Festival of Raksha Bandhan: A celebration of brotherhood

Our vision is broadened to the entire earth as one family under the Fatherhood of God.
By SISTER CHIRYA
For The Pennysaver

The beautiful Festival of Raksha Bandhan, is a memorial of a time when humanity was united by having a loving relationship with God that protected and uplifted them and created a heavenly renewed world.
After a few thousand years the present era has modernized and limited this festival to relationships within the nuclear family, where sisters lovingly tie the threads of beautiful hand made ‘bracelets’, called

Rakhis, around the wrist of their brothers to honor, protect and pray for their well-being. The brother, in turn, promises to protect the dignity and honor of his sister and family. To date the customs and lessons demonstrated in this special celebration have kept the family strong, functional and united. Family members remain close knit as it strengthens the bonding, respect, caring, trust and love amongst them.

Currently, all religions and over 100 countries value and celebrate this festival. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon; the date this year is August 28. When I am tied with this
sacred thread of protection, the rakhi, I promise to stay in my original nature of peace, love, purity, wisdom, mercy. I remember to see myself as a soul with a body, rather than a body with a brain!!

Through the daily practice of meditation, we create and fill ourselves with pure feelings. This practice enables us to channel our thoughts in a positive direction and put a full stop to wasteful and negative body conscious thoughts. It creates purity of mind and brings happiness, wisdom and the power to keep on giving. My every thought, word and action becomes one having good wishes, which work as my protection and stay with me forever!

Now, with soul conscious knowledge, we see others as being a child of God and part of our spiritual family. This unlimited vision of universal brotherhood breaks all barriers of caste, creed, age, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, color and personality traits. It shows us what relationships should be like, characterized by love, respect, kindness and empathy. Our vision is broadened to the entire earth as one family under the Fatherhood of God. In these times of potential and possibly deadly changes, the Supreme Father is bound to look after us. God is surrounding and tying an ‘unlimited rakhi’ on his loving spiritual children with golden strings of pure love and light !! Each time we meditate we can experience being tied and surrounded with God’s subtle ever present and loving bracelet ‘rakhi’ of light and might!

My pure thoughts and actions ensure I receive blessings from God, my loving spiritual Father. I also receive good wishes from all souls, my brothers, and from my global family. Together these work as my protection and stay with me forever.

All branches of the BRAHMA KUMARIS (Brahmakumaris.org) (bkwsu.org) world-wide, will be holding Raksha Bandhan programs. Call Peace Village Retreat Center located near Hunter Mt at 518-589-5000 for details. Contact: Chirya Yvonne Risely at bkchirya@gmail.com – chirya.risely@peacevillageretreat.org.