NEWS

Since I returned to Slovakia in September there are a few habits that I decide to adopt. You know, new start...

1. regular meals,
2. regular sleep (wake up early, sleep early, the best for me is 07.00 - 23,00),
3. regular exercise (especially morning walks),
4. regular praying and reading the Holy Writings,
5. learning to play on the guitar,
6. learning a new language (few options: german, arabic, hindi or improving french),
7. get involved in many baha'i activities,
8. start my very own English Club,
9. observing all the baha'i laws, minimum watching tv/movies

About the first four: It went very well the first month and a half, then it started to be too cold and dark for morning walks, I stopped eating regularly when I was ill for a few days, similar with sleeping. I searched for reasons and found that all started when I stopped praying enough. Every day less and less until it wasn't easy to begin anymore.

All the other goals followed the decline. I stopped practicing on the guitar and watched a lot of movies, wasting time. I stayed involved in the baha'i activities and the English club continued but I didn't really feel committed to it that much.

(I actually never got to learning the language because I don't have time.)

Luckily the laws are not hard to observe so that went well.

Now I'm back to the habits. Trying to build them again and better. But it made me think firstly why is it that when you gain that spiritual upliftment (usually from being abroad serving, or on pilgrimage or a baha'i course) it never stays long enough. In my case it usually ceases after one or two months. And secondly what is it that made me so happy and content in India?

(The following realizations are nothing new. Don't be disappointed.)

Why the spiritual upliftment never stays?
Most of the population cannot be occupied with spiritual activities all the time. We need to earn some money too. And the materialistic world can consume us if we don't keep watch over our spiritual nourishment. And usually we cease to be alert in the course of time and join the tide of waking up - eating - going to work/school - eating - watching tv - reading - sleeping - waking up...

What is it that made me so happy in India?
Strength produces strength and weakness produces weakness. Everyone has some goals, everyone dreams of being the best of himself, everyone wants to achieve success and approval. We are the only ones who can make our dreams come true. If we keep a picture of our ideal self but never get any closer to being it we are day by day failing ourselves, not keeping promises to ourselves and in the end we stop believing in the ideal us. On the other hand if we just keep one promise that we made to ourselves it will confer upon us so much strength that more kept promises will follow. (For example I often say I will wake up at 7am the next day but I seldom do. Then, when I do I feel happy all day.) Thus we become satisfied inwardly and it will also be expressed outwardly.

In India I was my ideal self. Although there was a lot to improve, to work on, I felt that I am doing great progress every single day, never hesitating, always marching onward.

It is not hard in reality, only our complicated minds make it look hard. If we just thought less and acted more the world would be a happier place. The beginning is easy, just think of a promise that you often make to yourself but never keep and now keep it.