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B R A H M A K U M A R I S RETREAT C E N T E R F O R S P I R I T U A L L E A R N I N G

The Point
Volume 4 Issue 34 March 2010

Concentration is power
YOU’VE got some paper work to Here are energy in the universe, is really the
do but, as soon as you start on it, ultimate support.”
many options present them- the requisites NO DESIRES. “The mind can get
selves— reply to a text message, and benefits, pulled wanting many things—objects
check your Facebook account , and some practical tips or people, affection, appreciation or
take a coffee break. Or you’re respect. Contentment is the key to a
probably taking meditation peaceful mind. If I feel anything lack-
classes to cope with stress but ing, that will take my intellect away
when you sit, your mind starts from my concentration. Only if I am
racing. And so you still feel content, can I become light.”
stressed. CHURNING. “This is a term that
To many people, concentrating means to exercise the intellect with
is like searching for the Holy Grail. spiritual knowledge and extract wis-
But to succeed in anything, it is a dom. The intellect tends to be lazy
requisite. with rote memory but it can be
“You cannot bring change to awakened by undertaking exercises
your life without the power to in understanding the implications of
concentrate,” says international spiritual knowledge. Through churn-
lecturer and senior Brahma Ku- ing I can create the strength to hold
maris meditation teacher Meera on to that one thought for as long as
Nagananda. She defines concentration as a single “You are able to see your real self, and that in itself I want. It is important to increase this power to
penetrating thought, or total absorption. is a permanent change. That is the core of Raja Yoga recycle energy.”
She explains: “Concentration is experienced in meditation—being awake, aware and connected. WILL POWER. “Will yourself to the Supreme.
action and in meditation. People may not know that There is, at last, a profound awareness of one’s Allow His energy to fill your consciousness. Don’t
you are practicing mediation, but the quality of your eternal identity as a soul.” hold yourself back or follow old thinking patterns.”
actions, the focus you have, makes them appreciate Meera enumerates the attributes necessary to The benefits are boundless, says Meera, and
that you have some kind of mental discipline. The develop the power of concentration, and explains proceeds to discuss them:
basis of concentration in action comes from concen- how they work: CLARITY. “You develop a microscopic vision. You
tration in the intellect. I may not be meditating INTROVERSION. “Focus thoughts inwards and see things as they are, thus making it easy to make
while performing action, but my concentration experience your positive qualities. Remove any a decision.”
power in meditation will help me to do quality work extraneous or unnecessary thoughts. This is the EFFICIENCY. “Work is accomplished in half the
in less time.” stage of soul consciousness. You are no longer sub- time that it normally takes. One reason we don’t
Concentration, on the other hand, is the result of servient to your sense organs. You can utilize the find time to meditate is that we claim we are busy.
contemplation, which Meera defines as a pattern of subtle powers of the soul.” But with concentration, efficiency is enhanced.”
thoughts connected to a purpose. “When you are DETERMINATION. “There has to be a deep desire IMPROVED MEMORY. “We can say, ‘Oh, I forgot
reflecting on, or thinking about, something, the to achieve something. This means that body, mind, because it’s my nature.’ The power of concentration
mind is in a contemplative stage,” she says. “Once intellect and heart are aligned. It doesn’t work if enables the mind to remember and retain.”
you start experiencing the thought or going beyond your body is sitting in a meditation pose, but your ACCURACY. “Mistakes are often committed due
words, there is concentration. You become the intellect is planning for tomorrow and your heart is to lack of focus. Concentration frees me from com-
embodiment of the thought, or you are experienc- revisiting yesterday.” mitting errors.”
ing the feeling within the thought.” FAITH. “Trust the self, whose original qualities POWERS. “I am able to draw powers from the
How does concentration bring about transforma- are peace, purity, bliss, love and power. Trust the Supreme and these powers manifest in different
tion? Meera gives the example of a putting a sheet Supreme and His benevolence. Trust destiny—there ways when I perform actions.”
of paper under a magnifying glass that is directly is benefit in every situation. Respect each individ- EMPATHY. “Due to a lack of focus I am not able
exposed to sunlight. The heat from the sun as it ual, see only their eternal goodness, accept them as to understand my own feelings, let alone those of
goes through the lens burns the paper. part of the world family. Looking at people’s defects others. The result is misunderstanding. If I don’t
“Concentration must bring results. When I’m pollutes the mind.” understand people’s intentions, I can’t give what
totally absorbed in the Supreme and none other, I SOLITUDE. “This shouldn’t be taken literally as they need. With empathy I am able to understand
am able to allow His power to penetrate my sub- going into seclusion. Find a quiet space in your the thoughts and sentiments of others, the better
conscious, there to melt deep-rooted unwanted heart to enjoy silence, the true nature of the self.” to fulfill them.”
traits and replace them with godly qualities.” STRENGTH FROM ONE. “Sometimes people de- INSPIRATION. “With genuine powerful thoughts,
Once the power of meditation touches the sub- pend on relationships, possessions and activities for souls who feel weak, dejected or worried will be
conscious mind, realization occurs, Meera says. their self-worth. The Supreme Power, the highest recharged through my good wishes.”

Visit the Center for Spiritual Learning at 1020 Magallanes Drive, Silang Crossing West, Tagaytay City. Contact us at (046) 483 2128
See our local website www.bktagaytay.com, our blog site www.bk-tnt.blogspot.com and our international website www.bkwsu.org.
© Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University 2010.
 2 The Point Volume 4 Issue 34 March 2010

A shot in the arm for cheerfulness

WEARY of raucous tion teacher, echoed
students, Elizabeth Cabuyaos’ insight.
Yunzal, an elementary “Meditation is the
school teacher, was method to take things
about to throw in the positively instead of
towel. “The children getting irritated.
were uncontrollable. I When people are
always ended up get- mean, my tendency
ting upset and barking was to fight back. Now
at them,” she re- I’ll just let them be.”
called. Michael Parado
During a weekend was empowered by
at the Center for Spiri- the assurance that he,
tual Learning, she got as a soul, is the master
a shot in the arm. of the mind, intellect
That was when stu- and his personal
Elizabeth, Bryan and Jonar are learning people Michael, Ed and Josie realize that before helping
dents of a doctorate Skills as a result of meditation. others they have to help themselves first. traits. “I experienced
program in Philosophy myself to be a spiri-
and Education Man- tual being on a higher
agement flew all the way from Tacloban in standing and more gentle.” level of awareness,” he recounted. The semi-
Central Philippines for a workshop on personal Josie Yago Refuerzo, a graduate professor nar also taught him to adopt a dispassionate
transformation. at the Visayan State University, hoped to share outlook in life, as an actor would in a play, he
The workshop was a suggested activity for her peace experience with colleagues afflicted said. “We all have our own roles, but we get
their Guidance Counseling subject. The stu- with diabetes and hypertension due to work carried away by external forces. By reminding
dents, actually teachers from different schools pressures. myself that I am a soul, I can take charge of my
in the region, agreed that before they could “We can be more effective if we ourselves faculties.”
guide people, they should first take charge of are fully equipped, relaxed and knowledgeable Jonar Cirera, a public school teacher, found
themselves. about how the mind works.” the experience of the soul as distinct from the
Yunzal found that Raja Yoga meditation was Eduardo Cabuyao, a technical college in- body “ground-breaking.” He said the work-
an effective tool for her work. This apprecia- structor, said meditation is now helping him to shop inspired him to cherish moments when
tion started with the setting. “I enjoy the se- not react to trivial matters. “A moment of si- he could experience his natural qualities as a
renity here in CSL,” she said. I realized that I lence and contemplation before responding to soul—peace, purity, bliss, love and power. And
can’t change the students’ behavior, but I can any situation will be my tool henceforth.” he is all set to express these qualities at the
change my response. I can be more under- Bryan Colilihan, a music and physical educa- workplace.

My stressor, myself
MORE and more business firms are offering
programs to help employees cope with stress.
Many managers say the programs enhance
productivity, boost the workforce morale and
improve their health.
Strategies for stress management include
exercise, muscle-relaxation techniques, be-
havior modification, time management and
cognitive restructuring (which helps people
determine what is bothering them and then
come up with ways to handle the pressure).
What sets apart the Brahma Kumaris Retreat
Center for Spiritual Learning’s stress manage-
ment workshop is a thorough understanding
of the thought processes that can go awry in
challenging situations, and how to keep them
in check.
About 70 employees of the Philippine Na-
tional Bank attended this workshop. The par-
ticipants said the program spurred their moti-
vation for better behavior. With mental clarity
from meditation, individuals learn to reverse
negative ideas and focus on positive out-
comes. This helps reduce tension and attain
goals.
“The workshop taught us to be peaceful
and patient,” says Kenneth Montano.
“It made me realize that life can truly be
simplified. Complications are created by the
stressor. It’s hard to admit, but the stressor
is…me. I was also inspired to employ virtues in
my daily activities,” adds Larz P. De Guzman.
“The activity strengthened camaraderie in
our ranks and in our respective areas,” notes
Bobby Manalili from the Port Area branch.
Ernie Datu agrees, “It gave us an opportunity
to interact with other bank employees about
matters affecting our day-to-day work. Better
still, it gave us some time to relax and ponder
better ways to exercise, not only our body but
also our mind.”
Says Cynthia Valencia: “We were enlight-
ened by the fact that we create our own
stressors. Instead of being victims of change,
we should be agents of change. We learned to
focus on the present situation, not to dwell on
the past and not to be anxious about the fu-
ture. After the seminar, everybody was opti-
mistic to face another day ahead.”
“The place was appropriate for meditation
and we felt one with nature. The solemnity
just gets you,” notes Myra Vina.
“It gave me a new perspective—finding joy
in everyday things really makes a difference.
With the right attitude, while exerting the
same effort, we get more things done,” says
Anna Liza Arellano.
 3 The Point Volume 4 Issue 34 March 2010

Learning to care for the soul

THE abundant, deep source of all
virtues and goodness is in every
one of us, invisible, eternal souls.
Yet, we, buff-physique enthusiasts
and job-enslaved world citizens,
hardly give any attention to the
shining jewel in our consciousness
that is our direct link to the Divine
Creator.
We enhance every part of the
body that we feel lacking in attrac-
tion, thru risky and costly surgical
procedures when the truly essen-
tial caring and indulgence that
every being needs is contempla-
tive silence, at zero cost.
Through the auspices of Inner
Space Manila, a weekend retreat,
“Caring for the Soul,” was held on
the first weekend of Lent, Feb. 20-
21, at the Center for Spiritual
Learning in Tagaytay. I was fortu-
nate to be part of that group.
Sister Rose Uy conducted self-
examination exercises to deter-
mine individual expectations.
Student Rose wished for self-sovereignty.
Julie yearned to silence her mind. Biology
teacher Lai Englis from Iligan wanted to learn
correct meditation techniques. Physical thera-
pist Anna needed calm and courage, as she
was about to start a job abroad.
The participants were made to realize that
when the beauty of the soul is blocked, we are
“unable to see” (Julie’s discernment), because
the mind is muddled. Anger, irritability, impa-
tience comes at the drop of a hat. Body aches
are also manifestations of a weary soul. But a
finely tuned soul is clear that happiness is its
birthright, and that it has an immense capacity
for a purposeful life and appreciation for oth-
Feeling angelic presence
ers.
Sister Arlane urged us to entrust and sur-
render ourselves to God completely, and in-
voke Him to be beside us in every situation as
a buddy, a lover, a traveling companion, a dot- physically as well, thanks to the famous cook-
ing father, or a child.
How we giggled when she confessed that
she talked to God in slapstick chatter for most
of the day, but switches gears and makes Him warmth and sunshine to us her transient
her Business Coach when she enters the world brood, making sure all our needs were met. All
of work.
We were gifted with a lovely motto to live
by: “God is just a thought away.” We are un-
der God’s divine stewardship; He is in total
control.
Sister Lucy Perez was the per-
fect example of self- mastery.
When a scheduled video, “Show
Your True Colors,” failed to turn
up, she was a polished gem of
grace, unyielding to irritation and
self-blame. Years ago, she con-
fessed, she would have had a to-
tally negative reaction.
Encouraging us to keep a record
of our feelings, she reminded us to
remain grounded and rooted in
pure thoughts by eliminating ques-
tions about the past and desires
for the future. These are wasteful
thoughts, she said, and should
have no room in the life of a happy
soul.
As a conclusion—and a treat—
we were shown the other side of
these regular meditators, who
turned out to be very surprising
entertainers! Sister Divya did a
bouncy Indian pop dance; her
mom Arlene danced a Bayanihan
standard with Sister Sasra and a
few others; and the multi-gifted Marge
Enriquez twirled like a pro to the music of Mi-
chael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.”
By now, we were all perfectly nourished
ing of the CSL culinary team, with Architect Vi
Santos moonlighting as kitchen assistant.
Sister Salud, CSL teacher-in-charge, was all
these as the pristine surroundings quietly
buzzed, each BK volunteer cheerfully perform-
ing a specific role, even if it was just, like
Brother William, to make sure the videos we
watched were crisp and sharp.

Meera gave two valuable and practical tips for things instead of being peaceful and still.

Mental helping along the reawakening of the power of

concentration.
1) Make a list of things to do but do them one at
waker a time. We lose concentration when we think of
doing something else when we already have some-
thing at hand. Doing two things simultaneously, if
upper not corrected, will become a habit that manifests
during meditation. Your intellect starts planning
2) Don’t leave any task half way. We begin a task
with enthusiasm, but somehow we get distracted,
lose the drive and do something else. At the end of
the day, we have not accomplished anything fully.
There is no satisfaction. Make it a habit to finish a
task. The same applies in meditation: Always start
with one objective; don’t waver or wander into
another aim. Have an aim and stick to it.

P R O G R A M S
Time Marches On, 4pm Sat - 4pm Sun, Mar 13-14
Inner Power, Inner Peace, 4pm Fri - 4pm Sun, Mar 26-28
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