Speaking Tree | TOI | May 8, 2011

The main reason for negativity is our complex. People suffer from all kinds of complexes, such as prejudice and envy. Free yourself of these feelings and you will be able to come up with a positive response in all kinds of situations. A negative reaction is an emotional reaction, while a positive response is a rational response. A negative response pulls you down, while a positive response produces healthy results.

A: Objective thinking arouses universal approach. The more objectively a person thinks the more universal he becomes. Normally people think subjectively and are not able to think keeping the entire humanity in mind. They restrict themselves to their family, society and community. Each person therefore must introspect and get to know whether he has a self-centered or a universal approach. A man can get to know this himself and can also work on it himself.

A: This is a matter of law of nature. Studies in psychology reveal that if something happens that makes man lose his sanity, his mind will stop working and he would fall prey to negative thinking. Till the time man has sanity, sincerity and seriousness, his mind works fine.

My formula is, 'Save yourself.' This is the only formula and there is no other formula. This has been given in the Hadith,

Alaika nafsat (Baihaqi)

Save yourself.

A: Self-respect is not a quality; it is a beautiful name of arrogance. The most important quality of man is modesty.

Spirituality is not something mysterious. According to my experience, spirituality is a mind based discipline rather than a heart based discipline. According to this definition, it is contemplation rather than meditation that leads to acquiring true spiritual knowledge.

By referring to it as 'intellectual development,' I merely use a new word for 'tazkia.' God created man with unlimited capacity, but this capacity, which is a gift of nature, is in the form of potential. Man needs to turn this potential into actuality by thinking, reflecting and contemplating. When faced with situations, the natural process within man gets activated and leads to intellectual development.

A: Religion is not a matter of rituals. It is a higher form of intellectual activities. Religion develops and engages your mind towards development. Why would you want to limit this?

This is distraction that thinking sets out on a different pattern. Quran clearly says that children are a problem whereas you claim that it is a blessing. Nowhere does the Quran say that children are a blessing! People have developed self-styled notions and say that it is religion. Distraction is anything, which takes your attention away from your goal (God-orientedness and realization of God).

Speaking Tree | TOI | October 31, 2010

Adopt a simple life style. A simple life leads to spiritual development. A simple life style means saving yourself from unnecessary distractions. These distractions come In the way of spirituality.