect all others choices too.
Nectar of Caring
