Why should I let him decide what kind of day I am going to have?

When I sent Four agreements, lots of people said, point two is very key and how easy we forget it. Here is the second agreement from the Four Agreements (book by Don Miguel Ruiz -- Which is a excellent book by itself and costs less then ten dollars. I highly recommend you to read. If you do read or listen to the book, let me know so that we can discuss because these agreements are very close to what Swami is teaching, only different perspective or different way to present the principles to live every day):

Agreement 2
Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

After seeing these mails, I thought of sharing anothe story which is related to this point.

Enjoy:
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Powell and his friend were strolling down a New York City street, walk they took on many occasions. they stopped at a newspaper vendor's stand for the daily paper, the same stand where Powell's friend always stopped. The vendor was exceedingly rude in spite of the generous tip he received. After walking away, Powell simply had to ask his friend why he was so nice to a vendor who was rude virtually every day. He said, "Why should I let him decide what kind of day I am going to have?" -- From: Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am? -- John Powell
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The Principle of the Path

I came across this book through Nelson Publishing. "The Principle of the Path" is written by Andy Stanley. He is a pastor, author, and founder of North Point Ministries, Inc. Without knowing much, I liked the title and thought of checking it out. Now, I can say that I like the way Andy wrote the book. In the introduction, itself got my attention where he wrote about an incident from his teenage years. In the book, Andy followed the principle of tell it once, tell it again, tell it again principle. Transition from chapter to chapter is very smooth. Book has lots of stories from Bible and author's life to explain the main principle. I loved to read the stories about Salmon and David. There are very interesting for a person who never read a bible. These stories reinforced the key principles explained by the author. One thing which didn't fly with me is about not trusting the heart. However, in the next chapter, author says, listen to the heart with God. This is in tune with what I believe about heart. Other than that, author very well conveys the point "Attention determines Direction which in turn determines the destination". He also explained the difference between forgiveness and repentance, which is very interesting to me. In summary, it is a very good book, and I do recommend to readers.

Thoughts, Thoughts, Thoughts

"I have Most of the things most people would like. I did not start with them. I created them. I created them with my mind, with the thoughts I chose to think. I created them by conscious choice. My future, likewise, will be the result of conscious choice. To think is to create." ~Thomas D. Willhite

In the last blog, I did mention about Thoughts and its importance. After writing that, I came across two blogs which were talking about same concept. One is from Deepak Chopra's website and other is from Dr. Joe Vitale's blog. Both are excellent. After reading these, I came across another wonderful letter. That's the third one I am giving in this blog. Two blogs are about thoughts and how they shape our life. Third one is about questioning our thoughts to become sane. :-)

I love to choose my thoughts by reading good books and listening to wonderful Audios. In this blog, first one I am going to refer it Deepak Chopra's article. This article shows 27 Ways to go out of your mind. See what you can pick and learn from those 27 ways.

Second is from Dr. Joe Vitale's blog spot. Excellent summary of thoughts and how they shape us. In this blog post, he was reviewing a book and gives info about how we create every moment of life. Read the his March 30th blog post, "Buddah's Money-Making Secret". I haven't purchased the product recommended here. May be some day.

Next blog I read is from Byron Katie. Info about this blog post came in Feb, however, I read it today. Another excellent writing from Katie. Here she talks about marriage, love, etc. Remember, this she wrote as Valenetine Day special. Some of the sentences which are worth reading agian and again are given below (Hope it is ok from them). All following bulleted are from Byron Katie's letter, not mine.

• Things come to me only when I need them and only for as long as I need them, and the way I know I need them is that I have them.
• When you truly love yourself, it's not possible to project that other people don't love you.
• But when you come to love yourself, you automatically love the other person. It's not a choice.
• If I think my husband should love me, I'm insane. Whose business is it whom he loves? His, of course.
• God's will is my will. Why should you do war with the future before you can know what the future brings? The future? I don't know; I don't need to know. What use is God if I continue my attempt to replace him?
• To see someone as mean is itself mean, and to hold that belief the mind must become very busy, work very hard, to build a case. So "negative" thoughts are simply not true, and they make for a busy mind, with little peace in it. It's not about being unkind to the person you're judging; it's about being unkind to yourself in the very act of judging. It's about maintaining the density and pain of living.
  

These are some of the gems I want to capture for myself. So, I pasted them above. Read the whole page and learn a lot about yourself.

Chers.

Importance of Reading

Reading, Reading, Reading... what is the importance of Reading in life? You are reading this article because you have interest to read and also learned how to read. When I was back in India, my father always recommended me to read English books, newspapers, magazines. However, maximum I read during my BS degree was "The Hindu" newspaper and "Coma" novel. Other than that, I read my textbooks in English. However, when I came to US, I started reading books by different authors. Wayne Dyer, Denis Waitly, Zig Zigler, and Brain Tracy changed my life. Even today, I give credit to Wayne Dyer and his book, "Your Erroneous Zones", Zig Zigler's book, "See You at the Top". These books and others changed my view of this world completly. After staying at my dad's place for 22 years (including my BS), I came to US and had my first hostel experience or you can call it as living with others on my own. These books, audios were my companions which build me. I give credit to US and these books for what I am today. I still love to read books and listen to audios, which you might have seen after going through my blog posts. I do encourage you to read Seth Godin's small yet very powerful message books: "The Dip" and "Tribes". Read books, read, read. Some people do question or say that, what is the use of reading books and not implementing anything from the book. Answer to that is "We are what we think all day long - Earl Nightingale". So, instead of filling random thoughts, I fill my mind with thoughts what I am looking for. Its always better to choose my thoughts than giving control to a TV or Radio or someone with weird thoughts. I do strongly recommend Earl Nightingale's "The Strangest Secret". He is the king of Self-Development. Excellent book to read or audio to listen. I will stop here. More later.

Question your mind

Last couple of days, I am listening to "Your Inner Awakening" Audio CD's by Byron Katie. Are you familiar with her books and work? If not, visit her website. I highly recommend to read her books and learn the methods. Some of the sentences, which stayed with me, from her talk in the Audio CD's are:

1. You other person is the reason for my problem, then I am insane.

2. Is that true? (this is one of her question)

3. All suffering is because of the past.

4. We believe what we think and that is the reason for our problems.

5. Unquestioned mind is the reason for our suffering.

6. Suffering is optional.

Recently, doctors informed Katies that she is going to be blind soon (one or two years back). Both Katie and her husband smiled at that statement. Steven, immediatly said, good, I wanted to have a dog for long time. Such a loving attitude they have. For ordinary folks, it seems like very uncaring statement. Isn't it?

Katie tells a story about fear and how it runs in our life. I will give it in my own words. Lets say in a desert, which is famous for snakes, you are travelling. You step on a snake like object and you loose your breath, get panic, historic, etc. Jump up and down. Finally, in light you come to know that it is a snake (yes, I know you might be saying, I know this story. Knowing is different. Here I want to quote: People who are cocky and arrogant say, "I know that" and move along. People who are confident and positive ask themselves, "How good am I at that?" and seek to improve. -- Jeffrey Gitomer). Once you know that it is a rope, you will stand on the rope without any fear or trepedition. However, people walking by will have terror seeing you standing on top of a snake. They will be anxious, fearful, terrified, however, no matter what happens, you will not get afraid of that rope. Isn't it? Its their thoughts which are causing pain, similar to your thoughts until you know it is a rope. This is the twist to regularly known snake & rope theory. Isn't it?

Most of us are educated on not judging others from childhood. Katie says "Which world you are on? You are judging every moment of life. This is a beatiful flower! Good work! Ugly painting! lazy! cleaver!, etc." We do judge, however, we don't want to judge others in a derogative way and also we don't like to share those thoughts. According to Katie, first step in "The Work" is to 'Judge your neighbor'. Once one judge their neighbor, spouse, boss, friend, relative, etc., they go to next steps in which they ask following questions.

Is it true?

Can you absolutely know that it's true?

How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

Who would you be without the thought?

She encourage one to do these questions first before going for turn around. She says, each of these questions are like meditation. Also turn around without familiarity with questions will be like a dagger in your heart. After familiarity with the work, it will be like blessing.

So, go an watch all the videos she has for free.

Cheers.

Learning from "Teaching an Anthill to Fetch"

Today, let me give a couple of points from an excellent management book, "Teaching an Anthill to Fetch - Developing Collaborative Intelligence @ Work" by Stephen James Joyce.

CQ can be defined as the ability to build, contribute to and manage the power found in networks of people (source: Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together by William Issacs).

I highly recommend everyone to read this book. In this book, author presents, "CQ - Collaborative Intelligence" to harness energy and intelligence of people. In this book, Author presents 8 elements which help in developing a CQ team:

1. Assumptions
2. Perception
3. Self-Mastery
4. Communication
5. Connection
6. Creativity/Flexibility
7. Meaningful Participation
8. "High CQ" Teams

Each lesson presents what is the element, how it effects a team (or a person) and how to develop it. At the end of the chapter, he links the current element to next element as a natural progression.
This book easy an easy read, yet profound concepts are presented. I love the quotations gathered by the author to reinforce the concept or point mentioned in the chapter. While presenting Assumptions concept, he says, "What shocks me is that as intelligent human beings we often allow ourselves to be fenced in by a piece of string". He also gives a Figure to show how out Self-Fulfilling Prophesy cycle works. Here are the elements: Assumptions -> Perceptions -> Events -> Assumptions -> Evidence -> Assumptions.

Like this, simple, yet profound. Go to his site to read more or buy the book and read. You will love it. Book website also have lots of links to different websites to reinforce the concepts presented in the book. www.anthillsite.com

Enjoy.

Another Quote from Sri Sai Baba in Telugu

మనస్సును అరికట్టుకోండి!!
స్వామి ఆజ్ఞను తప్పక అనుసరించుటే దీక్షగా మీరు తలంచవలెను. దానికి శ్రద్ధ, భక్తీ రెండూ అవసరం. అదే మీరు చేయవలసిన తపస్సు. అంతేగాని, దేహమును కృశింపజేయటం కాదు. పుట్టపైన మర్దించిన పాము మరణించునా! తనువును దండించిన తత్వజ్ఙానము కలుగునా! తలంపులను దండింపవలయును. అటూ ఇటూ సంచరించే గడియారపు పెంద్యులమును నిలిపి వేయవలెననిన, 'కీ'ను యీయకుండిన చాలు. అట్లే, సంకల్ప వికల్పములనే 'కీ' ను వదలితే మనస్సనే పెండ్యులము చంచలత్వమును వీడి పరమాత్ముని పాదారవిందముల యందు లగ్నమై స్థిరముగా నిలుచును. సంకల్పము ఒక విత్తనంవంటిది. దానిని మనస్సులో నాటితే అదొక పెద్ద వృక్షమై, ఏకత్వమునుండి అనేకత్వము పెరిగి, ఏ ప్రయత్నమూ లేకుండగానే కోట్లకొలది విత్తనములు అవిర్భవించును. సంకల్పములను అరికట్టక ఏకాగ్రత కుదరదు. అందుకు నిరంతర పరిశ్రమ, అఖండ సాధన అవసరము. ఆ సాధనలోకూడ అవిశ్వాసము అంకురించిన అన్నీ వ్యర్థమైపోవును. -- బాబా (సనాతన సారథి January 2007)

ఉత్తమ సేవ -- Highest Service - Quote

Namaste!!!

For long time, I was looking for Telugu discourses or quotes from Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Today, I found one which attracted me, so I am posting it in Telugu here. If I get English translation of this quote, I will append to it.

Sai Ram!!!

వాలంటీర్లను అవకాశాలు వెతుక్కుంటూ రావు. వాళ్లే సేవకు అవకాశాలను వెతుక్కోవాలి. ఆసక్తితో, సన్నద్ధ చిత్తంతో వెదికితే మే చుట్టూ అవకాశాలెన్నో కనబడగలవు. ఇతరులు తీవ్ర బాధలు పడుతున్నప్పుడు పాషాణ హృదయులు మాత్రమే పట్టించుకోకుండా ఉంటారు. మీరు చేస్తున్న సేవలు పరులకు కాదు, మీకే అని గుర్తు పెట్టుకోండి! పూలు విసిరిన, రాళ్ళు వేసినా సమచిత్తంతో శాంతంగా అందుకోవాలి. దేహభ్రాంతి ఉన్నప్పుడే నిందాస్తుతుల బెడద. 'నేను దేహమును కాను, దేహిని' అనే భావం అలవరచుకొంటే ఉత్తమ సేవ చేయగలుగుతారు. ఇతరులకు ఆనందంగా సేవ చేయండి. మీరు ఎక్కువవారనే భవమూ, విసుగుదల సూచించే ముఖమూ సేవ చేసేడప్పుడు ఉండకూడదు. ఇతరులకు సేవ చేసే అవకాశం దొరికినందుకు మీకు నిజంగా సంతోషం కలిగినట్లు ఎదుటివారికి కనబడాలి. మీ ముఖాన చిరునవ్వు మెరుస్తూ ఉంటే మిమ్మల్ని చుసినవల్లందరూ మీ ఆనందమునుంచి ఉద్దీపనం పొందుతారు. సేవకార్యక్రమానికి పూనుకున్నప్పుడు 'ఈ పని నా పరిధిలోనిది అవునా కాదా' అని తర్కించవద్దు. సేవకు హద్దులు అవధులు లేవు. మీకు నియమించిన దానికంటే ఎక్కువ భారం మోయనవసరం లేదు. ఇతరులు చేస్తున్న పనిలో అనవసరంగా జోక్యం చేసుకోరాదు. అయినదానికి కానిదానికి ఇతరులను విమర్శించరాదు. ప్రశాంతి నిలయానికి చెందిన
మనుష్యుల స్థాయినీ, గౌరవాన్ని నిలబెట్టవలెను. -- శ్రీ సత్య సాయి బాబా (సనాతన సారథి మార్చి 2009)

Fun & info goes hand in hand

Hello,
Today, I went to Michael Stanier's website which is called "The Possibility Virus". Very interesting name. When I checked the movie, "The Eight Irresistible Rules of Fun" and amazed by the creative way of passing the info to the viewer. Very simple rules. After watching it, I watched their other movie, "The 5.75 Questions You've been Avoiding" and it is yet another novel way of presenting the information. When I subscribed to their newsletter, I got an opportunity to add my comments about these two movies.
Interstingly, someone did read those comments and she sent yet another movie, "Find Your Great Work". I loved this one too. That's why I thought of sharing all three here. Some of the points I like from three movies are (my comments are in the paranthesis):
1. If everyone is happy, then you are not doing great work.
2. Things only get interesting when you take full responsibility for the choices you make
3. Stop hiding who you really are.
4. Start scaring yourself (live at the edge or stretch your possibilities)
5. Stop being busy
6. Start something (taking action is important)
7. What's going well for you? (Attitute of Gratitude)
8. What are you trying to ignore?
9. What's boring you? (Interesting quesiton, true, we have lots of things and persons boring us).
10. How do you want to be remembered? (I like this a lot because I love Steven Covey's quote: Life is to love, live, learn and leave a legacy behind).

Have fun and share the info with your friends.

Until next time,

Nagaraj