Every day we’re faced with dozens of choices. Some are large ones requiring thoughtful decisions, but many are so small they never even register on a conscious level, but come more as feelings and reactions. In all of these choices, be they mental or emotional, there is an option that expands and lifts us, and one that contracts us into greater self-centeredness.
When our reactive processes get aroused, they block our ability to make any choice, let alone the right one. At these times the best strategy is to do a reset: take a few deep breaths, step away from the problem for a bit, or even get a night’s sleep.
Yesterday I was trying to finish a project when my printer stopped working. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get it to print even a single page. After an hour I was frustrated and irritated—the reactive processes were in full control—and I gave up temporarily. This morning, having a good night’s sleep to do a reset, I did just that with the printer: I reset it to the factory settings. It worked perfectly!
This simple mundane example illustrates a three-step process for making the right decision. First, get centered. Next, use your mind and intuition to look for a solution. Finally, listen calmly, because the solution is already there waiting for you.
When interacting with others, doing the right thing can be expressed in the words of Jesus, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This advice is so fundamental to right action that a variation of it appears in all of the world’s religions and paths. We were recently sent a touching story of this principle in action:
Shay had not developed quite normally. One day he and his father walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked: “Do you think they will let me play?” Even though Shay’s father knew that most boys wouldn’t want him on their team, he approached one of the boys and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, “We are losing by six runs, and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team, and I’ll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning.”
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team had scored several times, and now with two outs and bases loaded, the potential tying runs were on base. Shay was up next, but would the team actually let him bat? Surprisingly, Shay was allowed to play, even though everyone knew that he didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved forward a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least try to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher came another few steps closer to toss the ball even more softly. This time Shay hit a slow grounder back to the pitcher, who could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and the game over.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball in a high arc over the head of his teammate. Everyone started to yell: “Shay, run to first! Run to first!” Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. “Run to second, run to second!” they shouted. By the time Shay rounded first base, the player had the ball and could have thrown him out. But he understood the pitcher’s intentions, so he threw the ball high, over the second baseman’s head. As Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him and turned him in the direction of third base, shouting, “Run to third!” As Shay rounded third base, the boys from both teams were screaming, “Shay, run home!” Shay ran home, stepped on home plate, and was cheered as the hero, for hitting a “grand slam” and winning the game for his team.
When anyone, especially a child, acts selflessly, it plucks the strings of our heart and soul. Doing the right thing kindles the light of God, which spreads in ever-expanding circles, touching all those around us. Yet Paramhansa Yogananda reminds us, “The only one who does good is God. It is His world. If you give everything—both good and bad actions—to Him, you will be surprised to see how all your actions will be changed to good. You will not be able to do anything wrong when the consciousness of God is with you.”
Day by day, hour by hour, let’s try our best to do the right thing. If we act with calmness, kindness, and goodwill, then God will take care of the rest.
In God’s light,
Nayaswami Jyotish
Listen to Jyotish as he first reads the blog, then expands on its meaning and messages for readers with behind-the-blog commentary. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (8:39):
27 Comments
Thank you Nayaswami Jyotish 🙏
Thank you Jyotishji! Greetings from Ananda NZ where we just concluded a Kriya ceremony. May the light of calmness, kindness, and goodwill spread to all lands!
❤️❤️❤️
How touching and beautiful. The world can be collapsing but with those gems of kindness I will see the beauty this world has to offer. How fantastic to be brave enough to act in such a kind way not worrying what others might thing and their judgments, but always doing the right thing. God bless you Jyotish and us all.
Grazie di cuore ,la gentilezza è la via giusta per connettersi col bene
Such a touching story that beautifully illustrates the point. Jai Guru!
A touching story that beautifully illustrates the point. Jai Guru!
🙏 Thank you!
Heart-warming
This made me cry! A similar experience happened to our autistic daughter a few years ago. She was invited, as part of her choir group, to a teenager’s fall barbeque – her first invitation ever to anyone’s party. My husband and I chaperoned. We were both nervous, after what we had seen in years of bullies in elementary and middle school-aged kids. There were about 75 kids there, all involved in their groups and cliques. A few were starting up a volleyball game and our daughter wanted to play. She had never done so before and we were sure it was going to be a disaster. I said a silent prayer to Master Yogananda to help her. To our great surprise, a few of the teens showed her how to play, and then others joined in, coaching her and cheering loudly when she hit the volleyball. Eventually, she actually was playing correctly, amid the encouraging cheers of her choir mates. And when she peed her pants out of excitement, no one said a word. My husband and I cried with relief and joy. It really helped to restore our faith in the kindness of others.
Such a touching story it brought tears to my eyes and such good reminders as we step into another day on this earth. Thank you!
Jyotish, You never miss the mark. May God and Guru continue to bless you.
Thank you Jotish, this story is wonderful.
God is always with us.
Profound. I have many memories from my long and undistinguished career as an untalented athlete. Sports training is just one question after another. Always when I did the right thing, even when it might be strongly in conflict with my emotions, I ended the session feeling energized, expansive, and filled with joy. The still, small feelings of the heart were my sure guide. I discovered over the years that the heart is Grand Central Station for many wonderful things: for the wisdom of the body – and if we call upon it, the wisdom of Spirit which always has our best interests uppermost at heart.
Beautiful story, thank you.
What a beautiful story.. it touched my heart. I have a child with Down syndrome .. we have challenges a bit like this even though he is going very well.. a little kindness goes a long way to help us all .. blessings Raine
Blessings and gratitude dear soul. I have experienced very much the same process many times and with Master’s Grace, received the help to back off and remember who is in charge. The results have always been positive when I get out of the way. Namaste
This was so VERY apropos in relation to what my sister and I have been going through with our mother. It fit so perfectly. Thank you
Thank you. A very beautiful story… all that you shared.
Thank you. Calm, and right, and just what we need. When children get IT and move in the force of doing, and loving, its wonderfulness, lit up, lovely.
Calmness, kindness, and goodwill. It was just the message I needed to help me navigate a difficult time in a compassionate way. Thank you so much.
Such a beautiful touching story – had tears in my eyes reading it. Thank you for sharing dearest Jyotish Ji and for the teaching in this wonderful blog. what powerful and compassionate words from Jesus and Master. Love the perfect ending “If we act with calmness, kindness, and goodwill, then God will take care of the rest.” Thank you dearest Ji, both of you, for uplifting us each time through these posts (and through all the countless ways you reach out to us and support our growth in this Spiritual Path). God Gurus and Swamiji bless you both abundantly.
Dear Nayaswami Jyotish Ji,
Thank you for this blog and the wonderful story.
Very helpful and this line in particular is really important and a useful reminder – listen calmly, because the solution is already there waiting for you…
And this is a very nice guideline too – If we act with calmness, kindness, and goodwill, then God will take care of the rest.
Joy,
Prem
Perfectly and beautifully inspiring! Thank you!
Its a nice story and lesson.
OMG. I just had this same problem some days ago. I was trying to do something with technology, and I wasn’t going anywhere. I was very frustrated. And it was time for my energization. So I forced myself to leave the technology aside and do my practice.
It was at the end of energization when my mind was calm that the solution came! I used the idea, and it worked!
The story of kindness to the frail kid brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you, Jyotish, for the inspiration.😇
Thank you so much for the beautiful story. This is really oneness of self and its environment.