My Passion which will continue as the year goes:
Spiritual ~ Mastery through discipline of awareness & mindfulness. Reverence.
WellBeing ~ Practice, deepen, master deep relaxation. therapy. Do more Art
Career ~ Start on Book Ideas & Improvements. Do more art, music, reading.
Family, friends ~ Empowering their life's through listening, sharing, support, empowerment
Dec 26, 2008
Nov 26, 2008
My homework
My HOMEWORK: and my affirmation
1. Make my yoga part of my morning ritual.
Get to bed 15 minutes earlier so my yoga practice does not cut into my sleep time.
2. To sit down with my weekly calendar and cross out activities that is not serving me anymore (be brutally honest).
3. Find support for my home practice - practice with a member of family or a friend.
Practice with a class, or video. Being held accountable by others can get you to the mat on the dreariest of days. I know once I get to the mat, the magic often takes over after a couple of minutes, and I'll find yourself vibrating with the music of yoga.
Ideally, to start early, sitting and gradually waking up, go into listening to my body on what to practice.
Asana practice, pranayama, and meditation would follow.
What a great way to start the day — centered, awake, internal, and listening.
Because taking that time for myself helps me be more present, grounded, patient and open to the little moments of joy.
inspired by rodney!
1. Make my yoga part of my morning ritual.
Get to bed 15 minutes earlier so my yoga practice does not cut into my sleep time.
2. To sit down with my weekly calendar and cross out activities that is not serving me anymore (be brutally honest).
3. Find support for my home practice - practice with a member of family or a friend.
Practice with a class, or video. Being held accountable by others can get you to the mat on the dreariest of days. I know once I get to the mat, the magic often takes over after a couple of minutes, and I'll find yourself vibrating with the music of yoga.
Ideally, to start early, sitting and gradually waking up, go into listening to my body on what to practice.
Asana practice, pranayama, and meditation would follow.
What a great way to start the day — centered, awake, internal, and listening.
Because taking that time for myself helps me be more present, grounded, patient and open to the little moments of joy.
inspired by rodney!
Bringing My Yoga Practice Home
Today i realised, I had nearly forgotten why I loved yoga so much.
Inspired by Rodney's words...
yes, now it is up to me to recreate and rediscover the magic that had been revealed. Many years of home practice is the answer, going into my own body and asking it to be my teacher. Listening is the practice of yoga. Nothing replaces the home practice. It is a time when I can find my own rhythm, my own breath, my own revelations. It is where the genuine knowledge arises.
"I was told early on that in science, when one invents something, everyone benefits and can utilize that invention; however, in spiritual practice you must discover the wheel on your own. Get on your mat. Colleen and I can inspire you, but you have to sweat your own prayers."
Namaste,
courtesy of Rodney, Cofounder of the Gaiam Yoga Club
Inspired by Rodney's words...
yes, now it is up to me to recreate and rediscover the magic that had been revealed. Many years of home practice is the answer, going into my own body and asking it to be my teacher. Listening is the practice of yoga. Nothing replaces the home practice. It is a time when I can find my own rhythm, my own breath, my own revelations. It is where the genuine knowledge arises.
"I was told early on that in science, when one invents something, everyone benefits and can utilize that invention; however, in spiritual practice you must discover the wheel on your own. Get on your mat. Colleen and I can inspire you, but you have to sweat your own prayers."
Namaste,
courtesy of Rodney, Cofounder of the Gaiam Yoga Club
Oct 5, 2008
When I Go
My life, may not have an answer to the beginning of life, till the ending of it.
But the full experience has just been truly amazing, such a blessing. This is why I remember to say my thanks with each meal. My favourite part about having a meal is appreciating the sharing of life - to give thanks to having sensory ability, physical limbs to eat with, meals that miraculously appear in front of me through such an amazing cycle of life and energy exchange from earth to life to the infinite sacrifice of life/s, just to feed this body of mine.
The Tibetan Buddhism tradition says, there's 3 ways to go.
1) when we've exhausted our life span through accumulation of good altrustic deeds
2) when we've exhausted our physical body's life span
3) when we meet with accidents - unprepared, unexpected
So, I guess, we never really know when I will be gone, will we? they say, high practitioners do. ; )
It would be realistic to say that, you would surely be a part of all the infinite thoughts I will flash before my eyes, mind or heart, and if i never had the chance to say this to you, today i will do that.
I guess it never seems like a right time to say this when we are alive and well, usually going about like tomorrow will not end.
Well, in those chaotic life journey moments, there has been at least one really special moment, that I was really present with you, saw you from inside out, i could feel through you. the real quiet honest you.
This moments and presence when I was with you, I may not have been happy, smiling or nice. It could've been when I was being quiet. Or observing, or listening, or sharing, or seemingly aloof, or totally attentive.
it was a moment. and in this moment, I was really with you. when we crossed path.
i could close my eyes, and have a full sense of you, all over again. i guess i may not look like i care. but the depth cannot be described in words, cannot be manipulated in expressions. it may be felt in the quietness in your heart, perhaps. or perhaps when u're sitting with one single link to a whole completion of all thats around u.
yes there.
some say, we love and care not always for altruistic reasons. well, i feel that i care because its basic human nature to reach out and extend, expand. embrace.
what I know for sure is, i would only wish you peace. love. joy. because we are an entity in unity.
you shall have all that life's blessings has to offer ~ it is with you.
you shall have the highest respect in divine love and friendship ~ from me to u.
I would deeply thank you for everything you've shared and taught me, through your expansion, through you.
may peace always be with you.
namaste.
But the full experience has just been truly amazing, such a blessing. This is why I remember to say my thanks with each meal. My favourite part about having a meal is appreciating the sharing of life - to give thanks to having sensory ability, physical limbs to eat with, meals that miraculously appear in front of me through such an amazing cycle of life and energy exchange from earth to life to the infinite sacrifice of life/s, just to feed this body of mine.
The Tibetan Buddhism tradition says, there's 3 ways to go.
1) when we've exhausted our life span through accumulation of good altrustic deeds
2) when we've exhausted our physical body's life span
3) when we meet with accidents - unprepared, unexpected
So, I guess, we never really know when I will be gone, will we? they say, high practitioners do. ; )
It would be realistic to say that, you would surely be a part of all the infinite thoughts I will flash before my eyes, mind or heart, and if i never had the chance to say this to you, today i will do that.
I guess it never seems like a right time to say this when we are alive and well, usually going about like tomorrow will not end.
Well, in those chaotic life journey moments, there has been at least one really special moment, that I was really present with you, saw you from inside out, i could feel through you. the real quiet honest you.
This moments and presence when I was with you, I may not have been happy, smiling or nice. It could've been when I was being quiet. Or observing, or listening, or sharing, or seemingly aloof, or totally attentive.
it was a moment. and in this moment, I was really with you. when we crossed path.
i could close my eyes, and have a full sense of you, all over again. i guess i may not look like i care. but the depth cannot be described in words, cannot be manipulated in expressions. it may be felt in the quietness in your heart, perhaps. or perhaps when u're sitting with one single link to a whole completion of all thats around u.
yes there.
some say, we love and care not always for altruistic reasons. well, i feel that i care because its basic human nature to reach out and extend, expand. embrace.
what I know for sure is, i would only wish you peace. love. joy. because we are an entity in unity.
you shall have all that life's blessings has to offer ~ it is with you.
you shall have the highest respect in divine love and friendship ~ from me to u.
I would deeply thank you for everything you've shared and taught me, through your expansion, through you.
may peace always be with you.
namaste.
Oct 1, 2008
Yoga Facts
* Yoga is over 3,000 years old
* Yoga builds strength, flexibility and coordination
* Yoga creates cardiovascular health
* Yoga relieves stress and helps keep you healthy
* Yoga creates mental clarity, focus and emotional balance
* Yoga is safe for all ages and body types (choose a right teacher with depth)
* Yoga facilitates healing from injuries
* Yoga is not a religion
courtesy of Purna Yoga: purnayoga.com
The most open, gentle and loving teacher i've learned from: Aadil Palhivala, Purna Yoga. Very safe. Full of light and flow of love. Awesome space.
* Yoga builds strength, flexibility and coordination
* Yoga creates cardiovascular health
* Yoga relieves stress and helps keep you healthy
* Yoga creates mental clarity, focus and emotional balance
* Yoga is safe for all ages and body types (choose a right teacher with depth)
* Yoga facilitates healing from injuries
* Yoga is not a religion
courtesy of Purna Yoga: purnayoga.com
The most open, gentle and loving teacher i've learned from: Aadil Palhivala, Purna Yoga. Very safe. Full of light and flow of love. Awesome space.
Sep 16, 2008
The Secret Affirmation
An affirmation for the rest of your life.
In the new picture of the coming years, "I see my life growing and expanding in everything: in health, youth and unlimited energy at all times and in all circumstances. I see myself in complete freedom. I see unlimited growth in my personal capacity, mental power and intellectual brilliancy. I see constant improvement in all the elements of my personality and my body. I see daily growth in my wisdom, understanding. insight and realization.I see myself in peace, harmony, love and joy, and I see my character expanding to stronger and more beautiful.I see the never ending betterment of friends associations and environments.I see myself in everlasting joy and infinite bliss."
courtesy of The Secret - http://www.thesecret.tv/
In the new picture of the coming years, "I see my life growing and expanding in everything: in health, youth and unlimited energy at all times and in all circumstances. I see myself in complete freedom. I see unlimited growth in my personal capacity, mental power and intellectual brilliancy. I see constant improvement in all the elements of my personality and my body. I see daily growth in my wisdom, understanding. insight and realization.I see myself in peace, harmony, love and joy, and I see my character expanding to stronger and more beautiful.I see the never ending betterment of friends associations and environments.I see myself in everlasting joy and infinite bliss."
courtesy of The Secret - http://www.thesecret.tv/
Sep 14, 2008
Marriage Commandments
hilarious!
COMMANDMENT 1
Marriages are made in heaven.
But so are thunder and lightning.
COMMANDMENT 2
If you want your wife to listen and pay strict attention to every
word you say, talk in your sleep.
COMMANDMENT 3
Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand!
COMMANDMENT 4
Married life is very frustrating.
In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
COMMANDMENT 5
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.
COMMANDMENT 6
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one;
The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
COMMANDMENT 7
Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about
something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.
COMMANDMENT 8
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical,and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.
COMMANDMENT 9
Marriage and love are purely matter of chemistry.
That is why wife treats husband like toxic waste.
COMMANDMENT 10
A man is incomplete until he is married.
After that, he is finished..
BONUS COMMANDMENT STORY
A long married couple came upon a wishing well.
The husband leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny.
The wife decided to make a wish too.
But she leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned.
The husband was stunned for a moment but then smiled and said,
Hey! This thing really works!
courtesy of some anonymous being...
COMMANDMENT 1
Marriages are made in heaven.
But so are thunder and lightning.
COMMANDMENT 2
If you want your wife to listen and pay strict attention to every
word you say, talk in your sleep.
COMMANDMENT 3
Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand!
COMMANDMENT 4
Married life is very frustrating.
In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
COMMANDMENT 5
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.
COMMANDMENT 6
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one;
The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
COMMANDMENT 7
Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about
something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.
COMMANDMENT 8
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical,and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.
COMMANDMENT 9
Marriage and love are purely matter of chemistry.
That is why wife treats husband like toxic waste.
COMMANDMENT 10
A man is incomplete until he is married.
After that, he is finished..
BONUS COMMANDMENT STORY
A long married couple came upon a wishing well.
The husband leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny.
The wife decided to make a wish too.
But she leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned.
The husband was stunned for a moment but then smiled and said,
Hey! This thing really works!
courtesy of some anonymous being...
Laws of Cat Physics ; )
Law of Cat Inertia
A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some
outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying
mouse.
Law of Cat Motion
A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good
reason to change direction.
Law of Cat Magnetism
All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct
proportion to the darkness of the fabric.
Law of Cat Thermodynamics
Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat,
in which case all heat flows to the cat.
Law of Cat Stretching
A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap
just taken.
Law of Cat Sleeping
All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as
uncomfortable for the people involved as is possible for the cat.
Law of Cat Elongation
A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top
that has anything remotely interesting on it.
Law of Cat Acceleration
A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready
to stop.
Law of Dinner Table Attendance
Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served.
Law of Rug Configuration
No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long.
Law of Obedience Resistance
A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to
do something.
First Law of Energy Conservation
Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will,
therefore, use as little energy as possible.
Second Law of Energy Conservation
Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.
Law of Refrigerator Observation
If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along
and take out something good to eat.
Law of Electric Blanket Attraction
Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed
of light.
Law of Random Comfort Seeking
A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable
spot in any given room.
Law of Bag / Box Occupancy
All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the
earliest possible nanosecond.
Law of Cat Embarrassment
A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment
times the amount of human laughter.
Law of Milk Consumption
A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can.
Law of Furniture Replacement
A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the
cost of the furniture.
Law of Cat Landing
A cat will always land in the softest place possible.
Law of Fluid Displacement
A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount
of milk consumed.
Law of Cat Disinterest
A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of
effort a human expends in trying to interest him.
Law of Pill Rejection
Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape
velocity.
Law of Cat Composition
A cat is composed of "Matter" plus "Anti-Matter" plus "It Doesn't
Matter".
courtesy of some anonymous being...
A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some
outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying
mouse.
Law of Cat Motion
A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good
reason to change direction.
Law of Cat Magnetism
All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct
proportion to the darkness of the fabric.
Law of Cat Thermodynamics
Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat,
in which case all heat flows to the cat.
Law of Cat Stretching
A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap
just taken.
Law of Cat Sleeping
All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as
uncomfortable for the people involved as is possible for the cat.
Law of Cat Elongation
A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top
that has anything remotely interesting on it.
Law of Cat Acceleration
A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready
to stop.
Law of Dinner Table Attendance
Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served.
Law of Rug Configuration
No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long.
Law of Obedience Resistance
A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to
do something.
First Law of Energy Conservation
Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will,
therefore, use as little energy as possible.
Second Law of Energy Conservation
Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.
Law of Refrigerator Observation
If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along
and take out something good to eat.
Law of Electric Blanket Attraction
Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed
of light.
Law of Random Comfort Seeking
A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable
spot in any given room.
Law of Bag / Box Occupancy
All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the
earliest possible nanosecond.
Law of Cat Embarrassment
A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment
times the amount of human laughter.
Law of Milk Consumption
A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can.
Law of Furniture Replacement
A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the
cost of the furniture.
Law of Cat Landing
A cat will always land in the softest place possible.
Law of Fluid Displacement
A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount
of milk consumed.
Law of Cat Disinterest
A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of
effort a human expends in trying to interest him.
Law of Pill Rejection
Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape
velocity.
Law of Cat Composition
A cat is composed of "Matter" plus "Anti-Matter" plus "It Doesn't
Matter".
courtesy of some anonymous being...
Sep 13, 2008
Siem Reap - beautiful Cambodian smiles melt my heart
When I returned from my trip, I could not stop glowing in grins. These were due to memories of how I fell in love with the beautiful Khmer cambodian smiles from the heart which did melt my heart.
They were graceful, humble, sincere, caring, forgiving, happy, compassionate, so full of love and devotional. That's what i felt, hear, and saw.
Angkor Wat facts:
81 hectares, comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Places we went :)
- Ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th).
- South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure
- Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King
- Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara)
- Ta Prohm Temple of similar design to the Jayavarman VII temples. A quiet sprawling monastic complex partially cleared of jungle overgrowth. Intentionally left partially unrestored, massive fig and silk cotton trees grow from the towers and corridors.
- Watch sunset at Bakheng Mountain.
Sep 12, 2008
Why Not?
We need men who can dream of things that never were, and ask why not.
George Bernard Shaw
In an indian movie I saw recently, a villager leaves home for the first time to travel to the city of Bombay. When he returns, his family and friends crowd around him, asking what it was like in the big city. His laconic reply sums up our era: "Such tall buildlings ... and such small people."
If we were asked to give an accounting of our society's achievements, we could claim many great technological developments and scientific discoveries, plenty of skycrappers, and the amasement of huge sums of money, but few truly secure, truly wise, truly great men and women. It is not for lack of ability of energy, though; it is because we lack a noble goal.
To grow to our full height, we need to be challenged with tasks that draw out our deeper resources, the talents and capacities we did not know we had. We need to be faced with obstacles that cannot be surmounted unless we summon up our daring and creativity. This kind of challenge is familiar to any great athlete or scientist or artist. No worthwhile accomplishment comes easily.
Taken from A Daily Guide to Leading an Exceptional Life, Words to Live By by Eknath Easwaran
George Bernard Shaw
In an indian movie I saw recently, a villager leaves home for the first time to travel to the city of Bombay. When he returns, his family and friends crowd around him, asking what it was like in the big city. His laconic reply sums up our era: "Such tall buildlings ... and such small people."
If we were asked to give an accounting of our society's achievements, we could claim many great technological developments and scientific discoveries, plenty of skycrappers, and the amasement of huge sums of money, but few truly secure, truly wise, truly great men and women. It is not for lack of ability of energy, though; it is because we lack a noble goal.
To grow to our full height, we need to be challenged with tasks that draw out our deeper resources, the talents and capacities we did not know we had. We need to be faced with obstacles that cannot be surmounted unless we summon up our daring and creativity. This kind of challenge is familiar to any great athlete or scientist or artist. No worthwhile accomplishment comes easily.
Taken from A Daily Guide to Leading an Exceptional Life, Words to Live By by Eknath Easwaran
If not now, when?
If I am not for me, who will be?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when?
~ Rabbi Hillel
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when?
~ Rabbi Hillel
Aug 14, 2008
Declutter Your Finances! tips
Step 1. Envision the Life You Want
Step 2: Look at the True Cost of Your Debt
Step 3: Explore Your Limits
Step 4: Assess Your Spending Habits
Step 5: Discuss Necessities vs. Luxuries
Step 6: Consider Your Happiness Quotient
Step 7: Create Space for What Really Matters
Step 8: Make It Real
courtesy of oprah.com - peter walsh
http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahandfriends/pwalsh/20081010_oaf_pwalsh_101
Step 2: Look at the True Cost of Your Debt
Step 3: Explore Your Limits
Step 4: Assess Your Spending Habits
Step 5: Discuss Necessities vs. Luxuries
Step 6: Consider Your Happiness Quotient
Step 7: Create Space for What Really Matters
Step 8: Make It Real
courtesy of oprah.com - peter walsh
http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahandfriends/pwalsh/20081010_oaf_pwalsh_101
Jun 22, 2008
Celebrating Silence with HHSSS
~ compilation of talks by His Holiness Sri Sri Shankar
Celebrate while you are alone and celebrate when you are with people. Celebrate silence and celebrate noise. Celebrate life and celebrate death ~ New Delhi, March 13 1997
SENSES - HABITS - VICES
The senses are like fire. Your life is like fire. Some fires pollute and others purify. The same fire that supports life in winter also destroys. If your senses are engaged in goodness, you will create light and fragrance. It is samyama that transforms the quality of fire in you. ~ Montreal Ashram, July 24, 1995
Life wants to be fre and when a soul does not know how to be free, it wanders through lifetimes desiring freedom. The way to break habits is through vows. Rise above habits through samyama. All those habits that bother you, that bring you pain – bind them in vows, in samyama. A vow should be time bound, and the time and place for making the vow should be considered. ~ Brookfield, Connecticut, July 30, 1995
Your inability to break a habit causes a pinch and when you are deeply pained by something, the pain will rid you of that habit. If you are pained by your shortcomings, then you are a sadhak - a seeker. Pain takes you out of addiction. ~ LA, Jan 30, 1997
If you cannot eliminate vices, magnify them. Give them a bigger dimension and a different direction. Be averse to aversions. Attach yourself to the guru. Get intoxicated with the Divine. ~ Rishikesh, April 3 1997
DESIRES
Desires for sensory pleasures are electric in nature and these desires get neutralized as they move towards the object of your senses. They are nothing but energy and you are the source of it - the pure electricity. Dedication and devotion maintain the purity of your electricity, moving you upward. Once you realize that you are pleasure or electricity, your craving subsides and serenity dawns. ~ Milano, Italy, Jan 7, 1998
Desire kills joy yet the goal of all desires is joy. Yet all that we desire is happiness. The conclusion "My desires have killed my happiness." ~ Bangalore, April 26, 2000
Have you thought about the nature of desire? It simply means tomorrow, and not now. But joy is never tomorrow, it is always now. That is why desire is maya - illusion. ~ Banagalore, March 6, 1996
A desire arises with the memory of a pleasant experience or with past impression. It might also arise through listening. Desire can be triggered through association with people and places. Someone else's desire may manifest in you as your own. When someone is hungry, you might have a desire to feed them. Desnity, may trigger a desire but you will not be aware of the reason for your actions. ~ Dharamshala, April 6, 2000
Desire arise on their own. When they come, if you say that you do not want any desires, then that want becomes another desire. On the journey of life, you have to keep submitting your desires and not hold onto them. As you keep submitting your desires, fewer desires arise. Unfortunate are those who keep on desiring yet their desires are not fulfilled. A little more fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled over a long period of time. More fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled as soon as they arise. The most fortunate are those who have no desires because there is fulfillment even before the desire arises. ~ Swargashram, Rishikesh, March 20, 1996
Buddha said that desire is the cause of all misery. If desire does not get fulfilled, it leads to frustration. If it does, it leaves you empty. Vasishta says desire is the cause of pleasure. You get pleasure from an object or a person only when you desire them. Whatever gives you pleasure binds you and bondage is misery. WHEN YOU DESIRE TRUTH, all other desires drop off. Desire for truth removes all other desires; then it dissolves and what remains is bliss. ~ Denpasar, Bali, May 11, 2000
Your desires and sankalpas - or intentions - separate you from God. Offer all your desires and all your sankalpas to the Divine. Then you are divine. You are God. You are free - lacking nothing. ~ Bangalore, Oct 16, 1996
Pleasure and pain are intense sensations in this body. All your misery surrounds the 'I, I, I...'. Just let go. Remember - the sun rises and sets, the moon shines and I am here forever. ~ Bad Antogast, Germany, May 14, 1997
ATTACHMENTS
Often people fail to see the spirit behind the attraction, and merely hold onto the outer shell. And the moment you try to possess the shell, you will be left with an empty shell in your hands and tears in your eyes. Krishna means the most attractive. He is the divinity, the energy that attracts everything to it. The mind moves towards beauty, joy and truth. Krishna tells Arjuna, "I am the beauty in the Beautiful, the strength in the Strong, the wisdom in the Wise." In this way he arrests the mind from moving away from him. ~ Rotterdam, Netherlands, Aug 16,195
Attachments cause feverish breath. Feverish breath takes away your peace of mind. Rid it through surrender and sadhana - spiritual practices. When you are drowning in the ocean of attachments, surrender is a life jacket. Without fighting attachments, observe your feverish breath and go to the cool place of silence within. our first step in this direction is directing your attachment to knowledge, to the Divine. Your non-attachment to the mundane is your charm. Your attachment to the Divine is your beauty. ~ Sydney, April 3, 1996
CONFUSION
Decision comes only when there is confusion. When there is no confusion, there is no decision. If there is a piece of wood and a biscuit on your desk, do you decide which one to eat?
A decision is always about choice and choice is confusing. So, all decision makers are confused. Are you confused, decided or happy? When you are confused there is no freedom.
Action is spontaneous when there is no actor. In you, there is an actor and there is a witness. An actor is either confused or decisive, but the witness smiles and realized that the action is spontenous.
The more decisions you make, the more confused you are, and as a result you swing between pain and pleasure. The more the witness grows in you, the more playful and untouched you are. Trust, faith, love and joy all manifest in and around you. ~ Hamburg, April 29, 1998.
DOUBT
Doubt cannot come when there is a sense of closeness. Doubt needs distance to appear. You never doubt something that is dear to you, close to you. The moment you doubt something, it is no longer dear to you, a distance has come. You may doubt yourself, but you do not doubt that which is yours. Self-doubt is a lack of closeness to oneself. Belonging, closeness and intimacy are all antidotes for doubt.
~ Rishikesh, March 11, 1999
Doubt is a gray area. Gray is neither black or white. Doubt means you want to get rid of something. It is a temporary state. It is neither up nor down and that is where tension arises.
So how do you eliminate doubt? An event, knowledge or conventional wisdom cannot help. What can help"? Accept what you doubt as either black or white. Make it black and accept it or make it white and accept that, regardless of wheter is it black or white or something in between. See the gray as just a shade of black or white. Either way, you accept it. Honest or dishonest - accept it. Then the mind is quiet and you are no longer in the gray area. ~ Montreal, July 20, 1995
Celebrate while you are alone and celebrate when you are with people. Celebrate silence and celebrate noise. Celebrate life and celebrate death ~ New Delhi, March 13 1997
SENSES - HABITS - VICES
The senses are like fire. Your life is like fire. Some fires pollute and others purify. The same fire that supports life in winter also destroys. If your senses are engaged in goodness, you will create light and fragrance. It is samyama that transforms the quality of fire in you. ~ Montreal Ashram, July 24, 1995
Life wants to be fre and when a soul does not know how to be free, it wanders through lifetimes desiring freedom. The way to break habits is through vows. Rise above habits through samyama. All those habits that bother you, that bring you pain – bind them in vows, in samyama. A vow should be time bound, and the time and place for making the vow should be considered. ~ Brookfield, Connecticut, July 30, 1995
Your inability to break a habit causes a pinch and when you are deeply pained by something, the pain will rid you of that habit. If you are pained by your shortcomings, then you are a sadhak - a seeker. Pain takes you out of addiction. ~ LA, Jan 30, 1997
If you cannot eliminate vices, magnify them. Give them a bigger dimension and a different direction. Be averse to aversions. Attach yourself to the guru. Get intoxicated with the Divine. ~ Rishikesh, April 3 1997
DESIRES
Desires for sensory pleasures are electric in nature and these desires get neutralized as they move towards the object of your senses. They are nothing but energy and you are the source of it - the pure electricity. Dedication and devotion maintain the purity of your electricity, moving you upward. Once you realize that you are pleasure or electricity, your craving subsides and serenity dawns. ~ Milano, Italy, Jan 7, 1998
Desire kills joy yet the goal of all desires is joy. Yet all that we desire is happiness. The conclusion "My desires have killed my happiness." ~ Bangalore, April 26, 2000
Have you thought about the nature of desire? It simply means tomorrow, and not now. But joy is never tomorrow, it is always now. That is why desire is maya - illusion. ~ Banagalore, March 6, 1996
A desire arises with the memory of a pleasant experience or with past impression. It might also arise through listening. Desire can be triggered through association with people and places. Someone else's desire may manifest in you as your own. When someone is hungry, you might have a desire to feed them. Desnity, may trigger a desire but you will not be aware of the reason for your actions. ~ Dharamshala, April 6, 2000
Desire arise on their own. When they come, if you say that you do not want any desires, then that want becomes another desire. On the journey of life, you have to keep submitting your desires and not hold onto them. As you keep submitting your desires, fewer desires arise. Unfortunate are those who keep on desiring yet their desires are not fulfilled. A little more fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled over a long period of time. More fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled as soon as they arise. The most fortunate are those who have no desires because there is fulfillment even before the desire arises. ~ Swargashram, Rishikesh, March 20, 1996
Buddha said that desire is the cause of all misery. If desire does not get fulfilled, it leads to frustration. If it does, it leaves you empty. Vasishta says desire is the cause of pleasure. You get pleasure from an object or a person only when you desire them. Whatever gives you pleasure binds you and bondage is misery. WHEN YOU DESIRE TRUTH, all other desires drop off. Desire for truth removes all other desires; then it dissolves and what remains is bliss. ~ Denpasar, Bali, May 11, 2000
Your desires and sankalpas - or intentions - separate you from God. Offer all your desires and all your sankalpas to the Divine. Then you are divine. You are God. You are free - lacking nothing. ~ Bangalore, Oct 16, 1996
Pleasure and pain are intense sensations in this body. All your misery surrounds the 'I, I, I...'. Just let go. Remember - the sun rises and sets, the moon shines and I am here forever. ~ Bad Antogast, Germany, May 14, 1997
ATTACHMENTS
Often people fail to see the spirit behind the attraction, and merely hold onto the outer shell. And the moment you try to possess the shell, you will be left with an empty shell in your hands and tears in your eyes. Krishna means the most attractive. He is the divinity, the energy that attracts everything to it. The mind moves towards beauty, joy and truth. Krishna tells Arjuna, "I am the beauty in the Beautiful, the strength in the Strong, the wisdom in the Wise." In this way he arrests the mind from moving away from him. ~ Rotterdam, Netherlands, Aug 16,195
Attachments cause feverish breath. Feverish breath takes away your peace of mind. Rid it through surrender and sadhana - spiritual practices. When you are drowning in the ocean of attachments, surrender is a life jacket. Without fighting attachments, observe your feverish breath and go to the cool place of silence within. our first step in this direction is directing your attachment to knowledge, to the Divine. Your non-attachment to the mundane is your charm. Your attachment to the Divine is your beauty. ~ Sydney, April 3, 1996
CONFUSION
Decision comes only when there is confusion. When there is no confusion, there is no decision. If there is a piece of wood and a biscuit on your desk, do you decide which one to eat?
A decision is always about choice and choice is confusing. So, all decision makers are confused. Are you confused, decided or happy? When you are confused there is no freedom.
Action is spontaneous when there is no actor. In you, there is an actor and there is a witness. An actor is either confused or decisive, but the witness smiles and realized that the action is spontenous.
The more decisions you make, the more confused you are, and as a result you swing between pain and pleasure. The more the witness grows in you, the more playful and untouched you are. Trust, faith, love and joy all manifest in and around you. ~ Hamburg, April 29, 1998.
DOUBT
Doubt cannot come when there is a sense of closeness. Doubt needs distance to appear. You never doubt something that is dear to you, close to you. The moment you doubt something, it is no longer dear to you, a distance has come. You may doubt yourself, but you do not doubt that which is yours. Self-doubt is a lack of closeness to oneself. Belonging, closeness and intimacy are all antidotes for doubt.
~ Rishikesh, March 11, 1999
Doubt is a gray area. Gray is neither black or white. Doubt means you want to get rid of something. It is a temporary state. It is neither up nor down and that is where tension arises.
So how do you eliminate doubt? An event, knowledge or conventional wisdom cannot help. What can help"? Accept what you doubt as either black or white. Make it black and accept it or make it white and accept that, regardless of wheter is it black or white or something in between. See the gray as just a shade of black or white. Either way, you accept it. Honest or dishonest - accept it. Then the mind is quiet and you are no longer in the gray area. ~ Montreal, July 20, 1995
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