THE BRIEF ABOUT CARNATIC MUSIC

 

                           IMPORTANT ELEMENT

                              OF CARNATIC MUSIC

                                 ERUTI : ERUTI COMMONLY REFERS TO MUSICAL PITCH. IT IS THE APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENT OF A TOXIC (OR LESS PRECISELY A KEY) IN WESTERN MUSIC, IT IS THE NOTE FROM WHICH ALL THE OTHERS ARE DERIVED. IT IS ALSO USED IN THE SENSE OF GRADED PITCHES IN AN OCTAVE. WHILE THERE ARE AN INFINITE NUMBER OF SOUNDS FALLING WITHIN A SCALE (OR RAGA) IN CARNATIC MUSIC, THE NUMBER THAT CAN BE DISTINGUISHED BY AUDITORY PERCEPTION IN TWENTY-TWO (ALTHOUGH OVER THE YEARS, SEVERAL OF THEN HAVE CONVERGED). IN THIS SENSE, WHILE SRUTI IS DETERMINED BY AUDITORY PERCEPTION, IT IS ALSO AN EXPRESSION IN THE LISTENER'S MIND.

                          SWARNA : SWARA REFERS TO A TYPE OF MUSICAL SOUND THAT IS A SINGLE NOTE, WHICH DEFINE A RELATIVE (HIGHER OR LOWER) POSITION OF A NOTE, RATHER THAN A DEFINED FREQUENCY. SWARAS ALSO REFER TO THE SOLFEGE OF CARNATIC MUSIC, WHICH CONSISTS OF SEVEN NOTES, "SA-RI-GA-MA-PA-DA-NI" (COMPARE WITH THE HINDUSTANI SARGAM SA-RE-GA-MA-PA-DHA-NI OR WESTERN DO-RE-MI-FA-SO-LA-TI). THESE NAMES ARE ABBRAEVIATIONS OF THE LONGER NAMES SHADJA, RISHABHA, GANDHARA, MADHYAMA, PANCHAMA, DHAIVATA AND NISHADA. UNLIKE OTHER MUSIC SYSTEMS, EVERY MEMBER OF THE SOLGEGE (CALLED A SWARA) HAS THREE VARIANTS. THE EXCEPTIONS ARE THE DRONE NOTES, SHADJA AND PANCHAMA (ALSO KNOWN AS THE TONIC AND THE DOMINANT) WHICH HAVE ONLY ONE FORM. AND 7MADHYAMA (THE SUBDOMINANT) WHICH HAS TWO FORMS. A 7TH CENTURY STONE INSCRIPTION IN KUDUMIYAN MALAI IN TAMILNADU SHOWS VOWEL CHANGES TO SOLFEGE SYMBOLS WITH RA,RI,RU,ETC. TO DENOTE THE HIGHER QUARTER-TONES. IN  ONE SCALE, OR RAGAM, THERE IS USUALLY ONLY ONE VARIANT OF EACH ONE PRESENT. THE EXCEPTIONS EXISTS IN "LIGHT" RAGAS, IN WHICH, FOR ARTISTIC EFFECT, THERE MAY BE TWO,ONE ASCENDING (IN THE AROHANAM) AND ANOTHER DESCENDING (IN THE AVAROHANAM)

                          RAGA SYSTEM : A RAGA IN CARNATIC MUSIC PRESCRIBES A SET OF RULES FOR BUILDING A MELODY - VERY SIMILAR TO THE WESTERN CONCEPT OF MODE. IT SPECIFIES RULES FOR MOVEMENTS UP (AAROHANAM), AND DOWN (AVAROHANAM), THE SCALE OF WHICH NOTES MAY BE SUNG WITH GAMAKA, WHICH PHRASES SHOULD BE USED, PHRASES SHOULD BE AVOIDED, AND SO ON.

                   IN CARNATIC MUSIC, THE SAMPOORNA RAGAS (THOSE WILL ALL SEVEN NOTES IN THEIR SCALES) ARE CLASSIFIED INTO A SYSTEM CALLED THE MELAKARTA, WHICH GROUPS THEM ACCORDING TO THE KINDS OF NOTES THAT THEY HAVE. HTERE ARE SEVENTY-TWO MELAKARTA RAGAS, THIRTY SIX OF WHOSE MADHYAMA (SUBDOMINANT) IS SADHARANA ( SUBDOMINANT) IS PRATI (AN AUGMENTED FOURTH FROM THE TONIC) THE RAGAS ARE GROUPED INTO SETS OF SIX, CALLED CHAKRAS, (WHEELS, THOUGH ACTUALLY SEGMETNS IN THE CONVENTIONAL REPRESENTATION) GROUPED ACCORDING TO THE SUPERTONIC AND MEDIANT SCALE DEGREES. THERE IS A SYSTEM KNOWN AS THE "KATAPAYADI SANKHYA TO DETERMINE THE NAMES OF MELAKARTA RAGAS. RAGAS MAY BE DIVIDED INTO TWO CLASSES. JANAKA RAGAS (I.E. MELAKARTA OR PARENT RAGAS) AND JANYARAGAS (DESCENDANT RAGAS OF A PARTICULAR JANAKA RAGA). JANYA RAGAS ARE SUBCLASSIFIED INTO VARIOUS CATEGORIES THEMSELVES.

                       TALA SYSTEM : TALA REFERS TO THE BEAT SET FOR A PARTICULAR COMPOSITION (A MEASURE TO TIME) TALAS HAVE CYLES OF A DEFINED NUMBER OF BEATS AND RARELY CHANGE WITHIN A SONG. THEY HAVE SPECIFIC COMPONENTS, WHICH IN COMBINATIONS CAN GIVE RISE TO THE VARIETY TO EXIST (OVER 108), ALLOWING DIFFERENT COMPOSITIONS TO HAVE DIFFERENT RHYTHMS.

               CARNATIC MUSIC SINGERS USUALLY KEEP THE BEAT BY MOVING THEIR HANDS UP AND DOWN IN SPECIFIED PATTERNS, AND USING THEIR FINGERS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO KEEP TIME. TALA IS FORMED WITH THREE BASIC PARTS (CALLED ANGAS) , WHICH ARE LAGHU, DHRTAM, AND AMUDHRTAM, THOUGH COMPLEX TALAS MAY HAVE OTHER PARTS LIKE PLUTAM, GURU, AND KAAKAPAADAM. THERE ARE SEVEN BASIC TALA GROUPS WHICH CAN BE FORMED FROM THE LAGHU, DHRTAM, AND AMUDHRTAM, DHRUVA TALA, MATYA TALA, RUPAKA TALA, JHAMPA TALA, TRIPUTA TALA, ATA TALA, EKA TALA.

                A LAGHU HAS FIVE VARIANTS (CALLED JAATHIS) BASED ON THE COUNTING PATTERN, FIVE  JAASTHIS TIMES SEVEN TALA GROUPS GIVES THIRTY-FIVE BASIC TALAS, ALTHOUGH USE OF OTHER ANGAS RESULTS IN A TOTAL OF 108 TALAS.

  

                        IMPROVISATION : THERE ARE FOUR MAIN TYPES OF IMPROVISATION IN CARNATIC MUSIC, BUT IN EVERY TYPE, ADHERING TO THE SCALE AND PHRASES OF THE RAGAS IS REQUIRED.

                         RAGA ALAPANA : THIS IS THE EXPOSITION OF THE RAGAM OF THE SONG THAT IS BEING PLANNED TO BE PERFORMED. A PERFORMER WILL EXPLORE THE RAGAM FIRST BY SINGING LOWER OCTAVES THEN MOVING UP TO HIGHER ONES AND TOUCHING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE RAGAM WHILE GIVING A HINT OF THE SONG TO BE PERFORMED . IT IS A SLOW IMPROVISATION, SINCE THE RULES ARE SO FEW, BUT IN FACT, IT TAKES MUCH SKILL TO SING A PLEASING, COMPREHENSIVE (IN THE SENSE OF GIVING A "FEEL FOR THE RAGAM) AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, ORIGINAL RAGA ALAPANA.

                         NIRAVAL : THIS IS USUALLY PERFORMED BY THE MORE ADVANCED CONCERT ARTISTS AND CONSISTS OF SINGING ONE OR TWO LINES OF A SONG REPEATEDLY, BUT WITH IMPROVISED ELABORATIONS. NIRAVAL COMES OUT OR MANODHARMA SANGEETHA, WHERE THE SELECTED LINE IS REPEATED WITHIN THE TALA TIMING TO BRING OUT THE BEAUTY OF BOTH THE RAAGA, AND THE LINE OR COMPOSITION BEING RENDERED.

                      KALPANASWARAM : THE MOST ELEMENTARY TYPE OF IMPROVISATION, USUALLY TAUGHT BEFORE ANY OTHER FORM OF IMPROVISATION. IT CONSISTS OF SINGING A PATTERN OF NOTES WHICH FINISHES ON THE BEAT AND THE NOTE JUST BEFORE THE BEAT AND THE NOTE ON WHICH THE SONG STARTS. THE SWARNA PATTERN SHOULD ADHERE TO THE ORIGINAL RAGA'S PATTERN, WHICH IS CALLED AS AAROHARAM-AVAROHANAM.

                 THANAM : THIS FORM OF IMPROVISATION WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR THE VEENA AND CONSISTS OF EXPANDING THE RAGA WITH SYLLABUS LIKE THA, NAM, THOM, AA, NOM, NA, ETC.

                RAGAM THANAM PALLAVI : THIS IS A COMPOSITE FORM OF IMPROVISATION. AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, IT CONSISTS OF RAGA ALAPANA, THANAM, AND A PALLAVI LINE. THE PALLAVI LINE IS SUNG TWICE, AND NIRAVAL FOLLOWS. AFTER NIRAVAL, THE PALLAVI LINE IS SUNG AGAIN, TWICE IN NORMAL SPEED, THEN SUNG ONCE AT HALF THE SPEED, THEN TWICE AT REGULAR SPEED, THEN FOUR TIMES AT TWICE THE SPEED. KALPANASWARAMS FOLLOW.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME

 

                                       LETTING GO OF 

                                  PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME

      

                   LEARN TO USE TIME IN THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE- WE MAY CALL THIS "CLOCK TIME" - BUT IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO PRESENT-MOMENT AWARENESS WHEN THOSE PRACTICAL MATTERS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH. IN THIS WAY, THERE WILL BE NO BUIL-UP OF 'PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME", WHICH IS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE PAST AND CONTINUOUS COMPULSIVE PROJECTION INTO THE FUTURE.

                     CLOCK TIME IS NOT JUST MAKING AN APPOINTMENT OR PLANNING A TRIP. IT INCLUDES LEARNING FROM THE PAST SO THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER. SETTING GOALS AND WORKING TOWARD THEM. PREDICTING THE FUTURE BY MEANS OF PATTERNS AND LAWS, PHYSICAL, MATHEMATICAL AND SO ON, LEARED FROM THE PAST AND TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE BASIS OF OUR PREDICTIONS.

                BUT EVEN HERE, WITHIN THE SPHERE OF PRACTICAL LIVING, WHERE WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT REFERENCE TO PAST AND FUTURE, THE PRESENT MOMENT REMAINS THE ESSENTIAL FACTOR. ANY LESSON FROM THE PAST BECOMES RELEVANT AND IS APPLIED NOW. ANY PLANNING AS WELL AS WORKING TOWARD ACHIEVING A PARTICULAR GOAL IS DONE NOW.

               THE ENLIGHTENED PERSON'S MAIN FOCUS OF ATTENTION IS ALWAYS THE NOW, BUT THEY ARE STILL PERIPHERALLY AWARE OF TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CONTINUE TO USE CLOCK TIME BUT ARE FREE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME.

                  BE ALERT AS YOU PRACTICE THIS SO THAT YOU DO NOT UNWITTINGLY TRANSFORM CLOCK TIME INTO PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE IN THE PAST AND LEARN FROM IT NOW, YOU ARE USING CLOCK TIME. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU DWELL ON IT MENTALLY, AND SELF-CRITICISM, REMORSE, OR GUILT COME UP, THEN YOU ARE MAKING THE MISTAKE INTO "ME" AND "MINE". YOU MAKE IT PART OF YOUR SENSE OF SELF, AND IT HAS BECOME  PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME, WHICH IS ALWAYS LINKED TO A FALSE SENSE OF IDENTIFY. NONFORGIVENESS NECESSARILY IMPLIES A HEAVY BURDEN OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME.

                 IF YOU SET YOURSELF A GOAL AND WORK TOWARD IT, YOU ARE USING CLOCK TIME. YOU ARE AWARE OF WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, BUT YOU HONOR AND GIVE YOUR FULLEST  ATTENTION TO THE STEP THAT YOU ARE TAKING AT THIS MOMENT. IF YOU THEN BECOME EXCESSIVELY FOCUSED ON THE GOAL, PERHAPS BECAUSE YOU ARE SEEKING HAPPINESS, FULFILLMENT, OR A MORE COMPLETE SENSE OF SELF IN IT. THE NOW IS NO LONGER HONORED. IT BECOMES REDUCED TO A MERE STEPPING STONE TO THE FUTURE, WITH NO INTRINSIC VALUE. CLOCK TIME THEN TURNS INTO PSYCHOLOGIAL TIME. YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NO LONGER AN ADVENTURE, JUST AN OBSESSIVE NEED TO ARRIVE , TO ATTAIN, TO "MAKE IT" . YOU NO LONGER SEE OR SMELL THE FLOWERS BY THE WAYSIDE EITHER, NOR ARE YOU AWARE OF THE BEAUTY AND THE MIRACLES OF LIFE THAT UNFOLDS ALL AROUND YOU WHEN YOU ARE PRESENT IN THE NOW.

               I CAN SEE THE SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF THE NOW, BUT I CANNOT QUITE GO ALONG WITH YOU WHEN YOU SAY THAT TIME IS A COMPLETE ILLUSION.

                  WHEN I SAY, 'TIME IS AN ILLUSION" MY INTENTION IS NOT TO MAKE A PHILOSOPHICAL STATMENT. I AM JUST REMINDING YOU OF A SIMPLE FACT - A FACT SO OBVIOUS THAT YOU MAY IT HARD TO GRASP AND MAY EVEN FIND IT MEANINGLESS - BUT ONCE FULLY REALIZED, IT CAN CUT LIKE A SWORD THROUGH ALL THE MIND-CREATED LAYERS OF COMPLEXITY AND "PROBLEMS" . LET ME SAY IT AGAIN, THE PRESENT MOMENT IS ALL EVER HAVE. THERE IS NEVER A TIME WHEN YOUR LIFE IS NOT "THIS MOMENT". IS THIS NOT A FACT?

                                      THE INSANITY OF

                                    PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME

           YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME IS A MENTAL DISCASE IF YOU LOOK AT ITS COLLECTIVE MANIFESTATIONS. THEY OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE FORM OF IDEALOGIES SUCH AS COMMUNISM, NATIONAL SOCIALISM OR ANY NATIONALISM, OR RIGID RELIGIOUS BELIEF SYSTEMS, WHICH OPERATE UNDER THE IMPLICT ASSUMPTION THAT THE HIGHEST GOOD LIES IN THE FUTURE AND THAT THEREFORE THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS. THE END IS AN IDEA, A POINT IN THE MIND-PROJECTED FUTURE, WHEN SALVATION IN WHATEVER FORM - HAPPINESS, FULLFILLMENT, EQUALITY, LIBERATION, AND SO ON- WILL BE ATTAINED. NOT INFREQUENTLY, THE MEANS OF GETTING THERE ARE THE ENSLAVEMENT, TORTURE, AND MURDER OF PEOPLE IN THE PRESENT.

                   NEGATIVITY AND SUFFERING HAVE 

                          THEIR ROOTS IN TIME

                      BUT THE BELIEF THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE BETTER THAN THE PRESENT IN NOT ALWAYS AN ILLUSION. THE PRESENT CAN BE DREADFUL, AND THINGS CAN GET BETTER IN THE FUTURE, AND OFTEN THEY DO.

                         USUALLY, THE FUTURE IS A RELICA OF THE PAST. SUPERFICIAL CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE, BUT REAL TRANSFORMATION IS RARE AND DEPENDS UPON WHETHER YOU CAN BECOME PRESENT ENOUGH TO DISSOLVE THE PAST BY ACCESSING THE POWER OF NOW. WHAT YOU PERCEIVE AS FUTURE IS AN INTRINSIC PART OF YOUR STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOW. IF YOUR MIND CARRIES A HEAVY BURDEN OF PAST, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE MORE OF THE SAME. THE PAST PERPETUATES ITSELF THROUGH LACK OF PRESENCE. THE QUALITY OF YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AT THIS MOMENT IS WHAT SHAPES THE FUTURE - WHICH OF COURSE, CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED AS THE NOW.

                     YOU MAY WIN $10 MILLION, BUT THAT KIND OF CHANGE IS NO MORE THAN SKIN DEEP. YOU WOULD SIMPLY CONTINUE TO ACT OUT THE SAME CONDITIONED PATTERNS IN MORE LUXURIOUS SURROUNDINGS. HUMANS HAVE LEARNED TO SPLIT THE ATOM. INSTEAD OF KILLING TEN OR TWENTY PEOPLE WITH A BUTTON. IS THAT REAL CHANGE?

                    IF IT IS THE QUALITY OF YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AT THIS MOMENT THAT DETERMINES THE FUTURE, THEN WHAT IS IT THAT DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS? YOUR DEGREE OF PRESENCE. SO THE ONLY PLACE WHERE TRUE CHANGE CAN OCCUR AND WHERE THE PAST CAN BE DISSOVED IS THE NOW.

THE STATE OF PRESENCE (THE POWER OF NOW)

 

                                     THE PAST CANNOT 

                            SURVIVE IN YOUR PRESENCE

                       

                YOU MENTIONED THAT THINKING OR TAKING ABOUT THE PAST UNNECESSARILY IS ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE  AVOIDE THE PRESENT. BUT APART FROM THE PAST THAT WE REMEMBER AND PERHAPS IDENTIFY WITH, ISN'T THERE ANOTHER LEVEL OF PAST WITHIN US THAT IS MUCH MORE DEEP-SEATED? I AM TALKING ABOUT THE UNCONSCIOUS PAST THAT CONDITIONS OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, PERHAPS EVEN PAST-LIFE, EXPERIENCES. AND THEN THERE IS OUR CULTURAL CONDITIONING, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH WHERE WE LIVE GEOGRAPHICALLY AND THE HISTORICAL TIME PERIOD IN WHICH WE LIVE. ALL THESE THINGS DETERMINE HOW WE SEE THE WORLD, HOW WE REACT, WHAT WE THINK, WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS  HAVE, HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES. HOW COULD WE EVER BECOME CONSCIOUS OF ALL THAT OR GET RID OF IT? HOW LONG WOULD THAT TAKE? AND EVEN IF WE DID, WHAT WOULD THERE BE LEFT?

                                      WHAT IS LEFT WHEN ILLUSION ENDS ?

                       

                       THERE IS NO NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE UNCONSCIOUS PAST IN Y EXCEPT AS IT MANIFEST AT THIS MOMENT AS A THOUGHT, AN EMOTION DESIRE, A REACTION, OR AN EXTERNAL EVENT THAT HAPPENS TO YOU. WHATEVER YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNCONSCIOUS PAST IN YOU, THE CHALLENGE OF THE PRESENT WILL BRING IT OUT. IF YOU DELVE INTO THE PAST. IT BECOME A BOTTOMLESS PIT, THERE IS ALWAYS MORE, YOU MAY THINK IT YOU NEED MORE THAN TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE PAST OR BECOME FREE OF IT, OTHER WORDS. THAT THE FUTURE WILL EVENTUALY FREE YOU OF THE PAST. MORE TIRED CANNOT FREE YOU OF TIME. ACCESS THE POWER OF NOW. THAT IS THE KEY.

                   WHAT IS THE POWER OF NOW?

                   NONE OTHER THAN THE POWER OF YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS ERATED FROM THOUGH FORMS.

                    SO DEAL WITH THE PAST ON THE LEVEL OF THE PRESENT. THE MORE ATTENTION YOU GIVE TO THE PAST, THE MORE YOU NERGIZE IT, AND THE MORE LIKE YOU ARE TO MAKE A "SELF" OUT OF IT. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND. ATTENTION ESSENTIAL, BUT NOT TO THE PAST AS PAST. GIVE ATTENTION TO THE PRESENT, ATTENTION TO YOUR BEHAVIOR, TO YOUR REACTIONS, MOODS, THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, FEARS, AND DESIRES AS THEY OCCUR IN THE PRESENT. THERE'S THE PAST YOU. IF YOU CAN BE PRESENT ENOUGH TO WATCH ALL THOSE THINGS. NOT CRECALLY OR ANALYTICALLY BUT NONJUDGEMENTALLY, THEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH PAST AND DISSOLVING IT THROUGH THE POWER OF YOUR PRESENCE. YOU CANNOT FIND YOURSELF BY GOING INTO THE PAST. YOU FIND YOURSELF BY COMING IT THE PRESENT.

                       

                 ISN'T IT HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THE PAST AND SO UNDERSTAND WHY WE CERTAIN THINGS, REACT IN CERTAIN WAYS, OR WHY WE UNCONSCIOUSLY CREATION OUR PARTICULAR KIND OF DRAMA, PATTERNS IN RELATIONSHIPS, AND SO ON?

            AS YOU BECOME MORE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR PRESENT  REALITY. YOU MAY SUDDENTLY GET CERTAIN INSIGHTS AS TO WHY YOUR CONDITIONING FUNCTIONS IN THOSE PARTICULAR WAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHY YOUR RELATIONSHIPS FOLLOW CERTAIN PATTERNS , AND YOU MAY REMEMBER THINGS THAT HAPPNED IN THE PAST OR SEE THEM MORE CLEARLY. THAT IS FINE AND CAN BE HELPFUL, BUT IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL. WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IS YOUR CONSCIOUS PRESENCE. THAT DISSOVLES THE PAST. THAT IS THE TRANSFORMATIVE AGENT. SO DON'T SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE PAST. BUT BE AS PRESENT AS YOU CAN. THE PAST CANNOT SURVIVE IN YOUR PRESENCE. IT AN ONLY SURVIVE IN YOUR ABSENCE.

                                   THE JOY OF BEING

                   THE ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED YOURSELF TO BE TAKEN OVER BY PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME, YOU CAN USE A SIMPLE CRITERION. ASK YOURSELF, IS THERE JOY, EASE, AND LIGHTENESS IN WHAT I AM DOING? IF THERE ISN'T THEN TIME IS COVERING UP THE PRESENT MOMENT, AND LIFE IS PERCEIVED AS A BURDEN OR A STRUGGLE.

                   IF THERE IS NO JOY, EASE, OR LIGHTENESS IN WHAT YOU DOING, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. IT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO CHANGE TO HOW. "HOW" IS ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT THAN "WHAT". SEE IF YOU CAN GIVE MUCH MORE ATTENTION TO THE DOING THAN TO THE RESULT THAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE THROUGH IT. GIVE YOUR FULLEST ATTENTION TO WHATEVER THE MOMENT PRESENTS. THIS IMPLIES THAT YOU ALSO COMPLETELY ACCEPT WHAT IS, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GIVE YOUR FULL ATTENTION TO SOMETHING AND AT THE SAME TIME RESIST IT.

                 AS SOON AS YOU HONOR THE PRESENT MOMENT, ALL UNHAPPINESS AND STRUGGLE DISSOVE. AND LIFE BEGINS TO FLOW WITH JOY AND EASE. WHEN YOU ACT OUT OF PRESENT-MOMENT AWARENESS, WHATEVER YOU DO BECOMES IMBUED WITH A SENSE OF QUALITY, CARE, AND LOVE - EVEN THE MOST SIMPLE ACTION.

FEARLESS LIFE

 

                                 

                               HAVE YOU EXPERIENCE 

                                       WITH MONSOON

                 HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THE INDIAN MONSOON? IT BRINGS ONE OF THE FIERCEST, MOST THUNDEROUS DOWNPOURS OF WATER FROM THE HEAVEN. IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IN THE HEAVY RAIN, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE OT STAY DRY. SIMILARLY, IT IS HARD NOT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE CHALLENGES AND NEGATIVE SITUATIONS OF THE WORLD. FEELING PEACEFUL, HAPPY AND CONTENT IS NOT ABOUT AVOIDING CHALLENES IN OUR LIFE, AND CONTENT IS NOT ABOUT AVOIDING CHALLENGES IN OUR LIFE, BUT ABOUT HOW WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES TO REACH THE TYPE OF LIFE WE WANT TO LIVE.

                 ALDOUS HUXLEY SAID, EXPERIENCE IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO A MAN, IT IS WHAT A MAN DOES WITH WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM. ' IT'S HOW WE RESPOND THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. IF THERE IS ONE POSSESSION WE HAVE THAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE AND CAN TRULY TRANSFORM OUR LIVES COMPLETELY, IT IS OUR FREE WILL. WE ARE THE AUTHORS OF OUR OWN LIFE STORIES. CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES MAY FALL UPON US, JUST AS THE MONSOON RAINS FALL UPON OUR HEAD. WE DON'T SEEK THEM OR SOLITCIT THEM. THEY JUST COME OUR WAY. WE MUST CHOOSE HOW TO RESPOND.

                     HAPPINESS DOES NOT COME AUTOMATICALLY. FROM A YOUNG AGE WE RECEIVE METHODICAL EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF AREAS AND FIELDS, BUT HAPPINESS IS USUALLY NOT ONE OF THEM. TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE, WITH INTEGRITY AND WITH BALANCE, IS ONE OF LIFE'S AMAZING SECRETS WHICH IS REVEALED WITHIN THIS CHAPTER. THESE ARE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES THAT CAN BE USED BY ANYONE TO EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF SATISFACTION.

                   DO YOU EVER FEEL IRRITABLE OR FRUSTRATED? DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT LIFE ISN'T GOING YOU WAY? DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT THERE IS A KEY PART OF YOUR LIFE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION? IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OR ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS IS A YES, IT'S SIGN THAT YOU LIFE IS PROBABLY OUT OF BALANCE. THE SECRET OF LIFE IS FINDING BALANCE, NOT TOO MUCH, NOT TOO LITTLE. JUST AS A CAR BALANCES ON FOUR WHEELS, WE MUST BALANCE THE FOUR CRUCIAL AREAS OF OUR LIFE, OUR PERSONAL LIFE, OUR RELATIONSHIPS, OUR WORK LIFE AND OUR SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION.

                          BALANCE ON AN EXTERNAL LEVEL IS ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE WHEELS. IT IS ABOUT ADJUSTING OUR PRIORITIES BASED ON THE NEED OF THE MOMENT, AND FOCUSING ON THAT PARTICULAR WHEEL WHICH IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES OUR WORK LIFE MAY NEED MORE FOCUS THAN OUR PERSONAL LIFE. HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO MEET A PROJECT DEADLINE AT WORK? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. THEY ARE TOO BUSY REACHING THEIR TAGET. AT OTHER TIMES OUR PERSONAL LIFE MAY TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER EVERYTHING ELSE. HAVE YOU EVER ASKED A COUPLE ORGANIZING THEIR WEDDING TO SPEND MORE TIME AT WORK? IT'S UNREASONABLE TO DO SO AS THEY ARE PLANNING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF THEIR LIVES. DEAR FRIENDS, WE MUST BE WILLING TO ADJUST OUR PRIORITIES TO BRING THOSE WHEELS INTO ALIGNMENT.

                    HOWEVER, A DEEPEST ASPECT OF BALANCE THAT RESIDES WITHIN US IS ABOUT OUR ATTITUDES AND VALUES THAT WE HAVE EXPLORED IN THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THIS BOOK. THAT ATTITUDE IS LIKE THE AIR IN THE TYRES OF THE CAR. IF THE TYRES THE CAR ARE NOT AT THE CORRECT PRESSURE, THERE CAN BE A PUNCTURE, STOPPING UR FROM GETTING TO OUR DESTINATION. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO NAVIGATE THE INTERNAL ASPECTS OF BALANCE. IF THE EXTERNAL TENETS OF BALANCE ARE ADJUSTMENT AND ALIGNMENT, THEN THE INTERNAL ONES ARE ATTITUDE AND VALUES.

               AS WE BALANCE OURSELVES EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY, IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR SUCCESS THAT WE NEVER LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL OUR SPIRITUALLY. IF ALL THE WHEELS ARE IN PROPER ALINGMENT, IF THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TYRES IS OPTIMAL, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THE STEERING WHEEL IN OUR HANDS,  WE STILL NOT BE ABLE TO REACH WHERE WE WANT TO GO. IT WAS THE BUDDHA WHO SAID, JUST AS A CANDLE CANNOT BURN WITHOUT FIRE, WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT A SPIRITUAL LIFE, SPIRITUALLY IN WHATEVER GENUINE FORM OF PRACTICE, BRINGS PURPOSE TO OUR LIFE AND GIVE US A DESTINATION WORTH GOING TO. AT TIMES WE MAY FEEL EMPTY OR LOST OR HAVE AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS, WHEN WE FEEL THAT WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE OUR LIFE IS TAKING US. IT IS AT THOSE TIMES THAT WE MUST HOLD THE STEERIN WHEEL OF SPIRITUALITY TIGHTLY AND PRESS ON. THE STEERING WHEEL COMPRISES FOUR PIECES, OUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE (SADHANA) AND OUR SERVICE TO GOD AND TO OTHERS(SEVA) WHEN ALL THESE ASPECTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL ARE ADHERED TO PROPERLY, THEY GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR OF OUR LIFE TOWARDS ITS DESTINATION.

                        LET'S GET THERE, TEGETHER.

THE POWER OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

 

                               ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, 

                                     SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE

                    YOUR ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO ACCEPT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE ARE ESSENTIAL TO HAPPINESS, HEALTH, SUCCESS, ACHIEVEMENT, AND PERSONAL LEADERSHIP. ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY IS ONE OF THE HARDEST OF ALL DISCIPLINE, BUT WITHOUT IT, NO SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE.

                    THE FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND THE ATTEMPTS TO FOIST RESPONSIBILITY FOR THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT MAKES YOU UNHAPPY ONTO OTHER PEOPLE, INSTITUTIONS, AND SITUATIONS COMPLETELY DISTORT CAUSE AND EFFECT, UNDERMINE YOUR CHARACTER, WEAKEN, YOUR RESOLVE, AND DIMINISH YOUR HUMANITY. THEY LEAD TO MAKING ENDLESS EXCUSES.

                              MY GREAT REVELATION

                        WHEN I WAS TWENTY-ONE, I WAS LIVING IN A TINY APARTMENT AND WORKING AS A CONSTRUCTION LABORER. I HAD TO GET UP AT 5.00 SO THAT I COULD TAKE THREE BUSES TO WORK IN ORDER TO BE THERE BY 8.00 A.M I DIDN'T GET HOME UNTIL 7.00 P.M, TIRED OUT FROM CARRYING CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ALL DAY. I WAS MAKING JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO GET BY, AND I HAD NO CAR, ALMOST NO SAVINGS, AND JUST ENOUGH CLOTHES FOR MY NEEDS. I HAD NO RADIO OR TELEVISION.

                   IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF A COLD WINTER, WITH THE TEMPERATURE AT MINUS 35 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, SO I SELDOM WENT OUT IN MY SMALL APARTMENT AT MY LITTEL TABLE IN MY KITCHEN NOOK AND READ.

               ONE EVENING, LATE AT NIGHT, I WAS SITTING THERE BY MYSELF AT THE TABLE, IT SUDDENLY DAWNED ON ME THAT "THIS IS MY LIFE". THIS LIFE WAS NOT A REHEARSAL FOR SOMETHING ELSE. THE GAME WAS ON, AND I WAS THE MAIN CHARACTER, AS IN A PLAY.

                 IT WAS LIKE A FLASHBULB GOING OFF IN MY FACE. I LOOKED AT MYSELF AND AROUND ME AT MY SMALL APARTMENT, AND I CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT I HAD NOT GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THE ONLY WORK THAT I WAS QUALIFIED TO DO WAS MANUAL LABOR. I EARNED JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY MY BASIC EXPENSES, AND I HAD VERY LITTLE LEFT OVER AT THE END OF EACH MONTH.

                     I SUDDENLY KNEW THAT UNLESS I CHANGED, NOTHING ELSE WAS GOING TO CHANGE. NO ONE ELSE WAS GOING TO DO IT FOR ME. IN REALITY, NO ONE ELSE CARED. I REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT THAT, FROM THAT DAY FORWARD I WAS COMPLETLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY LIFE AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS RESPONSIBLE. I COULD NO LONGER BLAME MY SITUATION ON MY DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD OR MISTAKES I HAD MADE IN THE PAST. I WAS IN CHARGE. I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS WAS MY LIFE, AND IF I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE IT, IT WOULD GO ON LIKE THIS INDEFINITELY, BY THE SIMPLE FORCE OF INTERIA.

                     THIS REVELATION CHANGED MY LIFE. I WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I ACCEPTED MORE AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE. I ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOING MY JOB BETTER THAN BEFORE RATHER THAN DOING ONLY THE MINIMUM THAT WAS NECESSARY TO AVOID GETTING FIRED. I ACCEPTED RESPONBILITY FOR MY FINANCES, MY HEALTH, AND, ESPECIALLY MY FUTURE.

                     THE VERY NEXT DAY, I WENT DOWN TO A LOCAL BOOKSTORE AT MY LUNCH BREAK AND BEGAN THE LIFELONG PRACTICE OF BUYING BOOKS WITH INFORMATION, IDEAS, AND LESSONS THAT COULD HELP ME. I DEDICATED MY LIFE TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT, TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING IN EVERY WAS POSSIBLE.

                 FOR THE REST OF MY BUSINESS LIFE, RIGHT UP TO THE PRESENT MOMENT, WHENEVER I'VE WANTED OR NEEDED TO LEARN SOMETHING TO HELP ME, I HAVE RETURNED TO LEARNING, TO READING, TO LISTENING TO AUDIO PROGRAMS AND ATTENDING COURSES AND SEMINARS. I FOUND THAT YOU COULD LEARN ANYTHING YOU NEED TO LEARN IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH ANY GOAL YOU SET FOR YOURSELF.

                   OVER TIME, I LEARNED THAT FULLY 80 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION NEVER ACCEPTS COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LIVES. THEY CONTINUALLY COMPLAIN, CRITICIZE, MAKE EXCUSES, AND BLAME OTHER PEOPLE FOR THINGS IN THEIR LIVES ABOUT WHICH THEY ARE NOT HAPPY . THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS WAY OF THINKING, HOWEVER, CAN BE DISASTROUS. THEY CAN SABOTAGE ALL HOPES FOR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS LATER IN LIFE.

                    1. MAKE A DECISION TODAY TO TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE, GET OUT OF DEBT, AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. 

                    2. DETERMINE YOUR NET WORTH TODAY. ADD UP ALL YOUR ASSETS, SUBTRACT ALL YOUR DEBTS AND LIABILITIES, AND CALCULATE THE EXACT NUMBER.

                    3. SET UP A SEPERATE BANK ACCOUNT AND BEGIN SAVING AT LEAST 1 PERCENT OF YOUR INCOME AS YOU RECEIVE IT EVERY MONTH OR PAYCHECK.

                   4. MAKE A LIST OF ALL YOUR DEBTS AND BEGIN PAYING THEM OFF, STARTING WITH THOSE CARRYING THE HIGHEST INTEREST RATES.

                   5. CALCULATE THE EXACT AMOUNT THAT YOU WILL NEED TO BE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT AT THE END OF YOUR CAREER AND THEN SET THIS AS A GOAL.

                  6. SET SPECIFIC FINANCIAL ACCUMULATION GOALS FOR YOURSELF FOR EACH MONTH, QUARTER, AND YEAR FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

                  7. PRACTICE FRUGALITY IN SPENDING BY PUTTING OFF AND DELAYING EVERY EXPENDITURE YOU POSSIBLY CAN INTIL YOU ACHIEVE YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS.

HOW TO GET SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

 

                            TO BECOME SUCCESSFULL ONE

                     * MAKE A DECISION TODAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BECOME ONE OF THE TOP 20 PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN YOU COMPANY AND YOU INDUSTRY. WHAT SHOULD YOU OR COULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?

                     * MAKE A LIST OF EVERYTHING YOU DO IN YOUR JOB AND THEN IDENTIFY THE THREE THAT CONTRIBUTES THE GREATEST VALUE OF YOUR WORK AND COMPANY.

                     * SET A NEW WORK SCHEDULE FOR YOURSELF AND BEGIN TO START EARLIER, WORK HARDER, AND STAY LATER UNTIL IT BECOMES A HABIT.

                     * IDENTIFY THE MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS YOU ARE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR JOB, AND THEN WORK ON THOSE RESULTS ALL DAY LONG.

                     * DETERMINE THE PERSON WHO IS THE BEST DRESSED AND GROOMED IN YOUR COMPANY, AND THEN RESOLVE TO USE HIM/HER AS A ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR OWN APPEARANCE.

                     * DECIDE TODAY THAT, FROM NOW ON, YOU ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY WORK ALL THE TIME YOU ARE AT WORK AND THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DEVELOP THE REPUTATION FOR BEING THE HARDEST WORKING PERSON IN YOUR COMPANY.'

 

                     * DEVELOP A SENSE OF URGENCY. RESOLVE TO MOVE FAST WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN A JOB OF OPPORTUNITY. THIS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

                                    RESOLVE IN ADVANCE

                     WHEN YOU RESOLVE IN ADVANCE THAT YOU ILL NEVER GIVE UP, YOUR SUCCESS IS VIRTUALLY GUARANTEED. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, NOTHING CAN REALLY STOP YOU BUT YOURSELF.

                       IN LIFE, DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN. ALL THAT MATTERS IS HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET BACK UP. IF YOU CONTINUE TO GET BACK UP AND PRESS ONWARD, YOU MUST EVENTUALLY REACH YOUR GOAL.

                    EACH TIME YOU EXERT YOUR SELF-DISCIPLINE TO PERSIST IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, YOU ALSO INCREASE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. THEN, AS YOUR SELF-ESTEEM INCREASES, YOU FEEL STRONGER,  MORE POWERFUL, AND MORE UNSTOPPABLE. WHEN YOU FEEL BETTER AND STRONGER, YOU BECOME MORE CAPABLE OF PERSISTING THE NEXT TIME- AND THEN THE TIME AFTER THAT.

                  BY DISCIPLINING YOURSELF TO PERSIST IN THE FACE OF ALL ADVERSITY, YOU PUT YOUR LIFE ONTO AN UPWARD SPIRAL OF SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-DISCIPLINE, AND PERSISTENCE UNTIL YOU EVENTUALLY BECOME LIKE A FORCE OF NATURE.

                  PERSISTENCE IS SELF-DISCIPLINE 

                                          IN ACTION.

                   IN PART TWO, YOU WILL LEARN THE SPECIFIC THINGS YOU CAN DO TO APPLY THESE PRINCIPLES TO THE PRACTICAL AREAS OF LIFE, TO ACHIEVE GRETER SUCCESS IN YOUR WORK AND CAREER, AND TO FULLFILL YOUR POTENTIAL IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD.

                     1. IDENTIFY ONE AREA IN YOUR LIFE IN WHICH YOU NEED TO PERSIST EVEN HARDER TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL, AND THEN TAKE ACTION IN THAT AREA.

                     2. IDENTIFY A GOAL IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU DID NOT ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO PERSIST THROUGH TO COMPLETION. WHAT STEPS COULD YOU TAKE TODAY TO SUCCEED IN THAT AREA?

                     3. IDENTIFY ONE BIG GOAL THAT YOU ACHIEVED BECAUSE YOU PERISTED AND REFUSED TO GIVE UP, TO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT IT BECOME.

                     4. DECIDE ON YOUR MAJOR DEFINITE PURPOSE IN LIFE, THE ONE GOAL THAT, IF YOU ACHIEVED IT, WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE.

                     5 WRITE DOWN YOUR GOAL CLEARLY, MAKE A DETAILED PLAN OF ACTION TO ACCOMPLISH IT, AND THEN TELL YOURSELF THAT, "FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION".

                    6. MAKE A DECISION TODAY THAT YOU WILL PERSIST UNTIL YOU SUCCEED, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, BECAUSE "I AM UNSTOPPABLE".

                   7. RESOLVE TO SET AND ACHIEVE ONE IMPORTANT GOAL, OVERCOMING THE INEVITABLE DIFFICULTIES, PROBLEMS AND SETBACKS YOU WILL EXPERIENCE, AND TO WORK AT IT UNTIL YOU SUCCEED. REPEAT THIS PROCESS OVER AND OVER UNTIL PERSISTENCE BECOMES A HABIT.

                    CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS

                      MOST BUSINESS IDEAS DO NOT WORK, AT LEAST IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM. AS PETER DRUCKER SAID, "ERRANT ASSUMPTIONS LIE AT THE ROOT OF EVERY FAILURE". A MAJOR REASON FOR BUSINESS FAILURE IS THAT BUSINESS OWNERS OR EXECUTIVES RELY OR ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE NOT TESTED. THEY ASSUME THAT THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE IS EXCELLENT IN COMPARISON WITH OTHERS. THEY ASSUME THAT THEY CAN SELL A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF THOSE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES - AND DO SO AT A PROFIT. THEY FURTHER ASSUME THAT THOSE PROFITS BE SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT OF TIME AND MONEY MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN ANY OTHER USE OF THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME OR FUNDS. ALL OF THESE ASSUMPTIONS MUST BE TESTED CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY IRREVOCABLE COMMITMENT IS MADE.

                 ACCORDING TO THE KAUFMAN FOUNDATION ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP, 95 PERCENT OF ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN AMERICA EARN LESS THAN $50000 PER YEAR. WHY IS THIS? IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY LACK THE ENERGY, INTELLIGENCE, OR ABILITY TO EARN MORE. THE VERY FACT THAT A PERSON HAS THE COURAGE AND RESOUCEFULNESS TO START A NEW BUSINESS MEANS THAT HE OR SHE HAS ABOVE-AVERAGE LEVELS OF NATURAL TALENT.

                   THE REASON WHY SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS UNDERACHIEVE AND FAIL IS THAT THEY LACK DISCIPLINE. THEY LACK THE DISCIPLINE TO CAREFULLY STUDY EVEYR ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS BEFORE COMMITTING TO IT. THEY LACK THE DISCIPLINE TO TEST THEIR ASSUMPTION RATHER THAN JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS AND HOPING FOR THE BEST. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU.

HOW TO CHANGE THE NEGATIVE INTO POSITVE

 

                                   HOW TO CHANGE

                            SOMETHING NEGATIVE

                    IF THERE IS SOMETHING NEGATIVE IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT, THE PROCESS IS THE SAME. GIVE LOVE BY IMAGINING AND FEELING THAT YOU HAVE WHAT YOU WANT. REMEMBER THAT ANYTHING NEGATIVE IS A LACK OF LOVE, AND SO YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THE OPPOSITE OF THE NEGATIVE SITUATION, BECAUSE ITS OPPOSITE IS LOVE! FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE AN ILLNESS THAT YOU WANT TO BE GONE, GIVE LOVE FOR YOUR BODY BEING HEALTHY.

                 IF YOU ARE USING THE CREATION PROCESS TO CHANGE SOMETHING NEGATIVE, KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TURN THE NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE. THAT FEELS REALLY HARD TO DO AND IT IS NOT HOW CREATION WORKS. CREATION MEANS SOMETHING NEW IS CREATED WHICH AUTOMATICALLY REPLACES THE OLD. YOU DON'T NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GIVE LOVE FOR WHAT YOU WANT, AND THE FORCE OF LOVE WILL REPLACE THE NEGATIVITY FOR YOU.

                 IF A PERSON IS INJURED AND RECEIVING MEDICAL HELP, BUT THINGS ARE NOT IMPROVING, IT MEANS THEY'RE IMAGINING AND FEELING THE INJURY MORE THAN THEY'RE IMAGINING AND FEELING A FULL RECOVERY. THE WAY TO TIP THE BALANCE TO RECOVERY IS TO IMAGINE AND FEEL HAVING A FULL RECOVERY, MORE THAN NOT HAVING IT. THE FACT YOU CAN IMAGINE A FULL RECOVERY MEANS THAT IT ALREADY EXISTS! IMPREGNANT YOUR MAGNETIC FIELD WITH GOOD FEELINGS ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD. RAMP UP YOUR LOVE IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE. FEEL GOOD AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, BECAUSE EVERY MOMENT OF GIVING LOVE BRINGS A FULL RECOVERY.

                                                   YOUR FEELINGS ARE YOUR GOD.

                                                                                                   ---- CHANAKYA

                 WHETHER YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR HEALTH, MONEY, RELATIONSHIPS, OR ANYTHING ELSE, THE PROCESS IS THE SAME! IMAGINE WHAT YOU WANT. IMAGINE AND FEEL THE LOVE OF HAVING IT. IMAGINE EVERY SCENE AND SITUATION YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU WANT, AND FEEL THAT YOU HAVE IT NOW. TRY SPENDING SEVEN MINUTES EACH DAY IMAGINING AND FEELING HAVING WHAT YOU WANT. DO IT EACH DAY UNTIL YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR DESIRE. DO IT UNTIL YOU KNOW YOUR DESIRE BELONGS TO YOU, AS YOU KNOW YOUR NAME BELONGS TO YOU. WITH SOME THINGS MAY TAKE YOU LONGER. THEN SIMPLY GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE, GIVING AS MUCH LOVE AND AS MANY GOOD FEELINGS AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THE MORE LOVE YOU GIVE, THE FASTER YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT YOU DESIRE.

                AFTER YOU'VE IMAGINED AND FELT HAVING WHAT YOU WANT, YOU'RE LITERALLY IN A NEW WORLD WITH WHAT YOU'VE IMAGINED, SO DON'T CONTRADICT THE NEW WORLD BY TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT AN INJURY THAT'S NOT IMPROVING, BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE IMAGINING THE WORST AGAIN, AND YOU'RE BACK IN THE OLD WORLD. AS YOU IMAGINE THE WORST, THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE BACK. AS YOU IMAGINE THE BEST, THAT'S WHAT'S YOU'LL RECEIVE BACK. IT SOMEBODY ASKS HOW YOUR INJURY IS DOING, YOU CAN SAY, "I AM FEELING ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AGAIN AND MY BODY IS FOLLOWING, "YOU CAN SAY, THIS HAS BEEN A BLESSING BECAUSE IT HAS MADE ME APPRECIATE MY BODY AND HEALTH MORE THAN I EVER HAVE IN MY LIFE". OR IF YOU ARE BOLD ENOUGH CAN SAY, I HAVE A FULL RECOVERY BY THE HORNS.

               YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT WITHOUT FEELING BAD. IT'S SIMPLE, BUT PEOPLE ARE SO USED TO NOT FEELING GOOD A LOT OF TIME, THEY DON'T EVEN NOTICE HOW BAD THEY FEEL WHEN THEY'RE IMAGINING AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY DON'T WANT. WHEN YOU BECOME MORE AWARE OF HOW YOU'RE FEELING, AND YOU CARE MORE ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS, YOU WILL GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE SLIGHTEST DIP IN YOUR GOOD FEELINGS WILL BE UNBEARABLE FOR YOU.  YOU WILL BECOME SO USED TO FEELING GOOD, YOU'LL BE SO AWARE OF YOUR FEELINGS, THAT IF THEY DIP YOU WILL FEEL IT AND YOU'LL GET YOURSELF BACK TO FEELING GOOD RIGHT AWAY, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO FEEL GOOD AND BE HAPPY MOST OF THE TIME, BECAUSE YOU ARE MEANT TO HAVE AN AMAZING LIFE, AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY YOU CAN RECEIVE IT!

                I AM STILL DETERMINED TO BE CHEERFUL AND HAPPY.

                IN WHATEVER SITUATION I MAY BE, FOR I HAVE ALSO

                LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCED THAT THE GREATER PART

                OF OUR HAPPINESS OR MISERY DEPENDS UPON OUR

                 DISPOSITIONS, AND NOT UPON OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

                                                               ---- MARTHA WASHINGTON