Self Realisation

Wow! @messedup this post and the first one are too good. Whether you realize or not what you have conveyed is very deep and insightful! Keep going!

 

You will know that instinctively and automatically. You will be overflowing with so much good feelings and positive emotions you will instinctively want to share them.

But here the thing to remember is the cup filling activity is separate from whatever is your current source or area of tension. Keep it separate at least initially. Don’t attempt to fill cup by doing activity with MIL for instance. Be alone or with someone you love and trust for those. Going for walks, doing something you like or really love or lose yourself in undisturbed regularly like singing or reading a book etc these would be examples where you will experience your spirit being recharged. Best way to ensure you do it regularly is to schedule a time in your day which is your me time and just do it. Otherwise it becomes easy to skip.

 

It must depend on level of optimism and zest for life & perhaps quantum of unwavering faith in one’s tutelary deity( in India).

 

This is about self realisation.
This from Khatopanishad. Dialogue between Nachiketa & Lord of Death. More later.

 

@messedup,

When his father was offering the cows that are no longer producing milk, Nachiketa felt that what was offered should be something of value to his father. He asked his father whether he would offer something valuable repeatedly and in irritation father responded, "I am offering you to Yama Dharmaraja". The son took it seriously and decided to offer himself to Yama Dharamaraja. He waited for 7 days to get audience from him. Yama apologized for making him wait and agreed that he would give 3 boons to him in response. Gladened by his offer, Nichiketa asked, "First my father should not be angry for questioning him when I return" and that was sanctioned. Then, he asked, "I need to understand the meaning of those offerings" and Yama asked him to perform a Yagna and taught Nichiketa the meaning of those offerings. Lastly, Nichiketa asked, "You being the Lord of death, can you explain the meaning of death?" Yama replied, "You ask for anything else, I will give right away" to distract his attention. However, Nichiketa was steadfast and told Yama, "If I knew the secret of death, I don't need anything else". Finally, Yama taught him the secret of death. This is abbreviated version of Kadopanishad.

In our real life, performing action is inevitable. However, it should be valuable to those who receive. Our intention of performing those actions should be pure and holy despite how others around us react. In fact, performing these actions thinking them as offerings itself is sacrifice (yagna) we do everyday. Purity in what we do as action, intention with which we do skillfully, lovingly and selflessly without expecting fruits make them nishkama karma.

In my view, it is our own reactions that gives us pain more than the attitude of others. Our growth and spiritual development are much more valuable to us than worrying about the journey of others and their attitude. Gratitude for what we receive, giving (things and service) without an iota of ego, holding everything as a trustee without ownership, attitude of acceptance to remain unaffected by the world's reaction to our growth, etc. are wonderful right-living principles. We battle a lot in each one of them everyday but we need to do vichara to understand what makes us feel painful. We also need to have the fortitude to build abhyasa (learning from our experiences) and vairagya (one-pointed determination to learn) from what life throws at us. We need to do this not because it is easy to do but because it helps us to grow spiritually even if it is hard.