The Problem with Seeking External Validation
Growing up I always wanted to be friends with everyone and make them like me. As you can imagine, that did not go as planned. I found it quite hard to make friends that would see me for who I am and treat me with the love and kindness I wanted to be treated with.
The harder I tried to be accepted and liked, the more I projected my neediness and lack of self-love unto them which pushed them away even further. I never understood why I felt so different from others and why I had to go through these experiences until I learned more about the spiritual path.
Just like in a mirror the reflection appears real. In reality, it is just the reflection not reality. Dive within to see God's reality and Love.
- Paramahamsa Vishwananda
What we perceive in this world, may it be good or bad, is not as real as our mind leads us to believe. The problem is that we are so used to thinking with our mind and judging the world and ourselves along these lines that we miss what is going on inside our hearts.
Self-Acceptance on the Spiritual Path
There is a whole world on the inside waiting to be explored. As we go through life this inner voice or the heart can appear dormant and covered by many layers, but it is never gone. It just needs to be re-discovered, firstly by calming the mind and reminding it that we are okay the way we are and do not need to change for others to like us.
Here it is important to understand that the spiritual path is not about being alone all the time, secluded to a hermitage, surviving on nothing but herbs and leaves. It is about being centred within yourself and knowing your inner strength and potential wherever you are. It is unfolding what you have always carried inside but never noticed. Instead of expecting them to love you unconditionally, becoming independent of others and their perception of you keeps you grounded. It is, in fact, your duty to love yourself - all lumps and bumps included.
When this love awakes for yourself firstly and when this love really awakens completely inside of you, it consumes you completely with the Divine Love.
– Paramahamsa Vishwananda
How to Practice Self-Acceptance
Today I still have moments when I doubt myself, when I think I am not good enough, but not ever do I feel like I am alone or unprotected, even when I seem to be alone to the outside. Having made that connection to my spiritual heart, I no longer feel so heartbreakingly lost, not even at my lowest. My mind might sometimes lose sight of what is important, but sooner or later my heart kick-starts and lets me know it is there, always ready to guide me.
- Practice daily meditation. This will help you find yourself again and go about everyday life, with its highs and lows, in a more peaceful and loving manner.
- Read the Bhagavad Gita. Regardless of your faith, the Bhagavad Gita is full of wisdom for living life fully, with love, and with as little attachment as possible. It will show you the love God has for everyone and help you find that love inside of yourself.
- Take darshan. There's nothing quite like taking the blessing of someone who only loves and does not judge. When Paramahamsa Vishwananda gives you darshan, He sees the Divine inside of you and gives you a small experience of that Love. It nourishes the presence of God inside and with that, anything is possible.
It is a personal choice to fade out the voice of the heart, but life becomes infinitely more fulfilling once we start controlling our mind through spiritual practices like meditation or reading the Bhagavad Gita and nourishing that connection to God inside our hearts. Once we see that presence of Divine Love in our hearts, we will be able to perceive it on the outside too. It was always there; we just didn’t see clearly enough.
Awake realization of God's absolute presence within yourself. God is everywhere, in all places, in all things, in all people.
- Paramahamsa Vishwananda
Take your first step to experience the love within and have Online Darshan with Paramahamsa Vishwananda.
