When I think of this, I see myself as a donkey carrying a load. My cargo is my anxieties, thoughts, cares and fears. When I examine my burden, I am stunned. My anxieties are many. I hope I do not get Covid, I have had all my vaccinations, I am washing my hands constantly, gritting my teeth as my hands are getting rough.

My thoughts are what is happening all around. I pray things get better. My cares are related to my forty kids and also again to my families’ and friends’ health. My fears are so many, I cannot list them. We are all like this.

Swami Sivanananda said: Thoughts you carry.

Carry any kind of thought you please. So long as you retain it, no matter how you roam over the land, or sea, you will unceasingly attract to yourself exactly and only what corresponds to your own dominant quality of thought. It’s up to you to determine the order of the thoughts you entertain.

I will tell you a Polish folk tale. Two naughty children wanted to test a wise old woman. They caught a little bird and hid it in their hands and kept them behind their back. They said, “Wise woman, is the bird alive or dead.” They had decided that whatever answer she gave, they would do the opposite. She replied, “My children, the answer is in your hands.”

This story was narrated by a friend who was a psychologist and she was visiting me. At that time we had a Doberman, along with our dachshund and cat. The Doberman was neurotic and possessive. She was also very badly behaved as she was a rescue dog. She stopped listening to me when I started going to work. My friend said that either we would have to leave our home or the dog would have to go. The dog wanted attention and she smashed our glass door, in front of her. Well, we had to give her away.

Be aware and focus on your breath, it is with you always and remember that with it you can neutralize your thoughts.

I also say that I am thankful to all the people who have influenced me with their wisdom. To name a few, Swami Sivanananda, Swami Satyanananda, Swami Niranjanananda, Osho, and Mythologists like Devdutt Pattanaik.

My Guru Swami Satyanananda said that one should listen to discourses by Gurus from other schools of thoughts. I have done that always and it has enabled me to have a greater understanding of devotion and dedication to my Guru and God.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Florian GIORGIO on Unsplash