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SPIRITUAL PROGRESS IN THE FACE OF CRITICISM

There is benefit for you in every situation. If, that is, you know how to look for it.

The idea behind steady spiritual progress is to see every circumstance and situation (particularly those that challenge you) as a tailor-made lesson in your personal plan for self-development.

For example, in a situation where hurtful or angry words were exchanged, why not see it as a chance to perceive things about your own character which needs changing, or to rehearse some virtue or quality that you need to put into practice more often? Actually, we should be grateful for the opportunity to evaluate ourselves.

In this way you can transform anything into a constructive lesson. Never think that you've learned enough, and that you can now stop. You should love it when people try to correct you, or give you advice. It keeps you alert and gives you plenty of opportunity to put your truth into practice. It's a sign of great danger to be unable to accept criticism, and instead you use your understanding to criticize others. Realize Leeply the significance of every moment, and your spiritual progress will be assured.

Dadi Janki, Wings of soul. 1998 . published by Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. www.bkpublications.com

INSPIRING STORIES

The Flying V

When you see geese flying along in a V formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why it is they fly that way.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in the V formation, the whole flock adds at least twenty per cent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and a sense of continuity can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls from formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to do it alone. It then quickly gets back into the formation, so as to take advantage of the lifting power of one another. If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way as we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wings and another goose takes its place. It is sensible to take turns with long demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What messages do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally and this is most important when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out of formation with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group. If we have a sense of goose, we will stand by each like that. Author unknown

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