Attitude counts: How do you really look at things?

One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family.

When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“Very good Dad!”

“Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked.

“Yeah!”

“And what did you learn?”

The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon.”

When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless. His son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!”

Isn’t it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humour and a positive attitude towards life-you’ve got everything!

You can’t buy any of these things, but still you can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

The secrets of Old age.

To all retired friends………….

Time is like a river, you cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of life.

For those that are already 60- Start Practicing

For those almost who are almost 60- Get ready.

For those whom 60 are a long way off- help your parents do it.

For those over 60 years old- Focus on enjoying in or accumulating material things.

Secrets of life in 6 words.

Before Middle age- Do not fear

After Middle age – Do not regret

Enjoy your life – while you can.

Do not wait till you cannot ever walk just to be sorry and to regret. As long as it is physically possible, visit you wish to visit. When there is an opportunity, get together with older classmates, old colleagues and old friends. The gathering is not just about eating; it’s just that there is not mush time left.

Money kept in the in the banks may not be really yours. Focus on enjoying people, not on indulging or accumulating material thing. Where it is time to spend, just spend, treat yourself well as you’re getting old! Plan to spend whatever you have saved. You deserve to enjoy it and the few healthy years you have left. Travel if you can afford it. Don’t leave anything for your children or loved ones to quarrel about. By leaving something, you may even cause more trouble when you are gone.

Whatever you feel like eating, just eat. It is most important to be happy!

1. Foods which are good for health- eat often and more but that is not everything.

2. Things which are not for health- eat less once a while but do not abstain from them totally.

Treat sickness with optimism, whether you are poor or rich. Everyone has to go through birth, aging, sickness and death. There is no exception. That’s life ! Do not be worried of worries, when you are sick. Settle all the outstanding issues before hand and you will be able to leave without regret !

Accept physical weakness, sickness and other physical pains. It is a part of the aging process. Enjoy whatever your health can allow.

Let the Doctor handle your body.

Let God/ Nature handle your life.

But be in-charge of your own moods !

If worries can cure you sickness, then go ahead and worry !

If worries can prolong your life, then go ahead and worry !

If worries can exchange for happiness, then go ahead and worry !

Remember our kids will make their own fortune. Enjoy your grandchildren (if any) but don’t be their full time babe sitter. You have no moral obligation to take care of them. Don’t have any guilt about refusing to baby sit any one’s kids, including your own grand kids. Your parental obligation is to your children. After you have raised them into responsible adults, your duties of childrearing and babysitting are finished. Let your children raise their off spring.

Look after for old treasure

1. Your body- Pay more attention to health, you can only rely on yourself in this.

2. Retirement Funds- Money that you have earned, it is best to keep them yourself.

3. Your old Companion- Treasure every moment with your other half, one of you will leave first !

4. Your Old friends- Seize every opportunity to meet up with your friends; such opportunity will become rare as time goes by.

Live in the here and now, not in the yesterday and tomorrow. It is only today that you can handle. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not even happen.

Enjoy who you are and what you have right now. Stop working hard for what you do not have, it’s probably too late.

Enjoy your life with your spouse, children, grandchildren and friends, people, who truly love you, love you for yourself, not for what you have. Anyone who loves you for what you have will just give you misery. And you’d probably know that by now.

Forgiven and accept forgiveness. Forgive yourself and others, enjoy peace of mind and peace of soul. Not trying to be morbid, but befriend death, it’s a natural part of life cycle. Don’t be afraid of it. Death is the beginning of a new and better life. So, prepare yourself not for death but for a new life with the ALMIGHTY God.

Go to places of worship and have a close relationship with God, for he is the only one, who can take care of you when you die.

Also remember that Running water does not flow back, so is life. Therefore you must do everyday SMILE and LAUGH.

Saying Yes Or Saying No

From My friend S. Murali

Muscat

In life many times we are presented with situations that ask something of us or offer us opportunities. They make us question what we are doing and suggest to us that perhaps we should change direction.

To remain in flow with life is to remain bring about changes in the self that situations want from us, as long as it is in agreement with our conscience.  But for that, we should be clear about what we say yes to, and what we say no to.

When you put your heart into something and your mind is centered, the energy flows powerfully towards there. It is a question of listening to your heart, and daring to say yes or to say no. We have to say it keeping our conscience and action in line, in order to maintain honesty and integrity.

Personally, we all live through difficult and uncomfortable situations, but in your heart you need to know that you will definitely be there. The trust in yourself, and the confidence that everything will work out fine, knowing that there is some hidden lesson that you have to learn, helps you to say yes. It is what the situation asks of you, although you prefer to be in some other more comfortable situation - a less risky or seemingly negative one. It is important to hear the voice of time, of the moment, of the situation and trust that it would strengthen you, with which it would bring you closer to greater personal development and to your destiny as a person, and also brings about global benefit since you are a part of society, a part of humanity.

Heart Touching Story.... (Never judge anyone)

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery.

He answered the call as soon as possible, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block.

 He found the boy's father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor.

On seeing him, the dad yelled: "Why did you take all this time to come? Don't you know that my son's life is in danger? Don't you have any sense of responsibility?"

The doctor smiled & said: "I am sorry, I wasn't in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call...... And now, I wish you'd calm down so that I can do my work"

"Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??" said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again & replied: "I will say what Job said in the Holy Book "From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God". Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God's grace"

"Giving advises when we're not concerned is so easy" Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, "Thank goodness! Your son is saved!"

And without waiting for the father's reply he carried on his way running. "If you have any question, ask the nurse!!"

"Why is he so arrogant? He couldn't wait some minutes so that I ask about my son's state" Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: "His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son's surgery. And now that he saved your son's life, he left running to finish his son's burial."

Moral-Never judge anyone….. Because you never know how their life is & what they’re going through”

THE METHOD TO LIBERATE ONESELF FROM LIFE AND DEATH

Due to the actions performed, the body has to undergo transmigration and as a result a wale of sufferings. Humans can liberate themselves only when they realize the eternal truth and the supreme God in their heart. That supreme God is formless but can be attained by devotion, faith and pure love. A person who realizes him becomes immortal and is freed from the vicious cycle of life and death.

At the time of death the soul leaves the physical body but takes the wiliness body and Conscious body along with it. The body is a carrier of soul

The individual soul dwells in the heart of a human being. The factual characteristic of the soul is that it is 18 times brighter than the Sun. The soul is devoid of the darkness of ignorance. As this Jiva जीव (Life) attaches itself to ephemeral worldly objects it has to undergo transmigration. The Jiva जीव (Life) is very minute but it is equally infinite. It is confined to one state only because of the merits of intellect that is the resolution and the ego.

The Jiva जीव (Life) is neither a male nor a female and neither a neuter gender. It assumes form according to the body it merges or impregnates into. It is devoid of titles but has to bear the fruits of its actions by taking birth in different Yonis योनी (forms)

Incorporeal personal Agency means a person without Physical shape. Physical shape (Body) made out of two natural elements. These are called OVUM & SPERM, Ovum has got two additional elements, which develops along with body development in the womb. And make wiliness body & Conscious body. All these three (Physical, Wiliness and Conscious Body) fully developed then a live soul enters in it. Man live with these three bodies. These three bodies are similar. As concern with life each one of the body depends on the other. aayu आयु (Age)] karam कर्म (Action)] vitta वित्त (Wealth) vidya विद्या (Education) va nidhan व् निधन (Death) इन पांचो का उल्लेख विरंची (ब्रह्मा जी ) शिशु के गर्भ में ही निर्धारित कर देते हैं. these five are determined to the child in the womb of the mother.

Due to the actions performed, the body has to undergo transmigration and as a result a wale of sufferings. Humans can liberate themselves only when they realize the eternal truth and the supreme God in their heart. That supreme God is formless but can be attained by devotion, faith and pure love. A person who realizes him becomes immortal and is freed from the vicious cycle of life and death.

At the time of death the soul leaves the physical body but takes the wiliness body and Conscious body along with it. The body is a carrier of soul

All the egg cells in the ovary of the female are formed before birth, and none can be formed later. The male is different; Spermatozoa are continuously being formed in his testicles from puberty onwards, and into old age. The father determines the sex of the child.

According to Hindu हिंदू Texts when one dies, his soul or life energy or soul which is enveloped in the Linga Sarira लिंग शरीर or a subtle sheath and invested with the sum total of good and bad Karma कर्म passes after sometime into another plane shaping of the gross body as a man castes of his own - out clothes and put on new one.

His re- birth then take place in a physical body corresponding with the deeds done by him in his previous life. The process of death and birth go on until Moksha मोक्ष or final liberation. The Karma कर्म is the result of our actions and our actions are due to our thoughts and hence it is man who creates his karma कर्म for it is the product of his thought.

“Linga लिंग is derived from the two Sanskrit संस्कृत words laya लय (dissolution) and agaman अगम (recreation).” Thus the linga लिंग symbolizes both the creative and destructive power of the Lord and great sanctity is attached to it by the devotees.

लिंग को भली भांति समझने के लिए हमें पुनर्जनम व संस्कारों के अंतरसंबंध को समझाना पड़ेगा । लिंग के बारे में हिंदू समाज में विभिन्न प्रकार की भारंतियाँ  प्रचिलित है । मसलन शिवलिंग का अर्थ शिव जनेन्द्रिय से है। तथा सामान्यतः लिंग का अर्थ जनेन्द्रिय है। लिंग वस्तुत्वा संस्कृत का विशुद्ध शब्द है , जिसका अर्थ चिह्न या प्रतीक है। हिंदू समाज में एक प्रकार की भरांति यह प्रचिलित है की मनुष्य जैसा भी अच्छा या बुरा कार्य करता है, उसके कुछ संस्कार बनते हैं , जिन्हें भावःप्रविर्ती या प्रकृति कहतेहैं। अब प्रशन यह उठता है की कर्म या संस्कार तो शरीर से होते हैं और शरीर तो मृत्यु के साथ समाप्त हो जाता है, फ़िर कर्म फल व संस्कारी कैसे दूसरे जनम में प्राप्त होते हैं। यहीं पर लिंग शरीर का महत्वा प्रकट होता है। आत्मा तो संस्कारों से निर्लिप्त है । परन्तु आत्मा के शरीर त्यागने पर यह आत्मा पर एक आवरण की भांति लिपट जाता है। इसकी रचना में अठारह तत्त्व होते हैं और मन दसों इन्द्रियां व पाँचों माम्न्नाओं का भी बीज रूप में अंस विद्यमान रहता है। एक जन्म की साधना, देखे गए दृश्य, सुनी गयी ध्वनियाँ कभी भी व किसी भी जन्म में प्रकट हो सकती हैं। क्योंकि यह लिंग शरीर प्रतेक जन्म में एक आवरण से आत्मा को ढँक देती है और वास्तविक मोक्ष इस आत्मा के लिंग शरीर से निर्व्रित है या फिर प्रलय आने पर ही इसका नाश होता है, जब सम्पुरण आत्मा तत्वा हिरण्यगर्भ में विलीन हो जाता है।

पुरूष जनेन्द्रिय को लिंग कहने का तात्पर्य यही है की वह पिता के संस्कारों व भावों को पुत्र में स्थापित करता है। इसीलिए पुत्र को आत्मज यानि आत्मा से उत्पन्न कहा जाता है, न की शरीर या शरीर से उत्पन्न आज विज्ञानं भी स्वीकार करता है की शरीर के नष्ट हो जाने पर भी शीत कक्षों में सुरक्षित वीर्य से संतान जन्म ले सकती है यही लिंग का रहस्य है । भगवन भगवान् श्री कृष्ण द्वारा मार्कडेय को लिंग का उपदेश दिया गया, जिसमे लिंग को ज्योति स्वरुप अक्षर, अव्ब्यक्त, और आनंद कहा गया है तथा लिंग पूजन के महात्मय की चर्चा की गयी है। काशी में मरण होने पर स्थूल, सूक्ष्म व कारण - इन तीनों प्रकार के शरीरों का सदा के लिए नाश हो जाता है। इसीलिए काशी को महाशमशान कहते हैं और यहाँ मृत्यु को मोक्ष प्रदायिनी माना गया है।

It is written in Bible that “Die when you live” after death every body is dead, but when you die when you live is meant Meditation, take out your soul from your body then you will see I am here this is a body then you enter in the same body. This can be done in the guidance of Guru गुरु only. Or else you may not be able to enter in the body that means you are dead. The purpose of meditation finishes that is why DIE WHEN YOU LIVE.

मृत्यु के समय प्रतेक मनुष्य का सूक्षम या लिंग शरीर जिसका परिमाप अंगुष्ठ मात्र होता है, स्थूल शरीर से अलग हो जाता है और अपने कर्मों व संस्कारों के अनुसार विभिन्न लोकों और विभिन्न योनिओं में भ्रमण करता है या जन्म लेता है । सूक्षम शरीर या लिंग शरीर की मुक्ती या मोक्ष तभी सम्भव होता है, जब अन्नमय देह कोष से अलग होते ही उर्धगामी हो जाए अर्थात पृथ्वी के गुरुत्वाक्ष्ण के कारण जहाँ लिंग शरीर की अधोगति या त्रियक गति न हो ( दाहिनी आँख व बाईं आँख का मिलन जहाँ पर होता है, अर्थात जहाँ पर योगिक रूप से आज्ञान चक्र स्थित है, उस पर ध्यान करने से रोम रोम व्याप्त प्राण की वास्तविक अनुभूति होती है। और योगी इन प्राणों को योगबल द्वारा उर्ध्गति से सहस्रार चक्र में स्थित वेदांत के भेदन के द्वारा जब शरीर से त्यागता है तो मोक्ष प्राप्ति होती है.)


साधारण मनुष्य का लिंग शरीर तो मृत्यु के पश्चात ही स्थूल शरीर से पृथक हो जाता है, परन्तु योगीजन समाधी की अवस्था में जीते जी लिंग शरीर को पृथक कर लेते हैं। काशी की ऐसी भोगोलिक स्थिति है की वहां गुरुत्वाक्षण बल गंगा की उत्तरवाहिनी होने के क्षेत्र से काफी क्षीण हैं और मृत्यु के समय आत्मा अन्या स्थानों पर पुरुषों के लिए (योगिओं को छोड़ कर ) गुरुत्वाक्षण की प्रबलता के कारण उर्ध गामी न होकर अधोगामी हो जाती है । और ब्रह्म्रान्द्र के मार्ग से शरीर को नही त्याग पाती, जब की काशी में यह बल क्षीण होने के कारण सहज ही ब्रहम रंध्र से शरीर को त्याग देती है। सभी योगियों ने यह अनुभव किया है की केवल काशी में ही ऐसा उर्द्वा आकर्षण है, जो स्वयं ही लिंग शरीर को ऊपर की और ले जाता है और चाहे जैसा भी जीव हो, उसे सद्मुक्ति प्राप्त होती है।) इसी कारण काशी में प्राण त्याग को प्रकारांत में मुक्ति प्रदायक मानने की परम्परा हो गयी है। शरीर में आत्मा इसी मार्ग से प्रवेश करती है, और यही इसके त्याग का मार्ग होना चाहिए।

KASHIPURI, KAPARDISHWAR & GAYA  काशीपुरी, कपर्द्वेषर और गया

On being asked by Yudhishthir युधिष्टर about the magnificence of holy places like Kashipuri, काशीपुरी Kapardishwar कपद्वेश्वर & Gaya गया . Narad नारद said ---

Just as Lord Mahadev महादेव is supreme among all the deities, in the same manner Kashipuri काशीपुरी holds a significant status among all the places of pilgrimage. Hence an individual should make it a point to visit Kashi काशी once in his life time. The famous Shiva linga Kopardishwar शिवा लिंग कपराद्वेस्वर is installed at Kashi काशी and is said to fulfill all the desires of a man. Performance of various rituals at Kashi काशी liberates a man from all his sins-all his flaws are eliminated automatically just by residing in Kashi काशी

A devotee who regularly practices meditation in the temple of Lord Kapordishwar क्पोदिश्वर attains Yogasiddhi योगसिद्धि within six months. Worshipping Lord Kapardishwar कपोद्विश्वर after taking a holy dip in Pishach-mochan kunda पिशाच मोचन कुंडा liberates a man from gravest of sin like 'Brahmahatya',ब्रह्म ह्त्या etc. Gaya गया is considered to be a sacrosanct place of pilgrimage and various rituals for the pacification of the souls of dead ancestors are performed here. Anybody who offers Pindadaan पिंडदान and tarpan तर्पण at Gaya गया not only liberates his ancestors but also himself. There is a very famous Banyan tree named Akshayvat अक्षयवट at Gaya गया . Gaya गया is situated at the bank of river Falgu फल्गू ।

काशी में मरण हनी पर स्थूल, सूक्षम व कारण - इन तीनों प्रकारों के शरीरों का सदा के लिए नाश हो जाता है। इसी लिए काशी को महाशमशान कहते हैं और यहाँ मृत्यु को मोक्ष प्रदायिनी माना गया है।

आत्मा कौन है  ? आत्मा क्या है ?

प्राणों  के द्वारा  मन बुद्धि  की  वृतियों के अनुरूप शरीर के हृदयाकाश में स्थित  विज्ञानमय , आनंदमय , ज्योति का गनीभूत बिन्दुस्वरूप ही आत्मा है  ।  जो लोक लोकांतरों में भ्रमण करती रहती है । यह लिप्त भी है  । जब तक यह इस देह में स्थित रहती है, तब तक मन व्  बुद्धि की इच्छा व् तर्क के अनुरूप यह चिंतन व् विचारों को जनम देती है व् प्राणों के माध्यम  से इन्द्रियों को तदनुरूप चेष्टा करती है । गहन निद्रा के समय यह अस्थाई रूप से इस शरीर को व् इस लोक को त्यागकर लोक लोकांतर की यात्रा करती है । इसी कारण उस समय मन व् बुद्धि चिंतन व् विचार शून्य हो जाते हैं । तथा इन्द्रियाँ चेष्टा विहीन । उस समय ये आत्मा अपने लिए वासनामय शरीर की रचना कर लेता है । अर्थात जैसी वाशना या इच्छा मन में अचेत  होते समय होती है, उसी के अनुरूप यह वासनामय शरीर के द्वारा एक नए लोक की रचना कर लेता है । कभी इस वासनामय शरीर के द्वारा वह मित्रों के साथ हंसता है, कभी भयभीत होता है, कभी स्त्रीयों के साथ रमण करता है, तो कभी अपने मृत्य सम्बन्धियों से मिलता है । 

सांसारिक लोग यही सोचते हैं कि वह सो रहा है । परंतु  कोई भी नहीं देख पाता की ये (आत्मा) क्या देख रहा है,  इसी लिए वैद्य भी यही कहते हैं, तथा यह सत्य भी है कि सोये हुए व्यक्ति को सहसा एक दम न जगाएं, क्योंकि  ऐसा करने से आत्मा को शरीर में प्रविष्ट हो कर मन व् प्राण को सक्रिय करने का उचित समय नहीं मिल पाता और शरीर  दुश्चिताशय  हो जाता है । जब वासनामय शरीर की त्रिप्ती  जाती है, तो आत्मा स्वतः ही इस देह में प्रविष्ट कर जाती है और जीव को निंद्रा से चेतन अवस्था में ले आती है । और एक दिन ये भेदी आत्मा कर्मों के भार से शरीर को छोड़ते समय स्वास के माध्यम से शरीर को त्याग कर चली जाती है । 

15 Things to give up to be Happy

This is indeed a brilliant article and needs to be read again and again

The following article was written by one of very own Mind valley Team members, and is a piece from the heart. After receiving an astounding 318,000 shares it was only fair to share this with you so you too can identify the 15 practices, beliefs and habits that may be preventing you from being happy. The article is a little longer than usual but it is seasoned with powerful insights and peppered with inspirational quotes. Enjoy!

Here is a list of 15 things, which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and you'll feel much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering and instead of letting those all go and allowing ourselves to be stress-free and happy, we cling on to them.

Well, not anymore. Starting today, we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go!

1. Give up your need to always be right. There are so many of us who can't stand the idea of being wrong, wanting to always be right, even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain for us and for others. It's just not worth it. Whenever you feel the urgent need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question from Dr. Wayne Dyer: Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind? What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control. Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you ì situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, co-workers, or just strangers you meet on the street ì just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.

By letting it go, it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning. Lao Tzu

3. Give up on blame. Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don't have, for what you feel or don't feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.

4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk. Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don't believe everything that your mind is telling you, especially if it's negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.

The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive. Eckhart Tolle

5. Give up your limiting beliefs. About what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!

A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind. Elly Roselle

6. Give up complaining. Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, many things, people, situations and events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy; no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It's not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. Give up the luxury of criticism. Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. Give up your need to impress others. Stop trying so hard to be something that you're not just to make others like you. It doesn't work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you're not, the moment you take of all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.

9. Give up your resistance to change. Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change, and don’t resist it.

Follow your bliss and the Universes will open doors for you where there were only walls. -Joseph Campbell

10. Give up labels. Stop labeling the things, people or events that you don't understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. 

The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about. Dr. Wayne Dyer

11. Give up on your fears. Fear is just an illusion, it doesn't exist, and you created it. It's all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Give up your excuses. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck and lie to ourselves, using all kind of excuses I excuses that 99.9% of the time, are not even real.

13. Give up the past. I know, I know. This one's hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening. But, you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for, the past that you are now dreaming about, was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life.

After all, life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. Give up attachment. This is a concept that, for most of us, is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too (it still is), but it's not impossible. You get better and better at it with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things (and that doesn't mean you give up your love for them ì because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another. Attachment comes from a place of fear, while love well, real love is pure, kind, and selfless; where there is love there can't be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot co-exist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words

15. Give up living your life to other people's expectations. Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them; they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them; to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people's expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need and eventually, they forget about themselves. You have one life, this one right now, you must live it, own it, and especially don't let other people's opinions distract you from your path.