Key Elements

Here's a helpful video: If you like to share something that helped you get creative, please feel free to share insights. Sharing ideas help in moving forward. Any techniques that helped you get through the day are great. Like, for example, if you find yourself procrastinating, you might watch Leo's clip on it: It may or may not help - depends. It depends on what you do with the information - any information. So, how did you solve that problem and go back to creative mode in whatever you're doing? It may be simple but not easy. ***** Ok folks, I'll just share with you this. Something I discovered. However, I know we're all different. So it will probably work differently for all of us. I noticed that when I do art, like my paintings or some kind of craft or something I'm interested in, I'll have no problem getting started on that. I have no problem doing the dishes. (I'm not talking about a dishwasher. ) But, when it comes to doing housework and learning a new skill for my life purpose, I get carried away in my thoughts - ego. So, here's a technique that has been working for me to help me get out of my train of thoughts - just look at where my hands are going. I look at my shelf - it's messy. I look at my hands, and just let any negative thoughts pass by like a train. I start picking up books and stack them on the table. Then I dust them off, dust off the shelf, and put the books back on the shelf. That's it. I don't have to clean all the shelves all at once - just part of one shelf or one shelf, but at least do something. If my thoughts start taking me for a ride, I just look at my hands to see where they're going, and point them in the right direction. This goes for other household chores and learning a new skills - look at your hands to see where it's going.

Hey... Can anyone relate to this?

What is fear? If you identify with it, it fuels the ego; it fuels the self and gets in the way of making important decisions in life and taking action on it. It's easier said than done. Most of the times I realize if I want to clean my shelf, I put it off. Why? "Oh, I have to work on my life purpose. Otherwise, it won't get done." Then, the room eventually becomes dirty and everything gets cluttered. This is very subtle - a subtle kind of fear. We all know that cleanliness is next to godliness. There has to be a balance. We don't have to live like a zebra - in fear of a lion or other predator. Most of us are over that stage. Our fear is different. Meditation could be practiced when we're doing housework, in our careers, and in our journey through our life purpose. We get into that 'flow state' where work becomes 'effortless.' This is the peace state of mind where we don't identify with the ego.

Interesting quote at the end...

You are young and that's a very bold decision. Make sure the people that you're staying with are trustworthy and street smart so that you could ask them questions when needed. Be street smart and learn to tell who's who. Leo's Spiral Dynamics clip come in handy esp when you travel and stay for long term. I've been living in India for 7 yrs. - grew up in the US. I'm happy for you because: "The world is a great book of which they who never stir from home read only one page." -Augustine Happy Journey! Note: If you're staying long term, make sure your official documents (i.e. passport/visa/etc.) are long term stay. You got to get this handled now - don't wait.

Troll Joke...in honor of Leo's recent troll thread. However, I think the creatures deplicted here are gargoyles. What is the difference between trolls and gargoyles? Troll: (in folklore) an "ugly" cave-dwelling creature depicted as either a giant or a dwarf. Gargoyle: a grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall. Ok. These definitions are according to Google. I suppose a troll could be a gargoyle. A gargoyle is just a statue.

You know, all this is cool - trolls. It makes me wonder where our modern day movies, songs, and other arts are coming from. Looks like they are hidden messages to tell us something spiritual.

@Leo Gura ok...cool Trolls. So, if we die, do you want to become Absolute Infinity or Troll? lol Just a thought, ok?

Well, in a sense, yes. There is the Absolute Truth which is the nothingness / everythingness. And then, there is earth phenomenon which is life as we know it. Then, there are different layers/levels of heaven and hell phenomena. It's funny how sometimes the different phenomena intermingle. Maybe that's why they're talking about trolls. Troll phenomenon: Let me add, life is a school. Leo's blog talks about it. Looks like we better graduate from this life first. Don't forget to factor in karma.

If we all did our part, it will lead to this: Then this: (Oops, it's the other way around.)

An example:

Children don't judge each other. That's why they could easily make friends with each other. They don't have preconceived notions. I'm especially talking about children before they reach the age of 5.

@Alex K Have you tried this exercise? Act on your thoughts. It won't be perfect at first, but don't be disappointed. For example, if your thoughts are telling you to write a book and you only wrote 2 sentences down in the day, that's great! It's better than nothing. If you do 10 sit-ups in the day for exercise, that's also better than nothing. Doing something is better than doing nothing. The point is, if you're trying to reach a goal, it gradually builds up on a daily basis. No one can do it in one day.

This book offers very practical but profound advices. It could get more profound as you go along on your journey. When you read a passage from this book once, and you come back to it after let's say a year, the meaning will be deeper. It will sound different to the person with more experience. Here's an example from the book: Practice the Action Habit "Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it," observed David Starr Jordan. Most of us know what we need to do in order to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. The real problem is that we don't do what we know. I have heard many motivational speakers say, "Knowledge is power." I disagree. Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is only potential power. It transforms itself into actual power the moment you decisively act on it.... All too often, we spend our days waiting for the ideal path to appear in front of us. We forget that paths are made by walking, not waiting. Dreaming is great. But thinking big thoughts alone will not build a business, pay your bills or make you into the person you know in your heart you can be. In the words of Thomas Carlyle, "The end of man is an action and not a thought, though it were the noblest." The smallest of actions is always better than the boldest of intentions.

@username I just wanted to put it out there.

@username Yeah, I know you meant it as a joke, but I heard that some ppl do get killed if they are not careful enough. (It doesn't matter if you have non-duality in your life purpose or not.) It's just not as often as in the B.C. or A.D. Look at Teal. She gets threats. Ralph, to me, is more careful in his approach. Even if you become famous, you gotta watch out. But then, one has to balance that and being paranoid. A peaceful life can be achieved. I like Ralph's tactful approach here:

@username When did I say to become the next Jesus? We all have different interests.

@Anirban657 Was it deep/meaningful for you at that age? Adults will see it differently. I used to listen to Thich Nhat Hanh around the age of 12 - 14. He puts things simply and easy to understand in his work. It was beautiful, but I couldn't fully grasp things like mindfulness, ego, 'we are from stars,' etc.

@Leo Gura LOL! Good one! You are hilarious. That's why there's a saying: In other words, be tactful in the info you present in your life purpose. Nuanced info such as enlightenment and deep wisdom are better to be presented in such a way that those who are ready to hear it will hear it. Those who are not will just ignore it and come back to it later because you planted a seed in their minds that will remain dormant until they cultivate it with self-inquiry, research, and action. (Note: Gandhi couldn't have said the final sentence like that since he was assissnated. )

Some of us have been on this forum for a while now. A helpful thing to do is to try to understand the other person - his/her character. Where is this person coming from? What kinds of advices is he/she giving? Does it usually make sense? Am I able to apply it to my life somehow/some way?

It's ok if your life purpose is to live with nature. You may find a way to go there now. Just be aware that any path we take do change sometimes when we are going along. Changing, adjusting, and being flexible are fine when necessary. Sometimes we decide to take a turn or add something new to it but still live with nature. And, if it doesn't change, that's ok too. However, from my experience, the path does change. No one sets a perfect path from day one. The path of life purpose is gradually discovered by walking.

"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they criticize you. Then they fight you. Then they follow you." -Mahatma Gandhi