UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING REALITIESREALITIES OFOF

LIFELIFE

A presentation byKamaluddin Ali Muhammad

Aga Khan university 15-10-2008

BODY, MIND AND SOULBODY, MIND AND SOUL

Human being is not only body but a Human being is not only body but a combination of body, mind and combination of body, mind and soul.soul.

Health and sickness of body, mind Health and sickness of body, mind and soul.and soul.

SDD (Spiritual Deficiency SDD (Spiritual Deficiency Syndrome).Syndrome).

Psychosomatic diseases.Psychosomatic diseases.

WE ARE SPIRITUAL WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGSBEINGS

We are not physical beings We are not physical beings having some spiritual having some spiritual experience but we are spiritual experience but we are spiritual beings passing through a beings passing through a temporal experience.temporal experience.

OUTER WORLD IS BASED OUTER WORLD IS BASED ON INNER WORLD ON INNER WORLD

Our external world (body) is based Our external world (body) is based on our internal world (spirit).on our internal world (spirit).

Body is based on soul.Body is based on soul. Language is based on meaning.Language is based on meaning. Our actions are based on thoughts.Our actions are based on thoughts. Our actual life is the life of thoughts.Our actual life is the life of thoughts. Intensity of a problem depends on Intensity of a problem depends on

our reaction to it.our reaction to it.

LOOKING INWARDLOOKING INWARD

There are many simple facts of life There are many simple facts of life which teach us the meaning of life which teach us the meaning of life but we are too busy looking outward but we are too busy looking outward failing to look inward.failing to look inward.

He who looks outward is asleep. He He who looks outward is asleep. He who looks inwards is awake.who looks inwards is awake.

HAPPINESS COMES HAPPINESS COMES FROM WITHINFROM WITHIN

The doors of happiness and The doors of happiness and satisfaction open inward and not satisfaction open inward and not outward.outward.

Happiness is a byproduct and it Happiness is a byproduct and it comes to those who don't seek it.comes to those who don't seek it.

Don't run after recognition. Let it Don't run after recognition. Let it follow you.follow you.

FIVE GOLDEN FIVE GOLDEN PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

If you like something, and it is good If you like something, and it is good and ethical, enjoy it.and ethical, enjoy it.

If you don't like something, avoid it.If you don't like something, avoid it. If you can't avoid it, change it.If you can't avoid it, change it. If you can't change it, accept it.If you can't change it, accept it. Accept it by changing your attitude Accept it by changing your attitude

towards it.towards it.

THE SERENITY PRAYERTHE SERENITY PRAYER

"God, grant me the serenity to accept "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.“wisdom to know the difference.“Reinhold Niebuhr's so-called Serenity Reinhold Niebuhr's so-called Serenity PrayerPrayer

Knowing the difference is the most Knowing the difference is the most difficult part.difficult part.

LESSONS FROM LIFE LESSONS FROM LIFE

Life is like a university, (but) we all Life is like a university, (but) we all have our own individual curriculum. have our own individual curriculum.

God does not create copies. His each God does not create copies. His each creation is unique and full of wisdom. creation is unique and full of wisdom. It is foolish to compare.It is foolish to compare.

Life is full of wisdom. Perspective is Life is full of wisdom. Perspective is important. Example of embroidery.important. Example of embroidery.

Life is not fair but God is good.Life is not fair but God is good.

WISDOM OF CRISISWISDOM OF CRISIS

Adversities are teachers.Adversities are teachers. Blessing come in disguise.Blessing come in disguise. When things are good we live a When things are good we live a

superficial life. When times are superficial life. When times are difficult, we go into introspection, difficult, we go into introspection, reflection, thinking and learning. reflection, thinking and learning. Respect the crises.Respect the crises.

Language of God is different.Language of God is different.

BE TRUE TO YOURSELFBE TRUE TO YOURSELF

To your own self be true. No To your own self be true. No compromise on integrity.compromise on integrity. (Example of (Example of nurse)nurse)

Don’t try to be someone else.Don’t try to be someone else. No integrity gap between self and ego.No integrity gap between self and ego. All my life I wanted to be somebody,All my life I wanted to be somebody,

Now, I am finally somebody....but it Now, I am finally somebody....but it isn't me.isn't me.

CHARACTER VS CHARACTER VS REPUTATIONREPUTATION

Focus on your character rather than Focus on your character rather than on reputation. on reputation.

Action speaks louder than the words.Action speaks louder than the words. What others think of you is their What others think of you is their

problem not yours.problem not yours. Keep the whole picture of life before Keep the whole picture of life before

you and not just one episode.you and not just one episode.

SHARINGSHARING

Miracle of sharing.Miracle of sharing. Exhaling and inhaling. Closed fist.Exhaling and inhaling. Closed fist. Law of giving and receiving.Law of giving and receiving. Give the world the best you have Give the world the best you have

and the best will come back to you.and the best will come back to you.

FIVE WAYS TO FIVE WAYS TO HAPPINESSHAPPINESS

Avoid worryAvoid worry Avoid hate/envyAvoid hate/envy Live simplyLive simply Give moreGive more Expect lessExpect less

CONTENTMENT AND CONTENTMENT AND ACCEPTANCEACCEPTANCE

ContentmentContentment AcceptanceAcceptance Enlightenment is "the quiet Enlightenment is "the quiet

acceptance of what is." acceptance of what is." Truly enlightened beings are those Truly enlightened beings are those

who refuse to allow themselves to be who refuse to allow themselves to be distressed over things that simply distressed over things that simply are the way they are.are the way they are.

GRATITUDEGRATITUDE

Live a life full of gratitude. Live a life full of gratitude. Be thankful for what you have rather Be thankful for what you have rather

than complain for what you don’t.than complain for what you don’t. Count your blessings.Count your blessings.

STAY CONNECTED WITH STAY CONNECTED WITH SELFSELF

Practice silence and solitude. Stay Practice silence and solitude. Stay connected with the source of being .connected with the source of being .

All men's miseries come from not All men's miseries come from not being able to sit quietly in a room being able to sit quietly in a room alone.alone.

Listen to the voice of intuition, it’s Listen to the voice of intuition, it’s the voice of God within us.the voice of God within us.

Avoid materialistic lifestyle.Avoid materialistic lifestyle.

NO SELF PITYNO SELF PITY

Don't regret, don't carry guilty feeling.Don't regret, don't carry guilty feeling. Forgive yourself before forgiving others. Forgive yourself before forgiving others.

No one is perfect in this world.No one is perfect in this world. The blessing of forgetting. The blessing of forgetting. Don't carry ugly memories. Enjoy the Don't carry ugly memories. Enjoy the

pleasant ones.pleasant ones.

PRAYER POWERPRAYER POWER

Never forget power of prayer.Never forget power of prayer. Stay connected with the source of Stay connected with the source of

power in the universe.power in the universe. When you pray, be prepared for the When you pray, be prepared for the

unexpected.unexpected. This is not what I prayed for; but it is This is not what I prayed for; but it is

much better.much better. We can’t understand the language of We can’t understand the language of

God.God.

PERSONAL HUMILITYPERSONAL HUMILITY

A central element in a truly religious A central element in a truly religious outlook, it seems to me, is the quality of outlook, it seems to me, is the quality of personal humility-a recognition that personal humility-a recognition that strive as we might, we will still fall short strive as we might, we will still fall short of our ideals, that climb as we might, of our ideals, that climb as we might, there will still be unexplored and there will still be unexplored and mysterious peaks above us. It means mysterious peaks above us. It means recognizing our own creature hood-and recognizing our own creature hood-and thus our human limitations.”thus our human limitations.”(His Highness the Aga Khan, Evora, (His Highness the Aga Khan, Evora, Spain,12-02-2006)Spain,12-02-2006)

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THANKSTHANKSSpecial thanks toSpecial thanks to

Mr. Amir Ali Kasim Ali Mr. Amir Ali Kasim Ali

(HRD, Itreb for (HRD, Itreb for Pakistan) for his help Pakistan) for his help

in preparing the in preparing the presentationpresentation