Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
1
NAMASTETo greet another person a friend or aquaintance, to pay respect to an
elder, a holy person or a temple deity or a Hindu joins his or her hands with plams together, bows down in front of the other person, and says
Namaskar, Namaste, or Pranam - meaning Reverent Salutations. In Hindu view, Brahman dwells in the heart of each being as the
individual self. The joining of hands symbolizes the idea that in the meeting of two persons, the Self actually meets Itself. Joining hands
also symbolizes humility. Thus when a Hindu joins his hands and says namaskar, he actually
says in humility, "I bow to God in you; I love you and I respect you, as there is no one like you."
Good Principles
Ahimsa
Ahimsa or Non-Injury
To respect all life as sacred and to practice non-violence in thought, word and deed, not only relative to people but to animals, plants and all the world of nature
Satya
Truthfulness (Satya)
To always tell the truth, even if does not make one popular, but to do so in an agreeable and friendly manner.
AsteyaNon-Stealing : Asteya
Not to take or appropriate for oneself something which has not rightfully been given or accrued as the result of one's own efforts.
BrahmacharyaBrahmacharya : Divine Conduct
2
Practice divine conduct, controlling lust by remaining celebate when single and faithful in marriage. Seek holy company. Dress modestly. Shun pronography, sexual humor and violence.
KshamaKshama - Patience
Exercise patience, restraining intolerence with people and impatience with circumstances, Be agreeable. Let others behave according to their nature, without adjusting to you. Remain poised in good times and bad
DhritiDhruti - Steadfastness
Foster steadfastness, overcoming nonperseverence, fear, indecision, and changableness. Achieve your goals with a prayer, purpose, plan, persistence and push. Avoid sloth and procrastination. Develop willpower, courage and industriousness. Do not let opposition or fear of failure result in changing strategies
DayaDaya - Compassion
Practice compassion. Be kind to people, animals, plants and the Earth itself. Practice forgiveness. Foster sympathy for those who are suffering and in need. Honor and assist those who are weak, improvished, aged or in pain. Oppose family abuse and other cruelties.
ArjavaArjava - Honesty
Maintain honesty, renouncing deception and wrongdoing. Act honorably even in hard times. Obey laws of your nation and locale. Do not cheat, deceive or circumvent to achieve an end. Face and accept your faults without blaming them on others.
MitaharaMitahara - Modarate Appetite
3
Be moderate in appitite, neither eating too much nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. Enjoy fresh, wholesome vegetarian foods that vitalize the body. Follow a simple diet, avoiding rich or fancy fare.
Saucha
Saucha - Purity
To practice purity and cleanliness in body, speech and mind. Maintain a clean and healthy body. Never use harsh, angered or indecent language.
GOOD RULES:Hri
Hri - Remorse
Allow yourself the expression of remorse, being modest and showing shame for misdeeds. Recognize your errors, confess and make amends. Seek out and correct your faults and bad habits. Do not boast. Shun pride and pretention.
SantoshaSantosha - Contentment
To remain content whatever circumstances may bring us, good or bad fortune, flattery or insult. Be happy, smile and uplift others. Be helpful to others. Live in constrant gratitude for your health, your friends and your belongings. Don't complaint about what you don't possess.
DanaDana - Charity or Giving
To be charitable in our actions and to share our possessions with those less fortunate. To support dharmic activities with our own resources, including temples, schools, and service organizations. Dana should be performed without seeking prase.
AstikyaAstikya - Faith
4
Cultivate an unshakable faith. Believe firmly in God, Gods, guru and your path to enlightenment. Shun those who try to break your faith by argument and accusation. Avoid doubt and dispair.
IshwarpujanIshwar Pujana - Worship
Cultivate devotion through daily worship and meditation. Learn a simple puja and the chants. Worship in heartfelt devotion, clearing the inner channels to God, Gods and guru so that their grace flows towards you.
Siddhanta ShravanaSiddhant Shravana - Scriptural Listening
Eagerly hear the scriptures, study the teachings and listen to the wise of your lineage. Read, study and, above all, listen to readings and dissertations by which wisdon flows from knower to seeker.
MatiMati - Cognition
Develop a spiritual will with your satguru's guidence. Strive for knowledge of God, to awaken the light within. Discover the hidden lesson in each experience to develop a profound understanding of life and yourself.
VrataVrata - Sacred Vows
Embrace religious vows, rules and observances and never waver in fulfilling them. Honor vows as spiritual contracts with your soul, your community, with god, Gods, and guru. Uphold your vows strictly, be they marriage, monasticism, nonaddiction, tithing, loyalty to a lineage, vegetarianism or nonsmoking.
JapaJapa - Recitation
5
Chant your holy mantra daily, reciting the sacred sound, word or phrase given by your guru. Live free of anger so that japa strengthens your higher nature. Let japa quell emotions and quiet the rivers of thoughts.
Tapas
Tapas - Austerity
Practice austerity, serious disciplines, penance and sacrifice. Be ardent in worship, meditation and pilgrimage.
Other Teachings:
Svadhyaya
Svadhyaya
To regularly observe and study oneself and spiritual teachings that provide Self-knowledge.
Ishvara-ParidhanaIshvara-Paridhana : Surrender to God
To surrender the fruits of all actions to God. To recognize the Divine Will as the only real power in the universe.
PujaPuja - Rituals
To do regular rituals for harmonizing with cosmic intelligence, purification of the mind, and promoting social welfare.
MantraMantra - Chants
To do regular prayers and mantras for purification of the mind, communion with Divinity, for the welfare of all creatures and for world peace.
DhyanaDhyana - Meditation
6
To do regular meditation for the purification of the mind and realization of Truth.
YatraYatra - Pilgrimage
To do regular pilgrimages to various sacred sites either as temples or places in Nature.
Respect for Parents & EldersRespect for Parents and Elders
To give honor and appropriate help to our parents. To offer prayers and rituals to our ancestors.
GurupujaGurupuja - Respect for The Guru
To serve and honor one's teachers and respect all spiritual guides, which means also to put into practice their teachings.
Bhumi RakshanaBhumi Rakshana - Protection of the Earth
To protect the earth, its plants and animals, and all its sources. To view the earth as its manifestation of the Divine Mother.
Sudha AharaSudha Ahara - Vegetarianism or Purity in Diet
As far as possible, be a vegetarian, for purposes of purification of mind, non-violence and protection of Earth. This means also to avoid all intoxicants, drugs and stimulants.
Non-InterferenceNon-Interference
To not give unsought advice or try to interfere with the lives of others, even if we think that what they are doing is wrong. Not try to impose our views upon others whatever they may think.
7
VishvataVishvata - Universality
To respect all true spiritual and benificial views and practices, whatever their name and form, whether they have come from within any particular religion or outside of them all.
This, however does not mean that one one should respect or compromise with unspiritual and harmful practices done under the veil of religion or anything else.
ShantiShanti - Peace
To act out of peace and to promite in all that one does. To wish only peace for all beings and creatures.
Transmission of Teachings
Transmission of the Teachings
To respect Hindu teachings as a valid an universal spiritual path. To strive to pass them on through various forms of instruction. To share whatever we know, particularly with those who are younger than we are.____________________________________________________________
'Namaste' is an East Indian greeting which means 'the light within me bows to the light within you.' In other words, beyond our achey bones, our tired feet and our multi-colored real life soap operas, lurks a dimension that is more than the body, the persona, the ego and all the 'trappings and the suits of woe' as Hamlet would say---a dimension where there isn't a 'you' and 'me' but rather a synergy that is more than all that, a space for the eternal to rest within the temporal Namaste is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning:
I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you, which is of light and peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one.Out of the Seed the FlowerOut of the Flower the NeedOut of the Need the PowerOut of the Power the Deed
8
Divine Energy"Each of us must come to the awareness in life that there dwells within us, within every man, woman and child, a Divine Energy. A power that motivates every function of our being. But, like all powers and energies in our Universe, it has two natures or two aspects to it. An 'Outer Divine Energy' and an 'Inner Divine Energy.' The 'Outer Energy' is that Divinity that starts the heart to beat, fills the lungs with air and is that spark essential to the physical body being alive.The 'Inner Energy' is that Divinity within us that exists unrecognized by most of us. It is the source within us that, for the most part, is dormant in most people, unused, asleep but which can be awakened. And when it is awakened, this 'Inner Divine Energy' creates a radiance, a Divine Light unlike anything that can be described by me with words. We have all experienced a part of it on occasion, but not recognized its true essence. It is what is felt in one's attitude towards God, one's feelings to the object of our love and devotion; it is the energy felt on the journey to our enlightenment. And, it is this which always invokes the qualities of Love of Life and Others, Forgiveness, Kindness and Inner Bliss. These are God's qualities. These are the true spiritual qualities that guide men's lives. Not dogmas, not creeds and not theologies. And, it is these qualities that lead us to understanding that we were born - all of us - with purpose and with the inner strength to achieve that purpose. Never allow anyone to tell you differently."J. Robert PretePower of Belief"As a child I was taught that God truly existed, but was to be feared. For God's displeasure could be horrific. As a child I was also trained to petition, to ask God for help when in troubled times. To call upon God to save us when faced with injustice, pains or death or when bullies beat me up for the pennies I carried, when someone close was killed in the violence of the neighborhood, when someone near was ill or died of disease. And more often than not, those petitions went unanswered. Family members died, and I still got beaten up at school. But, regardless, the quote I heard was always the same; "God's will has been done." And my little mind would say, " What will? And why is God so angry?"Being raised in an atmosphere of poverty, crime and violence in the ghettos of New York, I began to see God in an unhealthy way. It is not a healthy concept for a young mind to view God with fears as one who dispenses vengeance when displeased. It separates that young mind from the true essence of God's true nature, from the beauty, from the heart of God; from the God of love, joy and goodness who also creates all that is beautiful in life. It moves that child into confusion and disillusionment and turns that child away from seeking the God of compassion. It keeps that child from believing, with the power of a child's heart, in the God of Love.And when you can no longer believe in that Higher Source, in God, as a child, you grow into adults who also cannot believe in their own divinity. For if you
9
cannot believe in and love the God of Creation, how can you believe in and love the Creation itself?"J. Robert Prete
"The Light of God Surrounds Me,The Love of God Enfolds Me,
The Power of God Flows Through Me,Wherever I Am, God Is.
And All Is Well."
"As A Child of God,I Am Greater Than AnythingThat Can Happen To Me."
"Today I Give Thanks
For The Divine Actions
That Are Taking Place In My Life."
I have been asked several times, just what "Namaste" means...it was translated as meaning, "My spirit to your spirit!" I hope that after your visit here, that somehow, I may have touched yours!
WE RECOGNIZE THE DIVINE WITHIN YOU!
Namaste!How is it pronounced, what does it mean?Subject: Re: Namaste Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,alt.religion.hindu, alt.fan.jai-maharaj,hawaii.nortle, alt.religion.vaisnava From: [email protected] (Dr. Jai Maharaj) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 22:26:20 UTC
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (amar joshi) wrote: > I am lookingh to verify the correct spelling and > definition of the word "Namastee" from sandskrit.
Commonly written "Namaste", it is pronounced as "Namastay" with the first two a's as the first a in "America" and the ay as in "stay", but with the t pronounced soft with the
10
area just behind the tip of the tongue pressing against the upper-front teeth with no air passing (as the t in "tamasha"). - Jai Maharaj
> I have been told it means something like to > pay homage to the inner light in all living things. > Can you help me with this??? > [email protected]
I had occasion to post the following in 1993 and 1996:
Subject: Re: Sukhmani says Namaskaar to Brahmins From: Dr. Jai Maharaj <[email protected]> Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.punjab, soc.culture.indian.delhi,alt.fan.jai-maharaj, soc.culture.indian.gujarati,soc.culture.indian.marathi, soc.culture.indian.telugu,soc.culture.indian.karnataka, soc.culture.indian.kerala,soc.culture.bengali Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 14:01:55 -1000
In the article <[email protected]>, of Sat, 13 Jan 1996 07:59:48 -0600, Rahul Anand Narain <[email protected]> wrote: COLLinda wrote: >> What is the difference (if any) in saying "Namaste" and >> "Namaskar"? Are they addressed to or used by different people? >> Or are they essentially identical? I've heard people using >> both, but I haven't noticed any pattern. / Linda Nelson, >> Chicago Online > > Jai Maharaj had a lovely post regarding this. a couple of years > ago or so. I had had saved it but am not able to locate it. > Maybe he can repost the article? There have been several posts on the subject during the last few years, but I think the following authorized reproduction from HINDUISM TODAY is one of the best. For subscription and other information about Hinduism Today, please connect with the Web
site at this URL: http://www.HinduismToday.kauai.hi.us/ashram/ Hinduism today is a full-color, international monthly which has
been
11
published continuously since January 1979. Copyright 1993 by Himalayan Academy. ISSN: 0896-0801. All Rights Reserved. Please see full copyright notice at the end of the article. N::N "Shake hands and come out fighting." It's the
referee's A::A final counsel to two pugilists about to beat each other's M::M brains out with clenched fists. Even outside the ring,
a A::A handshake can be a little off-putting. When one returns S::S to the West from an extended sojourn in Bharat or T::T elsewhere in Asia, the hand suddenly thrust forward
can E::E seem more ominous than friendly, especially if the hand offered is that of a stranger. Of course, one
soon acclimates and the menacing aspect of this salutation subsides. Perhaps that moment of intimidation derives from the history of the handshake. According to one anthropologist, the handshake evolved in medieval Europe, during the times of knights. It
seems not all were laudable Lancelots or gallant Gallahads. More than a few would approach opponents with concealed weapons and
when within striking distance do the needful, driving dagger or striking sword into the unguarded paladin. To fend off the fear of a foe's foul foil, knights took to offering their open and visibly empty hand to each other. It
was a kind of surety, a gesture of trust which said, "See, I am unarmed, so you may safely let me approach." As the story goes,
12
soon the gesture itself took on meaning and the less noble, less lethal man on the street adopted the handshake as the proper
way to greet others. In much of the world today, people do not shake hands when they meet. They may hug formally or kiss one another on the cheek, as in eastern Europe and Arab states. They may bow softly,
eyes turned to the ground, as in Japan and China. The Hawaiian greeting, termed "honi," consists of placing the nostril
gently beside that of the person greeted, a kind of sharing of breath, which is life and Pran(a). For, Hindu(s), of course, the greeting of choice is "Namaste," the two hands pressed together and held near the heart with
the head gently bowed as one says, "Namaste." Thus it is both a spoken greeting and a gesture, a Mantr(a) and a Mudr(a).
The prayerful hand position is a Mudr(a) called Anjali, from the root Anj, "to adorn, honor, celebrate or anoint." The hands held in union signify the oneness of an apparently dual cosmos,
the bringing together of spirit and matter, or the self meeting the Self. It has been said that the right hand represents the
higher nature or that which is divine in us, while the left hand represents the lower, worldly nature. In Sanskrit "Namas" means, "bow, obeisance, reverential salutation." It comes from the root Nam, which carries
meanings of bending, bowing, humbly submitting and becoming silent. "Te"
13
means "to you." Thus "namaste" means "I bow to you." the act of greeting is called "Namaskaram," "Namaskara" and "Namaskar"
in the varied languages of the subcontinent. Namaste has become a veritable icon of what is Bharatiye. Indeed, there must be a Bharatiye law which requires every travel brochure. calendar and poster to include an image of someone
with palms pressed together, conveying to the world Bharat's hospitality, spirituality and graceful consciousness. You
knew all that, of course, but perhaps you did not know that there can be subtle ways of enhancing the gesture, as in the West one might shake another's hand too strongly to impress and overpower
them or too briefly, indicating the withholding of genuine welcome. In the case of Namaste, a deeper veneration is sometimes expressed by bringing the fingers of the clasped palms to
the forehead, where they touch the brow, the site of the mystic Third Eye. A third form of namaste brings the palms completely above the head, a gesture said to focus consciousness in the
subtle space just above the Brahma-randhra, the aperture in the Crown Chakr(a). This form is so full of reverence it is reserved
for the Almighty and the holiest of Sat Guru(s). It is always interesting, often revealing and
occasionally enlightening to muse about the everyday cultural traits and habits each nation and community evolves, for in the
little things our Big ideas About Life find direct and personal
14
expression. Take, for instance, the different ways that American and Japanese tool-makers approach the same task. A saw
for cutting lumber, if designed in the U.S., is made in such a way that the carpenter's stroke away from his body does the
cutting. But in japan saws are engineered so that cutting takes place as the carpenter draws the saw toward himself. A small detail, but it yields a big difference. The American saw can, if leaned into, generate more power,
while the Japanese saw provides more control and refinement in the cut, requiring surprisingly less effort. Each has its place in the global toolbox. each speaks -- like the handshake and
namaste greetings -- of an underlying perception of man's relationship with things. In the West we are outgoing, forceful, externalized. We are
told by Ma bell to "reach out and touch somebody." We are unabashedly acquisitive, defining our progress in life by how much we have -- how much wealth, influence, stored up knowledge, status
or whatever. Every culture exhibits these traits to some extent, but in the east Mother is there to remind us, "Reach in and touch
the Self." here we are taught to be more introspective, more concerned with the quality of things than their quantity, more attuned with the interior dimension of life. So, there you have it, the whole of Eastern and Western
culture summed up in the handshake which reaches out horizontally to
15
greet another, and Namaste which reaches in vertically to acknowledge that, in truth, that there is no other. As a test of how these two greetings differ, imagine you
are magically confronted with the Divine. The Paramatma, Almighty, walks up to you on the street. What do you do? reach out to shake His hand? Probably not. Though suitable between man and man,
it;' an unseemly expression between man and Paramatma. We never shake hands with paramatma. I mean, what if your palms are sweating? So you namaste instead. the reason it feels natural to namaste before Paramatma is that it is, in its very essence, a
spiritual gesture, not a worldly one. By a handshake we acknowledge our equality with others. We reveal our humanity. We convey
how strong we are, how nervous, how aggressive or passive. There is bold physicality to it. For these and other reasons, Popes
never shake hands. Kings never shake hands. Even mothers don't shake hands with their own children. Namaste is cosmically different. Kings do namaste, Sat Guru(s) namaste and mothers namaste to their own family. We all
namaste before the Almighty, a holy man or even a holy place. The namaste gesture bespeaks our inner valuing of the sacredness of all. It betokens our intuition that all souls are divine, in
their essence. It reminds us in quite a graphic manner, and with insistent repetition, that we can see Paramatma everywhere and
in every human being we meet. It is saying, silently, "I see the
16
Deity in us both, and bow before Him or Her. I acknowledge the holiness of even this mundane meeting. I cannot separate
that which is spiritual in us from that which is human and ordinary." And while we are singing the praises of Namaste, it should be observed how efficient a gesture it is in an age of mass communication. A politician, or performer can greet
fifty thousand people with a single Namaste, and they can return the honor instantly. In such a situation a handshake is
unthinkable and a mere waving of one hand is somehow too frivolous. There are other, more mystical meanings behind Namaste. The
nerve current of the body converge in the feet, the solar plexus and the hands. Psychic energy leaves the body at these junctures.
To "ground" that energy and balance the flow of Pran(a) streaming through the nerve system, Yogi(s) cross their legs in the
lotus posture, and bring their hands together. The Anjali Mudra acts like a simple Yog(ic) Asan(a), balancing and harmonizing our energies, keeping us centered, inwardly poised and
mentally protected. It closes our aura, shielding us psychically. It keeps us from becoming too externalized, thus we remain close to
our intuitive nature, our super consciousness. Here are some insights into Namaste from a number of Hindu(s): o Namaste elevates one's consciousness, reminding one that
all beings, all existence is holy, is the Almighty. It communicates, "I honor or worship the Divinity within
17
you." Also it draws the individual inward for a moment,
inspires reflection on the deeper realities, softening the interface between people. It would be difficult or offend or
feel animosity toward any one you greet as Paramatma. o Namaste is a gesture of friendship and kindness, also
of thanks or special recognition. Mystically it is called "Namaskara Mudra" in the Agami(c) Pooja, and it centers
one's energy within the spine. o I've heard it means "I salute the Almighty within you."
The true Namaste gesture is is accompanied by bowing the head and shoulders slightly. This is a gesture that lessens our
sense of ego and self-centeredness, requiring some humility to do it well -- whereas shaking hands can be quite an arrogant event. o Touching the hands together puts you in touch with your center, your soul. namaste puts you forward as a soul, not
an outer personality. o The gesture has a subtle effect on the aura and nerve system. bringing focused attention and a collection of one's forces, so to speak. It also protects against unnecessary
psychic connections which are fostered by shaking hands. This might be called a form of purity also -- protecting one's energies. This form of acknowledgment is so lovely, so graceful. Just look at two people in Namaste and you will see so much
human
18
beauty and refinement. ================================================================ Copyright 1993 by Himalayan Academy. ISSN: 0896-0801. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ================================================================ End of Forwarded Article. Edited, formatted for electronic media by Jai Maharaj <[email protected]>
Namaste is Sanskrit for "The divine in me blesses and honors the divine in you."
Namaste Means:"The Great Perfection within me honors the Great Perfection within you". The Great Perfection is the vast part of ourselves that is truly one with the universe, one with all others; one with all there is. This is true regardless of national origin, culture, race, age, political affiliation, religious or spiritual affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, physical looks, physical condition or whatever. These words are spoken with deep reverance as a recognition of the divine within another person... it is similar to the phrase In La Kesh.
In La Kesh Means:"I am another you" or "I am another yourself". (Mayan) These words are spoken with deep reverance as a recognition of the divine within another person... it is similar to the phrase Namaste.
Temet Nosce Means:"Know Thyself" (Latin) The key to finding a purpose and fulfillment in life begins with knowing and understanding yourself. We are each born with this knowledge but finding a purpose and achieving fulfillment requires the sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and support. Each individual
The meaning of 'Namaste'Allegra Taylor, author of 'Acquainted with the Night', began a talk to the Natural Death Centre with the Nepalese greeting 'Namaste', and this is the meaning that she feels is infolded in the word:
'I honour that place in you where the whole Universe resides'
19
'I honour that place in you where the whole Universe resides. And when I am in that place in me and you are in that place in you, there is only one of us.'
The Meaning of Namaste
"Namaste" comes from a Nepalese greeting, and the meaning which is perhaps best enfolded in the word is :
"I honour that place in you where the whole Universe resides."
"I honour that place in you where the whole Universe resides.
And when I am in that place in me and you are in that place in you
Namaste: An ancient Sanskrit word meaning: "I honor the place within you where the entire Universe resides. I honor the place within you of Love and Light, of Truth and Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in
me, there is only ONE of us".
Definition of Namaste(Leo Buscaglia )
"I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you where lies your love, your light, your truth and your beauty. I honor
the place in you, where...if you are in that place in you...and I am in that place in me...then there is only one of us"
Greet each one you meet with love in your heart.Some people are concerned that having high self-esteem is the equivalent of being narcissistic. However, this is far from the truth. It is impossible to love others without loving yourself. And the corollary is just as true. It is absolutely impossible to truly love yourself without loving others. When we use the term love we mean true unconditional love that Jesus and other religious leaders meant. In today's exercise we spread this type of love around. As you pass each person you meet today
20
smile at them inside and silently say "I love you." Remember all you actions are internal. If you feel comfortable silently ask God, the spirit or whatever term you wish to use to bless this person and then move on. It is interesting how much easier one's commute becomes when one practices this exercise sincerely. It is very difficult to become totally and uncontrollably angry with some one you have just blessed and sent love to. The Hindu greeting of Namaste is a wonderful thing to keep in mind when doing this exercise. Namaste means the Divinity in me greets the Divinity in you. Another way to say this is, "The Christ in me greets the Christ in you." However, you do it is wonderful. Just walk around today with love in your heart. You'll have a wondrous, extraordinary day.From the bottom of our hearts to you: Namaste....
10 Steps to Improve Your Self-Esteem:• Awareness always is the first step toward problem solving. You
cannot make meaningful changes until you have identified the problem. Taking positive action increases self-esteem.
• Messages you have heard about yourself and told yourself throughout your life may not be true. These inaccurate perceptions lower your self-esteem. Question the validity of such messages and the evidence that supports them. If there is little or no evidence that these messages are true, give up believing them. Replace them with the truth.
• Self-talk, or the way you talk to yourself about yourself, comes from your beliefs about yourself. If you have accepted many negative untrue messages, your self-esteem suffers needlessly. If you call yourself names, you reinforce low self-esteem. Replace name-calling with words that express appreciation for yourself.
• Visualization works. Olympic athletes attest to this. Use visualization to picture yourself having increased self-esteem. See yourself in as detailed a way as possible as you imagine how you would look, talk, and behave if you had high self-esteem. Practice this technique in a positive way as often and as clearly as you can.
• Self-hypnosis can help by giving you the opportunity to tap into sub-conscious messages that lower your self-esteem. You can review and replace negative, untrue messages with more positive, truthful ones.
21
• Therapy can be powerful. Goal-oriented short-term therapy can assist you by changing the old worn-out messages and, very importantly, in alleviating the emotional pain that stems from such beliefs.
• Educate yourself about the importance of self-esteem and how to improve it. Self-help tapes, books and self-help groups abound. Use them. Identify dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behavior that decreases your self-esteem. Self-help groups can help you understand that you are not alone with your problems and to learn and share positive ways to improve your life.
• Choose friends who appreciate you for who you are. When you surround yourself with complainers or "takers", your self-esteem suffers. Choose friends who encourage you. Friends are happy for, not resentful of, your growth and success.
• Find a role model, someone you consider to have high self-esteem. Study what that person does. As that person for input. Get helpful suggestions. Put what you have learned into practice. Some of the most successful people have used this technique for years.
• Tap into your spiritual nature. Getting in touch with your own "higher power", with the God-in-you, open you to honesty - recognizing the negatives you need to change, but also admitting your strengths. Recognizing your own good life experiences and positive messages creates balance in your life and helps your self-esteem grown.
EFFECTIVE GOAL-SETTING- by Dr. Elaine Kindle, Ph.D. -
Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right." His words containtruth, but are not the full picture. After all, if we don't believe we can accomplish some particular thing inlife, then certainly we won't even bother to go after it.
Our beliefs about ourselves set the foundation for what we will be able to achieve in life. But, before we canset goals, we may need to look at and challenge the beliefs we have about our abilities. Often we sell ourselvesshort. Sometimes it is enough to say to ourselves, "I'm not sure I can accomplish this, but I want to giveit a try." Interestingly, once we commit to achieving goals, we tend to find ways to complete them. If ourgoals are not realistic for our talents, or our budget, we find that we can
22
discover alternate attainable solutions.Flexibility is essential in goal setting.
Our goals are to be guidelines to give us direction in achievement; they are not chains to weigh us down. Thereis an old saying, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." Or, to say itanother way, "If you don't know where you are going, all roads will be the wrong roads." If you knowwhere you are going, you may take short detours, and even backtrack momentarily, but at the next junction, youget back on track again toward your goal.
Meanwhile, life changes over time for all of us, both in circumstances and in personal growth. Common sense tellsus that our goals change as we do.
Much has been written about goal-setting. Not only are there books and tapes about achieving goals, but also, theInternet is loaded with information about this subject. Here are ten basic principles about goal-setting that consistentlykeep reappearing:
10 Basic Principles about Goal-Setting:
1. Goals must be about the self, and for the self. We can only set goals for ourselves, not for others. If Susanwants to loose 20 pounds, or wants to quit smoking, she can set that goal only for herself, not for anyone else.Also, those 20 pounds need to come off because she wants them to come off, not because her husband or anyone elsewants her to loose weight.
2. Stretch, challenge, and modify thinking. Begin with a dream of what could be. Ask, "Why not?" Sandywanted a house on the beach, but couldn't afford it. She expanded her thinking and discovered she could afforda condo near the ocean. She would have settled for something less had she not been open to think about alternateattainable solutions.
3. Base goals on personal values and beliefs. Amelia may be paying for her tuition by working in a topless bar,but that doesn't mean the same job might be acceptable to you, regardless of how much money you could earn. Weare much more successful in life when our goals match our personal values and beliefs.
4. Goals must be believable. If Sarah, age 34, wanted to finish her GED, and
23
knew it was within her ability, inspite of having three young children at home, she would be able to find a way.
5. Goals must be realistic. If Linda can't carry a tune, it's not realistic for her to want to sing opera. Shemay be able to take voice lessons, improve her ability, and be able to sing in a choral group, but she does nothave the basics to sing solos, no less opera.
6. Goals must be clear and concise. Evelyn knew she wanted to take a class. But she was vague about where, when,or in what subject. She needed to clearly and concisely define her goal in order to meet it. Finally she decidedto take a basic computer class on Saturday mornings at the local ROP. Once she had crystalized her goal, she wasable to complete it.
7. Goals must be measurable and manageable. Peter decided to set a goal to "be healthier" this year.He valued exercise so decided that working out would be a good way to do meet his goal. However, he needed to breakdown his plan into measurable and manageable steps. He worked long hours every day, so figured out that he wouldbegin by working out one hour a day three times a week, after work. After a few modifications of his original plan,he was able to adjust his routing to include four days a week, and to work out for 1 ½ hours on Saturdaymornings.
8. Goals must have a target date of completion. Susan wants to loose 20 pounds. It's realistic for her presentsize. She has clearly defined what she wants. She can plan on using one to two pounds a week as her measure. Basedon her calculations, she then can set a target date for the beginning of summer. This date gives her room to looseslowly, and to have weeks when the scale might move in the wrong direction. Conversely, if she wanted to be readyfor the summer season, she could "count backwards" and from there determine that, from the first of Februaryto the first of June she had 16 weeks with which to work. She could then set her goal more rigorously at two poundsa week. This plan still allows her some weight fluctuation and meeting her goal in a timely way.
9. Goals need to be reviewed, re-analyzed, and re-set. Sometimes our goals change because we have changed. Sometimesour circumstances create the need for change. Mark planned to open his own business in a computer connected field.His plan met all of the eight steps listed above. But two years later, his plans stopped. The fast-paced changesof the computer
24
industry made his plan outdated. Meanwhile, Mark realized that he, himself, had changed, and withhis growth, his goals had shifted. He re-analyzed the situation, and from that, came up with new goals that betterreflected his dreams.
10. Write goals down often. When we write our goals down we are more likely to reach them than if we don't. Writingour goals allows time for us to reflect on what we want, to commit more fully to our goals, to remember what itis we want, and to challenge our thinking. Expect goals to change over time. Change is part of the process.
"Our goals are meant to guide us, not to chain and bind us." Elaine Kindle
NamaskarNamaste
'I bow to you', the greeting which acknowledges the atman in another person
NAMASTE IS A SANSKRIT GREETING THAT MEANS,I HONOR THE PLACE IN YOU IN WHICH THE UNIVERSE DWELLS. I HONORTHE PLACE IN YOU WHICH IS OF LOVE, OF TRUTH, OF LIGHT, AND OF PEACE.WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT PLACE IN YOU, AND I AM IN THAT PLACE IN MEWE ARE ONE.
