Divine Soul Qualities

Lord Krishna has given mankind 26 soul qualities in the chapter XVI of Holy Geeta. I thought International Yoga Day is the right day to share the following with you! These have been taken from Gurudeva Paramahansa Yogananda’s commentary on Holy Geeta, called – God Talks With Arjuna! That is such a soul uplifting and divine work. Sri Paramahansa Yogananda has also written a commentary on Holy Bible – Second Coming of Christ. He had concluded that in their essence both these holy books give the same message!! Both these books are available online at the book store of : Yogananda.org outside India and yssofindia.org in India. You may also like to pick up a copy of Autobiography of a Yogi, which has been hailed as one of the most influential spiritual books of the last century.

Yoga means union – Union of soul with Spirit, with God! Yoga is not merely about body fitness, it is more about creating harmony and peace in body, mind and soul. I sincerely believe that absorbing these soul qualities in our hearts and minds would give us the peace, harmony, and God realisation we are seeking!!

SQ1: Fearlessness: The foundation of spiritual life: having faith in God’s protection, justice, wisdom, mercy, love and omnipresence.

SQ2: Purity of Heart: Transparency to truth. Freedom from attachment and repulsion to sense objects. “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God”

SQ3: Steadfastness: in seeking wisdom and practicing raj yoga. Applying scriptural wisdom and immersing oneself in the growing peace born of regular meditation.

SQ4: ALMSGIVING: Unselfishness and generosity to those in need and worthy

SQ5: SELF RESTRAINT: Repetition of unwise sense experiences creates strong and destructive bad habits.

SQ6: Religious Rites: One’s whole life should be a sacred rite, with every thought and act purified by reverence and offered to the divine.

SQ7: Right Study of Scriptures: Redemption comes not from intellectual knowledge but from what one becomes by integrating that knowledge.

SQ8: Self Discipline – Restraint of appetite, including celibacy; training the body to withstand bodily discomfort. Transmuting material desires into spiritual aspirations.

SQ9: Straightforwardness – A quality of honorable men. Striving to be sincere, free from deceit and guile, and open and candid.

SQ10: Non Injury – The avoidance of harm to any living creature in thought or deed, except when obstructing evil or upholding righteousness.

SQ11: Truth – Honesty: is the foundation stone of the universe. Honoring truth in thought, speech and action. Words should always be sweet, healing and beneficial to others.

SQ12: Absence of Wrath – The quickest way to peace of mind: being free from rage, animosity and resentment.

SQ13: Renunciation – Willingly give up passing sense pleasures for the sake of eternal joys. Living for truth without being emotionally attached in the drama of creation.

SQ14: Peace – is a divine quality. Tranquility is the nature of God and each soul.

SQ15: Non-Condemnation (Absence of Fault Finding) Not concentrating on the weakness of others and focusing on bettering oneself.

SQ16: Compassion Towards all Beings – The Divine Mother aspect of God is overflowing with this quality – Feeling the suffering of others and trying to alleviate it.

SQ17: Absence of Greed and Envy– Non-covetousness. Mastery of one’s senses, without desire for gross pleasures. Turning the mind to inner joys.

SQ18: Gentleness – Kind, forbearing, patient. Without ill will towards anyone. The Universal Spirit is ever gentle with Her erring children.

SQ19: Modesty – Feeling shame at wrong doing and correcting oneself. The purity of modesty attracts its own virtuous kinds.

SQ20: Absence of Restlessness– enables one to avoid physical and mental roamings and useless activities.

SQ21: Radiance of Character– comes from the cosmic fire of God’s supreme consciousness, the flame of awareness, within man and other sentient creatures.

SQ 22: FORGIVENESS (kshama) – in the man of God is not inflicting, or wishing to inflict, punishment on those who harm or wrong him.

SQ 23: PATIENCE, or fortitude (dhriti) – enables the devotee to bear misfortunes and insults with equilibrium.

SQ 24: CLEANNESS OF BODY AND PURITY OF MIND – is respect for the indwelling Taintless Spirit. It has been said that cleanliness is next to godliness.

SQ25: NONHATRED – should be practiced by everyone. A devotee who feels malice towards others loses the power to see God in all.

SQ26: LACK OF CONCEIT – signifies absence of excessive pride. The Lord doesn’t harbour pride, though His cosmic possession and powers are infinite.

Three years back I had worked on these 26 soul qualities for one whole year – two weeks on each quality. I had realised that even if we pick up one of these qualities and become that quality, the rest would fall in place easily and on their own!!

But Maya, Delusion, Satan too is very strong and tempts us away from our holy aspirations! I think it is time for me to revisit these and the Notes to Myself, I had written about a week or so ago! It is time to go within!!

So I intend taking a break from WordPress for sometime. If you start to miss me 😊 do get in touch with an email at ashokwahi2@gmail.com

Love, hugs and blessings 🤗🤗

Ashok

June 21, 2021 42

CovidTimes — Notes to Myself

1. God first. God always. God alone!

2. Pray. Reflect. Act

3. Own your mornings!

4. Meditate on your mortality everyday!

5. Live as if you have died and come back – every minute is a bonus.

6. Read a little. Write more. Think most. Meditate all the time!

7. Look for something good in every person.

8. You are eternally protected. Know this and be fearless.

9. Focus on what you can control!

10. Value ‘Time’ more than money and possessions!

11. Do it now.

12. Faith. Family. Friends

13. Remember – you have the power to have ‘NO Opinion’

14. Listen more. Speak less!

15. Introspect!

16. Find a way to love everything that happens!

17. Don’t follow the mob!

18. Say ‘NO’ more often!

19. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive.

20. Look for beauty in ordinary things!

21. Always choose ‘Alive Time’!

22. If someone offends you, realise you are complicit in taking offence.

23. Possessions are your, only in trust.

24. I owe nothing. I own nothing.

25. Accept success without arrogance, handle failure with indifference!

26. Don’t explain your philosophy. Live it!

27. You bind and free yourself with your thoughts!

28. Don’t take life too seriously!

29. This too shall pass!

30. Live with delight!

31. Be a smile millionaire!

32. Be honest.

33. What is the rush? What is the hurry? You have to reach no where!

34. Just Be!

35. Judge nothing!

36. Think only good. Share only good!

37. God is LOVE!

38. Become LOVE!!

38. Ego is the Enemy!

40. Stillness is the Key!

Thank you so much my dear friend, for your time and your love ❤️ You are a blessing!

June 17, 2021 189

Live with delight 😊💖

“Divine Mother, teach me to live with delight. May I enjoy my earthly duties and the countless beauties of creation. Help me to train my senses to observe and appreciate Thy wondrous world of Nature. Let me savour with Thy zest all innocent pleasures. Save me from negation and unwarranted kill-joy attitudes.” — Paramahansa Yogananda

Am truly blessed that I have two traits of my Gurudeva, Paramahansa Yogananda — Love of Nature and travel 😊 Infinite gratitude for this blessing and grace of Divine Mother 🙏🙏

Yesterday, 12th of June, was one such blessed day. Am pleased to share some pics and video clips — glorious sunrise and sunset!! How I love monsoon 💖

All pics on my iPhone. Morning pics credit to my son. He gets up late usually but he hadn’t slept yesterday night – was busy watching Rafa – Djokovic semi final! An epic match!! But the dawn was more majestic!!

Why do I Write/Blog?

Last week Joyce nominated me for the vincent-ehindero-blogger-award. Thank you so much Joyce👏 One of the questions she had asked was: What gives you an inspiration to write or take pictures? What’s your muse?

It was this question which made me think and retrace my blogging journey of last two years.

When I had returned from my trip around the world in end January 2019, I wanted to write a book about my experiences, especially in Guatemala. My son told me that my book hadn’t happened for 15 years 😛 He suggested I start to blog first and then look at the book. Luckily I took his advice 😊 In the past 2+ years I have published 200+ posts and have also published my first book – 4 Pillars of Abundant Life!

I started with posts on my travel around the world. When I was not traveling I wrote about life, that is my understanding of life and it’s processes. The first year of blogging was amazing! I traveled and wrote nonstop. I visited 5 continents (All except Africa) and 4 new countries! I traveled a lot within the country too! And when I was in the midst of planning my next trip to the only continent I haven’t visited, Covid announced its arrival😅 Ashok proposes, God disposes😊🙏

Many of my friends and family thought lockdown would be tough for me as I was so fond of travel. Yes, I love people and new places! But I love myself equally or more 😊💖 So 2020 or my second year of blogging was all about travel within, thinking and writing about life, and my books! And it is continuing in 2021 too!

During this period I thought so often of quitting blogging. Musings of a Wanderer was growing pretty well but I wasn’t sure why I was continuing! I knew without me the world and WP would go on! My thoughts at those times were to focus on God/Meditation and my books! My first priority has been God for years and to experience God first hand takes effort! Blogging does take time and time is our most precious possession!

But then I would get one comment which would touch my heart. I would make one relationship which makes all the effort worth it. And I have been truly blessed: I have got one daughter and three grand daughters (Muslim, Hindu and Christian!!) and a bunch of nieces from the blog! And I have picked up some amazing friends from all over the world – black, white, brown, yellow, male, female, young and old!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you 👏 All of you have a special place in my heart.

Last week I was pleasantly surprised when I got the notification from WP that I had crossed 100,000 views! My blog is all about love and joy and peace and nature. I was happy that our community and my blogging family does appreciate it! And my thought now is that even if I can touch one or two lives and bring more peace, love and joy in their lives, my effort would have been worth it. And I enjoy this effort of love ❤️ Though my initial intent and motive was to help others lead abundant lives, I have ended up learning so much from so many versatile and loving and kind bloggers. Am grateful and blessed👏

This dilemma of mine: To write or not to write, to share or not was not only limited to the blog; it was equally true for my WhatsApp messages! I am more regular on Whatsapp than WP!

I know I am a drop of the ocean. But together we make this amazing ocean – of love, joy, and peace; and universal brotherhood! I am grateful from the core of my heart for your love and friendship 💖🤗

June 11, 2021 367

Breaking Shackles Of The Ocean Of Conditioned Society

Have you ever drowned in the ocean of society? Having tasted the emptiness of positions and perks, society roles and responsibilities?

Hypocrisy breeds yet ironically aren’t we’re all immersed somewhere in this conditioned ideology?

Aren’t we always in a hurry and are frantically running to fulfil the dreams fuelled by this toxic energy?

Dreams manufactured by someone else’s imagination; have you awoken from the dream embedded within the dream ad. infinitum?

Have you never dreamt of being a free soul?Having roamed the creation in its beatific glow?

It is time my friend that we break the shackles of the past, and fly away in the heavens vast!

This nothing they tell us, constitutes the everything.

Welcome to society, we promise we won’t deceive. And it’s cultivated for us to puncture the worn out tyre system and go beyond, leave.

Ashok and Amber — our first collaboration.

Thank you so much for your love and support 🤗

May 30, 2021 210

Co-Travellers…

We are co-travellers

Traversing the same byways of life!

But we are wearing different shoes,

I don’t know your aches

You don’t know my pains!

Some of us are carrying huge burdens on our shoulders,

Of decades, nay lifetimes!

Of deprivation

Of abuse and neglect!

While some of us are

Overflowing with love

And with care!

Some of us have all the freedom

And live in plenitude,

Others are bound, bombed and bruised

And often go without a meal!

We are poles apart

As if aliens from afar!

And yet we are co-travellers

On this day and this path!

Who is justified in blaming whom

We are all seekers,

Seeking peace, joy and bliss!

And we keep walking

Despite our aching legs,

And pain in our hearts!

If we could but learn to walk

In other’s shoes at last,

We would become kinder

And more caring!

And shall soon watch

Our pains fade,

Our faces aglow and

Love shall fill all our hearts!!

Please keep praying for India and the world 🙏

The Little Feather

It was my usual peaceful dawn. I was sitting in the balcony, sipping lime and honey in hot water and looking at the sky. The cloud formation usually gives me a good clue to how the dawn and sunrise is going to be! Early mornings are so divine. The best time of the day for me. Still. Quiet. Peaceful.

All of sudden a small white and grey feather came in my vision. It floated straight for a while and then it started to move up. Smooth, peaceful flight though there was hardly any wind. It was such a peaceful sight, watching the little feather in its flight.

Was it alive or was it dead? Was it cut off from life or was it flying to new life? Was it lost? Was it happy? Was it sad? Was it lonely? Was it at peace? I don’t know. But it left me in pure bliss.

Wishing you a peaceful day/night. Thank you so much for your love and support 💖🤗

May 21, 2021 129

Dawn Meditation 💖

Tuesday dawn was mesmerising. I wanted to sit for my morning meditation, but my eyes were glued to the changing colours of the sky and my feet were riveted to the floor in the balcony and my heart had stopped to beat!! Sometimes when we face nature at its breathtaking best, everything stands still. There is utter peace. It was that kind of dawn. 45 minutes of sheer bliss. Isn’t meditation all about loving God and merging in Him?

Oh God beautiful at Thy feet oh I do bow

All pics on my iPhone between 5.25am and 6.10am on the 18th of May.

If you too love the sky do check out: My First Love and November Sky

May 19, 2021 225

WE ARE IN THE SAME STORM

Whether it came from South China Sea or Indian Ocean, we are in the same storm.

We are navigating the same storm, but we are in different boats.

The waves may capsize yours while gently rocking mine, or just the other way around.

For some, quarantine is a moment of reflection and for others a complete dejection.

For some it is a time of re-connection with family and the self, while for some it is a tragic separation.

Some are happy to go within, while others are sad and depressed.

Some are at peace – even though alone, others are restless even amongst their own.

Some are drowning their sorrows in a drink, while others are out there helping the sick.

Some lament the absence of fine dining and gourmet meals, while others are concerned about bread for their next meal.

For many Home has become their Office and some have lost their home as well as the office.

Some lives are completely shattered by the virus and there are some for whom this is no big deal.

Some believe it is man made, and others say it is all in the stars.

Either way this too shall pass…

And when the storm passes, each of us will emerge different.

Some stronger, some unscathed, some scarred, some on a stretcher, and some may not make it at all.

It is wise to see beyond our own conditioning and perceptions.

To see beyond our politics, beyond religion, beyond race, beyond the nose on our face.

Let us remember we are on different boats, but we are in it together.

Let us navigate through the storm gently, with respect, with empathy, with love.

I wish and pray that you and your dear ones come out of the pandemic safe and strong — physically, mentally and spiritually. Love and hugs 🤗 💖🤗

May 12, 2021 304

Oh my Mother Divine

Hindus worship the Divine as a Mother too. That is so befitting. A mother is the closest human being to God. Her love is unconditional. I have seen that in my mother – she was pure love! And so was my dear wife 💖

To all mothers out there:

I salute you

I respect you

I appreciate you

I honour you

I love you

Happy Mothers Day 💖😊💖

Paramahansa Yogananda has written and composed so many chants too on God as Divine Mother

Divine Mother as the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Picture courtesy SRF

Thank you so much for your love and support.

May 9, 2021 78