"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."
This guide serves as a straightforward resource to help you learn the art of living, rooted in the wisdom of non-dual understanding and Self-realization. It advocates releasing concerns about the future, letting go of regrets from the past, and living life in complete flow with what’s happening right here, right now.
It covers various aspects of life, such as the mind, body, spirituality, health, and more. It underscores the importance of self-observation, simplicity, and being present in the moment, providing practical tips for living an authentic and harmonious life.
Consider it a blueprint for your own journey, exploring the depths of your authentic self and uncovering the path to genuine and lasting satisfaction. The ultimate pursuit of all desires is the pursuit of happiness, and it begins from within.
"The hero’s journey always begins with the call. One way or another, a guide must come to say, ‘Look, you’re in Sleepy Land. Wake. Come on a trip. There is a whole aspect of your consciousness, your being, that’s not been touched. So you’re at home here? Well, there’s not enough of you there.’ And so it starts."
It is a continuous and evolving process that requires self-awareness, honesty, and a willingness to engage in introspection.
Introspection serves as a mirror, revealing the hidden recesses of your mind that might otherwise remain unnoticed. This practice takes time and careful attention, allowing you to observe your thoughts without judgment. By doing so, you gain a deeper understanding of both yourself and the world around you.
Most people never observe their life. They are mostly mechanical products of their environment, and mainly focused on eating, sleeping, working and going out to be entertained.
True self-observation is the greatest art of progress.
Socrates held that Self-knowledge is so valuable that other pursuits are laughable unless one has it. He goes on to even say that “the unexamined life is not worth living.”
By observing yourself—your habits, actions, emotions, and reactions—you can gain deeper insights into your true nature, behavior, and the reasons behind feelings like anger, envy, jealousy, fear, pride, and depression.
This self-awareness offers invaluable lessons, surpassing the knowledge found in books or societal expectations of who you are.
Recognize your programming.
Since childhood, external influences from societal norms, parents, schools, teachers, religious teachings or churches have shaped your perceptions and beliefs about the world–what is considered good or bad, right or wrong.
You’ve been conditioned to see the world in a certain way, with your likes and dislikes, your ideas of good and bad, your ups and downs. You have certain ideas about how you’re supposed to live, how you’re supposed to feel, and what you’re supposed to do with your life.
We’ve been conditioned to equate success with certain achievements and possessions, and failure with their absence. These thoughts, instilled in us from a young age, dictate our understanding of the world and our place within it.
You believe this is right, this is wrong; this is good, this is bad; things should be this way, or that way. When life doesn’t align with your expectations, you get angry, frustrated, or depressed.
Your unhappiness ultimately stems not from the circumstances of your life but from this conditioning of your mind. These preconceived notions are what cause you so much trouble.
This existence, dictated by external criteria imposed by society, keeps you constantly at the whim of circumstances, aiming to align life with your programmed expectations.
You’re not the creator of this programming; it’s a product of societal norms ingrained within you. To truly grow, you need to step back and move beyond these mental patterns.
Ultimately, breaking free from societal programming requires courage, introspection, and a willingness to defy societal expectations in pursuit of our own truth.
By recognizing and transcending the limitations imposed by societal conditioning, we can take off on a journey of self-discovery, authenticity, and personal fulfillment.
Feel that you’ve been hypnotized and now you’re becoming de-hypnotized. Only when the mind is totally purified of all conditioning does it regain its absolute purity. That pure mind experiences liberation.
So grab a journal or open a note taking app and lets take a detailed look into life.
"The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end – you don't come to an achievement, you don't come to a conclusion. It is an endless river."
Living a harmonious life is about much more than just looking good; it’s covers mental well-being, emotional balance, spiritual harmony, energy, clarity, and getting the most from both your body and mind.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach or a single ‘right’ way, because everyone is unique. Discover what works best for you, and focus on what you enjoy doing and what is sustainable.
Your life is what you make of it. Everything you do either adds to or detracts from your vitality, energy, and spirit. Reflect on every internal and external aspect of your life, and determine what is beneficial and what is not.
Write down whatever thoughts come to mind—what you truly can embrace and sustain. This will provide clarity and highlight areas that need to be addressed.
"Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open."
Our behaviors can accelerate the aging process or decelerate it. You can start to improve your brain health within two months of changing to healthier habits and with a better brain, everything in your life is better.
All the things we want the most—calmness, compassion, patience, generosity, happiness, humility—are our factory settings, we just have to reveal them. These are skills that can be trained. You can train your mind and learn how to regulate thoughts, manage emotions, and behave productively, regardless of whatever life may be throwing at you.
•Emotional Well-being: This involves understanding, managing, and expressing emotions in a healthy way. It includes the ability to cope with stress, navigate challenges, and experience a range of positive emotions.
•Cognitive Health: Cognitive health refers to the functioning of cognitive processes, including memory, attention, problem-solving, and decision-making. Maintaining cognitive health is essential for effective daily functioning.
•Social Connections: Healthy social relationships and a supportive social network contribute significantly to mental well-being. Social connections provide emotional support, reduce feelings of isolation, and contribute to a sense of belonging.
•Career Health: It’s evident that individuals who discover ways to earn a living through work they enjoy tend to experience enhanced mental health, overall well-being, and even improved cognitive functioning. Considering that the average career spans around 80,000 hours, discovering the work you were meant to do should be your number one career goal.
•Financial Health: encompasses various aspects, including income, expenses, savings, investments, debts, and overall financial stability. Being able to meet their financial obligations, save for the future, and navigate unexpected expenses without significant stress or negative impact on their overall well-being.
•Stress Management: Effective stress management involves recognizing sources of stress, developing coping strategies, and maintaining a balance between life’s demands and one’s ability to cope.
•Nutrition: plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal mental health and cognitive function, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet for overall well-being.
•Sleep: Quality sleep is essential for mental health. Sleep affects mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being. Establishing good sleep hygiene practices contributes to mental wellness.
•Mindfulness and Mind-Body Connection: Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, breathe work, and yoga foster a strong mind-body connection. These techniques can help manage stress, enhance self-awareness, and promote overall mental health.
•Shadow Work: In general, the shadow represents everything we don’t know about ourselves—everything we’re not conscious of. It is the practice of becoming aware of the overarching themes in our life, psychic and emotional wounds, triggers, invisible needs, archetypal equivalents, buried trauma, disempowering attitudes and patterns. The shadow runs much of our lives “behind the scenes,” without us knowing it.
•Emotion Work: Emotion work refers to the process of managing, regulating, and expressing emotions, both internally and in social interactions. It involves becoming aware of one’s emotions, understanding their origins and triggers, and learning healthy ways to cope with and express them. Emotion work often involves developing emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness.
•Mental Health Disorders: Understanding and addressing mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, is a crucial aspect of mental health. Seeking professional help when needed is essential for managing these conditions.
Check out this guide to Mental Health to explore everything in more detail and address the personal problems in the mind.
"If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place."
A healthy body is necessary for a healthy mind. You can’t just trade your body in for a new one and it impacts every area of life. The mind and body have a complex interrelationship. Exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress and even your posture all influence each other.
For instance, poor sleep not only diminishes mental acuity but also heightens stress reactivity, affects hunger levels, and weakens willpower, establishing a negative cycle that impacts other areas of life.
Create a positive feedback loop where the mind and body work together. Keep your body healthy and you’ll be able to get the most from your mind. Keep your mind healthy, and you’ll be able to get the most from your body.
•Cardiovascular Health: This refers to the health of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular exercise, such as running, swimming, or cycling, helps improve heart health, circulation, and endurance.
•Muscular Strength and Endurance: Muscular health involves the strength and endurance of muscles. Strength training, weightlifting, and resistance exercises contribute to building and maintaining muscle mass and strength.
•Flexibility: Flexibility is the ability of joints and muscles to move through their full range of motion. Stretching exercises, yoga, and activities that promote flexibility can improve joint health and prevent injuries.
•Body Composition: Body composition relates to the proportion of body fat to lean body mass (muscles, bones, organs). Maintaining a healthy body composition is important for overall health and preventing obesity-related conditions.
•Bone Health: Bone health is crucial for overall well-being. Weight-bearing exercises, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and a healthy lifestyle contribute to maintaining strong and dense bones.
•Nutrition: Proper nutrition is fundamental to physical health. A balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals supports overall health, energy levels, and optimal bodily functions.
•Hydration: Staying adequately hydrated is essential for various bodily functions, including digestion, circulation, and temperature regulation. Water is essential for overall health and well-being.
•Sleep: Quality sleep is crucial for physical health and recovery. It allows the body to repair tissues, consolidate memories, and regulate various physiological processes. Lack of sleep can negatively impact overall health.
•Respiratory Health: The health of the respiratory system, including the lungs and airways, is vital for oxygen exchange and overall vitality. Aerobic exercises contribute to respiratory health.
•Posture: Maintaining good posture is essential for preventing musculoskeletal issues and promoting overall well-being. Activities that strengthen the core and promote body awareness contribute to good posture.
•Dental Health: Maintaining good oral health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, as teeth are unique in that they lack the ability to self-heal. Beyond causing cavities, tooth decay, and bad breath, poor dental health can contribute to severe illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, lung conditions, mouth cancer, and strokes.
•Walking: is a super power that makes you smarter, healthier, and happier. It has a huge impact on how you think and feel, works like an antidepressant, an aid to learning, and a boost to creativity. It balances the mind, reduces stress, depression, anxiety levels and puts you into a better mood.
•Rest, Recovery, Relaxation: Not only does rest, and relaxation help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it will allow you to heal your body, clear your mind, and regain focus.
•Cold/Hot Therapy: Both cold plunges (cold water immersion) and saunas (dry or wet heat therapy) offer unique benefits for physical and mental health, making them valuable components of a holistic wellness routine.
•Alternative Therapies: In recent years, alternative therapies have gained popularity as complementary approaches to traditional medical treatments. Therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or yoga and tai chi that can enhance physical health.
So take care of your physical health from where you’re at in life. Each of these areas are interconnected, and maintaining overall physical health involves an approach that addresses various aspects simultaneously.
Check out this guide to Physical Health to explore everything in more detail.
"To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."
Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. In general, it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for answers about life.
Everything has to do with your inner work. Your inner work will take care of everything outside of you.
•Beliefs and Values: Spiritual health often involves having a set of personal beliefs and values that guide one’s actions and decisions. This may be rooted in a particular religious tradition or a more personal, eclectic belief system.
•Purpose and Meaning: People often need to look for a sense of purpose or meaning in life. The mind constantly seeks a purpose, but when the mind quiets, the need for purpose dissolves.
•Connection to Others: Spiritual health can be nurtured through meaningful connections with others. This may involve participating in a community of like-minded individuals, sharing spiritual practices, or engaging in acts of compassion and kindness.
•Mindfulness and Presence: Practicing mindfulness and being present in the current moment are integral to spiritual health. Techniques such as meditation, prayer, or contemplative practices help individuals cultivate awareness and focus.
•Gratitude: Acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the positive aspects of life is a common aspect of spiritual health. This may involve gratitude for relationships, experiences, nature, or a higher power.
•Forgiveness: Spiritual health often involves the ability to forgive oneself and others. Letting go of resentments and cultivating forgiveness can contribute to a sense of inner peace.
•Nature Connection: Many people find spiritual connection in nature. Spending time outdoors, appreciating the beauty of the natural world, and recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things can enhance spiritual well-being.
•“Earthing” or “grounding” refers to the practice of making physical contact with the Earth, typically by walking barefoot on soil, grass, sand, or concrete. The idea behind earthing is to reconnect with the Earth’s natural energy and balance which can help clear your mind, recharge your energy, calm your emotions, and increase your overall well-being.
•Self-Reflection: Engaging in self-reflection and introspection is a key element of spiritual health. This may involve journaling, contemplating life’s deeper questions, and seeking self-awareness.
•Service and Giving: Acts of service, generosity, and altruism contribute to spiritual health. Helping others and contributing to the well-being of the community can foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
•Spiritual awakening: refers to a profound shift in consciousness, perception, or awareness, often accompanied by a deep sense of inner transformation and connection to a higher reality or spiritual dimension. It is a personal and subjective experience that varies widely among individuals.
•The “Arishadvarga”: are the six inner enemies of the mind—desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and jealousy—which are seen as obstacles on the path to self-realization, enlightenment, or spiritual liberation.
•Solitude: refers to the state of being alone or isolated, often by choice. The quiet and reflective nature of solitude can create an environment where individuals are more attuned to their inner selves.
•Transcendence: Transcending the ego is a gradual and ongoing process. It involves a shift in consciousness and a deepening understanding of the nature of Self. It’s a journey toward greater authenticity, interconnectedness, and spiritual awakening.
•Spiritual bypassing: refers to the tendency of individuals to use spiritual beliefs, practices, or ideologies as a way to avoid dealing with uncomfortable emotions, unresolved psychological issues, or difficult life situations. Instead of confronting and addressing these challenges directly, individuals may use spiritual concepts such as love, positivity, or detachment to suppress or bypass their emotional experiences.
•Sadhana: refers to a spiritual practice or discipline that leads to a goal of Self-realization or enlightenment. Practices can vary widely and may include meditation, prayer, chanting, yoga, rituals, breathe work, mantra.
•Satsang: refers to a gathering or community where individuals come together to engage in spiritual discourse, meditation, prayer, or other activities aimed at seeking and understanding spiritual truths. The primary focus is on creating an environment that supports spiritual growth, self-realization, and a deeper understanding of one’s connection to the divine or higher consciousness.
•Surrender: surrender completely to God, or to the Self. But that’s hard to do for most people. Every part of your life goes to God. “Not my will, but thy will.” You give your mind to God, totally, completely and absolutely. And that leads you to self-realization.
•Self-enquiry: is a teaching by Indian sage Ramana Maharshi as the most direct method to self-realization (truth-realization, abiding non-dual awareness, and enlightenment). It’s simple: Ask yourself “Who am I?” until you know.
•Dark Night of the Soul: In essence, the dark night of the soul represents a period of intense inner turmoil, doubt, and spiritual anguish that individuals may undergo as they progress along their spiritual path. It is characterized by feelings of emptiness, disillusionment, and a sense of being spiritually lost or disconnected from God or higher meaning.
•Self-realization: the process of gaining a deep recognition and awareness of one’s true nature. The ultimate purpose of life.
Self-realization and spirituality is the process of transcending the personal-mind.
Check out this guide to Spiritual Health to explore everything in more detail.
"Our own Self-Realization is the greatest service we can render the world."
Habits are the prequel to living a healthy life. If you have habits that work for you, you are much more likely to be happy, vibrant, and productive. If you have habits that don’t work for you, it’s going to be more of a struggle.
Check out this guide to Habits to explore everything in more detail.
"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
Based on everything you have written down, ask yourself what is working and what isn’t working for you.
1. Which parts do you want to keep?
2. Which parts do you need to change?
3. Which parts do you want to get rid of?
4. What needs to be addressed?
Again, write down whatever thoughts come to mind.
"The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently."
Take the road less traveled and follow your unique path. Along the way, you’ll confront fears, change habits, break patterns, and inevitably make mistakes. Work intelligently on your conditioning by observing your mind. After all, what is the mind but a collection of thoughts about the past and worries about the future? That’s all it is. Learn to stay centered in the here and now, observing what happens around you without reacting. Instead, act from the heart.
As life progresses, your priorities may shift. Each of us has different priorities and is at different stages in life. It’s okay to feel imbalanced, as long as you’re content with the trade-offs. Make sure everything aligns with who you are and what you stand for, not with others’ expectations. No one understands you better than yourself, and living someone else’s life will only lead to emptiness.
Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a short time but underestimate the power of continuous effort over months or years. Avoid fixating on time; progress doesn’t always follow a strict timeline. Commit to the process, don’t worry about results, and focus on consistently doing your best. Trust that inner transformation will develop in its own time.
We often believe that we must make everything happen ourselves. We think, “If I don’t do it, nothing will happen. I’ve got to get a dream career, I’ve got to work hard, I’ve got to do this or that.” But in truth, there is a power within you that knows exactly what you need to do, where you need to be, and whom you should be with—without your help.
Your job is to step aside and allow it to happen. Surrender to this inner guidance. Let go completely. Live your life as it unfolds, but with alertness and mindfulness. Allow everything to happen naturally, whether it brings suffering or happiness.
"If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path."
What is success?
Success means different things to everyone. Maybe success to you is working for yourself, advancing in your career or starting a family.
Will fulfillment of all of your goals equal success? If you are healthy and have millions of dollars, but have trouble with everybody (including yourself), is that a successful life?
The path to true success is through inner peace and contentment. Material possessions and worldly praise are not lasting sources of happiness. True fulfillment comes from within.
Measure success by the ability to maintain inner peace and remain in harmony with life’s ups and downs. A state of complete satisfaction, tranquility and bliss independent of anything else – inside or outside – the level of inner calmness and equanimity of mind.
"Possession of material riches, without inner peace, is like dying of thirst while bathing in a lake. If material poverty is to be avoided, spiritual poverty is to be abhorred. For it is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering."
You have to remember you have only so many years to live in this world. Life is short. The trouble is, you think you have time.
It’s not that we have a short time to live, but most people waste a lot of it on mindless activities, one day waking up wondering where the time has gone.
How many more years do you think you’ve got left on this earth? What are you doing with your time? You have to thoroughly make up your mind what you’re going to do with the remaining years you’ve got left.
This guide explores the principles of productivity and provides practical strategies for boosting efficiency in all areas of life. From time management techniques to organization hacks, it’ll cover a range of topics designed to help you identify what’s essential and what’s not, and assess whether you’re happy with the direction life is taking you.
Check out this guide to Productivity to explore everything in more detail.
"Stop measuring days by degree of productivity and start experiencing them by degree of presence."
Modern life is consumed with wanting more. There are so many things to chase after – desires, dreams, goals, nicer cars, nicer clothes, endless entertainment, luxury vacations. The list goes on.
Focus on what matters. Add the necessities and get rid of the unnecessities. You most likely already have everything you need. The less you need, the better you’ll feel.
Make everything as simple as possible. A simpler life is a happier life. The simpler your pleasures, the richer you’ll be.
"To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is."
Your body has a network of monitors called nerves that will tell you what’s going on. This is called interoception, or the ability to sense the inner state of one’s body.
If you aren’t in tune with your body, you won’t receive the valuable data your body is sending.
5 Simple Steps:
1. Try something out for a set period of time and track your progress.
2. Keep Tabs On It how are you doing? How do you feel? Are you energetic, and focused or not? How is it affecting your nervous system? Are you happy or sad? Are you feeling any aches and pains? How’s your environment? Stress levels? Bowel movements? etc.
3. Reflect Does this work for you or doesn’t it?
4. Make Improvements If everything looks good, keep going the same way. If things aren’t working out as you’d like, change things up and try something different.
5. Rinse and repeat
This approach works for any question you have and applies to all aspects of your life: Does this work for me or not?
People often don’t trust their own sense of what’s good for them, and instead need a sense of approval. Trust yourself and trust what your body is telling you.
"Go inside and listen to your body, because your body will never lie to you. Your mind will play tricks, but the way you feel in your heart, in your guts, is the truth."
Each one of us must take this inward journey alone because no one else can do it for us. You can’t live the same old life and expect to be liberated. Changes have to be made within yourself. And it is up to you to make these changes, nobody can do it for you.
No one is responsible for where you are right now, whether you like your position or you do not. This is where you are. This is where you’re supposed to be, and all is well.
You have the power to change anything, but you must first recognize it. As long as you keep blaming people, places, or situations and reacting to them, that power remains hidden within you. It will only come to the surface when you begin to acknowledge its presence.
2. There is a lot of conflicting, contradicting, and paradoxical advice, it is just a matter of what context you put it in.
Some things might work for you that doesn’t work for other people. It depends on the person, where they are, where you’re at. Think about what is best for you based on how you feel and where you are in your life right now.
Set aside all opinions and judgments. Avoid forming conclusions. Temporarily leave behind your concepts and preconceived notions for a while and just be.
4. Everything you fear is an invention of the mind. Your fears, your frustrations, your doubts, only exist because you think about them.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it.
6. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There are no mistakes, everything is a learning or growing opportunity. Don’t fear or resist them.
There will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.
Failure provides you the proper perspective on what works. It allows you to see what went wrong and eliminate the possibility that you repeat the same mistakes.
Always try once more, no matter how many times you fail or no matter how many mistakes you make. Just pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start all over again. There is no failure, there is only learning.
7. Be patient. It allows you to stay gathered no matter what is happening.
8. Don’t just read and understand what you learn, but implement the wisdom you acquire and make it a part of your everyday life.
There is a difference between words spoken out loud of experience and words repeated from books. Knowledge comes from experience.
9. Surround yourself with uplifting people. Who you are with can elevate you as much as they can bring you down. Who you spend time with influences the person you become.
10. Use social media, technology, and the internet to create more quality hours of socializing in real life, live healthier, learn new things, laugh, be inspired, inspire others or to enhance life in any positive ways.
11. Make time for laughter every day. It is medicine for the soul, and silences the ego.
12. Think about how you can be useful to others in a way that leverages what you are good at, with the intention of helping other people’s lives. Through selfless action you’ll attain fulfillment.
14. Everything in the world is transient, subject to the law of change. Change is the only permanent thing. Nothing is ever the same.
Everything comes and goes. All of your enjoyments, all of your pleasures. Everything you’ve earned, worked for, strived for, comes to an end.
If you realize that the only thing permanent in life is change, then you will treat the good things in your life the same way as the bad things in your life. You will not become emotional over them, and you will not be attached to them.
15. Your instincts have a compass that points two directions: What excites you and what drains you. No matter what advice anyone gives you — no matter how smart they may be — you need to let this compass guide you.
Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.
You will get answers and solutions from within. Your heart will tell you where to go and what to do.
16. All we have is the present moment, so live in the moment. Be spontaneous. Forget about yesterday. Do not worry about the future.
Sooner or later that present moment will be you or someone you care about’s last. All that you are attached to, everything that you love, all that you know, will someday be gone. Really reflect on that and let it sink in until it’s internalized.
17. Life is uncertain. Don’t wait around for perfect moments because perfect moments simply don’t exist.
18. Get rid of your arrogance. Develop humility. Become humble. Humility leads to authenticity, while pride can lead to artificiality. Avoid putting yourself before others.
19. Don’t take yourself or life too seriously.
20. Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Avoid using words against yourself or others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
21. 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.
22. Don’t make assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
23. Always do your best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
24. You should investigate. You should never accept anything blindly at all. You shouldn’t believe a word. Never accept anything anybody tells you. Find your own light.
Don’t believe anything just because you have heard it, read about it, anything in scriptures or religious books, purely on the authority of teachers, parents or elders, social media, traditions just because they have been handed down for generations, or whatever.
Take what you learn and investigate it all thoroughly within yourself. Explore it all. Question everything. Stay alert, observe. Prove it to yourself. Do what is necessary to find out for yourself. Realize it for yourself. Trust your experience.
25. This world can never bring you lasting happiness; it’s impossible. It might seem to make you happy for a while when you get something you desire, but that feeling is temporary. True happiness comes from nothing.
26. At the end of the day, you are not alone. Life is difficult. This is one of the biggest truths you will ever have to face.
Challenging times may be labeled as bad karma, but they offer a chance for growth. By embracing these challenges, you develop strength and expand your consciousness. It may not be easy, but it’s worth it.
Learn to love the place you’re in, no matter how it looks, regardless of what you seem to be going through, regardless of the experiences in your life. Be grateful for them. Never feel sorry for yourself.
Once you understand and accept that life is difficult, then life is no longer difficult.
If you’re ever stuck, here is the recipe to Michael Jordan’s Secret Stuff.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
So recognize this bliss within, and then see if any problems with life actually disturb you. When you don’t mind what happens and accept what comes as it comes, that’s equanimity.
This doesn’t mean you stop living and be passive. You don’t have to be in an endless pursuit of self-improvement or seeking. It’s mostly the same stuff repeated over and over.
You can spend your whole life organizing, setting goals, planning, seeking, and trying to constantly improve an imaginary future. The truth is you can plan your entire life, but you don’t know what will happen the next moment.
Life unfolds while you’re busy making other plans.
It’s not about ideas, goals, planning, systems, purpose, meaning, values, beliefs, concepts, theories or philosophies.
Eventually, those drop away, and life aligns with what the Taoists call ‘Wu Wei,’ or effortless living – the art of not forcing. Allow everything to be as it is. Nothing is left undone because there’s complete trust in the natural flow of life. It’s about facing whatever happens with an inquiring mind and an open heart.
So, work on yourself until you no longer feel the need to. There is nothing left to do – just be. You’ll laugh as you realize you’ve come full circle, right back to where you started: right here, right now. All is well, and it has always been well. Everything is unfolding as it should.
The Guides section and YouTube channel consists of free resources to help you along the way.
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Enjoy the ride.
"Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment."