Living Our Values Book Launch with Dadi Janki – 22.5.13 – GCH, London

The evening started with an inspiring song by Minal Patel, ‘We are full of wonder’. John McConnel, the MC, welcomed the gathering of invited guests who work with the BKs in many different service areas.

John started by asking everyone to reflect during a minute of silence what their own inner values meant to them and then share their thoughts with their neighbour.

Christine Bell read short excerpts from the book from the chapters on respect, respect and humility and respect and nature, followed by a moment of silence to absorb these. There then followed a panel discussion with Jackee Holder, an interfaith minister, coach and author who has been closely involved in BK Spirit of Coaching events ,Ken O’Donnell (RC, Brahma Kumaris, South America), Letchu Ramatha (NC, Brahma Kumaris, Malaysia), chaired by John.

Why are values so important?

Letchu: The environment is full of concentrated negativity, which penetrates and so we need values to remain positive and forward looking, no matter what is happening outside
Jackee: Values is a word used a lot in coaching. It’s about my core; I’m empty without values. I cannot see myself or see you if I’m not connected to my values. In my work, people often hide or do not uphold their values in a group but they come to life when we’re one–to–one. Values are a spiritual compass. They allow us to be ourselves in the world.
Ken: Values are an expression of what we naturally are. Because we don’t believe we are valuable, we can’t express them. If there are no values in a relationship, it’s like driving a car without shock absorbers. He gave the example of offering a group of people a $50 dollar note and crumpling it, stamping on it, tearing it up but it still keeps its value.

Your most important value and why?

Jackee: The most important value for where I am now in all areas of my life is respect. I recommit this evening to what respect actually means.
Letchu: I have to love myself. If I am unable to do this I will not respect myself and will look at negative traits. If I see positivity in myself, I see it in others and in the world around me.
Ken: If something is natural for us we probably won’t recognise it. The favourite one is probably the one we have to do some work on. Mine is harmony – not the game when one is afraid and the other arrogant. Knowing my value and knowing yours enables us to harmonise.

What value does the world need the most at this time?

Ken: Understanding. To understand the consequences of what we do, say and think is the key to any change. Who am I, what am I doing, why do I do what I do, etc? In relationships I need to understand every single person I interact with and accept that they are they and I am me; to speak to understand, not speak to be understood.
It’s not about one value. If you come with peace, happiness and honesty or any of the values, they will all meet. Each of them in each of us allows us to be visible, to be understood.
Responsibility. We talk a lot about this but we haven’t taken full responsibility, blaming others instead. We all have to do this together – this is the responsibility of all citizens of the world.

The audience were asked to think about one value they particularly treasure, which is helping them in their lives and share with another. Lively conversations followed and John noted how just talking about values makes us feel good!

Dadi Janki

Dadi asked John what his value was. He chose love. Dadi: Love cannot work without honesty and truth. I need to know that I am that – I am truth. John saw in Dadi a love for truth, an overwhelming love for God and being an unlimited instrument.

With silence we can have understanding. In silence we can receive power and understand I am an embodiment of peace. Then all unnecessary thoughts finish. Through inner silence I can serve myself, others I’m connected with, and the world. I experience peace, receive power from the One above and with this I am aware what I have to do now. Not that: ‘This one should do this’ or ‘I should be doing this but am not able to do it.’

Values are the foundation for everything. What do I need to do now? Now I’ve received the power of peace, I’ve become light and do everything with that lightness, I can move along easily and hold the understanding and wisdom of how to do everything.

I once wrote down what values should I have in my life – there were 64. It felt so good just thinking about them. Baba asked me to shorten the list to 36. I then was asked to reduce the list to 12.

The Million Minutes of Peace project was followed by Global Co-operation for a Better World. I was experiencing within my life such minutes of peace, not just the project. The project was successful and so what next? How to give co-operation to the whole world? There’s ‘yogi’ (connected) and ‘sahayogi ‘(co-operative) – if you’re connected to the One above, you’re able to co-operate. In yoga I develop love for myself and I can see the value of co-operation; to give co-operation to the world first and then the world becomes cooperative. As a result today we’re sitting in Global Co-operation House! So, what next?

The deeper you go into these values, the more valuable your life becomes, the higher quality your thoughts, the more valuably your time is used and you experience such happiness. Happiness is also a value. There should never be a moment in my life when I’m not happy. How to remain happy? We have to look inside, not superficially – deeply, and see there is nothing there but peace, power and love. The foundation of all of these is truth. Peace within the self, power from above, love with everyone. When you speak with honesty, you come from the heart and touch the heart. Check: is my heart clean? Check there’s no jealousy or conflict with anyone – nothing that makes my heart unclean. When I have courage, God helps. It happens with a clean heart. I receive so much help from God. The Lord is pleased when I have an honest heart. First I have to have that relationship with Him.

Dadi doesn’t need anything, doesn’t do anything. This is humility. Keep the heart clean and see yourself as a detached observer. With honesty you receive God’s help and God’s power– that has been my experience. God’s power reaches everywhere in the world. I never dreamed I have the opportunity to serve the whole world. Brothers and sisters have been instruments to invite me there. Courage has also helped a great deal. When you have an honest heart your thoughts become practical. Realisation finishes all falsehood and artificiality within and you can then make a real shift in your life.

Dadi needs an accountant to count how much happiness she has! Happiness is a treasure and it’s nourishment. The more you share, the more it increases. The Bestower gives to me – yet I’ve never actually asked Him for anything. We don’t have to ask the Bestower for blessings; we just continue to receive them and the more we share, the more they increase. This is the incognito help I receive from the Supreme Father. He says: You continue to do what you do and I will continue to help.

Dadi asked if anyone received an inspiration to do something practically in your life? (Many raised their hands). When you do something practically, God helps a great deal and you experience a lot of happiness. So many speak of values but who is putting them into practice? People want practical examples now and the world will definitely see them now.

Sister Jasu, who had been translating for Dadi, then took everyone into a powerful awareness of their own truth which is one full of love, peace and happiness and in connecting with The Truth, the One beyond who is helping us all now to move towards a state of living in the truth.

Sister Jayanti introduced the Living Our Values book, giving a little more background to the BK international values projects to date. Global Co-operation for a Better World proved that values are universal. The dignity of the human being depends on their values.The first nine values were universally agreed. For the last three there were some different ideas. The book is for individuals, organisations, communities, families and schools – how to develop values within their particular situation. The 12 values are: Cooperation, freedom, happiness, honesty, humility, love, peace, respect, responsibility – and then simplicity, tolerance and unity. Connecting with and experiencing these inner values and expressing these in our lives we’ll definitely create a better space to live in every day and definitely a better world. Pointing to the image of the point of light radiating out of a box on the book cover, Sister Jayanti explained that this who we are and when we are truly shining we can shine and go beyond the limitations that come to challenge us in life.

Sister Jayanti and Sister Jaymini then presented the book to Dadi, who held it to her heart.

Dadi then shared toli, a blessing and a special card with all .

Om shanti

–

God Has Arrived

Dadi Jankiji in UK

It’s been a very beautiful experience to seeing Dadi being interviewed on different topics in different situations.  When Dadi was in Germany (14-15 May), she was interviewed by Sister Patriczia with 15 questions.

Yesterday evening, Dadi was interviewed by Sunil Mohan and his questions were about courage and faith in these unsettled times.

Each day Dadi has been given different topics with different audiences and it’s wonderful how Baba uses this instrument to share new concepts and ideas continually.

Yesterday evening apart from the Interview, the main purpose of the evening was a presentation for an award of life long service to humanity by the Sindhi Association in the UK to Dadi.  They had decided to honour Dadi with this and a gathering of over 200 Sindhis and a few others took place.  It was very beautiful to witness peoples whose grandparents who had been part of the anti party and now turning 180 degrees around and honouring Dadi and sharing very beautiful statements about her.  Sunil spoke of how Dadi had sustained four generations of his family.  It was a very warm and loving gathering with all the main personality from the community present.

Currently we have a couple from Poland who are Sindhi and they have given their house to Baba rent free since the sisters there are having trouble with accommodation.  So they have come especially to meet Dadi and also be part of this gathering.

16 May Dadi has a programme at the Zorastrain Centre in Harrow which is being organised by Maheshbhai and Alkaben together with GCH. This will cater to all the Bharatwasis in Harrow, Wembley and surrounding areas.

Dadi is enjoying herself playing with the jewels of knowledge together with nourishing, sustaining and entertaining everyone and we are all enjoying the gifts Baba is giving.

Lots of loving good wishes.

In Baba’s yaad,

LONDON FAMILY