eudaimonia.pptx the truth is before you.

The happiness, the disappointments, the stagnation , the discoveries, the emptiness, the wholeness , the wins, the losses and the expectations, all unfold in this universe.

1. Organise;prioritise ; do one thing at a time; avoid hurry; and develop spaciousness of mind.

2. Peter and the Golden Thread Peter was a young boy who could never live in the moment. When he was in school, he dreamed of being outside playing. When he was outside playing, he dreamed of his summer vacation. Peter constantly daydreamed, never taking the time to savour the special moments that filled his days. One morning Peter was out walking in a forest near his home. Feeling tired, he decided to rest on a patch of grass and eventually dozed off. After only a few minutes of deep sleep, he heard someone calling his name. “Peter! Peter!” came the shrill voice from above. As he slowly opened his eyes, he was startled to see a striking woman standing above him. She must have been over a hundred years old and her snow-white hair dangled well below her shoulders like a matted blanket of wool. In this woman’s wrinkled hand was a magical little ball with a hole in the centre and out of the hole dangled a long, golden thread. “Peter,” she said, “this is the thread of your life. If you pull the thread just a bit, an hour will pass in seconds. If you pull harder, whole days will pass in minutes. And if you pull with all your might, months – even years – will pass by in days.” Peter was very excited by this new discovery. “I’d like to have it if I may?” he asked. The elderly woman quickly reached down and gave the ball with the magic thread to the young boy.

3. The next day, Peter was sitting in the classroom feeling restless and bored. Suddenly, he remembered his new toy. As he pulled a little bit of the golden thread, he quickly found himself playing in his garden. Realising the power of the magic thread, Peter soon grew tired of being a schoolboy and longed to be a teenager, with all the excitement that phase of life would bring. So again he held the ball and pulled hard on the golden thread. Suddenly, he was a teenager with a very pretty girlfriend named Elise. But Peter still wasn’t content. He had never learned to enjoy the moment and to explore the simple wonders of every stage of his life. Instead, he dreamed of being an adult, so again he pulled hard on the thread and many years flew by in an instant. Now he found that he was transformed into a middle-aged adult. Elise was now his wife and Peter was surrounded by a houseful of kids. But Peter noticed something else. His once jet-black hair had started to turn grey and his once youthful mother, whom he loved so dearly had grown old and frail. Yet Peter still could not live in the moment. He had never learned to live in the now, so once again, he pulled on the magic thread and waited for the changes to appear. Peter now found that he was a ninety-year-old man. His thick dark hair had turned white as snow and his beautiful young wife, Elise, had also grown old and had passed away a few years earlier. His wonderful children had grown up and left home to lead lives of their own. For the first time in his entire life, Peter realised that he had not taken the time to embrace the wonders of living. He had never gone fishing with his kids or taken a moonlight stroll with Elise. He had never planted a garden or read those wonderful books his mother had loved to read. Instead, he had hurried through life, never resting to see all that was good along the way.

4. Peter became very sad at this discovery. He decided to go out to the forest where he used to walk as a boy to clear his head and warm his spirit. As he entered the forest, he noticed that the little saplings of his childhood had grown into mighty oaks. The forest itself had matured into a paradise of nature. He laid down on a small patch of grass and fell into a deep slumber. After only a minute, he heard someone calling out to him. “Peter! Peter!” cried the voice. He looked up in astonishment to see that it was none other than the old woman who had given him the ball with the magic golden thread many years earlier. “How have you enjoyed my special gift?” she asked. “At first it was fun, but now I hate it.” he responded bluntly, “My whole life has passed before my eyes without giving me the chance to enjoy it. Sure, there would have been sad times as well as great times, but I haven’t had the chance to experience either. I feel empty inside. I have missed the gift of living.” “You are very ungrateful,” said the old woman. “Still, I will give you one last wish.” “I’d like to go back to being a schoolboy and live my life over again,” Peter quickly responded. He then returned to his deep sleep.

5. Again, he heard someone calling his name and opened his eyes. “Who could it be this time?” he wondered. When he opened his eyes, he was absolutely delighted to see his mother standing over his bedside. She looked young, healthy and radiant. Peter realised that the strange woman from the forest had indeed granted his wish and he had returned to his former life. “Hurry up, Peter. You sleep too much. Your dreams will make you late for school if you don’t get up right this minute,” his mother admonished. Needless to say, Peter dashed out of bed and began to live the way he had hoped. He went on to live a full life, one rich with many delights, joys and triumphs, but it all started when he stopped sacrificing the present for the future and began to live in the moment. William J. Bennett

6. Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of travelling.

7. Two young brothers, Will and Jack had very different, extreme personalities. Their parents quickly realized that Will was a born optimist, whilst Jack was a real pessimist. So being concerned about them both, their parents decided to take them to see a child psychologist. The psychologist thought the parents were overreacting and tried to reassure them. “ Mr and Mrs Smith,” he said, “I’m sure you’re exaggerating. I’m happy to review their behaviour for you but I’ll be surprised if your boys are any different to any other young kids.” In an attempt to allay their fears, he then took Jack into a room filled with the most exciting toys any child could possibly imagine. Naturally , the psychologist expected to see Jack play with all these toys enthusiastically. However , Jack just burst into tears. “ What’s the matter?” asked the psychologist. “Don’t you want to play with all these wonderful toys?” “ No!” Jack responded. “I might break them and then I’ll be in big trouble.” Well , the psychologist was surprised by Jack’s extreme pessimism but he just couldn’t believe that both boys would be quite so different. So , he decides to take Will into another room. This room is filled from floor to ceiling with horse manure. Naturally , the psychologist was expecting Jack to be completely repulsed by the experience. However , Will was in his element and he quickly started digging at the manure with his bare hands. “ What are you doing?” asked the psychologist. “Why are you digging?” “ With all this manure,” replied Will, “there’s got to be a horse here somewhere!”

8. The time to relax is when you don ’ t have time for it! Here are the top 10 most relaxing tunes according to science: 1. Marconi Union - Weightless 2. Airstream - Electra 3. DJ Shah - Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix) 4. Enya - Watermark 5. Coldplay - Strawberry Swing 6. Barcelona - Please Don't Go 7. All Saints - Pure Shores 8. Adele – Someone Like You 9. Mozart - Canzonetta Sull'aria 10. Cafe Del Mar - We Can Fly

9. Two old Army buddies, Jim and Pete, are sitting up late at night enjoying a bottle of the finest Scotch and reminiscing about old times in foreign places. They’ve been drinking all evening and they’re starting to get a little tipsy, to say the least. Eventually, Jim asks, “What time is it?” To which Pete responds, “I don’t know but give me your old bugle.” “Why?” Jim asks. “How can you tell the time with a bugle?” “It’s easy,” says Pete. “Just watch me.” Jim passes him the bugle and Pete starts playing Reveille very, very loudly. Within seconds a voice shouts from the floor above, “Who the hell’s playing the bugle at one o’clock in the morning?”

10. Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.

11. Once there was a great king. One day he was traveling alone in a forest. Soon, he lost his way. He looked around from a hilltop but could not see any people or villages nearby. It was becoming dark. After some time, there was light shining from a long distance. Then he started walking in that direction and soon reached a hut. Outside the hut, he saw an old lady cleaning the place. Seeing him, she welcomed him, thinking that he was a soldier from the army. She gave the king some water to clean himself and water for drinking. She then spread a mat for him to relax. King started relaxing. After some time, she placed a plate of hot rice and curry in front of him. The king was so hungry that he quickly put his fingers on the hot food. The hot food burnt his fingers, and he spilled some rice on the floor. The old lady saw this and said, “Oh, you seem too impatient and hasty like your king. That is why you have burnt your fingers and lost some food”. Hearing the old lady’s words, the king was surprised and asked her, “Why do you think our king is impatient and hasty?.” The old lady smiled and began to explain, “My dear son, our king is having a big dream of capturing all his enemy forts. In that, he is ignoring all the small forts and focusing only to capture the massive forts.” The king interrupted the old lady and said, “That’s a good thing. What is the problem with that?”. She smiled and replied, “Wait, my son. Like your impatience in eating the food, you burned your fingers and wasted some food.

12. In the same way, the king’s impatience to defeat the enemies quickly resulted in the loss of men in his army. Instead, if you eat the less hot food at the edge first and then at the center, you would not have burnt your fingers and not wasted your food. Similarly, the king should target the small forts and strengthen his position. It helps him capture the massive forts without losing his men in the army.” Hearing this, the king understood his mistake and realized that one should have patience and avoid making any haste in any situation.

13. Function Description Example Knowledge : Attitudes provide a framework for understanding the world, making it more predictable and manageable. An individual’s attitude towards healthy eating helps them organize and guide their dietary choices. Value- Expressive : Attitudes serve as a way for individuals to express their core values and identity. An individual who values environmental sustainability expresses a positive attitude toward recycling. Adaptive Attitudes : Can help an individual fit in and be accepted by a social group. A person develops a positive attitude towards a political viewpoint because it aligns with the views of their friends and family. Ego-Defensive Attitudes : A ct as defense mechanisms, protecting the individual’s self-esteem or justifying actions that might be socially unacceptable. An individual insecure about their intellectual abilities develops a negative attitude towards academic institutions, viewing them as elitist. Functions of Attitudes A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes

14. The Jester and the King Once upon a time, a king had a jester in his court. The king was so fond of him that the jester enjoyed every kind of liberty of speech. He did not even spare the lords and ministers. So much so that he began to ridicule even the king but no one could dare to complain against him. This made the jester bold and proud. He cared for none. One day while the king was holding a court and was busy with serious state affairs, the jester made fun of the king. Dead silence fell on the court. The king got highly offended and sentenced the jester to death. The jester bent down over his knees and begged for mercy but the king was so angry that he turned down his request. At last, when the jester pleaded for mercy again and again, the king said, “Die you must but I grant you the freedom to choose the kind of death you like.” The clever jester at once used his ready wit and took good advantage of the concession saying, “Your Majesty! I choose to die of old age.” The king was impressed and forgave the jester with a warning for the future.

15. When we have done our best, we should wait for the result in peace.

16. A farmer lost his watch in the barn. After searching for a long while, he enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised the finder would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurriedly started an ultimate search. They found no watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up the search, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not?” After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised; he asked the boy how he succeeded. The boy replied, “I did nothing but sat on the ground and listened. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.” A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind. Sometimes the noise in our life is so much with no clarity on what to do. The mind seems so occupied with lots of thoughts that promote fear, discouragement & anxiety. Let peace guard your heart all the time. Consciously clear your head and mind; be patient and listen. If you want peace, stop fighting. If you want peace of mind, stop fighting with your thoughts - Peter McWilliams. Don't let other people hold the key to your peace of mind. Why worry? Make peace of mind your priority.

17. What is the greatest wealth in life? ’ The host had provided four options: Time Money Peace of mind Experience The price of Everything Think Yourself to Health, Wealth & Happiness: The Best of Dr. Joseph Murphy Cosmic Wisdom How the World Really Works : Book by Vaclav Smil

18. Suresh , the proprietor of a coffee shop had been busy all day. Being Saturday, his shop was very crowded and the customers seemed unending. He had been on his toes since morning. Towards the evening he felt a splitting headache surfacing. As the clock ticked away, his headache worsened. Unable to bear it, he stepped out of the shop leaving his staff to look after the sales. He walked across the street to the Pharmacy to buy himself a painkiller to relieve his headache. He swallowed the pill and felt relieved. He knew that in a few minutes he would feel better. As he strolled out of the shop, he casually asked the salesgirl, “Where is Mr. Mahesh, the Chemist? He’s not at the cash counter today! The girl replied, “Sir, Mr. Mahesh had a splitting headache and said he was going across to your coffee shop. He said a cup of hot coffee would relieve him of his headache.” The man’s mouth went dry and he mumbled, “Oh! I see.” This is a typical case of looking outside ourselves for something that we have within us. How strange, but true! The Chemist relieves his headache by drinking coffee and the coffee shop owner finds relief in a pain relieving pill! Similarly , many of us travel across the lengths and breadths of the universe and also visit several shrines and ashrams to find peace and solution to our problem . Eventually , we come to realize that real peace is within our own heart. Peace is really a state of mind.

19. When will the world know that peace and propagation are the two most delightful things in it. Horace Walpole

20. At the end of the 19th century, during French colonial rule, Hanoi was plagued by rats. Driven by the desire to modernise the city, the Governor-General instituted a bounty program. Citizens were paid a small amount of money for each rat they killed. However, given the health risks, the colonial government didn’t want piles of rat corpses to be handed over to officials. So instead they paid locals for every rat tail they brought in. The tails soon became an object of value. The rat hunters soon realised that they didn’t have to kill the rodents. A released rat with a cut-off tail could breed again and produce more valuable tails. Needless to say, the bounty failed to achieve the desired results. The rat plague was now worse than before. Based on the Story of the Great Hanoi Rat Massacre

21. Never worry because the tide is going out. It always comes back H A K U N A M A T A T A

22. Mulla came upon a frowning man walking along the road to town. “What’s wrong?” he asked. The man held up a tattered bag and moaned, “All that I own in this wide world barely fills this miserable, wretched sack.” “Too bad,” said Mulla , and with that, he snatched the bag from the man’s hands and ran down the road with it. Having lost everything, the man burst into tears and, more miserable than before, continued walking. Meanwhile, Mulla quickly ran around the bend and placed the man’s sack in the middle of the road where he would have to come upon it. When the man saw his bag sitting in the road before him, he laughed with joy, and shouted, “My sack! I thought I’d lost you!” Watching through the bushes, Mulla chuckled. “Well, that’s one way to make someone happy!”

23. We are swallowed up only when we are willing for it to happen.

24. Sylvia was right on schedule. She sat on the light rail, in a seat that faced an empty seat. Her head was bowed over her phone. Her finger moved rapidly. An image of two people hugging on a bench. The words: Hugging is a silent way of saying… You matter to me. Sylvia touched LIKE. The light rail decelerated at Ocean Avenue. A small crowd of people got off. A small crowd of people boarded. Nobody sat down in the seat opposite Sylvia. An image of the Dalai Lama. The words: If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. Sylvia touched LIKE. The light rail accelerated. It was still very early morning, not quite rush hour. Nobody talked. People in the car bowed their heads over their phones. An image of the sun rising behind mountains. The words: Father, give me a heart of integrity and compassion. Syliva touched LIKE. Outside the sun had just begun to rise. It reflected from the windows of numberless buildings. It promised to be a warm day. At times sunlight blinked into the light rail car. An image of someone helping a homeless person. The words: Be The Reason someone Smiles today. Sylvia touched LIKE. The light rail decelerated at the next station. A funny image of a cat standing in four enormous human boots. The words: Empathy cat wants to walk in ur shoes. Sylvia touched LIKE.

25. An image of the boy in The Sixth Sense. The words: I see nitwits. No compassion, no empathy, no brains, just nitwits. Sylvia touched LIKE. An image of someone sitting on a bench. The words: Wrinkles mean you laughed, grey hair means you cared, and scars mean you lived. Sylvia touched LIKE. The old woman stared down at her boots. Her wrinkled hands, folded lightly on her lap, trembled. Her lips moved slightly, as though she wanted to speak. Sylvia looked at the next image. She read more words. She touched LIKE. The light rail decelerated. The old woman stood up slowly, struggled to turn her cart full of bulging plastic bags and the rolled sleeping bag, just managed to deboard against the pushing crowd. Sylvia’s finger summoned a thousand passing images. She touched LIKE. A happy image of people looking up at a city skyline. The words: Life is not about Quantity of Friends you have, it’s about the Quality of Friends you have. Sylvia touched LIKE. The old woman sat down in the seat directly opposite Sylvia. An image of a young lady walking through the world with her hair flying. The words: I am not lucky. I am blessed. Sylvia touched LIKE. Sylvia’s eyes were fixed on her phone. She scrolled through hundreds of images with her restless finger. Once in a while she would pause for a second, indulge in her own reaction. Sometimes she would laugh. An old woman labored onto the light rail, towing a cart full of bulging plastic bags and a rolled sleeping bag. She wore a dirty green jacket, soiled pants and boots.

26. I’m so far ahead I think I’m first.

27. A 10 -year-old boy had decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese Judo Master Sensei. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. “ Sensei," the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?’ “ This is the only move you know. but this is the only move you will ever know," the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged. The boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “ No," the Sensei insisted, “Let him continue .” Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake. He dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his mow to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion .

28. On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every mow in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one mow?” “You won for two reasons," the Sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of Judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.” The boys biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

29. Don’t agonise , organise

30. McGinty , a farmer, needed to plough his field before the dry spell set in, but his own plough had broken. " I know, I'll ask my neighbour , farmer Murphy, to borrow his plough. He's a good man; I'm sure he'll have done his ploughing by now and he'll be glad to lend me his machine .” So McGinty began to walk the three or four fields to Murphy's farm. After a field of walking, McGinty says to himself, "I hope that Murphy has finished all his own ploughing or he'll not be able to lend me his machine.. .” Then after a few more minutes of worrying and walking, McGinty says to himself, "And what if Murphy's plough is old and on it's last legs - he'll never be wanting to lend it to me will he?. .” And after another field, McGinty says, "Murphy was never a very helpful fellow, I reckon maybe he won't be too keen to lend me his plough even if it's in perfect working order and he's finished all his own ploughing weeks ago... .” As McGinty arrives at Murphy's farm, McGinty is thinking, "That old Murphy can be a mean old fellow. I reckon even if he's got all his ploughing done, and his own machine is sitting there doing nothing, he'll not lend it to me just so watch me go to ruin.. .” McGinty walks up Murphy's front path, knocks on the door, and Murphy answers. " Well good morning Mr McGinty , what can I do for you?" says Murphy. And McGinty says, with eyes bulging, "You can take your bloody plough, and you can stick it up your bloody arse !” And on the same subject: "A war regarded as inevitable or even probable, and therefore much prepared for, has a very good chance of eventually being fought .” ( Anais Nin, 1903-1977, French-born American writer and psychoanalyst)

31. Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.

32. Melancholy, a thoughtful and introspective artist, found solace in the quiet corners of the village. His paintings were deep and reflective, capturing the essence of emotions that words often failed to convey. However, Melancholy often struggled with self-doubt, questioning the meaning of his art and the purpose of his existence. Choleric, on the other hand, was a fiery and ambitious blacksmith. He forged the strongest weapons and crafted the sturdiest armor for the village. Choleric's determination and leadership were unmatched, but his temper sometimes got the better of him. He yearned for perfection and expected the same from those around him. Sanguine, the village's beloved storyteller, was a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. His tales were filled with adventures and laughter, captivating the hearts of young and old alike. Sanguine thrived on social interactions, always seeking new friendships and spreading joy. Yet, beneath his cheerful exterior, he occasionally grappled with the fear of being alone. Phlegmatic, the easygoing farmer, tended to his crops with a calm and steady hand. He believed in the natural flow of life and took pleasure in the simple joys of the village. Phlegmatic's patient demeanor brought a sense of tranquility to Harmonyville , but at times, he struggled to assert himself and make decisions. Once upon a time in the quaint village of Harmonyville , there lived four friends named Melancholy, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic. Each of them possessed a distinct temperament that colored their personalities.

33. One day, a grand festival was announced in Harmonyville , and the four friends were chosen to organize it together. Initially, their differences caused tension and disagreements. Melancholy wanted a serene and contemplative atmosphere, Choleric envisioned a grand spectacle, Sanguine aimed for a lively carnival, and Phlegmatic preferred a laid-back gathering. Realizing that their individual strengths could complement each other, the friends decided to combine their ideas. Melancholy's artistic touch created a beautiful backdrop, Choleric's determination brought structure and organization, Sanguine's stories added a magical touch, and Phlegmatic's patience ensured smooth coordination. The festival turned out to be a harmonious blend of emotions, excitement, and serenity. The villagers marveled at the collaboration of the four temperaments, recognizing that each friend had contributed a unique flavor to the event. From that day forward, Melancholy, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic continued to work together, appreciating and valuing the diversity of their temperaments. The village of Harmonyville became a testament to the power of unity, where different personalities could coexist in perfect balance. And so, the four friends lived happily ever after, celebrating the beauty of their individuality within the tapestry of their shared experiences.

34. Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world. Don’t go through life creaking.

35. Power dwells with cheerfulness,’ wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. Though we often think of cheerfulness as the opposite of power, as an insincere urge to liven things up, Emerson knew it to be a resource of the self, a tool for shaping our emotional lives that can help to relocate us in the social world and link us to community. At the present time, as we confront wave after wave of bad news sweeping the planet, cheerfulness is worth our consideration. In China, a while in the past carried on with an exceptionally fruitful finance manager whose business was to sell brushes. The businessman had reached retirement age. He wanted to hand over his business to capable and shrewd hands before he retired, and he had three sons. He called his sons and assigned them the task of selling combs. The businessman gave them instructions to sell combs in the Buddhist monastery and gave them three days to complete the assignment and return it to him. His sons were shocked and perplexed because the monks who lived in the monastery never grew hair, but all three took the job given to them. After three days, the first son informed his father that he could only sell two combs. His father asked, “How did you manage to persuade them to purchase those combs?” “I said, yes, of course, they can use those combs for scratching their backs to ease their itching,” the first son replied. After some time, the second son showed up and said he had sold ten combs.

36. A few minutes later, the third son showed up and said he had sold a thousand combs. Everyone was shocked to learn of this startling number of a thousand combs. Father was curious and pleased with the outcome. “Son, you did a wonderful job,” he asked him. How did you manage to sell 1,000 combs?” “I went to the monk and gave them an idea,” the third son replied. The plan was to print or emboss some of the Buddha’s teachings on the comb and give them to visitors and pilgrims as souvenirs. They will recall the lessons of Buddha consistently while brushing their hair. The same question was posed to him by his father: “What did you say to them??” The second son responded, “I advised them to buy combs and keep them in the monastery because their visitors and pilgrims’ hairs might be ruffled on the way.”

37. If Music is a Place -- then Jazz is the City, Folk is the Wilderness, Rock is the Road, Classical is a Temple.” ― Vera Nazarian

38. Once in a distant land, a talented musician roamed alone, his only companionship being the melodies that flowed from his fiddle. Loneliness gnawed at him during his journey through a vast forest, and he yearned for a true friend to share the path. One day, weary from his solitary travels, the musician sat beneath a tree and played his fiddle. To his surprise, a majestic wolf approached, expressing a desire to learn the enchanting art. Skeptical of a wolf as a companion, the musician walked alongside the creature but cunningly deceived it into being ensnared by an oak tree. As time passed, the musician's isolation returned, prompting him to play his fiddle once more. This time, a curious fox was captivated by the music, but the musician, desiring a different companion, slyly bound the fox to two bushes and continued on his way. Alone again, he played near a tree in the hope of finding a true friend. A hare appeared, drawn by the sweet tunes, yet the musician, unsatisfied, tricked the hare into tying itself to a tree as they passed by. Loneliness persisted until a woodcutter, attracted by the musician's song, arrived. Delighted to have a human companion, the musician failed to notice the impending danger. Meanwhile, the wolf, fox, and hare had freed themselves and, realizing the musician's deceit, stood ready to attack.

39. In a twist of fate, the woodcutter intervened with an axe, shielding the musician from harm. Fearful, the animals fled, never to return. Grateful, the musician played one more song for the woodcutter before continuing his journey, now realizing the value of true companionship over deception . True friendship is more precious than the temporary solace gained through deception, and the consequences of betraying others may come back when least expected. Be careful of the company you keep, as the actions of others can affect your own well-being. Kindness and trust are more valuable than deceit and trickery in forming lasting relationships.

40. Begin at once to live and count each day as a separate life.

41. Once, a rich man used to live in a city. Even in other nations, he had successfully established his business. He grew to be one of his country’s wealthiest individuals over time. He bought a lot of properties and built a palace-like house. He began to lead a contented life with his large family. “You know! The richest man of our state passed away due to a heart attack yesterday, and all his earnings and properties were left behind,” his friend said while visiting him one day. His friend naturally shared this information, but when this wealthy man heard it, his mind was shaken and felt the fear of death. The rich man’s first troubling thoughts of death were, “One day, I will die too, and everything will be left here,” which began his downward spiral. He became ill out of worry. He was unable to share the cause of his inner anguish with anyone. He became so ill over time that he had to rest in bed. Numerous treatments were tried, but they did not help. One day, a monk visited his home. The man wept as he explained the cause of his agony and fell to his feet. Monk laughed and said, “Treating your disease is very easy.” When the rich man asked, “Please tell me,” the monk said, “Look, when the thought of death comes to mind, say it loud. Till Death Comes, I Will Live“.

42. The moral of "The Monk’s Answer to the Fear of Death Story" is that the fear of death has the potential to overwhelm and incapacitate an individual. However, the story suggests that accepting the inevitability of death and adopting a positive perspective on life can lead to inner peace and happiness. By acknowledging the transience of life and focusing on living in the present, individuals can free themselves from the paralyzing fear of the unknown future. The monk's advice to affirmatively declare, "Till Death Comes, I Will Live," emphasizes the importance of embracing life with resilience, engaging in good deeds, and finding joy in the moments that make life meaningful. “Do this for seven days, and I will come next week. Remember, never stop doing good deeds and charity.” When the monk finally arrived seven days later, he saw that the wealthy man had recovered from his illness and was beaming with happiness. The rich man saw this monk, ran to him, fell at his feet, and said, “You saved me. Your medicine worked like magic on me.” I understood that “the day my death comes, I will die only on that day, never before. ”

43. We are all here for a spell ; get all the good laughs you can. Wisdom saving throws are all about noticing something is wrong. Spells that require wisdom saves are usually about deception, fear, or some form of mental manipulation. If you successfully save against those spells, it means you recognize that your impulse as a result of the spell is silly, and thus wouldn't do it. For example, you would realize that the request you just got from the suggestion spell is against your interests, so you shouldn't do it; or that the voices in your head from the dissonant whispers spell aren't real, so you don't need to run away.

44. In a distant realm, there existed a fairy earnestly pursuing the path to become a fairy godmother. Despite her wizardry prowess and intellect, she was notably unattractive, a fact that seemed to overshadow her remarkable qualities. In the fairy school, her peers and mentors dismissed her, emphasizing superficial beauty above all else. Undeterred, she continued her studies and dedicated herself to aiding those in need. However, every attempt to assist was met with harsh criticism and rejection due to her unconventional appearance. The persistent mockery made her contemplate using her magical abilities to alter her looks, but her mother's wise words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the uniqueness that defined her. One fateful day, a neighboring land faced invasion, destruction, and imprisonment at the hands of fairies and wizards. Swift thinking, the fairy cast a spell on her attire, adopting the guise of a witch with her "ugly" face. This transformation allowed her to infiltrate the enemy's den unnoticed. Inside the witches' lair, she used her magic to create a bewitching atmosphere, complete with bats, toads, and spiders, organizing a grand party. Amidst the festivities, she stealthily freed the captive wizards and fairies. Together, they harnessed their collective magic to imprison the witches within a mountain for the next century.

45. Once liberated, the community celebrated the fairy's bravery and intelligence for the following hundred years. The perception of beauty underwent a transformation, and the people learned to appreciate the uniqueness of individuals. Ugliness was no longer considered a stigma; instead, it became a source of anticipation for the extraordinary deeds that awaited those born with unconventional looks. The moral of the story is that genuine beauty transcends physical appearances and is instead found in qualities such as courage, intelligence, and kindness. The story encourages us to look beyond superficial judgments and appreciate the true worth of individuals based on their inner strengths and virtues. It emphasizes that embracing one's uniqueness and recognizing the inherent value of others can lead to extraordinary accomplishments and a more inclusive and compassionate society.

46. You can no more blame your circumstances for your character than you can mirror for your looks

47. In a grand kingdom, there resided a king named Roland, renowned for his self-centered and oppressive rule. King Roland's insatiable thirst for power and wealth led the once-prosperous lands into desolation, burdening the people with poverty and despair. The king, oblivious to the suffering of his subjects, imposed heavy taxes on the poor while indulging in luxury with his advisors. The oppressed populace, pushed to their limits, found a leader in a young and charismatic man named Ethan. Determined to challenge the tyrannical king and fight for justice and freedom, Ethan rallied a group of rebels. Through careful planning and garnering support from the common folk, the rebellion gained strength, fueled by a collective aspiration for a better future. Despite hearing of the uprising, King Roland dismissed it as inconsequential, blinded by his own arrogance and ego. He underestimated the resolve of his subjects, believing his power to be invincible. The rebellion, however, proved him wrong. In a decisive attack on the palace, Ethan and the rebels, supported by the people tired of oppression, overcame the palace guards loyal to the selfish king. Realizing the magnitude of his mistakes, King Roland fled the palace, leaving behind his crumbling empire and forsaken subjects.

48. With the departure of the selfish king, Ethan and the rebels took charge, working diligently to rebuild the kingdom and restore justice. They implemented fair policies, prioritized the well-being of the people, and brought prosperity back to the land. The legacy of the selfish king became a cautionary tale The moral of Lost Empire Story is that the relentless pursuit of personal gain, coupled with a disregard for the needs and suffering of others, inevitably leads to one's downfall. King Roland's selfish and tyrannical rule resulted in the impoverishment and despair of his kingdom. The story emphasizes that true leadership is built on empathy, fairness, and a genuine concern for the well-being of the people. Ethan and the rebels, driven by a shared desire for justice and freedom, stood against the oppressive ruler, demonstrating the power of unity and selflessness. King Roland's downfall serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the consequences of leadership rooted in ego, arrogance, and a lack of compassion. The story encourages us to reflect on the qualities of true leadership, promoting values that uplift and prioritize the welfare of the community over personal desires. It reminds us that a leader's legacy is shaped not by the accumulation of power and wealth but by the positive impact they have on the lives of those they govern.

49. Why worry about things you can’t control ? Get busy controlling things that depend on you

50. Once upon a time, an elephant harbored an unconventional dream of becoming a photographer, a notion that elicited chuckles and skepticism from his fellow companions. Some dismissed the idea as ridiculous, questioning the existence of cameras suitable for elephants. "What an exercise in futility," echoed others, asserting that there was nothing worth capturing. Undeterred, the elephant persisted in pursuing his dream, resourcefully assembling a camera from discarded pieces and additional components. Designing every aspect himself, from a trunk-operated button to a lens tailored for an elephant's eye, and a sturdy frame to mount the camera on his head, the elephant overcame numerous challenges. Upon completing his peculiar camera, the elephant faced the comical reality that it resembled a massive, bizarre mask due to its size. Doubt crept in as he contemplated abandoning his dream, especially when it seemed like those who doubted him might be right. However, the unexpected unfolded. The sight of the elephant strolling with the camera on his head evoked uncontrollable laughter from onlookers. To everyone's surprise, the elephant managed to capture remarkably funny and amazing pictures of all the animals, infusing humor into the scenes.

51. His photographs portrayed joy, even in the seemingly irritable rhino. Consequently, the elephant earned the title of the savannah's official photographer. Animals from far and wide flocked to him. The moral of the Hotshot Elephant story resonates with the importance of pursuing one's dreams and passions, no matter how unconventional or challenging they may seem. It underscores the power of determination, creativity, and a unique perspective in overcoming obstacles and achieving success in unexpected ways. Additionally, the story highlights the value of humor, showcasing how it can bring joy to others and open doors to new opportunities.

52. In your mind, change the word “problem” to “challenge.”

53. The jungle's avian residents faced a unique dilemma—while all other creatures had kings, the birds had none. Feeling embarrassed, they decided to address this issue and convened a meeting to determine who among them would be crowned king. The Mynah proposed a fair contest: the bird capable of flying the highest would become the king of the air. The boastful Eagle, confident in his strength and size, declared himself the likely winner and urged an immediate coronation. However, the small but clever Sparrow interjected, suggesting that the race would determine the true king. The Eagle, amused by the Sparrow's challenge, scoffed at the idea of being defeated by such a small bird. Preparations for the race began, with the Owl initiating the competition. At the signal, all the birds soared into the sky, reaching great heights. However, one by one, they dropped out until only the Eagle remained, soaring proudly. Unbeknownst to the Eagle, the tiny Sparrow had cleverly flown beneath his wing throughout the race. When the Eagle declared himself the king, the Sparrow emerged from under his wing, flew just above his head, and claimed victory.

54. The birds, delighted to see the proud Eagle humbled, unanimously agreed that the Sparrow was the true king. However, the Eagle, unable to accept defeat, seized the Sparrow and tossed him to the ground, tearing away half of his tail in the process. Undeterred, the Sparrow, though slightly injured, remained resolute. He asserted his right to be king, and despite the shortened tail, the birds crowned him their ruler. The story highlights the importance of wit and humility over arrogance, showcasing how even the smallest and seemingly weakest can outsmart those who boast excessively.

55. For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness

56. In a village, a washerman used to wash clothes on the riverbank, where a plain rock served as a common washing spot for the villagers. One day, he arrived to find a monk meditating on the rock. Expecting the monk to move soon, the washerman decided to wait under a tree. After a couple of hours, seeing the monk still meditating, the washerman approached him with folded hands and politely requested the monk to vacate the rock so he could wash clothes. The monk, understanding the washerman's need, moved a little away. As the washerman began his work, some dirty water accidentally splashed on the monk, who, in turn, got angry and scolded him. Oblivious to the splashing, the washerman , with humility, apologized, thinking he might have committed a mistake. The monk, however, continued angrily, accusing the washerman of lacking manners in washing clothes. Despite the washerman's sincere apologies, the monk persisted in scolding him. Eventually, the washerman , realizing his oversight, stopped washing, apologized once again, and left with the clothes. The moral of the story is that learning patience can be challenging, but once mastered, life becomes more manageable. The tale also underscores how intolerance and anger hinder understanding and can be the true enemies of harmonious interactions. In this scenario, the washerman displayed patience and humility in the face of the monk's anger, illustrating the value of calmness and forgiveness in resolving conflicts.

57. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again.

58. Excited, the disciple hastily tested the mirror on his guru, only to be shocked by the visible flaws such as attachment and arrogance in his master's heart. Disheartened, he thought, "The master I considered my ideal is not free from demerits.” To further test the mirror, the disciple used it on his friends, revealing their imperfections. Convinced that everyone in the world was filled with demerits, he tested the mirror on his parents, discovering even their flaws. Disheartened, he went back to the Gurukul , complaining to his master about the perceived impurity in everyone. In response, the guru chuckled and turned the mirror towards the disciple, revealing his own heart and mind filled with attachment, hatred, and anger. Stunned, the disciple realized the purpose of the mirror—to recognize his own faults and strive for self-improvement. The master explained that the mirror was given to help the disciple see his flaws and work towards a better self. The guru emphasized that if the disciple had invested the time spent observing others' faults into self-improvement, his life and personality would have undergone positive transformations. The moral of the story is to remember one's own faults before pointing out the faults of others. It encourages self-reflection and self-improvement rather than focusing on the imperfections of those around us. In essence, the tale advises against blame without introspection. In a village near a Gurukul , a disciple who had completed his studies was about to leave. Impressed by the disciple, the master of the Gurukul gifted him a magical mirror. Unlike an ordinary mirror, this magical mirror had the ability to reveal the true thoughts of a person's mind and heart.

59. Courage is grace under pressure

60. On a bright and sunny weekend, Murli and his friends embarked on a mountain climbing adventure, fueled with enthusiasm and determination. Upon reaching the site, they decided to optimize their time and energy by choosing a peak with a clear view of the surroundings. As they set out, Murli noticed another mountain in the distance and expressed his desire to climb it. However, his friends, considering the difficult , highlighting the challenges and the need for more steam for the engine. Mulri chose different , Undeterred , after a few hours, he and his friends reached the tops of their respective mountains. Murli received praise for his victorious climb by those who were there before. Murli pondered why there were hundreds of people at the crowded peak and only a handful at the other . Murli in his mind had won the support of all that day! Soon enough it was time to leave, they had reached the base on time. It was now that Inquiring , Murli questioned his friends about the apparent disparity in the mind of many and the mind of few. A friend paused and explained that many are content with what comes easily to them. They fear the potential loss of what they have while chasing after something more. The friend emphasized that reaching the less crowded peak requires a more grit, courage, and strength. In conclusion, the story encourages the idea of making that extra effort . I Make that extra effort its worth what you find while you find what you’re worth!

61. Hear one man before you answer, several before you decide ( Decision Making) Programmed Decision Non-Programmed Decision Routine or Tactical Decision Basic Decision or Strategic Decision Organizational Decision Personal Decision Group Decision Individual Decision Policy Decision Operational Decision

62. In a village, there lived a weaver who, while working on his loom, realized that it needed repairs. Seeking wood for the repair, he ventured into the jungle to chop some branches. To his surprise, a genie emerged from the tree, claiming it as his abode and requesting the weaver not to cut it. In exchange for sparing the tree, the genie promised a boon. Flummoxed and thrilled, the weaver asked for a day to decide. Running back to the village, he sought advice from his friend, who suggested asking to be made king. However, his wife cautioned against it, foreseeing the hardships and constant worry associated with kingship. Uncertain, the weaver sought further advice from his wife, who recommended asking for one extra head and two extra hands to enhance productivity and double their income. Excitedly, the weaver returned to the jungle, requesting the boon from the genie. Swiftly, the genie granted the wish, and the weaver found himself with two heads and four hands. Returning to the village, the villagers mistook him for a dangerous monster and beat him to death. The moral of the story is that not all advice, even if well-intentioned, may lead to favorable outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of careful consideration and critical thinking before making decisions. Blindly following suggestions without evaluating their consequences can result in unintended and unfortunate outcomes. one who has no wits of one's own will perish

63. The one who stays calm is the one who is in control

64. A wandering monk passed by the courtyard of a monastery where he heard two groups of monks arguing about the temple flag fluttering in the breeze. "It is the flag that moves," one group argued. "No, it is the wind that moves," argued the other group. Back and forth they argued, responding to the logic of the other side, coming up with new rationale for their respective positions. But it just came down to, "It is the wind that moves, it is the flag that moves." After listening for a while, the itinerant monk interrupted them and said, "If you look more closely you will see that it is neither the flag nor the wind that moves -- what moves is your mind."

65. To eliminate a feeling of powerlessness, reflect on the parts of your life where you do h ave control.

66. Once upon a time there lived a rich and powerful king. One fine day he invited a fakir to visit him in his palace. He informed all his ministers and courtiers to be prepared to received the respected fakir next day. Hearing this every one started getting ready to welcome the fakir. As is human nature, when people are asked to make preparations to receive some guests, they mostly set about showcasing their wealth and knowledge. As a result, the palace was decorated beautifully d best of the best furniture including the king’s throne, much like the fabled ‘Peacock throne’, was put on display. Next day the fakir arrived. He was led into the palace by the royal guards and given a tour of the place. The fakir walked through the well manicured gardens to the luxurious rooms. He passed through conference halls and dinning rooms and living royal quarters, each of which were lit up by one of a kind chandeliers made of crystal and gold, walls decorated with beautiful paintings in gold frames, floors covered with wall to wall valuable Oriental carpets on which was arranged one of the most exquisitely carved and bejeweled furniture. All of this was put on display for the visual pleasure of the fakir. Finally the fakir reached the reception area and was invited to be seated before the king arrived. Much the chagrin of the onlookers, with one look around, the fakir went ahead and occupied the most grand looking chair in sight – the king’s throne! The royal court was aghast!

67. How could the fakir occupy the king’s throne? The royal courtiers were perplexed. They did not want to offend the fakir as he was the king’s special guest nor did they want to displease the king by allowing a commoner occupy the royal throne The guards humbly informed him that it was the royal throne he was sitting on. “Perhaps you would like to be seated on one of the other chairs here, O’ Respected fakir,” said one of them. But the fakir had made up his mind to rest himself on the throne. He refused to budge. Sensing the commotion around, the minister rushed to the fakir, urging him to change his seat before the king arrived. “Why should I do that?” asked the fakir. “Am I not the royal guest?” “Isn’t it your duty to make me comfortable in your palace?” he questioned. “Well, of course Sir!” “But this is a throne meant for kings, only the honorable king or someone above his stature has the right to occupy this stone gilded royal seat,” informed one of the courtiers. “Surely you don’t think you are above him?” he added. The fakir just smiled and nodded. “Of course I am above your king. “How is that possible?”

68. “Only God above our king,” interjected one of the ministers. “So please we request you to get off the throne.” The fakir smiled at him but did not move an inch. With the time running out, the minister tried again. “You have no right to occupy this throne. Surely you are on not above God. Nobody is above God!” he blurted out. “A ha! Now you said it, my friend,” exclaimed the fakir. “That’s me. I am that ‘nobody’! All the courtiers and ministers fell silent. The fakir was right! The image of God you have in your heart depends on the kind of feelings you have for Him! Jaaki rahi bhavna jaisi , prabhu murat dekhi tinn vaisi ...

69. Wisdom is oft times nearer when we stop than when we soar.

70. In a charming village, a young boy named Timmy stood out for his kind heart and unwavering honesty. The village faced a prolonged drought, leaving the fields dry and the people desperate. One day, a mysterious traveler arrived, claiming to be a rainmaker. Skeptical but desperate, the villagers gathered in the town square, hoping for a miracle. The traveler promised rain in exchange for a handsome sum. As the villagers eagerly agreed to pay, Timmy stepped forward. With respect, he questioned the traveler's ability and expressed doubt due to their limited funds. He wanted assurance that the promise would be kept. Impressed by Timmy's wisdom, the traveler admitted he couldn't control the rain and had hoped to take advantage of the villagers' desperation. Touched by Timmy’s integrity, the traveler decided to stay and help in whatever way he could. Inspired by Timmy’s words, the village began working together to find alternative solutions for their water scarcity. They dug wells, collected rainwater, and shared resources selflessly. Timmy’s honesty inspired unity and trust among the villagers. Over months, the traveler became an integral part of the community, teaching valuable skills and sharing knowledge. Although he couldn't bring rain, he brought something even more important—hope and resilience.

71. In times of desperation, righteousness and integrity can be more valuable than any promise or miracle. Timmy’s unwavering honesty not only saved his village from a potential scam but also united the community to face adversity together. It reminds us that trust, unity, and resilience are built on a foundation of truth and integrity. One night, as the villagers gathered around a campfire, they celebrated their newfound camaraderie. They acknowledged that Timmy’s wisdom had saved them from a potential scam and had brought them closer together. From that day forth, Timmy was respected and admired by all, proving that honesty and integrity can be the catalyst for change in the darkest of times.

72. In the midst of conflict, take a deep breath, center your thoughts, and relax your muscles Before you open your mouth.

73. The child and his mother: A curious child asked his mother: “Mommy, why are some of your hairs turning grey?” The mother tried to use this occasion to teach her child: “It is because of you, dear. Every bad action of yours will turn one of my hairs grey!” The child replied innocently: “Now I know why grandmother has only grey hairs on her head.”

74. The test of courage comes when we are in the minority, the test of tolerance comes when we Are in the majority.

75. Once, in a classroom setting, a teacher imparted a valuable lesson to the students about the weight of carrying hatred in their hearts. The assignment was simple: bring tomatoes in a quantity corresponding to the number of people they harbored hatred towards. The students, understanding the metaphor, complied with the task. They carried their bags of tomatoes everywhere for a week, symbolizing the burden of hatred they carried. Over time, the tomatoes decayed, emitting an unpleasant odor. Upon returning to school, the teacher asked the students about their observations. The students, burdened by the decaying tomatoes, complained about the weight, the rot, and the foul smell. The teacher seized this moment to deliver a profound lesson. The spoiled tomatoes symbolized the impact of harboring hatred, illustrating how it can taint and deteriorate one's heart over time. The teacher's message was clear: just as the tomatoes rotted in a week, the persistent presence of hatred can spoil the human heart. The allegory urged the students to reflect on the importance of forgiveness and the cleansing power it has on the heart. In essence, the teacher emphasized that the heart is a delicate garden that requires care. By forgiving those who wronged or hurt us, we cleanse our hearts and free ourselves from the weight of perpetual resentment. The lesson concluded with the profound realization that carrying hatred throughout life only leads to a heart that is tainted and impure.

76. In life, individuals often hold onto grudges, allowing hatred to fester for years. The allegory of the decaying tomatoes serves as a poignant reminder that forgiveness is the key to maintaining a pure and clean heart. Letting go of hatred not only lightens the burdens we carry but also cultivates a more peaceful and fulfilling life.

77. The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than the b ad ones

78. Once upon a time, there was a great fakir [an ascetic] who lived a simple life. He ate whatever he found, drank water from the nearby river, and meditated under a tree in a forest in the outskirts of a town. Word spread, and the king of the province came to know about the fakir. He decided to meet the fakir. After meeting the fakir, he was so impressed with the fakir’s unpretentious demeanor that he invited the fakir to live with him in the palace. The fakir agreed readily, which surprised the king; he was expecting that the fakir would have to be persuaded a lot to accept the invitation. Nevertheless, the king took him along and made lavish arrangements for his stay. The ascetic settled down quickly and started enjoying all the luxuries of the palace — imperial clothes, royal food, and a life of absolute comfort. There was not a trace of self-denial. Soon, the king started suspecting that perhaps he was being hoodwinked by the fakir. But he kept his thoughts to himself and continued to observe the man. Six months on, the fakir was still enjoying his stay and didn’t seem to mind this majestic life one bit. By now the king had become convinced that the fakir had only been pretending in the forest. He decided to confront him. On meeting the fakir, the king said, “When I first met you, I was impressed by your austere lifestyle and minimum needs. Your life was an example of renunciation. But what I now see is totally the opposite. You seem to be enjoying every material pleasure there is. So what is the difference between you and me?”

79. The fakir smiled and replied, “Yes, I know. And that is the difference between you and me. I can leave all pleasures and comforts whenever I want because I am not attached to them. You are. I hope you have your answer now.” It dawned on the king that the fakir was indeed great. He pleaded with him to stay on but the fakir had made up his mind. As he was leaving, he said to the king, “Remember, what you hold on to, holds you. And since I hold on to nothing, I have nothing to renounce. I am forever free.” The fakir smiled and said, “I was waiting for you to ask me this question but I will answer you tomorrow morning.” The next morning the fakir appeared before the king wearing his old tattered clothes. The fakir said, “I am leaving for an unknown destination. If you really want the answer, you will have to leave your palace, your family, your kingdom and accompany me.” The king was stunned. He said, “You know, I can’t do that!”

80. Substitute “I have to” with “I choose to.”

81. There was once a king who ruled over his subjects well. All his people were happy and his kingdom prospered. One day the King called all the religious heads of his land. Some were well renowned and well versed in Vedas and Puranas and some in the Bible, and yet others in the Koran and other scriptures. When all were gathered together, the King asked, "Oh holy ones! Today, at the request of my subjects, I wish to declare one particular religion as the religion of my land. I leave it to you O learned ones, to decide amongst yourself and to arrive at a unanimous decision as to which religion deserves royal patronage. However I feel only that religion should be chosen whose teachings are not refused by anyone." Years rolled past, but no decision was taken. Each felt that his religion was the best, but none of the others agreed. One day a traveling saint arrived in the kingdom. Upon learning about the king's unfulfilled desire, he immediately went up to the king and said "O! Mighty one! I am willing to show you the religion whose teachings nobody can refute."

82. The king was delighted. At last after long years of waiting an answer was at hand. "Please tell me soon my dear saint. I am impatient. I have waited for many long years." The saint replied "Be patient my king. I shall reveal the name of this religion to you, only at a quiet, secluded spot. Tomorrow at twelve noon, I shall be waiting for you near the banks of the holy River Ganga. We shall go across to the opposite shore and then I will reveal the best religion." As decided, the saint and the king met at 12 noon the next day. The king ordered a boat to take them across the river. Immediately a boat was brought. Before the king could step inside, the saint expressed the desire to inspect the boat. "No this boat will not do as one wooden plank at the bottom of the boat is loose," he complained. Another boat was brought. After close inspection, the saint observed that a few nails were missing along the side of the boat. The king ordered another boat to be brought. After close scrutiny, the saint rejected the boat saying that the paint was chipped. This was repeated many tunes over and over again. The king was slowly loosing his patience and could not stand it any longer.

83. Respected sir!" he said, "For the past so many hours you have been inspecting one boat after another. You have rejected each one of them. After all, what does it matter whether the paint is chipped or a few nails are missing or a plank is loose? As long as the boat is capable of taking us across the river, I feel that these minor faults should be overlooked." The saint turned towards the king and smiled. Softly he explained "You have finally discovered that no boat is incapable of taking us across. The religions prevalent in our land are like the boats. Each one of them is capable of taking you to the Lord. To find faults in each other's faith is mere foolishness. Go back to your kingdom and continue to rule wisely, giving each religion as much respect as your own. Live in unity." The king fell at the saint's feet. When he got up again, he felt himself richer - richer in knowledge and in wisdom, and better able to understand God’s plan.

84. Learning Detachment is the opposite of attachment, not the opposite of enjoyment  — The Upanishads Life is transitory- everything comes and goes. A newborn becomes an adult in no time life, and his/her identity also takes new names- my child, brother/ sister/ brother or sister in law/ son or daughter in law, friend, mother, father, uncle, manager, and so on. Life offers us abundances to enjoy, while being in gratitude, but not holding on to any of them. To be free of grief on the loss of these worldly objects, it is important to practice detachment from these enjoyments. The present moment is the only truth and acceptance of the same in the form it is presented in front of us is the true living and remedy for mental peace. The more we accept and be grateful, the better the things are going to be in the days ahead. Therefore, “Future is uncertain… Do not live in the past, do not live in the future. Live in the present; indeed this present is omnipresent

85. The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body

86. In the realm of a majestic kingdom, a king, captivated by the renown of a revered saint, extended a gracious invitation adorned with valuable gifts. Yet, the saint, in humility, declined the regal summons. Undeterred, the persistent king sought out the sage, fervently imploring, "Master, grant me the honor of welcoming you within the opulence of my palace. Kindly accept my earnest invitation." In response, the saint, wise and discerning, inquired, "Should I grace your palace, can you present me with a gift truly yours?" The king, asserting dominion over his kingdom, declared, " Guruji , the entirety of the realm is at your disposal." However, the saint, unfazed, countered, "Your ancestors, too, laid claim to this kingdom as their own. Where are they now? Can the kingdom be deemed truly yours? In your past lives, possessions were asserted as 'mine.' Do you still hold claim over those? This world is but an illusion. Offer that which is genuinely yours." Pondering deeply, the king proposed, " Guruji , I offer you my physical being." Yet, the saint, with serene wisdom, remarked, "This body shall one day turn to dust, forsaken as you transcend worldly bonds. Can it be deemed truly yours? Provide an offering authentically yours."

87. Perplexed, the king, grappling with the ephemeral nature of possessions, suggested, "If neither kingdom nor body is mine, accept my mind as an offering." The saint, perceptive and gentle, responded, "Your mind, a constant source of distraction, renders you a captive. Can it be said to be truly yours? Bestow an offering authentically yours." In a state of bewilderment, the king queried, "When my kingdom, my body, my mind are not truly mine, what remains to offer?" The saint, with a compassionate smile, imparted profound wisdom, " Rajan , surrender your 'I' and 'Mine.' Relinquish the illusion of possession." The king, enveloped in introspection, humbly conceded, "Master, I surrender all. I am bereft of possessions. How shall I govern now? Enlighten me." The sage, with benevolence, revealed, "Having ruled with the mentality of 'My kingdom, My palace, My family, My treasure, My subjects,' shed the shackles of illusion. Embrace your role as an instrument of God's will. Surrender to the divine and discharge your responsibilities. In that moment of realization, the king comprehended that ego and attachment had ensnared his soul. Gratefully, he thanked the saint and departed, poised to serve his kingdom with newfound wisdom and humility.

88. Men who fear demons see demons everywhere. If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels. Demons are like obedient dogs; they come when they are called.

89. Once, two brothers found themselves traversing through a dense forest, the path elongated as the day progressed, and the sun hinted at its descent. The younger brother, discerning the impracticality of continuing their journey in the encroaching darkness, suggested, "Brother, we should rest here until morning, and at the break of dawn, resume our trek to the destination." However, the elder brother, mindful of the potential dangers lurking in the nocturnal forest, voiced his concerns, "Staying in the forest at night can be perilous. It would not be prudent to sleep here. One of us must remain vigilant to keep watch." The younger brother concurred, proposing, "Alright, let's take turns. I'll rest first, and when you feel drowsy, wake me up. I'll then take over the watch, and you can rest." As the night unfolded, the younger brother succumbed to a deep slumber. Suddenly, the elder brother beheld a horrifying figure approaching – a demon of formidable proportions. As the demon drew near, it emitted a piercing scream, unsettling the elder brother. Strangely, the fear he experienced had a peculiar effect – the size of the demon grew in direct correlation to his terror. The demon's screams continued, each one escalating its size. With the colossal demon advancing menacingly, the elder brother, overwhelmed by terror, shouted a desperate cry for his younger sibling. The moment he screamed, he lost consciousness and collapsed. Awoken by his brother's distress, the younger brother sprang into action, assuming that fatigue had caused his brother to inadvertently fall asleep. Now, it was his turn to stand guard.

90. In due time, the same demon materialized before him, unleashing another resounding scream. Undeterred, the younger brother, composed and unafraid, calmly inquired, "Why are you screaming? What is it that you seek?" Astonishingly, as a result of his courage, the demon began to diminish in size with each passing moment. Despite the demon's final, desperate howl, the younger brother maintained his composure, asking, "What do you desire?" The demon, reduced to a minute form, eventually vanished. Come morning, when the younger brother roused his sibling to resume their journey, the elder brother remained in a state of wakefulness. The younger brother took the opportunity to share a profound insight: "In life, when we avoid confronting something we must inevitably face, it burgeons beyond our control and dominates us. Yet, when we confront it with courage, it diminishes and becomes manageable." These demons, symbolic of life's trials, adversities, and challenges, exemplify that avoiding problems allows them to control us. However, facing them head-on with courage diminishes their impact, enabling us to overcome them. Therefore, in the face of life's tribulations, we must confront them with unwavering resolve.

91. Pass over names and look to qualities, So that qualities may lead thee to essence! The differences of sects arise from his names; when they pierce through his essence They find his peace! The Spiritual couplets of Rumi

92. In a quaint village, two inseparable friends, Raj and Shyam , transitioned from being schoolmates to colleagues. Their camaraderie led them to embark on a daring journey to explore undiscovered islands. Their adventure took a dire turn when a fierce storm shattered their cruise ship, claiming the lives of many. Miraculously, Raj and Shyam found themselves on a deserted island devoid of trees, presenting them with the challenges of survival. Facing the harsh reality, the friends turned to prayer as their beacon of hope. Dividing the island, Raj prayed in the east, while Shyam sought solace in the west. In the midst of Raj's seemingly unanswered prayers, a pivotal moment occurred. His plea for sustenance materialized, filling his surroundings with an abundance of food. Encouraged by this manifestation, Raj fervently prayed for companionship. To his delight, a distressed girl, in need of help, approached him. The two formed a connection, leading to marriage, and Raj now yearned to return home with his newfound love. Praying for a ship, Raj's wish was granted as a vessel arrived at the shore, ready to carry the couple home. However, as he was about to embark, a mysterious voice reminded him of something precious he was forgetting.

93. Confident in having everything he needed, Raj dismissed the voice, only to be confronted with the revelation that he had overlooked his dear friend Shyam in the west. Distraught, he searched in vain for Shyam , but the voice, revealing itself as God, disclosed that Shyam's selfless prayer was the force behind all Raj's fulfilled wishes. Overwhelmed with guilt, Raj lamented his selfishness, learning a profound lesson about the purity and power of selfless prayers. The story serves as an inspiration, highlighting the importance of considering the well-being of others in our pursuits and fostering a selfless approach to life. In conclusion, the narrative prompts reflection on the tendency to prioritize personal desires over the needs of loved ones. It encourages a shift towards living for others, acknowledging the significance of family, friends, and the broader community in our aspirations. The poignant tale underscores the beauty and efficacy of prayers driven by kindness and purity of heart.

94. The only common characteristic of all crimes is that they consist ... in acts universally disapproved of by members of each society .. The totality of beliefs and sentiments common to average citizens of the s ame society forms a determinate system which has its own life; one may call it the collective or common conscience. (p. 79) An act is criminal when it offends strong and defined states of the collective conscience. (p. 80) We must not say th at an action shocks the common conscience because it is criminal, but rather that it is criminal because it shocks the common conscience. We do not reprove it because it is a crime, but it is a crime because we reprove it. Émile Durkheim

95. The Zen teacher’s dog loved his evening romp with his master. The dog would bound ahead to fetch a stick, then run back, wag his tail, and wait for the next game. On this particular evening, the teacher invited one of his brightest students to join him – a boy so intelligent that he became troubled by the contradictions in Buddhist doctrine. “You must understand,” said the teacher, “that words are only guideposts. Never let the words or symbols get in the way of truth. Here, I’ll show you.” With that the teacher called his happy dog. “Fetch me the moon,” he said to his dog and pointed to the full moon. “Where is my dog looking?” asked the teacher of the bright pupil. “He’s looking at your finger.” “Exactly. Don’t be like my dog. Don’t confuse the pointing finger with the thing that is being pointed at. All our Buddhist words are only guideposts. Every man fights his way through other men’s words to find his own truth.”

96. Love transports mortal beings to the existential plane of spiritual eternity transcending the emotional, mental, and physical limitations of an inaccurately perceived finite existence.” ― Ken Poirot

97. In a village, two farmers led similar lives, working in their fields and earning equally. Fate took them both on the same day, and Yamraj , the God of Death, escorted their souls to God. Addressing the first farmer, God inquired if there was any unfulfilled desire in his life. The farmer expressed dissatisfaction, stating that despite toiling like a bull to provide for his family, his efforts were hindered by others taking away his earnings. God then asked about his wish for the next life. The farmer yearned for a life where he only received and never had to give. God granted this wish, and the farmer's soul departed. Next, God turned to the second farmer, questioning if there was anything unfulfilled in his life. The farmer acknowledged a content life with a family and a small plot of land but regretted not being able to help the hungry and thirsty who approached him, only to leave empty-handed due to a lack of resources. When asked about his desire for the next life, the farmer wished to become someone who only gives and never takes. God assured him that his wish would be fulfilled.

98. In their subsequent lives, the farmer desiring only to receive became the village beggar, while the farmer yearning to give without taking became the wealthiest man in the village. This tale inspires reflection on the dual aspects of life—positive and negative—and underscores the importance of choices. Life, often taken for granted, might be someone else's dream. The story concludes with a call to consider the plight of the disabled and the impoverished, urging individuals to appreciate their own circumstances and cultivate a mindset of compassion.

99. No distance can truly separate you from yourself Your humanity is a down payment on your divinity. Love is loud; the soul hears it, even if the universe is deaf. Love who you are, not who you are not. Love is the center of the universe, truth is its circumference. Giving is the spiritual secret to receiving. Never blow out anyone’s candle or you’ll both end up in the dark. The flames of ignorance are hotter than the fires of hell. African Philosophy

100. Once upon a time, far away in a deep forest, there was a nation of 80,000 monkeys. They had a king who was unusually large, as big as a fawn. He was not only big in body, he was also 'large in mind'. After all, he was the Bodhisatta - the Enlightenment Being. One day, he advised his monkey nation by saying, "My subjects, there are poisonous fruits in this deep forest, and ponds possessed by demons. So if you see any unusual fruit or unknown pond, do not eat or drink until you ask me first." Paying close attention to their wise king, all the monkeys agreed to follow his advice. Later on, they came to an unknown pond. Even though they were all tired out and thirsty from searching for food, no one would drink without first asking the monkey king. So they sat in the trees and on the ground around the pond. When he arrived, the monkey king asked them, "Did anyone drink the water?" They replied, "No, your majesty, we followed your instructions." He said, "Well done." Then he walked along the bank, around the pond. He examined the footprints of the animals that had gone into the water, and saw that none came out again! So he realized this pond must be possessed by a water demon. He said to the 80,000 monkeys, "This pond is possessed by a water demon. Do not anybody go into it."

101. After a little while, the water demon saw that none of the monkeys went into the water to drink. So he rose out of the middle of the pond, taking the shape of a frightening monster. He had a big blue belly, a white face with bulging green eyes, and red claws and feet. He said, "Why are you just sitting around? Come into the pond and drink at once!" The monkey king said to the horrible monster, "Are you the water demon who owns this pond?" "Yes, I am," said he. "Do you eat whoever goes into the water?" asked the king. "Yes, I do," he answered, "including even birds. I eat them all. And when you are forced by your thirst to come into the pond and drink, I will enjoy eating you, the biggest monkey, most of all!" He grinned, and saliva dripped down his hairy chin. But the monkey king with the well-trained mind remained calm. He said, "I will not let you eat me or a single one of my followers. And yet, we will drink all the water we want!" The water demon grunted, "Impossible! How will you do that?" The monkey king replied, "Each one of the 80,000 of us will drink using bamboo shoots as straws. And you will not be able to touch us !”

102. Of course, anyone who has seen bamboo knows there is a difficulty. Bamboo grows in sections, one after another, with a knot between each one. Any one section is too small, so the demon could grab the monkey, pull him under and gobble him up. But the knots make it impossible to sip through more than one section. The monkey king was very special, and that is why so many followed him. In the past, he had practiced goodness and trained his mind with such effort and attention, that he had developed very fine qualities of mind. This is why he was said to be 'large in mind', not because he simply had a 'big brain'. The Enlightenment Being was able to keep these fine qualities in his mind, and produce a very unlikely event - a miracle. First, he took a young bamboo shoot, blew through it to make the knots disappear, and used it to sip water from the pond. Then, amazing as it may sound, he waved his hand and all the bamboo growing around that one pond lost their knots. They became a new kind of bamboo. Then, all his 80,000 followers picked bamboo shoots and easily drank their fill from the pond. The water demon could not believe his green eyes. Grumbling to himself, he slid back under the surface, leaving only gurgling bubbles behind.

103. Once upon a time, there was a flock of pigeons that were searching for food. Their king led the flock. One day, after flying for a long distance, they were very tired. The pigeon king encouraged them to fly a little further in search of something to eat. There was one small pigeon in the flock. He picked up some speed and found some rice scattered beneath a banyan tree. So, he informed the other pigeons, and all the pigeons landed near the banyan tree and began to eat scattered rice. All of a sudden, a net fell over the pigeons, and they were all trapped. The pigeons saw a hunter approaching them, carrying a huge club. The pigeons sensed the danger and desperately started fluttering their wings, trying to get out of the net, but to no avail. The king of pigeons had an idea. He asked all the pigeons to fly up together, carrying the net with them. The king said that there is strength in unity, and when everyone will work together, we will be able to lift up the net with us. Each big and small pigeon picked up a portion of the net, and together they flew off carrying the hunter’s net with them. The hunter looked up in astonishment but couldn’t do anything about it. He tried to follow them, but the flock of birds were flying high over hills and valleys. They flew towards a hill near a city of temples where a mouse lived. They knew that the mouse was the one who could help them as he was a faithful friend of the pigeon king.

104. The mouse heard the loud noise of the flock of pigeons approaching. He went into hiding. Then, the pigeon king gently called out to him, and the mouse was happy to see him. The king explained how they had been caught in a trap and needed the mouse to gnaw at the net with his sharp teeth and set them free. The little mouse agreed, saying that he would set the king of pigeons free first. The king insisted that he must first free his subjects and then the king. The mouse understood the king’s feelings and agreed with his wishes. He began to gnaw the net, and one by one, all the pigeons were freed, including the pigeon king. They thanked the mouse and flew away together, united in their strength. “When you work together, you are stronger” or “unity is strength” are the morals of this story. In this story, when the flock of pigeons is captured in the hunter’s net, the pigeon king uses his mind and devises a plan that all birds should fly up together. This helped the pigeons to fly away together. If the pigeon king didn’t come up with this idea, the hunter would have caught the pigeons.

105. Apollo taught her to sing and play the lyre. Athene taught her to spin, Demeter to tend a garden. Aphrodite taught her how to look at a man without moving her eyes and how to dance without moving her legs. Poseidon gave her a pearl necklace and promised she would never drown. And finally Hermes gave her a beautiful golden box, which, he told her, she must never, never open. And then Hera gave her curiosity.” ― Bernard Evslin They were too young to live without hope

106. Plato, the renowned philosopher, once spun a tale that delved into the nature of God through the voice of his mentor, Socrates. Gathered around in the quiet recesses of the Academy, his disciples listened intently as he wove a narrative that transcended the boundaries of the tangible world. In the heart of Athens, where philosophy flourished like olive trees, there lived a man named Euthyphro . Euthyphro was known for his piety and religious fervor, believing himself to be a devout follower of the gods. One day, he found himself entangled in a legal predicament, as he was about to bring charges against his own father for an alleged crime. Puzzled by the moral dilemma he faced, Euthyphro sought the wisdom of Socrates. Socrates, ever the inquisitive philosopher, engaged Euthyphro in a discourse that would unravel the essence of piety and the nature of the divine. As the conversation unfolded, Socrates posed a question that would echo through the annals of philosophical inquiry: "Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?" In this query, Socrates led Euthyphro on a journey of contemplation, probing the very foundations of morality and the divine. The dialogue delved into the nature of God's relationship with piety, dissecting whether the gods' love for the pious was arbitrary or if there existed an inherent quality that made something pious.

107. As the discussion deepened, Socrates guided Euthyphro to consider the idea that there might be a standard of piety that even the gods adhere to—a standard beyond the capricious whims of divine preference. This concept challenged the traditional understanding of the gods as arbiters of morality and introduced the notion of an eternal and objective truth. Plato, through the lens of Socratic dialogue, sought to explore the intricacies of the divine, challenging conventional beliefs and encouraging his audience to question the nature of piety and morality. The tale of Euthyphro and Socrates unfolded like a philosophical tapestry, woven with threads of inquiry, skepticism, and the perpetual pursuit of understanding the divine realm. Through this story, Plato beckoned his disciples and subsequent generations to embark on a journey of intellectual exploration, inviting them to question, ponder, and seek wisdom in the timeless pursuit of understanding the nature of God and morality.

108. Sorrow is knowledge: they who know the most must mourn the deepest o’er the fatal truth, the Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life . ― George Gordon Byron

109. The Book of Genesis says: “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden…” We can see, therefore, that the need for man’s immortality was present at the time of Creation – a need, which is portrait by the so-called Tree of Life. For, as the Master of Wisdom, “there is a seed in the shell called man, from which the Tree of Life shall spring”. For the Tree of Life, through death, brings immortality. But where is the Tree of Life? How should we interpret the biblical passage? In his works Vaklush Tolev maintains that Heaven is in fact the Mental Plane (an argument made by C.W. Leadbeater as well), but the Tree of Life is situated at the heart of the Plane, i.e. on the Causal Plane, and is both inside and outside man. The Book of Genesis contains another metaphysical secret. It says there: “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims , and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” But why was the Tree of Life guarded? Or does this passage has a deeper meaning? According to the Teaching of Wisdom, this Cherubim, mentioned in the Bible, simbolises the transition from knowledge as a virtue to the Knowledge of Wisdom; and the flaming sword is Kundalini – the Supreme spiritual power put in man by God’s Breath. As Master Vaklush says, “The Tree of Life has a fruit that can be tasted only by the Knowledge of Wisdom!”

110. But what energy does the fruit from the Tree of Life bring? And when can we eat from it? Vaklush Tolev has concrete answers to both these questions? “The Tree of Life is the energy of immortality”, He says. Its fruit is an intermediary, an energy for the Way of Consubstantiality, and it is this fruit which creates another culture and brings out the Breath… The fruit of the Tree of Life is humanity’s dreamed unity with our Father. We can therefore argue that the fruit of the Tree of Life brings immortality and life in God. Back in 1995, in Nur Magazine, it was written that “since we did not have the chance to eat from the Tree of Life, then its fruit must be from a higher plane”. Consequently, it can be said that the fruit of the Tree of Life is guarded because it is from the Causal Plan and our yet incomplete evolution makes it impossible to reach it. “Adam and Even became like the gods, but they are yet to live God – this is why the Tree of Life is protected” ,. We cannot ignore the other clarification that Vaklush Tolev makes : “The Tree of Life manifests itself as a vegetative force only up to the Fourth Plane – the Causal World, but its essence is exhibited up to the Co-Creator – the Spiritual World. It is Kundalini’s vitality.” And it is said that “the Tree of Life as an essence is Kundalini – the spiritual and the seeing through Consubstantiality. It is that which brings into being God’s Son”.

111. “When you have a star, when you realise Resurrection at the Golgotha, only then can you eat a fruit from the Tree of Life.” For “it is the culture of Consubstantiality to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life”. There is, however, another symbol which is strongly underlined in John’s Revelation (given to him by Christ) – the Book of Life. Master Vaklush defines it as God’s consciousness in the human. clearly outlines the relationship between the two: the Book of Life is the energy of the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life gives us God’s consciousness in the Book of Life. It can, therefore, be submitted that humans, as gods in evolution, lead a fight that has been predetermined with the act of Creation – the fight to eat a fruit from the Tree of Life, i.e. to perform Resurrection with which to realise Consubstantiality. This is the battle for humans to bring spirit into matter and to complete Creation. Vaklush Tolev stresses that the human path leads from the law of knowledge up to the idea for eternity, and the Tree of Life is the wholeness of evolution that builds humans for Freedom. The Tree of knowledge is a human mystery – the Tree of Life is a Cosmic mystery! THE HUMAN’S PURPOSE IS TO EAT A FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE!

112. Angels are not merely forms of extraterrestrial intelligence. They are forms of extra-cosmic intelligence. Mortimer J. Adler I saw them with my bodily eyes as clearly as I see you. And when they departed, I used to weep and wish they would take me with them. Joan of Arc

113. Once upon a time, there was a man. A very rich man. He was also a very holy man. He trusted God with his life and tried his best to follow what he was taught. The man was now very very old. As the man grew old and weak, he realised that soon he would die. He trusted that when that happened, he would go to Heaven. But he was worried. He did not like the idea of going empty-handed, of not taking anything with him. “God,” he prayed, “I know that when I die you have promised to accept me in to Heaven. And I know that I am not meant to take anything. But please, could you make an exception in this case? Could you let me take a bag with me?” Now, God is a kind God, so he considered the man’s request very carefully. He knew that the man had tried his best to follow him during his life, that he had been generous and kind, that he had shown mercy and tried to live a good life. He knew that the man was very worried about this and God didn’t want him to be anxious. So he agreed, he told the man that he could take one small bag to Heaven. ”

114. Soon after this, as expected, the man died. He arrived in Heaven, carrying one small bag. “Oh,” said the angel at the entrance, “you cannot bring that in here. You cannot bring anything to Heaven.” “Yes, I know,” replied the man, “but God gave me special permission.” So the angel went to check and sure enough, he discovered that this man was allowed to bring one small bag into Heaven. Now, word quickly spread amongst the angels and saints in Heaven and they all wondered, what had this man brought into Heaven? So they all came, eager to see. They crowded round the man, peering over each other’s shoulders, jostling for position as the man knelt down and slowly unzipped his bag. There, shining brightly, were four solid gold bars. There was a moment of complete silence. Then,perplexed , one of the angels asked, “You brought pavement?

115. Is the great chain, that draws all to agree, And drawn supports, upheld by God, or Thee ? Then say not Man’s imperfect, Heav’n in fault; Say rather, Man’s as perfect as he ought . All are but parts of one stupendous whole, Whose body Nature is, and God the soul . – Alexander Pope

116. In the serene village nestled by the shimmering lake, whispers of an ancient sage who defied nature itself echoed through the generations. Among the villagers, Maya, a young and inquisitive soul, caught wind of these tales and became enchanted by the possibility of walking on water. Driven by a burning curiosity, Maya sought out the village elder, a venerable figure known for his wisdom. In her hopeful gaze, she asked about the secret to walking on water. The elder, with a knowing smile, handed her a pair of weathered shoes, claiming they possessed magical properties. Filled with anticipation, Maya eagerly donned the shoes and ventured onto the lake's surface, only to find herself sinking beneath its depths. Disheartened and confused, Maya returned to the elder, who chuckled softly. "The secret lies not in the shoes but in understanding where the stepping stones are beneath the water," he explained. This revelation carried a profound moral lesson: the true magic wasn't embedded in the material of the shoes but rather in the knowledge and understanding of the hidden pathways beneath the water's surface. The elder's wisdom conveyed a universal truth – that genuine mastery and accomplishment are not achieved through shortcuts or the pursuit of miraculous solutions.

117. Instead, the path to achieving seemingly impossible feats requires patience, experience, and a deep understanding of the underlying principles. Maya's initial misconception, driven by the allure of a quick fix, gave way to the realization that the real magic lay in the knowledge of the submerged stepping stones – the foundational elements guiding one's journey. In our own lives, the pursuit of mastery and the accomplishment of extraordinary goals often necessitate a commitment to understanding, learning, and embracing the journey. True miracles are born not from shortcuts but from a genuine comprehension of the forces at play. The moral rings clear – seek wisdom, embrace the journey, and recognize that the real path to achieving the extraordinary is often concealed beneath the surface, waiting for those who are patient and wise enough to uncover it.

118. My Heart May Change Over Time (Boyhood->Manhood->Old) But The Love It Carries, Will Remain The Same....” ― Muhammad Imran Hasan

119. Peter writes, "With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day" (2 Pet. 3:8 CSB). This one verse gives both sides of the equation. One day is like a thousand years. This means even the most mundane, ordinary day of human history contains more information, major occurrences, "random" events, significant conversations, commonplace tasks, devious crimes, sinister plots, and charming moments than a hundred skilled historians could ever catalog. But that is only the beginning. A thousand years are like a day. The span of human history is immense, covering roughly six thousand years so far. No historian can accurately synthesize the requisite details of human history into anything resembling gospel truth. But God can. He is not daunted by the scope of time, the immensity of eons and epochs and eras and dynasties. His processing ability is limitless. This is the subject matter of our heavenly history course: every single day of every person from every tribe and nation on earth, woven into a comprehensive and comprehendible narrative by the perfect Teacher.

120. "God is not daunted by the scope of time, the immensity of eons and epochs and eras and dynasties. His processing ability is limitless." Let me illustrate the idea of dimensions and details. Imagine you wanted to learn about the redwood forest in northern California. A friend of yours who works there happens to be a forestry expert specializing in the composition of redwood bark. But instead of zooming in on the bark of one tree, he wisely begins your education by hiring a friend who gives helicopter tours of Redwood National Park and the spectacular rocky cliffs that make up the Pacific shoreline. For two full days, you fly up and down the coastline, seeing over 110,000 acres of redwood trees and fifty miles of staggeringly beautiful California coastline from an altitude of one thousand feet. After that, your forestry friend gives you a daylong overview of the biology of individual redwoods, from root to crown. At last, after this three-day introduction, you are ready to study with him the bark of a single redwood tree using his magnifying glass. And the study will be far more interesting because now you have the context, the "big picture." You have seen both the forest and the trees. That is what our heavenly tour of six millennia of history will be like, only infinitely beyond that.

121. The vibrational forces of the planes have both vast and tiny proportions that, once understood, can be influenced by the power of pure thought . ― Vianna Stibal ,

122. It's a story about a Russian man named Pahom who had ambitions to improve his lot in life and back then in Russia, the most valuable commodity economically was land, real estate. The owner of a large tract of land was inevitably wealthier than one who owned less and one who owned no land at all was a peasant, a beggar living at the whim of a landlord. Now Pahom yearned for more land and therefore with it, more prosperity. At the beginning of the story, he boasts to his wife, “If I could have more land I wouldn't fear the devil himself.” The Devil sitting behind the oven hears this and snickers. He says “Alright fine, we'll have a battle. I'll give you plenty of land and by that means, I will get you into my power.” As the story unfolds, Pahom hears about a tribe of people in the rich fertile valleys of the east, a people named the Bashkirs . Though he can hardly believe it, he hears that these people are selling large tracts of land, for very little money. Incredible bargain. So he travels overland to the Bashkir region and he meets the chieftain. After drinking some tea and going through some social rituals, Pahom gets down to business. He declares his desire to buy some land. The Bashkirs readily agree and Pahom asks for the price, they say strangely 1000 rubles, per day. Pahom doesn't understand what this means, “Per day?” “Yes,” they answer, “for 1000 rubles, you can have as much land as you can walk around in a single day but you have to begin at sunrise and you have to return to the same spot by sunset or else your money is forfeited to us.”

123. Well, Pahom that night is filled with greed. He's thinking that he's in good physical condition. He can walk around a pretty big tract of land, so he's excited. He thinks he can walk around at least 35 miles in a day. He'll have 150 acres for plow land, he thinks and all the rest will be for grazing all of his head of cattle that he is most certainly going to own. So he agrees to the price, he wants to start the next day and they agree to do that. At sunrise Pahom stands ready on the top of a little hillock. The Bashkir chief at sunrise drops his hat on the ground as both the starting and the finishing place for his race. Pahom has to return to that hat by sunset or forfeit his thousand rubles. So he starts off and his greed drives him on quickly throughout the morning as he goes along the first leg of his journey and as he goes the land just seems to get better and better, richer and richer, better looking rivers and copses of trees and he just wants it all but then he starts to realize, I've bit off a lot here and so he thinks it's about time, it's getting near noon to make his first turn, so he digs a little hole to mark the place as was agreed and he turns but he starts to realize that he's behind schedule, the sun's already at the top of the sky, it's the heat of the day, it's actually past noon now and he starts to pick up the pace. He's getting hot, he takes off his coat, he's moving along and he decides enough on the second leg, and he digs a hole to mark the second marker. By now, it's actually mid-to-late afternoon and he thinks he's in trouble, and he actually is. So he starts to travel faster and faster, marks the third spot as quickly as he can, and turns for home.

124. By now, the sun is getting a little bit orange in the western sky and he is pushing as hard as he can. Actually he's running at top speed whatever energy he has left late in the day. He comes over a little bit of a hill and he sees that hillock where he began but it still seems distant and now it's a race for time. He goes as hard and as fast as he can but he's got that last little rise to go just as the sun is dipping over the horizon, he dives and grasps the chieftain's cap, just in time. Well, the Bashkir people are elated. They're just laughing and celebrating, “What a fine fellow. It's the largest tract of land we've ever seen in a single day.” And they're celebrating and they go to raise him up but there's blood coming from Pahom's mouth, you see, he's dead. The exertion killed him and so the Bashkirs take a shovel and they dig a six foot long stretch six feet down in the earth and that's the answer to the question: how much land Pahom needed, just enough to bury him. What an interesting story. What a parable on life, on ambition, on what really matters. What do you really need? I think Jesus asked two searching questions in our text. It gets to a deeper issue even. Pahom forfeited his physical life, Jesus goes even deeper than that. He asked this question, “What would it profit a man, if he gained the whole world and forfeited his soul?” And then he asked a second question: “What would a man give in exchange for his soul?”

125. At the end of your life of achievement, you will stand before Jesus Christ and you'll give an account of every careless word you spoke and you'll give an account of your life and the issue hanging in the balance on Judgment Day will be this: Where will your soul spend eternity? Will your soul spend eternity with God in heaven or will your soul be tormented for eternity in hell? That is the question.There is no third option and Jesus is speaking this to make sure that we don't lose our souls in a fruitless pursuit of things that don't matter at all. Leo Tolstoy What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

126. Love transports mortal beings to the existential plane of spiritual eternity transcending the emotional, mental, and physical limitations of an inaccurately perceived finite existence.” ― Ken Poirot

127. Luz felt very odd shining so bright and standing out from the shelf on which he sat in the palace throne room. He wanted to blend in a little more. Let me just inch over here behind this ledge, he thought to himself. “Luz, what are you doing?” Beacon called out from a nearby shelf. “I just don’t want to stand out quite so much,” Luz replied. “I figured everyone would be more comfortable around me if I just blended in a little.” Beacon wagged his wick at Luz. “No, no, Luz. Don’t you see? You’re a light. You’re supposed to be different than the darkness. It’s your job to shine brightly. Your life isn’t about you—it’s about shining light in a darkness.” Luz knew Beacon was right. “But it’s so dark…” “All the more reason to shine brightly,” came Beacon’s response. A few weeks later, Luz had the opposite problem. He wanted everyone to notice him. He kept trying to extend his wick extra high, hoping people would see what a great light he was. He was burning bright…and he liked it when others noticed. Beacon again had to caution his light friend. “Luz, why were you lit?” “To shine brightly,” Luz replied, confused by the question. Had Beacon forgotten his previous lecture?

128. “To shine brightly so that people could see the King on his throne. Your job is not for people to see you, but the King.” Luz knew Beacon was right. He trimmed his wick a little and looked toward the throne himself. He discovered that if he kept his own gaze there, his light shone brightly in a way that illuminated the darkness for others to see the King too. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

129. Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise . - Benjamin Franklin Sleep is God. Go worship . - Jim Butcher

130. Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled over a kingdom that faced a severe shortage of grain and money. Despite this, his subjects were content under his leadership. During a particularly harsh famine, the kingdom suffered greatly as crops failed and revenues dwindled. The king, burdened with the responsibility of caring for his people and managing the kingdom's finances, found himself consumed with worry. Even after the famine passed, the king remained anxious about the future. His concerns, ranging from potential conflicts with neighboring states to the scheming of clergy members, weighed heavily on him, affecting his appetite, thirst, and ability to rest. One day, a monk visited the palace and the king confided in him about his troubles. The monk suggested that the kingdom itself was the source of the king's worries and proposed a solution: transferring the kingdom's responsibility to either the king's son or to the monk himself.

131. The king, feeling relieved at the prospect of unburdening himself, agreed to hand over control of the kingdom to the monk. With the monk now in charge, the king contemplated finding employment to sustain himself. As the king began to focus on his new role under the monk's guidance, he found himself experiencing a newfound sense of peace. Freed from the weight of ruling the kingdom, he could now eat and sleep without the constant worry that had plagued him before. When the monk returned to check on the king, he found him in a much-improved state, both physically and mentally. The king marveled at the transformation and asked the monk how such a change had occurred. The monk explained that by shifting his perspective and viewing his responsibilities as duties rather than burdens, the king had alleviated his worries and found inner peace. The king's newfound ability to sleep soundly without tossing and turning was a testament to the tranquility he had found within himself. In the end, the king learned that by embracing his duties with a sense of obligation rather than seeing them as overwhelming burdens, he could avoid worrying and lead a more fulfilling life.

132. Perspective is a ghastly mistake which it has taken four centuries to redress.– Georges Braque It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view.” ― George Eliot

133. Mulla Nasrudin , excited about his new hair salon, received various customers on its inaugural day. Among them was a man in his early fifties with a flowing beard. The man, sheepishly admitting his desire to look younger for his new wife, asked Mulla to remove all the grey strands from his beard. Without hesitation, Mulla swiftly cut the entire beard in one snip and handed the hair to the man, suggesting he remove the grey hair himself as Mulla lacked the time that day. The story imparts a valuable lesson – sometimes, removing negative elements from our lives can be a challenging and time-consuming process. In certain situations, the most effective solution may be to metaphorically "snip it all" and summon the courage to rewrite our life stories.

134. We may speak about a place where there are no tears, no death, no fear, no night; but those are just the benefits of heaven. The beauty of heaven is seeing God. Max Lucado

135. Read The Afterlife of Billy Fingers Annie Kagan

136. He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how. ― Friedrich Nietzsche Nothing is more creative... nor destructive... than a brilliant mind with a purpose . ― Dan Brown, Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end . – Leonard Nimoy Logic is not a body of doctrine, but a mirror-image of the world. Logic is transcendental.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein

137. A Harvard scholar, Mr. Sean Goldstein approaches a learned Rabbi telling him that he has a Doctorate in philosophy, and would now like to learn the Talmud to round off or complete his knowledge. After summing him up for a few minutes, the Rabbi told him " I seriously doubt that you are ready to study Talmud. It’s the deepest book of our people. If you wish however I am willing to examine you in logic, and if you pass the test I will teach you Talmud. " The young man agrees. Rabbi holds up two fingers " Two men come down a chimney. One comes with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. Which one washes his face? The young man stares at the Rabbi. "Is that a test in Logic?" The Rabbi nods. " The one with the dirty face washes his face" He answers wearily. " Wrong. The one with the clean face washes his face. Examine the simple logic. The one with the dirty face looks at the one with the clean face and thinks his face is clean. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and thinks his face is dirty. So the one with the clean face washes his face .” " Very clever" Says Goldstein. . "Give me another test” The Rabbi again holds up two fingers " Two men come down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. which one washes his face? " We have already established that. The one with the clean face washes his face"

138. "Wrong. Each one washes his face. Examine the simple logic. The one with the dirty face looks at the one with the clean face and thinks his face is clean. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and thinks his face is dirty. So the one with the clean face washes his face. When the one with the dirty face sees the one with the clean face washing his face, he also washes his face. So each one washes his face" "I didn't think of that!" Says Goldstein. " It’s shocking to me that I could make an error in logic. Test me again!." The Rabbi holds up two fingers " Two men come down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. Which one washes his face? "Each one washes his face" "Wrong. Neither one washes his face. Examine the simple logic. The one with the dirty face looks at the one with the clean face and thinks his face is clean. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and thinks his face is dirty. But when the one with clean face sees that the one with the dirty face doesn't wash his face, he also doesn't wash his face So neither one washes his face"

139. Goldstein is desperate. "I am qualified to study Talmud. Please give me one more test" He groans when the Rabbi lifts his two fingers "Two men come down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. Which one washes his face? "Neither one washes his face" "Wrong. Do you now see, Sean, why Socrates logic is an insufficient basis for studying the Talmud? Tell me, how is it possible for two men to come down the same chimney, and for one to come out with a clean face and the other with a dirty face? Don’t you see? The whole question is narishkeit - foolishness - and if you spend your life trying to answer foolish questions, all your answers will be foolish."

140. From this fountain (the free will of God) it is those laws, which we call the laws of nature, have flowed, in which there appear many traces of the most wise contrivance, but not the least shadow of necessity. These therefore we must not seek from uncertain conjectures, but learn them from observations and experimental. He who is presumptuous enough to think that he can find the true principles of physics and the laws of natural things by the force alone of his own mind, and the internal light of his reason, must either suppose the world exists by necessity, and by the same necessity follows the law proposed; or if the order of Nature was established by the will of God, the [man] himself, a miserable reptile, can tell what was fittest to be done. — Sir Isaac Newton

141. An engineer at a car manufacturing company designed an exceptional car that impressed the owner. However, as they tried to move the car from the manufacturing area to the showroom, they realized it was 2 inches taller than the entrance. The engineer regretted not noticing the height issue earlier, and the owner was concerned about how to get the car out without causing damage. Various suggestions were made, including accepting scratches, breaking the entrance and repairing it later, but the owner wasn't convinced by any of them. Observing the dilemma, a watchman approached the owner with a simple solution. He suggested releasing the air from the tires to lower the car's height, making it easy to move out without damage. The onlookers were impressed by the straightforward and effective idea. The watchman's message resonated – sometimes, a layman's perspective can provide an alternative solution that experts may overlook.

142. Life's challenges, much like the car's height issue, often have simple solutions. It's essential to consider a variety of perspectives and not only rely on expert opinions. The watchman's advice extended beyond the immediate situation, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in dealing with life's complexities. In essence, the message conveyed was to "think simple, do simple, and live simple." Just as releasing air from the tires adjusted the car's height, adjusting our attitudes by letting go of anger, disappointment, ego, and confusion can simplify our lives. The underlying philosophy encourages embracing simplicity, finding joy in every moment, understanding that life is constantly changing, and adapting our attitudes to navigate the complexities of life. After all, as the watchman wisely pointed out, "Life is beautiful – enjoy every moment."

143. Plato's "Laws" is one of his last dialogues, exploring various aspects of governance, law, and ethics. Set in the fictional city of Magnesia, the dialogue revolves around the conversations among three characters: an Athenian Stranger, Cleinias , and Megillus . Drunkenness in the City: In Book II of "Laws," the characters engage in a discussion about the regulation of drinking and whether drunkenness should be allowed in the city. They deliberate on the potential consequences of excessive drinking on individual behavior and social order. Plato argues for moderation and discusses the role of laws in shaping citizens' behavior. This conversation reflects Plato's broader concerns about maintaining virtue and harmony within the city. Hunting Regulations: Book IV addresses the topic of hunting and its regulation within the city. The characters discuss the impact of hunting on the character of citizens and the potential harm it may cause to the community. Plato explores the idea that certain activities, including hunting, should be regulated to ensure they contribute positively to the moral and ethical development of individuals within the city. Punishment for Suicide:

144. The dialogue also delves into the sensitive issue of suicide in Book IX. Plato, through the characters, debates how the state should respond to individuals who attempt or commit suicide. This discussion provides insight into Plato's ethical framework and his views on the role of the state in shaping the moral character of its citizens. It touches upon questions of personal responsibility and the state's duty to prevent harm to individuals. These examples highlight Plato's holistic approach to governance in "Laws," where he intertwines discussions on various aspects of daily life with broader philosophical inquiries. Through these conversations, Plato aims to construct an ideal city-state guided by laws that promote virtue, justice, and the overall well-being of its citizens. The dialogue serves as a comprehensive exploration of political philosophy, ethics, and the intricate interplay between law and human behavior in the pursuit of an ideal society.

145. Nirvana is a state of pure blissful knowledge ... It has nothing to do with the individual. The ego or its separation is an illusion. Indeed in a certain sense two ‘I’s are identical namely when one disregards all special contents–their Karma. The goal of man is to preserve his Karma and to develop it further ... when man dies his Karma lives and creates for itself another carrier. — Erwin Schrödinger Should a person do good, let him do it again and again. Let him find pleasure therein, for blissful is the accumulation of good. — Buddha

146. A kind and generous king would donate food every day in his kingdom. Once, rice porridge ( kheer ) was cooked in the royal kitchen, and they got it outside to serve it. At that time, an eagle was carrying its prey, a small snake. Accidentally this snake fell into the container in which kheer was kept. No one noticed it. The kheer became poisonous. This was distributed by the king to a few Brahmins, who died after consuming it. In Yamlok , Chitragupta (the record keeper of our karma) got tensed! In whose account should he record the sin of Brahmin hatya ? The king did not distribute the poisonous kheer deliberately, the eagle was carrying its prey, the snake had no direct role either. Chitragupta took this case to Yamraj , who said he will find his answer soon. In the kingdom, around late noon, three brahmins wanted to meet the king. They were from a nearby village and didn’t know the way to the palace. They asked a fruit vendor, she gave them the directions. The Brahmins thanked her, and when they were about to leave, she stopped them and said, “You seem to be new to this place, you have no idea what happened today morning, the king gave poison to some Brahmins! Do not eat anything if he offers food. Do not tell anyone that I warned you!”

147. In Yamlok , Chitragupta got his answer, he recorded the sin of Brahmin hatya (murder), in the account of the fruit vendor. I agree the law of karma is way more complex, and also feel bad for the fruit vendor in this story (she got a pretty big punishment), but this was an eye-opener for me. I never thought before that our seemingly harmless talks (gossip) are such a bad thing. We make judgements about people, without even giving them a chance of being heard, and are extremely attached to those opinions as if they were proven facts ! Karma and Retribution, Judge Less Love More If you criticize anyone and you are right about their deeds, you will get half of their bad karma.But , if you criticize someone and you are not right about their deeds, then you will get 100% of their karma.So be careful about what you think or say about other people.- Srimad Bhagavatam (5.10.17) rephrase Seizing this moment of baseless criticism, Chitragupta identifies the woman as the recipient of karmic retribution for the Brahmin's death. The overarching moral lesson gleaned from this narrative is a cautionary one: accurate criticism may still incur consequences, but unfounded accusations bear the full weight of karmic repercussions. Thus, the tale underscores the importance of discretion in our words and thoughts concerning others, echoing the broader principles of karma found in various philosophical and religious traditions.

148. A quarter-horse jockey learns to think of a twenty-second race as if it were occurring across twenty minutes—in distinct parts, spaced in his consciousness. Each nuance of the ride comes to him as he builds his race. If you can do the opposite with deep time, living in it and thinking in it until the large numbers settle into place, you can sense how swiftly the initial earth packed itself together, how swiftly continents have assembled and come apart, how far and rapidly continents travel, how quickly mountains rise and how quickly they disintegrate and disappear. — John McPhee

149. I wish to tell as much as I can, in as little space as I can, of the contributions that genius and labor have made to the cultural heritage of mankind – to chronicle and contemplate, in their causes, character and effects, the advances of invention, the varieties of economic organization, the experiments in government, the aspirations of religion, the mutations of morals and manners, the masterpieces of literature, the development of science, the wisdom of philosophy, and the achievements of art. I do not need to be told how absurd this enterprise is, nor how immodest is its very conception … Nevertheless I have dreamed that despite the many errors inevitable in this undertaking, it may be of some use to those upon whom the passion for life has laid the compulsion to try to see things whole, to pursue perspective, unity and understanding through history in time, as well as to seek them through science in space. Forced to choose, the poor, like the rich, love money more than political liberty; and the only political freedom capable of enduring is one that is so pruned as to keep the rich from denuding the poor by ability or subtlety and the poor from robbing the rich by violence or votes.” Life is in its basis a mystery, a river flowing from an unseen source; and in its development an infinite subtlety too complex for thought, much more so for utterance. And yet the thirst for unity draws us on. To chart this wilderness of experience and history, to force into focus on the future the unsteady light of the past, to bring into significance and purpose the chaos of sensation and desire, to discover the direction of life’s stream and thereby in some measure to control its flow: this insatiable metaphysical lust is one of the nobler aspects of our questionable race.

150. As men are members of one another, and generations are moments in a family line, so civilizations are units in a larger whole whose name is history; they are stages in the life of man. Civilization is polygenetic– it is the cooperative product of many peoples, ranks, and faiths; and no one who studies its history can be a bigot of race or creed. Therefore, the scholar, though he belongs to his country through affectionate kinship, feels himself also a citizen of the Country of the Mind which knows no hatreds and no frontiers; he hardly deserves his name if he carries into his study political prejudices, or racial discriminations, or religious animosities; and he accords his grateful homage to any people that has borne the torch and enriched his heritage. All things must die, but love alone eludes mortality. It overleaps the tombs and bridges the chasm of death with generation. How brief it seems in the bitterness of disillusion; and yet how perennial it is in the perspective of mankind — how in the end it saves a bit of us from decay and enshrines our life anew in the youth and vigor of the child! Our wealth is a weariness, and our wisdom is a little light that chills; but love warms the heart with unspeakable solace, even more when it is given than when it is received.” “Youth, if it were wise, would cherish love beyond all things else, keeping body and soul clear for its coming, lengthening its days with months of betrothal, sanctioning it with a marriage of solemn ritual, making all things subordinate to it resolutely. Wisdom, if it were young, would cherish love, nursing it with devotion, deepening it with sacrifice, vitalizing it with parentage. Even though love consumes us in its service and overwhelms us with tragedy, even though it breaks us down with its passing and weighs us down with separations, let it be first.

151. Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” “One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.” “Literary immortality is a moment in geological time.” Education does not mean that we have become certified experts in business or mining or botany or journalism or epistemology; it means that through the absorption of the moral, intellectual; and aesthetic inheritance of the race we have come to understand and control ourselves as well as the external world; that we have chosen the best as our associates both in spirit and the flesh; that we have learned to add courtesy to culture, wisdom to knowledge, and forgiveness to understanding.

152. My whole life I have heard it said that wisdom requires calmer heads prevail when all about you people are losing theirs and things are falling apart. Yet, celebrated teen environmentalist Greta Thurnberg does not want us to be calm or hopeful. She wantsus to panic. Greta scolds, “I want you to feel the fear I feel every day and then I want you to act” ( Malet 2019, 16). Despite empathizing with her appeal, still I believe we should be careful. If Parker and Goetzmann are correct, unearthing a common good has a lot to do with maintaining a critical attitude.

153. Common sense may dictate that it is possible to look in and subject our predetermined ideas, values, and beliefs to rigorous and imaginative inquiry, yet Professor Emeritus of Comparative and World Literature Michael Palencia-Roth points out we are not transparent to ourselves or to others. Professor Palencia-Roth says, “We are, after all, the stories that we tell ourselves, and we use those stories, consciously or not, to justify our thoughts and actions.” He writes there are stories or narratives that you and I “deliberately construct at the conscious level, for explanatory and justificatory purposes.” There are also the stories that operate at a more unconscious level. These unconscious stories may look like conventional narratives but they tend to be determined by hidden motives (Palencia-Roth 2015, 1–2). In Freudian psychoanalysis these unconscious stories are like dreams motivated by insensible desires. As a result, it isn’t possible to look in and appreciate all the reasons for our actions, reasons that may be relegated to the fringe of consciousness. If you are a philosopher you can do this thing: you can go to the top of a high building, look down upon your fellow-men 300 feet below, and despise them as insects. Like the irresponsible black waterbugs on summer ponds, they crawl and circle and hustle about idiotically without aim or purpose. They do not even move with the admirable intelligence of ants, for ants always know when they are going home. The ant is of a lowly station, but he will often reach home and get his slippers on while you are left at your elevated station. O. Henry Psyche And The Pskyscraper

154. From this high view the city itself becomes degraded to an unintelligible mass of distorted buildings and impossible perspectives; the revered ocean is a duck pond; the earth itself a lost golf ball. All the minutiae of life are gone. The philosopher gazes into the infinite heavens above him, and allows his soul to expand to the influence of his new view. He feels that he is the heir to Eternity and the child of Time. Space, too, should be his by the right of his immortal heritage, and he thrills at the thought that some day his kind shall traverse theose mysterious aerial roads between planet and planet. The tiny world beneath his feet upon which this towering structure of steel rests as a speck of dust upon a Himalayan mountain - it is but one of a countless number of such whirling atoms. What are the ambitions, the achievements, the paltry conquests and loves of those restless black insects below compared with the serene and awful immensity of the universe that lies above and around their insignificant city? It is guaranteed that the philosopher will have these thoughts. They have been expressly compiled from the philosophies of the world and set down with the proper interrogation point at the end of them to represent the invariable musings of deep thinkers on high places. And when the philosopher takes the elevator down his mind is broader, his heart is at peace, and his conception of the cosmogony of creation is as wide as the buckle of Orion's summer belt. Man, then, to the housetopped philosopher, appears to be but a creeping, contemptible beetle. Brokers, poets, millionaires, bootblacks, beauties, hod -carriers and politicians become little black specks dodging bigger black specks in streets no wider than your thumb.

155. Dilbert: Evolution must be true because it is a logical conclusion of the scientific method. Dogbert: But science is based on the irrational belief that because we cannot perceive reality all at once, things called “time” and “cause and effect” exist. Dilbert: That’s what I was taught and that’s what I believe. Dogbert: Sounds cultish. — Scott Adams

156. Timeline 2 The Truth stays in the well. Sometimes people come to sit by the well knowing that the Truth is in there. If they’re really sincere, the truth will out and talk with them. They’re OK with seeing her naked and she’s OK since they don’t hate her. Many seekers come looking for The Truth but she only sees them one at a time because The Truth is a very personal experience. TimeLine 3 Truth searches and finds the web pages, twitter and instagram accounts that plainly showed the lie had infected most everyone. There are literally hundreds of billions and billions of lies. Lies everywhere. But from time to time, truth finds allies – they Love the Truth and have created so many stories about her but none of these are trending and, in fact, many of them are being deleted and downvoted and ignored. The truth suddenly, with a great sigh realised that there is a war being conducted on her by the one who took her garments; the Lie himself. TimeLine 4 As each year passed, fewer and fewer people took the trouble to visit Truth and the few who happened on her accidentally, found Truth either ridiculous or just plain ugly. “I must do something,” thought Truth. “If so few people consult me, the Lie who took my clothes must be creating havoc in town. People have forgotten I am here, so I will have to go out and remind them of my existence. But what on earth will I wear?” She looked around and after a while discovered a fallen scarecrow. As best she could, she dressed herself in sacking, an old jacket and crooked hat and set off towards the town. And so it was that Truth became a common sight in taverns on the outskirts of the town. Most of the time, she sat quietly listening to conversations. It was obvious that the Lie had done an excellent job of twisting facts, swaying people to believe without seeing and finding amusement in witty dishonesty. On the rare occasions that Truth couldn’t stop herself from speaking, she would be lambasted and thrown out of the tavern for spoiling the mood. “It’s clear the town doesn’t want me here. They are beguiled by Lie and they also love my sister Story. Maybe I should pay her a visit.” To get to Story, Truth had to walk down the main street to the bridge over the river Po which was running in a shallow trickle – not at all the lively river Truth remembered. Along the way, those who recognised her, put on their offended faces and those who didn’t, treated her like a sack of stinking garbage. Truth felt so reviled, she hid in a fence until it was dark to avoid abuse. Night fell and with it, a violent storm of icy rain. It was in a bedraggled state that Truth eventually knocked on Story’s front door. “Who knocks at my door on such a night!” Story was displeased to leave the fireplace for the cold reception room. She peered through the glass and saw a miserable creature shivering with wet, but the longer she looked the more a feeling of great joy crept up on her. She flung open the door and pulled her long-lost sister into her home, The Naked Truth and the Lie The Truth and the Lie meet on the road one day. The Lie says to the Truth: “It’s a marvelous day today”! The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs, for the day was truly beautiful. They walk together for a while, until they reach a beautiful well. The Lie tells the Truth: “The water in the well is very nice, let’s take a swim together!” The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed, is very nice. They undress and start the bathe. Suddenly, the Lie jumps out of the well, puts on the clothes of the Truth and runs off towards a nearby village. The furious Truth leaps out of the well and runs to find the Lie and get her clothes back. The Villagers, seeing the Naked Truth, are horrified and look away with contempt and rage. The poor Truth returned to the well and disappeared, forever hiding her shame. And since that day, the lie travels the world, clothed as the Truth.

157. Epilogue : The naked Lie and the Truth. 2019-2021 versions & timelines The original Naked Truth and Lie story comes from the 19th Century and here we are 200 years later, in a world of multiverses, the possibility that we’re living in a simulation, the concept of multiple timelines, the Mandela Effect and Apotheum . So it makes sense to explore further where the original story might have moved to, as all the characters were set in place at the end. The Truth in the well and the Lie is traveling the world in her garb. Setup The naked Truth dwells in the well, ashamed at how she was seen and treated by the villagers. But 200 years is a long time to dwell in a well for anything, especially the truth. Surely the truth has a purpose? Hiding in a well isn’t really meaningful and there’s not much entertainment down here, reflected the truth. Maybe, she thought, an upwelling is necessary. Because the Lie has traveled the world so long in my garments now everyone has come to believe that it is I who am the liar. And anyway, it’s so rude of the lie as it should know by now that it couldn’t exist without me, thought the truth. TimeLine 1 Truth realises that the Lie has left it’s garments behind next to the well. The truth knows that in order not to be hated, the only way she can be accepted by the village and the world is to be covered in the garb of the Lie. And to this day, the Truth and the Lie have been indistinguishable to all except those who have seen them unclothed.

158. TimeLine 2 The Truth stays in the well. Sometimes people come to sit by the well knowing that the Truth is in there. If they’re really sincere, the truth will out and talk with them. They’re OK with seeing her naked and she’s OK since they don’t hate her. Many seekers come looking for The Truth but she only sees them one at a time because The Truth is a very personal experience. TimeLine 3 Truth searches and finds the web pages, twitter and instagram accounts that plainly showed the lie had infected most everyone. There are literally hundreds of billions and billions of lies. Lies everywhere. But from time to time, truth finds allies – they Love the Truth and have created so many stories about her but none of these are trending and, in fact, many of them are being deleted and downvoted and ignored. The truth suddenly, with a great sigh realised that there is a war being conducted on her by the one who took her garments; the Lie himself.

159. TimeLine 4 As each year passed, fewer and fewer people took the trouble to visit Truth and the few who happened on her accidentally, found Truth either ridiculous or just plain ugly. “I must do something,” thought Truth. “If so few people consult me, the Lie who took my clothes must be creating havoc in town. People have forgotten I am here, so I will have to go out and remind them of my existence. But what on earth will I wear?” She looked around and after a while discovered a fallen scarecrow. As best she could, she dressed herself in sacking, an old jacket and crooked hat and set off towards the town. And so it was that Truth became a common sight in taverns on the outskirts of the town. Most of the time, she sat quietly listening to conversations. It was obvious that the Lie had done an excellent job of twisting facts, swaying people to believe without seeing and finding amusement in witty dishonesty. On the rare occasions that Truth couldn’t stop herself from speaking, she would be lambasted and thrown out of the tavern for spoiling the mood.

160. “Oh how I’ve missed you, dear Truth! Where have you been and for goodness sake, why are you so poorly turned out. Me oh my. Before you tell me a thing, get yourself cleaned up. Bin those rags; your dressing gown is still there, after all this time. Oh I am so glad you are here. You look cold and hungry. I can fix that! I can’t wait to hear everything about you. I see you have suffered but I also see how strong and true you are.” “It’s clear the town doesn’t want me here. They are beguiled by Lie and they also love my sister Story. Maybe I should pay her a visit.” To get to Story, Truth had to walk down the main street to the bridge over the river Po which was running in a shallow trickle – not at all the lively river Truth remembered. Along the way, those who recognised her, put on their offended faces and those who didn’t, treated her like a sack of stinking garbage. Truth felt so reviled, she hid in a fence until it was dark to avoid abuse. Night fell and with it, a violent storm of icy rain. It was in a bedraggled state that Truth eventually knocked on Story’s front door. “Who knocks at my door on such a night!” Story was displeased to leave the fireplace for the cold reception room. She peered through the glass and saw a miserable creature shivering with wet, but the longer she looked the more a feeling of great joy crept up on her. She flung open the door and pulled her long-lost sister into her home,

161. Story prepared a fireside feast. Her furniture was made for lengthy conversations. The carpets and drapes muffled the outside world. But Truth was tired and was soon overcome by the warm welcome, warm food and luxury of feeling safe. Her bed was clean and warm and the ceiling lit with tiny gems depicting the constellations. Truth woke up to a bright morning with noisy children in the street outside her window running and shouting: Po is back, Po is back. “The storm must have dislodged the blockage in the mountain spring,” said Story when Truth joined her on the doorstep. “What wonderful news! Soon there’ll be boating and fishing and riverside picnics. How portentous: Truth and Po arriving at the same time But you must, must tell me what happened to you and where you’ve been.” “Well, after our argument about fact and fiction, I admittedly didn’t want to see you for a while so I went walking with our cousins, Lie and Gossip. They have always been secretly jealous of us, so they thought it would be a good idea to separate us. They hid my clothes and convinced me that I could make it without you, Story, my wise and patient sister. For a while, I even believed them.” Story showed Truth the plants in her garden, each one a lengthy memory of someone special who had experienced something exquisite in Time’s smelter. The sisters were glad that they were older, more able to understand why they work so well together.

162. “Without you, Truth, Story is thin and tasteless. What’s more, Lie and Gossip have become so popular, our friends Empathy and Persuasion would much rather spend time with them. They find me too slow and insipid without your spicy presence. I have become lonely.” Truth sat down on the grass under a massive tree surrounded by flowers. “Lying in the cold water, naked,” she said, “I realised eventually that history is fearful, awful to look at full in the face, like a Gorgon’s head. The gross greed and wicked works of scary intelligences can be seen sanely only through Story eyes. That made me realise how bravely you have listened to me always. How deeply you thought and discussed with Empathy and Persuasion how best to dress me up to appear at the Royal Audience. How you weave the kindness of the human spirit through the awful truths of our history.” Later that day, Truth and Story went for a walk to admire the flowing Po, where they reconnected with Empathy and Persuasion who were very pleased to see them. Soon Comedy joined them and pointed to a dull cluster facing away from the river. “Just look at them!” cried Comedy. “That’s Porky Propaganda and that wild Assumption hanging out with Data! They’re cooking up material for my next comedy show, or maybe even the news!”

163. Data was indeed shaking his head, pulling his hair and behaving like a thing demented. A bombastic Propaganda poked his finger at Data repeatedly while Assumption nodded and smiled, nodded and sneered. “Poor Data hates stupid. Better go and save him.” said Truth and walked towards the huddle, calling for Data and waving her arms. When Data saw Truth, he broke off in mid sentence and raced towards her. Soon they were in deep conversation and Data relaxed into his old self as he enjoyed feeling understood. Propaganda, who’d been grinding Data to give him numbers to prove a point he very much wanted to make, huffed up when he saw Truth. Hissing, he grabbed Assumption’s arm, put his tweaked nose in the air and pointedly ignored Story, Empathy, Persuasion and Comedy and bustled off to the castle to see Lie and Gossip. “Poor Data. He is so frustrated trying to make himself understood.” Story said and turned to Truth. “You, Truth, are the best translator Data ever had. He was always calm and happy around you, (you know we all find him boring in the extreme, poor thing) but only Propaganda and Assumption take the trouble to spend time with Data and we all know that their translations are poor and only Ideology laps it up. Look at your old friend!.”

164. Happy to know that competition is always healthy, the old friends reconnected and all agreed that it was time for Truth to take her rightful place in the Chorus of Sense-makers, as they had once called themselves. Truth was happy to be home. She thought of how different this day was compared to yesterday, before the storm, before respectable clothes. She was grateful to feel companionship in the home that was built by her parents, Goodness and Beauty. It’s the story you tell, how you tell it and who you tell it to that motivates people to believe in, buy, work for, pay attention to and invest in your dream. Is the story working for you?

165. God's definition of what matters is pretty straightforward. He measures our lives by how we love.” ― Francis Chan,

166. The Bible has much to say about angels. Scripture suggests that “the number of angels is incomprehensible.” Says Dr. Roger Barrier, in 17 Things the Bible Says about Angels. He goes on to say that Revelation 5:11 records the number of Angels as: “Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands and thousands.” But not all angels are the same. Like humans, these spiritual beings vary in appearance and were designed by God to fill different roles. The Greek word angelos , from which the word angel is derived, suggests that angels are messengers. Hebrews 1:14 further defines angels as, “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” On top of these basic duties, each class of angel serves and worships God in unique ways. Some Biblical scholars believe a hierarchy exists among angels, though Scripture doesn’t make that explicit. The theory is—the closer to the throne of God an angel serves, the higher that angel ranks. If that’s the case, seraphim are among the top-ranking angels. Seraphim are super-natural beings who were created by God to serve and worship. These six-winged angelic creatures continually attend God at His throne. Each set of the seraphim’s wings serves a different purpose; one set covers the face, denoting reverence and awe and acts as protection from the radiance of God’s glory—another set of wings is used for flying, to aid in their swift servitude—and the third set is used to cover the seraphim’s feet so that they can humbly conceal their unworthiness, while in God’s holy presence (Isaiah 6:2).

167. These angels may have the appearance of burning flames. The word seraph comes from the Hebrew verb sarap , which means to literally burn with fire—or more specifically, destruction by means of fire. The name may also hint at the seraphim’s role as purification agents (Isaiah 6:6-7). The significance of the seraphim’s proximity to God in conjunction with their revelatory praise cannot be overstated. When the seraphim say, “The whole earth is full of his glory,” they are revealing a first-hand account of what they witness from the pinnacle of Heaven. Through the seraphim’s super-natural perspective, we can see that God’s glory is so infinite, so indescribably valuable, and so powerful that it can’t be contained in a single realm; His glory bursts through Heaven unfolds through the spiritual realm and overflows into the whole earth. This revealed glory gives us a sacred glimpse of a holy God. God created seraphim as sinless creatures, but they are not to be equated with God. The fact that seraphim must cover their faces to protect themselves from the blinding light of God’s presence proves that their sinless nature is nothing compared to the Lord’s transcendent purity. In fact, the seraphim spend day and night worshipping God for His holiness. During this perpetual worship, they call out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

168. The significance of the seraphim’s proximity to God in conjunction with their revelatory praise cannot be overstated. When the seraphim say, “The whole earth is full of his glory,” they are revealing a first-hand account of what they witness from the pinnacle of Heaven. Through the seraphim’s super-natural perspective, we can see that God’s glory is so infinite, so indescribably valuable, and so powerful that it can’t be contained in a single realm; His glory bursts through Heaven unfolds through the spiritual realm and overflows into the whole earth. This revealed glory gives us a sacred glimpse of a holy God. The seraphim make their scriptural debut in Isaiah 6. There we see God preparing Isaiah for prophetic ministry during a critical time in Israel’s history. King Uzziah , who had reigned as one of Judah's greatest kings for over 40 years, had just died and left the wayward nation without a strong leader. God needed to get His people’s attention and draw them back into a right relationship with Himself. For that task, He chose the prophet Isaiah to speak on His behalf. But before Isaiah could be used to prophesy to a sinful nation, God first needed to reveal to Isaiah the depth of his own uncleanness. Here’s Isaiah’s account of the experience: “ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory’” (Isaiah 6:1-3).

169. The seraphim’s revelation of God’s holiness elicited a physical reaction from everything around them. Not even the earth could remain still at such a proclamation. At the sound of the seraphim’s collective voice, the doorposts and thresholds shook, the entire temple filled with smoke—and Isaiah was undone. “Woe to me!” [he] cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). The seraphim helped Isaiah see the holiness of God in such a way that it exposed the deepest, darkest places of his own heart and woke him up to the stark reality of his own inadequacy. But these mighty servants of God didn’t leave Isaiah in his state of desperation. Upon hearing Isaiah’s confession, one of the seraphim removed a live coal from the altar of God, touched Isaiah’s mouth with it, and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” The seraphim were a powerful tool in God’s hand, to reveal His transformative glory. “With his sins cleansed, Isaiah could now speak directly to God. When God called out for a prophet— ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’—the “purified” Isaiah was able to accept this prophetic commission to the people of Israel by responding— ‘Here am I. Send me!’”(Isaiah 6:8)” says Dolores Smyth in Who Are the Seraphim? The Seraphim in the Bible.

170. It the best to be with those in time, that we hope to be with in eternity. - Thomas Fuller Right now counts forever. - R. C. Sproul For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. - William Penn When I kill an Arab, a Jew, a Muslim, a Hindu, a communist, whoever it is, I am killing myself. I wonder if you realise this, basically. Krishnamurti

171. Those who look behind will never see beyond. ” You give because the love of God has been poured into your heart, not to satisfy the law. ― Sherry K. White Righteousness is the truth revealed and working in you.

172. He who cannot put his thoughts on ice should not enter into the heat of dispute . ― Friedrich Nietzsche, Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.” ― Maimonides

173. The phoenix must burn to emerge. Janet Fitch

174. May your days be many and your troubles be few. May all God's blessings descend upon you. May peace be within you may your heart be strong. May you find what you're seeking wherever you roam. Irish Blessings

175. Endless mornings cut by the dawn razor. Whipping the nightmares to a froth. Endless questions with no answers. No replacement for what's been lost. Lamb Of God

176. We are the cosmos made conscious and life is the means by which the universe understands itself . ― Brian Cox

177. Although gravity is by far the weakest force of nature, its insidious and cumulative action serves to determine the ultimate fate not only of individual astronomical objects but of the entire cosmos. The same remorseless attraction that crushes a star operates on a much grander scale on the universe as a whole. — P.C.W. Davies Finally, from what we now know about the cosmos, to think that all this was created for just one species among the tens of millions of species who live on one planet circling one of a couple of hundred billion stars that are located in one galaxy among hundreds of billions of galaxies, all of which are in one universe among perhaps an infinite number of universes all nestled within a grand cosmic multiverse, is provincially insular and anthropocentrically blinkered. Which is more likely? That the universe was designed just for us, or that we see the universe as having been designed just for us? — Michael Shermer

178. These stories show that there is interaction between the divine and humanity. Connection. Exchange. An unveiling of the mysteries of the transcendent. Trials that make you remember God are better than pleasures that make you forget Him. ― Sithi Fathima Behaviors and ways of being that are constricting, limiting, and uncomfortable—criminal activity, addiction, extreme poverty, and violence, for example—are all valid paths for a soul to take on its way to learning love and self-acceptance. They are opportunities to realize the Divine Presence no matter what the circumstances.” ― Linda Howe

179. That black, maddening firmament; that vast cosmic ocean, endlessly deep in every direction, both Heaven and Pandemonium at once; mystical Zodiac, speckled flesh of Tiamat ; all that is chaos, infinite and eternal. And yet, it's somehow the bringing to order of this chaos which perhaps has always disturbed me most. The constellations, in their way, almost bring into sharper focus the immensity and insanity of it all - monsters and giants brought to life in all their gigantic monstrosity; Mark X., Citations: A Brief Anthology

180. Do you have bitter envy and selfish ambition that wants to build up something for yourself on this earth? James 3:15 says, “Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil.” Envious people go to the point that if another has something they want they will say, “I am going to get it, I am going to use my efforts, my strengths, the gifts I have, to become what they are, but I am going to do an even better job. I have selfish ambition to take my energies and pursue it.” This is the wisdom of the world and James says, don’t deceive yourselves, don’t deny it, it is unspiritual; it is not from heaven it is from the earth. And worst of all it is from the pit, it is from the devil himself motivating you to get you off course. The enemy comes to build up the wisdom of the world in you, which is foolishness in Yahveh’s sight. He starts using your weakness and strengths to mold you with selfish ambition, envy, covetousness, greed, and the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life so that you get off course. Your course is simply this; that you would be born in order to become righteous and holy through faith in Yahshua’s sacrificial blood and its redeeming power. Filled with the life of His Spirit you will bear fruits of righteousness for His praise, honor, and glory. We were not put on this earth for anything but Yahveh’s good pleasure and it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom but He is sovereign; He cannot give the kingdom to those who are unspiritual and unrighteous. He cannot. It will be the home of righteousness. In His mercy and by His spirit, we can still work out our salvation, doing the righteous acts of the saints that will clothe us in the befitting attire that welcomes us as His Bride.

181. Make no mistake, no greedy, idolater, lustful, immoral, or sensual person is going to enter the kingdom of Yahveh . He says, “Make no mistake about it, don’t let anybody lie to you and deceive you, for on such people the wrath of Yahveh comes.” He has given us a time of life on this earth in order that we can successfully make pilgrimage into a timeless forever with Him. Don’t be a foolish, unspiritual, or unwise human being. James continues, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:16) Do you know why? Selfish ambition means you have got a god and it is called self and the god is big and it says, “I want, I must have, I will have. I will get,” and so every disorder and every evil practice comes because your god is not Yahveh . James chapter 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it, you kill (meaning you get angry because Yahshua said if you have anger toward your brother it is the same as if you killed him), you covet but you cannot have what you want, you quarrel and you fight. You do not have because you do not ask Yahveh and when you do ask you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your personal pleasures. You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward Yahveh ? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy to Yahveh . Or do you think that the Scripture says with out reason (or we can say do you think the Scripture lies) when it says, “That the spirit Yahveh caused to live in us envies intensely for what Yahveh wants.” (James 4:1-5)

182. Yahveh is a jealous Elohim (God). He created us for His good pleasure. He is jealous when we are adulterers; meaning we love something else more than Him. We take what He has given us from our breath, our lives, our gifts, our energies, and our talents and we provoke Him to jealously because we spend it on ourselves, for the wisdom of the world, to gratify our flesh and our selfish ambition.

183. You have always the same view from your window! For different views, visit other houses! And for different ideas, visit other minds!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse, the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for the want of a horse-shoe nail. — Anonymous

184. All that can be said upon the number and nature of elements is, in my opinion, confined to discussions entirely of a metaphysical nature. The subject only furnishes us with indefinite problems, which may be solved in a thousand different ways, not one of which, in all probability, is consistent with nature. I shall therefore only add upon this subject, that if, by the term elements, we mean to express those simple and indivisible atoms of which matter is composed, it is extremely probable we know nothing at all about them; but, if we apply the term elements, or principles of bodies, to express our idea of the last point which analysis is capable of reaching, we must admit, as elements, all the substances into which we are capable, by any means, to reduce bodies by decomposition. — Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier

185. [T]here are some common animal behaviors that seem to favor the development of intelligence, behaviors that might lead to brainy beasts on many worlds. Social interaction is one of them. If you're an animal that hangs out with others, then there's clearly an advantage in being smart enough to work out the intentions of the guy sitting next to you (before he takes your mate or your meal). And if you're clever enough to outwit the other members of your social circle, you'll probably have enhanced opportunity to breed..., thus passing on your superior intelligence. ... Nature—whether on our planet or some alien world—will stumble into increased IQ sooner or later. — Seth Shostak

186. A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. — Robert Heinlein

187. Conformity-enforcing packs of vicious children and adults gradually shape the social complexes we know as religion, science, corporations, ethnic groups, and even nations. The tools of our cohesion include ridicule, rejection, snobbery, self-righteousness, assault, torture, and death by stoning, lethal injection, or the noose. A collective brain may sound warm and fuzzily New Age, but one force lashing it together is abuse. — Howard Bloom

188. English is a language, not a measure of intelligence. (Howard Gardner would argue the otherwise.) Filipino/Tagalog is a language, not a measure of patriotism.” ― Khayri R.R. Woulfe

189. Our school education ignores, in a thousand ways, the rules of healthy development; and the results … are gained very generally at the cost of physical and mental health. — Elizabeth Blackwell

190. You once told me You wanted to find Yourself in the world - And I told you to First apply within, To discover the world within you. You once told me You wanted to save The world from all its wars - And I told you to First save yourself From the world, And all the wars You put yourself Through. Suzy Kassem

191. When greed is enthroned, be it in a community or nation, ungodliness is celebrated at the altar of human pleasure.” ― Sunday Adelaja Children understood at a very young age that doing nothing was an expression of power. Doing nothing was a choice swollen with omnipotence. It was, in fact, godly . And this, she now realized, was the reason why the gods did nothing. Proof of their omniscience. After all, to act was to announce awful limitations, for it revealed that chance acted first, the accidents were just that--events beyond the will of the gods--and all they could do in answer was to attempt to remedy the consequences, to alter natural ends. To act, then, was an admission of fallibility.” ― Steven Erikson

192. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. Sun Tzu

193. If you are mighty and powerful, then gain respect through knowledge and through your gentleness of speech. Don’t order things except as it is fitting. The one who provokes others gets into trouble. Don’t be haughty lest you be humbled. But also, don’t be mute lest you be chided.” Muata Ashby

194. People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” – Elisabeth Kubler -Ross Inner beauty, too, needs occasionally to be told it is beautiful.” – Robert Brault You say freak, I say unique.” ― Christian Baloga

195. It is my own firm belief that the strength of the soul grows in proportion as you subdue the flesh. Mahatma Gandhi

196. By the term "truth-consciousness" Aurobindo means `a consciousness always free from the Ignorance which is the foundation of our present natural or evolutionary existence and from which nature in us is trying to arrive at self-knowledge and world-knowledge and the right consciousness and the right use of our existence in the universe’. Hence Aurobindo’s statement that `because it is a truth- conciousness ,’ the supermind `has this knowledge inherent in it and this Power of true existence. Kamaladevi R. Kunkolienker

197. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service, two dishes, but to one table; that's the end. CLAUDIUS Alas, alas. HAMLET A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm. CLAUDIUS What dost thou mean by this? HAMLET Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar.” ― William Shakespeare

198. Class analysis can thus function not simply as part of scientific theory of interests and conflicts, but of an emancipatory theory of alternatives and social justice as well. Even if socialism is off the historical agenda, the idea of countering the exploitative logic of capitalism is not.” ― Erik Olin Wright

199. [T]he natural history of the rat is tragically similar to that of man ... some of the more obvious qualities in which rats resemble men — ferocity, omnivorousness , and adaptability to all climates ... the irresponsible fecundity with which both species breed at all seasons of the year with a heedlessness of consequences, which subjects them to wholesale disaster on the inevitable, occasional failure of the food supply.... [G] radually , these two have spread across the earth, keeping pace with each other and unable to destroy each other, though continually hostile. They have wandered from East to West, driven by their physical needs, and — unlike any other species of living things — have made war upon their own kind. The gradual, relentless, progressive extermination of the black rat by the brown has no parallel in nature so close as that of the similar extermination of one race of man by another... — Hans Zinsser

200. The earth is large and old enough to teach us modesty. — Hans Cloos

201. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill The end of all knowledge should be service to others. Cesar Chavez

202. The natural world cleans water, pollinates plants and provides pharmaceuticals, among many other gifts.] Thirty trillion dollars worth of services, scot-free to humanity, every year. — Edward O. Wilson In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks .” John Muir For a time, I rest in the grace of the world, and am free." –Wendell Berry A man’s indebtedness … is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude. — Ruth Benedict

203. Make improvements, not excuses. Seek respect, not attention.” ― Roy T. Bennett It is quite a revelation to discover that the place you wanted to escape to is the exact same place you escaped from. That the prison wasn't the place, but the perspective.” ― Matt Haig

204. It is not by destroying the lower nature that man becomes virtuous; it is by the transmutation and regeneration of every base quality and attitude that he achieves divinity . ― Manly P. Hall Pratyahara may be termed the process of separating the mind from the illusions of the senses and turning it more and more upon the contemplation of Reality. The mind must be controlled: it must think only when it is told to think and as it is told to think; it must be directionalized by the will of the individual. When man is master of his thoughts and feelings, when he is in perfect possession of his mind, he has accomplished the fifth step. Today the average person cannot think clearly because interest sways his judgment. He thinks in favor of the things he loves and against the things he hates; he blames some people and exonerates others, when both are guilty of similar offenses. This is because the mind is a servant of the senses and is incapable of free and unprejudiced thought.

205. The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you . BB King If you play music with passion and love and honesty, then it will nourish your soul, heal your wounds and make your life worth living. Music is its own reward . Sting Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents . Ludwig van Beethoven

206. A boy walked into a store and went straight to get a carton box to put in front of the telephone. The store owner watched all this with mild curiosity. Once the carton box was in place, the boy climbed on it and reached for the phone. The boy dialed a number. As soon as the other line picked up, he asked if they would hire him to cut their lawn. The person on the other end must have declined because the boy asked again. “I will cut the lawn better than whoever is cutting your lawn now. I can also sweep your curb, your sidewalk, and your driveway. Your lawn will be the prettiest in all of the neighborhood!” He was making such a good pitch that the store owner couldn’t help but be impressed. As the boy replaced the phone in the receiver, the store owner couldn’t stop himself from asking the boy. “Well, did you get the job?” The boy smiled, “No, I didn’t. They said they’re happy with the service they’re getting right now.” The store owner felt bad for the boy. “I like your persistent attitude! I can give you a job!” To his surprise, the boy declined. “No, thank you. I am the one doing their lawn, actually. I just called to check if they were happy with my work.”

207. The story of the boy and the phone call conveys a powerful moral lesson: the importance of self-awareness and honesty in personal and professional endeavors. The boy's initiative and determination to secure a job showcased his strong work ethic and confidence. His willingness to go above and beyond by offering additional services demonstrated his commitment to excellence. However, what sets this story apart is the boy's honesty with himself. When faced with rejection, instead of succumbing to disappointment or giving up, the boy used the opportunity for introspection. He recognized the value of constructive feedback and sought to understand how he could improve. This introspection allowed him to refine his skills and deliver exceptional service to his clients. The moral of the story encourages individuals to embrace self-awareness. Rather than solely comparing oneself to others, the emphasis is on recognizing one's strengths and acknowledging areas for improvement. It promotes the idea that genuine success comes not just from external validation but from an internal commitment to growth and self-improvement. In essence, the story teaches us that to excel in our pursuits, we must be honest with ourselves. By understanding our capabilities and continuously striving for improvement, we can navigate challenges with resilience and integrity. The boy's rejection of a job offer from the store owner symbolizes the confidence that comes from authentic self-awareness and the pursuit of excellence in one's chosen path.

208. Its amazing to contemplate what human mind is capable of, incredible functionality, specialty of describing something beautifully without even experiencing called the work of imagination, carries us to a world we have never been before.” ― Pushpa Rana , If you are capable of understanding the different minds of different worlds, then you will be rewarded with the fate of having different riches of different paths!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan Have you ever imagined waking up in a completely different world and time?” ― Mané Guarda

209. There is the explanation that is put in the language of the mysteries, that we men are in a kind of prison, and that one must not free oneself or run away. That seems to me an impressive doctrine and one not easy to understand fully. However, Cebes , this seems to me well expressed, that the gods are our guardians and that men are one of their possessions. Or do you not think so ? Socrates When one studies the history of terrestrial religions, it soon becomes clear that so-called primitive peoples everywhere shared a belief in the divinity of the earth. In other words, Goddess worship was universal—until the dawn of the monotheistic, paternalistic religions.” ― Sol Luckman

210. Desireth thou to know the deep, hidden secret? Look in thy heart where the knowledge is bound. Know that in thee the secret is hidden, the source of all life and the source of all death . ― Maurice Doreal Long before the advent of what scientists and scholars consider to be the beginning of human civilization, there was an age undreamed of ... the age of Atlantis. Frederick Lenz I’m a reporter,” Rachel said. “I write about the arts, festivals, new projects in the city. What I’m not is some kind of psychic astral traveler! How did I get here? Planning a trip to another dimension ? ― G.G. Collins

211. Nothing exists. All is a dream. God—man—the world—the sun, the moon, the wilderness of stars—a dream, all a dream; they have no existence. Nothing exists save empty space—and you…. And you are not you—you have no body, no blood, no bones, you are but a thought. MARK TWAIN” ― Blake Crouch Is it possible to outthink yourself ?

212. Everybody is trying to put clothes of their own size on the Eternal Truth . ― Shunya The universe is not for man alone, but is a theater of evolution for all living beings. Live and let live is its guiding principle. 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah ' - Non-injury is the highest religion . ― Virchand Raghavji Gandhi

213. agree, I have no evidence, but absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” ― Ashwin Sanghi

214. Imagine you’re a fish, swimming in a pond. You can move forward and back, side to side, but never up out of the water. If someone were standing beside the pond, watching you, you’d have no idea they were there. To you, that little pond is an entire universe. Now imagine that someone reaches down and lifts you out of the pond. You see that what you thought was the entire world is only a small pool. You see other ponds. Trees. The sky above. You realize you’re a part of a much larger and more mysterious reality than you had ever dreamed of.” ―  Blake Crouch

215. How can we satisfy ourselves without going on in infinitum? And, after all, what satisfaction is there in that infinite progression? Let us remember the story of the Indian philosopher and his elephant. It was never more applicable than to the present subject. If the material world rests upon a similar ideal world, this ideal world must rest upon some other; and so on, without end. It were better, therefore, never to look beyond the present material world . ― David Hume

216. I'm half way to Heaven and half way to Hell with each breath I take in this mortal shell . ― Stanley Victor Paskavich

217. Clearly it is not reason that has failed. What has failed—as it has always failed—is the attempt to achieve certainty, to reach an absolute, to find the course of human events to a final end. ... It is not reason that has promised to eliminate risk in human undertakings; it is the emotional needs of men. — Allen Wheelis Fear, rage and pain, and the pangs of hunger are all primitive experiences which human beings share with the lower animals. These experiences are properly classed as among the most powerful that determine the action of men and beasts — Walter Bradford Cannon

218. Read a few books, you live a little. Help a few beings, you live a lifetime. Heaven is not a place high above the sky, Heaven is the moment you're someone's lifeline. Even I enjoy a good dc and marvel story, But it mustn't turn you blind to reality. To live selfish is the animal's purgatory, To die while living for others is humanity. Memory is the fabric upon which time is carved . Where there is no memory, there is no time. Neurons are the building blocks of mind and memory. Where there is no neuron, there is no paradise. There's not one but two paradise, one real, another fiction. The real one is made of action, the other imagination.” Abhijit Naskar

219. God gave birth to the universe. The universe gave birth to the cosmos. The cosmos gave birth to the world. The world gave birth to nature. Nature gave birth to life. Life gave birth to mankind. Mankind gave birth to humanity.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo No world has a monopoly on intelligence, and no universe has a patent on genius. We are The exact meeting point Between infinite externalities And infinite internalities. So when we look out into the night sky And see the cosmos, We should also look into the I And see the cosmos. And as much universe As there is out there, There is also That much universe In here” ― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr ,

220. Everything has a consciousness. Every atom and molecule is conscious. Every virus and bacteria is conscious. Every tree, large and small animals are conscious, but each level of consciousness is different. All humans are conscious; the level of consciousness among humans also differs.” ― Debasish Mridha

221. Although the telestial kingdom is the lowest of the kingdoms of glory, the inhabitants of that glory will be “heirs of salvation” in a world that “surpasses all understanding” (D&C 76:88–89). Finally, this portion of the vision adds the sobering detail that the inhabitants of the telestial world will be “as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore” and that the inhabitants will be “servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end”

222. What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin?” Joseph the Seer asked in the King Follett sermon. “He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from that time he begins to be an enemy. . . . You cannot save such persons; you cannot bring them to repentance; they make open war, like the devil, and awful is the consequence.”

223. There are many mansions in God’s house because heaven is intended for various degrees of honor and blessedness. Some are designed to sit in higher places there than others; some are designed to be advanced to higher degrees of honor and glory than others are . Jonathan Edwards

224. There is an inconceivable variety in the degrees of reward in the other world. . . . In worldly things men are ambitious to get as high as they can. Christians have a far more noble ambition. The difference between the very highest and the lowest state in the world is nothing to the smallest difference between the degrees of glory. John Wesley

225. Time is the mother of dimensions. There are other dimensions of time for other universes . There are other dimensions of time for other forms of all things . There are other dimensions of time for other forms of all lives . There are other dimensions for other forms of all things.” ― Khalid Masood

226. Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than the dead calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you will; but first let me eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge!” ― Robert G. Ingersoll, Sorrow is knowledge: they who know the most must mourn the deepest o’er the fatal truth, the Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life.” ― George Gordon Byron I was standing, finally, in the place where everything begins: the tree in the garden, the tree of knowledge that, as I learned long ago, is something divided, something that because growth occurs only through the medium of time, brings both pleasure and, finally, sorrow.” ― Daniel Mendelsohn,

227. What I found particularly fascinating and satisfying about the Hindu tradition was its spirit of inclusiveness. In Sanatan Dharma, or what is commonly called Hinduism, I discovered the basic truths of all religions in a way that the oneness of God and religion is comprehensively understood." - Radhanath Swami I do believe that the original sources of all religions should be taught, because with that we will find our similarities, not just our differences. I believe that if Mohammed, Buddha, Jesus, and Moses all got together they would be best of friends because the spiritual basis of all religions is something that builds unity." - Yehuda Berg

228. We are not here by accident. The sages predicted this time. We are out of alignment with Asase Yaa , aka Mama Nature. Life is out of balance. You see what is happening. There is upheaval in the atmosphere. Old systems are being dismantled, structures are breaking, and illusions are being exposed. The patriarchy is in shambles. This is the moment to summon the sacred within and step boldly into our sacred energies as queens, warriors, sorceresses, and lovers. We must nurture the goddess within to course correct.” ― Abiola Abrams

229. Only the wise know just where predestination ends and free will begins. Meanwhile, you must keep on doing your best, according to your own clearest understanding. you must long for freedom as the drowning man longs for air. Without sincere longing, you will never find God. Paramahansa Yogananda Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven. Charles Spurgeon There's too much tendency to attribute to God the evils that man does of his own free will. Agatha Christie

230. Every great idea starts out as blasphemy.’ If there is resistance, it means that the direction is right.” ― Adam Nergal Darski , Atheism If you believe in a god who appoints the rock bottom of eternal hellfire because you, out of anything, merely gave constructive criticism, which assuming his omni -whatever should be as grave as a fly rubbing its forelimbs, and insists on it by graving that even into his eternal, uncreated speech that ought to hold for all time without change: Then you admit that the forgiving person can accomplish something god can not: Forgiveness for even something as harmless as constructive criticism, assuming that were even an offense, assuming we are not dealing with a subject with a personality disorder. It's no quantum field theory, it's no algebraic geometry, it's that simple really: If god can not forgive what a mere human can - and he can not if he were not a liar or consistent as he already mentioned that in his eternal divine command manifesto - then he is not beyond humanity, he displays a weakness.

231. The slowest among us can, in a few hours, pick up ideas that it took a few rare geniuses a lifetime to acquire . ― The School of Life

232. We now know that all extant living creatures derive from a single common ancestor, called the 'Last Universal Common Ancestor' (LUCA). It’s hard to think of a more unifying view of life. All living things are linked to a single-celled creature, the deepest root to the complex-branching tree of life. If we could play the movie of life backward, we would find this microscopic primogenitor at the starting point of biological evolution, the sole actor in what would become a very dramatic story, lasting some 3.5 billion years leading to us . Alex M. Vikoulov

233. If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” — Carl Sagan Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another .

234. Anybody who thinks there's nothing wrong with this world needs to have his head examined. Just when things are going all right, without fail someone or something will come along and spoil everything. Somebody should write that down as a fundamental law of the Universe. The principle of perpetual disappointment. If there is a God who created this world, he should scrap it and try again.” ― Athol Fugard , He taught us the history of science. To my surprise the entire field of science was created by Christians who believed that by studying the laws of the universe, and creation itself, they would be able to learn more about the Creator. Newton, Galileo, Kelvin, even Kepler , the father of empiricism himself, and countless others, all studied science because it agreed with, supported, and substantiated their Christian faith and belief in God. Every bit of order, structure, intentionality, and design they saw in the universe helped them better understand the Creator― Michael J Heil

235. It seems that our brave new world is becoming less tolerant, spiritual and educated than it ever was when I was young.” ― Lemmy Kilmister Man must be certain of his morality for the simple reason that he has to suffer for it. G.K. Chesterton

236. Once a reporter asked a Wiseman what is the secret of your ENERGY, you are always happy, peaceful and energetic. The Wiseman replied “Don’t waste it”, What? asked the reporter!, the Wiseman replied “ENERGY”. Wiseman explained we are the energy, energy can’t be created nor it can be destroyed. Energy can be transformed from one form to another. Everybody has the same energy, learn to invest it properly. RETAIN your energy by avoiding negative people, negative thinking, gossiping, comparing, dropping the ego. GAIN your energy by thinking positive, maintaining good health and being loving… love your work, status, people around you, and your family. INVEST your energy on the opportunities you have that manifest your life. Finally, Wiseman said, “Learn to direct your energy by mastering your mind.” ― Venugopala CV If the total energy of the universe must always remain zero, and it costs energy to create a body, how can a whole universe be created from nothing? That is why there must be a law like gravity. Because gravity is attractive, gravitational energy is negative: One has to do work to separate a gravitationally bound system, such as the earth and moon. This negative energy can balance the positive energy needed to create matter, but it’s not quite that simple . Stephen Hawking

237. Circumstances do not determine your state of being. Your state of being determines your circumstances.” ― Bashar

238. Why has not anyone seen that fossils alone gave birth to a theory about the formation of the earth, that without them, no one would have ever dreamed that there were successive epochs in the formation of the globe.” ― Georges Cuvier

239. I once spent a weekend on Earth, With two men (of Science and God) One man convinced me I did not exist, And the other that I was a fraud. In both men I saw the same reason, In both men I saw the same light. So, I left for another dimension, Assuming that both men were right." ―   C. Sean McGee

240. It could be said that we become so much a stranger that we disappear and find ourselves reborn in the midst of humanity which is quite a paradox.” ― Donna Goddard If you are listening to the roar, you're going to miss the whisper . ― Tracy Pinkerton

241. Walking through a meadow calling the plants by name is like entering a room of friends instead of strangers.” ― John Hildebrand,

242. It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it Joseph Joubert

243. The first principle of value that we need to rediscover is this: that all reality hinges on moral foundations. In other words, that this is a moral universe, and that there are moral laws of the universe just as abiding as the physical laws. Martin Luther King Jr.

244. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.” ― Elie Wiesel

245. Dreams? Yours are skewed versions of your everyday reality. Of Java, Oracle and servers, greasy subway trains and skyscrapers. You do fall off the precipice sometimes, naked, fly into three-dimensional turquoise oceans. At times you see pixels around you. Sperms. Electrons and black holes, the matrix, 0’s and 1’s, polarised light.” ―  Sindhu Rajasekaran

246. The study of taxonomy in its broadest sense is probably the oldest branch of biology or natural history as well as the basis for all the other branches, since the first step in obtaining any knowledge of things about us is to discriminate between them and to learn to recognize them. Richard E. Blackwelder

247. If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” ― C.S. Lewis

248. The direct violence of warfare accounts for a relatively small proportion of this suffering. Destruction of health-sustaining infrastructure and increased vulnerability of populations, especially the millions of people displaced from their home areas, account for far more. Dr Joanna Santa Barbara

249. “Creativity follows mastery, so mastery of skills is the first priority for young talent.” — Benjamin Bloom

250. There are perhaps many causes worth dying for, but to me, certainly, there are none worth killing for.” ― Albert Dietrich

251. “Our fathers were both rude and bold , And would not live like brothers; But we are of a finer mould - We’re much more like our mothers!” ― H.P. Lovecraft

252. You don't own anything in this world, you only owe her ― Dido Stargaze

253. Would you have wished more, or fewer, anarchists around in the Thousand Year Reich or any of the other fantasies of hierarchy?” ― Christopher Hitchens

254. We keep score in life because it matters. It counts. It matters. Too many people opt out and never discover their own abilities because they fear failure. They don't understand commitment. Pat Summitt

255. Smell is the intelligence of flowers" Henry de Montherlant

256. I'm very organised these days, and I keep my life in my handbag, like most women. Britt Ekland

257. Time does not end when your watch stops. P. S. Jagadeesh Kumar

258. Hierarchies are celestial. In hell all are equal.” ― Nicolás Gómez Dávila

259. Oh how wrong we were to think immortality meant never dying” ― Gerard Way Alchemy is all about mystery, love, immortality, and eternal bliss. It is a state of metaphysical change happening inside an individual.

260. If something comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality. Norman Cousins

261. Honour may not win power, but it wins respect. And respect earns power. Ishida Mitsunari

262. To connect is to dissolve the imaginary pyramids of artificial privilege.” ― Stefan Molyneux

263. The human mind has a primitive ego defense mechanism that negates all realities that produce too much stress for the brain to handle. It’s called Denial . ― Dan Brown

264. Manipulation, fueled with good intent, can be a blessing. But when used wickedly, it is the beginning of a magician's karmic calamity.” ― T.F. Hodge As we discern a fine line between crank and genius, so also (and unfortunately) we must acknowledge an equally graded trajectory from crank to demagogue. When people learn no tools of judgment and merely follow their hopes, the seeds of political manipulation are sown. — Stephen Jay Gould

265. The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace . ― Mahatma Gandhi

266. Define yourself. Create yourself. Choose Life. Choose Immortality. Choose Divinity. Choose zero and infinity, and a dialectical process that converts potential into actualization.” ― Mike Hockney ,

267. All the answers are out there. The only thing expected of you is to keep calm, tune in, and find out.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson

268. The devil doesn't come to you with a red face and horns, he comes to you disguised as everything you've ever wanted.” ― Oscar Auliq -Ice

269. The hard problem of consciousness is the problem of explaining how we experience qualia or phenomenal experiences, such as seeing, hearing, and feeling, and knowing what they are. Stephen Grossberg

270. The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” ― Horace Walpole Jean Racine Do not let another day go by where your dedication to other people's opinions is greater than your dedication to your own emotions!” ― Steve Maraboli ,

271. Don't just learn, experience. Don't just read, absorb. Don't just change, transform. Don't just relate, advocate. Don't just promise, prove. Don't just criticize, encourage. Don't just think, ponder. Don't just take, give. Don't just see, feel. Don’t just dream, do. Don't just hear, listen. Don't just talk, act. Don't just tell, show. Don't just exist, live.” ― Roy T. Bennett,

272. We are stardust, we are golden, We are billion year old carbon, And we got to get ourselves back to the garden." -- Joni Mitchell,

273. We lay there & looked up at the night sky & she told me about stars called blue squares & red swirls & I told her I'd never heard of them. Of course not, she said, the really important stuff they never tell you. You have to imagine it on your own." -- Brian Andreas

274. For our purposes, it is really only necessary to recognize that power is that which makes you go strong, while force makes you go weak. Love, compassion, and forgiveness, which may be mistakenly seen by some people as submissive, are in fact profoundly empowering. Revenge, judgmentalism , and condemnation, on the other hand, inevitably make you go weak.” ― David R. Hawkins,

275. He says that the empirical cosmic being is like a pyramid: at the top sit the powerful of the earth, who exercise dominion over the nations (cf. Matt. 20:25), and at the bottom stand the masses. But the spirit of man, by nature [ unfallen nature as given by God], demands equality, justice and freedom of spirit, and therefore is not satisfied with this “pyramid of being.” So, what did the Lord do? He took this pyramid and inverted it, and put Himself at the bottom, becoming its Head. He took upon Himself the weight of sin, the weight of the infirmity of the whole world, and so from that moment on, who can enter into judgment with Him? His justice is above the human mind.

276. However, even if there were no one else, He could hold the pyramid by Himself, because He is infinitely strong; but He likes to share everything with His fellows. Mindful of this, then, it is essential for man to find the way of going down, the way of humility, which is the Way of the Lord As the ego cogito, subjectivity is the consciousness that represents something, relates this representation back to itself, and so gathers with itself.” ― Martin Heidegger

277. I want to see the world without explaining away its mystery by calling things wicked, righteous, sinful, and good. I want to erase in myself the easy explanations, the always mendacious explanations about why things happen the way they do, and in this way, come to know the mystery of being–-not by any approximation in thought, but by being. I want to be and not be ashamed of being . ― Therese Doucet ,

278. Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

279. The night has a thousand eyes, and the day but one; Yet the light of the bright world dies with the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes, and the heart but one; Yet the light of a whole life dies when love is done." -- Francis William Bourdillon ,

280. Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart. Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes Lives in the Self. He is the source of love And may be known through love but not through thought He is the goal of life. Attain this goal!

281. God is one, but he has innumerable forms. He is the creator of all and He himself takes the human form. — Guru Nanak57 The god that you believe in, and the god that I believe in, maybe different gods; however, the God that made you, and the God that made me, They are the same God. William Wallace

282. The key is no matter what story you tell, make your buyer the hero .” Chris Brogan,

283. Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things .” Steve Jobs

284. It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being . ― John Joseph Powell I realize today that nothing in the world is more distasteful to a man than to take the path that leads to himself.” ― Hermann Hesse Acquaint yourself with your own ignorance.” ― Isaac Watts

285. The material world has only been constructed at the price of taking the self, that is, mind, out of it, removing it; mind is not part of it. — Erwin Schrödinger Would it (the world) otherwise (without consciousness) have remained a play before empty benches, not existing for anybody, thus quite properly not existing?

286. If God hath made this world so fair , Where sin and death abound, How beautiful beyond compare, Will paradise be found! James Montgomery Sin and death and suffering and war and poverty are not natural - they are the devastating results of our rebellion against God. We long for a return to Paradise - a perfect world, without the corruption of sin, where God walks with us and talks with us in the cool of the day. Randy Alcorn

287. Down to Gehenna , or up to the Throne, He travels the fastest who travels alone. Rudyard Kipling

288. Those who do good works in this world and help others, but with an eye to reward, hoping to reach heaven or to get the praise of their fellow-men, must when they die, reap the benefit of those good works — they become these gods. But that is not salvation; salvation never will come through hope of reward. Whatever man desires the Lord gives him. Swami Vivekananda

289. Planning for the future is like going fishing in a dry gulch; nothing ever works out as you wanted, so give up all your schemes and ambitions. If you have got to think about something ~ Make it the uncertainty of the hour of your death.” ~ Sogyal Rinpoche

290. In a small Himalayan village nestled among towering peaks, there lived an elderly monk named Tenzin. The villagers regarded him with great reverence, as he was known to possess profound wisdom and a deep understanding of life's mysteries. One day, Tenzin fell seriously ill, and as his health deteriorated, he entered a state of consciousness known as the bardo – the intermediate state between death and rebirth, according to Tibetan Buddhism. During this ethereal journey, Tenzin found himself in a realm where time seemed to lose its grip, and the boundaries between past, present, and future blurred. In the bardo , he encountered vivid visions of his life, witnessing moments of joy, sorrow, and enlightenment. As Tenzin navigated through this metaphysical landscape, he faced various challenges that tested the essence of his being. Each trial represented a facet of his existence, prompting reflections on love, compassion, and the interconnectedness of all things. In the final stage of the bardo , Tenzin felt an overwhelming sense of tranquility and acceptance. He embraced the impermanence of life, understanding that death was merely a transition to another form of existence. Back in the village, Tenzin's physical body succumbed to the illness, but his teachings and the impact of his enlightened journey lingered among the villagers. The story of Tenzin's bardo became a source of inspiration, fostering a deeper understanding of life's cyclical nature and the profound wisdom hidden within the transitions between one state of being and the next.

291. Keep your mind strong with knowledge; keep your heart strong with faith.” ― Muslim Smiles When the body is hurt, brain feels it; When the soul is hurt, heart feels it; No matter where it hurts, Allah heals it .

292. As individuals we tend to climb to our levels of incompetence. We behave as though up is better and more is better, and yet all around us we see the tragic victims of this mindless escalation . Laurence J. Peter

293. Stafford Beer’s Viable Systems Model describes the reoccurring five systems that naturally operate in all organisations , whether we are aware of them or not. These reoccurring set of five systems are nested in a holarchy structure where each ascending level has a broader mission and includes the level below. My simple explanation of why we human beings, the most advanced species on earth, cannot find happiness, is this: as we evolve up the ladder of being, we find three things: the first, that the tension between the range of opposites in our lives and society widens dramatically and often painfully as we evolve; the second, that the better informed and more intelligent we are, the more humble we have to become about our ability to live meaningful lives and to change anything, even ourselves; and consequently, thirdly, that the cost of gaining the simplicity the other side of complexity can rise very steeply if we do not align ourselves and our lives well.” ― Dr Robin Lincoln Wood

294. Here is the list of demon Princes, per order: Belzébub . Belzebub , former Prince of the Seraphim, is said to tempt men with the sin of pride (“ superbe ” as we say in old French) – he took this charge from Lucifer. However his enemy is not Lucifer’s opposite (it is mentioned that St. John the Baptist took “Lucifer’s place” in Heaven thanks to his great humility fighting perfectly the excessive superbia of Lucifer). Rather Belzebub’s enemy/opponent is another humble saint, St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order of Friars Minors. Léviathan . Former Prince of the Seraphim, he is now Prince of the Heretics, tempting men with the sins against faith. He is opposed by St. Peter, the founder of the Christian Church. Asmodée ( Asmodeus ). Former Prince of the Seraphim, tempting men with the sin of lust. His opposite is St. John the Baptist, because he was the “perfect virgin”. Baalberith . Former Prince of the Cherubim, he tempts men with homicide, duels, quarrels and blasphemies. His enemy is St. Barnabas, due to his “great modesty”. Astaroth . Former Prince of the Thrones, he tempts men with the sin of sloth (because himself always wants to sit and never stand up). His enemy is St. Bartholomew, who was said to kneel and stand up a hundred times each day to pray God.

295. Verrine . Former Prince of Thrones (he was apparently the second Prince after Astaroth ), and he tempts men with impatience. His enemy is St. Dominic who was “very patient with all insults and adversities”. (The name here is literally a “ verrine ”, a small glass recipient) Gresille . Former Third Prince of the Thrones, He tempts with “impurity” and his enemy is St. Bernard, who was “very pure”. (His name was probably “ Grésille ”, the word for the sound something makes when it grills – sizzle that’s the word). Sonneillon . Former Fourth Prince of the Thrones, he tempts humanity with “hate against enemies”. His adversary is St. Stephen, who prayed even for his enemies. ( Sonneillon is definitively a word based on the verb “ sonner ” which means “to ring” in French, like in “ring the bells” – his name probably means sometimes who rings). Carreau , former Prince of the Powers. He tempts humanity obstinacy/stubbornness ( obstination in French), and he has not one but two enemies: St. Vincent the martyr and Vincent Ferrer , founder of the order of the Preaching Brothers, who had a “very docile heart”. ( Carreau is another French word which can mean a lot of things, from a tile to a square) Carniveau , former Prince of the Powers. He tempts humanity with “impudicity” (understand indecency, sexual immorality – the very name “ carniveau ” has roots for “carne”, the flesh in it and links with the “carnival”). His enemy is St. John the Evangelist, who again was a virgin.

296. Oeillet , former Prince of the Dominions. He tempts men against the vow of poverty, and his enemy is St. Martin who gave half of his coat to a poor. ( Oeillet means in French “eyelet” or the “carnation” flower) Rosier. Former second Prince of the Dominions, he temps humanity with “sweet-talking love” ( literaly love with sweet words) and his enemy was St. Basil who… I quote “never wanted to hear one friendly and polite word”. So… yeah apparently being polite is a devilish thing X) (Rosier literaly means “rosebush” or “rose-tree”) Verrier , former Prince of the Principalities. He temps humans against the vow of obedience – he is said to literally make an “iron collar” that obedience cannot bend. His enemy is St. Bernard (again!), who was a great friend of the Virgin Mary and “imitated her in obedience”. Apparently. Somehow. (“ verrier ” is the French word for “glassmaker”). Bélias (people think it is a form of “Belial”). Former Prince of Virtues, he tempts with arrogance and his adversery is the simple man that was St. Francis de Paul. Belias is also said to tempt mothers into “spoiling, dressing up and chatting with their children so much it distracts and pushes them away from religion and the service of God”. Ah, such different times those were… Olivier, former Prince of the Archangels. He tempts men with cruelty and lack of mercy against the poor, and his enemy is St. Laurent who helped the poor. The last one… Now there is a slight trouble with this one … ..

297. I find parallels in nature to be a beautiful reflection of grand orchestration. One of these parallels is of snowflakes and us. Steve Maraboli , I think perfection is ugly. Somewhere in the things humans make, I want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion.” ― Yohji Yamamoto There is no perfection, only beautiful versions of brokenness.” ― Shannon L. Alder When all the details fit in perfectly, something is probably wrong with the story.” ― Charles Baxter, Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

298. A guy makes a deal with the devil: his soul in exchange for immortality. “Under the circumstances,” says the devil, “I don’t see how I can collect”. It is agreed that immortality does not extend to suicide. The devil makes the necessary adjustments, but in the process, removes the guy’s conscience. The guy has a fine time of it, at least for a while. Eventually however, he becomes bored and dissatisfied. When he summons the devil back to fix the nagging sensation that something is missing, the devil warns him that he won’t like the fix, but he nevertheless insists that the devil return what he took. Of course, the guy is completely overwhelmed with remorse once his conscience is back and he is confronted with all the terrible things he’s done. “He raised the gun to his head, and the devil came in”

299. Then why," Fenwick demanded, "am I unable to enjoy my immortality? What is it that stops me at the threshold of everything I attempt? I'm tired of living like a god if I have to stop with immortality only, and no real pleasure in it." "Hold still," the devil said. "There. My dear Fenwick, you are not a god. You're a very limited mortal man. Your own limitations are all that stand in your way. In a million years you could never become a great musician or a great economist or any of the greats you dream of. It simply isn't in you. Immortality has nothing to do with it. Oddly enough——" And here the devil sighed. "Oddly enough, those who make bargains with me never do have the capability to use their gifts. I suppose only inferior minds expect to get something for nothing. Yours is distinctly inferior." The cool breeze ceased. "There you are," the devil said. "I have now returned what I took. It was, in Freudian terms, simply your superego." And it ends:

300. A terrible, smashing awareness struck down upon Fenwick like the hand of a punishing God. He knew now what he had done. He remembered his crimes. All of them. Every last terrible, unforgivable, immutable sin he had committed in the past twenty years. His knees buckled under him. The world turned dark and roared in his ears. Guilt was a burden he could hardly stagger under. The images of the things he had seen and done in the years of his carefree evil were thunder and lightning that shook the brain in his skull. Intolerable anguish roared through his mind and he struck his hands to his eyes to blot out vision, but he could not blot out memory. Staggering, he turned and stumbled toward his bedroom door. He tore it open, reeled across the room and reached into a bureau drawer. He took out a revolver. He lifted the revolver, and the devil came in.

301. In a village, two farmers led similar lives, working in their fields and earning equally. Fate took them both on the same day, and Yamraj , the God of Death, escorted their souls to God. Addressing the first farmer, God inquired if there was any unfulfilled desire in his life. The farmer expressed dissatisfaction, stating that despite toiling like a bull to provide for his family, his efforts were hindered by others taking away his earnings. God then asked about his wish for the next life. The farmer yearned for a life where he only received and never had to give. God granted this wish, and the farmer's soul departed. Next, God turned to the second farmer, questioning if there was anything unfulfilled in his life. The farmer acknowledged a content life with a family and a small plot of land but regretted not being able to help the hungry and thirsty who approached him, only to leave empty-handed due to a lack of resources. When asked about his desire for the next life, the farmer wished to become someone who only gives and never takes. God assured him that his wish would be fulfilled.

302. In their subsequent lives, the farmer desiring only to receive became the village beggar, while the farmer yearning to give without taking became the wealthiest man in the village. This tale inspires reflection on the dual aspects of life—positive and negative—and underscores the importance of choices. Life, often taken for granted, might be someone else's dream. The story concludes with a call to consider the plight of the disabled and the impoverished, urging individuals to appreciate their own circumstances and cultivate a mindset of compassion.

303. [Man] … his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labour of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man's achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins… — Bertrand Russell