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Chapter 5 - Not-So-Recent Insights

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Not-so-recent insights :)

5.1- Do you have a "place" that is your Garden of Eden? If not then you might want to find one or create one.

* After accomplishing all your goals, then what will you do? Will those who fail to set goals ever have this problem?

5.2- What is more important: How you spend your time or how you spend your money?

5.3- How do you judge the success of others? Do you rate others by the amount of material possessions they have or by the amount of happiness they possess? Which measure is a better indicator of success?

* Buy the truth and then hold onto it with both hands and don't let go.

5.4- We've all heard the phrase, "That's just the way the world works". The world would probably work much better if we wouldn't use this cliche as an excuse for not helping to make the world a kinder, gentler place to live and work.

* In order to be the greatest, one must also be the least.

5.5- You will soon be hearing more about "The Gift Economy". It is our belief that capitalism and volunteerism are combining forces and creating a gift economy. The Internet is playing a large role in this transformation.

5.6- See if you can determine the implications of this famous story. A farmer is out in the field sowing grain. Some of the seed lands on a footpath and gets trampled. Other seed lands on shallow soil with rock beneath. This seed starts to grow but soon dies for lack of nutrients. Other seed lands in thistle patches and is soon choked out. Still other seed finds fertile soil; this seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as large as the farmer had planted.

5.7- Some people hear the calling to become fishers for the souls of mankind. Why certain people hear the calling and not others remains a mystery.

5.8- Life is in the eye of the beholder. By changing your viewpoint you may change more than just your perspective. Life's what you make it.

5.9- The love that wells within you, screaming for release, can drive your thoughts and actions, and help bring world peace.

5.10- Remember to give gifts to people on days other than just birthdays and holidays. The gift of giving should come from the heart whenever the spirit moves you.(:

5.11- When negotiating difficult situations it is wise to determine each party's stance on the following items: 1) What is it that each party wants to accomplish? 2) What is it that each party wants to avoid? 3) What are the crucial issues that are "non-negotiable"?

5.12- Wisdom is a treasure that can turn darkness into light and cause one's face to shine. Both the heart of the prudent and the ear of the wise seek out knowledge.

5.13- According to Proverbs 6:16, "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren."

5.14- Peace on earth, goodwill to all. Sounds simple yet it has proved to be amazingly difficult to accomplish.

5.15- Do you believe that most people want to be good, honest and helpful? We do! People just need the proper love and guidance in order to get them back to the side of "good". People need to be reminded that there are much greater rewards for the good than for the evil ones in this world. Blessed are the good, cursed are the wicked.

* Have you ever wondered if there was something you were "destined" to accomplish during your lifetime?

5.16- How do people judge you, by your words or by your deeds? When your words and your deeds conflict, does it disturb you?

5.17- If you climbed to the top of a mountain in order to ask a wise guru just one question, what would you want to know?

5.18- The quest for answers is almost as important as the answers themselves.

5.19- Knowing when to relax and when to work may possibly be one of the things that separates genius from the average. By learning about the characteristics of genius we may be able to help ourselves "follow in their foot steps".

5.20- Sometimes we must face difficult tests. How we prepare and react to these tests says much about our character.

5.21- Relaxation techniques used while educating oneself can lead to super-learning. These techniques can also be useful for stress reduction, helping with sleep disorders, and creative brainstorming.

5.22- Beware of fast riches. If you are not a happy person before you obtain riches, the money will not help you find what you need. Why do you think there is an abnormally high suicide rate among lottery winners?

5.23- Faith that is not exercised becomes weak.

5.24- Can you think of anything happening in today's society that could start a worldwide social movement?

5.25- Sometimes creativity is spontaneous, other times we need to "force" ourselves to be creative. Being creative helps release us from ruts we may be in. Example: This newsletter has many spontaneous ideas but some of the recent insights came about due to "forced creativity" which helped get us past our "writer's block".

5.26- The Teacher and the 5th Grader

This is a story about a 5th grade teacher named Mrs. Thompson. On the first day of school she told the children a lie. Like many teachers, she looked at them and told them she loved them all the same. But that was impossible because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy previously and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and he often needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant in the classroom. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However when she reviewed his file she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners ... he is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes he sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in heavy brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open his gift in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for over an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed more alive. The more she encouraged him the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of "teacher's pets".

A year later, she found a note under her door from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he had ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he had ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life. Four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decide to go a little further. This letter was signed with the letters MD after his name.

The story doesn't end there. There was another letter the next spring. Teddy said that he had met a girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died several years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that is usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course Mrs. Thompson agreed and she even wore the bracelet Teddy had given her, and the perfume too. They hugged each other and Teddy whispered "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you." - Author unknown -

5.27- Everyday heros are all around us. Are you one of them?

5.28- Two new books to consider: "Emotional Intelligence", and "Extraordinary Minds"

5.29- There are many types of genius. Most of us are aware of scientific genius but there are also artistic, philosophical, sociological, religious, athletic and many other types of genius. Mr. Asimov once wrote, "Luck is the layman's term for genius". Those who think that genius is a lucky phenomenom have eliminated their chance to become one.

5.30- Have you ever wondered why it is better to give than receive?

5.31- If you could give someone the most wonderful gift in the universe, what would it be? Would it be physical in nature or "spiritual"?

5.32- A healthy mind, like a healthy body, needs regular exercise. Think of the mind as the body's most powerful muscle.

5.33- Here is an exercise (albeit a bit bizzare). What is a thought? How much power does it have? Where does it come from? Is a thought more likely to come from an external source or from inside you? Can a thought be broadcast to others? Is a thought more powerful if it is written on paper? Is the pen mightier than the sword? Can mere thoughts transform us in ways that were previously unimaginable?

5.34- Sometimes it takes a good cause to motivate people to take action. Other times it takes a hard fall.

5.35- The company you keep says a lot about how you view yourself. Do you surround yourself with winners and positive individuals? Winners phrase their lives in the positive. They say things like "I can", "I will" and "I'll do my best". They treat others as they would like to have others treat them (they follow the Golden Rule).

5.36- Momentum, when applied to the human spirit, can often cause unexpected outcomes.

5.37- There is a fine line between arrogance and self confidence, similar to the distinction between lunacy and genius.

5.38- Wisdom without compassion is like a body without a soul.

5.39- Greeting the morning with a smile increases the odds that the rest of the day will be merry. Going to bed grumpy decreases the likelihood that you will wake up the next morning with a smile. Smiling has a strange effect on our mood. A smile seems to force us to feel better. When the smile turns to a giggle then watch out! You just might start feeling really good inside. Recent news suggests that laughter is also an effective pain killer. We can see it now - The doctor says to the patient just before operating, "This guy walks into a bar ...."

5.40- Thanksgiving: What does this word mean to you? Are you thankful for what you have received? To whom do you owe thanks?

5.41- To fight depression, try to figure out what is bugging you the most and then find solutions to those problems. Solving your problems will help bring you out of the depression.

5.42- The more we Help others, the more we Help ourselves.

5.43- Cultural differences can make it difficult for nations to understand each other. Understanding our differences helps us bridge the "culture gap".

5.44- Sometimes the knowledge learned from unpleasant situations can advance society further than if the situation had never come up.

5.45- Being a part of a community is being a part of life.

5.46- A good way to keep an open mind is to occasionally challenge your own beliefs. People with closed minds reduce their chances of discovering exciting new realities.

5.47- The truth of wisdom speaks for itself. Seek out wisdom as you would seek out food and security. Wisdom endures for all time, foolishness becomes as apparent as yeast in dough.

5.48- Learning about different religions can lead to a better understanding of what makes people tick. We may find out that we are all peace loving people. Few religions, if any, promote killing and violence as the means to the ends.

5.49- At times we can lose sight of our lives and let our lives run us. This website was designed to help assist people get back on track. Lack of awareness (ignorance) causes much of our suffering.

5.50- Standing up for what you believe in can be a very rewarding experience. Conquering your fears is another rewarding experience.

5.51- A good person brings forth good things from their storehouse; an evil person brings forth wicked things from their storehouse and from their mouth.

5.52- When geniuses stand on the shoulders of great people before them, brilliant advances are likely to occur. It has been suggested that geniuses see 10 aspects of a concept whereas the average person is lucky to see 1 or 2 aspects. This suggests that genius can perhaps be learned or at least improved upon with effort.

5.53- Jung discussed three states of consciousness: Waking, Dreaming and Dreamless sleep. These three psyches are interconnected, interrelated and in a continuum with the rest of nature. The Gia principle seems to match up with this philosophy. We are a part of a very grand universe.

5.54- How we handle tough times reveals more about ourselves than how we handle good times.

5.55- What would you do if you had millions of extra dollars to help others? Who would you help first?

5.56- Faith. It's more than a word, it is a way of life. Do you have faith in yourself? When will you take the leap?

5.57- The morals of a country are displayed by their leaders. Immoral leaders are likely to cause immorality in the nation.

5.58- We can not control the entire world. We can control our reactions. The distinction is important.

5.59- Perception and Reality. Is there a difference?

5.60- To forgive is divine. That also means it's ok to forgive yourself. In order to be good, we must sometimes let go of the bad in our past.

5.61- If given a choice between all the money you could want and all the wisdom you could want, what would you choose? Choose wisely Grasshopper.(:

5.62- The balance between work and play has profound effects on your life. Too much of either can cause serious consequences.

5.63- Try not to be impatient. Travel steadily towards what is right and you will be rewarded.

5.64- It is better to have little and to be good than to own an evil man's wealth. The good are generous with their gifts and loans to others, and their children are a blessing.

5.65- Aristotle talked of 3 types of lifestyles - 1) That of pure enjoyment. 2) That of politics. 3) That of contemplation.
He believed that Acts and Moral Excellence are based upon pleasure and pain. It is on account of pleasure that we may do bad things and on the account of pain that we abstain from noble gestures. Those that flee in the face of pain are often cowards, and those that delight in others pain are often mean or base.

5.66- The Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one).

5.67- Do Things for the Glory of the World, and Everyone is Rewarded.

5.68- What is the cause of most wars? Poverty, Religion, Race and Politics. Lots of these ingredients in Asia and the Middle East. They either get help or ... (we don't care to ponder the consequences). Where would you place a poverty stricken nation on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? Are they more concerned about "Enlightenment" or where their next meal is coming from? What does death mean to them?

5.69- Sometimes a question is better than an answer?

5.70- Almost all religions have at least 3 temptations - Resist them or suffer the consequences.

Christianity has - Power, Economic and Spiritual temptations faced by Jesus.

Buddhism has - Fear, Lust and Social Duties as key concerns.

Islam has a ceremony in Muzdalifah where they collect pebbles to stone three pillars symbolizing the temptations of the devil.

5.71- The Abrahamic Covenant reminds us that Abraham so pleased the LORD that he was promised to be the father of many nations who would multiply him exceedingly. That has indeed come to pass as both Christian and Islamic religions are tied to the bloodlines of Abraham as the father of both Ishmael and Isaac. Christians and Muslems are truly brothers with a direct relation, where in the bigger picture all people are brothers and sisters in a wonderful race, the human race. Regarding Abraham's offspring multiplying, both religions have grown to over 1 billion people.

5.72- Keep your mind open and ensure freedom of the human soul.

5.73- If you like short verses of wisdom, the book of Proverbs and the book of Psalms (esp. chpt 15, 37, 49 ..) are full of gems.

5.74- Can the United Nations lead us to World Peace? What can we do to help?

5.75- The Internet (technology) may save us from WWIII? It can "equalize" wealth among nations and teach the East the West's "technology" while allowing the East to teach the West a bit about the "soul". If we work together, we can all get smarter! Peace is what life is all about. Is it coincidence that the internet showed up about the same time as nuclear proliferation in Asia and the Middle East? Can we all get along? Only if we help each other.

5.76- Intuition - A Key to Finding Happiness and you Already Have It. Use It! Unlock the Door.

5.77- Learn to treasure life even on days when things go bad. Offset the negatives. Life is too short to be upset all the time.

5.78 Excessive monetary wealth is usually related to greed and ego. It's not how much you earn that makes you wealthy. It's how much you give that determines "true" wealth. By this valuation system, Mother Teresa would probably be the richest person to have ever lived. Her gifts were truly from the heart.

5.79- The Gift of Love is probably the greatest gift we can give. The gift of knowledge is another wonderful gift.

5.80- Learn to view change as education - The Internet (by connecting to almost everything) will change our lives at netspeed. The Internet is more significant than most people yet realize. This free newsletter is just one example of how anyone can put "knowledge" online. The Internet must remain Open if we are to benefit from this vast database. We are in a time period unlike any other in our history! The universe is within our grasp.

5.81- They know enough to know to learn.

5.82- Competition is healthy and leads to innovation. A rising tide raises all ships.

5.83- Negativity - Control it or negativity will control You. Anger indicates internal problems, calmness indicates peace.

5.84- Do you love yourself? If you don't love yourself, how can you expect to truly love anyone else? Are you making it harder for others to love you?

5.85- Find a way to see the forest when surrounded by trees - Discover the big picture.

5.86- What is the Meaning of life? Why are we here? Where are we going?