Beautiful!

Thanks Deepak for this wonderful note about going back to ourSelves... we are One so we have take care of each soul that represents the Universe... Namasté.

Right on! The body is our only means of experiencing this world, and as Blake says, it isn't separate from the soul but a "portion of the soul discernible by the senses" So, within the context of this life, it is indeed our only life, our only way of being, and our only way of experiencing. What' more it is completely informed by the void or transcendent, and any toxins only serve to block out that connection. All problems may simply be a result of blocking out that connection. Hence the need to re connect or "re ligio" The Universe is the Ultimate Free Lunch!

Happiness is of two types - temporary and permanent. Temporary happiness can be got by the sugar-coated pills of worldly stuff. When the sugar coat goes away, so does the happiness making it temporary.

One of the keys to permanent everlasting happiness is getting rid of desires... big and small...

Bliss!

Deepak, I can't express it anymore than to say thank you for everything and for lighting the dark little path that was my life . . . again and . . . again. . .

A multitude of Blessings for 06.

Love C

Thanks, Dr. Chopra, for the list!

Deepak,

That was a great start for the new year so succinct.

Those must be the keys to the Kingdom, of Heaven on Earth.

When we eliminate fear, there will be nothing to fear.

Truth Seeker,

I lost all my desires once, didn't like it, didn't have anything to do, so I recreated some and I was happy. The desires I created were not for objects but for experience.

Perhaps we should simply avoid being a slave to them and become adept at turning them off and on.

Perhaps we focus to much on objects, when it is a certain type of experience that is best to desire.

Look at children they are most happy when they are caught up in play with no end.

Thanks for the New Year's gift!

Deepak,

I was trying to post my thoughts on your earlier blog. I see something strange that everybody starts praising you, no matter what you write. I wonder if the readers here have left any part of their thinking brains? They cannot see a single fallacy in your thoughts. I used to hear only God is perfect. Now it appears whatever you say or write is perfect. Amazing, isn't it? I am going to analyse your writing in a little bit more detail to see what is going on here. Are you perfect or everybody else here is imperfect in thought processing?

Kind Regards
Tanzan Senzaki

PS: Do not see any maliciousness here. I am writing all this in good faith. I will be posting my comments on this blog later.

I think Dr. Chopra is on better footing with personal development issues like happiness. I have no problem with the list, however, I would like to add the following quote from a wise commentator to add to #4 on this list:

"A poor man who can make himself satisfied with his portion will be happier than a wealthy man who does not allow himself to be satisfied."

So count your blessings everyone and live life with an attitude of gratitude.

Steve

Well Tanzen,

I don't think Deepak wrote that, God did, Deepak just pressed the keys on the keyboard.

Of course if you really had it down, you would realize that you wrote them.

Just like you are writing these that you now read.

Seems you have forgot who I am, but not to worry I know who I am and I know who you are.

;)

God reads and writes everything.

It says so in the sentence above.

But who you think you are is not God, you are not who you think you are, because who you really are can not be thought, it can only Be.

In other words you are not that mask you wear at this moment.

Check out this Galactic Butterfly.

www.mayanmajix.com/gb250.html

beautiful...happy people are healthy people//oi would like to add, happy people spread happiness by just being, in all that they do or express...
but i wonder whether we can use realms of efforts to achieve happiness and joy...personally i have found the faculty of awareness to be more useful...while in functional areas of our lives as in external spaces, we need "effort", inner realms demand an active passivity...we cannot create joy or love, we can become aware of its absence and allow for them to manifest from their veiled existences in our lives...they are intrinsic to us and only need to surface from deep domains of suppressions and hurts within...we have to break through layers of conditioned spaces in physical and psycholical realms to arrive there...
beutiful post for the beginning of the new year...Thank You.

In Infinite Play The Movie, I play one of the Characters called Shiva. In the movie I return to destroy Ego and Illusion. I slay the beast called ignorance.

So I picked up a lot in my character study.

___Richard---->

After reading some of the replys I must agree with Abe, Most people are only as happy as they decide to be. Jesus would be sad, I think, to see how you treat others in his name.

As for the Ten Keys to Happiness, I think they are wonderful. Deepak thanks for all your good thought, they have helped me in all areas of my life for the last 15 years or so. (And by the way, Deepak helped me to get back to God and to Jesus by teaching me how to look inward)

thank you so much...
what a beautiful reminder...
Self to Self..love, Carolyn

This is my first time reading your stuff. I find you r list to be enlightening and I will print it off... to continuosly remind me of the true things that make me happy.

I look forward to reading your books and your blog.

Tanzan, you crack me up, man, lighten up for gods sakes, and have some fun,
Love, Passion!,
Ps. most people havn't done their spiritual homework, yet, here, so, watcha gonna do? write a thesis on that? or a poem in your case..;)
Ps.2 nice thoughts for the new years by the way,
Neverland approval ;)
Ps. is it the messenger or the messege..or the intent..?

"Seems you have forgot who I am, but not to worry I know who I am and I know who you are."

~Richard Thomas

***
I have no idea who you are. And I never knew who you were. So your existence never entered into memory. I only know that you post many comments that I rarely read except a couple where you asked me some question about God and I answered If there is God, he is as stupid as man is. And I referred you to a poem why I said so.

So again I have no earthly idea what do you mean by the above statement in your post. Not to say the least, in your adjoining posts above.

"I don't think Deepak wrote that, God did, Deepak just pressed the keys on the keyboard."

This reminds of Gabriell telling Prophet Mohammad what messages God was sending. And of Moses etching God's ten commandments on a slab of stone, bending over it, with a hammer in one hand and a chisel in the other.
Poor Moses! Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon him). Are you casting Deepak Chopra now in the same vein?

Regards
TS

MDP,

Your posts crack me up too! Sometime I wonder what's going on with so much collective
consciousness here!

All my inspirations - followed by whatever I write - are coming from reading the stuff posted here. 'Do not be mistaken' - now quoting our President of great intellect - I am, like you, having great fun.

I just posted a response to Richard Thomas. It is being held for scrutiny of malicious contents. I do not know when DC is going to release it for the pleasure of Richard Thomas.

TS

Dear Deepak,

I really appreciate your enlightening contribution especially at the brand new start of the year. I've even posted your article on my personal weblog-site - do visit if u can and pls. sign my guestbook, would love it. www.freewebs.com/madz03

I have promised 'self-improvement' to myself as a whole - from both inside and out this year...through this journey called life we can only grow, if, we have an open mind in all aspects and that is what I'm trying to learn & achieve. By God's grace may we all be successful in achieving our goals. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and everyone once again!

Dear Deepak,

Thank you for this great gift on New Year's Day - great words of inspiration and truth.

Happy New Year in the truest sense of the word.

Susan

Thank you Dr. Chopra. Number 2 is especially relevant to me. Learning to "Let Go and Let God" is at the forefront for me right now. I will post this on my refridgerator as a daily reminder.

Love Faye

Wonderful codes for self-fulfillment that would ultimately lead ALL, to the realm of world mind-peace!

North

Happiness does not come by reading and following such sutras but by experiencing and arriving at them yourself.

May be Deepak has arrived and he must give his experiences now, but the takers should not get complacent by reading them and thinking that they have become happy now.

A child cannot begin running just by reading books he will have to grow up which he cannot by reading books.

beautifully put, harb...

Deepak,

Have you been playing around a burning bush?

Those just got approved as the new Ten Commandments by the Emeritus. They liked the use of "Keys" better, Being that we are a bit more sophisticated now than then.

Let me guess I AM that I AM sent you.

True Harb; one must learn to walk, before they learn to run.

However, the pointers are great guidlines for "takers" to sift through; take what is needed them; while the rest is sifted through.

I like them; but ultimately we are all already following the guidelines posted, in a more natural state; which is often of confusion; so the pointers will help many choose a path.

Tanzan, to set the record straight for myself at least; I think Deepak is great! I am here because of Deepak's writings; because I admire the writing, and the subjects of which he writes about. Why else would anyone be here, if not to pay homage to the Blog-Host we admire, whom created where you write? lol

Just because I admire Deepak as a writer and a visionary; by no means, imply's my own thinking is disturbingly lacking or painfully interupted.

That's a little preposterous of an empty assumption if you ask me; and seems to be below your intellect Tanzan.

Not sure how anyone else feels about your remark, however humble and clean-intended; but, I thought I'd speak up for myself on this one.

No one holds my thoughts captive, but me; I am the holder!

North

Thank you! Thank you !! Thank you !!! Deepak

Great summary of wisdom to live by...

-Hari

harb, first off, you were born happy, so to speak, it's a love thing, and then you got 'conditioned' seccond,
it doesn't take a genius to see patterns in human behaviour, you may call that jurisprudence of the mind, third, and goodnight, it's passed my bedtime here in neverland, angels do not run,
they fly, that's why tinkerbell has wings, and as
the spiritual saying goes, (or song ;)
a gentleman walks, but never runs,

(unless he does, but that's in the gym,
or CIA's hit and run, and then deny- school of enlightend thought..;)

Love, Passion,

Harb,

If someone thinks they are happy they probably are.

Those are executable steps and an application of wisdom.

I don't think Deepak was implying that you could just read them, you must apply them, which can be the hardest challenge on earth and if one does one might reach the peak experience.

Happy new year.

2006 The Year I AM Unleashed.

Deepak,
The keys are beautiful and true.
The second key is the one I am struggling with.
Some of my memories are enchanting...
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Love,
Donatella

Best of wishes to all. As a new member I would like to thank Deepak for sharing his wisdom with us all.
There is much to be learned on how one can relate to another human being here on this planet. For if we are to succeed in ushering in the new age we need to realize that we are all responsible for creating a "Rainbow Bridge".
Not only is Peace of upmost importance, we must individually treat all our fellow humans with tolerance, patience, kind thoughts, and reverence. I am eagerly await Mother natures gradually dawning into the New Age has we continue to learn that we are more than ourselves.

"Happiness does not come by reading and following such sutras but by experiencing and arriving at them yourself." ~Harb

You are a man of wisdom, Harb.

TS

Although God writes and reads everything the Ego can distort what is read and written, the truth be bitten.

"Seems you have forgot who I am, but not to worry I know who I am and I know who you are."

~Richard Thomas

***
I have no idea who you are. And I never knew who you were. So your existence never entered into memory. I only know that you post many comments that I rarely read except a couple where you asked me some question about God and I answered If there is God, he is as stupid as man is. And I referred you to a poem why I said so.

So again I have no earthly idea what do you mean by the above statement in your post. Not to say the least, in your adjoining posts above.

"I don't think Deepak wrote that, God did, Deepak just pressed the keys on the keyboard."

This reminds of Gabriel telling Prophet Mohammad what messages God was sending. And of Moses etching God's ten commandments on a slab of stone, bending over it, with a hammer in one hand and a chisel in the other. Poor Moses! Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon him). Are you casting Deepak Chopra now in the same vein?

Regards
TS

Hi All,

I feel like I understand point # 6 in Deepak's list, but not quite.

6. .... What you most hate is what you most deny in yourself. What you most love is what you most wish for in yourself. ... The goal is total self-knowledge. When you achieve that, what you most want will automatically be there, and what you most dislike will disappear.

Ok, so
I want to manifest a certain thing/experience.

Knowing what I hate the most and What I love the most, how can I attain "total self-knowledge", I guess the question is what is total self-knowledge in this context? Is it that what you hate the most and love the most are two sides of the same coin?

Going backwards, I may have several things I hate and love at varying levels, how do I know which ones correspond to each other and which pair corresponds to manifesting the object of my current burning desire so that I can work on them right away ?

I know I am thinking too much here...

Anyways, any input from anybody is appreciated.

-Thanks
Hari

It's a game Tanzan, and you do just fine playing your character. A sort of infinite play for the infinite minded. Not everyone gets it.

Harb kind of explained it.

"Happiness does not come by reading and following such sutras but by experiencing and arriving at them yourself." ~Harb

I fully understand your ego not letting you read certain things, not a problem.

Happy new year.

Hari "total self-knowledge" might be like realizing who you really are.

You might start here if you have a broadband connection a sample that contains a starting point.

mms://64.59.82.210/MWshort

"I fully understand your ego not letting you read certain things, not a problem." ~Richard Thomas

***
I am pleased to know what you (can) fully understand. May God bless you with further understandings!

Best wishes
TS

With all due respect Deepak, I have to play the Devil's advocate here

The 10 steps sounds very good, and quite simple, although I can only find 8 steps
# 8 seems to repeats #1 and # 10 sounds a lot like # 6.

To Para phrase

Know and take care of your body!
Be here now!
Meditate!
Give up your ego!
Don't get mad!
Know the world is your mirror!
Judge not!
Exchange Love for fear.

Should be no problem. If your life is running smoothly like yours and mine.

But what if the bills aren't paid, and your 8 kids are screaming?
What if war or disaster are coming through your front door?
What if you don't even have a door anymore and it's snowing?
What if your whole family were just killed in the earthquake, tsunami, or typhoon?
What if your beloved Wife or Husband just up and left you?
What if you were being tortured in prison, or you were being molested every night by
your Father or Uncle? Or any of a host of other unimaginable problems they befall humanity everyday?

I think you might need to get mad and want to break the mirror, not to mention pass a little judgement..
What do you think?

Respectfully,

Stan

Hello again Richard: I've been enjoying your references to the "I AM," especially 2006 being a year for that most-divine energy to have the leash taken off and set that "Dog" to runnin' free and wild.

You may find a most unique masterpiece, but an easy read for you in light of...., called "The God I AM: From Tragic to Magic," by Peter O. Erbe (an Aussie from 'downunder') to be a piece that most directly verifies the scent that the "bloodhound" known as Richard Thomas is onto, is quite real! Think it would hit home for you--Dave

Dear Deepak

I can't believe this.....I had the same feelings over the New Year but could not find the words to say it to myself. Maybe, the Intelligence led me here! Thank You So Much for saying in words what we feel by Grace.

Hi David,

I read the review and comments for the book, strangely familiar concepts, think for bringing it to our attention.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/0646052551/103-2369621-6008601?v=glance&n=283155

Awe and then some book I think.

One commentor said this

"If you get this book (as in: really get it) you are one scarey mother. If you are a mere mortal I wouldn't bother aiming quite so high just yet. If you are an intellectual snob you wont really get it but you may want people to think you do. I thought The Souless Ones was the deepest strangest book I ever read, but if anything this one is even deeper but not haunting. I found it easy to put away."

Stan, that is when you are really put to the test and have your greatest growth.

That is when all that talk gets exposed for being exactly that, just talk unless you really are resolved to it.

That is what turns a mere human into something greater than God.

That is how God in all his original greatness becomes greater.

That is when real miracles happen just when you think you can't take it any more.

Lessons don't get easier they get harder, at least until you get your degree.

Deepak,
Here are my thoughts on your Key # 1 to Happiness.

Listen to your body’s wisdom -- in other words try to think what is write and what is wrong based on your experiences. Do we not all do it all the times. So what is the wisdom here saying the same thing as: “Listen to your body’s wisdom..”

which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort – yes there is a motor and a sensory system in our bodies. When there is a problem with you right big toe, for example, the sensory system sends the message to the brain and your brain makes you respond by the motor system. Knowledge of the event is processed and stored in the brain. So is this what you are telling about discomfort and comfort? Or is there something profound here?

When choosing a certain behavior ask you body – do you ask your body or you ask your mind—brain? Or is the body the brain and the brain the mind?
In other words, consider the pro and cons before you want to do something. Is this what you want to say here? If so, why you keep on asking your body, eg, “ Hey my body , tell me….My body speak to me….My body I do not know….!” This seems all funny to me. Do you think by making such statements a layman will get your message easily?

If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out—don’t we react to physical distress and emotional distress, any way? Do you assume we are on drugs or emotionally dead that we have no feelings? Or we are under the influence of some anesthetic agent, we have lost the ability to recognize the physical distress, when it is there. Deepak, what are you talking here?

If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed—So in other words, when you think what you are doing seems to be OK according to your knowledge and previous experiences. Go and do it. Who does not do it this way? Maybe idiots – if you excuse me to put it this way. So again I do not see any profound thing here.

This is in brief my take on your Key # 1. I would not like to write a thesis here.
I can in the same vein keep on going through your other keys from # 2 to # 10.
But what would it accomplish if you never answer/make comments to what I write by saying you are going through a process of evolution through this exercise and you are now what you are now after evolving everyday – that is more or less what you wrote to me last time, unless I misunderstood you.

The comments of others readers are amusing, but I do note some of them have begun to think know except those who are still living in their infinite possibilities of their infinite minds in this infinite universe without any ego!

Kind regards
Tanzan Senzaki

Happiness..The ever eluding.

We have to simplify our lives and our selves to begin with.Prioritise.Do away with inessentials,in thought, word ,deed and need.A single principal has helped me in the above.Some things are within our control and some are not.When we clearly distinguish between the two, then inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.we cannot have a light heart if our life is a woeful cauldron of fear and unresonable ambition.

Moments of quietude and reflection are a must. at such times I search deply within to answer a simple question'if I were to die, as of now, will I be carrying with me ant feeling of guilt , regret, hate, unrequited desire?'.If the answer is yes, then work begins immediately to rid myself of the demon.There seems no further validation of happiness than to feel that you have lived the life you were meant to, as per plan,and have not entered into combat needlessly with things outside your control. Authentic happiness is always independent of external conditions. Therefore it can neither be accorded to you nor snatched away.

I was happy when my son bowed down to me to take blessngs for his examination. I will continue to be happy when maybe he doesnt do so in the near future, since it is not in my control. My idea concerning the event and my use of that idea will be the determinant of my state of mind. If I will happiness and vigilantly practice indifference, the 'ever elusive'may well be within reach.

We have to program our thinking and not vice versa.

Thank you Deepak for the keys...perhaps some of us would be able to use them for certain locks we have in life and others may not. Choice is powerful and putting them into action is even more so.

At least, we have some more keys available to us.

Richard, hope you don't mind me asking, would you further explain what you meant by
"That is what turns a mere human into something greater than God."?

Tanzan, do you have any keys to offer?
I would like to hear about them, I find some of your posts intriguing.

Just a thought, sometimes we can hear the same message over and over from countless others and poof! one day, the same message that was repeated for so many years can suddenly strike a cord within us that would cause us to change in a moment. Kind of like shooting pucks at the net, depending on our aim and a whole lot of other things, the puck finally makes it in. Perhaps there is no harm in hearing what may seem obvious to some...it's bound to make it through and resonate with others if the conditions are aligned for opportunity.

Peaceful New Year to Everyone here!

Namaste,
Cinda

"That is what turns a mere human into something greater than God." Quote Richard Thomas

I suspose you been there and done that right?

"Lessons don't get easier they get harder, at least until you get your degree." Quote Richard Thomas again

Are you sure you don't mean "key"?

Never miss a chance to advertise your own "gig"

"Relinquish your need for external approval. You alone are the judge of your worth, and your goal is to discover infinite worth in yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. There is great freedom in this realization"

I think that in a past life or maybe many that whatever I achieved for whatever reason I did not want "credit" for my accomplishments and yet I recieved ample applause at my work. Now however in this life, there are many things I have done since a young child and I always get put to the back and not noticed for it or someone else is getting credit or reaping benefits. I don't really care, my job is to awaken people and I do that almost every moment of my life. For some time I thought that this experience was a test of ego and I was to stay humble. But then comes the importance of authenticity. Maybe authenticity is over-rated I am not quite sure. I just think there is something wrong with this situation though. I am not too sure why I would change my mind about this in this life but I have. I think something can be learned when a project remains authentic. If you look at the character of a person who starts a project that is evolutionary/creative/brilliant beyong humanity (such as you) you will see that these beings have a heart of gold and a "master-like" character. People would want to become "that" if they knew in which head space true success really lies.

I remember reading in a book of letters that Tagore wrote to several people one which was written in his attempt to try to stop being awarded the nobel prize. How many books, poetry's, songs, plays and other amazing works he created. What is the reason why he did it without a care whether anyone noticed or not? Is it the righteousness of a humble character? I mean why are you writing all these and why are you doing work that is adored by many and to be displayed? If you do not want credit or appraisal then why would you do work that is naturally subject to such an outcome? Shouldn't it be important to know intimately the character of a person who creates such work?

Sorry for the sarcasm Richard but you do come off as a "know it all" sometimes.

No malice

Stan

Deepak, I am confused, what is the goal, total selfknowledge or hapiness?

Thank you Deepak.

And Harb, you said it:
"Happiness does not come by reading and following such sutras but by experiencing and arriving at them yourself." ~Harb

You also describe this clearly in your book Harb, as does Deepak in his Book of Secrets.

So sometimes reading them is not such a bad idea in order to be able to arrive at the experience.
By reading the above ten keys, some bells do indeed ring to me and it is mine and everyone´s very own way, how to deal with them inside in our own life. Everyone is unique, yet we all strife for the same goal, trying to be human.

And the underlying Force is Love.

Mieke

I can control my thoughts
My emotions come from my thoughts
I can control my emotions

- Wayne Dyer “ Erroneous Zones “

Mieke,

you are right. books of course point towards the way...

PS: I have written a long email to North. I have discussed the cover of your book with her in that email. Perhaps she will soon share it with you.

Harb, just found out what the word Love stands for: List of virtually everything !!

Your Mopc LOL

This list of virtually everything is unconditional, we are surrounded by it, live in it and cannot escape it.

Mieke

Tanzan, if you visit here, juct check the 2nd comment on 'the 11th key' post. something awaits you there. Rahul

Lol Mieke,

It could be our Mosc too!

In fact seen from the point of view of things it is all things (Mopc - Matter of physical category) and seen from the point of view of all spirit it is spirit Mosc - matter of spiritual ategory). Finally at is One.

Deepak,
thank you so much, I will print it out as a constant reminder.

Prabhakar,
Knowing your self means being happy. Happiness is usually pursued as a hunt for outside things, events or phenomenons, but what give us true happiness is knowledge of the self. What Deepaks describes above are steps to this knowledge.

I wish everybody a life of true happiness!

Tanzan,
your comments show that you don't know what Deepak is talking about. Because you don't know, you conclude that whoever agrees with what he's saying must be deluded. I work on a day to day basis with people who don't hear the signals from their bodies, and they all, like you, think that they do. You have no idea what an abundance of information you're missing when you condemn yourself to function from reason (the cortex) only. There is a whole world out there, outside of your limited rational perception. If you are the least interested in accessing it and not just going around in your intellectual circles proving yourself right, just ask and you'll get all the help that you need.

Harb, no one can do the work for others, it's true, but those who know from experience have a duty to live their knowledge and say what they know. That's why you've written a book, isn't it?

Dear Mr. Chopra,
how can we be happy, when we live in hard competition? Why people do not live in partnership? People look upon each other as on competitors, cause deficit to each other and thus make each other stressed (and mortal?).

In contrast, cells of our organisms live in perfect partnership, everything is made bespoke (except some cells of imune system, there is not any better possibility than a hard competition). Imagine, that we would have two pieces of pancreas, that would lead a hard competition (each pancreas would want to get the "market leader") - would we have more benefit or would we be more constricted and less functional?

Does competition among any selfreplicating existences increase the entropy of the universe?

Can someone get happy before people stop stressing each other?

I did not found on your page how to get a contributor...

Does Tanzan Senzaki have a feeling of inner sufficience or does he have a feeling of inner deficit? Does he look upon others as on competitors or potential workmates? Does he think that some people are simply of certain character and they cannot change?

morning guys,
Stan,
First, what are the consequences of the zero option, the most genius solutions are often too simple for Ego's grasp, and the Law of Giving, is indeed the last thing on uncle 'consumptions
'R us', Sams conditioning
Seccond, the spiritual principle of eventually,
doing nothing and accomplishing everything,

Love, Passion

If you have 1 option, you have no choice,
If you have 2 options, you have a dillemma,
If you have 3 options, you have a choice,
- Anthony Robbins, Time of your Life Programm,

Life's true dillema's really arise, when
you reach the 'damned if you do, and damned if you don't' crossroads, (in history we call that
'a Polish Special' ;)
and then it's time to transcend,

Love, Passion,

Nice Keys, Deepak. I agree with Harb when he says that happiness can be found only when you experience it yourself and not by following someone else's experience. I also agree with Aurora that those who have known through their own experience have a duty to tell it to others.

Nice post to start the New Year with. I just want to add a small thing:

Make Your Own Keys!

Cheers!
Navin

PS: The first golden rule is that there are no golden rules. (wink)

Hi Navin,

I just made a few keys of my own in interpreting the words Peace and Love for mySelf:

Peace: being aware of my own strength

Love: therefore knowing that virtually everything is possible and can become reality in (my) Life.

Translating books in a way makes me write my own Book of Secrets in my own language, as Deepak so eloquently explains in his own book. And so far this has been blissful.

And as Richard has explained, i am only writing to mySelf, so now i can wish mySelf from the bottom of My Heart:

Peace and Love

in 2006

and above

Namasté, Mieke

Marek,

I would like to respond to your observation or question, but I'm afaid you lost me somewhere between 0 option and uncle 'consumptions. Could you please try again.

Thanks
Stan

Hi Mieke,
If you find peace and happiness in translating books, then that is your meditation. That's your prayer to God. Respect the outer Gurus if they help you, but always listen to your inner Guru. The work of the Outer Guru is just to help you find your Inner Guru.

Be a light unto yourself.

Cheers and Namaste!
Navin

sure, bud,
the zero option is; doing nothing,

and my little society critisism, the Ego gratification thing, or consume till you drop, and 'think' later, (or in intl. law; heck! there isnt any..it's just paper..;)

do indeed find a nice Zen solution, in, 'just be', but that's a spiritual thing, this
little playground, just beyond right and wrong..;)

where, Will Smith is raps, pop the bubbly, life is lovely!..;)

With Love, Passion,

'..and uncle 'consumptions..'
Posted by: Stan

As in: Uncle Sams Toys'R'Us US of obesity and overdose(s),
america,
It ain't over till the fat lady sings,
but when the fat, jerry springer, lady,
thinks they are the Machiavelic masters of the universe, you better run! she'll turn the rest of the world in the legal trailerpark she comes from,

;)
Love, Passion,

Dear Tanzan,

It is wonderful to have a nay sayer like you here. It makes people think about accepted wisdom and question their beliefs. I will try to take your argument apart and see if your understanding of the world is flawed, with apologies for my presumptuousness.

Deepak says:

1. Listen to your body’s wisdom, which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort. When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, “How do you feel about this?” If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed.

and you say:

"which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort – yes there is a motor and a sensory system in our bodies. When there is a problem with you right big toe, for example, the sensory system sends the message to the brain and your brain makes you respond by the motor system. Knowledge of the event is processed and stored in the brain. So is this what you are telling about discomfort and comfort? Or is there something profound here?"

From your previous writings, I surmise that you are a skeptic of spirituality. Given that premise, it is not surprising that you find Deepak's first key mundane. There has been much research on mind, brain and consciousness and yet scientists have been unable to find a theory of everything as far conciousness. And yet such a theory already exists in the form of yoga but they are unable to go beyond the observable-and-repeatable. Just consider recent research on the nervous system. Recently there was a report that they found that part of the stomach also functions as the brain. "Gut feeling" is a valid experience after all. I will be willing to take a bet that, in not-too-distant a future, they will say that entire body functions like the brain; our physical brain just happens to be a local processor with some extra processing power.

To put my spin on Deepak's first key, our consciousness goes beyond the physical and mental states our body is in. When we unveil our consciousness of MEness, when we let go our ego and live in the present, we begin to notice a lot more that we didn't earlier. When we begin believe in the wisdom of our body and the soul, gut feelings, intuition, extra sensory perceptions are not just flukes, but powerful tools that we can use everyday. For such a powerful person, first key is but a daily reality.

You say:

"If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed—So in other words, when you think what you are doing seems to be OK according to your knowledge and previous experiences. Go and do it. Who does not do it this way? Maybe idiots – if you excuse me to put it this way. So again I do not see any profound thing here."

Tanzan, I don't know if you are a self-realized person person, but most of us here are unable to let go of our big egos and veil of unreality that surrounds our beings. Our emotions, feelings and general mental background noise clouds our existence. Just try to meditate once and you will know what I am talking about. As we grow up we lose our ability to soak in the world around us and tend to live in a fantasy believing it to be the reality. The childlike ability to absorb it diminishes as we age, and therefore many of us in-fact do become idiots. That's why children have such a wonderful capacity for learning things such as a new language or a skill and we adults don't. So what Deepak is saying here is not as obvious as you think.

Regards,

Ravi Kulkarni

Thanks for the response Navin :)

Cheers, Mieke

Darek,
You truely are a piece of work!
God forbid any of us ever find ourself trapped in a fat Jerry Springer legal trailer park overlooking Toys R Us, with zero options. lol

Peace

Stan

Wishing you a joyful, wonder-filled, healthy, happy, abundant new year . . . love laughter healing magic.

Namaste ~ Marcella

Tanzan,

First of all, Deepak is a celebrity. So just imagine Madonna making this post and how people would react to her. They would be starstruck and there is an element of starstruckness in peoples reaction to Deepak. Secondly, most people do not want to do their own research, analyisis, and arrive at thier own conclusions. They prefer to be spoonfed. Deepak and people like Ken Wilber are spoonfeeders. That would explain why people act like seagulls at the beach going crazy over pieces of bread.

whohahah,
haha,
You crack me up, Stan, great one ;)
the zero option, is a spiritual doctrine,
US (intl.) law, in comparison to others,
is a trailer trash monstrosity, I would not like to date, self centered, ego-istic, double hearted,

For the rest of the world, you US folks are,
live, on Jerry Springer, each day, on CNN..;)

Toys'R'Us US of obesity and overdose(s),
abundance in every way, sort and form, and what do you do with it..facinating neuro-associations,

Why Deepak still has hopes, for the fat lady,
formaly known as Lady Justice, and/or Liberty,
beatz me, but hey, I believe in miracles too..;)

With Love, Passion!

Ravi Kulkarni,

Do not check the merchandise, buy it man, buy it
It is pure gold, I tell you man it is pure gold
It will soothe your soul, body and mind
Moksha, nirvana, what more you ask it

This potion of happiness is
In ten time tested tiny tidy tablets
Take two at a time four times a day
Don't forget to take it at bed time

If he did not put spirit and conscious in it
It has, it has it, everything it has it
Whatever you believe is good, it has it
It has something more, I tell you, it has it

It is like a Reiki, man! you can put anything into it
It is the belief thing man, you will get it
I bet you my blood, you will get it
Ask nothing, man. Just take it, take it

Like ten commandments of Moses
These are his ten commandments
Don' question, don't ask, don' use your brain
Have blinder than blind faith. Do you get it?

He did not say God there, he said some hotchpotch
But his true followers even found God in it
You want to question God now?
You have no brains, man. Just forget it.

I am a defender of blind faith
Tell me where you find it
I will sail the oceans,
I will fly the skies to defend it

And I will do many more things
Things that will begin to sting
If you don't believe in it.
I have no brains to think anything in it.

Whatever he says, is sweet sweet thing
I am a sucker of such things
To my soul, happiness they bring
This, day and night I go on whistling

O yes, I will go on whistling
Telling everyone what a sweet thing
is this potion of tiny ambrosia things
Take them, take them, you heart will sing

****

Dear Revered Ravi,

If you get it, let me know.
If you don't, still let me know
I will give you more, if you want more
Potion of happiness here is all baloney
Sugar coated cacophony
If you get blessings taking it
Be blessed. Take it, Take it
But why recommend to others
This cacophony, this baloney

Now on a final note
Nothing do I have to quote
Just read this key and that key
And keep on going on your journey

May your God bless your soul!

Kind regards
TS

PS: I wrote it extempore. Found no need to revise it. Take it or leave it.

Matt, well said.

Dear Tanzan,

Thanks for your wonderful poetry, it rhymes well. No need to explain. Sometime ago, I wore a T-shirt that said Las Vegas. I showed it to my colleague and said, "I bought it in Las Vegas". She replied sardonically, "of course, I knew it".

In any case, I also meant to write the following in response to your article, but I thought it was more appropriate in another posting. So here it goes:

Wisdom can not be handed over in a platter. It can only be lived and experienced. We all know the ten commandments. We know bits and pieces of Gita and the Bible. What prevents us from living those ideals and practicing at least some of the good things there? I have read Deepak Chopra, Stephen Covey, Osho, Jiddu and so on, but still struggle to find wisdom.

It is quite simple actually. Teachers and books only guide, not teach. Each of us has to find his or her own principles by which we must live. I have to find my own path to salvation and whatever others have written can only be their personal experience and not mine. Until I completely internalize a truism, it remains a mere idea whose time has not yet come.

And yet, we need teachers who go beyond the mundane and think for themselves. They are the sages who think beyond the obvious and try to make us think in turn. I will not be a good student if I accept their teachings at face value. But without that stimulus I may not even begin to think and for that reason, I thank Dr Deepak Chopra and countless others.

Regards,

Ravi Kulkarni

Tanzan, you crack me up, you really do
There was a time when I thought just like you...
My first class of Reiki, I thought "they are stupid,
these people have all been hit by some cupid
come on, get real, there's nothing there
No matter how I try and feel and stare"

So I truly empathise with your blindness, don't worry
one day you'll laugh at yourself and say sorry
to your own intuition, your vision and wings
let them out from the dark room and treat them like kings :) :P

Ravi, Aurora,

Ravi,

[Listen to your body’s wisdom, which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort. When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, “How do you feel about this?” If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed.]

Ravi, if we will only proceed when we will feel comfort we will never grow or evolve. A child will never get up for, in getting up he will fall and in falling he will feel bodily discomfort.

I can give endless examples of this throughout our life and not only related to our childhood. Not only this I can give endless examples of such necessary discomfort not only bodly or physially but emotionally, intellectually and even spiritually as well. Really wise said "dukh daaru sukh rog bhaya..(discomfort is in fact the remedy, comfort the disease.)

Aurora,

My book is different. It does not tell what to do and what not to do for happiness and what not, it tells how the things happen and why they will happen the way they will happen despite all our efforts to make them happen the way we want. It tells how unhappiness and discomfort are part and parcel of the Game of Life and will have to be born rather stoically.

Give your ear for the truth which pinches and not for that which soothes. Give your ear to the truth which compells you to say no! no!! and not to the one which seems to send you to apparent though really deceptive wow! wow!.

Mieke, your stage is a stage beyond both comfort and discomfort now and I know you have earned it. You may not meet discomfort now but then you are neither ever unhappy now. You are HAPPY beyond both being usual sad and happy, when you accept everything as God given you have entered the ever lasting stage of happiness of a stoic.

If you must look criticlly at what I have said above think of all the suffering and discomforts you went through your past life to arrive at your present state of bliss and then tell me if they were unnecessary, tell me if you had achieved what you have achieved in the absence of that suffering and discomforts, tell me if you had achieved all that if you had given up from making efforts on the face of discomfort.

I think one chooses to read a written piece, merely for the sake of entertainment, scholastic endeavours, and for gaining knowledge; and perhaps a new perspective, to alter a stagnant point of view or reference; that has been too long, not shaken or stirred.

Ultimately, not one person, not even the ignorant, or obtuse thinkers and believers; take to heart, any book! Ultimately, credit must be given each individual for their steadfast "own, selfe-empowerment."

Sure, there are many lost souls; and there are too many suffering that could be self-free'd. But, if they cannot open their closed and locked door to inner-peace themselve's; then, to me; if any human being; can write words to help that lost soul, unlock their door; then Amen!

Harb, recieved your EM and responded. Mieke, yours too, and same. lol merci bon coup mon ami!

North

"I have read Deepak Chopra, Stephen Covey, Osho, Jiddu and so on, but still struggle to find wisdom." ~Ravi Kulkarni

How strange Ravi! How strange!
Millions found wisdom there.
What is wrong with you, man
You found no wisdom there?

Like others, you're not a hopeless case
You have neurons left in skully vase
Water them, nourish them, they will slowly grow
Leaving soul behind, in intellect they will glow

***
Good Luck, Ravi
Tanzan Senzaki

PS: Now you are thinking, man!

Aurora,

And I may add that I have not disputed Deepak's writing the book or writing here. I have understood and accepted his need of writing his experiences. I have just addressed my post to the readers/takers. Here is what I wrote:

[May be Deepak has arrived and he must give his experiences now, but the takers should not get complacent by reading them and thinking that they have become happy now.]

Harb, well said; and I totally agree! I don't think anyone can know/understand their true self without that certain input of tremendous suffering; usually only achieved when so stripped of control, and of self-empowerment; that one is obviously then, just a feather in the wind!

IT is while blowing in that wind; we find our grass-roots!

I"m not talking suffering of bereavement; we all lose loved ones. I'm talking of individual and unique suffering.

I find, being "there" and just about out; contrary to popular belief by some(giggle) it's merely a shedding of skin.

well, you explain it all so well, and I understand the concept to a degree; and I can hardly wait to read your book! lol

Harb, Mieke; I am so honoured you have both allowed me a great honour and privileage, to work with you on a wonderful vision. My imagination goes wild with creative thoughts and designs; thankyou. lol

North

Harb, wise man

"dukh daaru sukh rog bhaya..(discomfort is in fact the remedy, comfort the disease.)"

This is a gem.

I have access to Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Gurmukhi script with English translations on the internet. Please refer me to the Chapter - page number - where from you took the above quote. I would like to put it into English free verse.

Regards
TS

Harb, you write:
"My book is different. It does not tell what to do and what not to do for happiness and what not, it tells how the things happen and why they will happen the way they will happen despite all our efforts to make them happen the way we want. It tells how unhappiness and discomfort are part and parcel of the Game of Life and will have to be born rather stoically.

Give your ear for the truth which pinches and not for that which soothes. Give your ear to the truth which compells you to say no! no!! and not to the one which seems to send you to apparent though really deceptive wow! wow!"

You seem to believe that our desires are different than what the universe desires for us. A child wants to get up and walk and that desire is stronger than any fear of falling. That desire is what feels "right" and "confortable" in a child's body. If you deny a child the freedom to move, then it will feel discomfort in the body. Our deep desires are what fuels our evolution, Harb, they are exactly what the universe wants us to do and be right now. There is no contradiction between them. Falling and hurting your knee while doing what you desire (learning to walk) is not suffering. Suffering is not allowing yourself your desire (learning to walk). Suffering doesn't have to be a part of life if we don't deny ourselves our true, deep desires.

I'd rather listen to the "yes, yes" from my body than to any "no, no" that someone explains to me :)

Aurora Carlson

I will come back to your Reiki later sometime, someday.

Suffice it to say today
Don't be fooled, I say
Whatever you ask, it has it
Even blind faith, it has it

Cheers, Aurora
Tanzan Senzaki

Oh, yes, Tanzan, whatever you ask
But I'd never settle for faith
You've got to find out for sure, that's the task
So get down to work, don't wait.

Wow, North and Harb, i am overwhelmed, both by the compliments and by the wisdom that speaks from both your above posts.

Harb:

Quote: ""If you must look criticlly at what I have said above think of all the suffering and discomforts you went through your past life to arrive at your present state of bliss and then tell me if they were unnecessary, tell me if you had achieved what you have achieved in the absence of that suffering and discomforts, tell me if you had achieved all that if you had given up from making efforts on the face of discomfort.""

This is soo true my dear friend. Thank you, i am where i am now thanks to everything i have experienced.
And i am still willing to learn and experience cause that to me is the everlasting story of life. Grateful for what comes my way and accept it as it is.

North: to quote you and at the same time the inner Guru Navin pointed out to me:

"Ultimately, not one person, not even the ignorant, or obtuse thinkers and believers; take to heart, any book! Ultimately, credit must be given each individual for their steadfast "own, selfe-empowerment.""

That is the ultimate truth North, listen to your own heart that tells you everything you need to know :)

Love to Deepak in making this discussion possible.
Love to all of you and all your wonderful opinions.

Thanks a lot, i am sitting here with tears in my eyes.

Mieke

Hey Guys,

As in the microcosm so in the macrocosm..What is happening here is but an echo of what happens to us in our world outside this blog.Notice what is actually occurring..Look and listen.Ponder over the fact that Philosophy is intended for everyone and it is authenticaly practised only by those who wed it with action in the world toward a better life for all.

Clarity of thinking is an antidote to bitterness and confusion..if your thinking presently points out that the sum total of this discussion is leading you to 'happiness', "peace', tranquility, by all means continue. Let others behave as they will, it is not within your control and of no concern to you. Nature, as a whole is ordered according to reason,but everything in nature is not reasonable.:).Instead of seeming wise to others, return to a wise life in your own eyes and in your own terms.

If you wish to be invincible..Let go.:):)

You are all so honest and pure..immerse yourself in your innermost core of tranquility,bathe in the Ganges of acceptance and love..discover for a second at a time the bliss within..

:);)

Stan,

Well if it makes you feel any better the universe is to vast for me to know everything, I don't really know anything because reality is subject to change. So what may be true today may be false tomorrow.

In fact the only thing I know for sure is that I have experiences.

I have a good idea what creates certain types of experience based on prior experience.

God as God would never be challenged, but in human form a whole new dimension of experience is created. A human is greater because it is God achieving things he cannot achieve as God the ultimate being.

One being can then experience many beings.

One cannot have the experience of being a hero without villians. God cannot expience the struggle to make a choice.

It is because of the many that God can love and be loved, the human experience gives life great depth and meaning.

That is how it appears to me I could be wrong.

Hi Mieke, aww. you are too sweet, dear friend Mieke!

Kaveeta, yes very true indeed!

Ok, i've been off and on at great length; time to make like the wind; and blow outside.

ciao for now, mi contiga la IntentBlog, esta bueno!

North

Aurora,

will then the child decide to get up on its own or by reading books?

Aurora,

will then the child decide to get up on his own or by reading books?

Bliss within, bliss within
I will come back to bliss within
I will come back to bliss not in
Treading on ten sutras of happiness

But now I have to go, have to go
It is not bladder, not bladder
It's others blabber, all blabber
Can't take it now no more

Hi Deepak, 1.Listen to your body's wisdom. My body has no wisdom.It likes sweets, it likes to be lazy,it likes to read, it likes solitude.It does not want to go to work,it does not like to bend in yoga, or walk, it does not want to breathe right. It likes clutter.

this new year I will give into my body's unwise ways.

2.Live in the present. I will have to be satisfied with my lot.

3.Meditate. My mind is so full of clutter, I can't meditate.(except Visualisation meditation)

4.Relinquish your need for external approval.I will not give any one power to judge me.

5.Do not anger. I love that . It is a Reiki principle.

6.This world is a mirror. I will try to remember.

7.Do not judge. That is difficult. will try.

8. Do not ingest any toxins.That is impossible.Every breath of air, every drop of water, every particle of food is full of toxin. We are living in a toxic world.

9.Love. I love that one.

10.Living in balance makes sense.

God bless you.

You people think too much. Go clean out a drawer. Maybe when you are through, you can find enlightenment in a clean, organized drawer.

God is just a flat expanse, it is humans that create the mountains and the valleys.

Imagine a life with no suprises and no discovery, wouldn't that be boring, why exist?

Wouldn't we rather, that we not know everything?

Hence we forget.

Harb, the child doesn't need books because it has no resistance to its desires. We, adults, have learned to consider our desires/instincts wrong, because we have been told so a million times. But becoming free of this conditioning doesn't mean becoming a child again. It means becoming a mature person, who can discern between deep desires of the soul and whatever ideals society has put into our minds, making us think that's our goal in life.

That's why we don't need to suffer. We only need to discern between what makes us happy on a deep level and what doesn't, and choose.

Dear Harb and Aurora,
Both of you are correct from your own viewpoints. It's just that the perspective from which both of you are speaking is different. Harb is addressing those who are yet stuck with the ordinary meaning of the words, "comfort" and "discomfort". Ordinarily, a person would feel comfortable sitting on a plush sofa in an airconditioned room sipping a glass of his/her favourite drink and having a snack at hand. He/she won't mind if he/she is not allowed to go out but served everything in his/her room. He/She would feel comfortable in such a situation. But a more evolved person would feel discomforted if he/she is not allowed to go out and breathe fresh air, even if that means having to work to earn your snack and drink. Aurora is talking about such an evolved person.

Quote Harb: "dukh daaru sukh rog bhaya..(discomfort is in fact the remedy, comfort the disease.)" Very true. Is this from the Guru Granth Sahab?

If one has to live out one's desires and dreams one has to give up on life's basic comforts. I see so many people complain that they are not happy with their jobs. Somebody who wanted to be a painter, became an engineer just because it paid him a good salary and bought him a secure lifestyle with all the basic comforts like a good house, medical insurance, retirement benefits etc. Now such a person lives under a continuous regret that he could not do what he wanted to do in life, which was to become a painter. Somebody who wanted to become a musician could not do so because her parents were both doctors and ran a clinic and she was the only child and she was thus forced to become a doctor. She is unhappy because she could not fulfil her dream of becoming a musician.

The world is full of such people. Such people have very comfortable houses. But those houses are nothing more than comfortable graves. Such people just cannot be happy, even though they have a "comfortable" life. Half the world's problems are because people are not in their desired vocation. They are doing something completely different from what they wanted to do.

It takes courage to cut off yourself from the umbilical cord and go out in the world to seek your place under the Sun. It is in that sense that Harb/Gurbani is saying that "dukh daaru sukh rog bhaya..(discomfort is in fact the remedy, comfort the disease.)"

Cheers!
Navin

Hi Navin, I know that Harb and I are describing the same thing from different perspectives, and our views are perfectly complementary. But it depends on what half of the glass you look at... You see, in your examples above, I consider that those people who are not following their vocation are suffering as long as they don't, as long as they choose the "comfort" of their empty lives. It is then that the heart is aching 8and the body signals discomfort through all kinds of ailments). So I would never say that suffering is good, or preferable, because suffering is the constriction of imposing your ego view on your soul's perspective.

Precisely, Aurora. Both of you are saying the same thing.

Dear Pnanix,
You are right. Sometimes, even cleaning out the drawer can do the trick!

Cheers!
Navin

ok kaveetaa,

:):)

Lol, I sent this post long time ago but connection failed. So it seems dear kaveetaa the battle bags to be stretched a little longer.

A few chapter headings from "I AM THAT":

All Suffering is Born of Desire

Beyond Mind there is no Suffering

All Search for Happiness is Misery

Awareness of Being is Bliss

Go Beyond the I-am-the-body idea

ok Aurora, bye.

Quoting Navin, "Somebody who wanted to become a musician could not do so because her parents were both doctors and ran a clinic and she was the only child and she was thus forced to become a doctor."

Gee, I wished my parents had forced me to become a doctor. Personally, I don't think anybody could. They only way I can become a doctor is if I buy it because I don't think I have the brains to earn it. Seriously.

In school I dreaded mathematics. I still hate it. I can never understand trigonometry: a buildind casting a shadow at a 45-degree angle across a meadow.....? Beats me!

Why is math so hard for some people and comes so easy for others?

Hi Pnanix, I think I will go clean a couple of drawers tonight. You are so right.hopefully that will reduce the clutter in my mind. God bless.

It is getting pretty HEAVY in here!

Sounds a like we have new show in the making called " The Last spiritual seeker standing"

Marek
Yours is always a unique, amusing, and caring take on things.

Richard
I Don't feel any better. Wish you did know everything.

Tanzan
You have boundless creative energy!

Navin
My brother the peace maker.

Harb
My teacher told me only renegade students write books on spiritual teachings. He said, that the "teachings" were only meant to be given by word of mouth from teacher to student only.

Aurora
Always nice to read your posts, and I am working on the things you gave me. Thanks again.

Pnanix
Yours is the heaviest post of all! You suggest action which personifies the teachings. I would add if your drawers are clean, go trim a tree in the forest, or remove the rust from an old hammer.

To all of you, with Love and Honor,
Stan

Bye Harb, thanks for the chat!

Stan, nice to hear from you, I'm glad to hear you're working on things. That's what matters.

All of us who are posting on this site consider ourselves separate entities. If we didn't we would not be blogging. We are all asleep and dreaming.
Deepak Chopra's Ten Keys to Happiness are valuable for making our dream happier and we all want pleasant dreams and not nightmares. But we must remember that this is all just an illusion.
And that someday we will wake-up. As Ramana Maharshi said, "We all have our head in the tiger's mouth, and there is no escape."

Night and day we dream
We dream our birth and our death
and the time between.

"Inner" world of dreams
and outer "awakened" world
are both illusions

I wonder if no sooner a discussion begins everbody becomes a reconcilator of sorts what we will do here on the blog.

If clearing drawers, trimming trees is rather the better thing then why write here at all! Just to scratch each others backs? I would rather nobody agrees with me and my intelligence is stretched to the limits in discussing something rather than not discussing at all and just say "well said mr so and so..wow mr so and so...

I would request everybody here to not to interfere when I am discussing a topic with somebody...you make your own point no doubt but dont try to directly or indirectly stop. One just does not like all this cocophony going on when one wants to make a serious point or want to discuss a topic at length?

TZ, the line 'dukh daru...' is from gurbani but I have not read much gurbani so sorry I cant answer your question. Perhaps kaveetaa can help.

Aurora, we shall continue...yes, complementary but complementary too need to fit well to become one lol. nothing aganst you.

Harb

Harb, I love a good discussion :) This is in no way a confrontation, I find your point of view fascinating but in my experience, yes is more powerful than no. Always exciting to exchange notes.

"I would rather nobody agrees with me and my intelligence is stretched to the limits in discussing something rather than not discussing at all and just say "well said mr so and so..wow mr so and so..." ~Harb

****

Harb, just wonderful!

I wish others follow this example, stop scratching their friends' backs, stop defending their friends when they are wrong, and get out of their sisterhood or brotherhood mentality, be grown ups and discuss sensibly, and do not get angry and run after others calling names and threatening them. I hope the lessons learnt are not forgotten in the new year.

Happy blogging
TS

PS: And when the comments get tough, the bloggers give time to hear the minds of posters before diverting their attention to a blog after blog. Some blog-politics! Or strange coincidences of new blogs!

Tanzan, nice point of view; however, I don't see you begging not to be praised when it comes to you? why should someone else refuse praise for the sake of your personal time? time is non-existant; just as you are non-existant.

Praise is a stepping-stone to find confidence; it's a drop of water, to dry lips; why take that away from someone giving and recieving some form of recognition for their efforts of self-growth?

such as the great lengths you stride with; to re-arrange people's thoughts and views into antagonizing bites of your own personal "play" showing your self-discontent for something you deem below you? why do that, for instance; I see no constructive purpose; other than antagonization and pointing out peoples faults or weakness's? Did someone give you this job?

you seem very self-superior, incidently which in itself; is an really an act or self-reflection of non-superiority and perhaps shows a state of reclusiveness and introvertion?

IF someone wants to thank me for a job/word/poem well done; I'll indeed accept; if someone wants to critique same; fine, I'm a big girl.

This/these are how middle grounds are found.

But, to begin setting forth your own proclaimed rules such as you have been, suggests you are primping yourself and turning this blog into Tanzans Blog?

Divide and conquering, are ye? lol

North

Dear Tanzan; plz accept my appology. I have no right in what I say to you. What you say/do to others should have no consequence or bearing on me; but, for some reason; sometimes you irk me. At other's I admire from afar.

It appears I was caught in a bitter, lemony moment. plz forgive?

North

I would like to talk about step #6 and the part that says:

"What you most hate is what you most deny in yourself."

I am hearing a lot of complaints here recently on the blog. Don't do this! Why are you doing that. Why can't you just do so and so. Lot of egos being upset. Are these things, that are upsetting you, what you are denying in yourself?

Do you all agree with Deepak on # 6?

I for one need some more explanation.

In my first post on this subject I tried to list some tragedies where people might have a hard time following these steps. Example: If a young girl is being molested by her Father or Uncle, something she undoubtedly hates, how is this something she is denying in herself?
When I hate seeing my neighbors kill dogs, and eat them, what am I denying in myself?

Some of you keep talking about how I am you, and you are me. While I agree that we are all sparks from the same flame, I believe we are all uniquely different. I also believe we are all deeply in each others debt from eons of violations in past lives. I don't believe that what I most hate is always what I deny in myself.
But I could be wrong.

I would be glad to hear what you think.

By the way acknowledging that removing dead limbs from a tree in the forest, or cleaning a drawer is a highly honorable activity, in no way means it's the only thing I should do.
Dats why I'm still posting here.

Respectfully,
Stan

HAPPY NEW YEAR DEEPAK, and might I just say this.....YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

This is the kind of writing I LOVE to read from you! Number 2 really resonates with me--live in the moment! Everything IS the way it IS--BECAUSE IT IS!

Thank you so much for giving me these ten New Year's guidelines--I will put them to good use.

Love,
Tiffany

Hi Stan,
I have read your post, and I think you have asked a pertinent question. Should we tolerate and accept a 'wrong' - like molestation? Or cruelty of any kind, I might add.

Just because we are One at core, does this allow for acceptance or tolerance?

No, not in my opinion or experience. I have eyes to see, and a heart that feels, and deeply. I think cruelty is wrong, on any level.

Can I see a unity, behind/within everyone? Yes. I do. But, it has taken me 'time' and experience to come to this Realization.

Thanks for your contributing in posting. Keep writing and sharing here. Thanks,
~ Kate

Hi North,
I do like your candor.
I can sense at times, there are words written here that are posturing, and a sense of one-up-man-ship. It is part of expression of our human nature.
I think you are an amazing woman!

Deepak, three questions:

Are you writing a book, "Ten Keys to Happiness"?
Is this blog a preamble to your book?
Do you want more comments?

Kind regards
Tanzan Senzaki

Mom, I thought this was great. I had a wonderful time in Lincoln.
Love you!
Cathy

Dear Stan & Kate,
Both of you are right. While it is all very well to say that all of us are one, but at the same time we are also very unique. If we were not unique then who would we interact with? Ourselves? We can only interact with the other.

Stan, you've quoted Deepak, who says: "What you most hate is what you most deny in yourself."

I agree with you that this statement does NOT hold true everywhere, specially in the examples you gave. If someone is inflicting an act of cruelty on someone, that does not mean you are denying that emotion in yourself. Like I said earlier: THE FIRST GOLDEN RULE IS THAT THERE ARE NO GOLDEN RULES.

As someone said here before, Deepak's keys are for those who like being spoonfed. For an enlightened person, these keys are irrelevant as he/she lives from moment to moment and has the intelligence to make new keys as per the given situation.

Cheers!
Navin

Dear AJ,

Quoting you:"Gee, I wished my parents had forced me to become a doctor. Personally, I don't think anybody could." Unquote

Buds, you don't know the ground reality here in India. Parents still try to impose their will on their kids (even grown up) here. Would you be shocked if I told you that here people usually live with their parents for their whole life? Unlike in the west, where as soon as you hit 18, you are out on your own. Here, the family setup is different from the west.

I somehow managed to live in my own personal 3BHK apartment on a floor above my parents' separate 3BHK aptmt here in New Delhi, and that's a big achievement. (wink) I am in my early thirties and it's only recently that I've decided to move to another city, Bombay. And people like me are called rebels. LOL.

Cheers!
Navin

PS:
And AJ, like you, I didn't like math at school too. Although I'd have good scores if I put my mind to it, I just wasn't interested in Math. I was much better at languages and communicating skills. In fact, was the best in my school.

Quoting you:"Why is math so hard for some people and comes so easy for others?" Unquote

I guess, some people are more inclined to use the right side of their brain and some the left.

Cheers!
Navin

Navin....very true.Whatever you said about "imposed" Doctor or engineer...Maybe Indian Administrative services...
After all India is India...

Harb,
I liked what you said in a previous post as someone quoted you...
"Happiness does not come by reading and following such sutras but by experiencing and arriving at them yourself." ~Harb

My favourite KEY from Deepak's list is :# 4
Relinquish your need for external approval. You alone are the judge of your worth, and your goal is to discover infinite worth in yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. There is great freedom in this realization.

Questions to Deepak, ultimatum to Mallika! And My New Year's Resolve

Deepak

I asked you three questions
(See above in this thread)
Answers are in yeses or noes

You might be busy who knows
Still waiting to know
What your head knows

Tell us
Is it yes, yes, yes
Or is it no, no, no
There are four more ways to know

It will take you a second to tell
Come on Deepak, come on tell
Tell us. What in the hell
You'd be losing ringing a bell?

Tanzan Senzaki

PS: Mallika, now listen. If your dad does not come with the answers, I will pester you throghout
two thousand six after the holy birth of our holy Lord Jesus Christ for two thousand six times! This is my New Year's resolve for Christ's sake!

Dear Kate, Ooooh I do get a little lemony though don't I? Typical Leonine I am, and that's a for sure! But, I admire those like you K - whom really do see past my thick skin! lol

I really DO begrudge the admittance of my weakness's(giggles); hereto then, I have now re-dispursed the needless, irky lemons of my quirky life, back to the Universal Domain. lol

I am never too big to appologise for stepping over lines of respect; I would actually expect same. lol

have a gr8 day, K.

North

Dear Mallika, I will be looking forward to reading your Dad's book on death. My mom, after 3 years of losing her son, my brother Ross; she is still in deep depths of broken-heartedness. The gleem in her eye for loving life, is so dimmed.

Any idea, on release time, Mallika? I have been trying to urge her to read The Deeper Wound, but; she's so stubborn-french! lol

Please pass on our appreciations to your Dad for the wonderful wisdom he shares with us.

And Mallika, any hints on the subject of your new book?

North

Dear Tanzan,
I can corroborate the info Mallika just gave you that Deepak is travelling to India. He is scheduled to deliver an address at the FICCI Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi on the 6th of Jan, 6:00 PM.

Cheers!
Navin

Hi Aurora,

I agree with you that we have complementary views. So what we are going to discuss here is just to know more and more of the other side of the picture and in no way should be taken as a competition or clash of egos. I know that you will agree so I will proceed further. (All others reading may please also note).

I do not see complementary view as glass half or glass full but as two pieces torn from the same paper which then can be made to fully fit into each other again to make the paper whole. You know this is our One and this is the source of our Reiki. So I hope we will achieve this goal.

Having said that now I first come to your following post:

"Harb, the child doesn't need books because it has no resistance to its desires."

It means a child goes by his desires and it is right to go by desires. In this I fully agree with you. I repeat this agreed truth for future reference: Going by desires is right and is to be welcome.

Now you say: “We, adults, have learned to consider our desires/instincts wrong, because we have been told so a million times."

Here you have added the word instincts to desires and is also right only in mentioning it I wanted to underline it for further reference. So our above truth will now change to: Going by desires and instincts is right and is to be welcome.

Now, according to your above quote, what went wrong with our desires and instincts? We have LEARNT to consider them wrong...because we were TOLD so a million times.

Now, how we had learnt or told if I may ask? Obviously THROUGH READING OF BOOKS and through BEING DIRECTLY TOLD....like this is wrong, this is right, do this... don't do that...

So what is wrong if someone like me is now trying to say to stop reading books and come back to your desires and instincts? And guided by them undergo your own experiences and find your own truths/uniqueness?

I know because I had been burdened with so much holy and otherwise books and so much wise advice that I had to explode at some point of time of my life to get rid of them all and have a ‘look’ on my own natural self, instincts and desires.

Now what is wrong if I feel compelled to tell people to save themselves of such unnecessary if not altogether harmful learning, to tell them that their DESIRES AND INSTINCTS are their best guide in matters of such basic importance as finding their own truths and hence real happiness? And yet I did not say not to read, just don’t be complacent while reading them (read my words). That is, just remain awake while reading them.

Either you think that books we are talking about will help you unlearn what you have already learnt to our mortal dismay, in which case read the following example, or, you think that they will help us re-know our natural instincts and desires, which really they can’t – desires and instincts are so thrusting on their own that just remove a bit of learned knowledge from them and they will come forth on their own. So what the books are really needed for now is to unlearn what has already been learnt, for, according to your own admission it really needs to be unlearnt. Now for that, let us read the following.

Ramana Maharshi once said to the effect: "The need is to let the waters of our pond-like minds come to a stand still, for which the best we need to do is to leave the waters alone, on its own, but what we do with our endless wise books and philosophies and sermons is to shake it from this side to that from that side to still an other one, no doubt with the good intention of making it stand still but with the result that we make it rather extremely muddy...so much so that we are now unable to see in it our own natural Self – his word for DESIRES AND INSTINCTS..." (lest one say that then why Ramana himself is speaking I must tell you that he will try his best to remain silent it will be only when people will compel him that he will open his mouth, and that too to praise silence etc. In fact the silent sages have been considered to be the highest on the scale of wisdom in India and perhaps all over the world.)

So I find reading any book adding one more twist to waters and not helping it come to a stand still.

Now, my book just tells how the things will happen. It does not speak a word about doing this or that. It even says that the era of reading books is coming to an end. It is rather an invitation to silence saying that what will happen will happen, remain relaxed, don’t run after this book and that this philosophy and that, all are meaningless on the face of the Great Scheme of Things and so, you go by your natural instincts and desires and otherwise let it work.

Some people here said that such books are for the average Joe. But to me the average Joe it will be who will be most misled by such books. Highly advanced people rather may read such books just to muse at or confirm a truth here and there at which they themselves arrived through their own personal experiences, but not the average Joe. Average Joe will consider only his gross bodily comforts or discomforts, and those who will consider what you, Aurora, has said as inner bodily comforts and discomforts already do not need it. Just like children.

Now I move further. Aurora you write:

“But becoming free of this conditioning doesn't mean becoming a child again. It means becoming a mature person, who can discern between deep desires of the soul and whatever ideals society has put into our minds, making us think that's our goal in life.”

Will a MATURE PERSON become mature by reading books, moreover, to get rid of what he has already read or learnt through other books etc? Or he would now become mature by going through the harsh realities of life themselves, which is only another name for what I said self-experiences and realizations.

Moreover, will a MATURE PERSON who can DISCERN DEEP DESIRES OF THE SOUL...will come to discern them through books? Deep desires of the SOUL and come to learn through books?

“That's why we don't need to suffer. We only need to discern between what makes us happy on a deep level and what doesn't, and choose.”

Taking Navin’s example, will, if working as a doctor makes me unhappy can I CHOOSE to leave my job by just reading books? Has anybody left his job by reading books? Ask Rahul if he left his jobs by reading books. I know I did not. I know nobody just can. He will leave who is compelled from inside and until then the books he will most probably read will rather be how to continue by positive thinking or by doing this new age thing and that. But if his inner compulsion is strong he will have to leave it come what may.

“You see, in your examples above, I consider that those people who are not following their vocation are suffering as long as they don't, as long as they choose the "comfort" of their empty lives.

I can bet that all those people who have chosen the “comfort” of their empty lives and so are now unhappy read books “How to be Happy” or the like. And not those who have left such comforts, even if they may not be happy now. They know they are happy from their souls and to be happy from one’s soul does not need the support of the books. It is an automatic process, it comes from within, it just is there.

“So I would never say that suffering is good, or preferable, because suffering is the constriction of imposing your ego view on your soul's perspective.”

Who said suffering is good? I said give ear to the knowledge which pinches, which compels you to say no! no! rather than wow! wow! It does not mean that you are to welcome suffering, it means that you will get rid of your real suffering and really only when you will give ear to the real knowledge, that is, which on the face of it will rather look pinching. It is said that all people want to remain asleep, want not to face the real problems of their lives and whosoever helps them remain the way they are feels good to them while whosoever shows them their true pictures pinches them. Listening to this later person is not to welcome suffering but to welcome apparent suffering to get rid of real deeper suffering.

In fact I know your side of the story as well. Instincts and desires will continue to work on their own because beyond a certain space time no body can prevent them from having their way – it is like getting up of a child or falling in love of a youth or trying to know the how and why of the scheme of things of the universe. It is the work of the soul or soul force from within. Now when it will try to any of the above the body will get hurt in one way or the other. A child will fall while getting up, a youth will likewise face emotional bruises, an intellectual will get lost into the world of reason. It is to help them then that the books are needed and not for advising/helping/enabling the soul or desires and instincts to do what they have to do and what they will do come what way.

Dear Navin, Thanks.

If you happen to meet with Deepak in Delhi, ask him if the IntentBlog is living to his expectations. Interveiw him briefly, if he agrees to give you an audience. And let us know your impressions of him. Thanks again.

Regards
Tanzan Senzaki

Dear Harb,

Your patience and tact in congruence with your effort in writing this piece is noteworthy and commendable..I finnd myself assenting to maost of what you say at the same time not disagreeing with Aurora.

I would only like to amke a single comment.I am sure I have your permission to do so. Is it not true that spirituality and the quest is not limited to a single lifetime. It has also been said that one opens The Geeta on the same page as he left it, in his previous birth(not literally).In other words, the search is a continuous flow, therefore subjective in its nature. What may hold true for you, based perhaps on the Tapasya of your previous births, may be unfair to use as a barometer to gage anothers need. Books, Gurus, come to you as per your thirst. When the cup is full, and the mind empty, now there is only the inner Buddha, which comes into play...You know that Harb Bhraji.. we have discussed it earler too remember..

Anyway, it is always enlightening to read you.

love
Kaveetaa

Dear Tanzan,
As of now, I have no plans of attending that lecture. I would love to meet Deepak, but it may not be possible for two reasons.
A) I am too involved in the process of shifting my residence from Delhi to Bombay to think of anything else.
B) I have not received an invitation to attend that address as yet. If Mallika sends me an invitation, I may go.

I had met Shekhar about a month back and he seemed pretty interested & involved in Intentblog. So, I guess being his partner in this venture, Deepak too would be pretty excited about Intentblog.

Cheers!
Navin

kaveetaa, how come your baromter is okay to gage my needs...lol.

kaveetaa, one way is that i will just agree with you and all and that is all, because you are right at your place, i am right at mine, an other at his or her...

an other way is that nature has so devised the scheme of things that one is a teacher to some and a student to some other and so one is compelled to use one's barometer to gage what an other is doing and learn from her or teach to her. in this way nature ensures everybody's progress.

anyway, thanks for comments.

Tanzan,

why compel anybody to respond to your posts/qestions...you do your job let others do theirs..if anybody chooses to reply to you well and good you move further if not still well and good.. he she does not want to enter into discussion with you...you stop.. that is all...

harb

Harb,

"Harb Bhraji" brought me laughter! Being away from Bhraji, Bahenji, Babuji country for a long time, it sounded so funny!

Harb,

Let me re-phrase it..'what may hold true for one based on tapasya of previous births, maybe unfair to use as a barometer to gage anothers need '.It was a general analysis.:)How can I be so presumptuous as to even suggest that I can gage your needs!!Where did you infer that?Not like you to misunderstand me. At the risk of reiteration, I am not disagreeing with you, only presenting a view point.Happy new year. Peace.

alright kaveetaa...kan phadke muafi mangda han...

Mallika,

It seems that you have a very courteous, patient nature :) Good luck with your new book!

Harb,

Everyone has a point of view, and they're equally correct. Trying to compete or clash would be absurd, I’m glad you can see it. But it’s surely interesting and fun to look through someone else’s eyes.

Your post is quite long and I’ll have to try to condense what you say so that I can offer you my view.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you are saying that reading books is harmful and that we should come back to our desires and instincts and the inner silence and forget about all the many books which are saying that we should do this and that. Harb, dear friend, you realize that you have written a book to say that, don’t you? I am smiling with you and believe me that I’m smiling with myself in the same way many times.

I agree that the answers are within, Harb. But the beautiful thing about this journey, as I see it, is that we don’t have to exclude anything. We learn from our own experiences, but we can also listen to an old friend, a book, or a wisdom tradition and see if there is anything there that resonates with us. As long as we choose with our heart/instinct/inner knowingness/whatever you want to call it… why do we have to exclude books and consider them more or less the root of all evil? Many, many times, books have come into my life as an answer, as exactly the help I needed to understand. Of course, we grow, just like the child, and when we are ripe - we are ready to even intellectually understand our experience, and sometimes this intellectual understanding comes through a book. So I agree with you that books cannot give us the experience (though I have been transported somewhere else by just holding Ramana’s books in my hand), but they can help our minds understand the experience. We are not ONLY instinct, we are also reason. Both aspects have to be allowed full expression if we are to be whole.

But my point was not about books, it was about what I understood as your view on suffering. From your recent explanation I see that we both agree that suffering is not …desirable, lol. You wrote to me, in an earlier post, that “unhappiness and discomfort are part and parcel of the Game of Life and will have to be born rather stoically”. You probably don’t mean it that way, but this can sound a bit like “hey, life is suffering and you’d better get used to it”. It would be a perfectly valid point of view (like any other), but it is here that my full/empty half of the glass analogy comes in. In my work with myself and others I have noticed (read experienced) that if you focus on the empty half (suffering), that’s what you’re going to create. If you focus on the full half of the one and the same glass (your deep desires), that’s what you’re going to create. Therefore I choose yes before no, like in yes to peace instead of no to war. Like in yes to the motor of deep desires instead of no to addiction and entropy. Like in yes to talent instead of no to weakness, and so on.

So my conclusion is that we are saying the same thing, but slightly differently. So it’s all well :)

Kaveetaa,

How was your son's exam? I hope all went well.

Hmm and yet, another point of view from me; to me, Harb is saying books are ok; but, not to "live" the book; find your own living way.

I hear Harb saying; we each have our own built-in book; rely on that as a guidance.

The fact of the matter ultimately is: not one human being passed into adulthood, has learned their knowledge "without" the need for book-point references?

Considering that I consider myself in the essence of a past-sufferer of many regards; I also feel I've taken the flight of freedom above my fears;

another might see me as flowering, growing or fluttering into the butterfly at last, and right on time; in the time-frame I am in; my fourth house I believe, and my last transition(oh jolly good!)

I did not learn this from natural instinct; I learned to identify indeed; my process. In knowing, it made the process more less-fearful; knowing I was only in a state of normalcy, feeling fear in it's entire dread.

I dont' feel those things no more; but, damage is done to the body; some clocks just can't be turned back! I look eager to reading Harbs book; and perhaps that book, will be a tool, a guide for me to be able to open another hidden, locked door to my Self, my Origin, my endles Possible Ways.

may the Way to peace, keep us always; as one United emblem of passion, love and hope as a race of human beings; each going through human transition phases.

How can we then not have, differing views of the same sun-set, or the varying ways 10 people would judge the azure of twilight?

I do not find ambiguity per se; to be dysfunctional of human communication; it thwarts good intentions at times sure; but, I find varying opinions more as, adding spice to what is an already great soup. Lumps of contentious issues only delivers a nice plump dumpling.

I do like my soup to be filling indeed! lol

North

Mallika, Now what are you up to?

Thanks for the response on your dad's behalf. I was just kidding. It appears you got serious. Now you are blocking my posts. I can't even post a comment on Shekhar's blog. I get the following message each time:

"Thank You for Commenting

Your comment has been received. To protect against malicious comments, I have enabled a feature that allows your comments to be held for approval the first time you post a comment. I'll approve your comment when convenient; there is no need to re-post your comment. Return to the comment page."

Mallika, I am not a bad guy. I swear it by my blood! Do not block me, please, please....(two thousand and six times!)

Harb,

"Harb Bhraji" brought me laughter!
Being away from Bhraji, Bahenji, Babuji country for a long time, it sounded so funny!

Hi Aurora, North, Kaveeta, and Harb! Happened to chime in here, down-the-line so to speak, as so many of the fun conversations trickle in toward the end of any one thread (blog), where it is possible that our tangents are not so rankling toward those who want responses to stay centered just on the initial topic.

Harb: I am, and have been for several days now, laughing at how you got yourself "caught" on the horns of this most delightful dilemma: how does one who has just written a book that delves so deeply into the world of quantum physics then get out of the quandry of suggesting to others that "those other's" (your potential readers might I add!) can't find the answers to their deepest longings in a book!!!!

No doubt that most, if not all of the posters, "get your drift" however--and both "sides" are right, as it were!

I'm sticking with the eternally appropriate question for those of us who are "earth-bound" seekers that "A Course in Miracles" repeatedly asks it's students to consider: "Would you rather be 'right," or happy and healthy????"

The need to be right is proposed to be the main cornerstone of most, if not all of our earthly woes, according to this most revealing of psycho-spiritual teachings about how the human mind so misdirects it's unlimited powers to become so limited in this world, and how this untenable situation can then be reversed to reclaim the mind's powers to be consciously redirected for it's intentded purposes--primarily through the key of forgiveness---sooooo.....you'll have to forgive me for "mocking you while your on the cross" of the horns of this particular dilemma!!!

And North, Kaveeta, and Aurora--I fondly and with great humor encourage you in "spanking" Harb for this "unforgivable infraction" regarding the sensibilites of his own devotees!

It is interesting to note that Aurora has divulged to me that she herself is also in the process of venturing forth into the unknown jungles of book-writing and website development for same---so I am left with.....well, Kaveeta and North, hop to it ladies....

....the Intentblog has clearly become a grand stage for both "established and budding writers" to be coaxed out their "creative closets" and actively join the "calling" to unwittingly march headlong into the jungles of total-ego vulnerability--ie., the world of writing!!!

Love to you guys--and North, I can't recall you ever actually saying what your son's name is, or "his girl!" And until you do, I hope he keeps successfully stealing the "hot water" for the shower! Dave

Mallika, this is for you.

All demands were met
Though funny they might have been
No more pestering, no more ultimatums
In two thousand six from January three.

But I was threatened
By your friends
Before thanksgiving times.
I prayed Allah, I prayed Jesus,
I prayed all Hindu gods.
All gods listened to my prayers
But goddess Kali did not listen to me.

So I prayed to Vishnu, to Shiva
His wife Parvati,
To Rama, his wife Sita
To Krishna and his one hundred milk maids,
(sorry I do not know his wife’s name)
I prayed even to Hanuman, the son of air
And to all gods guarding Earth, fire
Mountains, oceans, cattle, cows
From the evil devil’s eyes’ brows.
I even prayed to Ganesha
And rats, his little loving pets.
Ganesha was a good god
Only he smiled at my requests!

Finally they forgave my sins
But Kali didn’t. She’s not their kin.
I dread her often, now and then
Wondering when she’ll spew her venom.

So any threats, any onslaughts
I happen to get in the New Year,
I will pass them on to you,
In this Chinese year of snakes
Soon changing to the horse year.

So here is my request:
Please take care of all the threats,
Put some sense into potato heads,
Keep them off my back,
Let their chatter be all flattery
(to this or that of their friend),
And give me some free time
To write some love poetry.

Tanzan Senzaki

....and by the way Aurora: Am I correct in discerning that you are implying that the membership requirements for the "Club of Unconditional Love" is an understanding that the only rule for this Club is that it is "Inclusive," and not "Exclusive?"

I would like to know what the requirements are before even considering joining up with such a "novel" membership--that doesn't make any sense at all that there even is such a club in this world of "special, separate, and different"--that has only one criteria for it's members! Dave

Tanzan: I see that we're remembering whose "really in charge" of this feminine energy known as Planet Earth--yes, "the women!"

I much admire how much more well-developed and to the point you are than myself--regarding "imploringly effective" is your recent exercise in "begging for" both the help of the "Gods," and even more importantly--Mallika, as noted, it is the women who are actually in charge herein--although they "allow" the male mind, for an astro-"logical" cycle or two every now and again--to "believe" it is the males who have the "reigns" to "civil"-izations upwardly-spiraling march forward.

Very humbling in how well you groveled at Mallika's feet; I will now most humbly prostrate myself at the poetic-feet of a true Master-of-words and ask (in all 'humility!'); Master, is it not soon to be the Oriental year-of-the-Dog, and not the year-of-the-Horse? ....and, well,....you dated Kali also?

We'll have to talk my friend, I think that bit.., well you know, "that woman" is fooling around on us both then!

A most worshipfully humble and "humiliatingly-prostrated" groveler at your poetic-feet-of-a-Master, Tanzan! Dave

Thank you Deepak! I love you! This post I will read a few more times, as I would like to remember these words, so I will meditate upon your good wisdom later. The storms in the Bay Area have taken out my home phone/internet, so I am catching up via a work break. Love, Char

yeah, I totally support that,
(despite some PMS comments, but that's a 'personal' thing..;)
I trully do believe that when a pattern is
deploid of aggresion, a loving and caring response does more magic then anything else,
the significance and love, human need is met,
and, let's face facts, in history of conflicts,
it was a male hand that gave the apple to Eve,
(read: grenade)

Though, I must say, in psychological warfare,
read: domestic 'disturbance' males are the weaker sexe,

but than again, when the intent is ..

Love, Passion, would then not the outcome be Peace?

Dr. D,

I just found the time to read this post. One word: wow!

It poetically embodies a pool of infinitely profound thoughts and timeless wisdom! Wow!

Peace!

Hi Dave,
Just a quick note to say, I am so glad you can see and appreciate the feminine energy and talents. You are a wise one! :) :)

You yourself are a gifted thinker and writer, and I see clearly that in you, Dave.

Dear Deepak,
"Shed the burden of judgment – when you judge, you cut off understanding and shut down the process of learning to love. In judging others, you reflect your lack of self-acceptance. Remember that every person you forgive adds to your self-love."

I do agree, and yet, on certain levels, judgments serve to guide us. It is at the 'higher' levels, when one can stand in Clear Awareness, that what you state above, occurs so Naturally, that it is - breathtaking, and present moment living, is always a delight.

Enjoy your time in India. Blessings to you,
~ Kate

I am glad to see this thread continues, since many important issues are in play.

I would like to repeat what one of the working Teachers ( of the 144 who are always on the planet) taught us. Books on spiritual enlightenment ( The Mysteries") are always written by renegade students who naively want to help humanity, or want to make money. These books are never more than 50% accurate. All true Metaphysical Teachings, according to Him, are only given by word of mouth Teacher to ready Student.
The reason for this is simple, the meaning of words change over time, and books are static, while the Teachings on Truth are dynamic. Students invariably hear the teacher's words through their own biases, prejudices, and opinions and are not able to correctly reproduce them.

The Teachings have a code "To Know. To Dare. To be Silent."

Writing a book can violate the many different levels of consciousness out there. Their is a "Universal Law" which states "Any octave out of it's octave is a violation to itself and the octave introduced."

Only a " True Teacher" can look down a persons life stream and determine what level he is on and speak to him accordingly, without violation.

Many of you have been alluding to these different levels of consciousness that we all have, and some of the problems they create in terms of understanding.

Does this mean we shouldn't read books? Of course not. Books can give us Truth and keys to Truth.

Please be careful if your trying to write about the real Mysteries you learned from a real Teacher.

I love to read, and am very much enjoying everything written here.

Thank you ,
Stan

P.S.

Tanzan
David's right we are coming out of the year of the Chicken and into the year of the "Fire Dog"

I left out part of the code

To Know. To dare. To Do. To be Silent.

Stan

Stan,

To know. To dare.To do. To be silent.

On the dot.

Harb Bhraji(brother)

You are too knowledgable and aware a soul to be distracted by differing views...I value your words..It makes me happy to read you.

Hi Dave,

Hmmm..Hop on to the world of literary genius..Not quite inclined Dave.I enjoy my sojourns here.Sharing, pondering, sharing some more, laughing bemusedly , as I do with most of your posts,feeling content in being vicariously in the company of enlightened souls and those on the threshold, getting boggled by the exercise occasionally, nonetheless being addicted ..It makes me happy. It is better to be happy than to be right. Right?

Aurora,

I know you are there giving reiki to my son. Yesterday went very well..English Literature..Exams are on till the 14th..Thanks a million.

North,

As always, a kindred soul a sister, a person who stuns you with her naked honesty.Standing Tall with fortitude, courage, undeterred, unfettered,under no guise either of circumstance or identity!!Why and how can she not be accorded the place she deserves in our hearts?

And now,
Silence.
love to ALL.

Hello David! My son's name is Lee, his girl is Ashley..both seventeen. Her folks won a lottery three years ago! almost one hundred thousand dollared reasons to smile! lol and he still always steals the shower first, the little fart.

Kaveeta; (giggle) did I get carried away by your sentiments about me? yup! ((big, Leonine, best smile.)

North

Oh, and David? about the book. I couldn't write my way out of a paper bag. I'm afraid I'll have to win a lottery, if I am to gain prestige and ridiculous amounts of delicious wealth!

North

David and Stan,

You both are right.
Anyway, it matters only to those
who think they are like chickens and dogs
or
like snakes and horses!

Cheers
TS

david,

when you are on the horns of a dilemma or on the cross-roads this is exactly the moment when you can make a real quantum jump to a higher state of being...look at your past life and watch our for your future life...

i wish i could be in this state...bit i just can't...because if at all i could have failed to explain myself fully or the other failed to understand me fully....but really no dilemma on my part...i would have welcomed it but i have gone through i had to go and now there just can't be more...

Aurora, kaveetaa

:)

Hey Tanzan and Harb: After quietly reading both of your posts for sometime now--the humor with which I tease you both is derived from a great respect for the things you both write about.

Harb--your book, from what I've discerned from it, tackles very difficult material to capture in words; in watching your interchanges with so many on the Intentblog, it appears to me that you are gaining a great training in futher refining your skills regarding the task of communicating the essences from the heart of difficult arenas to articulate upon--I hope you will keep doing so.

Tanzan--you've caught the attention of everyone with your ability to translate both the collect fabric, as well as individual "threads" within that fabric, into a some of the most uniquely-gifted poetry many of us have seen on the Intenblog.

Tanzan, you've also caught the "eye" of Shekhar himself--who is someone that I'd pay very close attention to when he asks for you to further elaborate upon your many diverse creative ideas. I'd definitely run with that ball if it thrown to you again!!!

Thank you both for your many wonderful "expressions" and wisdom. Most sincerely, Dave

"your comments show that you don't know what Deepak is talking about. Because you don't know, you conclude that whoever agrees with what he's saying must be deluded." ~Aurora Carlson

"You have no idea what an abundance of information you're missing when you condemn yourself to function from reason (the cortex) only. There is a whole world out there......"
~Aurora Carlson

***

Aurora,

Could you please be kind enough to explain to me what Deepak is talking about. Could you please analyse his Key#1, as I tried to, in your words --kindly not be jumping hither and thither but keeping your thoughts focused to the point relying on the phrases that Deepak used.

Also please be kind enough to explain the world of blind faith - the world beyond the "function from reason (the cortex)"; I am using your words here to make it more understandable to you.

It would be fun to hear how you expound you views in line with Deepak's thinking. But mind you, Deepak will not be happy if you say something that he does not mean! So please follow his Key # 1 rather closely. Thanks.

Happy postings and kind regards
Tanzan Senzaki

PS: I would never like to assume that the patients you are doctoring are at a level beyond "from the function of reason (cortex)"! Or are they?

David,

Have fun!

TS

Hi North,
Just arriving back to this thread, and re-reading your note. You truly are of great candor, and so much heart comes through in your writing and sharing.

From the aspects of your life, your health challenges, the terrain where you live, the parenthood process, the creative process of making designs on the web, and lots of stuff shared inbetween - I agree with Kaveetaa - you are worthy of praise and I admire you!

Dave, you are a talented writer and thinker. I love the way you write, meanger occasionally - yet provide interesting books and interpretations to what you have read and find a way to tie it all together for a cohesive presentation.
Nice skill there! :)

Aurora, I do listen to my body's comfort level. This past week, I have been playing tennis with my daughter. I confess I am just a tad bit unfit - and my body has been reminding me, after 30 minutes play - that I am not as flexible, or able to run down all the balls, as once I could.

At the beginning of the match I ask myself how I feel - and it's O.K. ready to go. Yet, as time passes, my body starts to slow down, my arm is not as strong at serving, hard hit balls I can't chase down. My feet move a little slower. I am listening to the wisdom - and I start fresh, and as I process, I reach a fatigue moment, where I feel sore and stretched to the limit.

1. "Listen to your body’s wisdom, which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort. When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, “How do you feel about this?” If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed."

This first key idea - supplied by Deepak -expressed by my tennis experience, and how I listen to the body signals - guides me to continue playing and getting in the groove, or stopping when my arms or legs feel sore or sluggish.

So, what game do you like to play, Aurora?

~ Kate

OK, Kaveeta, until the 14th then.

Harb,
you have a beautiful smile and you're such a sweet person. I don't know about others, but I understand what you mean and you have expressed it as well as you possible could do it in words. Who knows, maybe someday you'll express it in a different way, from a new perspective? thank you for this discussion :)

Kate,
that was a perfect description! Simple, elegant, thank you. What game do I play? The game of life :):):)

Tanzan,
I often wonder if you are serious, because your posts so often make me laugh out really loud, and I'm almost sure I can see that twinkle in your eye. If you're serious, I apologise, but if you're not- you're great fun :D:D If you want to know more about what Deepak thinks about that paragraph, read his many books where he explains everything in detail.
I don’t know your motivation for asking me for my view (actually, I do :)) but if you want to hear it, I will be happy to tell you what I see in that paragraph and maybe a little about how I came to see it.

Deepak writes: “1. Listen to your body’s wisdom, which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort. When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, “How do you feel about this?” If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed.” Unquote

He says “Listen to your body’s wisdom.” Ten years ago I had no idea what that could mean. Wisdom was in the head, I thought, and it came from what I knew about the world. And I knew it all, lol... Oh, my.
You see, Tanzan, our mind cannot touch reality. We need a body to touch a snowflake. When a snowflake falls on my neck, the skin has the wisdom to immediately contract in order to preserve my body heat. No comments, no judgment, no opinion, it just does it.

My mind cannot be touched by that snowflake, but if it happens to pay any attention, it can read the signals from the body and then… it interprets them. It’s just that our minds make this interpretation through a system of filters, by comparing and associating the signals with past signals, outcomes and conclusions. So my mind may read the signal “ a snowflake on the neck” and interpret it as the most sensual experience, convince me to take off my coat and end up with pneumonia, lol… Or it may interpret it as the beginning of an avalanche and make me say my last prayer.

There is a lot of value in the mind’s logic, but its repertoire of reactions is limited and its conclusions are based on the past and not on the present, and also on the premise that we are separate from our environment. As the mind can only metabolize signals in a linear, fragmented manner, it believes that reality is fragmented. On the other hand, the wisdom of the body comes with the package, so to say, it is inherent in our physical existence and is directly related to what is (and not what our minds interpret to be there). Therefore, it is one hundred percent reliable. The body gives us clear, impartial signals about every aspect of life because in reality we are not separate from each other or from what we call our surroundings. This is not something our modern mind accepts. Instead of being the subordinate tool it is meant to be, the modern mind very much wants to keep its sovereignty, so many of us live, so to say, “in our heads”.

What happens when we only believe our mind is that we disconnect from the signals that are always being sent by our only instrument of direct perception, the body. We may still hear the signals when they are shouted at the top of the body’s lungs, lol... like in ouch, that kidney transplant hurt... instead of hearing the body signals in the moment, like no thank you, I don’t want that food, or I don’t want to work that much, or I am thirsty.

So, we finally arrive at the last part in key 1: "When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, “How do you feel about this?” If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed"

Because the wisdom is in the body, every time we do something (and we do/say/think a lot), we need to ask the body. If we want to be in contact with this moment, with this reality, and not only with a mental image of reality, if we want to take decisions based on the wisdom of the wholeness and not only on our limited human knowledge, we have to live with continuous awareness of the body. Even if it’s the most normal thing to do, many of us have disconnected (why is a long story). But it is very possible to re-establish this connection, step by step, which gives anyone access to the “illogical” immense intelligence and wisdom that is at our disposal.

This is the world I called “beyond the function from reason”. You call it blind faith. I don’t know about you, Tanzan, but at the beginning of my journey, I was a much too reasonable person to settle for blind faith. Still, what others described intrigued me enough to motivate me to look, look and look again, even if it was with a lot of sarcasm and scepticism. I started to notice that I didn't eat when I was hungry, but when I had time, that I didn't rest when I was tired, but when work was done, that I didn't drink unless there happened to be a glass of water in front of me, etc. And one day, I saw something that made my mind go wild. A detail- the aura around my hand. And then, another detail, and another one. I started to know things, I started to experience things that were absolutely impossible, lol. My mind has worked very hard to hold on, but after a few years and a lot of reassurance, it knows now that it is a cherished and respected tool, but not my decision maker. The wisdom is accessed through the body.

Oh, yes, your last question. My clients (I don’t call them patients because I’m not a doctor and because the word patient implies too much passivity for me) are often in the beginning of the journey back to the body, but their mind is often still holding on to habits and beliefs that hurt them.

Tanzan, I'm doing my best with words. But as Harb points out, you have to experience it, and for that, you have to want to.

Dear Deepak ji, I endorse that what is written above and i seek a mention to be made for the process which could result in such a change to become the 'being' itself ... yes the suggestive mode should leave a healthy mark upon one's existing frame of mind but it does not enable transformation ... 'tapa'... i understand limitations produced by modern age life in a human being but there shall always remain scope for novel manners that enable one undergo 'tapa'...tapa the one that enables transofrmation ... you certainly know about the same .

lol, aurora,

now like a child's soul compelling him to try to rise up again and again even if he falls and suffers - which we now know is much less than the suffering of the soul lol - my soul too is compelling me to write and write and write on the blog...even if i find my buttocks paining and head spinning...it may perhaps even impinge on my heart's health. now reading Deepak's book to which should i listen...

or, now Deepak should write an other book to keep the balance between your soul and body's comforts...discomforts...

if so, many many discoveries of science, of philosophy would have never seen the light of the day because then their discoverers would not have worked like mad - thanks to the reading of books on keeping the balance :)

and average Joe will already be doing nothing worth while because he will be looking after his body's comforts even before reading books

of course, i know there is no case against reading books but just seeing where the things go..

Dear Tanzan,

Earlier I wrote a critique of your critique of Deepak's writing. You replied in verse in your typical style. Sarcasm and satire are nice, but in a debate they are not constructive. If you are serious about debate, write about what you really believe in, and if you can do it in prose without satire that'll be wonderful.

In case if you don't know it, your postings seem condescending and even offensive sometimes.

Regards,

Ravi Kulkarni

Hey, Harb, you don't really think that your soul wants you to have a heart attack? :):):) Existing as a mind body is a precious gift, our best shot at evolution. The body is a generous home to be nourished and respected, as it provides everything we need to learn and evolve.

Btw, in case you haven't noticed, the views in my post above are my own, not Deepak's, I was simply telling Tanzan about my take on Deepak's paragraph.

Dear Harb and Aurora,
Thank you for the posts and the interesting discussion - of words, ideas, books, and - contrasted - against Life's experiences, daily interactions, relationships, the body's wisdom :) - and the value of silence and contemplation.

dear Harb, do you enjoy dialoguing more than reading books? I have come to a place of less reading, and I have given many of my books away to the library or friends.

I do believe there is still so much to learn and I like learning new skills.

Perhaps, as you say, we do come to such complete understanding - that no more learning is reguired or necessary. On the spiritual level, this is true. The highest level.

Yet, we can move in and out of states of awareness, and that makes Life a great and interesting adventure.

Love,
~ Kate

Aurora,

Thanks for further pounding on the expounded Keys to Happiness. I could almost hear the music of rhytmical beating of the drums, first softly and gently, then forming a crescendo, and finally merging with the wholesomeness of the inner-self within! Very blessing, indeed!

Happy musings
Tanzan Senzaki

PS: Your post did make me think on the ingenuity of Deepak Chopra to write books for people who share your points of view of the body, mind, soul, love, beauty, God, energy and abundance etc etc. The is not too long a list, it is very comprehensive. Maybe I'll come back to it later sometime, as our enlightened discussions seem to have no end in view. Infinite, eternal as God is! Sometime with ego, sometime without. Not God, dear Aurora. You and me.

K, Aurora,

kate,

no problem...WE are the center of our universes so must do whatever WE want...

enjoy yourself...but show me your pic..lol :)

not of any other girl which looks like you...i am just pulling your leg...you know...

aurora,

when I talk of the body you begin talking of the soul (child's soul, inner instinct etc...) and when i talk of MY soul, my inner instinct you begin talking of the body...

btw, i have not read your post to anybody else so i am not commenting on it...

Aurora,

here is something from my book. it shows that the game of life moves on two legs, the one and the inner or basic of design - where our books will have no say...and the other, the outer and the secondary where our books can help. Now this is the whole complementary picture. I have taken this writing from the Book Description which I wrote at amazon.co.uk for my book Self Designed Universe. Leave our arguments aside I hope it will add something to your knowledge.

******

Things change overtime. Until recently the theories of Darwin and his followers collectively known as the theories of evolution were considered adequate enough to explain this change. But it is no longer the case. As man has gone deeper into things he has found these theories to be increasingly inadequate. Alongside is born the idea of what is known as design or intelligent design: that things change rather because of some design, either inherently there in the scheme of things of the universe or put up by some outside agency or intelligence usually identified by the name of God.

There is hardly any doubt that the things are actually going in favor of design with each passing day.

While the things are thus going in favor of design, nobody as yet has given even a minor clue as to what could possibly be the composition of this design. After all, irrespective of whether the design is inherently there in the scheme of things of the universe or put up by some outside agency, someday we shall have to unravel the mystery of this design as well! For, aren't we already unraveling the mysteries of the whole universe even if the whole of the universe may also be said to be put up there by God?

It is here that the book under description i.e., Self-Designed Universe comes to fit into the picture.

This book, while postulating that the universe goes through eternal cycles of evolution and devolution and the design is inherently built up in this scheme, throws first hints as to the composition of this design. Even intelligence, according to this book, is the product of this design.

We know that the physicists have reduced all the numerous forces working in the universe to four basic ones of gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak forces. Now, according to Self-Designed Universe, the universe gets wound up into these forces in the order of weak, strong, electromagnetic and gravitational forces in its devolutionary cycle and gets unwound from them in the reverse order in its evolutionary cycle. In physicists’ language, the universe will go through weak, strong, electromagnetic and gravitational interactions in its devolutionary cycle and in the reverse order of these interactions in its evolutionary cycle.

This going through eternal cycles of devolution and evolution, coupled with going through the above interactions further within them in the process, comprises the design and whole design of the universe or of its evolution and needless to say, devolution, according to this book.

Darwinian explanations of so-called evolution of species here on earth are only secondary to the explanation through this design. Considering only the evolutionary cycle of the universe, the force of the big bang from within forces the universe and every subsequent system within it including us humans to go through the above interactions from within their respective centers. Darwinian theories only explain why and how we adapt to the effect of going through these interactions which in fact causes mutations in all systems. Analogically, a big explosion from within a house has deformed its structure. Darwinian theories only explain why and how we will repair the structure to the extent possible and adapt ourselves to what cannot be repaired to be able to continue living and surviving in this house. Obviously, Darwinian theories do not explain the cause of ‘evolution’ or change of shape of the house under question which is, in fact, the explosion or explosive force from within!

What they rather explain is why and what we do to minimize the effect of that cause. Which is actually why Richard Dawkins opines in his book Selfish Gene that the evolution happens willy-nilly despite the efforts of the replicators and now-a-days of genes to prevent it happening.

Admittedly, Self-Designed Universe is not of established academic standards. Moreover, it is basically about evolution through four basic interactions and touches the above points regarding design only indirectly. But then, you cannot find entirely new ways in a forest and make instant roads of them, more so, if you yourself are not an academician. This book claims to point only a finger towards the possible composition of the design under question, though a sure finger at that, but does not claim to provide the finished product. Of course, with the hope that some academic fellow travelers especially design-enthusiasts some day will look towards the direction of the pointed finger with due seriousness and chisel out the desired product in all its details with their disciplined and systematic approach.

Harb Replying Aurora

A child’s soul compelling
To rise up after falling
It is like suffering
But much less suffering
Than the suffering of soul

My soul too is compelling
To write , to write, to never stop
Writing on this blog
Even if my ass is paining
Even if my head is spinning
Even if everything here is
Impinging on my soul and heart
( a pain in the ass, but a beautiful task!)

Now reading Deepak’s books
To him I begin listening
But he must write a book
On body, soul and comforts…

Many findings of science
Of philosophy and what not,
Would have been all lost
If Deepak were not
Wrinting his soul-full books
Reading many we still get lost! Alas!

An average Joe would be doing nothing
Only after his pleasures looking
Never knowing what he is missing
Not reading Deepak, all that beckoning!

Finally there was no case
There is no case even now
Never will there be a case
Against reading Deepak's books

Happy Dips into Holy Ganges
Tanzan Senzaki

***

PS: Dear Harb, please don’t take this to heart. But you do inspire me. Your prose was so poetic to begin with!

TZ,

rest assured i am now beyond minding your comments...enjoy yourself freely...with most satiric of comments on me...

Kate, thank you for the love and for being a part of this fabulous adventure.

Tanzan, you and me. God :)

Harb, thank you, that was kind of you. I especially appreciate your efforts to unite science and mysticism. If I understand you right, you are saying that the universe functions according to a basic plan and that nothing we do(like writing books) can alter the way things turn out. Of course. The universe is writing books through us because it's all in the script. At the same time, no matter how grand the scale, everything - from gravitation to galaxies, to writers, their books and a blade of grass trembling in the wind - everything is simply a projection of the consciousness that you and I both are. When we know ourselves as that consciousness, our intention is the law of the universe.

Awakening of a Sadhu's Kundalini

When I talk of body
You talk of soul
When I talk of soul
You talk of body

Will there ever be
A moment for body and soul
Merging together into one Self -
Like that time tested Tantric sex?

PS: Not addressed to anybody here. Just a guftgu -a discourse in Tantric spirituality.

Happy Vachans (Holy Teachings)
Tanzan Senzaki

Hi Kate, aww, you are too sweet, and im' going to get a cavity with such sweetening of words! lol

I tried tennis years ago; switched to handball; but ladies fastball was my game.

but alas, 22 years of playing, did some damage. Now, my main excercise is walking a few miles a week, if I can! IF not, I spend hours pacing around my home; I really DO wish I had a good treadmill.

I used to have a ping-pong table, loved playing the game, and amazing excercise, using all major muscles. I still have the net and paddles/balls; so now and then, when we know our neighbour will be gone a few hours; we'll attach to the kitchen table, put in the centre-piece to enlarge the length; and play-away! we have a blast, and I can no longer beat my son at chess, OR ping-pong! but, I still usually win in battleship.

North

"your intellect will not let you live, your energy will not let you die....
rest assured i am now beyond minding your comments...enjoy yourself freely...with most satiric of comments on me..." Harb

***

Harb, man
Take it easy
You inspired me first
Making comments on me

I cannot live, I cannot die!
The intellect and energy
In conspiracy
Are now my enemy

Kind regards and Cheers
Tanzan Senzaki

Harb: You display a most wonderful child-like quality (and obviously, an extemely bright one at that) in these recent posts regarding your ability to go "somewhat quiet," introspective may be the word, and then come back with that awareness and drive that you "must write, write, and write"; irrespective of whether anybody agrees with you or not, or finds your posts "worthwhile," as grist-for-the-mill of our own growth (and I know I speak for many when I say..."and we do!").

I have been in this world long enough, and a "respondent" to the Intenblog long enough, to recognize that when one person criticizes or judges another's post more than just a few times, then the critique is revealing that he/she is not as spiritually developed as he/she/they might suppose they are; and are indeed, like me, wrestling with the "spiritual ego's" self-inflated sense of being both "in the know," and right about everything and everyone else's thoughts, intentions, level of development, and ad infinitum!

I know this creature, the spiritual ego, more than I'd like to admit here--as it exposes what is considered the most dangerous of the ego's levels of deception; particularly self-deception about one's own level of understanding; and this pompous position of judging another's innner-and/or-outer worth, esp. spiritual development, is it's most revealing characteristic, one that blinds the self-professed "seer and master-of-the-mysteries" from even being aware that the "spiritual ego" is so deeply clouding one's perception--especially while "humbly meditating away" on the latest of spiritual disciplines.

So Harb, my friend, please do "write, write, write," as it is your own inner-wellspring that is ex-pressing it's energies outwardly into the physical domains--all of them spiritual at their own levels of frequency and vibration, however much to the contrary they "appear" to reflect the opposite "sense" of, and those expressions do indeed "im-press" their ways into the hearts and minds of your many beloved Intentblog friends--all of us "finding our way" as well.

Thank you Harb, for "literally" walking alongside me also--even if it "seems" that we are walking, for a time, and yet a time again, in different places. Love to you my friend--Dave (and "hey" to Dara, K, Aurora, and..........well, you know!) Dave

North...

Ahaaaa, BUT I am the ping pong master!

Ravi Kulkarni

I am sorry if you found something offensive. You did not find it earlier and found it now! Well sometime, it does take time to realize.

I think you are too enlightened a soul for me to carry on any further discussion with you on the Keys to Happiness. However in the future, we might cross our paths again. Who knows. It is all illusion, all maya.

Kind regards, respect
Tanzan Senzaki

O'So Lovely ....

"...at a deeper level, you cannot afford to live with a toxic mind, because every thought makes an impression on the whole field of intelligence. Living in balance and purity is the highest good for you and the Earth." Deepak Chopra

David; I am doing a little Irish curtsey in your direction! I ditto you on your sentiments to Harb!

Harb, do not listen to Tanzan; Tarzan's main goal here, seems to be to antagonize, and otherwise spends his entire time provoking; not providing any real value other than master of antagonization; he has gone to great lengths to antagonize many, many people; so far as to ridule us all.

I keep asking myself why a person purposely sets out to be a negative controller such as this?

Seems Tanzan has only now taken his turn on you. Realize, you are just one of many.

I wonder, who will be next on his hit-list?

Seems to me, T is doing a study of some kind of social impacts and people whom antagonize and their victims; or else he is in a great deal of mental anguish and hates the world?

T admits to having a wife. I feel sorry for her; she has no time with her beloved because he spends too much time here.

Studies have shown, many marriages that may otherwise have survived the tests of adversity and time; crumble in a matter of short time; when one spends too much time online.

If I were a wife; I would be more dedicated with my time to "him"

As I struggle to understand T; I am reminded of my negative traits, such as arm-chair-judgments; I pretty much resent T bringing something out of me, that I had no intention of using.

It is apparently clear; T intends to damage this blog; and I must say, I myself look forward to less time here lately.

Let us no longer be T's lil' monkeys on HIS tree; because this lion will roar; to see Harb or anyone who's intentions are for the good of human beings, get destroyed by forcing them to reveal their inherent and mere human emotion.

I really don't like people whom intentionaly set out to hurt another, for personal gains.

Sorry people; but, Harb is a brilliant man; and the survival of this blog I fear; depends on the interceptions of ousting crude-oil like T; from this purified water; otherwise I know in time, I too, will just have to find a more peaceful pride of lions to spend time with.

I see so many not coming so regular no more; posts brief. According to my emails; it's NOT a time-thing.

North

Tiffany; when we gather this summer in T.O. I will bring my net and paddles/balls! I challenge you to a great game! lol

North

Any thoughts on why consciousness/god created the illusion/mask in the first place? Why is it so hard to break through and see the truth behind the illusion? If it is all an illusion and we are all one, why the need for the illusion at all? Did consciousness need to expand and feel in an infinite variety of ways to reflect itself back in the mirror to grow? If so why? Any thoughts on what consciousness is and why it created the illusion in the first place would be greatly appreciated.

Dear North,
Count me in for the game of ping-pong! I really enjoy playing and we will take turns with Tiffany. O.K. Tiffany? :)

You are so amazing. I always look forward to your sharing!

~ Kate

Hi Dave,
Thanks for your post. Let's step into the Field of Clear Awareness. I spy you there! :)

To experience energy in emotions,
is the name of the game,
contrast is the Ego at play,
fear and love, the rules, you may,
be doing pain or pleasure, while you stay,
be creating the dance for thy,
thy primordial, is the Spirit, say:

Love, Passion! and Leela, the dance of creation,

Hi Tonya,
You have asked great questions!

I can answer from my perspective. About Oneness - behind the illusion.

It's because with our eyes, we see such diversity - in myriad forms of life, human and animal, in animate and inanimate objects. And we see from the smallest thing, like grains of sand or an ant, or a rain drop - to the largest creations - like mountains, the Grand Canyon and skyscrapers.

What I see/sense and science seems to have proven - is that each creation is made up of the same building blocks, and can be arranged in any form.

There is One source for these building blocks.

Just think of the human body. You are 'one' and yet within you, are millions of cells, performing countless activities, as well as cells that lay dormant - until the right time and need, and then they perform. From young, to old - see all that takes place on/in the human form. Cells form, perform and then 'die'.

I hope I have given you an example that is easy to understand. It's challenging to put in words sometimes, but I thank you for asking the questions.

I know other bloggers here can offer you ideas and examples to bring you understanding and more clarity.

~ Kate

IMO,
Consciousness is One. Without shape or form. Unmanifest. Pure Potentially.

And from One, from Source - diversity occurs. Everything created contains the One.

From the unmanifest, Consciousness - in space and time - Becomes manifest.

Consciousness can transcend shape and form, and 'returns' to Source, unmanifest 'waiting' to form expression - endlessly.

When people get hurt, it is easy to start taking sides, to point fingers, decide who's good and who's bad and get the conflict going.

But we don't need to take anything personally. Whatever someone says and does, it is not about us, it is about that person, his/her outlook on life, experiences, wounds, preferences, goals, expectations and so on. Also, whatever we see in others and their behaviour, it's about us and our level of understanding, and not about the other.

When we deeply understand that, we can take complete responsibility for the way we see life, and we cease to feel threatened by other people's behaviour. On the contrary, we realize that we can actually help people who are stuck in aggressive behaviour to see that there's no need for aggression. Because their aggression is most often a defense tactic. Defense, because they have been hurt, and so, they hurt before they get hurt. This circle can be transformed, by not taking things personally anymore.

I read that there's a tribe somewhere who deals with conflicts in a very wise way- whoever has abused someone is brought in the middle of a gathering and everyone in that tribe starts to dance and sing, reminding the one in the middle how loved he is, how much he has to give, how appreciated he is, how important and unique part of the whole he is...

Aurora Carlson: My god woman, how you not only echo the sentiments of "A Course In Miracles," but after 10 years of studying it, and trying to apply it's exercises, I marvel at how you live them!

Here you are again and again, stepping right in with that healing-balm of your spirit pouring out on our "wounded-male egos," which of course women have as well (can't discriminate when it comes to the universal nature of the lens-of-perception that is the juman ego!), with that laser-fine mind, and a heart that could be fitted to the Mother Mary herself!

Your words bring two notions to my mind: ACIM (The Course, as it were) has a one-liner that twists the ego-mind into quite a frazzeld beast as it try's to re-work it's real meaning: "In my defenselessness my safety lies!"

And like that marvelous ACIM student/author/lecturer Marianne Williamson says, (paraphrased from memory, if you will) "For all that 'they do to you from out there,' it is still nothing, taken as a collective-whole of hurts and injustices, compared to what your own ego is doing to you ever moment of your 'unawakened' life"; and "The Course" further adds, "even into your deepest dreams does the ego struggle against your soul's awakening to truth." (also paraphrased from memory--so 'forgive' me ahead of time, for any mistranslation of the intended meaning!).

As always Aurora, and the Intentblog family--Much love to you and yours. Dave

Dear Dave, thank you for letting your love flow so openly. You are right, we create unspeakable nightmares for ourselves, it is heartbreaking. Suffering is so real and painful to the one who's in it.

Harb, Aurora, North, Tanzan, Kate, Kaveetaa and David,

Wow!

I went away for a week or two because the level of negativity was getting to much for me.

I come back to this. And this is what I signed up for. It is a pleasure to read such diverse comments and discussion minus the negative mudslinging,

Harb,

I had gone to Amazon a few weeks ago and was not impressed. I think my ego and it's idea that it knows it all got in the way of seeing what your book is about. After reading the blurb you posted I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of it. Can you give us just a page or two worth here? I will understand if you do not want to or cannot. Brilliant stuff though.

Aurora,

I may just have to memorize your take on key #1 and steal it to use when asked in the future by others to explain listening to our bodies. I could not have found the words to succinctly describe what is the experience I have through my meditation concerning listening to my own body.

Such a conservation of thought, word and energy you posses.

North,

I copy most of the comments of praise lavished on you. Strangely enough I don't read in Tazan's last few posts to Harb any negativity what so ever.

Tanzan,

I have followed almost every post you have ever posted. Although I am an artist, outside of Shakespeare and Salinger and contemporary music, I don't go much for poetry so I have not been impressed by your poetry. I also understand why people have accused you of the negativity that they have been accusing you of.

Strange as it seems to me some where along the way in this thread I started to see you completely different from how I have been perceiving you. A completely open, honest searching soul. And that ain't about kissin' your behind. Maybe it's me that shifted but I truly see depth in what you are doing here. It's as if you are provoking all of us to think deeper than the surface. I could not have gotten such a clear response from Aurora with out you. And what Aurora wrote is what I needed to here. And in your response to her I heard complete acknowledgment of her.

I think people get confused and sometimes misread the intentions behind the person. Hence North thinking you were jibbing Harb while I saw delightful play and respect for Harb in your words.

Kate,

Thanks for helping to keep this particular ball rolling in the right direction.

Kaveetaa,

That dynamic unspoken tension between you and Tanzan is turning out to be an unseen benefit in the long run. As I've been away I don't know if you guys kissed and made up and you certainly don't have to respond to that comment directly but I will agree that you women rule this space and the dignity with which you make sure it doesn't go south has my full admiration.

Dave,

As always nice to see you around. At least I know the space won't allow for complete degeneration of a conversation when I see your in the mix.

Hey Stan

"The reason for this is simple, the meaning of words change over time, and books are static,"

~Stan

I'm sure your aware that they call the bible the "living word".

Well for a long time I thought, "yea right. And what makes the bible so different?"

But then I started to understand that it speaks to us. At the same time I realized that all written words were also living. Words are not as static as humans have thought them to be.

Two years ago I sent a blind email out to some guy asking him which living philosopher was at the cutting edge. He sent me the name of a guy working at MIT. To my disappointment it was a professor that was into words. Structure. How we use them, That kind of boring stuff.

As I reluctantly looked under the surface I realized that this guy was quite deep. One of his biggest things was that the written word was anything but static. It isn't static when written and it doesn't remain static when read. That is why one can read something many times and derive many different meanings from the same apparently static words. Why I read anger in someone's words and another reads love.

Ok I'm no expert on this stuff and I certainly think philosophy has gone the way of the dinosaur (hope I don't offend any philosophers as it's only my limited self opinion).

Anyway what is the name of this one in 144 teacher. What school of thought and or spirituality?

Peace out. I'm outta here!

Dear Laurence,

I agree with you that books can have different levels of meaning. As a person raises his or her consciousness, and their understanding improves, they CAN garner new meaning from books with deeper subject material. I remember growing up and reading the "Trilogy of the Rings" many times, and getting more, and deeper meaning each time I re-read it, as I got older.This still happens to me when I re-read some of my old notes from classes past.
I respectfully submit that this phenomena doesn't change the static quality of books.
The reason is that the words still NEVER change. Language, however does change. People's understanding of language also changes. When I was studying Cantonese, in Hong Kong years ago, I was shocked at how quickly their language evolved and changed.
I don't subscribe to idea that the Bible is the living word. It is a dead book, as is every book. Dead in the sense that it can not change or grow, and therefore it is not alive, it is in a "static" condition. This is no doubt why they are trying to bring out new updated versions of the Bible in modern language

WE may have some semantics problem here, but I hope not, as I am not trying to argue. Just explain.

More important than the static condition of books, is the inability of a student to correctly understand properly everything a teacher is saying. This is another more important reason why books written by drop out students are at best 50% accurate.

Relative to what school of thought was I studying under, it was Metaphysics. I am sorry but I am not comfortable sharing the teachers name here, under the part of the code that says, "To be Silent"

I would also like to add that I enjoy your posts, Laurence especially some of your recent sharing on forgiveness.

Peace to you also,

Stan

A Note to LPB And All Brothers and Sisters Here

"I think people get confused and sometimes misread the intentions behind the person."
~Laurence Peter Brown

****
LPB and all of you,

Let me first welcome you back, LPB - though I do not have control on this web space, as you all know!

We all have different backgrounds, education, views on world, culture, life... But we do have that inherent goodness - what Christians call Golden Rules - in all of us. Our diversity makes us interact here, our goodness makes us feel like brothers and sisters here.

I have no intention to hurt anybody personally. I am not a poet. It is more easy for me to package my thoughts the way I write than to write in prose.

My interaction here with all of you gives me insight into the working of human mind. I do not know any of you beyond what you write here. I like to find if there is really something very profound that all of you seem to possess, or this is mostly baloney - perhaps to some and not to others!

Kind regards
Tanzan Senzaki

Morning, guys, what's the topic?
.
'Knowledge differs on different steges of awareness' some yogi once said,

In the real world nobody gives a rat's ass, about 'philosophy' and 'spirituality',
ethics or morality, guys, outside academics,
it's about money and power, wake up and smell the coffee!

On the Bible, nice collection of good spiritual
inspiration, for good people, for 'Ego's' a neverending 'source' of legimacy of their hierarchic structures, and their abuse of minds,
and funds collected,

With Love, Passion!

Two Gems Here:

I

In the real world nobody gives a rat's ass, about 'philosophy' and 'spirituality',
ethics or morality, guys, outside academics,
it's about money and power, wake up and smell the coffee!

II

On the Bible, nice collection of good spiritual
inspiration,...and their abuse of minds,
and funds collected.

Both by marek dariusz podsiadlo
who knows what life is about.

So guys, wake up, open your eyes. Or you still need more lullabies. Still more baloney on spirituality and the like!

MDP, let us see how many wake up from their samadhis - deep trances - today, and how many lose their illusions and delusions today, of this maya in the world - not your Maya, that sweetie cutie pie!

Regards
Tanzan Senzaki

Both by marek dariusz podsiadlo
who knows what life is about.
Posted by: Tanzan Senzaki

And humble about it, if I may add..T. ;)

(and while you read this, ladies, me be glady,
collecting, yours pictures and phone numbers,

I recommend personal tutering from me...
nothing else will do. It really is a must.;)

With Love, Passion!!

Dear K, you got it! You can play the winner between me and Tiffany; I will enjoy this meeting tremendously! I am rusty though; so NO practicing, ok?

Aurora; no one else could have said it all any wiser!

David; of course you read T as coming from a different place than me, in his mocking of Harb; you saw playful social foreplay, while I saw antagonistic aggresive challenging. We are each others opposite reflection, so how can this not also follow the flow of understanding levels that are cognitively between us?

IN my life experience, I see it as aggressiveness. I see a boy, poking someone with a stick. I see that, as a form of abuse. Now, if T portrayed himself without a stick; perhaps his intentions might be made more clearer to me?

Not reaching for excuse's as to why I find his behaviour less than desirable; but, being 49 David; I have "yet" to find a place in this world, where nobody carries a stick.

I suppose I reach for oblivious blissful peace. I see, that place can only exist in the mind I create it in.

Hmm, in hindsight; perhaps I have learned more than I'd anticipated. Did I just shed, not another fearless tear, but rather instead has it removed my deceptive cloak of ego, just a little further down the back?

A shiver overtakes me, and I have to fly.

North

Laurence, you don't have to steel it, lol. I'm glad if it's of any use. Good to see the new, more positive you.

Happy New Year All.

I just wanted to write and say that I'm continuing to be really impressed and encouraged by this blog and more recently by Deepak's book "Peace is the Way," which I have on loan from the local library. I sat reading it while flying back from a family gathering across the country. Sitting there in the dark, next to my wonderful little boy, a plane load of people experiencing the fantastic luxury of fast safe comfortable travel for reasonable prices, traveling across America, I was just humbled by the messages therein, the perspectives, the incredibly wide and wise and restrained and profound messages of this book. No, I'm not some rabid fan, I have approached Deepak's books with interest for years. In our hearts, we have so much in common. This is the point. I have shed many layers of anger, around politics, dating from the Viet Nam era to the present mess in Washington. It's amazing to let go my old hatred of the hawkish right-wing politicians, to see my smallness, my "identifying" so rabidly with my beloved liberalism, spirituality, and supposed intellectual sophistication. Yes, it's a lot of crap, I realize. Not that I am lying down and letting the machine run me over, but that I am choosing not to feel so infected by the machinatins of life around me. Peace is a good thing, and like charity, it starts at home. It goes deeper and deeper and deeper and with that depth of peace comes an energetic feeling of possibilities, freedom, empowerment, intelligence, creativity and enjoyment of life. It beats strife, internal infernal corrosive strife. A life without a spin, without hate, without judgement, without dehumanizing an enemy. Life without enemies. Thank you, Deepak for your amazing intelligence and effort to look at these incredibly difficult large issues with this degree of love, compassion and intelligence.
I am your friend. again, Happy New Year.

Dear John Wilder, I wanted to read more...

North

Dear North,

Thanks. Perhaps you will, as I pursue the writing craft, here and in a couple of books I am picking away at. But meanwhile, Deepak's new book is worth whole hearted attention.

Absolutely wonderful John; very nice to see aspiration in the mist, or is that midst?

North

Stan.

We are definitely not arguing and what you said makes perfect sense to me.

As I was re-reading my post after posting it I also thought that the reason the words bring new meaning is because we change and grow and not the books.

Tanzan,

I am completely with you on your intention to discover whether there is something here or just b.s.. Please keep probing as it opens up doors for myself.

I personally left for a moment after a particularly hard to swallow series of comments toward myself that I evaluated as being personal attacks on myself.

I am usually hard skinned and can take a verbal lashing. That day I was sensitive and tired and felt beat up.

After a day or two I began to see how my very negative ways of interacting with the world caused so much anguish. I mean I am very capable of hurting people especially with my tongue. And I often do it with not a thought for how it must make them feel. I figure if I am a tough skinned New Yorker the rest of the world should be able to swallow my abuses.

I was mortified with myself and the way I so easily attack when I feel I am being attacked.

Now I am just searching for ways of interacting minus my seething anger which is really just a shield propped up in front of some basic insecurities I have harbored since I was about 7 years of age.

It is more important for me to find a way back to the love that I know I have inherent in me and share that love with and for myself.

Thanks for sharing Tazan

Thank you Kate for your comments. I was pondering what you said, odd that I've always labeled consciousness with some all knowing intent. Would this not lead to randomness? If so where would that leave intention and and everything having a unique purpose, i.e. when you need an answer to something someone appears, etc. I'm not articulating to well right now, so tired but I hope my question makes sense. Would not a field of potentiality with which all comes have some purpose if not would it not lead to everything being pretty much random?
Tonya

Hi Tonya,
You ask such great questions! I will try to answer!

Let me ask you - do you think it is possible to have both randomness - and intentions of purpose? I say - Yes!

What if I told you, You are the only thinker in your world. Can you grasp this? Just take a look at your thoughts. You are the thinker of your thoughts, even if you are agreeing with another person's opinions and beliefs, it's still You, thinking the thoughts.

Have I lost you? :) Hope not.

Now, lets look closely at your thoughts. Are they sometimes a jumble? Jumping all around? Other times are you able to stay on track with the thinking process, perhaps when using thoughts for a skill, like cooking or creating art (something I do :) or for writing, driving a car, etc.

So, finally - my last point. What do you observe? You are the thinker of your world. And you and the thinker are one. I believe our intentions, do bring certain events and people into our lives.

Oh, my there is more I can write. I don't want to lose you! :) If you come back to read this, please ask questions, there is more examples I can give you - so you can See with Clear Awareness. And in clear awareness, you can 'step outside' thinking altogether, and what you 'step into' is Truth and Understanding, where confusion and randomness cannot exist. That is what Enlighenment can do!

Love, Kate

BeStill
BeCause
BeHave
BeCome
BeWare,
BeHold....
BeLoved
BE

Though Dr Chopra may have mentioned this indirectly in point 1, I feel that it needs further elaboration:-

"Be an individual if you want to be happy. If you want to be happy, start choosing on your own. Everybody is being dragged and manipulated. So nobody knows, what is one’s destiny. What really you wanted to do, you have forgotten. Then how you can be happy. Somebody who could have been a poet is just a moneylender. Somebody who could have been a painter is a doctor. Somebody who could have been a good doctor is a businessman. Everybody is displaced. Everybody is doing something that he never wanted to do. Hence Unhappiness. Happiness happens when you fit with your life. When you fit so harmoniously that whatever you are doing is your joy. Then suddenly you come to know that meditation follows you. If you love the work that you are doing, if you love the way you are living, then you are meditative. "

Since one works for 66 to 75 % of his waking life, he cannot afford to be misplaced in his profession in my view. He cannot also continue to live in the moment consistently if he is an extreme case as quoted by Thomas Carlyle " The person who has found his vocation in life is a blessed human being. Let him ask for no other blessedness".