Think. All the answers are available to you.
"Buddhism teaches methods for attaining a saner state of being, a happier life and ultimately an awakened state of mind." Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche

Friday, January 31, 2014

Lessons

(Carter Scott references this quotation:) "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." (Helen Keller)

Rule One - You will receive a body. Whether you love it or hate it, it's yours for life, so accept it. What counts is what's inside.

Rule Two - You will be presented with lessons. Life is a constant learning experience, which every day provides opportunities for you to learn more. These lessons specific to you, and learning them 'is the key to discovering and fulfilling the meaning and relevance of your own life'.

Rule Three - There are no mistakes, only lessons. Your development towards wisdom is a process of experimentation, trial and error, so it's inevitable things will not always go to plan or turn out how you'd want. Compassion is the remedy for harsh judgement - of ourselves and others. Forgiveness is not only divine - it's also 'the act of erasing an emotional debt'. Behaving ethically, with integrity, and with humour - especially the ability to laugh at yourself and your own mishaps - are central to the perspective that 'mistakes' are simply lessons we must learn.

Rule Four - The lesson is repeated until learned. Lessons repeat until learned. What manifest as problems and challenges, irritations and frustrations are more lessons - they will repeat until you see them as such and learn from them. Your own awareness and your ability to change are requisites of executing this rule. Also fundamental is the acceptance that you are not a victim of fate or circumstance - 'causality' must be acknowledged; that is to say: things happen to you because of how you are and what you do. To blame anyone or anything else for your misfortunes is an escape and a denial; you yourself are responsible for you, and what happens to you. Patience is required - change doesn't happen overnight, so give change time to happen.

Rule Five - Learning does not end. While you are alive there are always lessons to be learned. Surrender to the 'rhythm of life', don't struggle against it. Commit to the process of constant learning and change - be humble enough to always acknowledge your own weaknesses, and be flexible enough to adapt from what you may be accustomed to, because rigidity will deny you the freedom of new possibilities.

Rule Six - "There" is no better than "here". The other side of the hill may be greener than your own, but being there is not the key to endless happiness. Be grateful for and enjoy what you have, and where you are on your journey. Appreciate the abundance of what's good in your life, rather than measure and amass things that do not actually lead to happiness. Living in the present helps you attain peace.

Rule Seven - Others are only mirrors of you. You love or hate something about another person according to what love or hate about yourself. Be tolerant; accept others as they are, and strive for clarity of self-awareness; strive to truly understand and have an objective perception of your own self, your thoughts and feelings. Negative experiences are opportunities to heal the wounds that you carry. Support others, and by doing so you support yourself. Where you are unable to support others it is a sign that you are not adequately attending to your own needs.

Rule Eight - What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. Take responsibility for yourself. Learn to let go when you cannot change things. Don't get angry about things - bitter memories clutter your mind. Courage resides in all of us - use it when you need to do what's right for you. We all possess a strong natural power and adventurous spirit, which you should draw on to embrace what lies ahead.

Rule Nine - Your answers lie inside of you. Trust your instincts and your innermost feelings, whether you hear them as a little voice or a flash of inspiration. Listen to feelings as well as sounds. Look, listen, and trust. Draw on your natural inspiration.

Rule Ten - You will forget all this at birth. We are all born with all of these capabilities - our early experiences lead us into a physical world, away from our spiritual selves, so that we become doubtful, cynical and lacking belief and confidence. The ten Rules are not commandments, they are universal truths that apply to us all. When you lose your way, call upon them. Have faith in the strength of your spirit. Aspire to be wise - wisdom the ultimate path of your life, and it knows no limits other than those you impose on yourself.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Leadership

“Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching.”- George Van Valkenburg

Monday, January 20, 2014

Good times

It's wonderful when your weekend lasts until Monday 05:33 in the morning and you didn't expect it. Thank you for great friends.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

And you know it

The questions about life and death. Destiny and faith. About future and the past. Wondering about ourselves and others around us. Looking for the answers. We are constantly looking for answers. For someone or something to explain to us what is it all about. Like in Monty Python's Meaning of Life: Why are we here? What's life all about? Is God really real, or is there some doubt? and all the rest.

The answers are already known. Looking for them may prove difficult if we are looking in the wrong place. It applies especially to question of metaphysical nature. Answers are within ourselves. We already know as much as we possibly can. We will not know anymore than we already know and no one knows more than we know about ourselves. Escaping to alternate sources of knowledge will create an illusory feeling of realisation.

I dare you. Look for answers within yourself. You may surprise yourself with your discoveries.

"Life is a journey not a destination"

Friday, January 17, 2014

Carpe Diem

We are just passengers in this life, so sit and enjoy the ride. Who knows how long is it going to remain the same. However. being intelligent we are capable of controlling this vehicle, choice is yours. If you feel like, take the control and change direction and speed and then again just sit and enjoy new scenery. Who knows where this takes you. You may surprise yourself. It will certainly surprise you.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Genesis

I love the fact that my birthday is in January. It is at the beginning of the year and I enter each year older and wiser. Sort of. I have a feeling that this year is going to bring a lot of changes in my life. I realised that I like change. And so be it! Change come at me in all of your denominations! January. New start. New beginnings!