Three Wishes

Long time ago somewhere along the river coast lived a fisherman. He was leading a happy and content life catching fish and selling them in a local market to earn his livelihood. He was all alone in this world. He had lost his parents at an early age, in a flood that swept his village. He was few of the fortunate to survive.

On one such day, when he was in his boat catching fishes, he caught amazingly large amount of fishes in his net. �This is going to be my lucky day�, he thought while heading toward the local market along with his booty. Suddenly he heard a strange cry coming from nearby. At first he ignored it, but he heard it again, this time somewhat sharply.� Help, help, save my life� was the cry.

The fisherman was puzzled and scared. �This is not possible�, he thought for he was all alone and there was no sign of any one else near by, the only possibility was that his fish could be talking. Thinking that this could be an illusion in his mind, he dismissed it and started walking towards the market.

As he was nearing the market, he again heard something. �If you save my life, I will grant you three wishes� said the voice. This time the fisherman was absolutely sure that he heard it coming from the fish. Immediately, he emptied his load and started looking into his booty.

Suddenly one fish stood up and started talking. �Put me back into water, save my life and you will have three wishes granted� said the fish. The fisherman was scared at first and wanted to run away, but then as he took a second glance at the small attractive fish with golden fins, he gently lifted it and put in his carry-bottle which he always carried along with his food.

After swimming for a while in the bottle, the fish recovered and thanked the fisherman. The fish then spoke again �Thank you, Sir for saving my life. Now it is my turn to keep my promise. You see I am a gifted fish and do have some magical powers, so feel free and ask what you want without any fear. But remember you have only 3 wishes to ask for.�

The fisherman could not believe his luck. He could not think what to ask for and was lost. Seeing this, the fish asked � Don�t you want to be rich, eat good food, live in a big house, wear good clothes and live like a king? �. Hearing this, the fisherman was dumbstruck all he could say was �Yes, Yes�, and nod in excitement.

The fish smiled slyly and said so be it. Suddenly a flash appeared and the fisherman was blinded for a second. The next thing he saw was that he was completely in a different place. He was dressed up like a king and was sitting on a big dinning table with lots of good food and as many servants to serve him. Suddenly he looked around for the fish and found him near his seat comfortably lodged in a fish tank. �Don�t worry �said the fish I won�t leave you till I grant your three wishes�. This made the fisherman happy.

Now his lifestyle changed completely. He would get up late in the mornings lazily eat good food, drink wine and the gamble with his friends till late night and then sleep on his soft and silky bed.

This went on for sometime and then the fisherman started feeling lonely. He again went to the fish and started talking to him. He asked, �Is it a good time to ask for my second wish now?�. The fish smiled and said, �Of course my friend, I was waiting for you to come and ask me your second wish�. The fisherman now got very exited and smiled. He then asked for his second wish. �You see I have all the pleasures and wealth that money can buy but no one to share with, Because of that I am feeling very lonely. I wish for a very beautiful wife, the one who would care for me and love me like no one else has ever had�. The fish again smiled the crooked smile and said �So be it�. The fisherman could not believe his eyes when a beautiful damsel appeared before him and bowed down to touch his feet. This is too good to be true he thought and pinched himself, to find out if he was in a dream but he wasn�t, this beautiful lady was indeed his wife.

Now the fisherman was no longer lonely. His life became very organized for he had a good wife to take care of all his needs and make him happy. Life went on for the fisherman and he was content now. He did not have any worries and there was nothing more he could ask for. Till one morning he woke up and realized that he does not have much energy left in him. It struck him that he was getting old. Age was fast catching up with him. �This could not happen to me he said and was left puzzled�. He became very grave and started thinking about a solution. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he started running towards the fish. The fish was expecting his arrival and waited for him to speak. �My friend� said the fisherman; you have given me everything I wished for I was all content till I realized that I am not fit as I used to be earlier to enjoy all the privileges. The fish was calm and asked him �What can I do for you. Ask me and your wish will be granted�.

The fisherman knew exactly what he had in his mind and loudly announced. �My third wish is that you should make me immortal. Death should not embrace me and I should live forever.�

Hearing this fish started screaming with joy and shouted �I am free, I am free�. The fisherman asked somewhat puzzled what happened to my wish. The fish exclaimed delightfully �So is it�. To his horror, the fisherman started shrinking and started loosing his legs and hands. �What have you done to me?�, asked the fisherman to the fish who was slowly turning into a human form now. The fish smiled and said, �Thank you for letting me free. I was also leading a simple life like you before I was trapped into the unholy world of wealth and misery. I was also granted three boons by one sage and the last boon I asked for was immortality. The sage had to grant my wish for he was compelled to do so, but at the same time he was aware of the great truth that �one who comes to birth has to die. So he converted me into a fish. After realizing my fault, I prayed to the sage to relieve me of this curse and he told me to wait for the next greedy man. As my luck would have it I found you after 100 years. Now it is your turn to find another greedy man to free yourself. And now I can die in peace.� So saying the fish turned into a very old and frail human being.

By now the fisherman had already become a fish. The human form of the fish then lifted the trembling fisherman and carried him to the nearby river. Before dipping him into the river, he said, �I am sorry my friend. Had you not asked for anything in return for saving my life, this would not have happed to you. Greed is Man�s worst enemy�.
Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Three Wishes

Long time ago somewhere along the river coast lived a fisherman. He was leading a happy and content life catching fish and selling them in a local market to earn his livelihood. He was all alone in this world. He had lost his parents at an early age, in a flood that swept his village. He was few of the fortunate to survive.

On one such day, when he was in his boat catching fishes, he caught amazingly large amount of fishes in his net. �This is going to be my lucky day�, he thought while heading toward the local market along with his booty. Suddenly he heard a strange cry coming from nearby. At first he ignored it, but he heard it again, this time somewhat sharply.� Help, help, save my life� was the cry.

The fisherman was puzzled and scared. �This is not possible�, he thought for he was all alone and there was no sign of any one else near by, the only possibility was that his fish could be talking. Thinking that this could be an illusion in his mind, he dismissed it and started walking towards the market.

As he was nearing the market, he again heard something. �If you save my life, I will grant you three wishes� said the voice. This time the fisherman was absolutely sure that he heard it coming from the fish. Immediately, he emptied his load and started looking into his booty.

Suddenly one fish stood up and started talking. �Put me back into water, save my life and you will have three wishes granted� said the fish. The fisherman was scared at first and wanted to run away, but then as he took a second glance at the small attractive fish with golden fins, he gently lifted it and put in his carry-bottle which he always carried along with his food.

After swimming for a while in the bottle, the fish recovered and thanked the fisherman. The fish then spoke again �Thank you, Sir for saving my life. Now it is my turn to keep my promise. You see I am a gifted fish and do have some magical powers, so feel free and ask what you want without any fear. But remember you have only 3 wishes to ask for.�

The fisherman could not believe his luck. He could not think what to ask for and was lost. Seeing this, the fish asked � Don�t you want to be rich, eat good food, live in a big house, wear good clothes and live like a king? �. Hearing this, the fisherman was dumbstruck all he could say was �Yes, Yes�, and nod in excitement.

The fish smiled slyly and said so be it. Suddenly a flash appeared and the fisherman was blinded for a second. The next thing he saw was that he was completely in a different place. He was dressed up like a king and was sitting on a big dinning table with lots of good food and as many servants to serve him. Suddenly he looked around for the fish and found him near his seat comfortably lodged in a fish tank. �Don�t worry �said the fish I won�t leave you till I grant your three wishes�. This made the fisherman happy.

Now his lifestyle changed completely. He would get up late in the mornings lazily eat good food, drink wine and the gamble with his friends till late night and then sleep on his soft and silky bed.

This went on for sometime and then the fisherman started feeling lonely. He again went to the fish and started talking to him. He asked, �Is it a good time to ask for my second wish now?�. The fish smiled and said, �Of course my friend, I was waiting for you to come and ask me your second wish�. The fisherman now got very exited and smiled. He then asked for his second wish. �You see I have all the pleasures and wealth that money can buy but no one to share with, Because of that I am feeling very lonely. I wish for a very beautiful wife, the one who would care for me and love me like no one else has ever had�. The fish again smiled the crooked smile and said �So be it�. The fisherman could not believe his eyes when a beautiful damsel appeared before him and bowed down to touch his feet. This is too good to be true he thought and pinched himself, to find out if he was in a dream but he wasn�t, this beautiful lady was indeed his wife.

Now the fisherman was no longer lonely. His life became very organized for he had a good wife to take care of all his needs and make him happy. Life went on for the fisherman and he was content now. He did not have any worries and there was nothing more he could ask for. Till one morning he woke up and realized that he does not have much energy left in him. It struck him that he was getting old. Age was fast catching up with him. �This could not happen to me he said and was left puzzled�. He became very grave and started thinking about a solution. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he started running towards the fish. The fish was expecting his arrival and waited for him to speak. �My friend� said the fisherman; you have given me everything I wished for I was all content till I realized that I am not fit as I used to be earlier to enjoy all the privileges. The fish was calm and asked him �What can I do for you. Ask me and your wish will be granted�.

The fisherman knew exactly what he had in his mind and loudly announced. �My third wish is that you should make me immortal. Death should not embrace me and I should live forever.�

Hearing this fish started screaming with joy and shouted �I am free, I am free�. The fisherman asked somewhat puzzled what happened to my wish. The fish exclaimed delightfully �So is it�. To his horror, the fisherman started shrinking and started loosing his legs and hands. �What have you done to me?�, asked the fisherman to the fish who was slowly turning into a human form now. The fish smiled and said, �Thank you for letting me free. I was also leading a simple life like you before I was trapped into the unholy world of wealth and misery. I was also granted three boons by one sage and the last boon I asked for was immortality. The sage had to grant my wish for he was compelled to do so, but at the same time he was aware of the great truth that �one who comes to birth has to die. So he converted me into a fish. After realizing my fault, I prayed to the sage to relieve me of this curse and he told me to wait for the next greedy man. As my luck would have it I found you after 100 years. Now it is your turn to find another greedy man to free yourself. And now I can die in peace.� So saying the fish turned into a very old and frail human being.

By now the fisherman had already become a fish. The human form of the fish then lifted the trembling fisherman and carried him to the nearby river. Before dipping him into the river, he said, �I am sorry my friend. Had you not asked for anything in return for saving my life, this would not have happed to you. Greed is Man�s worst enemy�.
Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Tips to Experience Joy in Your Day

We all want things in life—achievements, experiences, relationships. We can have them if we work at them.

Take courses to learn more. Read ebooks and blogs that offer tips for improvement. And most importantly apply that knowledge a little every day.

It’s a beautiful thing that at any moment we can do something to better our lives. But sometimes we get so caught up in striving that we forget to enjoy where we are.

We put so much stock in a better tomorrow we miss out on the small joys available in the present moment.

We’ll likely always have one eye set on something bright down the road. It’s just the way we’re wired. It’s what inspires us to learn and grow. It’s what gives us hope when times are tough. It’s what fuels progress and innovation.

But right now is a perfect time to be happy. You can feel and spread joy whenever you want, even if you don’t have everything you want.

As a new ongoing feature on the site, we’ll post a series of tips to do happy—to create, feel, and spread happiness in your day.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Tips to Experience Joy in Your Day

We all want things in life—achievements, experiences, relationships. We can have them if we work at them.

Take courses to learn more. Read ebooks and blogs that offer tips for improvement. And most importantly apply that knowledge a little every day.

It’s a beautiful thing that at any moment we can do something to better our lives. But sometimes we get so caught up in striving that we forget to enjoy where we are.

We put so much stock in a better tomorrow we miss out on the small joys available in the present moment.

We’ll likely always have one eye set on something bright down the road. It’s just the way we’re wired. It’s what inspires us to learn and grow. It’s what gives us hope when times are tough. It’s what fuels progress and innovation.

But right now is a perfect time to be happy. You can feel and spread joy whenever you want, even if you don’t have everything you want.

As a new ongoing feature on the site, we’ll post a series of tips to do happy—to create, feel, and spread happiness in your day.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Give an Uncomfortably Long Hug

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” –Dalai Lama

You see your uncle at the annual holiday party. It’s been almost six months since you saw him last. You’ve heard all about his company folding. You know his home’s gone into foreclosure.

But you hardly know each other these days. You don’t know his dog’s name, his favorite breakfast food, or how he likes to spend his Saturdays. He hasn’t shared any details about his life with you. It’s not your place to pry.

So you give him a peripheral hug. A loose arm around his shoulder, a quick brush of your cheek against his. Then you move back into the crowd, having bypassed a potentially uncomfortable moment.

Sometimes the most uncomfortable moments are the ones that make the biggest difference.

You don’t have to do it in words. We all know they’re a dime a dozen. You don’t have to extend a sympathetic gaze. It may come across as pity. A simple hug does so much more.

A real hug. The type that lets you feel someone’s heartbeat. The kind that tells the other person you’d hold them up if they needed it. The kind that says we’re not so different and I have faith in you.

The beauty is when you give that to someone else you generally get it in return.

It’s something you’re due.




Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Give an Uncomfortably Long Hug

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” –Dalai Lama

You see your uncle at the annual holiday party. It’s been almost six months since you saw him last. You’ve heard all about his company folding. You know his home’s gone into foreclosure.

But you hardly know each other these days. You don’t know his dog’s name, his favorite breakfast food, or how he likes to spend his Saturdays. He hasn’t shared any details about his life with you. It’s not your place to pry.

So you give him a peripheral hug. A loose arm around his shoulder, a quick brush of your cheek against his. Then you move back into the crowd, having bypassed a potentially uncomfortable moment.

Sometimes the most uncomfortable moments are the ones that make the biggest difference.

You don’t have to do it in words. We all know they’re a dime a dozen. You don’t have to extend a sympathetic gaze. It may come across as pity. A simple hug does so much more.

A real hug. The type that lets you feel someone’s heartbeat. The kind that tells the other person you’d hold them up if they needed it. The kind that says we’re not so different and I have faith in you.

The beauty is when you give that to someone else you generally get it in return.

It’s something you’re due.




Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

40 Everyday Successes To Celebrate

Love and Kindness

1. Loving people even in their weakest moments and giving them strength. As Marilyn Monroe said, “If you can’t take me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best.”

2. Forgiving someone instead of holding a grudge which gives them peace of mind. That peace of mind ripples back into the world.

3. Listening just to help someone find their own way when it would be easier to dominate the conversation.

4. Helping someone who can’t offer you anything in return.

5. Noticing someone’s positive efforts that often go unappreciated. Everyone wants to believe they make a difference. Sometimes a little gratitude inspires them to make an even bigger impact.

6. Showing a child through actions how to be a good person. Children learn from what we do more than what we say.

7. Giving someone a book that might change their life. As Mark Twain said, “The man who does not read great books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”

8. Forgiving yourself and letting go of the past. You can only love yourself if you cut yourself some slack—and you can only love other people if you love yourself.

9. Taking care of your family’s needs, both physical and emotional. It’s not easy to do both simultaneously and well.

10. Connecting two people whose lives will improve for knowing each other.

Strength and Commitment

11. Making the effort to know yourself. Focused introspection—taking an honest assessment of who you are and what makes you happy—is the first step toward living a beautiful life.

12. Acknowledging a mistake and growing through the process

13. Working through it when you’re having a hard day. A lot of people shut down when times get difficult. Whenever you keep going you have every reason to feel proud.

14. Finding joy in your work regardless of your success. In an achievement-oriented society, focusing on the journey and not the outcome is an act of greatness.

15. Putting your heart into your blog, regardless of your readership. Even if only one person learns from your experiences, you’ve made a powerful difference through your words.

16. Staying in the game even when you think you might lose. Sticktoitiveness is an attribute to celebrate. It helps you be the person you want to be regardless of what you accomplish.

17. Honoring a promise when you’re tempted not to keep it.

18. Actually being the person you claim to be, however that translates into action.

19. Comparing yourself to an older version of you instead of other people. There’s no better way to measure your growth and motivate yourself to keep going.

20. Having the strength to walk away from a person or situation that isn’t good for you.


Health and Hope

21. Meditating, practicing yoga, or taking a calming walk. Every time you melt your stresses and foster inner peace you help make the world a more peaceful place.

22. Taking care of your body by exercising, whether it’s running after your dog or running a marathon. 190 million Americans are overweight and at risk for health complications. Taking care of yourself is a prerequisite to anything else you want to do in the world.

23. Helping someone else become healthier, by inviting them for a walk or making them a healthy meal.

24. Making one minor change for healthier eating, like going without butter. Little changes can make a big difference. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

25. Trusting your inner voice instead of letting the world make decisions for you.

26. Creating a positive environment that nurtures everyone who enters it.

27. Understanding instead of arguing. Good for your mental well-being and other people’s, too.

28. Doing anything to take care of the earth—cleaning up a park, or reducing your carbon footprint.

29. Enjoying yourself regardless of what you’ve gotten done. Enjoyment is success.

30. Being the change you want to see in the world instead of growing jaded.

Purpose and Possibilities

31. Believing in your own potential. It’s easy to get down on yourself, particularly when the economy isn’t in great shape. Any time you build yourself up you’ve set the stage to change the world.

32. Telling someone else you believe in their potential. You never know what act of greatness you might inspire, however big or small.

33. Taking one small step to fill your life with meaning based on what matters to you. People who live with passion and purpose inspire everyone around them.

34. Keeping an open mind, both to create new possibilities for yourself and to increase your chances of loving and helping people.

35. Doing something that scares you. The more willing you are to take risks, the greater your odds of feeling fulfilled in life. Fulfillment is success.

36. Supporting a cause that matters to you, whether that means making a small donation or doing the walk for breast cancer.

37. Mentoring someone who’d like to do what you do. When you help someone live their dreams you’re a meaningful part of their happiness.

38. Learning from someone else. Sometimes it’s powerful to be the apprentice and not the expert.

39. Creating. Music, poetry, jewelry, movies, websites, buildings—anytime you crease something with heart and positive intentions it’s a gift to the world.

40. Opening your world to new people. No one is an island. Every time you open your world to someone else, you create the possibility of inspiring and being inspired.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

40 Everyday Successes To Celebrate

Love and Kindness

1. Loving people even in their weakest moments and giving them strength. As Marilyn Monroe said, “If you can’t take me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best.”

2. Forgiving someone instead of holding a grudge which gives them peace of mind. That peace of mind ripples back into the world.

3. Listening just to help someone find their own way when it would be easier to dominate the conversation.

4. Helping someone who can’t offer you anything in return.

5. Noticing someone’s positive efforts that often go unappreciated. Everyone wants to believe they make a difference. Sometimes a little gratitude inspires them to make an even bigger impact.

6. Showing a child through actions how to be a good person. Children learn from what we do more than what we say.

7. Giving someone a book that might change their life. As Mark Twain said, “The man who does not read great books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”

8. Forgiving yourself and letting go of the past. You can only love yourself if you cut yourself some slack—and you can only love other people if you love yourself.

9. Taking care of your family’s needs, both physical and emotional. It’s not easy to do both simultaneously and well.

10. Connecting two people whose lives will improve for knowing each other.

Strength and Commitment

11. Making the effort to know yourself. Focused introspection—taking an honest assessment of who you are and what makes you happy—is the first step toward living a beautiful life.

12. Acknowledging a mistake and growing through the process

13. Working through it when you’re having a hard day. A lot of people shut down when times get difficult. Whenever you keep going you have every reason to feel proud.

14. Finding joy in your work regardless of your success. In an achievement-oriented society, focusing on the journey and not the outcome is an act of greatness.

15. Putting your heart into your blog, regardless of your readership. Even if only one person learns from your experiences, you’ve made a powerful difference through your words.

16. Staying in the game even when you think you might lose. Sticktoitiveness is an attribute to celebrate. It helps you be the person you want to be regardless of what you accomplish.

17. Honoring a promise when you’re tempted not to keep it.

18. Actually being the person you claim to be, however that translates into action.

19. Comparing yourself to an older version of you instead of other people. There’s no better way to measure your growth and motivate yourself to keep going.

20. Having the strength to walk away from a person or situation that isn’t good for you.


Health and Hope

21. Meditating, practicing yoga, or taking a calming walk. Every time you melt your stresses and foster inner peace you help make the world a more peaceful place.

22. Taking care of your body by exercising, whether it’s running after your dog or running a marathon. 190 million Americans are overweight and at risk for health complications. Taking care of yourself is a prerequisite to anything else you want to do in the world.

23. Helping someone else become healthier, by inviting them for a walk or making them a healthy meal.

24. Making one minor change for healthier eating, like going without butter. Little changes can make a big difference. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

25. Trusting your inner voice instead of letting the world make decisions for you.

26. Creating a positive environment that nurtures everyone who enters it.

27. Understanding instead of arguing. Good for your mental well-being and other people’s, too.

28. Doing anything to take care of the earth—cleaning up a park, or reducing your carbon footprint.

29. Enjoying yourself regardless of what you’ve gotten done. Enjoyment is success.

30. Being the change you want to see in the world instead of growing jaded.

Purpose and Possibilities

31. Believing in your own potential. It’s easy to get down on yourself, particularly when the economy isn’t in great shape. Any time you build yourself up you’ve set the stage to change the world.

32. Telling someone else you believe in their potential. You never know what act of greatness you might inspire, however big or small.

33. Taking one small step to fill your life with meaning based on what matters to you. People who live with passion and purpose inspire everyone around them.

34. Keeping an open mind, both to create new possibilities for yourself and to increase your chances of loving and helping people.

35. Doing something that scares you. The more willing you are to take risks, the greater your odds of feeling fulfilled in life. Fulfillment is success.

36. Supporting a cause that matters to you, whether that means making a small donation or doing the walk for breast cancer.

37. Mentoring someone who’d like to do what you do. When you help someone live their dreams you’re a meaningful part of their happiness.

38. Learning from someone else. Sometimes it’s powerful to be the apprentice and not the expert.

39. Creating. Music, poetry, jewelry, movies, websites, buildings—anytime you crease something with heart and positive intentions it’s a gift to the world.

40. Opening your world to new people. No one is an island. Every time you open your world to someone else, you create the possibility of inspiring and being inspired.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Being present – how to be present with what is already present

The present moment has always been available to spiritual seekers, but as long as you are seeking you are not available to the present moment. “Seeking” implies that you are looking to the future for some answer, or for some achievement, spiritual or otherwise. Everybody is in the seeking mode, seeking to add something to who they are, whether it be money, relationships, possessions, knowledge, status.. or spiritual attainment.

This is it. There is no more. If you can be present, it’s the whole ball game. The immediacy of life in the present precedes the mind and all concepts.

It’s hard for the mind to understand what being present is because the mind is never present. Yet, we do have moments of presence, when we are awed by beauty or those times when we are in flow.

You will find being present is ordinary. Don’t expect the extra-ordinary; that will take your right out of presence. Don’t expect some sort of psychedelic or out-worldly spiritual experience. And yet, with continued presence, there is a shift. The extra-ordinary is contained in the spaciousness of the ordinary.

Try it. It is not an effortful presence. The ego is capable of creating a mental space of presence, and you can tell because ego-presence feels effortful, artificial and dull. That’s not presence. That’s trying hard to be present.

We are already always present, so it’s little misleading to say “be present.” What we mean by “be present” is really to be Awareness, absent of the constant lurching for the next moment, the grasping, or the becoming.











Be present with what is already present. The body is always present, so we can always bring attention deeply into the body or breath to be present. Perception is always present–taste, touch, smell, sight and sound.


Do the following to be present:

Sit down, shut your eyes, and watch your breath. Become aware of breath going in, and going out. Breathe freely, there is no need to control or change the flow. Become aware of the sensation of air passing through your nose and nostrils. Pay attention to the lungs filling up and emptying. Pay attention to the belly expanding and relaxing. If attention is distracted by thought, gently bring it back with a smile.

Expand your attention to the sound of breathing. Don’t label or analyze, simply listen to the undulating sound of breath. Notice that there is no time between perception and hearing. Time only happens when there is thinking about hearing. Hear without thinking. Is there any effort required to hear? Pay attention to the way the sound is heard. As you notice the sound, pay attention, just to hear the sound, without decision or interpretation or judgment. Hearing just happens. There is no thought required. Meet the perception half-way. Is there any time delay between the sound and the hearing? The hearing of sound is thought-less, time-less. Relax, and be the awareness that hears the sound, without thought.

Expand your attention further to any sound that comes into perception. Don’t label or measure or judge. Just pay attention to the sound. Notice the sounds pop up in Awareness, inside of you. There is no space or time between awaring and the occurrence of the sound.

If thoughts rise, let them and shift attention back to the sounds.

Now feel your weight. Feel your skin touching your clothes. Feel your skin touching air. Don’t label or figure out what it is touching, just simply feel the perception of touch. Go inside the body to feel it. Put attention inside your hands and soon you will feel a tingling, an aliveness. Notice there is no time between feeling the sensation and being aware of the sensation. Just to feel, is there any time required between the sensation and the feeling of it? There is no decision, no effort, no thinking; it just happens. Time only happens when you interpret the sensation with thought.

Move attention to taste. Do you taste anything? Is there a taste? Don’t figure out what it is. Just be aware of it.
Move attention to smell. Is there any smell? Don’t label it or figure out what it is, just abide in the perception of it.
Open your eyes. Look around the room. Don’t label anything. Simply take in the seeing. Take in colors without labeling them. Take in the background, the ceiling, floor, the walls, the sky, clouds, anything without labeling. Feel the colors rather than seeing them. Notice there is no time delay between seeing and awaring. Perception takes no time. It is right here, right now. Don’t label anything, see it for the first time. Trace the contours and edges very slowly with your eyes. This is just Awareness. Everything you see is Awareness seeing in Awareness. The entire visual field and beyond is in Awareness. All these objects are simply perception in Awareness.
Move deeply into the Now.

When you are deeply in the Now, look at the grasping and running-away feeling in the mind, with Awareness.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Being present – how to be present with what is already present

The present moment has always been available to spiritual seekers, but as long as you are seeking you are not available to the present moment. “Seeking” implies that you are looking to the future for some answer, or for some achievement, spiritual or otherwise. Everybody is in the seeking mode, seeking to add something to who they are, whether it be money, relationships, possessions, knowledge, status.. or spiritual attainment.

This is it. There is no more. If you can be present, it’s the whole ball game. The immediacy of life in the present precedes the mind and all concepts.

It’s hard for the mind to understand what being present is because the mind is never present. Yet, we do have moments of presence, when we are awed by beauty or those times when we are in flow.

You will find being present is ordinary. Don’t expect the extra-ordinary; that will take your right out of presence. Don’t expect some sort of psychedelic or out-worldly spiritual experience. And yet, with continued presence, there is a shift. The extra-ordinary is contained in the spaciousness of the ordinary.

Try it. It is not an effortful presence. The ego is capable of creating a mental space of presence, and you can tell because ego-presence feels effortful, artificial and dull. That’s not presence. That’s trying hard to be present.

We are already always present, so it’s little misleading to say “be present.” What we mean by “be present” is really to be Awareness, absent of the constant lurching for the next moment, the grasping, or the becoming.











Be present with what is already present. The body is always present, so we can always bring attention deeply into the body or breath to be present. Perception is always present–taste, touch, smell, sight and sound.


Do the following to be present:

Sit down, shut your eyes, and watch your breath. Become aware of breath going in, and going out. Breathe freely, there is no need to control or change the flow. Become aware of the sensation of air passing through your nose and nostrils. Pay attention to the lungs filling up and emptying. Pay attention to the belly expanding and relaxing. If attention is distracted by thought, gently bring it back with a smile.

Expand your attention to the sound of breathing. Don’t label or analyze, simply listen to the undulating sound of breath. Notice that there is no time between perception and hearing. Time only happens when there is thinking about hearing. Hear without thinking. Is there any effort required to hear? Pay attention to the way the sound is heard. As you notice the sound, pay attention, just to hear the sound, without decision or interpretation or judgment. Hearing just happens. There is no thought required. Meet the perception half-way. Is there any time delay between the sound and the hearing? The hearing of sound is thought-less, time-less. Relax, and be the awareness that hears the sound, without thought.

Expand your attention further to any sound that comes into perception. Don’t label or measure or judge. Just pay attention to the sound. Notice the sounds pop up in Awareness, inside of you. There is no space or time between awaring and the occurrence of the sound.

If thoughts rise, let them and shift attention back to the sounds.

Now feel your weight. Feel your skin touching your clothes. Feel your skin touching air. Don’t label or figure out what it is touching, just simply feel the perception of touch. Go inside the body to feel it. Put attention inside your hands and soon you will feel a tingling, an aliveness. Notice there is no time between feeling the sensation and being aware of the sensation. Just to feel, is there any time required between the sensation and the feeling of it? There is no decision, no effort, no thinking; it just happens. Time only happens when you interpret the sensation with thought.

Move attention to taste. Do you taste anything? Is there a taste? Don’t figure out what it is. Just be aware of it.
Move attention to smell. Is there any smell? Don’t label it or figure out what it is, just abide in the perception of it.
Open your eyes. Look around the room. Don’t label anything. Simply take in the seeing. Take in colors without labeling them. Take in the background, the ceiling, floor, the walls, the sky, clouds, anything without labeling. Feel the colors rather than seeing them. Notice there is no time delay between seeing and awaring. Perception takes no time. It is right here, right now. Don’t label anything, see it for the first time. Trace the contours and edges very slowly with your eyes. This is just Awareness. Everything you see is Awareness seeing in Awareness. The entire visual field and beyond is in Awareness. All these objects are simply perception in Awareness.
Move deeply into the Now.

When you are deeply in the Now, look at the grasping and running-away feeling in the mind, with Awareness.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Jambali the Wealth-Giver

Are you ready for abundance? This tale of five young travelers in search of wealth and wisdom illuminates the perils awaiting those who seek riches

The five young men gathered close around the fire. The day-long trek across the arid high plains had left them weary and discouraged. Was this journey an act of otherwise sane men?
Certainly the elders could not be mistrusted. Their constant ramblings about the man called Jambali filled the air almost daily. They said he was a man of immense wealth and wisdom. A man who freely dispensed both to any who sought it.

Yet many had traveled to the eastern mountains in search of this man, and all had returned weeks later with nothing to show but


callused feet. Was it all just a wistful tale; a fantasy concocted to give the people of their desperately poor village a reason to hope? This was the question that plagued the five travelers as they bedded down for the night, their hearts full of hope and their heads full of doubt.

The sun rose to find only four travelers remaining; the fifth having let doubt win over. His note by the ashes of the fire implored the four to push on, but he had returned to the village, unable to pursue a journey that held no promise.

And so the four travelers hiked throughout the morning and reached the tree line of the eastern slopes by mid-day. It was a welcome escape from the relentless heat of the desert sun. They had not walked more than 100 yards beneath the shade of the trees, when they happened across an old woman.

They told the woman of their quest to find a man called Jambali, and asked if she knew where to find him. She exclaimed that they were indeed fortunate, for he was a nomad and was camped for the day just over the next rise. She bid them caution however, as he was not fond of unannounced strangers to his camp.

Thanking the old woman, they hastily made their way to the rise and thereupon did devise a plan. One of them would ascend the rise to investigate the layout of the camp and then report back to the others. In this way they could best decide upon a method of entering the camp.

They elected a scout, and he ascended the rise while the others anxiously waited. After a short time the scout returned looking forlorn and discouraged. He announced to the others that he did not see the camp of a wealthy man, rather was it the camp of a pauper. He spoke of a man dressed in rags and a tent of simple design.

And then this traveler did proclaim their journey a fool's adventure, and he marched back into the desert with a heavy heart.

The remaining three travelers were not so easily dissuaded. One was elected and he ascended the rise to scout the camp. He shortly returned with a puzzling report. Not only was this man without wealth, but he was also crazy. He told of a man standing in front of his tent waving his arms wildly in the air, screaming obscenities at an unseen demon.

And as before, this traveler also proclaimed their journey a fool's adventure, and marched back into the desert… with a perplexed heart.

The remaining two travelers had not come this far to give up so easily. One of the pair ascended the rise, only to quickly return shaking with fear. He exclaimed that the man was indeed acting crazy, but not because of an unseen demon, rather because there was a tiger crouched in the trees ready to devour the man.

This traveler hastily declared their journey a fool's adventure, and hurried back into the desert… with a fearful heart.

The last traveler began his ascent. He reached the top and peered into the camp. He too witnessed a tiger of great ferocity, but he put his fear aside and decided to help the man defeat the beast.

He quickly fashioned a makeshift spear using a dry branch sharpened with his hunting knife. He ran down the hill and jumped between the man and the snarling tiger. He readied his weapon and was on the verge of thrusting it into the beast, when the man suddenly let out a shrill whistle and grabbed the spear from the traveler's hands. The tiger abruptly ceased its attack, then trotted over to stand next to the man. Obviously, a cruel trick had been played upon the traveler.

Distraught over what had just transpired, the traveler demanded an explanation. The man explained that the old woman had seen the four travelers approaching from the desert, and had warned him of their arrival. He explained that his antics were designed to invite only the most sturdy of heart into his camp.

The man went on to introduce himself as Jambali the Wealth-Giver. He invited the traveler to sit beside him and tell of his journey. The traveler did so, explaining that the trip had began with five, of which he was the only one remaining. He went on to tell Jambali about his people's belief that all who visited him would receive wealth and wisdom.

Jambali told the traveler that his people's belief was true, but that before wealth can be possessed, one must first have the wisdom to own it.

Jambali explained, "The first traveler gave up on the first night. He did not want to work at acquiring wealth."

"The second traveler saw a poor man's camp. He had not the vision to perceive wealth among ordinary things."

"The third traveler witnessed a crazy man. He had not the vision to perceive wealth among non-ordinary things."

"The fourth traveler witnessed a man-eating tiger. He was not ready for wealth because he had not the courage to overcome fear."

Jambali watched as the traveler digested these words. They were powerful words that sank deep into the traveler's heart.

Then, suddenly and without notice, the traveler rose to his feet and thanked Jambali for these wealth-giving secrets. He was overwhelmed with exhilaration at the wisdom he had just received, and could barely contain his desire to depart for the village with news of his good fortune on this journey. He quickly bade Jambali farewell and promised he would tell his people what he had learned.

And so, this traveler did declare the journey a success, and he trotted into the desert with a glad heart.

As the traveler disappeared from sight, Jambali strode into his tent and filled a ruby-rimmed cup to overflowing with a dark, red wine. He drank largely, allowing the warm liquid to both caress and exhilarate his senses. A drop escaped from the corner of his mouth and momentarily danced upon his chin, as if unsure of which direction to fall before relinquishing its hold to the ground below.

Jambali tossed the cup, gestured loudly to the barren desert which had swallowed the travelers, and dispensed his last bit of wisdom, "The fifth traveler received wisdom, yet no riches filled his pockets because he did not ask for them."
Taken from articles by Brett Krkosska

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Jambali the Wealth-Giver

Are you ready for abundance? This tale of five young travelers in search of wealth and wisdom illuminates the perils awaiting those who seek riches

The five young men gathered close around the fire. The day-long trek across the arid high plains had left them weary and discouraged. Was this journey an act of otherwise sane men?
Certainly the elders could not be mistrusted. Their constant ramblings about the man called Jambali filled the air almost daily. They said he was a man of immense wealth and wisdom. A man who freely dispensed both to any who sought it.

Yet many had traveled to the eastern mountains in search of this man, and all had returned weeks later with nothing to show but


callused feet. Was it all just a wistful tale; a fantasy concocted to give the people of their desperately poor village a reason to hope? This was the question that plagued the five travelers as they bedded down for the night, their hearts full of hope and their heads full of doubt.

The sun rose to find only four travelers remaining; the fifth having let doubt win over. His note by the ashes of the fire implored the four to push on, but he had returned to the village, unable to pursue a journey that held no promise.

And so the four travelers hiked throughout the morning and reached the tree line of the eastern slopes by mid-day. It was a welcome escape from the relentless heat of the desert sun. They had not walked more than 100 yards beneath the shade of the trees, when they happened across an old woman.

They told the woman of their quest to find a man called Jambali, and asked if she knew where to find him. She exclaimed that they were indeed fortunate, for he was a nomad and was camped for the day just over the next rise. She bid them caution however, as he was not fond of unannounced strangers to his camp.

Thanking the old woman, they hastily made their way to the rise and thereupon did devise a plan. One of them would ascend the rise to investigate the layout of the camp and then report back to the others. In this way they could best decide upon a method of entering the camp.

They elected a scout, and he ascended the rise while the others anxiously waited. After a short time the scout returned looking forlorn and discouraged. He announced to the others that he did not see the camp of a wealthy man, rather was it the camp of a pauper. He spoke of a man dressed in rags and a tent of simple design.

And then this traveler did proclaim their journey a fool's adventure, and he marched back into the desert with a heavy heart.

The remaining three travelers were not so easily dissuaded. One was elected and he ascended the rise to scout the camp. He shortly returned with a puzzling report. Not only was this man without wealth, but he was also crazy. He told of a man standing in front of his tent waving his arms wildly in the air, screaming obscenities at an unseen demon.

And as before, this traveler also proclaimed their journey a fool's adventure, and marched back into the desert… with a perplexed heart.

The remaining two travelers had not come this far to give up so easily. One of the pair ascended the rise, only to quickly return shaking with fear. He exclaimed that the man was indeed acting crazy, but not because of an unseen demon, rather because there was a tiger crouched in the trees ready to devour the man.

This traveler hastily declared their journey a fool's adventure, and hurried back into the desert… with a fearful heart.

The last traveler began his ascent. He reached the top and peered into the camp. He too witnessed a tiger of great ferocity, but he put his fear aside and decided to help the man defeat the beast.

He quickly fashioned a makeshift spear using a dry branch sharpened with his hunting knife. He ran down the hill and jumped between the man and the snarling tiger. He readied his weapon and was on the verge of thrusting it into the beast, when the man suddenly let out a shrill whistle and grabbed the spear from the traveler's hands. The tiger abruptly ceased its attack, then trotted over to stand next to the man. Obviously, a cruel trick had been played upon the traveler.

Distraught over what had just transpired, the traveler demanded an explanation. The man explained that the old woman had seen the four travelers approaching from the desert, and had warned him of their arrival. He explained that his antics were designed to invite only the most sturdy of heart into his camp.

The man went on to introduce himself as Jambali the Wealth-Giver. He invited the traveler to sit beside him and tell of his journey. The traveler did so, explaining that the trip had began with five, of which he was the only one remaining. He went on to tell Jambali about his people's belief that all who visited him would receive wealth and wisdom.

Jambali told the traveler that his people's belief was true, but that before wealth can be possessed, one must first have the wisdom to own it.

Jambali explained, "The first traveler gave up on the first night. He did not want to work at acquiring wealth."

"The second traveler saw a poor man's camp. He had not the vision to perceive wealth among ordinary things."

"The third traveler witnessed a crazy man. He had not the vision to perceive wealth among non-ordinary things."

"The fourth traveler witnessed a man-eating tiger. He was not ready for wealth because he had not the courage to overcome fear."

Jambali watched as the traveler digested these words. They were powerful words that sank deep into the traveler's heart.

Then, suddenly and without notice, the traveler rose to his feet and thanked Jambali for these wealth-giving secrets. He was overwhelmed with exhilaration at the wisdom he had just received, and could barely contain his desire to depart for the village with news of his good fortune on this journey. He quickly bade Jambali farewell and promised he would tell his people what he had learned.

And so, this traveler did declare the journey a success, and he trotted into the desert with a glad heart.

As the traveler disappeared from sight, Jambali strode into his tent and filled a ruby-rimmed cup to overflowing with a dark, red wine. He drank largely, allowing the warm liquid to both caress and exhilarate his senses. A drop escaped from the corner of his mouth and momentarily danced upon his chin, as if unsure of which direction to fall before relinquishing its hold to the ground below.

Jambali tossed the cup, gestured loudly to the barren desert which had swallowed the travelers, and dispensed his last bit of wisdom, "The fifth traveler received wisdom, yet no riches filled his pockets because he did not ask for them."
Taken from articles by Brett Krkosska

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Tell Them Before Its too Late

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room
on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day.

And we don't know when that one-day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.



Now go wipe them tears before someone see's you

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Tell Them Before Its too Late

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room
on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day.

And we don't know when that one-day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.



Now go wipe them tears before someone see's you

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You