Financial Fitness = Life Fitness

Top 5 Tips to Build Wealth and Success

Source: Yahoo Finance

1. Live Below Your Means.
Being wealthy isn't just a product of your salary or investment prowess; it's learning how to save.

2. Bounce Back From Defeat

"Bouncing back from defeat is something all great achievers have. They have this undying belief good things will happen and will continue to happen," says Butowsky.

3. Self-Promote

Regardless of the profession, the rich and successful tend to have a strong sense of self-worth — key to skillfully navigating an upward career path. 

4. Have Street Smarts

Butowsky advises his high net worth clients that in most cases, it's wisest to just say "no." The best way to do that: have someone else do it for you. "You need to really set up a wall between you and your family," he advises. "If you don't want to give them (family or friends) money ... saying no is probably a good idea."

5. Buy Cheap

The rich can afford to splurge, but that doesn't mean they do.
~
Interesting tips aren't they? Didn't think rich people would buy cheap..
~


Some words reminds me of leadership characteristics:

• Compelling Desire, Solid Belief, Effective Action, Iron Will

• 100% is possible 100% of the time!
If it's to be it's up to me!
Life is an enrollment game!
Team work, team players being committed to a common vision!
My vision/ commitments/ promises dictate my action, not my feelings, assessments or evaluation!
I honor my words with my actions.

What would you have me be?

Disappointing someone is probably one of the hardest thing to do in life. It feels so for me.

Yet we're not supposed to live a life for others, or live their dreams or expectations if we come from that everyone has a purpose here. 

But life is not so simple and straight forward is it? We gotta give and take along the way because part of loving is sharing our boundaries & space and allowing the gray areas to work out with people, family, friends & all beings in fact. For we do live in a world that is interdependent.

I think when it is really though and difficult at fork roads, Oprah's words are good reminder.

"What would you have me do? What would you have me be?" And try to live the answer.

Remember: What I give away is my power and that isn't always the right way, it is probably the last last resort one should try...

Yes, love thyself and all will flow to others.


~ ~ ~

I read another good one by Oprah, Defining Destiny — she's amazing at manifestation. 

Excerpt:

Using my voice as a force for good: It's what I was meant to do.

And I got here by listening to the still, small voice that I felt so strongly one evening on my grandmother's back porch when I was a girl.

The decision to listen to this voice—against the advice of many of the stations that carried my show—is the reason I still have a show. If I had ignored it, I would have disappeared into the void of defunct broadcasting. There's a long, long list of talk shows that have come and gone since I started.

What I know for sure: Often we don't even realize who we're meant to be because we're so busy trying to live out someone else's ideas. But other people and their opinions hold no power in defining our destiny. 

What has made me successful is the ability to surrender my plans, dreams, and goals to a power that's greater than other people and greater than myself.

Before making any major moves, I first ask: "What would you have me do? Who would you have me be?" 

And then I try to live the answer.

=

Source: Oprah's all-time top 20 discoveries

 Since the day the late Gene Siskel asked me, "What do you know for sure?" and I got all flustered and started stuttering and couldn't come up with an answer, I've never stopped asking myself that question. And every month I must find yet another answer. Some months I feel I hardly know a thing, and I'm always pressed to make the deadline for this column. This time around, I looked back and came up with my all-time top 20:

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what. (This is my creed.)

2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.

3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.

4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)

5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.

6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.

7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)

8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.

9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.

10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

11. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn't lie.

12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.

13. Let passion drive your profession. 

14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.

15. Love doesn't hurt. It feels really good.

16. Every day brings a chance to start over.

17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.

18. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.

19. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come.

20. "Trouble don't last always." (A line from a Negro spiritual, which calls to mind another favorite: This, too, shall pass.) 

The answer continues... 

Thukdam ~ Death Meditation

Thupten Rinpoche has entered Thukdam (death Meditation) since May 2011

A good summary is found here in a blog by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche:
http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/new-zealand-tv-reports-thupten-rinpoches-death-meditation.html

"What is Thukdam?" His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was asked.

He replies "At the time of death, the heart beating stop, brain dead, but still the subtle level of consciousness is still there. There has been 30-40 cases of Thukdam recorded in India for over the past 50years. The longest being 4 weeks so far."

Short biography of The Venerable Thupten Rinpoche:
http://dbc.dharmakara.net/thupbiog.html

Growing Old (In reverse of Young), Dying, Death

Watching the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was fascinating to me,  as it tries to show us how humans directly and indirectly fears or welcomes growing old. The movie synopsis: Benjamin Button was born under unusual circumstances. As everyone around him grew older, he aged backwards, meeting the challenges of life.

Just like this article by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche: About 6 elderly Singaporeans die alone each month , I can't help but reflect about it.

~~~

BEING/ GROWING OLD AND YOUNG.
Actually aging is like being a child once again — we need help with everything — dressing, shitting, walking, feeding, tantrum, everything under the sun. An old man and a child really needs help, support, love and people around them to care for them. this is a fact and a natural phenomena. Even if they cannot remember or know why, life moves on with this fact. As a 3rd party, when we are able, we see that with compassion and help if we can. As a person going through these stages, we may or may not be aware of what is a better option — we merely take what we have and feel the suffering when we are not in a good able situation.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLD MAN AND YOUNG CHILD
In a child, exposure to everything & habits aids to build his/her persona — which helps to build a plot within a story for his/her life (besides having inborn/inbuilt predetermined will/fate/voice/talent/personality etc).
For the elderly — mind is likely more solid with life's experiences or beliefs, and the growth has been met —what's different is that one is hit with memory loss and physical breakdown of the body with no control.

ABANDONMENT
As much as abandonment happens to children, they happen to the elderly too. I guess this is why many organizations try to help both areas.

WHAT SHALL WE ATTACH TO?
Memories of good times or not — they can be used as a form of attachment when we dwell overly into it. It can make us dysfunctional too.

If we focus on creating results: some options I thought of:
1) We dedicate our lives trying to help elevate and uplift human's physical suffering - means help the old aged or young aged. Family or non family.
2) We could try to be an elevated saint that can go above this realm and then heal others through some special power....
3) We dedicate our entire life giving back to our own parents/kids/family members and forget about our own ambition if that means we have to just focus on their needs. Its like making this a Dharma Path instead of living a monastic life away from the parents who probably misses their kid very much.

One person has only 2 pairs of hands, legs. As some of us may also be born with defects that needs care, i think its reasonable to say — we all try our best to give our best.


WHAT CAN I DO?
Since 'Ahimsa' or 'non-violence' is also inclusive of the act of neglect and act to ignore those in need of our care, I gather the article written by Tsem Rinpoche is coming from the fact that we can do more — perhaps as an individual, as a Dharma practitioner, or as a community all in all.

To be open and caring to all beings, whether we are directly or indirectly blood related.

INTENTION / MOTIVATION
But on a positive note, we can cultivate the biggest heart and mind and try to elevate suffering through different means.

If we are centered, and clear with good intention and motivation - we may be able to centre ourselves to  be healthy in all manners: physically, mentally, spiritually — ease away/detox/cleanse — so that we can be at our best, truest,  pure and true self — to give more to individuals or support centers, etc.

Perhaps even increase our level of consciousness and do what saints do... ; )

ULTIMATELY
In the end — perhaps the greatest fear of growing old, dying or at the death bed, or living alone is the same — it is the fear of dying all alone, without anyone by the side, without warmth and love?

I recall hearing a friend's experience in the hospice that some are able to Let Go and Embrace and they do too can go peacefully.

However, besides helping care for them physically or emotionally when they need it — we still cannot go to the grave with them. We can only support them to walk them there.

So, if there is any effect of growing old and dying or anything left hanging — a void/ a fear / something left unanswered — the answer and void will have to be filled first.

Ultimately, I feel that every human being must and should still find their own peace, to learn to Let Go. I think this is the best aid one can give as a gift — Prayers for the Dying.. and it is the best gift for one who is at the receiving end. Better still if there is a faith they have chosen. 

Growing old, dying alone is a very unpleasant experience indeed. I hope I can do more for my parents when my time is here. But I can't help but wonder if I'll be a lonely, old dying person myself .. who knows, life is unpredictable.

DEATH
Dying, Growing Old with illness and Death are quite different too.

Death can hit just tomorrow or this instant. Death is the best thing to help us question priorities, and awareness. Dying and growing old is the more painful long journey one with ups and downs. Perhaps to me, the fear of dying and growing old (with illness, diseases or inability to function) is more scary than Death.

I really like the story of the crow sitting over my shoulder to remind me to seize the day today ~ be happy today and not just do, but manifest my best today.

All this reflection talk inspires me to handle my own fears of dying, and growing old through more spiritual growth. For this is the only path i know i can think of overcoming the fear.

At least embracing that it will happen, and try to live life expecting Death to come — so as to appreciate everything now and each opportunity, and then try to expand beyond this life with our intention and motivation, as a man who serves to share what is already given in this life.

I have much to learn, I have much to practice, I have much to understand about this concept of preparing and meditating about death to embrace it more, if there is such a thing as, after death, something awaits..

~ N

My Yoga Path Reminder!

Free your body and your mind will follow ~ Peter Cohen

Yoga is your direct intimacy with your own life… which is inherently mind-blowing ~ Peter Cohen

from http://www.theawakeningtree.com/

Micheal Stone - The Building Blocks of Personality (Part 1 of 3)

when i listen i make notes so i can reflect and remember...

~~~

Micheal Stone - The Building Blocks of Personality (Part 1 of 3)

http://youtu.be/abjvESMTVQ0

Drawn from Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, Michael Stone lights up the roots of suffering, the 5 klesas, and the building blocks of personality.

~~~

The 5 Kleasas (The roots of suffering)

Introduction: 

The format that we've been using here is sitting meditation every Tue - and we go through various text.

Yoga sutra - written over 2000 yrs ago. No figure of Patanjali in art/temples. A subversive character who seemed to have compiled many teachings into a text that is very paradoxical and problematic which makes it interesting, probably why its lasted so long in oral tradition.

We are now at the 1st section of the 2nd chapter.

KLESAS - translated as the root of suffering but we are looking at it as a building blocks of a personality - and how a personality is created out of the conditions in our changing life. and how a personality can be an elastic process.

To start off: when we have an experience, there's contact between

SENSE ORGAN + SENSE OBJECT = SENSATION (Attachment/Aversion)

There's seansation FEELING that gives rise to a spilt –

- positive we tend to get Attachment (Raga)

- when its negative we have Aversion (Dvesa)

Attachment is actually Aversion - and vice versa - two sides of the same coin.

When we are leaning into the experience, or away from the experience, this gives birth to a sense of self. This Gives rise to I, Me, Mine.

eg. Discomfort in the body/knee during meditation. THere's contact, feeling (negative), internally our language begins to change - we say, i am in pain or i don't' like this.

Sensation - Feeling - Aversion = 'i am in pain'

Attachment or Aversion - Gives rise to the sense of self.

TWO THINGS START TO HAPPEN -

1) the creation of a story

2) awareness of time

Our sense of self is created, we also construct a relationship to time - when there's a aversion, there's also a keen sense of time.

In JUNG's idea and definition of EGO - ie. a defense complex born of liking and disliking

and is always surrounded  by this ocean that is constantly traumatizing it.

SELF = CORK IN ACTION

When the machine gets derailed, the response is not being devastated. But becoming a kind of virtuoso - agile.

Agility: allowing the self to be derailed

- if you want to open up to the world, you have to take care of the self

- you take of the self in order to forget the self

- and our ability to be an island means we are creating a boundary

- we are creating a self, out of a commitment to non reactivity

- and out of a commitment to non reactivity we find parts of our selves that are surprising 

and this is what it means to be creative  and in then in finding ourselves parts of ourself which are surprising,

we find a sense of self, we dont get rid of the self, and in the process of being surprised, its a process of forgetting about one self

and same thing when we are serving others 

- you cannot serve others unless you take care of yourself

The mechanism in the mind that creates this story is

AHAM KARA 

AHA - AHAM - i - maker

KARA - to Make

krama - to create

The i-maker/ that mechanism inside of us that seems to create a sense of self. 

What happens with the with technology of meditation is that the storyteller is actually related to the way we breathe and so the citta (the patterning of the mind) is directly related to the patterning of the breathing.

And so as we start to let the breath get really really quiet the storytelling also starts getting really really quiet, and thats why i think u can't really know that kind of concentration without storytelling, without Asana Practice.

Because theres so much movement, that really requires  a subtlety of breathing to get that concentration.

------ end of Part 1

Dharma quotes

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

No material object, however beautiful or valuable, can make us feel loved, because our deeper identity and true character lie in the subjective nature of the mind.

by Lama Yeshe

To have an easy, happy life you have to be willing to correct your behavior and attitude and then make the effort to do so.

by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

This is very important in order for us to know clearly about the eight worldly dharmas. If you don't fully know, discover, recognize, there is no way to make pure Dharma Practice.

In the West, some people believe that you get rid of your anger by expressing it, that you finish it by letting it out. Actually, in this case what happens is that you leave an imprint in your mind to get angry again.

The path is the holy Dharma and the essence of the path is the good heart.

Buddha has already fulfilled his responsibility by revealing the path. Now its up to us.

The real practice of Dharma, the real meditation, is never to harm others. This protects both your own peace of mind and that of other beings. This is true, religious practice practice, it brings benefit to both yourself and others.

Use your wisdom to analyze what is most beneficial for yourself, the world and all other sentient beings ~ not just for now but also for the long distant future ~ and on the basis of that, decide how best to lead your life.

This good heart should be our prime concern in life.

For happiness cherish others.

The door of dharma practice is observing karma.

Daily Reflections" by Geshe Chonyi ~ from ABC centre

 

"From the moment you consider yourself to be a Dharma practitioner, you should always relate the teachings to the state of your mind and check if you are working to defeat your afflictions. Whatever you do - be it listening to the teachings, doing your daily commitments, practising generosity and so forth - you should check: "Will doing this help to weaken or even destroy my negative emotions?"and set the motivation, "I am doing this so that I can subdue my afflictions." By sincerely setting such a motivation, the process of destroying our afflictions has already begun."