A Servant's Heart
By Expert Author: Alyice Edrich
Do you have a servant’s heart? Has God blessed you with the insight to see the needs of others and reach out in compassion and understanding even when they, themselves, cannot reach out and ask for help?
Four years ago I had the rare opportunity to not only reach out and touch a few lives, but to be blessed in return. I say rare because in my own experience, it’s either been one or the other - not both at the same time. I used to believe that it was because giving and receiving at the same time would take the focus off what God intended for us, or the other party, to learn.
But that year, as I was fulfilling God’s desire for me to serve others, God sent others to act as servants to my family. And you know what I learned? Humbling yourself to receive God’s blessings is just as important as humbling yourself to give God’s blessings to others. Whether you give or you receive, you must first humble yourself before the Lord and let His will take precedence over your circumstances, your emotions, your finances, and your actions.
It doesn’t matter what you own, how much money you have in the bank, how talented or educated you are, or how many people you know. If God calls you to have a servant’s heart, He will make a way for you to accomplish what He has put on your heart to do.
A servant’s heart has more to do with your relationship with God than it has to do with your desire to be recognized for your good deeds. Having a servant’s heart is one the most beautiful expressions of love I know because it’s showing your love to another human being by simply being who God intended you to be. It’s about seeing a need and fulfilling it without any strings attached. It’s about making yourself uncomfortable so that someone else can be comfortable. It’s about showing Christ’s love through your actions and your words. And finally, it’s about touching the lives of those around you with such a gentle kindness that your act will be remembered for years to come.
You might think a check to pay a bill will solve someone’s problem but that might not be what God wants you to do. God may want you to teach that person how to budget his income so that he’s not in the same boat next month. You might think a prayer is all that is needed but God might want you spend some quality time with that person. You might think a having a garage sale to remove clutter from someone’s life will help her get more focused but God might want you to help that person reorganize her life by ministering to her soul while you weed through her material possessions. It’s all a matter of God-perspective, not man-perspective.
Taking the time to listen to what God wants you to do, humbling yourself to do what He has called you to do, and then faithfully following His orders regardless of how uncomfortable it makes you is truly what a servant’s heart is all about. It’s selfless love at its best and God couldn’t ask for a better gift or testimony of your relationship with Him. So pay attention when God calls you to serve others. Listen with your heart, not your mind and ask yourself, “Is this what God wants me to do or is this what I think should be done?”
Kamis, 09 Juli 2009
Top Benefits Of Visualization
Top Benefits Of Visualization
By Expert Author: Kageni Pierce
Creative visualization techniques help intensify clarity and focus to help you bring into your life that which is desirable. This is called deliberate creation.
As one of the most important tenets of the Law of Attraction, positive visualization is simple yet not as easy to implement on a consistent basis.
Some of the benefits of visualization that you will begin to encounter as you make this practice an integral part of your life are:
1. Increased great health
The Law of Mind Action will work in your favor if you fill yourself with images of a happy, healthy self. Surrounding yourself with energetic, vibrant images fills you with that same kind of energy. If you are depressed and unmotivated to exercise, you do not help yourself by filling yourself with gloomy thoughts of how hard it is to exercise. Cut out a picture of a vibrant healthy person that you feel happy to see. Put it where you can see it often throughout the day. Visualize yourself in that manner. Feel it as if already happened. Take one simple action, like going for a walk. Continue to image yourself as that energetic, heathful person. Never relent -- that is the mistake most people make, then say it doesn't work.
2. Money increase
Most people want more money. Whether people want to publicly admit that or not, it seems to be the case anyway, if you are a keen observer of humans. Few people believe they have enough, even though they might pay lip service to that statement. The truth is that your financial abundance is determined your beliefs. There are many people making six figure incomes that are even more broke than those on welfare. Why? Because lack is a state of mind. When you spend more than you have, you are exhibiting a lack mentality. Visualizing yourself financially heatlhy will surprise you how you will start to get incredibly creative to attract more money. Feel the sense of being abundantly blessed.
3. Attract and keep love
One of the greatest benefits of visualization is that you feel a sense of being powerful. You can create what you desire. Many people have wondered if unscrupulous people can use visualization to create evil, for example attract a person that "belongs" to someone else. The fact is, you can. That is, if that other person is not strongly rooted in their relationship. The universe however will give you what your energy level truly matches. There is no fooling around. So if you wanted one thing and got another, examine how you really, truly felt about your desire. Did you have guilt? Worry? Did you secretly dread having that desire come to fruition?
4. Attract your dream man/woman
What does your dream partner look like? It has been said that "we attract who we are". In other words, who we end up with will match our thoughts and our feelings. Sometimes this is tough to swallow, but the same people who complain about it are the same ones who wonder why they are not happy with who they have attracted. Yet the very idea of choosing to remain unconcious does nothing but bring more of the same unwanted results.
Have a clear mental image of your desired partner. Use the different visualization techniques to imprint it in your mind. Always remember, hardly will you attract a partner that does not match up to your vibrational energy of your thoughts and feelings.
5. Get your desired body weight
Writing a movie script of the day you wake up at your desired body weight is a great visualization technique for this one.
6. Attract the right job
Never be stuck doing work that does not inspire you, pay you what you know you are worth, or one that puts unnecessary stress on your body. Remember, stress is a major cause of increased ill health. Therefore, see yourself in your perfect job. There are always people who will enjoy doing what you dislike. So visualize yourself daily in your desired perfect job.
7. Manifest your material desires
For some reason, many people seem ashamed to publicly admit that they desire material stuff. There is nothing wrong with wanting to attract a big beautiful home, if that is what you truly desire. The key thing is to make sure you are free of guilt and judgement. Always remember that material things are a representation of universal abundance. It is up to you to decide when a desired thing does not serve your higher purpose.
8. Behavioral change, such as to stop smoking
You can use a vision board as a visualization tool very effectively to help you stop undesirable behaviour, such as smoking, chewing your nails etc. What seems to work best though is putting up pictures that represent a positive outcome, rather than a "stop doing this" message. For example, a picture of fresh clean environment denoting clean air would be great.
Bottom line, benefits of visualization far outweigh doing nothing. A key thing to remember when visualizing:
Always be aware of how you feel. This is key. It is also the reason many people get frustrated and claim it doesn't work. How you feel will determine your results. If you aren't feeling good (and all the feelings that can be closely associated with good), then find something to visualize that will cause you to feel good.
By Expert Author: Kageni Pierce
Creative visualization techniques help intensify clarity and focus to help you bring into your life that which is desirable. This is called deliberate creation.
As one of the most important tenets of the Law of Attraction, positive visualization is simple yet not as easy to implement on a consistent basis.
Some of the benefits of visualization that you will begin to encounter as you make this practice an integral part of your life are:
1. Increased great health
The Law of Mind Action will work in your favor if you fill yourself with images of a happy, healthy self. Surrounding yourself with energetic, vibrant images fills you with that same kind of energy. If you are depressed and unmotivated to exercise, you do not help yourself by filling yourself with gloomy thoughts of how hard it is to exercise. Cut out a picture of a vibrant healthy person that you feel happy to see. Put it where you can see it often throughout the day. Visualize yourself in that manner. Feel it as if already happened. Take one simple action, like going for a walk. Continue to image yourself as that energetic, heathful person. Never relent -- that is the mistake most people make, then say it doesn't work.
2. Money increase
Most people want more money. Whether people want to publicly admit that or not, it seems to be the case anyway, if you are a keen observer of humans. Few people believe they have enough, even though they might pay lip service to that statement. The truth is that your financial abundance is determined your beliefs. There are many people making six figure incomes that are even more broke than those on welfare. Why? Because lack is a state of mind. When you spend more than you have, you are exhibiting a lack mentality. Visualizing yourself financially heatlhy will surprise you how you will start to get incredibly creative to attract more money. Feel the sense of being abundantly blessed.
3. Attract and keep love
One of the greatest benefits of visualization is that you feel a sense of being powerful. You can create what you desire. Many people have wondered if unscrupulous people can use visualization to create evil, for example attract a person that "belongs" to someone else. The fact is, you can. That is, if that other person is not strongly rooted in their relationship. The universe however will give you what your energy level truly matches. There is no fooling around. So if you wanted one thing and got another, examine how you really, truly felt about your desire. Did you have guilt? Worry? Did you secretly dread having that desire come to fruition?
4. Attract your dream man/woman
What does your dream partner look like? It has been said that "we attract who we are". In other words, who we end up with will match our thoughts and our feelings. Sometimes this is tough to swallow, but the same people who complain about it are the same ones who wonder why they are not happy with who they have attracted. Yet the very idea of choosing to remain unconcious does nothing but bring more of the same unwanted results.
Have a clear mental image of your desired partner. Use the different visualization techniques to imprint it in your mind. Always remember, hardly will you attract a partner that does not match up to your vibrational energy of your thoughts and feelings.
5. Get your desired body weight
Writing a movie script of the day you wake up at your desired body weight is a great visualization technique for this one.
6. Attract the right job
Never be stuck doing work that does not inspire you, pay you what you know you are worth, or one that puts unnecessary stress on your body. Remember, stress is a major cause of increased ill health. Therefore, see yourself in your perfect job. There are always people who will enjoy doing what you dislike. So visualize yourself daily in your desired perfect job.
7. Manifest your material desires
For some reason, many people seem ashamed to publicly admit that they desire material stuff. There is nothing wrong with wanting to attract a big beautiful home, if that is what you truly desire. The key thing is to make sure you are free of guilt and judgement. Always remember that material things are a representation of universal abundance. It is up to you to decide when a desired thing does not serve your higher purpose.
8. Behavioral change, such as to stop smoking
You can use a vision board as a visualization tool very effectively to help you stop undesirable behaviour, such as smoking, chewing your nails etc. What seems to work best though is putting up pictures that represent a positive outcome, rather than a "stop doing this" message. For example, a picture of fresh clean environment denoting clean air would be great.
Bottom line, benefits of visualization far outweigh doing nothing. A key thing to remember when visualizing:
Always be aware of how you feel. This is key. It is also the reason many people get frustrated and claim it doesn't work. How you feel will determine your results. If you aren't feeling good (and all the feelings that can be closely associated with good), then find something to visualize that will cause you to feel good.
Number Chanting
Number Chanting
By Expert Author: Sean M. Clarke
According to the science of Spirituality, chanting is the recommended foundation of spiritual practice in the current era i.e. the era of strife. Chanting can be done with the aim to progress spiritually or as a healing tool, or both. Chanting for spiritual growth is done according to the religion of birth and one of the ways to assist oneself in the process of healing from physical and mental disease is number chanting.
What are Number Chants?
Number chants are specific numbers which have been found out and confirmed through spiritual research, that when repeated alleviate specific symptoms caused by negative energies. Number chanting is basically to be done as a remedial measure. For example, by repeating the number ‘61’ dryness of skin caused due to distress by ghosts is overcome.
The Advantages of Number Chanting
An advantage of this remedy is that it is more universal and easy to undertake, especially for those who cannot repeat the Name of God for any reason (either because they are atheists or simply do not have the interest to grow spiritually but do want to get better).
How does the number chant work?
• Good health is a state of predominance of the subtle basic sattva (purity and knowledge) component in the various organs and systems of our body. Any illness basically entails an increase in subtle basic raja-tama component with a concomitant decrease in subtle sattva component. The specific number chant generates purity and restores this imbalance caused in a particular symptom to normal, thereby removing the symptom.
• Each number chant corresponds to a specific principle or a specific aspect of God. By chanting that number, that particular deity principle or aspect of God is invoked; this in turn acts as a divine medicine to combat the influence of the ghost responsible for the particular symptom.
• Keep in mind that if one were to directly chant the Name of God one would get greater benefit.
The recommended quantity and time for chanting
It is recommended that one should perform this remedy on a daily basis. The amount of time per day can be decided according to the severity of the symptoms.
• For mild afflictions: 1-2 hours per day in a single session or in a number of sessions.
• Moderate: 3-4 hours or more.
• Severe: Do the remedy for as long as possible every day even after the symptoms have disappeared.
The effect of Number Chant combined with other spiritual measures
It is advisable to complement the number chants with frequent prayer and nyaas whenever possible. This helps to channelise the specific spiritual energy generated from the chanting to specific spiritual energy centre (Kundalini chakra) from where it is disseminated, to the organs receiving spiritual energy from the spiritual energy centre.
One should continue the chanting while engaged in other routine physical activity like exercising, taking a shower, cooking, eating etc.
The role of faith in number chanting
Faith helps, but one can still derive benefit from number chanting even if one does not have faith in it. This is akin to the fact that one does not need faith in an aspirin to derive the benefit of the aspirin. So also, number chanting is a spiritual medicine and one will derive benefit by putting it into practice whether one has faith in it or not.
Summary
Many seekers of God doing spiritual practice have experienced and are experiencing the relief from symptoms of illness by chanting the number chant.
One can gain the benefits of spiritual healing by doing these simple chants oneself, however, we do recommend that one continues with one’s medication as prescribed by one’s doctor and practice number chanting to speed up one’s recovery and healing.
Ailments such as eczema, cold, fever, mouth ulcers, asthma etc that have the root cause in the spiritual realm can be overcome by Number Chanting along with regular medication.
By Expert Author: Sean M. Clarke
According to the science of Spirituality, chanting is the recommended foundation of spiritual practice in the current era i.e. the era of strife. Chanting can be done with the aim to progress spiritually or as a healing tool, or both. Chanting for spiritual growth is done according to the religion of birth and one of the ways to assist oneself in the process of healing from physical and mental disease is number chanting.
What are Number Chants?
Number chants are specific numbers which have been found out and confirmed through spiritual research, that when repeated alleviate specific symptoms caused by negative energies. Number chanting is basically to be done as a remedial measure. For example, by repeating the number ‘61’ dryness of skin caused due to distress by ghosts is overcome.
The Advantages of Number Chanting
An advantage of this remedy is that it is more universal and easy to undertake, especially for those who cannot repeat the Name of God for any reason (either because they are atheists or simply do not have the interest to grow spiritually but do want to get better).
How does the number chant work?
• Good health is a state of predominance of the subtle basic sattva (purity and knowledge) component in the various organs and systems of our body. Any illness basically entails an increase in subtle basic raja-tama component with a concomitant decrease in subtle sattva component. The specific number chant generates purity and restores this imbalance caused in a particular symptom to normal, thereby removing the symptom.
• Each number chant corresponds to a specific principle or a specific aspect of God. By chanting that number, that particular deity principle or aspect of God is invoked; this in turn acts as a divine medicine to combat the influence of the ghost responsible for the particular symptom.
• Keep in mind that if one were to directly chant the Name of God one would get greater benefit.
The recommended quantity and time for chanting
It is recommended that one should perform this remedy on a daily basis. The amount of time per day can be decided according to the severity of the symptoms.
• For mild afflictions: 1-2 hours per day in a single session or in a number of sessions.
• Moderate: 3-4 hours or more.
• Severe: Do the remedy for as long as possible every day even after the symptoms have disappeared.
The effect of Number Chant combined with other spiritual measures
It is advisable to complement the number chants with frequent prayer and nyaas whenever possible. This helps to channelise the specific spiritual energy generated from the chanting to specific spiritual energy centre (Kundalini chakra) from where it is disseminated, to the organs receiving spiritual energy from the spiritual energy centre.
One should continue the chanting while engaged in other routine physical activity like exercising, taking a shower, cooking, eating etc.
The role of faith in number chanting
Faith helps, but one can still derive benefit from number chanting even if one does not have faith in it. This is akin to the fact that one does not need faith in an aspirin to derive the benefit of the aspirin. So also, number chanting is a spiritual medicine and one will derive benefit by putting it into practice whether one has faith in it or not.
Summary
Many seekers of God doing spiritual practice have experienced and are experiencing the relief from symptoms of illness by chanting the number chant.
One can gain the benefits of spiritual healing by doing these simple chants oneself, however, we do recommend that one continues with one’s medication as prescribed by one’s doctor and practice number chanting to speed up one’s recovery and healing.
Ailments such as eczema, cold, fever, mouth ulcers, asthma etc that have the root cause in the spiritual realm can be overcome by Number Chanting along with regular medication.
Use Your Mind To Uncover The Mysteries Of Mental Law
Use Your Mind To Uncover The Mysteries Of Mental Law
By Expert Author: Donald Yates
Life is a mystery
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
Laws of physics which dominate the real world are a mystery to most people. Many unseen actions take place around us every second yet they are accepted without any consideration or reflection as they operate within our experience. These are the unexplained phenomenon’s of life in which we take no notice. A leaf moves as an unseen breeze passes, a lamp lights as unseen electricity flows through it and the world is illuminated and warmed by a sun that is always ready to provide light and heat.
Things perceived are things conceived
While there are many things perceived to be mysterious to the mind, there is nothing mysteries in revelations of truth but undiscovered even truth becomes a mystery. Only when truth is illuminated and understood, does it become a guiding light to the soul. Truths understood, are the building blocks upon which all of humanity stands.
Who uncovers the validly in truth but people of vision, mystics, philosophers, people who dare to seek out and dispel the laden mysteries of darkness. Even in this modern world, our civilization continues on the discoveries of great visionaries. They envisioned the future, taught Spiritual Revaluations and Laws of truth that continue to govern mankind and the Universe.
A Universal Law revealed
These same great people revealed a Universal Law that flowed from the Heavens and affected all of mankind. Who were these men of old who first realized that Spirit Alone was their teacher and they were without question, instructed by God? Only Spirit could have reviled such great tidings as such taught to these men. What part of their mentality could arrived at such profound conclusions and not conclude God alone governs all?
In later times, great religious leaders revealed to civilization their degree of spiritual visions as they caught passing glimpses into an Ultimate Reality. No doubt, their wisdom must have come from Spirit for no living soul could have revealed to them what they knew and quite possibility, even they themselves didn’t realize why they knew.
It is all for the pleasure of God
And God having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself subjects us to His purpose. We are not only subjects of the laws of God we are, transpiring law. Because mankind has dominance over all things on earth we, impose law onto nature.
Turning toward nature
In this setting, mankind has turned toward nature and compelled it to surrender its forces and powers. As mankind discovered and harnessed such laws as electric energy he devised huge turbines to catch and control the power in water, steam and wind to drive them. He extracted petrol from the earth to power automobiles to make life easer, in the end mankind made nature obey his will and forgot from where it came. Man never invented, he discovered the force in machines that would do his labor and he drove them to built long ribbons of highway for accommodating his automobile. As mankind plunges forward, constructing miraculous civilizations he also discovers destructive forces in nature for which he manipulates so he may force his will upon others. But in all of man’s grandeur, in all his accomplishments, he has not been able to conquered his own soul. He has become blinded and in his darkened state he has lost his way and now he revels in his own misconception of the meaning of life.
Even as mankind searches for satisfaction through material objects of his own self-interested he exposes spiritual relevance in his experience. He also reveals many timeless truths that reveals in us a Supreme truth and Living Presence in which we cannot deny.
The significance of life
For many people the search for extracting an importance from Life is based on suspicions and misconceptions that fear controls the inner man. The fact is, every philosophy, religion and individual belief embraces a truth that fear is no more than a misconception and has no basis in reality. Fear is a warning of pending possibilities not a reasoning for avoidance. It is in hope that fear diminishes in the presence of possibilities and opportunities. The mind grasps hope as its foundation for being; hope in the unseen things of the future and its possibilities of discovery.
True men of vision reach beyond human thought to sense the true purpose of God. One might ask, "How do we know if God has a purpose for us?" Consistency in confession reveals that over the years prophets have detected and taught the same truths. The uniformity in these revelations has brought a since of knowing when truth prevails.
Is there only one Truth
It is true that all revelations result in an awareness that there is but one ultimate reality. Could this Ultimate Reality be here now? If only we could detect it, through our limited senses. But alas we can not. The creator of the Universe chooses to be obscure in order to invoke faith in mankind. But wait, if I could only see, talk to, hear God I would truly believe. Ahaa, with exposure there would be no faith for it is faith that drives man to seek answers.
Do not follow evil
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. And so it goes, one must believe in and seek God before experiencing His presence. Evil is mans due and has no place in the presence of God. Those who believe in a God who consciously works in and through man, surrenders to His omnipresence.
They understand that the Kingdom of God is their condition and they are engulfed in His being as a fish is in water; it only needs to be recognized. As the Spirit of God is within so is the soul of man.
Happy Trails
By Expert Author: Donald Yates
Life is a mystery
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
Laws of physics which dominate the real world are a mystery to most people. Many unseen actions take place around us every second yet they are accepted without any consideration or reflection as they operate within our experience. These are the unexplained phenomenon’s of life in which we take no notice. A leaf moves as an unseen breeze passes, a lamp lights as unseen electricity flows through it and the world is illuminated and warmed by a sun that is always ready to provide light and heat.
Things perceived are things conceived
While there are many things perceived to be mysterious to the mind, there is nothing mysteries in revelations of truth but undiscovered even truth becomes a mystery. Only when truth is illuminated and understood, does it become a guiding light to the soul. Truths understood, are the building blocks upon which all of humanity stands.
Who uncovers the validly in truth but people of vision, mystics, philosophers, people who dare to seek out and dispel the laden mysteries of darkness. Even in this modern world, our civilization continues on the discoveries of great visionaries. They envisioned the future, taught Spiritual Revaluations and Laws of truth that continue to govern mankind and the Universe.
A Universal Law revealed
These same great people revealed a Universal Law that flowed from the Heavens and affected all of mankind. Who were these men of old who first realized that Spirit Alone was their teacher and they were without question, instructed by God? Only Spirit could have reviled such great tidings as such taught to these men. What part of their mentality could arrived at such profound conclusions and not conclude God alone governs all?
In later times, great religious leaders revealed to civilization their degree of spiritual visions as they caught passing glimpses into an Ultimate Reality. No doubt, their wisdom must have come from Spirit for no living soul could have revealed to them what they knew and quite possibility, even they themselves didn’t realize why they knew.
It is all for the pleasure of God
And God having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself subjects us to His purpose. We are not only subjects of the laws of God we are, transpiring law. Because mankind has dominance over all things on earth we, impose law onto nature.
Turning toward nature
In this setting, mankind has turned toward nature and compelled it to surrender its forces and powers. As mankind discovered and harnessed such laws as electric energy he devised huge turbines to catch and control the power in water, steam and wind to drive them. He extracted petrol from the earth to power automobiles to make life easer, in the end mankind made nature obey his will and forgot from where it came. Man never invented, he discovered the force in machines that would do his labor and he drove them to built long ribbons of highway for accommodating his automobile. As mankind plunges forward, constructing miraculous civilizations he also discovers destructive forces in nature for which he manipulates so he may force his will upon others. But in all of man’s grandeur, in all his accomplishments, he has not been able to conquered his own soul. He has become blinded and in his darkened state he has lost his way and now he revels in his own misconception of the meaning of life.
Even as mankind searches for satisfaction through material objects of his own self-interested he exposes spiritual relevance in his experience. He also reveals many timeless truths that reveals in us a Supreme truth and Living Presence in which we cannot deny.
The significance of life
For many people the search for extracting an importance from Life is based on suspicions and misconceptions that fear controls the inner man. The fact is, every philosophy, religion and individual belief embraces a truth that fear is no more than a misconception and has no basis in reality. Fear is a warning of pending possibilities not a reasoning for avoidance. It is in hope that fear diminishes in the presence of possibilities and opportunities. The mind grasps hope as its foundation for being; hope in the unseen things of the future and its possibilities of discovery.
True men of vision reach beyond human thought to sense the true purpose of God. One might ask, "How do we know if God has a purpose for us?" Consistency in confession reveals that over the years prophets have detected and taught the same truths. The uniformity in these revelations has brought a since of knowing when truth prevails.
Is there only one Truth
It is true that all revelations result in an awareness that there is but one ultimate reality. Could this Ultimate Reality be here now? If only we could detect it, through our limited senses. But alas we can not. The creator of the Universe chooses to be obscure in order to invoke faith in mankind. But wait, if I could only see, talk to, hear God I would truly believe. Ahaa, with exposure there would be no faith for it is faith that drives man to seek answers.
Do not follow evil
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. And so it goes, one must believe in and seek God before experiencing His presence. Evil is mans due and has no place in the presence of God. Those who believe in a God who consciously works in and through man, surrenders to His omnipresence.
They understand that the Kingdom of God is their condition and they are engulfed in His being as a fish is in water; it only needs to be recognized. As the Spirit of God is within so is the soul of man.
Happy Trails
A New and Unique Philosophy?
A New and Unique Philosophy?
By Expert Author: Theresa Twogood
I must admit that for whatever reason, this week has me feeling as if I am in a ‘funk’. I am not sure if it is all the dopey way people have been acting and/or thinking lately, or if I’m just coming down with something. Either way, and none the less I am in a ‘funk’, therefore, please pardon if I offend, that is not my intention now or ever. Also, please pardon the length of this article; it is required to demonstrate completely what I wish to highlight.
I found it rather interesting this week that all the major media services have begun to report that gasoline prices are raising even higher, each and every day and this may signal a lot of trouble and problems to come. We didn’t really need them to tell us this however, while they continue to report the obvious; you and I can detect and learn of a ‘new’ underlying philosophy hiding under and spreading across the globe along with the increasing of oil prices.
You may not have heard of it, nor had the misfortunate to come into contact with the ‘new philosophy’, so I will attempt to explain it to you. Now I could just blurt it out, however, you would not understand me completely and therefore you would move on to other more interesting, and easier to understand articles to read. Therefore I have broken down this ‘new philosophy’ into how four different groups of people with each of their unique versions or spin of this ‘new philosophy’ are infecting the overall ‘thought of the moment’.
A good portion of adults have begun to notice that they are getting larger and larger in size. When they weight themselves they can plainly see that they are now a member of the over-weight club. This causes a great deal of emotional distress and uncomfortableness along with the discomfort of tight fitting clothes. [Please don’t misunderstand me, not everyone that is overweight has their version of the following ‘new philosophy’. Also, not every overweight person is overweight because of their actions or inaction.] This group’s version of the ‘new philosophy’ goes something like this while in conversion with experts on overweight issues; they say ‘give me some ‘diet’ that allows me to remain in my usual inactive lifestyle, while eating the same if not a bit more of my favorite foods and snacks’. This group’s version is simply, ‘I want a miracle cure now, however, not a real solution that involves any effort and/or moderation and personal responsibility’. Again, not all overweight people believe this, however, the group that do, is growing larger everyday in more than just dress sizes. Just as a bad attitude has the effect of a spreading wildfire, so does this dopey way of thinking.
The next group is College graduates. A large portion, no not all again, has begun to exercise their version of the ‘new philosophy’ and it goes like this. ‘Don't even think of offering me a job with an average starting wage, don’t expect me to grow in understanding as well as in pay grade with greater knowledge and as I learn the ropes of this new position’! Just pay me like the CEO and if that’s not possible I understand. However, you will then just have to give me the winning numbers for next week’s lottery drawing’! Simply put, ‘I have learned everything there is to know, I am a know-it-all and will not stand to be educated by anyone any further. I will not start out a career and work myself up the ‘corporate ladder’ and pay scale, I will not ‘sacrifice’ any of my nights or weekends while in training because I don’t do training and lastly, just pay me like the top person of this company, and pay me right now’! Again, not all however a rather large percentage does hold to this version of the ‘new philosophy’. This is also the very same group that has learned to dismiss any bad behavior with examples of other-worst bad behavior.
The next group is the non-graduated and other various ‘up and coming’ levels of educated as well as those who drop out before completing various requirements. This group’s version of the ‘new philosophy’ is: ‘let’s come up with the most outlandish, over-the-top, immoral, hurtful, ridiculous activity that we can film with our video camera or phone camera! Then we will upload it to Youtube and we will get rich and famous all at the same time and never have to work another day in our lives’. Simply put, ‘give me money, fame, and even more fortune for my utterly unworthy contribution and reckless behavior under the guise of ‘humor’. After all this is the time of reality shows and instant fame and fortune, and so ‘get out of my way, I want mine and I want it now’!
This group has hit upon one very valid point however. We as a people have learned to forget what a person did to get to the position of fame and fortune they now hold. It’s as if once you get it, by any means possible, the method and means is quickly forgotten and you gain unearned, undeserved respect along with your new found fortune. This has got to stop! We need to hold people to creditability standards once again. Simple fame does not or should not ever equal respect.
The last and the most destructive group is the pseudo-religious camp. This group goes around doing actions that THEY one, say and ADMIT are totally offensive to God. Two, these actions are considered and understood to be a sin in God’s eyes. This group however, instead of having any true contrition and guilt of wrong doing, and instead of taking any action to prevent the re-occurrence of the said action, they boldfacely display their wrong actions until approached by another wishing to assist them to see the ‘error of their ways’. Then this group protests loudly and responds, ’you aren’t suppose to judge me, and just because you have pointed out my fault you are a negative person and even a threat to me and to my way of life’. Simply put, they hold to the misconceived tarradiddle dribble that, ‘God loves me even if I continue to do wrong actions under my control, over and over again even if I am not one bit contrite’. The ‘icing on the cake’ is that they PLAN to do the wrong doing or to continue in the action again and again with no thought of changing or stopping’! They continue to say, ‘God doesn’t punish wrongdoers, He doesn’t wish for anyone in error to come into the light of contrition and put a stop to their wrong doing’. ‘No, He doesn’t detest the action or wrong doing. ‘It is all a simple matter of personal perspective’! What a bunch of slobbering dribble!
Lately, anyone who would point out this group’s version of the ‘new philosophy’ as wrong and an action to resist and stop at once are called a threat, a bad, negative and hateful person. Even some of the new ‘hate crime’ laws could now apply to anyone pointing out the ‘error of this group’s ways’!
This group isn’t made up of just one type or another but rather a wide and varying type of people and behavior. The whole misconceived error that God loves a person no matter whatever they do is the root of the trouble. No, God only loves those who come before Him with complete contrition and repentance with the fore-thought of changing the behavior in question. With full contrition and repentance (which infers change or the ceasing of doing the wrong) God’s is then full of mercy! If one goes around taunting God with their actions and this misconceived error, they will find that they are on the fast track to where they do not want to be and to total separation from God and His people! Separation does not infer any hateful fore-thought or intention to separate. Do not allow this religious version of the ‘new philosophy’ to infect your children; for it will only equal more dissatisfaction and a life of pain and separation. Irregardless of religious denomination, the truth and not the misconceived lie applies to all religions and religious denominations and even to those who live their lives the way they think ‘A God’ would want, outside of any formed church or religious denomination or group! Lastly, do not make the fatal error, or allow another to dismiss your words by quickly claiming, that the above discussion of the truth falls anywhere under the ‘work-righteousness’ umbrella. I am not inferring anyone to ‘work away’ any sin or making oneself more desirable to God by actions or any inaction outside of faith and contrition. No, only with full contrition and repentance of ALL wrong doing are we gathered up and embraced by God.
After examining the four groups and their various versions of the ‘new philosophy’ can you now understand how I found it interesting and disturbing that this was quickly becoming the new ‘normal’. ‘The new philosophy’ says that it is okay to want a change of something, however, do not provide any effort or action to change a situation to a more pleasing disposition.
Now I am sure you are also wondering how all this has any connection the current problem of rising gasoline prices. As I have stated before, the very same ‘new philosophy’ has even crept into the current ‘thought’ over the new gas price war, allow me to explain.
In the four groups detailed, the over all theme was, a want a change, however, I won’t do anything or offer anything to bring about the change. We all want much lower gas prices and we all want it now. However, we don’t want anyone to attempt to correct the problem by creating more oil and in turn more fuel, increasing the supply and driving the prices down in our supply and demand economy. ‘Nope! Don’t drill here, there or anywhere close to my neighborhood. Don’t even think of drilling over there because of some ‘protected’ insect or fish or maybe some other lower level life form resides there. Just lower the gas prices-now’!
When things are as bad as they are now, rightful and conscience people make the choice to do the ‘worst of two evils’. Some lower, yet valuable, life form can not and should not be held to be ‘more valuable’ than our way of life and the greater good of our Country and the good it does for mankind over all!
I want you to understand this ‘new philosophy’ is as dangerous as it is ridiculous. We must understand that our country runs on transportation, i.e. various forms of gasoline and the interrelatedness and/or contingent upon what it does for our economy. Our children could have to learn to do without a lot of fresh produce as well as without as much food period! Why? Because their parents, the store owners, the food suppliers, the food distributors, food growers, the food pickers all need gasoline and/or are affected when our economy uses and provides more or less gasoline!
The most dangerous possibility of the current problem is that our military has the job to protect us and our country. If they don’t have enough gasoline (diesel) they can’t protect us. Planes, tanks, armored vehicles, troop carriers and so on, all need various forms of gasoline. If another country decided to invade the US from the south, our military may not have the resources to protect and to chase back the invaders. Our military may be forced to draw back to ‘a center point’ to re-group resources, and allow a few southern states to go in an attempt to be able to save the bulk of the US! This is a scary possibility.
Now, just as I am no theologian with any formal religious instruction, I have no position of authority with our Government and I say what I do without any insider information from the Government or our military. Anyone who has studied the ways and means of the past two-hundred years of history and military action can infer the problems I highlighted above. It is a real possibility and threat to the overall way we live! This means that it is a threat to our country-the United States of America! It’s not clever rhetoric and magniloquence, it’s a fact. Everything in our supply and demand economy is inter-related and co-dependent upon each other. Any significant change or decrease in one area causes a decrease and change across the board. Something as seemingly indifferent as a large percentage of campers not paying the Federal camping fees or park fees, means a lot less money in one part of the Federal government and it will effect the over all Federal government as well as various local economies!
When one sits and ponders, the effects of our current fuel shortage, irregardless of whether it is a ‘true shortage’ of actual production or simply a shortage due to price and expense, it is very chilling and could be the reason why you and I will be feeling as if we are in a ‘funk’ for quite some time! It truly is scary and nothing to laugh or smile about.
Now, is this dopey ‘new philosophy’ really all that new? Could it be simple old-fashioned laziness with a new coat of paint along with a sense of individual entitlement? The results of the ‘new philosophy’ could be the results of all of us having to learn to do without and to do everything in a very different way, very soon. Remember from past problems and history we have learned that how we as a people respond and how we either take or don’t take action determines how our economy and our way of life will be tomorrow. We are Americans, the proudest people on this planet for a reason. We have created more, while the rest do without more!
Nothing that is worth anything to anyone is ever free or easy, and it doesn’t come without hard work and serious sacrifice. Please recognize the roots of this destructive and counter-productive ‘new philosophy’ and dopey thinking. Wherever it pokes its head, call it what it is and identify it for those who missed it! Please be bold enough to set the record straight. Even if you are singled out as a hateful person, still attempt to set the record straight. Why? Because when we do we are insuring our tomorrow to the way we all want it to continue to be. Then just maybe soon, and without a great deal or much further personal sacrifice, we all will be so very fortunate once again because of smart minds, strong backs and a God who smiles down on us with favor.
By Expert Author: Theresa Twogood
I must admit that for whatever reason, this week has me feeling as if I am in a ‘funk’. I am not sure if it is all the dopey way people have been acting and/or thinking lately, or if I’m just coming down with something. Either way, and none the less I am in a ‘funk’, therefore, please pardon if I offend, that is not my intention now or ever. Also, please pardon the length of this article; it is required to demonstrate completely what I wish to highlight.
I found it rather interesting this week that all the major media services have begun to report that gasoline prices are raising even higher, each and every day and this may signal a lot of trouble and problems to come. We didn’t really need them to tell us this however, while they continue to report the obvious; you and I can detect and learn of a ‘new’ underlying philosophy hiding under and spreading across the globe along with the increasing of oil prices.
You may not have heard of it, nor had the misfortunate to come into contact with the ‘new philosophy’, so I will attempt to explain it to you. Now I could just blurt it out, however, you would not understand me completely and therefore you would move on to other more interesting, and easier to understand articles to read. Therefore I have broken down this ‘new philosophy’ into how four different groups of people with each of their unique versions or spin of this ‘new philosophy’ are infecting the overall ‘thought of the moment’.
A good portion of adults have begun to notice that they are getting larger and larger in size. When they weight themselves they can plainly see that they are now a member of the over-weight club. This causes a great deal of emotional distress and uncomfortableness along with the discomfort of tight fitting clothes. [Please don’t misunderstand me, not everyone that is overweight has their version of the following ‘new philosophy’. Also, not every overweight person is overweight because of their actions or inaction.] This group’s version of the ‘new philosophy’ goes something like this while in conversion with experts on overweight issues; they say ‘give me some ‘diet’ that allows me to remain in my usual inactive lifestyle, while eating the same if not a bit more of my favorite foods and snacks’. This group’s version is simply, ‘I want a miracle cure now, however, not a real solution that involves any effort and/or moderation and personal responsibility’. Again, not all overweight people believe this, however, the group that do, is growing larger everyday in more than just dress sizes. Just as a bad attitude has the effect of a spreading wildfire, so does this dopey way of thinking.
The next group is College graduates. A large portion, no not all again, has begun to exercise their version of the ‘new philosophy’ and it goes like this. ‘Don't even think of offering me a job with an average starting wage, don’t expect me to grow in understanding as well as in pay grade with greater knowledge and as I learn the ropes of this new position’! Just pay me like the CEO and if that’s not possible I understand. However, you will then just have to give me the winning numbers for next week’s lottery drawing’! Simply put, ‘I have learned everything there is to know, I am a know-it-all and will not stand to be educated by anyone any further. I will not start out a career and work myself up the ‘corporate ladder’ and pay scale, I will not ‘sacrifice’ any of my nights or weekends while in training because I don’t do training and lastly, just pay me like the top person of this company, and pay me right now’! Again, not all however a rather large percentage does hold to this version of the ‘new philosophy’. This is also the very same group that has learned to dismiss any bad behavior with examples of other-worst bad behavior.
The next group is the non-graduated and other various ‘up and coming’ levels of educated as well as those who drop out before completing various requirements. This group’s version of the ‘new philosophy’ is: ‘let’s come up with the most outlandish, over-the-top, immoral, hurtful, ridiculous activity that we can film with our video camera or phone camera! Then we will upload it to Youtube and we will get rich and famous all at the same time and never have to work another day in our lives’. Simply put, ‘give me money, fame, and even more fortune for my utterly unworthy contribution and reckless behavior under the guise of ‘humor’. After all this is the time of reality shows and instant fame and fortune, and so ‘get out of my way, I want mine and I want it now’!
This group has hit upon one very valid point however. We as a people have learned to forget what a person did to get to the position of fame and fortune they now hold. It’s as if once you get it, by any means possible, the method and means is quickly forgotten and you gain unearned, undeserved respect along with your new found fortune. This has got to stop! We need to hold people to creditability standards once again. Simple fame does not or should not ever equal respect.
The last and the most destructive group is the pseudo-religious camp. This group goes around doing actions that THEY one, say and ADMIT are totally offensive to God. Two, these actions are considered and understood to be a sin in God’s eyes. This group however, instead of having any true contrition and guilt of wrong doing, and instead of taking any action to prevent the re-occurrence of the said action, they boldfacely display their wrong actions until approached by another wishing to assist them to see the ‘error of their ways’. Then this group protests loudly and responds, ’you aren’t suppose to judge me, and just because you have pointed out my fault you are a negative person and even a threat to me and to my way of life’. Simply put, they hold to the misconceived tarradiddle dribble that, ‘God loves me even if I continue to do wrong actions under my control, over and over again even if I am not one bit contrite’. The ‘icing on the cake’ is that they PLAN to do the wrong doing or to continue in the action again and again with no thought of changing or stopping’! They continue to say, ‘God doesn’t punish wrongdoers, He doesn’t wish for anyone in error to come into the light of contrition and put a stop to their wrong doing’. ‘No, He doesn’t detest the action or wrong doing. ‘It is all a simple matter of personal perspective’! What a bunch of slobbering dribble!
Lately, anyone who would point out this group’s version of the ‘new philosophy’ as wrong and an action to resist and stop at once are called a threat, a bad, negative and hateful person. Even some of the new ‘hate crime’ laws could now apply to anyone pointing out the ‘error of this group’s ways’!
This group isn’t made up of just one type or another but rather a wide and varying type of people and behavior. The whole misconceived error that God loves a person no matter whatever they do is the root of the trouble. No, God only loves those who come before Him with complete contrition and repentance with the fore-thought of changing the behavior in question. With full contrition and repentance (which infers change or the ceasing of doing the wrong) God’s is then full of mercy! If one goes around taunting God with their actions and this misconceived error, they will find that they are on the fast track to where they do not want to be and to total separation from God and His people! Separation does not infer any hateful fore-thought or intention to separate. Do not allow this religious version of the ‘new philosophy’ to infect your children; for it will only equal more dissatisfaction and a life of pain and separation. Irregardless of religious denomination, the truth and not the misconceived lie applies to all religions and religious denominations and even to those who live their lives the way they think ‘A God’ would want, outside of any formed church or religious denomination or group! Lastly, do not make the fatal error, or allow another to dismiss your words by quickly claiming, that the above discussion of the truth falls anywhere under the ‘work-righteousness’ umbrella. I am not inferring anyone to ‘work away’ any sin or making oneself more desirable to God by actions or any inaction outside of faith and contrition. No, only with full contrition and repentance of ALL wrong doing are we gathered up and embraced by God.
After examining the four groups and their various versions of the ‘new philosophy’ can you now understand how I found it interesting and disturbing that this was quickly becoming the new ‘normal’. ‘The new philosophy’ says that it is okay to want a change of something, however, do not provide any effort or action to change a situation to a more pleasing disposition.
Now I am sure you are also wondering how all this has any connection the current problem of rising gasoline prices. As I have stated before, the very same ‘new philosophy’ has even crept into the current ‘thought’ over the new gas price war, allow me to explain.
In the four groups detailed, the over all theme was, a want a change, however, I won’t do anything or offer anything to bring about the change. We all want much lower gas prices and we all want it now. However, we don’t want anyone to attempt to correct the problem by creating more oil and in turn more fuel, increasing the supply and driving the prices down in our supply and demand economy. ‘Nope! Don’t drill here, there or anywhere close to my neighborhood. Don’t even think of drilling over there because of some ‘protected’ insect or fish or maybe some other lower level life form resides there. Just lower the gas prices-now’!
When things are as bad as they are now, rightful and conscience people make the choice to do the ‘worst of two evils’. Some lower, yet valuable, life form can not and should not be held to be ‘more valuable’ than our way of life and the greater good of our Country and the good it does for mankind over all!
I want you to understand this ‘new philosophy’ is as dangerous as it is ridiculous. We must understand that our country runs on transportation, i.e. various forms of gasoline and the interrelatedness and/or contingent upon what it does for our economy. Our children could have to learn to do without a lot of fresh produce as well as without as much food period! Why? Because their parents, the store owners, the food suppliers, the food distributors, food growers, the food pickers all need gasoline and/or are affected when our economy uses and provides more or less gasoline!
The most dangerous possibility of the current problem is that our military has the job to protect us and our country. If they don’t have enough gasoline (diesel) they can’t protect us. Planes, tanks, armored vehicles, troop carriers and so on, all need various forms of gasoline. If another country decided to invade the US from the south, our military may not have the resources to protect and to chase back the invaders. Our military may be forced to draw back to ‘a center point’ to re-group resources, and allow a few southern states to go in an attempt to be able to save the bulk of the US! This is a scary possibility.
Now, just as I am no theologian with any formal religious instruction, I have no position of authority with our Government and I say what I do without any insider information from the Government or our military. Anyone who has studied the ways and means of the past two-hundred years of history and military action can infer the problems I highlighted above. It is a real possibility and threat to the overall way we live! This means that it is a threat to our country-the United States of America! It’s not clever rhetoric and magniloquence, it’s a fact. Everything in our supply and demand economy is inter-related and co-dependent upon each other. Any significant change or decrease in one area causes a decrease and change across the board. Something as seemingly indifferent as a large percentage of campers not paying the Federal camping fees or park fees, means a lot less money in one part of the Federal government and it will effect the over all Federal government as well as various local economies!
When one sits and ponders, the effects of our current fuel shortage, irregardless of whether it is a ‘true shortage’ of actual production or simply a shortage due to price and expense, it is very chilling and could be the reason why you and I will be feeling as if we are in a ‘funk’ for quite some time! It truly is scary and nothing to laugh or smile about.
Now, is this dopey ‘new philosophy’ really all that new? Could it be simple old-fashioned laziness with a new coat of paint along with a sense of individual entitlement? The results of the ‘new philosophy’ could be the results of all of us having to learn to do without and to do everything in a very different way, very soon. Remember from past problems and history we have learned that how we as a people respond and how we either take or don’t take action determines how our economy and our way of life will be tomorrow. We are Americans, the proudest people on this planet for a reason. We have created more, while the rest do without more!
Nothing that is worth anything to anyone is ever free or easy, and it doesn’t come without hard work and serious sacrifice. Please recognize the roots of this destructive and counter-productive ‘new philosophy’ and dopey thinking. Wherever it pokes its head, call it what it is and identify it for those who missed it! Please be bold enough to set the record straight. Even if you are singled out as a hateful person, still attempt to set the record straight. Why? Because when we do we are insuring our tomorrow to the way we all want it to continue to be. Then just maybe soon, and without a great deal or much further personal sacrifice, we all will be so very fortunate once again because of smart minds, strong backs and a God who smiles down on us with favor.
What is Taoism?
What is Taoism?
By Expert Author: Sandra Prior
More a philosophy than a religion, Taoism is concerned with finding a balance between the way we live our lives and the demands life places on us. Translated literally as ‘The Way’, following the Tao means practicing a form of ‘minimal’ action called the ‘wu wei’. This is described in Taoism as the practice of going against the stream not by struggling against it and thrashing about, but by standing still and letting the stream do all the work. Thus the sage knows that relative to the river, he still moves against the current.
To the outside world the sage appears to take no action, but in fact he takes action long before others ever foresee the need for action. In other words, Taoism is a form of passive resistance, of making sure you are prepared for every eventuality and going with the flow as things happen.
The Tao of Browsing
Use your Online Time Effectively
That may mean taking ten minutes to make a note of what you intend to do when you get online, but that time will be tripled in terms of results.
Check your Mail less Often
Your workflow and focus on the task in hand will be interrupted by constantly checking for new mail. Get into a pattern where the first thing you do online is check your mail. Decide which can be binned and which need attention. Get offline and compose your replies, then send them off next time you reconnect. Now forget it – with one small change in your routine you’ve significantly reduced the amount of clutter in your life.
Follow the Footsteps of the Masters
Using search engines is recommended for finding more obscure material, but your first stop should always be hierarchical index. Why? Because someone else has already done the hard work for you. Concentrate on browsing, rather than searching.
Not everything needs to be Done Straight Away
Prioritize activities for the appropriate time. Search for material when your energy levels and concentration are at their peak level (usually when your online session starts). Bookmark the interesting stuff in a folder – then take a break. When you return, you can start browsing through your booty, feeling refreshed.
Use Waiting Time Effectively
We all know the Net is slower than we all want it to be – so turn it into an advantage. Save up tasks that will tie up your connection, like long FTP sessions, for a time of the day when the Net is going to be faster and phone charges cheaper. Set your client to retrieve the file, then go and do something else away from your computer. Trying to browse while you are downloading will increase the time it takes to transfer to your hard drive, while staring at the status bar is simply a waste of your energy.
Resist Materialism
Banner advertising slows down your connection and tempts you to divert from your path. Remove them by running a program that prevents banner displays.
Bigger is not Necessarily Better
Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are the most popular browsers but they are also bloated and buggy. Taoism preaches that the path to enlightenment begins within the self, and free will is an important component in this. Try a smaller, speedier browser like Opera, or another. Your computer will love you for it.
Know Yourself
By now you’ve probably established a predictable pattern in your online life. Use this to your advantage and organize your bookmarks or favorites by adding folders that categorize your interests, file bookmarks you use frequently and delete those you don’t.
Opt Out
Most of the spam in your mailbox is self inflicted. Remove yourself from mailing lists that have little of interest to say and remove newsgroups that are flooded with nonsense. If you must keep up with developments afterwards, check the list’s archive on the Web and search through Usenet. Make sure you use a program to automatically remove junk mail. But don’t make the mistake of removing yourself from our online newsletter; otherwise you’ll never achieve Net Nirvana.
Switch Off your Computer
If you’re tired, turn it off. If you’re bored, don’t bother turning it on in the first place. Go for a walk, get out with your mates, or read a book. Channel your energies into positive activity – that way, when you want to go online, you’ll enjoy it.
By Expert Author: Sandra Prior
More a philosophy than a religion, Taoism is concerned with finding a balance between the way we live our lives and the demands life places on us. Translated literally as ‘The Way’, following the Tao means practicing a form of ‘minimal’ action called the ‘wu wei’. This is described in Taoism as the practice of going against the stream not by struggling against it and thrashing about, but by standing still and letting the stream do all the work. Thus the sage knows that relative to the river, he still moves against the current.
To the outside world the sage appears to take no action, but in fact he takes action long before others ever foresee the need for action. In other words, Taoism is a form of passive resistance, of making sure you are prepared for every eventuality and going with the flow as things happen.
The Tao of Browsing
Use your Online Time Effectively
That may mean taking ten minutes to make a note of what you intend to do when you get online, but that time will be tripled in terms of results.
Check your Mail less Often
Your workflow and focus on the task in hand will be interrupted by constantly checking for new mail. Get into a pattern where the first thing you do online is check your mail. Decide which can be binned and which need attention. Get offline and compose your replies, then send them off next time you reconnect. Now forget it – with one small change in your routine you’ve significantly reduced the amount of clutter in your life.
Follow the Footsteps of the Masters
Using search engines is recommended for finding more obscure material, but your first stop should always be hierarchical index. Why? Because someone else has already done the hard work for you. Concentrate on browsing, rather than searching.
Not everything needs to be Done Straight Away
Prioritize activities for the appropriate time. Search for material when your energy levels and concentration are at their peak level (usually when your online session starts). Bookmark the interesting stuff in a folder – then take a break. When you return, you can start browsing through your booty, feeling refreshed.
Use Waiting Time Effectively
We all know the Net is slower than we all want it to be – so turn it into an advantage. Save up tasks that will tie up your connection, like long FTP sessions, for a time of the day when the Net is going to be faster and phone charges cheaper. Set your client to retrieve the file, then go and do something else away from your computer. Trying to browse while you are downloading will increase the time it takes to transfer to your hard drive, while staring at the status bar is simply a waste of your energy.
Resist Materialism
Banner advertising slows down your connection and tempts you to divert from your path. Remove them by running a program that prevents banner displays.
Bigger is not Necessarily Better
Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are the most popular browsers but they are also bloated and buggy. Taoism preaches that the path to enlightenment begins within the self, and free will is an important component in this. Try a smaller, speedier browser like Opera, or another. Your computer will love you for it.
Know Yourself
By now you’ve probably established a predictable pattern in your online life. Use this to your advantage and organize your bookmarks or favorites by adding folders that categorize your interests, file bookmarks you use frequently and delete those you don’t.
Opt Out
Most of the spam in your mailbox is self inflicted. Remove yourself from mailing lists that have little of interest to say and remove newsgroups that are flooded with nonsense. If you must keep up with developments afterwards, check the list’s archive on the Web and search through Usenet. Make sure you use a program to automatically remove junk mail. But don’t make the mistake of removing yourself from our online newsletter; otherwise you’ll never achieve Net Nirvana.
Switch Off your Computer
If you’re tired, turn it off. If you’re bored, don’t bother turning it on in the first place. Go for a walk, get out with your mates, or read a book. Channel your energies into positive activity – that way, when you want to go online, you’ll enjoy it.
New Age Alteration Of Self And Practicality
New Age Alteration Of Self And Practicality
By Expert Author: Donald Yates
False shadows hide truth
So, you have looked into yourself and found but a shadow of truth hiding behind a false persona. And what are you but a busy, unhinged consciousness with drifting moods and obsessions. Your floundering outward self is prone to whims of feverish changes of interest, filled with apathy, and arguments and irrational impulses. But you hide it well and even a trained psychologist would mistake you for a matured person of stature.
The search for self
In your search for self, you have exposed, buried deep within your inner most sanctuary, a person who is not totally practical and refuses to be satisfied by a busy lifestyle of interacting with normal men. Now your soul is exposed, naked, hungering for a closer relationship with a spiritual presence within a vast and cold Universe. This idea, this longing, is so foreign to your surface consciousness, yet it holds a familiarity which you have entertained throughout your life. You are now faced with your true self whose existence you always took for granted. In the back of your mind you have always known it was there when it surfaced in its scattered expressions. “Art thou but a man as any other man or at thou a spirit drifting in outer-space?”
This climb up the mountain of self-knowledge, said the Victorine mystics, is the necessary prelude to all illumination. Only at its summit do we discover, as Dante did, the beginning of the pathway to Reality.
Is A lonely journey
There is a journey so obscure yet so profound that it is examine by many but understood by few. It is a journey of self examination where man and spirit becomes one in truth It is pursued by few, for it is a lonely and painstaking journey, a strenuous test of courage and strength. In our world, most people prefer to live in darkness, comfortable in their ignorance, safe from inspection. They hide behind their more obvious characteristics which is only a covering of the naked truth. Most people buckle and fail in their attempt to find complete self-knowledge for there are only a privileged few are strong enough to stand up to its reality. Yes, only a few can bear to delve into their inner self and contemplate what they find there. They risk standing face to face with a vision so strange and terrible it challenges sanity and brings awe and remorse in its awakening.
Venture into spirit
The life of those who dare to venture into the spirit are changed for ever for there is a conversion of the deepest and most drastic sense where you are forced into a new reality. Your perception towards yourself becomes a truth of your existence. When you truly knew yourself – a vision appears of your weaknesses, constantly at the mercy of a merciless environment. True motives are exposed, inspected and measured against eternal values. Hidden unknown self-indulgences surface as irrational loves and hates of a life born of compliancy. You must take action now to redefine your total self, and become, perhaps for the first time, a practical being.
Take the challenge
For those who accept the challenge comes a point in time where they realize that they have done all they can in their pursuit and then all once it becomes clear, at last, they have uncovered their own direction. But it is you who seeks and is now in touch with a different, deeper being containing a ceaseless spark of energy. Here your passion becomes energized and becomes the agent of all your links with Reality. You have been told and read about its possibilities and now you meet it with full force and you no longer hesitate because you know for a fact that it is a power beyond comprehension.
My God! what next? What possibilities await a soul stepping from the darkness? How do you go about reinventing yourself? What future do you have? Changes are in store? Adjustments to be made? Most of all, will this self-disclosure involve those around you?
To find inner spirit
You will notice, in time, as you become familiar with your new self, your state of mind is improved, colors are crisper, sounds sharper, and the sweet taste of success is on your tongue. With this new heightened recollection comes a consciousness which unfolds into an attitude which demands that you comply. This new attitude conflicts sharply with the old you and its consciousness and attitude which you have embraced as appropriate in the past. Now this old attitude appears childish, unworthy, and by all definitions, absurd.
Trouble lies ahead
But wait, by taking this first conscious step to become engaged in a new reality you are immediately brought head on into an alarming realization of disharmony so surreal it leaves you with a feeling of uneasiness, and confusion by its certainty. You will never again need anyone to point out a need to seek your inner self or to pursue materialistic things. Now you have only to focus upon the game of life and challenge of success.
There are times when you think you can not endure but the spirit is strong and this new you with its new attitude persists. All the while an internal force becomes stronger and a new power grows. Over and over you slide back to your old self then it becomes obvious, something more than a simple knowing is needed. How are you going to adjust to this new perception of the world? After all this is an old game in which you have played all your life and you have become conditioned into thinking bad habits were normal actions.
Become aware of self.
You must develop an awareness, a newness of certain qualities and perceptions as you leave the old you behind. Now, suddenly you are in a new game which demands a freshness in actions and an alertness different then you have ever experienced. Your thoughts are confused, your mental powers are stubborn and your mind refuses to respond.
You must become unmoved in your fight for spiritual truth because anything less will not suffice as you undertake this drastic metamorphosing of character which is needed to prepare your consciousness for participation in practicality.
Awake to a new self
Rise up, open your eyes to the truth of your inner self. It harbors no habits or desires, nothing but freedom from oppression in spiritual truth. You must awaken now to the fact there is disharmony between the world and your unchangeable spirit buried deep within. Feel your spirit slowly beginning to assert itself in your hours of meditation as it rises up toward the light and truth. You must come to a harmonization of spirit and world so you can declare a peace of mind and freedom of spirit. Defy worldly longings and old instincts that lay on the surface of the outer man because if you don’t there will be no peace and you will experience nothing but conflict throughout your life.
Happy Trails
By Expert Author: Donald Yates
False shadows hide truth
So, you have looked into yourself and found but a shadow of truth hiding behind a false persona. And what are you but a busy, unhinged consciousness with drifting moods and obsessions. Your floundering outward self is prone to whims of feverish changes of interest, filled with apathy, and arguments and irrational impulses. But you hide it well and even a trained psychologist would mistake you for a matured person of stature.
The search for self
In your search for self, you have exposed, buried deep within your inner most sanctuary, a person who is not totally practical and refuses to be satisfied by a busy lifestyle of interacting with normal men. Now your soul is exposed, naked, hungering for a closer relationship with a spiritual presence within a vast and cold Universe. This idea, this longing, is so foreign to your surface consciousness, yet it holds a familiarity which you have entertained throughout your life. You are now faced with your true self whose existence you always took for granted. In the back of your mind you have always known it was there when it surfaced in its scattered expressions. “Art thou but a man as any other man or at thou a spirit drifting in outer-space?”
This climb up the mountain of self-knowledge, said the Victorine mystics, is the necessary prelude to all illumination. Only at its summit do we discover, as Dante did, the beginning of the pathway to Reality.
Is A lonely journey
There is a journey so obscure yet so profound that it is examine by many but understood by few. It is a journey of self examination where man and spirit becomes one in truth It is pursued by few, for it is a lonely and painstaking journey, a strenuous test of courage and strength. In our world, most people prefer to live in darkness, comfortable in their ignorance, safe from inspection. They hide behind their more obvious characteristics which is only a covering of the naked truth. Most people buckle and fail in their attempt to find complete self-knowledge for there are only a privileged few are strong enough to stand up to its reality. Yes, only a few can bear to delve into their inner self and contemplate what they find there. They risk standing face to face with a vision so strange and terrible it challenges sanity and brings awe and remorse in its awakening.
Venture into spirit
The life of those who dare to venture into the spirit are changed for ever for there is a conversion of the deepest and most drastic sense where you are forced into a new reality. Your perception towards yourself becomes a truth of your existence. When you truly knew yourself – a vision appears of your weaknesses, constantly at the mercy of a merciless environment. True motives are exposed, inspected and measured against eternal values. Hidden unknown self-indulgences surface as irrational loves and hates of a life born of compliancy. You must take action now to redefine your total self, and become, perhaps for the first time, a practical being.
Take the challenge
For those who accept the challenge comes a point in time where they realize that they have done all they can in their pursuit and then all once it becomes clear, at last, they have uncovered their own direction. But it is you who seeks and is now in touch with a different, deeper being containing a ceaseless spark of energy. Here your passion becomes energized and becomes the agent of all your links with Reality. You have been told and read about its possibilities and now you meet it with full force and you no longer hesitate because you know for a fact that it is a power beyond comprehension.
My God! what next? What possibilities await a soul stepping from the darkness? How do you go about reinventing yourself? What future do you have? Changes are in store? Adjustments to be made? Most of all, will this self-disclosure involve those around you?
To find inner spirit
You will notice, in time, as you become familiar with your new self, your state of mind is improved, colors are crisper, sounds sharper, and the sweet taste of success is on your tongue. With this new heightened recollection comes a consciousness which unfolds into an attitude which demands that you comply. This new attitude conflicts sharply with the old you and its consciousness and attitude which you have embraced as appropriate in the past. Now this old attitude appears childish, unworthy, and by all definitions, absurd.
Trouble lies ahead
But wait, by taking this first conscious step to become engaged in a new reality you are immediately brought head on into an alarming realization of disharmony so surreal it leaves you with a feeling of uneasiness, and confusion by its certainty. You will never again need anyone to point out a need to seek your inner self or to pursue materialistic things. Now you have only to focus upon the game of life and challenge of success.
There are times when you think you can not endure but the spirit is strong and this new you with its new attitude persists. All the while an internal force becomes stronger and a new power grows. Over and over you slide back to your old self then it becomes obvious, something more than a simple knowing is needed. How are you going to adjust to this new perception of the world? After all this is an old game in which you have played all your life and you have become conditioned into thinking bad habits were normal actions.
Become aware of self.
You must develop an awareness, a newness of certain qualities and perceptions as you leave the old you behind. Now, suddenly you are in a new game which demands a freshness in actions and an alertness different then you have ever experienced. Your thoughts are confused, your mental powers are stubborn and your mind refuses to respond.
You must become unmoved in your fight for spiritual truth because anything less will not suffice as you undertake this drastic metamorphosing of character which is needed to prepare your consciousness for participation in practicality.
Awake to a new self
Rise up, open your eyes to the truth of your inner self. It harbors no habits or desires, nothing but freedom from oppression in spiritual truth. You must awaken now to the fact there is disharmony between the world and your unchangeable spirit buried deep within. Feel your spirit slowly beginning to assert itself in your hours of meditation as it rises up toward the light and truth. You must come to a harmonization of spirit and world so you can declare a peace of mind and freedom of spirit. Defy worldly longings and old instincts that lay on the surface of the outer man because if you don’t there will be no peace and you will experience nothing but conflict throughout your life.
Happy Trails
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)