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"Never give up. Never ever give up. Why? Because just when you are about to give up is when things are about to turn around in a grand way. Hold on. Great things are waiting for you around the corner."
Sonia Ricotti
Monday, 16 July 2012
Friday, 13 July 2012
Multi-Sensory Learning
It has been said that on average we remember:
20% of what we read
30% of what we hear
40% of what we see
50% of what we say
60% of what we do
90% of what we read, hear, see, say and do, this is called multi-sensory learning.
20% of what we read
30% of what we hear
40% of what we see
50% of what we say
60% of what we do
90% of what we read, hear, see, say and do, this is called multi-sensory learning.
The Cookie Thief
There’s a nice poem by Valerie Cox circulating on the Internet about a woman who bought some cookies and a book at an airport and sat down to read and nibble while waiting for her plane. She soon noticed a man sitting next to her, who casually took a cookie from the bag.
Although shocked and seething, the woman remained silent as the man, without the slightest sign of shame or gratitude, quietly helped himself, matching her cookie for cookie.
When there was one cookie left, she watched in amazement as he picked it up, smiled at her as if he were being gracious, and broke it in half. He ate one half and gave her the other. Congratulating herself for maintaining her cool, she said nothing to this rude cookie thief, astonished at the nerve of some people.
Later, when she was settling into her seat on the plane, she rummaged through her purse and discovered the bag of cookies she’d purchased, still unopened. The moral message is contained in the poem’s closing stanza:
“If mine are here,” she moaned with despair,
“Then the others were his, and he tried to share.”
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.
Being sure is not the same as being right. Certainty without humility can lead to self-righteousness that distorts our view and understanding of the world and of people.
Humility doesn’t require us to be equivocal or doubtful about our deepest convictions. What it asks is that we hold and advocate our beliefs without dismissing the possibility that others may be right instead.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Although shocked and seething, the woman remained silent as the man, without the slightest sign of shame or gratitude, quietly helped himself, matching her cookie for cookie.
When there was one cookie left, she watched in amazement as he picked it up, smiled at her as if he were being gracious, and broke it in half. He ate one half and gave her the other. Congratulating herself for maintaining her cool, she said nothing to this rude cookie thief, astonished at the nerve of some people.
Later, when she was settling into her seat on the plane, she rummaged through her purse and discovered the bag of cookies she’d purchased, still unopened. The moral message is contained in the poem’s closing stanza:
“If mine are here,” she moaned with despair,
“Then the others were his, and he tried to share.”
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.
Being sure is not the same as being right. Certainty without humility can lead to self-righteousness that distorts our view and understanding of the world and of people.
Humility doesn’t require us to be equivocal or doubtful about our deepest convictions. What it asks is that we hold and advocate our beliefs without dismissing the possibility that others may be right instead.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
When anything happens...
"When anything happens in life, there's a 3-step approach to handling it:
1. It is what it is; accept it. It will either control you or you will control it.
2. Harvest the good; there's good in everything.
3. Forgive all the rest."
Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith
Founder of The Agape International Spiritual Center
1. It is what it is; accept it. It will either control you or you will control it.
2. Harvest the good; there's good in everything.
3. Forgive all the rest."
Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith
Founder of The Agape International Spiritual Center
Friday, 6 July 2012
Let It Be You
Each and every day, there are people all around the country and world who are living their dreams. Millionaires are made every day. Families are experiencing tremendous relationships. People are becoming more and more healthy. Lifelong learners are growing intellectually and improving their chances for success.
The fact is that living the life of your dreams is possible. People prove that every day. Someone somewhere is going to get rich, get healthy and improve their life. My recommendation is this: Let it be you!
Have you ever wanted to make more money? Have you ever looked at someone who has money and wished that it could be you? People think about getting wealthy all of the time, when only a small percentage actually does. But any of the masses could. Someone is going to start a business. Someone is going to make a great investment. Someone is going to begin the journey to great wealth. So why not let it be you?
Someone is going to decide to improve their relationships. Someone is going to enjoy love with their family. Someone is going to schedule some meaningful time with their friends. So why not let it be you?
Someone is going to go back to school to improve their life. Someone is going to become a lifelong learner. Someone is going to set a goal to read a book or listen to a CD each week for the next year. So why not let it be you?
Someone is going to look in the mirror and see that they need to lose a little weight and they will make the decision to become healthy. Someone will run their first marathon. Someone will join an aerobics class and improve their health. Why not let it be you?
I think that by now you get the point: Every day people are improving their lives. Whether you do or not doesn´t matter to those who do. They are going to do it, regardless. It is simply a matter of a decision being made. Let that person be you!
You may be asking, “Okay Jim, but how?” Well, let´s cover the very simple actions.
The first and most important is to make a commitment to work on yourself. Are you going to improve or stay the same? No matter what you have achieved, you are at a certain point right now. What you have achieved in the past is fine, but it doesn´t make a difference for the future. The decision about what you will become is made each day and every day. Each day someone is making the decision to better him or herself. Let that person be you!
The second is to make a plan. Once you have decided to become better you will have to have a plan. It doesn´t have to be a long, intricate plan. It can be simple. Save a dollar a day. Walk a mile a day. Read an article a day. That is a simple plan with achievable goals. Someone is going to develop a plan that will take them into the future of their dreams. Let it be you!
The third is to begin to act. All of the great ideas, without action, become stale and useless. The key to turning dreams into reality is action. People who have great ideas are a dime a dozen. People who act on their dreams and ideas are the select few, but they are the ones who gain the wealth and wisdom that is available. Someone will act today. Let it be you.
My encouragement to you is to stop looking at others who live the good life, wishing that you were as well, and instead begin to commit to your improvement, develop a plan and act on it. Someone is going to. Let it be you!
Jim Rohn
1930-2009, Author and Speaker
www.jimrohn.com
The fact is that living the life of your dreams is possible. People prove that every day. Someone somewhere is going to get rich, get healthy and improve their life. My recommendation is this: Let it be you!
Have you ever wanted to make more money? Have you ever looked at someone who has money and wished that it could be you? People think about getting wealthy all of the time, when only a small percentage actually does. But any of the masses could. Someone is going to start a business. Someone is going to make a great investment. Someone is going to begin the journey to great wealth. So why not let it be you?
Someone is going to decide to improve their relationships. Someone is going to enjoy love with their family. Someone is going to schedule some meaningful time with their friends. So why not let it be you?
Someone is going to go back to school to improve their life. Someone is going to become a lifelong learner. Someone is going to set a goal to read a book or listen to a CD each week for the next year. So why not let it be you?
Someone is going to look in the mirror and see that they need to lose a little weight and they will make the decision to become healthy. Someone will run their first marathon. Someone will join an aerobics class and improve their health. Why not let it be you?
I think that by now you get the point: Every day people are improving their lives. Whether you do or not doesn´t matter to those who do. They are going to do it, regardless. It is simply a matter of a decision being made. Let that person be you!
You may be asking, “Okay Jim, but how?” Well, let´s cover the very simple actions.
The first and most important is to make a commitment to work on yourself. Are you going to improve or stay the same? No matter what you have achieved, you are at a certain point right now. What you have achieved in the past is fine, but it doesn´t make a difference for the future. The decision about what you will become is made each day and every day. Each day someone is making the decision to better him or herself. Let that person be you!
The second is to make a plan. Once you have decided to become better you will have to have a plan. It doesn´t have to be a long, intricate plan. It can be simple. Save a dollar a day. Walk a mile a day. Read an article a day. That is a simple plan with achievable goals. Someone is going to develop a plan that will take them into the future of their dreams. Let it be you!
The third is to begin to act. All of the great ideas, without action, become stale and useless. The key to turning dreams into reality is action. People who have great ideas are a dime a dozen. People who act on their dreams and ideas are the select few, but they are the ones who gain the wealth and wisdom that is available. Someone will act today. Let it be you.
My encouragement to you is to stop looking at others who live the good life, wishing that you were as well, and instead begin to commit to your improvement, develop a plan and act on it. Someone is going to. Let it be you!
Jim Rohn
1930-2009, Author and Speaker
www.jimrohn.com
Saturday, 30 June 2012
The 24 Hour Perspective
Not long ago I woke up with a “brown” taste in my mouth and everything started to just go wrong! I remember thinking, “Why is everyone against me!” Then I stopped and thought, “Wait a minute! Not everyone is against me!”
I grabbed a note pad and started writing down the names of everyone that was openly resisting my efforts to just live in peace and joy. Three....That’s right - 3 people! Then I thought about how many people were “in favor” of me and supported me in some way. Double digits! Then I thought globally. Most people don’t even know I exist and out of the ones that do know me and have some interaction with me they remain involved in their own lives and are basically “neutral” toward me.
Then I started thinking about how out of ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE EARTH only 3 people resisted me and how much time did I spend a day interacting with these three people? On even the worst days I couldn’t think of more than a few minutes of actual interaction. So then I thought about ALL THE NEGATIVE ENCOUNTERS that I had in a single day. You know everything from the guy who cuts you off in traffic to the rude comment by someone I don’t even know. I was hard pressed on even the WORST day to find more than 5-15 minutes of actual interaction with unpleasant people a day!
This reality hit me with insight! There have been times when my 24 hour day has been ruined by 15 minutes (and in most cases less than 15 minutes) a day of actual interaction with negative people! How could that be possible? I survived the 15 minutes so why did this ruin my entire day? Even when I was “cussed” and “cursed” the words didn’t hurt me and the curses never came to pass. Everything that was spoken against me was a threat and did not manifest as a reality! How could something as false and “unreal” as a “threat” ruin my day?
The answer is simple. The threat got into my own thinking and contaminated my mind. People annoyed me for less than 15 minutes and I annoyed myself in my thinking for 23 hours 45 minutes or more a day and I ruined my day! Now I have learned to put my focus on the positives in my life and to be grateful for all that I have!
Life is all about choices. Is the glass half full or half empty? You decide…
Jami Sell
I grabbed a note pad and started writing down the names of everyone that was openly resisting my efforts to just live in peace and joy. Three....That’s right - 3 people! Then I thought about how many people were “in favor” of me and supported me in some way. Double digits! Then I thought globally. Most people don’t even know I exist and out of the ones that do know me and have some interaction with me they remain involved in their own lives and are basically “neutral” toward me.
Then I started thinking about how out of ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE EARTH only 3 people resisted me and how much time did I spend a day interacting with these three people? On even the worst days I couldn’t think of more than a few minutes of actual interaction. So then I thought about ALL THE NEGATIVE ENCOUNTERS that I had in a single day. You know everything from the guy who cuts you off in traffic to the rude comment by someone I don’t even know. I was hard pressed on even the WORST day to find more than 5-15 minutes of actual interaction with unpleasant people a day!
This reality hit me with insight! There have been times when my 24 hour day has been ruined by 15 minutes (and in most cases less than 15 minutes) a day of actual interaction with negative people! How could that be possible? I survived the 15 minutes so why did this ruin my entire day? Even when I was “cussed” and “cursed” the words didn’t hurt me and the curses never came to pass. Everything that was spoken against me was a threat and did not manifest as a reality! How could something as false and “unreal” as a “threat” ruin my day?
The answer is simple. The threat got into my own thinking and contaminated my mind. People annoyed me for less than 15 minutes and I annoyed myself in my thinking for 23 hours 45 minutes or more a day and I ruined my day! Now I have learned to put my focus on the positives in my life and to be grateful for all that I have!
Life is all about choices. Is the glass half full or half empty? You decide…
Jami Sell
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The Best Dad
Years ago I heard a story of a dad named Paul who gave his young son a small chalkboard to practice writing on. One evening his son called out from the bedroom, “Dad, how do you spell best?”
Paul answered him. Moments later, the boy hollered, “How do you spell kid?”
Finally he asked, “How do you spell ever?”
When the boy showed him what he’d written on the chalkboard, Paul expected to see “I’m the best kid ever.” Instead, the boy beamed as Paul read the message: “You’re the best dad a kid can ever have.”
Paul recalled that it was one of the best days of his life. In fact, he had to buy his son another chalkboard because he wanted to save this message forever and hang it on his wall. It’s still there.
Feeling appreciated is enormously important to adults as well as children. So much so that we often don’t think enough about what we’d most like to be appreciated for.
Being appreciated at work is a big deal. Who doesn’t want approval and respect from one’s boss and coworkers? Beyond the economic value of raises, promotions, and commendations, praise can be gratifying and motivating. That’s why good employers look for opportunities to acknowledge and thank employees for their contributions.
Yet as meaningful as work recognition is, if you could choose between winning your child’s “Best Mom/Dad a Kid Can Ever Have” award and being named “Best Employee,” which would you choose?
The point is not to belittle the pursuit of approval in your business life but to remind you how much more meaningful it is to know you’re important to and appreciated by the people who love and need you the most. Your most important job in life is to be worthy of that appreciation.
Being the “best ever” mom or dad, husband or wife, or friend – it doesn’t get any better than that.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Paul answered him. Moments later, the boy hollered, “How do you spell kid?”
Finally he asked, “How do you spell ever?”
When the boy showed him what he’d written on the chalkboard, Paul expected to see “I’m the best kid ever.” Instead, the boy beamed as Paul read the message: “You’re the best dad a kid can ever have.”
Paul recalled that it was one of the best days of his life. In fact, he had to buy his son another chalkboard because he wanted to save this message forever and hang it on his wall. It’s still there.
Feeling appreciated is enormously important to adults as well as children. So much so that we often don’t think enough about what we’d most like to be appreciated for.
Being appreciated at work is a big deal. Who doesn’t want approval and respect from one’s boss and coworkers? Beyond the economic value of raises, promotions, and commendations, praise can be gratifying and motivating. That’s why good employers look for opportunities to acknowledge and thank employees for their contributions.
Yet as meaningful as work recognition is, if you could choose between winning your child’s “Best Mom/Dad a Kid Can Ever Have” award and being named “Best Employee,” which would you choose?
The point is not to belittle the pursuit of approval in your business life but to remind you how much more meaningful it is to know you’re important to and appreciated by the people who love and need you the most. Your most important job in life is to be worthy of that appreciation.
Being the “best ever” mom or dad, husband or wife, or friend – it doesn’t get any better than that.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Thoughts & Statements...
"Remember, the thoughts that you think and the statements you make regarding yourself determine your mental attitude. If you have a worthwhile objective, find the one reason why you can achieve it rather than hundreds of reasons why you can't."
Napoleon Hill
1883-1970
Napoleon Hill
1883-1970
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Want more?..
"Be thankful for what you have, you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never ever have enough."
Oprah Winfrey
Talk Show Host, Producer and Philanthropist
Oprah Winfrey
Talk Show Host, Producer and Philanthropist
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Believe Big...
"When you affirm big, believe big, and pray big, big things happen."
Norman Vincent Peale
1898-1993, Minister and Author
Norman Vincent Peale
1898-1993, Minister and Author
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
It Must Be Raining
The images flash across my television screen as I sit there in the comfort of my home.
"It's that time of year again," I thought to myself.
Then realizing how foolish that was to say, I sat up in my chair and watched closer.
The news reporter was telling the story of one of many food banks in our area that were serving those in need of the basics for the holidays.
This particular place had both food and clothing. Food for the body and warm second hand coats for children.
"It's that time of year again," replayed in my mind.
I meant that throughout the holidays we see such reports over and over, unlike the other 11 months when the same people are hungry, in need of clothing, basic services and a little help with life.
Maybe I said it because I was becoming numb to it all, like watching the same commercials a hundred times.
I was about to feel the real impact of it all.
I was sitting at the counter having breakfast at a local diner the next day.
It's a small "quaint" place. Local people, husband and wife cook and serve.
A man walked in and sat next to me. There is little elbow-room as it is and he was a big fellow.
On top of the milk dispenser is a small television placed there for both the customers enjoyment and the owners when things get slow.
It just so happened that the news was on and once again that same report on the food bank.This time it included more information and a few interviews of some of the people who participated.
There was a little girl looking through the coats. The reporter asked her if she found something that fit.
She turned toward the camera and smiled. She flipped her soft brown hair up over the collar as she pulled and tugged at the front to make sure it would zipper properly.
"I like this store. Mommy said I could have any coat I wanted, but I'm getting this one for my friend. Her daddy won't come here. Mommy says he's too proud. Whatever that means. All I know is Mandy needs a coat."
Out of the corner of my eye I could see the man next to me lower his head. Without looking up he fumbled for a napkin and began to wipe his eyes.
"Incredibly sad, isn't it?" I said.
He didn't respond.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"Hey, don't feel bad, I've shed many tearsthrough the holidays for those who don't have nearly as much as I and I am in no way financially set for life," I told him.
"I'm a writer. I live on my dreams," I added.
He turned toward me. I could still see the dampness of tear filled eyes. He raised his hand to his chest and pointing at himself he said..."I'm Mandy's father. That's the first I've seen that. The little girl goes to school with my daughter."
Oh, my god! My chest tightened, my hands shook and I shared in his tears.
"It must be raining," he joked.
We spoke for a few more minutes about how he felt and what he needed to do. Turns out he's unemployed for more than a year now and doing odd jobs to pay bills.
We said our goodbyes and I approached the register.
I whispered that I wanted his check.
"He only gets coffee," she said.
"Well, here.This is for my meal, his coffee and tell him this is for Mandy. He'll understand."
Many years ago I spoke at my friend's church in Atlanta, The Ark of Salvation. A woman came up to me and said God told her to give me everything she had in her wallet.I was shaken by the thought and began to refuse it.Things were better for me back then. I couldn't justify what she offered.
God spoke to me as I listened to her explain.
"It isn't very much, but Godsaid that it would multiply. Please take it."
I did.I shared the story with Nathaniel Bronner, the pastor of the church and he smiled assuring me I did the right thing.
It was $57. I always carry it with me until this very day.I give it away and replace it. It has indeed multiplied many times.
God is an amazing God Who has never failed to replace that $57 each and every time I use it.
I turned to walk away and another man sitting at the counter grabbed my arm and said..."I overheard your conversation with that man. I'll help him, too."
He then wiped his eyes and said, "He's right. It must be raining."
Bob Perks
"It's that time of year again," I thought to myself.
Then realizing how foolish that was to say, I sat up in my chair and watched closer.
The news reporter was telling the story of one of many food banks in our area that were serving those in need of the basics for the holidays.
This particular place had both food and clothing. Food for the body and warm second hand coats for children.
"It's that time of year again," replayed in my mind.
I meant that throughout the holidays we see such reports over and over, unlike the other 11 months when the same people are hungry, in need of clothing, basic services and a little help with life.
Maybe I said it because I was becoming numb to it all, like watching the same commercials a hundred times.
I was about to feel the real impact of it all.
I was sitting at the counter having breakfast at a local diner the next day.
It's a small "quaint" place. Local people, husband and wife cook and serve.
A man walked in and sat next to me. There is little elbow-room as it is and he was a big fellow.
On top of the milk dispenser is a small television placed there for both the customers enjoyment and the owners when things get slow.
It just so happened that the news was on and once again that same report on the food bank.This time it included more information and a few interviews of some of the people who participated.
There was a little girl looking through the coats. The reporter asked her if she found something that fit.
She turned toward the camera and smiled. She flipped her soft brown hair up over the collar as she pulled and tugged at the front to make sure it would zipper properly.
"I like this store. Mommy said I could have any coat I wanted, but I'm getting this one for my friend. Her daddy won't come here. Mommy says he's too proud. Whatever that means. All I know is Mandy needs a coat."
Out of the corner of my eye I could see the man next to me lower his head. Without looking up he fumbled for a napkin and began to wipe his eyes.
"Incredibly sad, isn't it?" I said.
He didn't respond.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"Hey, don't feel bad, I've shed many tearsthrough the holidays for those who don't have nearly as much as I and I am in no way financially set for life," I told him.
"I'm a writer. I live on my dreams," I added.
He turned toward me. I could still see the dampness of tear filled eyes. He raised his hand to his chest and pointing at himself he said..."I'm Mandy's father. That's the first I've seen that. The little girl goes to school with my daughter."
Oh, my god! My chest tightened, my hands shook and I shared in his tears.
"It must be raining," he joked.
We spoke for a few more minutes about how he felt and what he needed to do. Turns out he's unemployed for more than a year now and doing odd jobs to pay bills.
We said our goodbyes and I approached the register.
I whispered that I wanted his check.
"He only gets coffee," she said.
"Well, here.This is for my meal, his coffee and tell him this is for Mandy. He'll understand."
Many years ago I spoke at my friend's church in Atlanta, The Ark of Salvation. A woman came up to me and said God told her to give me everything she had in her wallet.I was shaken by the thought and began to refuse it.Things were better for me back then. I couldn't justify what she offered.
God spoke to me as I listened to her explain.
"It isn't very much, but Godsaid that it would multiply. Please take it."
I did.I shared the story with Nathaniel Bronner, the pastor of the church and he smiled assuring me I did the right thing.
It was $57. I always carry it with me until this very day.I give it away and replace it. It has indeed multiplied many times.
God is an amazing God Who has never failed to replace that $57 each and every time I use it.
I turned to walk away and another man sitting at the counter grabbed my arm and said..."I overheard your conversation with that man. I'll help him, too."
He then wiped his eyes and said, "He's right. It must be raining."
Bob Perks
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Saakhi: Astaavakar and Raja Janak
Raja Janak - had a dream in which he was incredibly poor. He was being chased by a scary dog. He was exhausted running from this beast but was too poor to even have water and couldn't get water from anywhere. He woke suddenly and saw in front of him all the riches of kingship - stark contrast. He got a yearning to understand what that was all about and whether his poverty in dream was true or if his kingship and riches were true. He set a challenge to all of his kingdom that anyone who could satisfy his desire for this knowledge about the truth would be his Guru. All the rishis and pandits wanted to be his Guru because whoever was his Guru would effectively be able to control the King and therefore the kingdom. All of the rishis, pandits and mahapurakhs of the time turned up for the challenge.
However Raja Janak set a condition that he would put one foot in his horse's stirrup and that the person who wanted to be his Guru had to give him gyaan (satisfy his desire for true knowledge) in the time that it takes for him to put his leg over the horse and put his foot in the other stirrup. Anyone who failed to give him true knowledge in that time would be imprisoned for the rest of their lives.
On hearing this, all but 8 of the rishis, pandits and mahapurakhs withdrew from the challenge.
One by one the 8 remaining rishis took on the challenge but in the time it took Raja Janak to put his leg over the horse and get his foot in the stirrup they had hardly even begun to explain true knowledge and were all imprisoned.
Astaavakar was a boy of 12 yrs old. He had 8 different bends in his body so he walked really strangely and everybody used to laugh at him wherever he went. All his life he had been asking his mother who his father was. His mother had always said when you're older I'll tell you. Eventually at the age of 12 he insisted until his mother finally told him that his father was one of 8 rishis who had taken on the challenge of giving true knowledge to the king Raja Janak. She said his father was now imprisoned for the rest of his life and he would never see him again. Astaavakar said I cannot live while my father rots in jail. I will take on Raja Janaks challenge and have my father released.
His mother said your father was highly educated and knowledgeable and he had written various books of divine knowledge and he could not succceed in the challenge. You've never even been educated, you're only 12 and you've written nothing. Astaavakar said mother my mind is made up. Knowledge does not depend on age. I will get my father released. So he sent a message to the King to say that he would be coming and that the King should make preparations to have his desire for true knowledge met.
The king was very surprised. Nobody had taken on the challenge for a decade since the rishis had been imprisoned. So he made preparations. Word got out that somebody has accepted the challenge again and huge crowds gathered to see for themselves who this person was who would answer the kings question. When Astaavakar came into the darbaar and started walking all funny towards Raja Janak, the crowds started laughing out loud at this 12 year old boy. The boy reached Raja Janak and said that you agreed to bring together the saintly and religious people for this day and instead you have brought only chamiaars (people who love only the body/skin and not the mind). These people don't know my mind. They look only at my twisted body. On hearing the boy speak so confidently and truthfully to the King, the crowds were instantly silenced.
Raja Janak then asked Astaavakar if he was prepared for the challenge and did he understand that he would be imprisoned for life if he failed. Astaavakar accepted the challenge. The Raja was about to put his foot into the stirrup but Astaavakar stopped him and said that for him to give him true knowledge he would have to be his Guru and Raja Janak would be his disciple. Raja Janak accepted that this was correct. Astaavakar said is it not normal for the disciple to mathha tek something to his Guru before asking for his teaching. Raja Janak immediately accepted and said what would you like.
Astaavakar said give me something that is yours. Raja Janak called his servants and said bring lots of gold. Astaavakar stopped them and said Raja, gold is not yours. Before you it belonged to your father and when you die it won't go with you. It will go to the next King. Wealth is not yours. The Raja was surprised and thought a little more carefully. He then said I give you my body. Astaavakar said your body is not yours. It has been dying since the day you were born. Skin is getting wrinkled, hair is turning white. Teeth as falling out. You have no control over when it becomes ill, or when it dies. It's not under your own control. It's not yours to give. So Raja Janak thought even harded and eventually said well what about my mind? Is that mine to give. Astaavakar accepted and said okay I'll accept your mind. Your mind is now mine. Now ask whatever you want to ask.
Raja Janak put his foot into one stirrup ready to take his leg over into the other stirrup as the way of setting the time for Astaavakar to give him true knowledge. Astaavakar stopped him and said who said you can put a foot into the stirrup? Raja Janak said I'm doing what I've always done in thi challenge. Astaavakar asked who is this 'I' that you talk of? Raja Janak thought for a while and said I is my mind. Astaavakar said but you no longer have a mind. You gave that to me when you made me your Guru before the challenge even started. Raja Janak fell at Astaavakars feet and asked for forgiveness. He asked him to give him true knowledge and answer his question. Was that poverty true or is this kingship true. Astaavakar answered saying that the dream was just a dream. That dream only lasted 15 minutes. It was not true. However this kingship and riches that you see are also not true. This is also just a dream. It just happens to be one that lasts longer. But when the time comes and you leave this human body, you will wake up from this dream just as surely as you woke up from the one in which you were poor. (supaney jio sansaar). Raja Janak fell at Astaavakars feet and said finally I have received true knowledge. After that Raja Janak spent his life in Bhagti and became one of the greatest saints of all time.
However Raja Janak set a condition that he would put one foot in his horse's stirrup and that the person who wanted to be his Guru had to give him gyaan (satisfy his desire for true knowledge) in the time that it takes for him to put his leg over the horse and put his foot in the other stirrup. Anyone who failed to give him true knowledge in that time would be imprisoned for the rest of their lives.
On hearing this, all but 8 of the rishis, pandits and mahapurakhs withdrew from the challenge.
One by one the 8 remaining rishis took on the challenge but in the time it took Raja Janak to put his leg over the horse and get his foot in the stirrup they had hardly even begun to explain true knowledge and were all imprisoned.
Astaavakar was a boy of 12 yrs old. He had 8 different bends in his body so he walked really strangely and everybody used to laugh at him wherever he went. All his life he had been asking his mother who his father was. His mother had always said when you're older I'll tell you. Eventually at the age of 12 he insisted until his mother finally told him that his father was one of 8 rishis who had taken on the challenge of giving true knowledge to the king Raja Janak. She said his father was now imprisoned for the rest of his life and he would never see him again. Astaavakar said I cannot live while my father rots in jail. I will take on Raja Janaks challenge and have my father released.
His mother said your father was highly educated and knowledgeable and he had written various books of divine knowledge and he could not succceed in the challenge. You've never even been educated, you're only 12 and you've written nothing. Astaavakar said mother my mind is made up. Knowledge does not depend on age. I will get my father released. So he sent a message to the King to say that he would be coming and that the King should make preparations to have his desire for true knowledge met.
The king was very surprised. Nobody had taken on the challenge for a decade since the rishis had been imprisoned. So he made preparations. Word got out that somebody has accepted the challenge again and huge crowds gathered to see for themselves who this person was who would answer the kings question. When Astaavakar came into the darbaar and started walking all funny towards Raja Janak, the crowds started laughing out loud at this 12 year old boy. The boy reached Raja Janak and said that you agreed to bring together the saintly and religious people for this day and instead you have brought only chamiaars (people who love only the body/skin and not the mind). These people don't know my mind. They look only at my twisted body. On hearing the boy speak so confidently and truthfully to the King, the crowds were instantly silenced.
Raja Janak then asked Astaavakar if he was prepared for the challenge and did he understand that he would be imprisoned for life if he failed. Astaavakar accepted the challenge. The Raja was about to put his foot into the stirrup but Astaavakar stopped him and said that for him to give him true knowledge he would have to be his Guru and Raja Janak would be his disciple. Raja Janak accepted that this was correct. Astaavakar said is it not normal for the disciple to mathha tek something to his Guru before asking for his teaching. Raja Janak immediately accepted and said what would you like.
Astaavakar said give me something that is yours. Raja Janak called his servants and said bring lots of gold. Astaavakar stopped them and said Raja, gold is not yours. Before you it belonged to your father and when you die it won't go with you. It will go to the next King. Wealth is not yours. The Raja was surprised and thought a little more carefully. He then said I give you my body. Astaavakar said your body is not yours. It has been dying since the day you were born. Skin is getting wrinkled, hair is turning white. Teeth as falling out. You have no control over when it becomes ill, or when it dies. It's not under your own control. It's not yours to give. So Raja Janak thought even harded and eventually said well what about my mind? Is that mine to give. Astaavakar accepted and said okay I'll accept your mind. Your mind is now mine. Now ask whatever you want to ask.
Raja Janak put his foot into one stirrup ready to take his leg over into the other stirrup as the way of setting the time for Astaavakar to give him true knowledge. Astaavakar stopped him and said who said you can put a foot into the stirrup? Raja Janak said I'm doing what I've always done in thi challenge. Astaavakar asked who is this 'I' that you talk of? Raja Janak thought for a while and said I is my mind. Astaavakar said but you no longer have a mind. You gave that to me when you made me your Guru before the challenge even started. Raja Janak fell at Astaavakars feet and asked for forgiveness. He asked him to give him true knowledge and answer his question. Was that poverty true or is this kingship true. Astaavakar answered saying that the dream was just a dream. That dream only lasted 15 minutes. It was not true. However this kingship and riches that you see are also not true. This is also just a dream. It just happens to be one that lasts longer. But when the time comes and you leave this human body, you will wake up from this dream just as surely as you woke up from the one in which you were poor. (supaney jio sansaar). Raja Janak fell at Astaavakars feet and said finally I have received true knowledge. After that Raja Janak spent his life in Bhagti and became one of the greatest saints of all time.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
I no longer want anything, because it leads to hurt?
Anyone who is in a place of lack -no matter how much action they offer - attracts more lack. In other words, the powerful feeling outweighs any action that they offer. Any action that is offered from a place of lack is always counterproductive. Those who were not feeling need were not in a place of lack, and so their action was productive. Your experience was in absolute harmony with the law of attraction - as is every experience. There is not a shred of evidence anywhere in the universe that is contrary of this that we are speaking of.
The reason that many reach a place where they say that they do not have desire is because they have wanted and wanted, but because they have not understood that every subject is two subjects, they have given more of their attention to the lack of what they have wanted that to what they wanted. And so, they continued to attract the lack of what they want. And then, eventually, they were just worn down by it. As a person begins to ascociate wanting with not having, so much so that to want is an unpleasant experience, then he or she says, "I no longer want, because everytime I want something, I get myself in this place of discomfort, and so it is easier for me not to want in the first place."
- Abraham-Hicks
The reason that many reach a place where they say that they do not have desire is because they have wanted and wanted, but because they have not understood that every subject is two subjects, they have given more of their attention to the lack of what they have wanted that to what they wanted. And so, they continued to attract the lack of what they want. And then, eventually, they were just worn down by it. As a person begins to ascociate wanting with not having, so much so that to want is an unpleasant experience, then he or she says, "I no longer want, because everytime I want something, I get myself in this place of discomfort, and so it is easier for me not to want in the first place."
- Abraham-Hicks
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Life of meaning...
To create a life of meaning, fulfillment, and prosperity, you have to be open to questioning everything - especially deep seated beliefs that you feel strongly about. Pay particular attention to things that arouse your emotions. If you get really mad about something - then that is an issue that needs serious reflection on your part. Any mental health professional will tell you that when you react emotionally to an issue, something there threatens you and causes insecurity. We mirror things, and usually something that angers us most about another person is an issue we fear in ourselves.
When you do your self examination and critical thinking, ask yourself this question:
Am I holding on to a certain beliefs because they allow me to validate behaviour that is keeping me from my greatness?
That may be the most important question you ask yourself all year, so treat it with the reverence it deserves. God wants you to tap into all the greatness you have.
You were born to be healthy, happy, and prosperous.
Your health, happiness, relationships, financial situation, and intellegence will all be determined by the thoughts you give precedence to, the ideas you birth in your mind.
Build on your awareness of universal laws and expand your faith in your own innate good as well as the talents you are blessed with. The oppositional stuff will come, and it will come in great abundance. But know that it comes not at your expense, but at your expanse. Your faith in right outcomes is the only belief you need.
I believe that faith is a superhuman power we possess - a mind power with the ability to shape substance. The foundation for every work is an idea. Faith makes the idea real to you and your subconcious mind. It even makes it real to others. When others have faith in the thing you are doing, selling, or creating, they see it as worthy of their support. This creates the power of the mastermind and greatly expands your prosperity power.
God/Universe/Power does not grant your requests. Your prosperity and abundance have been provided for already. You need to claim what is yours.
Your prosperity is not tied to the economy, your job, your education, your boss, or your past. It is here, now, for you to manifest as you choose to. Every person on this planet - you included - deserves to experience abundance. You were born to be rich, healthy, and happy.
Now it is up to you to accept what is yours!
You can fight these premises and deny what is written above. You can find thousands who will support you to do this. From your minister to your newspaper editor, from your elected representatives to your best friend, they are lots if people who will tell you are the special victim of circumstances. They will seek to discredit the thoughts written above and validate the reasons for your lack of success and happiness. They will defend to the death your right to be dumb, sick and broke. And you can feel noble for being so.
Or you can take in the above and question it, along with your core foundational beliefs. You can sort through the issues, uncover the subconcious programming you didn't know was there and replace it with positive programming and empowering beliefs. You can actually develop a purpose in your life, and live by a philosophy which supports it. And choose to be smart healthy and rich.
What's it going to be?
- R. Gage
When you do your self examination and critical thinking, ask yourself this question:
Am I holding on to a certain beliefs because they allow me to validate behaviour that is keeping me from my greatness?
That may be the most important question you ask yourself all year, so treat it with the reverence it deserves. God wants you to tap into all the greatness you have.
You were born to be healthy, happy, and prosperous.
Your health, happiness, relationships, financial situation, and intellegence will all be determined by the thoughts you give precedence to, the ideas you birth in your mind.
Build on your awareness of universal laws and expand your faith in your own innate good as well as the talents you are blessed with. The oppositional stuff will come, and it will come in great abundance. But know that it comes not at your expense, but at your expanse. Your faith in right outcomes is the only belief you need.
I believe that faith is a superhuman power we possess - a mind power with the ability to shape substance. The foundation for every work is an idea. Faith makes the idea real to you and your subconcious mind. It even makes it real to others. When others have faith in the thing you are doing, selling, or creating, they see it as worthy of their support. This creates the power of the mastermind and greatly expands your prosperity power.
God/Universe/Power does not grant your requests. Your prosperity and abundance have been provided for already. You need to claim what is yours.
Your prosperity is not tied to the economy, your job, your education, your boss, or your past. It is here, now, for you to manifest as you choose to. Every person on this planet - you included - deserves to experience abundance. You were born to be rich, healthy, and happy.
Now it is up to you to accept what is yours!
You can fight these premises and deny what is written above. You can find thousands who will support you to do this. From your minister to your newspaper editor, from your elected representatives to your best friend, they are lots if people who will tell you are the special victim of circumstances. They will seek to discredit the thoughts written above and validate the reasons for your lack of success and happiness. They will defend to the death your right to be dumb, sick and broke. And you can feel noble for being so.
Or you can take in the above and question it, along with your core foundational beliefs. You can sort through the issues, uncover the subconcious programming you didn't know was there and replace it with positive programming and empowering beliefs. You can actually develop a purpose in your life, and live by a philosophy which supports it. And choose to be smart healthy and rich.
What's it going to be?
- R. Gage
Sunday, 24 October 2010
The Final Analysis...
Found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Achieving your Goals without the struggle, struggle, struggle....
Most people give the majority of their attention to whatever is happening in their experience right now - which means if the results please them, they feel good, but if the results do not please them, they feel bad. But that is really going about life the hard way. If you only have the ability to see what-is, then things cannot improve. You must find a way to look optimistically forward in order to achieve any improvement in your experience.
When you learn how to be deliberately focus your thoughts toward good-feeling things, it is not difficult to find happiness and maintain it even before your goal has been accomplished. The feeling of struggle happens because of the continual comparison of where you are right now in relationship to the goal you are reaching for. When you constantly take score, noticing the distance that still needs to be traveled, you amplify the distance, the task, and the effort; and that is why it feels like such an uphill struggle.
When you care about how you feel, and so choose thoughts on the basis of how they feel, you then develop patterns of thought that are more forward looking. And as the law of attraction then responds to those better feeling thoughts, you get more pleasing results. Struggle, struggle, struggle never leads to a happy ending. It defies LAW. "When I get there, then I'll be happy" is not a productive mind-set because unless you are happy, you cannot get there. When you decide to first be happy - THEN you will get there.
- Teachings of Abraham, Jerry & Esther Hicks
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
When you learn how to be deliberately focus your thoughts toward good-feeling things, it is not difficult to find happiness and maintain it even before your goal has been accomplished. The feeling of struggle happens because of the continual comparison of where you are right now in relationship to the goal you are reaching for. When you constantly take score, noticing the distance that still needs to be traveled, you amplify the distance, the task, and the effort; and that is why it feels like such an uphill struggle.
When you care about how you feel, and so choose thoughts on the basis of how they feel, you then develop patterns of thought that are more forward looking. And as the law of attraction then responds to those better feeling thoughts, you get more pleasing results. Struggle, struggle, struggle never leads to a happy ending. It defies LAW. "When I get there, then I'll be happy" is not a productive mind-set because unless you are happy, you cannot get there. When you decide to first be happy - THEN you will get there.
- Teachings of Abraham, Jerry & Esther Hicks
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, 16 May 2010
The Big Deal - That Shouldn't Have Been
The "big deal" in this case has nothing to do with Goldman Sachs, Wall Street, health care, or government bailouts. It did involve money, though, and that is part of the reason it made headlines. A couple of weeks ago, Brian Davis told the truth, acted with integrity, and forfeited $411,000 in the process.
You likely know the story. It happened during the Verizon Heritage golf tournament. Brian Davis and Jim Furyk were on the first hole of a playoff, after finishing the day with identical scores. Davis had holed a clutch 18-foot putt for birdie on the final hole to force the playoff. But he ran into trouble quickly.
Davis was in a hazard that had clusters of reeds all around. He took his time and pondered his options. Playing a 14-time PGA Tour winner such as Furyk, Davis - who has yet to win a PGA event - needed to make a spectacular shot. He and his caddie looked it over carefully. He struck the ball. Then he immediately called a PGA official named Slugger White to come over. He told him that he might have grazed one of the reeds on his backswing.
Nobody had called it. The officials standing nearby had not seen anything amiss. Jim Furyk had not protested. But Davis, although he hadn't felt it through the shaft of his club, believed he had seen it out of the corner of his eye.
White went to the TV monitor. The touch between club and reed was so slight that it took slow-motion replay to spot it. But there it was! And PGA Rule 13.4 - which prohibits moving any "impediment" with the start of a player's backswing - says that a player is to be assessed a two-stroke penalty for such an infraction. And that was the end of Davis' chance to win his first PGA event.
The honesty of Brian Davis became a "big deal" immediately. In some ways, it overshadowed the tournament outcome. E-mails and phone calls flooded in to Davis. Members of the PGA's senior tour phoned to thank him for restoring some sense of integrity to their sport. Teachers had students write essays. "He's class," said Slugger White of the man he had to penalize, "first class!"
As Davis himself admitted in the aftermath of his action, though, it should not have been a big deal at all. That's what Rule 13.4 says, and golf is played by rules. Shortcuts, cheating, taking advantage of one's opponent, winning by doing whatever you must - they are all part of the lore of life these days. But they have no place in a person of character. Davis wants to win, but fair and square.
That there was such a fuss over a golfer doing what he was supposed to do may be a commentary on the low expectations we have of one another.
"Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1 NLT).
Rubel Shelly
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
You likely know the story. It happened during the Verizon Heritage golf tournament. Brian Davis and Jim Furyk were on the first hole of a playoff, after finishing the day with identical scores. Davis had holed a clutch 18-foot putt for birdie on the final hole to force the playoff. But he ran into trouble quickly.
Davis was in a hazard that had clusters of reeds all around. He took his time and pondered his options. Playing a 14-time PGA Tour winner such as Furyk, Davis - who has yet to win a PGA event - needed to make a spectacular shot. He and his caddie looked it over carefully. He struck the ball. Then he immediately called a PGA official named Slugger White to come over. He told him that he might have grazed one of the reeds on his backswing.
Nobody had called it. The officials standing nearby had not seen anything amiss. Jim Furyk had not protested. But Davis, although he hadn't felt it through the shaft of his club, believed he had seen it out of the corner of his eye.
White went to the TV monitor. The touch between club and reed was so slight that it took slow-motion replay to spot it. But there it was! And PGA Rule 13.4 - which prohibits moving any "impediment" with the start of a player's backswing - says that a player is to be assessed a two-stroke penalty for such an infraction. And that was the end of Davis' chance to win his first PGA event.
The honesty of Brian Davis became a "big deal" immediately. In some ways, it overshadowed the tournament outcome. E-mails and phone calls flooded in to Davis. Members of the PGA's senior tour phoned to thank him for restoring some sense of integrity to their sport. Teachers had students write essays. "He's class," said Slugger White of the man he had to penalize, "first class!"
As Davis himself admitted in the aftermath of his action, though, it should not have been a big deal at all. That's what Rule 13.4 says, and golf is played by rules. Shortcuts, cheating, taking advantage of one's opponent, winning by doing whatever you must - they are all part of the lore of life these days. But they have no place in a person of character. Davis wants to win, but fair and square.
That there was such a fuss over a golfer doing what he was supposed to do may be a commentary on the low expectations we have of one another.
"Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1 NLT).
Rubel Shelly
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, 16 April 2010
Refuse To Be Afraid
Tim Wrightman, a former All-American UCLA football player, tells a story about how, as a rookie lineman in the National Football League, he was up against the legendary pass rusher Lawrence Taylor. Taylor was not only physically powerful and uncommonly quick but a master at verbal intimidation.
Looking young Tim in the eye, he said, "Sonny, get ready. I'm going to the left and there's nothing you can do about it."
Wrightman coolly responded, "Sir, is that your left or mine?"
The question froze Taylor long enough to allow Wrightman to throw a perfect block on him.
It's amazing what we can accomplish if we refuse to be afraid. Fear - whether it's of pain, failure, or rejection - is a toxic emotion that creates monsters in our mind that consume self-confidence and intimidate us from doing our best or sometimes even trying at all.
As a law professor, I saw scores of capable students fail the bar exam, not because they didn't know enough but because their anxiety hindered their ability to remember or coherently express what they did know.
For most law graduates, passing the bar exam should be no more difficult than walking across a board 20 feet long and two feet wide. The trouble is, they don't walk normally because they're intimidated by the illusion that the board is suspended 100 feet in the air and that getting across is a life-or-death matter. What's the worst thing that could happen? Embarrassment, inconvenience, and expense - but none of these is fatal.
Perspective is an antidote to fear. Most things you fear will never happen, and even if they do, you can handle it.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
-- Post From My iPhone
Looking young Tim in the eye, he said, "Sonny, get ready. I'm going to the left and there's nothing you can do about it."
Wrightman coolly responded, "Sir, is that your left or mine?"
The question froze Taylor long enough to allow Wrightman to throw a perfect block on him.
It's amazing what we can accomplish if we refuse to be afraid. Fear - whether it's of pain, failure, or rejection - is a toxic emotion that creates monsters in our mind that consume self-confidence and intimidate us from doing our best or sometimes even trying at all.
As a law professor, I saw scores of capable students fail the bar exam, not because they didn't know enough but because their anxiety hindered their ability to remember or coherently express what they did know.
For most law graduates, passing the bar exam should be no more difficult than walking across a board 20 feet long and two feet wide. The trouble is, they don't walk normally because they're intimidated by the illusion that the board is suspended 100 feet in the air and that getting across is a life-or-death matter. What's the worst thing that could happen? Embarrassment, inconvenience, and expense - but none of these is fatal.
Perspective is an antidote to fear. Most things you fear will never happen, and even if they do, you can handle it.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
-- Post From My iPhone
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