Noise Meditation

Concentration is difficult. But its a skill that can be developed. Or a state that can be achieved. Meditation and its various forms work pretty well for it. Sometimes noise can be a great way to help concentration. Use the ipod. When I have to really force myself to study when I'm running away too fast away from it, I put on some great music on the ipod loud enough and start studying. Works well. Singing along, I end up getting involved in whatever I was trying to study.

I guess, that is called managing to get work done. Even from myself.

Building momentum, then keeping it.

Everybody wants to do well in life. Many people work very hard. Some people dont realize how hard they are working. We start working. Then get into the mode. Keep working. Keep going. Then things seem settled. We begin to slow down. We start to take success for granted. At such a point, its easy to lose the momentum we built over the time, with so much pain. And so it gets easier to get run-down. So what do we do about it? To keep that precious momentum. To keep that fire alive. To keep fighting. To keep on going. Just how do we do it?
I'll tell you what, its difficult. No, its VERY difficult. To RE-build momentum. To get there where you've been before. Mostly it is because we move forward by nature. To be staying in another moment and going back and bringing something from it. The idea itself brings for us - future shock. Which is nothing but the inability to move with time. Forward or backward.
Happens. To everybody. Sooner or later. Some people find it very hard to deal with. To get back to what they've left behind. To repeat. To redo.
But we just have to do it. Like everybody else has to in that situation. Because there is really no other way out. Literally!

Struggling for ourselves

Creativity, as natural as it may seem at first, is a science. People can be born with talent, but expertise is developed over time. Writers and painters who are sometimes percieved as being gifted with certain talents have to still develop that talent into expertise before they begin to harness any benefits from it.

If someone decides at 20 decides today that he wants to be a full time writer, he is looking at first the development of the language skills and the effectiveness of his narration. He is looking at a life where he has to look for stories and make them. He has to devote time and attention to improve which is a slow process. And he may not be able to make another profession because of this one. That is not easy.

A contemporary artist in today's world of technology and tools has to not only know the methods of the past but should also understand and be adept at the possibilities of the tools of today. The choices that he has to make are not made in one night that he wants to be a painter. But the contemplation of a long time that he can't be nothing else.

We are who we are and even the obstructions in the path that is our's are our own. We love them like we love the path like we love our destiny. Admitting our love for the things we love and believing in it is a major foundation of individuality. I am.

Swallowing Frogs...

There's just so much to do. This and this and that and that and what not. So how do we go about anything too many. Simple. Always start with the most difficult problem at hand. When you have too many frogs to swallow, swallow the biggest one first.

Release that stress...

Is stress all we have in our lives right now? Stress about work, love, children. Some people actually work better when they're stressed. But stressed only to a certain point. After which, stress overpowered efficiency and people begin to break.
But why are we so stressed? Is it really so bad? The worry. The restlessness.
Actually it isn't so bad. We're worried when we care. Just lets not let our desire to win take away the power to. Relax. Just remember:
When you have too many frogs to swallow, swallow the biggest one first.

Work for work's sake

Gita says not to think of the result and just work for work's sake. Its difficult to achieve that state of mind. But what if we do achieve it. And then due to some other reason are unable to achieve what we wished. Just a single wish in life. And we aren't granted it. Or maybe we're feeling lost before we have actually? And the real reward is really hidden...and on its way, bigger than we asked for?

Great men talk about ideas. Second-handers talk about people.

That precisely, is the deadliness of second-handers. They have no concern for facts, ideas, work. They're concerned only with people. They don't ask: 'Is this true?' They ask: 'Is this what others think is true?' Not to judge, but to repeat. Not to do, but to give the impression of doing. Not creation, but show. Not ability, but friendship. Not merit, but pull.
And isn't that the root of every despicable action? Not selfishness, but precisely the absence of a self. The man who cheats and lies, but preserves a respectable front. He knows himself to be dishonest, but others think he is honest and he derives his self-respect from that, second-hand. Greatness - in other people's eyes. Fame, admiration, envy - all that whice comes from others. Not wanting to be great, but wanting to be thought as great. That is actual selflessness. Its their ego they have betrayed and given up. And such people are called selfish.
Its what I couldn't understand about people for a long time. They have no self. They live second-hand.