All posts by Manu

Want To Stop The Suffering?

Any person who wants to stop suffering from himself can start by saying, ‘I am responsible for my own problems and no one else.’ That is the beginning of beauty in the individual life.Vernon Howard

suffering

Even during our darkest hour we control how much we suffer. Even the darkest hour must transform when the first rays of wisdom’s light pierce the darkness. Pain is inevitable but suffering is often optional.

becoming beautiful

Over time we understand that we were built to overcome obstacles and in the process become more than we were…

Once we’re watchful of self, our reactions, how we deal with situations and our attitude, then that very awareness blazes the path to more truth, beauty and goodness in life.

Daily Affirmation: Today I choose light.

Recommendation: Awakening of Intelligence by Jiddu Krishnamurti

Awakening of Intelligence, TheKindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

Love To Criticize?

If you truly desire to overcome the habit of criticizing some friend, the quickest and surest way of achieving such a change of attitude is to establish the habit of praying for that person every day of your life.The Urantia Book

gossip

Let’s face it. It’s fun to gossip and fun to criticize others. At least some of the time! It’s also true that when we criticize we don’t feel too good about our selves. It actually saps our self-esteem and energy.

self-esteem

A low self-esteem is the root of all evil. Yes, think about that. When we feel low due to a tanking self-esteem, we’re often nasty to others, and when that’s taken to an extreme we can actually hurt others.

Prayer not only addresses this issue of self-esteem but also helps us change our attitude towards other people who we so love to criticize!

Daily Affirmation: Today I feel better because I pray for others!

Recommendation: The Urantia Papers

The Urantia Book: Indexed Version with free Audio Book on DVD (Can only be played on a computer with a DVD drive.)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

Don’t Just Sit There!!

Don’t just do something, sit there.Bumper Sticker

do something

That we must be doing something, constantly, is firmly ingrained in our collective consciousness. And not just that, we’re to feel guilty if we don’t do what’s expected of us or what we expect of self. And because of this epidemic we suffer. Thanks to a friend who alerted me to this quote!

be~zen~do

As previously introduced be~zen~do aptly describes the antidote to this pervasive societal illness. Let’s learn to just be. Let’s inhabit the current moment firmly and completely. Let’s breathe deeply and not for a moment think what needs to be done or what we ought to be worrying about. When we do that often, peace results. Our health blossoms and we’re made ready to receive divine inspiration. So it’s certainly worth a try!

Daily Affirmation: Today I AM OK with just being.

Recommendation: Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There by Sylvia Boorstein

Don't Just Do Something, Sit There: A Mindfulness Retreat with Sylvia BoorsteinKindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

What We Truly Are…

The kind of world you experience outwardly is the same kind of world you are inwardly.Vernon Howard

inside out

It all flows from the inside. It all emerges from the source. Our experiences and proclivities determine our inner life. And in more ways than we know our inner life determines the outer. The way we interact with others, what we expect from life and how we show up, is all largely determined by our inner mental makeup.

rejig

There are ways to transform the inside if we’re looking to affect the external. The essential idea is Stillness or Meditation. Such a practice opens us up to the deep internal (the spiritual) and the external (experiential). By stilling our incessant thoughts and reducing our worries we’re primed for inspiration from the inside and wisdom from relationship-events. We become the still center that’s peaceful and we tend to allow things to be as they are…

Daily Affirmation: Today I just AM.

Recommendation: The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power by Vernon Howard

The Mystic Path to Cosmic PowerKindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

How To Reach Eternal Certainty…

9.30 For even if the greatest sinner worships me with all his soul … he shall soon become pure and reach everlasting peace. For this is my word of promise, that he who loves me shall not perish. The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 9)

guilty?

How often do we feel guilty during the course of a day? How much guilt do we carry around from other aspects of our lives? Guilt is a fancy albatross. There’s a way to toss it aside and become free…

forgive

The attitude of forgiveness is the secret ingredient to peace and to eternal salvation. God is ever willing to forgive and she does. Why? Because she understands our nature, our plight and our circumstances better than anyone else. We are her children. When we forgive others and self we pave the way open for God’s forgiveness and love to deeply satisfy our heart. In that space we can start healing. In God’s love and in loving others therefore, is the path to peace and eternal certainty…

Daily Affirmation: Today I AM certain of God’s love for me.

Recommendation: The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics) by Juan Mascaro

The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

Be Zen Do!

You can change a great many things. Or you can change. Same-same.The Universe

shift

There’s a whole lot we’d like to see change. How will those very things and circumstances change if our perspective towards them changes? What’ll happen if our fundamental outlook towards life and happiness itself permanently shifts? How then will we view the world?

effecting change

It’s one thing to want to change it’s quite another to actually effect that change, especially in self! Many books and treatises have been written on this important topic, some essential learnings follow:

Our whole being must be involved if we mean to change. Mind, body and soul. I call it be~zen~do. We must actualize in mind and soul that which we want to be and only then will we ready to ‘do’ it lastingly. Applying Zen principles to the process, as in ‘Be Here Now’, makes a huge difference. ‘Be’ something first, be present, be mindful and then attempt to cement that idea in by doing it. It does take a habit about 28 days to form; so lets keep that in mind!

Daily Affirmation: Today I look at life differently.

Recommendation: Notes from the Universe by Mike Dooley

Notes from the Universe: New Perspectives from an Old FriendKindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6

Believe We Can Win And We Do!

Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.Richard Bach

believe to win

Our expectations and our beliefs about life, in a very large way, determine how life turns out. That’s true for relationships, health as well as our financial well being. Ever notice how much easier it is for people from wealthy backgrounds to have great success in their careers or business? Whatever we believe, really believe and expect, determines our lives.

winning?

But hold on. What is winning? Unless we can define what winning means to us we’ll never be sure what it is that we’re winning!

It behooves us then to understand what we’re meant to be and to do on this planet. Not until we get a better handle on that can we be fulfilled by whatever we do win…

Daily Affirmation: Today I win at what matters.

Recommendation: True Purpose by Tim Kelley

True Purpose: 12 Strategies for Discovering the Difference You Are Meant to MakeKindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6