Negative People

 When we live in this world, we do find people with harmful emotions. People who are negative are quite common. I as a woman in India, have found gossiping  a common trait among women. Men gossip too, but from my experience, their pre occupation with their work and other responsibilities, reduces the amount of time they gossip. For women on the other hand, gossiping seems to be their main occupation. It has a strange attraction. But gossiping can be very harmful to the mind and the soul. 

I took a trip with friends recently and found that there was a lower consciousness that becomes apparent as we spent a few days together. Having been in isolation with covid, teaching online,  meditating, and keeping the company of only spiritual people, I did not realize how the environment can have such a toxic influence on us. Every time I talk to worldly people I find the tendency towards gossip, jealousy, criticism, judgement and negativity. 

In general human minds are selfish and self pre occupied.

Helping and serving other, returning love for hate, exercising regularly and meditating I find are helpful. It always helps to avoid toxic people .

Gossip has a powerful energy of its own, breaking relationships and good will.  

My contact with a saintly person showed me how it is possible to live one's life. 

Yogananda said, “Environment is stronger than will (power).” He also said that  “Thoughts are universally, not individually, rooted.” A very important thing however is, the influences we are OPEN to. lination will find that an environment of gossip doesn’t attract them. 

If one is surrounded by material, aggressive, petty, worldly people and we are OPEN to their influence, then the law of magnetism does work and allowing it to affect us, especially when our aura is weak. 

So, it is important to keep our aura strong. through meditation,  and other techniques. Chanting "Aum Guru" all the time, helps. Thinking of the Guru and praying. Also surrounding ourselves with pictures of the Gurus,  Or one can keep a strong affirmations such as "I love only thee". Affirmations too can be a source of aura-strengthening and protection. Repeating throughout the day affirmations and prayers is vital.

Swami Kriyananda’s book,  Awaken to Superconsciousness, gives these excellent tips that we can follow to keep our aura strong and positive. 

• Avoid, as much as you can, contact with negative people and especially those with stronger magnetism than yours (at least in the arena of their negativity). This is obvious of course but should be stated. Do not imagine that you can change them just because of your goodwill and spiritual lifestyle! Be sensitive to the impact of such a person on your feelings. This counsel can even include not looking into the eyes of such a person (any more than necessary, at least) — not even shaking hands!
• Place your hands together and cross your thumbs one over the other forming a cross-shape with your two thumbs. Hold out in front of you and mentally picture anyone from whom you feel a psychic threat. See your “mudra” as reflecting back to that person any energy they are sending to you. (Not to harm them but to protect yourself.) Avoid dwelling on that person mentally.
• Before going to sleep, trace the letters of A…U….M…. on your pillow before sleeping.
• In standing position, stretch your arms in front of you chest-high, with palms facing inward to each other and touching; next spread the arms in opposite directions until they meet directly behind you. Thus swinging your arms in front and behind chant aloud or silent: AUM, TAT, SAT (this is the equivalent of Father, Son, Holy Ghost calling on God in the triune nature beyond creation, within creation and as creation). Do this as often as you feel to energize your aura which is your psychic protection shield.
• When feeling threatened, mentally or silently chant this mantra: Aum Hreeng Kleeng Krishnaya Namaha!

It is said that the world is a mirror of our thoughts and consciousness. The fact that we are aware of it and notice it means that it resonates in us. 

 Read these words of Yogananda’s and remember them all the time,  “Remember all the time that all conditions are neutral! It’s not what is happening to me that is important, but how I’m responding.”

Your lifestyle and your thoughts should be clean and uplifted. Avoid dark entertainment, including intense images of violence or sex. Exercise regularly and have a nutritious, wholesome diet. Be attentive to the needs of others around you and be helpful whenever you can. Enjoy uplifting music. Your clothes should be neat and clean. Bathe daily. All of these simple aspects of life can help keep your aura bright and clean. Devotion, finally, is the best cleanser!

Joy to you All!