Inspiration - RKT Newsletter
November 2024
Finding Inspiration for Living the Best Life
Quote
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: ||5||
uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet
atmaiva hyatmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
Elevate yourself through the power of your mind, and not degrade yourself, for the mind can be the friend and also the enemy of the self.
From the Editor's Desk
Finding the inspiration to live our best life begins with identifying a higher purpose and connecting deeply with the source of our inner strength. The profound teachings of our Vedic Scriptures and our Guru, Shree Swami Mukundananda, reveal a path where inspiration and clarity lead us toward our ultimate goal. This journey is not just about success in worldly endeavors; it’s about channeling our inner strengths and cultivating a life dedicated to spiritual growth and service. By exploring our inner motivations and following the example of saints and spiritual leaders, we discover the energy to overcome obstacles and experience life to its fullest potential.
Bhakti RasFinding Inspiration for Living the Best Life: A Spiritual Guide
In our pursuit of purpose and happiness, inspiration is the fuel that propels us forward. For spiritual aspirants associated with JKYog and the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, Swami Mukundananda is a guiding light whose teachings inspire individuals to strive for excellence in their service. His life and wisdom offer a blueprint for those who wish to find inspiration to live their best life filled with purpose, meaning, and unwavering motivation.
The Purpose-Driven Life: A Spiritual Perspective
Living the best life begins with understanding one’s purpose. For spiritual seekers, the ultimate goal is to realize their infinite potential, make efforts in sadhana (i.e., the practice of devotion), and attract God’s divine grace. Swamiji’s teachings emphasize that every thought, action, and endeavor can be directed toward fulfilling this spiritual purpose. When we know our goal, the process becomes easier. Swamiji states that when we are convinced of an imperative reason for doing something, we suddenly find hidden reserves of energy to perform herculean tasks. Our inspiration is directly related to a meaningful goal that equips us with resilience, strength, and clarity.
What Does "Living the Best Life" Mean?
To live the best life is to strive for excellence in everything we undertake. Whether it is engaging in sadhana, acts of selfless service (i.e., seva), or reading scriptures for personal growth, living our best life means putting forth our best effort. Great achievements begin with the question, "Why should I do this?" Understanding our reason for any action leads to a powerful motivation that helps to overcome obstacles on the spiritual path. When fueled by a worthy purpose, even the smallest tasks become sacred steps on our path.
The Key to Lasting Motivation
Swamiji’s 7 Divine Laws to Awaken Your Best Self highlights that the strength of our inspiration comes from the value we place on our goals. The greater the value, the greater the inspiration—a core motivator that gives us courage and determination. By having a clear purpose, our dedication transforms us into the best versions of ourselves, just as it does for saints and extraordinary achievers. It is not a fleeting feeling; it is an enduring energy that continually reminds us of our purpose.
Spiritual Practices: The Path to Inner Strength
To maintain this inspiration, we need the spiritual nourishment found in association with saints and fellow seekers. Swamiji’s teachings emphasize that when we engage in practices like meditation, Satsang, and selfless service, we strengthen our faith and purity of purpose. These practices also help us reflect on our desires and align them with divine goals, thereby shedding self-centeredness in favor of selflessness.
Belief-Driven Choices Lead to Growth
Our beliefs and values guide us toward making choices that contribute to inner growth. When we identify ourselves as divine souls, fragments of the supreme being, we cultivate the desire to serve God. These belief-based choices are what truly guide us to our purpose. When our beliefs are rooted in spiritual knowledge and humility, they empower us to overcome the challenges along our path.
Rekindling Inspiration When It Wanes
Inspiration is often strongest at the beginning of a journey, but over time, it can wane. Swamiji advises us to reconnect with sources of inspiration—like-minded devotees, uplifting biographies, and saints’ lives. Inspirational stories of Saints like Tulsidas and Soordas, or public figures like Soichiro Honda and Sindhutai Sapkal, demonstrate the transformative power of a clear purpose. With single-minded dedication, these individuals faced challenges and emerged victorious, showing that even when inspiration dims, we can reignite it by remembering our purpose.
Role Models of Inspiration
The lives of saints and spiritual masters offer profound lessons at the elevated level of their purpose and inspiration. Their unwavering dedication and resilience serve as examples to emulate. Swamiji’s recently published book, Nourish Your Soul: Inspirations from and Lives of Great Saints, describes the lives of eleven Saints of India including Meerabai, Adi Shankaracharya, Soordas, Tukaram, Kabirdas, Ravidas, Andal, Ramanujacharya, Purandara Dasa, Vallabhacharya, and Tyagaraja. To quote Swamiji: “Saints veritably lived the principles enunciated in our scriptures and became paragons of philosophical truths. Their messages were universal—offering spiritual illumination and defining meaningful purpose for souls.”
These saints serve as role models for us. If we align ourselves with the kind of purpose they had, the intensity of our desire will energize and awaken us, enabling us to take on the challenges of life and grow through them.
The Attitude of Humility and Gratitude
A significant impediment to growth is the pride that comes from thinking we know it all. The pursuit of divine knowledge requires humility and gratitude. Recognizing the vast gap between our current state and the ultimate goal allows us to stay receptive to learning and growing. An attitude of humility enables us to rely on the Guru for grace and guidance, ultimately helping us fulfill our spiritual purpose.
Live with Purpose and be Inspired by Grace
To live our best life means to live with a purpose rooted in spiritual goals. Inspired by divine teachings, we find the courage, strength, and resilience to pursue a life of selfless service and dedication. Our spiritual journey is one of continuous growth, motivated by a clear vision, steadfast commitment, and unwavering inspiration that enables us to navigate life’s challenges and experience the joy of fulfilling our divine potential.
Bal-Mukund: Playground for Vedic Wisdom
An Inspiration to Serve
.jpg)
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was extremely passionate about becoming a teacher. As a child, she would read new books every week. Thereafter she would indulge in a “Play the Teacher” game whereby she would assume the role of a teacher, using contents from her books to teach her imaginary students.
Later, she tutored high school students and assisted university professors, to move closer to fulfilling her dream.
After graduating, she failed to secure a university professor position and gave up pursuing it.
One day, a devotee of Shree Krishna gifted her the Srimad Bhagavatam books, the powerful scripture that ignites love for God and teaches selfless devotion. After she read and contemplated the content of the Srimad Bhagavatam, she yearned to hear about God even more. From this personal experience, she wanted everyone to drink this nectar for themselves.
That was when she made it a personal resolve to increase the awareness of the existence of the Srimad Bhagavatam and contribute to sharing the stories of the pastimes of God with everyone, especially children so that they would be able to embark on their spiritual journey faster. This ignited her passion for teaching once again and this time her motivation was rooted deep within her. She engaged in various storytelling sessions with children whenever possible.
Simultaneously, she delved into the teachings of Swami Mukundananda ji, who aims to propagate divine knowledge globally. The practical life lessons that she received from him were equally life-transforming. Months later, she began serving in his organization. Today she writes stories for children using true knowledge provided by Swamiji.
Practical Wisdom:
- After reading the Srimad Bhagavatam, the girl made it a personal resolution to share the stories and teachings of God with everyone, especially children. There are two kinds of motivation: External and internal.
- External motivation involves being inspired by rewards given by others. The key to this inspiration lies in the hands of others. When the girl didn’t get her desired job, she became de-motivated and gave up.
- Internal motivation comes from a source irrespective of the external environment. When the internal resolve was firm and desire was strong, the girl used every opportunity that came her way to fulfill her cause.
- The girl was given the opportunity to write stories for children. Opportunities to serve for a higher cause are the grace of God and Guru. When one improves their quality of devotion and surrender, and increases the effort, grace is guaranteed.
Youth Insights
Personal Reflections To Find Inspiration
Life as a student can feel like a constant whirlwind—juggling school, homework, extracurricular activities, and social commitments – leaving little room for reflection. It is easy to get so caught up in a fast-paced routine that deeper, more meaningful topics take a backseat. That’s why writing for Youth Insights has become such an important part of my life. When I sit down to write, it’s like hitting the pause button. In these moments, I find the time to reflect on ideas and questions that I do not usually think about in my day-to-day life. These are topics that don’t naturally come up in casual conversations with friends or during the hustle of school life—ideas about spirituality, self-awareness, and the values that guide us. Youth Insights provides a space for me to explore these concepts in a thoughtful way.
This process not only helps me connect with my spiritual self but also allows me to reinforce the teachings and principles I have learned. Writing about these topics challenges me to think more deeply about them, which helps solidify my understanding. Sometimes, it even leads to new realizations and perspectives I hadn’t considered before. It’s a reminder of the importance of pausing and engaging with ideas that truly matter.
In many ways, writing for Youth Insights feels like a form of self-care. It’s a way to step back from the constant stream of tasks and responsibilities and focus on something that brings balance and purpose to my life. It’s like taking a deep breath after a long, busy day. This process also keeps me grounded, helping me reconnect with my spiritual roots and values that might otherwise get lost in the busyness of everyday life.
What’s especially rewarding is how this reflection benefits not just me but also the community. When I share my thoughts, I hope to inspire others—whether it’s by offering a new perspective, sparking a meaningful conversation, or simply encouraging someone to take a moment for themselves to think about these deeper topics.
Ultimately, for me, Youth Insights is more than just writing. It’s a journey of growth, understanding, and connection. Have you ever done reflective writing before? If not, I encourage you to try it. It can be a powerful tool for living your best life!
Holistic Health TitbitsThe Seed of Inspiration
Inspiration precedes action. When we see or hear something that inspires us, we want to take action, whether imitating what we have seen or heard or developing new practices. Sometimes, inspiration stays within the life of the individual. Other times, the inspiration is so strong that it compels us to share it with others, especially if we find truth and benefit in the knowledge behind it.
In childhood, we encounter many inspirational figures and situations that shape our adult lives. Parents, teachers, relatives, and spiritual leaders often demonstrate values and behaviors that give us hope and provide clear pathways to success. This influence may be conscious or subconscious, intentional or accidental. If we think about it, we can trace the origins of who we are today back to these sources.
Personal Journey
I was born the only girl and youngest child with three older brothers. My parents saw I had a lot of energy and channeled it into various academic and physical activities. Without realizing it, they gave me a lifelong gift. Inspired by my brothers, I enrolled in skating, swimming, dance, basketball, track, and gymnastics. I continue to dance to this day. Once I became a parent, I looked for options where my daughter could be nearby and found a gym with a daycare. When she turned five, she started martial arts. I always wanted to do it, and she inspired me to join her. It was a way for us to bond and stay fit together. Later, I joined the yoga and kickboxing programs and eventually became a yoga teacher. Their yoga teachers inspired me because they were strong and fit women in their early forties. One of them became my mentor and close friend and taught me the importance of nutrition.
During the pandemic, I received my RYT 200 certification. By the grace of God and Swami Mukundananda, I began teaching at Prem Yoga and Radha Krishna Temple. I was encouraged to share my knowledge and experience in health wellness with the devotees. I feel incredibly blessed to serve the JK Yog community, and I am inspired by the progress and enthusiasm of the participants every day.
Our Living Inspiration
Swami Mukundananda inspires us by emphasizing fitness through yogasans, pranayama, and meditation. He developed the yoga curriculum taught at Prem Yoga, and has incorporated it into JKYog Retreats and Family Camp. He races with the devotees, dances vigorously in spiritual celebrations, and plays cricket at the Temple picnics. Despite his busy schedule, he practices weekly yoga and weight training, including 108 Surya Namaskar!
Inspiring Good Health
To inspire good health in ourselves and others, the specific attributes we can cultivate are:
- Empower others to transform. When we share knowledge and provide genuine support and care, we allow people to discover their potential to change their bodies and minds.
- Share authentic, actionable tips. Make the information clear, practical, and achievable.
- Provide evidence-based knowledge. Avoid trends and information that are not from credible sources.
- Keep learning. To inspire others, we must remain inspired ourselves.
- Be a role model. Practice what you preach.
- Leave a positive impact. We respond to results, physically and mentally. We know we are on the right track when we feel and look good.
- Implement a holistic approach. Mental and physical health are connected.
- Have fun!
Reflection Questions for DiscussionBhakti Ras / Inspiration
Bal-Mukund: Playground for Vedic Wisdom
Youth Insights
Holistic Health Titbits
Upcoming EventsBhagavad Gita Jayanti: An Opportunity to Rekindle Divine Knowledge & Devotion to God
The festival season at the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (Allen)hosts numerous devotional and celebratory festivals and events for the community to enable them to experience inner joy and happiness. In December, one of the most noteworthy of the programs is the Bhagavad Gita Jayanti.
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered scriptures that inspires people from all walks of life. All of us have an opportunity to soak in the divine knowledge as we celebrate Bhagavad Gita Jayanti. As part of this celebration, we are organizing wonderful activities to experience the timeless wisdom of Shree Krishna’s divine teachings.
Here are the highlights:
- Bhagavad Gita Parayan:
Devotees will recite all 700 verses from the 18 chapters of the Holy Scripture.
- Swamiji's Keynote Address:
Swami Mukundananda ji will deliver a divine Keynote Address.
- Pothi Yatra and Bhagavad Gita Poojan:
Participants will carry the sacred scripture on their heads and chant the divine names of God as they walk up to the Temple’s Prayer Hall and engage in a sacred pooja of the Holy Scripture.
- Bhagavad Gita Kids Fest:
For the first time, children will participate in shloka chanting, fancy dress, a skit, dancing for Shree Krishna, and other surprising activities.
- Youth Perspectives:
For the first time as well, youth will dive deep into their favorite Bhagavad Gita shlokas (i.e., verses). Each participant will have the unique opportunity to deliver a brief yet powerful speech on a verse that resonates most with them, sharing insights and reflections with fellow attendees.
- Rapid-Fire Q&A for All:
Engage in an exhilarating Rapid-Fire Q&A session, open to both youth and adults! Test your knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings as our moderators pose simple and thought-provoking questions.
- Shree Krishna Abhishek & Kirtan:
A beautiful Abhishek to honor Shree Krishna will be performed. Everyone is invited to participate.
- Bhagavad Gita Special Satsang:
Participate in the beautiful melodies of devotional and soulful kirtans to help us remember the divine knowledge bestowed upon us by Shree Krishna.
- Cultural Program:
A lovely cultural program to showcase the richness of our heritage will also be presented.
Details:
- December 7, 8, 11, and 14, 2024. Stay tuned for other activities and details.
- We invite you to join us for this wonderful occasion in person.
- Register at: https://www.radhakrishnatemple.net/bhagavad-gita-jayanti
