Search the Community

I can help anyone achieve their direction and purpose, but cannot help myself.

Something happened to me that I have to talk about. I had the worst nightmare in my entire life. I was at my own funeral and I was watching myself be buried and I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to accomplish in my life. It was as if I wasted my whole life. When I woke up I was filled with fear and panic. It led me down the path I am today, one with a clear vision and a plan of action that I take daily. Part of my journey is sharing my vision with others so that they can also live the life they want to live and be the person they need to become. I created this guided meditation in the hopes it would help someone, in it you get to discover your vision and purpose for the first time in your life and learn an entire new way of seeing. It's extremely powerful so please make sure you are in the right mindset before you try it alone the quiet of your room.

I learned a little about Ho'oponopono last year. When I discovered that due to the interventions of social brainwashers, sorry did I say that out loud I mean school teachers who encouraged me to vest the administration of my life and awareness in the custody of my mind. Essentially a long, interesting but altogether misleading education of rules, heirachy, customs, discrimination, bias, evasion, exploitation, and so much emphasis on the past and future have me the credentials to go out into the world not as myself but an eager conditioned young man oscillating between egoic survival, subconsciousness, and other parts that apparently could work but either I belong to a species whose default existence was to walk around like a high spec car and in my whole life I would use about 20% of its potential if the test results showed signs of genius. Determined to make the most out of my life I sought purpose and willingly offered my body and intellect to enterprises who had a trajectory that was a fit with areas I was interested in. Not passionate, I never found passion in education because I do not posses a passion to conform. Long story short some years of decent traction and headway culminated in work at an advertising agency. Where quite simply all sense of purpose that is enhancing life and enriching lives was a stackable offence. I managed to remove myself after getting embroiled in narcissistic envy, highly manipulative nepotism and carried on arguing with them until I prevailed in the condition that I take all details of how I wounded false pride to the grave with me. I drifted anxiously trying to blend in with the public at large but found little that inspired me to destroy another hectare of the natural world, squeeze yet more endangered creatures into oblivion or choke the oceans satisfying people who no longer eat at tables with bird feed thar doesn't leave you with guilt other than the single use plastic lying in your hand. Where was I Ho'oponopono yes I discovered one of the most joyful looking declarations ever written down when it was suggested. That my block from purpose being the result of the Irish Sandwich switch that happened at school when our minds were issued the keys to our Kingdom. And there sat a brain on a throne ordering the now out of order system in directions another aspect of me had no place to be. The advice was direct and swift. That brain of yours enjoying making all the decisions is an imposter and not sovereign of you. No the brain is your servant and not all that trustworthy at best. The mind is but a whisk to beat your eggs a utensil a guage that informs the master of his regions and lands. It took some time to sink in, and more yet to wrestle the temporary regent in waiting before the true I, the still vast one returned and restored order and synchronicity to the system, we began mostly unlearning the doctored propoganda that was veneered into memory keeping an archive but deleting the conditioning to clear the outward apertures to receive in the present. Ho'oponopono forgiveness, and a sign of right intention whenever it is heard written and thought.

Today we are doing FREE personalized Moon Reading to explore the secret depths of your personality, relationships, and true purpose in life. Comment "ME" down below for your FREE readings.

Click on this link to learn more : https://amzn.to/32QEhBF Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a hugely sought-after speaker and statesman. Why is he so popular? Even after spending only a few minutes in his presence you can't help feeling happier.If you ask him if he's happy, even though he's suffered the loss of his country, the Dalai Lama will give you an unconditional yes. What's more, he'll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that the very motion of our life is toward happiness. How to get there has always been the question. He's tried to answer it before, but he's never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand.The Art of Happiness is the book that started the genre of happiness books, and it remains the cornerstone of the field of positive psychology.Through conversations, stories, and meditations, the Dalai Lama shows us how to defeat day-to-day anxiety, insecurity, anger, and discouragement. Together with Dr. Howard Cutler, he explores many facets of everyday life, including relationships, loss, and the pursuit of wealth, to illustrate how to ride through life's obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. Based on 2,500 years of Buddhist meditations mixed with a healthy dose of common sense, The Art of Happiness is a book that crosses the boundaries of traditions to help readers with difficulties common to all human beings. After being in print for ten years, this book has touched countless lives and uplifted spirits around the world. Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a hugely sought-after speaker and statesman. Why is he so popular? Even after spending only a few minutes in his presence you can't help feeling happier.If you ask him if he's happy, even though he's suffered the loss of his country, the Dalai Lama will give you an unconditional yes. What's more, he'll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that the very motion of our life is toward happiness. How to get there has always been the question. He's tried to answer it before, but he's never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand.The Art of Happiness is the book that started the genre of happiness books, and it remains the cornerstone of the field of positive psychology.Through conversations, stories, and meditations, the Dalai Lama shows us how to defeat day-to-day anxiety, insecurity, anger, and discouragement. Together with Dr. Howard Cutler, he explores many facets of everyday life, including relationships, loss, and the pursuit of wealth, to illustrate how to ride through life's obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. Based on 2,500 years of Buddhist meditations mixed with a healthy dose of common sense, The Art of Happiness is a book that crosses the boundaries of traditions to help readers with difficulties common to all human beings. After being in print for ten years, this book has touched countless lives and uplifted spirits around the world.

Hi, I thought I'd start this thread as I feel a bit lost with the Unpleasant Event Calendar. Being asked to focus on unpleasant events every day, I'm not sure what to do with these feelings I am focusing on. I'm not entirely sure what the purpose of this practice is, and if I'm doing it the right way. I've had quite a bad week this week and I'm not sure whether just collecting all these unpleasant experiences and writing them down is really helping. Welcoming any guidance!

try A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, The Art of Happiness. these are really good books

Dear Friends, it is well know that meditation has a positive impact on health. Lots of evidenced based studies have been carried out on with promising results. I am carrying out a study as my master's thesis asking the impact of meditation on the six dimensions of psychological well beings: Self-Acceptance, Personal Growth, Purpose in Life, Positive Relations With Others, Environmental Mastery, Autonomy. All of the six dimensions contributes to well being. In addition I am trying to see the change in selfview due to meditation practice (Self as an independent entity vs Self as connected to all beings). If you are interested in seeing the results and helping me to carrying out the study. Please take part of it. It is an an anonymous online study. Meditators and Non-meditators are required for this study. This study requires around 15min. It would be very helpful if you can support in carrying out the study and fill out the questions. The link to the study is https://www.soscisurvey.de/Selbstbild2022/ Nice greetings and thank you, Max

Lol Funny enough. I did read it.... I wasn't even expecting a response. For me this site provides me with an outlet on the days that I am not okay, where my soul feels heavy, to come vent without shame. I guess when I talk to those that know me it doesn't register, cause to them I have a graduated , have a good job, make a living. So I have nothing to complain about... "My shame". That's the purpose and after I let it out the darkness reduces... Such platforms do have value.

Very interesting and difficult task 😀 I am not so sure. Actually, I also tend to think like Lizzie. Quoting “Everything happens for a reason”. If I need to give some advice to my younger self: I would like to tell my younger self: “Start earlier in your life with meditation and find your purpose in life.” But I doubt this will work. I started meditation after certain life events. For me I had a stressful job. I need a solution. Luckily due to this problem/suffering, I found my jackpot. Ah. Now a thought just popped up, I have a concrete one for my younger self: My former education was in business administration. Working in the financial industry, makes me to taking decisions always after a “reasonable” calculation. But there are many things in life, which one can’t calculate this in terms of money. Don’t think too much in a materialistic/”reasonable” way. Even it looks like a stupid decision, if your wise and loving heart feels that this is the correct way, then go for it. Nice greetings from Vienna, Max

Maybe let share abit about me, Quite kid growing up, kept to myself and followed who lead the situation, can't forget that worlds of thoughts were happening behind the scenes during my development of self. Secondary school was different, I chose to be alone, but found people that saw the benefit of others, kind, selfless, but without purpose. Joined a religious cult without knowing and worked my way up to be the youth leader for 2 years, even became one of the provincial youth leaders. During this time I got to meet thousands of individuals all going through their versions of life and connecting threads with them to make it better, all improving my ability to thing holistically, logically and critically. This is why I say, iv lived thousands of lives, because iv got to live with so many people seeing life through their eyes. This religious cult had taken my life and thrown it upside down because leaving created a whole new world which is so small in the bigger picture. I further studied counselling and human development in university to help stimulate my mind to understand what and how we have become what we've become. I then worked corporate for 3 years, worked my way up to the senior manager, I have a knack for becoming better in any environment to the point of creating vision and direction and creating footsteps for people to follow. I challenged and experimented my reality from our 5 senses, creating a whole new perspective, skills and I like to say cheat codes to the current systemic nature. Jump to present, iv chosen to pursue happiness over the current way this world has developed itself for us to live in. Iv had my eyes opened and I see the world for what it is, diplomatic in nature and love to love all things misunderstood but alas if you don't want to play the game, you will have nothing, and right now, im hoping this nothing, has the ability to be everything.

I have come to learn a lot about myself in times when I have been alone to do some really truthful self reflection on the choices I have made in my past. I have learned more about myself and what my purpose is here in my life. I have come to welcome peace into my life without apology for having to push others away in my past because those people whom I pushed away did not know or care about what I was going through in a personal way because they couldn't handle rejection. I have come to get over any guilt over saying no to choices that pleased other people more than myself.

No, it doesn't. It actually becomes more meaningful. When family members are dead, they live on in you, in your mind, in your heart. So now it's your purpose to keep alive your families reputation and to enjoy life for them. Yes, that's the pretty painful phase of misery. We all have to go through it and it feels bad, but it's important, because in this time the memories about the lost one will burn into your brain, so you'll never forget them. It helps to talk to other family members about it, because you share the same feelings. Share your memories with them. I know it's hard, but keep going. Sun follows rain and there will be brighter days.

Hi missa, always think about the positivity in your life. You were born for a purpose and shouldn’t waste your life for anyone. Remember all those hungry and dying people around the world. Remember there are still thousands of people starving and dying because of lack of even water. Compare them with whatever you are facing, compare their miseries with your life and you will still see lots of positive things in your life. If you wish we can chat in person. I am always here to listen to you.

Hey ya'll, I'm new here but wanted to introduce myself. My name is Cary Jack and I'm the founder of The Happy Hustle, whose mission is to educate, inspire, and entertain, while reminding you to enjoy the journey, not just the destination, as you Happy Hustle for a life of passion and purpose. From successful entrepreneurs to spiritual masters, I interview an array of powerful guests on The Happy Hustle Podcast to help you transform your dreams into a reality. Through courses, events, and content, I hope to instill more balance and fulfillment in your life while putting the Happy back in your Hustle! If you want to check out the podcast, you can go to www.caryjack.com/podcastin! This is one of my favorite episodes with Daoist Priest and Kung Fu Master Wu Dang Chen all about the Purpose of Life :) Would love to connect with you all on social media @cary__jack on IG! Love and light fam!

THE HEALING POWER OF LONELINESS Loneliness is not the absence of connection but the full presence of God and a total experience of the Self. It is total "isolation" which is not isolation at all from the perspective of Infinitude. Loneliness contains its own cure, if we are willing to dive in, courageously, or without any courage at all. The dive is everything. Loneliness is utterly misunderstood in our culture, or rather, it is only understood on a very superficial psychological level. Everyone is running from loneliness, keeping busy just to avoid it, never coming to know and taste its sweet and merciful healing nectar. For many, loneliness is an enemy, something shameful to be avoided or covered up at all costs. We reach outwards, habitually, automatically, unconsciously, just to keep our distance from loneliness, just to avoid the deafening silence at the heart of all creation. We fill our time and senses up, addict ourselves to projects, create false personas on social media, try to stay “connected” as much as we can, never letting ourselves rest, to avoid the “void” and the gaping chasm of loneliness. But in its terrifying depths, loneliness is not harmful or shameful at all; it is a highly misunderstood spiritual experience of Oneness with all creation, a full and life-giving immersion in the staggering beauty – and utter horror - of life itself, a deep and timeless connection to all living things. Loneliness is not an emptiness but a full presence and an abundance of life. It is pure potential and freedom and surrender all at once, but as long as we are running from it we will never know its nourishing, healing and transformative powers. Loneliness is not a negative state or some mistake in our being or biology, it is inherent in existence itself, built-in ontologically to our very consciousness and it transcends the psychological story. It is connection, not disconnection. It is wholeness, not lack. Loneliness is a naked spiritual state and subsumes all other states. It is an utter letting go, a paradigm of pure receptivity and perfectly tender openness. It is the ground of being itself, and the base of our subjectivity. We run from it at our peril. Nobody can experience our joys and sorrows for us. Nobody can live for us and nobody can die for us. Nobody can experience our own subjective reality, see what we see, feel what we feel, experience what we experience, love what we love, heal from what we need to heal from. We can act as witnesses for one another but we cannot enter each other’s subjectivity or breathe for each other or process each other’s pain. We exist in utter aloneness and uniqueness always, and this is true even when we are in deep connection and relationship. Our ability to relate authentically has its roots in our profound loneliness, and this is what makes every connection with another being such a miracle. When we run from our loneliness, we run from the miraculous and we run from ourselves. Without loneliness, we exist in utter spiritual poverty, no matter how 'evolved' we believe we are. Loneliness is a journey we must take alone. Like falling in love, or like dying, we must fall, without protection and without guarantees. Loneliness is the artist in the midst of creating something utterly new, the scientist on the verge of a breakthrough. Loneliness is the woman crying out on her deathbed, the child being born, the spiritual seeker kneeling prostrate before the ordinary world, the adventurer forging a new path in the dark forest. Loneliness is a risk, but utterly safe. Loneliness is the heart of trauma but it is a loving heart after all. Loneliness feels like shame and total abandonment from the perspective of the mind but for the soul loneliness is a full encounter with the timeless mystery of creation and an utter celebration of all there is. Loneliness takes us out of our minds. It breaks us, grinds us down to our essence, erodes us back to purity and innocence and beauty, brings us close to death but then rebirths us, stronger and more courageous than ever before. Its terror breaks our defences and, then, vulnerable and soft and open, we re-enter the world, more sensitive to its beauty, more aware of the fragility of form and more tender towards the ache of humanity. We don’t always know if we can endure loneliness, but we do. When we are in loneliness, it is total and all-consuming and even time recedes. Everything disappears into loneliness - it is like a black hole, and we don’t know how long we can survive its ferocious embrace. But we are stronger than we know and we endure it beautifully. Through meeting our own loneliness and letting it touch us deeply, and ravage us, and cleanse us, and renew us, we come to know directly the loneliness of all beings, their yearning for the light, their deep ache for God, their search for home. We recognise others more deeply as ourselves. Loneliness makes us look beyond appearances and touch the depths of the world soul. If we have truly plumbed the depths of our own loneliness, we can never again close our hearts to the loneliness of others, to the yearning of their humanity, to the horror and awe of creation itself. Loneliness breaks us open to a devastating compassion for all things, it matures us spiritually and increases our empathy a thousand-fold. We become more caring, more compassionate, more deeply considerate. We become more able to look into the eyes of another without shame or fear. We become less able to turn away where we see suffering and pain. We value our connections more deeply than ever before. Each friendship is a miracle. Each moment with a family member, or partner, or stranger, takes on a strange new melancholic beauty. We become more fearlessly alive in our dying. We embrace paradox as a lover and a friend. Loneliness is the gravity of love, a sacred pull into the heart core. Loneliness brings with it a sense of rest and contentment, a deep inner happiness and satisfaction. It slows us down to a snail’s pace and breaks our addiction to the clock and to second-hand notions of "success". It makes us less distracted, less restless, less manipulative, more content with the present moment. The black hole in our guts becomes our unexpected church, our solace, our sanctuary and our mother, and the source of all our genuine answers. We listen to our loneliness and it brings unexpected gifts. New creativity and new inspiration pours out of the lonely place inside. New music comes from there, new and unexpected words, new desire and new paths to follow. Loneliness is the source of all great art, music, poetry, dance, and all works touched by authentic loneliness are authentic works filled with truth and humility and the light of life itself. The nectar of God pours through the broken place inside. Loneliness crucifies us yet shows us that we cannot be crucified. We do not lose ourselves in loneliness. We find ourselves there more clearly and directly than ever. Loneliness is the experience of pure intimacy with the senses. It is the erotic experience of being fully alive. It is Jesus on the cross. It is the pulsating ache of a universe longing to be born. It is the end of all things, and a new beginning. It is holding a friend’s hand, not knowing how to help them, not knowing how to take away their suffering, but giving our heart to them totally. It is facing our own death, no promises, no guarantees, no story anymore. Loneliness is the Beloved beckoning us. Those who have let themselves touch the black hole of loneliness, those who have given themselves up to its relentless pull, who have let the darkness penetrate and infuse and shake and reawaken them, are unmistakable beings. They have a depth and a strength of character that others lack. They radiate genuine warmth and understanding. Their melancholy is the fount of their greatest joy. They are not content with surface things any longer. They have been broken but they are playful too, and full of humour. They love the night-time as much as the day, the shadows as much as the light, the wolf as much as the songbird. Their not-knowing is the source of their wisdom. Their spirituality is simple. They hold no dogma anymore. They have become like little children once more. They are poets and artists and wild lovers of the night. Loneliness is the experience of being in a body, but not of a body, and knowing that all things will pass, that all loved ones will die, that nothing lasts, that everything is made of the most delicate substance. Loneliness is a deep and unshakeable awareness of the transience and brevity of things, of illness and endings and new beginnings. Loneliness is a love of the night-time, the shadows and the moon. It is present in every moment and saturates every hour of every day. Once you have tasted loneliness, truly sipped from its sacred fount, you cannot run away from it ever again. You are haunted by it, yet you know it is the friendliest of ghosts. Loneliness opens your heart wider than any other experience ever could. It brings with it youth and innocence. It makes you weep at the sight of sand on the beach, or the sound of a baby crying, or the feel of the morning sunlight on your skin, or upon the contemplation of time itself. Loneliness takes us to our most painful places but helps us fulfil our highest potential. Without loneliness, we are just shells of human beings, frightened skeletons. Loneliness fills us up with warmth from the inside, gives our lives the deepest kind of purpose and direction and meaning. Loneliness makes us realise we are never alone, and we are always loved, despite our imperfections and lack of faith. Loneliness is a religious experience, a lovemaking with the Universe. Loneliness will save you if you give yourself to it totally. It will not separate you from the world and others but will bind you to them more powerfully. Through the dread and devastation of loneliness you will discover that you are more vast and more capable of love than you ever thought possible. You will be shocked at how much life you can hold. The more you run from loneliness, the lonelier and lonelier you will feel, and the more you will fear being alone, even if you are surrounded by people. In loneliness is the utter paradox and mystery of creation. It may be last place you want to touch in yourself, and it may sound like madness, what I am saying to you here. But your loneliness may hold all the secrets to your very existence. You may find that your loneliness is not “loneliness” at all, in the end – it is your umbilical cord to God, unbreakable, infinite, death-defying, a cosmic pathway of love and forgiveness and utter, utter humility. Let your loneliness pierce you, then, and shake you, and nourish you, and let it connect you to the world - and your authentic self - more deeply than ever. - Jeff Foster

Work can be stressful, but if you don't want to burn out, what you really need is a better attitude about stress. The approach I find most useful, and the one I recommend in these pages, is a practice called mindfulness. Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally to the unfolding of experience moment to moment.

To me it's definitely important what furniture and home goods look like too, I think it helps to create a home you love and feel completely relaxed and comfortable in. However, I wouldn't choose something that I thought looked really good if it didn't also fulfil its' purpose; like a beautifully designed but terribly uncomfortable sofa. 😅 Home decor is really fun, and there are so many ways to go about it too. You can find lots of cool pieces on auction sites or second hand, and when you put them next to those slightly random things you're not even sure where they came from (or why they're still there), you see them in a different light! There are lots of fun IG accounts about home decor to get inspiration and figure out what you like and don't like, and also, if you're a bit of a handy Andy, pages that show how you can upcycle or revamp items to make them feel like brand new. ✨

@Sallu I am not sure if your request matches the purpose of this page. It sounds to me like there is some sexual interest hidden. I might be wrong, so please elaborate what you are looking for especially why your friend would have to be female, because @Ajaydavenport said "Hi".

Thank you, @Kolzo for your input. Yes, there are different factors at work and here's a little spoiler - we are working on several more questionnaires to look at the issue from different angles. ? There are different types of stress. Usually, we decide between acute and chronic stress. Acute stress can even be healthy as it gives our organism a jump-start now and then, but if it turns into chronic stress, the stress hormones can cause wear and tear. Even chronic stress might not necessarily be that harmful. For me, the distinction is in the agency I have on the matter. The stressful act of finishing an exciting project over several months with little time versus a few days of "having to function on someone else's terms" makes a huuuuge difference - at least for me. I remember I read a study - I think it was mentioned in the edX course "science of happiness" - regarding "purpose". The results suggested something like that: people could be unhappier than others, but if they had a higher level of purpose, their overall perceived life satisfaction was higher. This connection makes a lot of sense if I reflect at my own experience. I guess the next question is whether the "pleasant" stress also releases less long term damaging hormones and/ or if people are easily able to switch into the relax and recover mode.

Hi all...I am new to everything going on in my life right now...but I am experiencing something that I believe is an awakening. I know in my heart there is purpose for my new thoughts, visions, feelings etc. But I have no idea how to go about it all. It is overwhel.ing. my husband's battling some very bad "things" and needs help, and I am now experiencing what he is, but not in the same way. I do not fear it, as much as they try...I am driven to figure out how to banish it to save my family that is falling apart. I feel that time is of the essence. Pictures turn to movies and I am drawn to certain people and places that look different to me...I feel that it is bigger than I thought and that there is an unresolved situation that I am to figure out and bring peace and justice for. Wherever I am lights shine noticeably brighter...I asked God gorguidance and I know he is here with me. Nothing is of coincidence anymore, but as things become clearer they become more complicated if that makes sense. I physically feel drained, foggy, nauseated and in immense pain, but I keep going. I have to. I need some insight and help...if anyone could take the time because I am alone during this journey and trying to make sense of this feeling that my child and husband are in danger and much more...

Gross Domestic Happiness - where did it come from I was reading some of the forum posts under the Happiness topic and thought what can I contribute to members and I was reminded of an encounter I had in 2009 at the Travellers Club in London. I had been recruited by a large Global Advertising Agency that was in financial rankings one of the Top 5 in the world. It had grown largely out of pan-European acquisitions. Unlike it's competitors at the top it's characteristics were less defined. Nothing especially unique about what the business stood for had emerged as a point of difference within the group other than being broadly very good and successful in and of itself and on behalf of its clients. After some big shake ups at board level, such as its long standing French CEO being axed in a shareholder coup, that had planned and plucked a young British Executive Director who had recently won the single most lucrative full service accounts from the biggest consumer goods corporations in the world would now be tasked and steered to change the reputation of the company. He had the blessings of the majority shareholder who had seized control at the board known for his aggressive raider approach. They had the power but they also faced an uphill march. The trouble with a young former Executive Director is that outside of his stellar performance in New Business, journalists and PR decision makers had never heard of him, he had no track record for leading a Global Company. When you Googled his name the first search results yielded a retailers in Australia, former professional Rugby Players, Textiles companies and a myriad of Welsh males who may or may not be connected to our boss. Where I am in England the name John Smith was for years assumed to be the most ubiquitous name you could have been given at birth, our man was about the second most common name you could have so we had work to do on the substance. What you could attribute to him after 6 months in the post was the entire output of the London and NY PR agencies the group held and this soon stretched to Asia and Australia but it took 3 years to build the new bosses public profile to the point where it had enough traction and people began calling us for his interviews and a world became receptive to hearing his philosophy of the challenges facing his sector and his group of companies opportunities in the present marketplace as it was then. His youth did become his advantage. This is where he did have a significant edge. Social media like Facebook was by todays standards still in its early days. it had not floated as a public company, it did not have its weight and revenues that it sees today and frankly most people were still figuring out its purpose other than being an address book of friends you could share videos and comments with in real time. Brands were not advertising on them as they do today and it was not even a marketplace where its users could trade goods or sell tickets to events. We are going back a bit. The world was in a real mess, the Global Financial Crisis was only one year behind us. World leaders would soon see the Arab Spring, everything it seems that was once a stable pillar of human Civilisation had deep fissure cracks about their foundations from Politics and its practices with the Estate of media, to the Role and activities of Global Business, to the food system, health, religion, education, human rights. We had many concerned faces and many important questions, what the world lacked it appeared to many, at the time was sufficiently skilled leaders to navigate the world into a sustainable future, a world that felt more secure about its prospects than less. Corporations with activities that harmed their reputations from environmental pollutions, human rights abuses, low pay, underage work forces, were increasingly getting caught in exposing situations where they would be advertising it's green credentials on TV's and billboards, and yet when an oil pipeline ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico and it tried to set up a twitter account to act as a means of broadcasting news updates, by which I mean very heavily censored news updates. Another twitter user called Leroy Stick set up a dopple-ganger handle that matched the look and tone of the official PR mouth piece and each tweet he put out lampooning as the PR team behind the big oil company was hilarious satire that exposed what most considered true of the companies actual ethical standards and the actual PR handle fighting a losing battle of trying to prove his satire false. No if you were the boss of a major corporation the phrase 'you are not in Kansas anymore' would seem true. The idea was to look at the worlds big conferences where we all look for driving strategies to emerge from and analyse the gap between the internal reality that they actually achieved and the external perception of their policies and efforts in communities and countries. It was pretty clear much like the slow progress on human rights, anti-corruption, escalated armed conflicts etc etc that when it came to the world leaders being effective on behalf of the world, by and large the worlds citizens had begun to doubt in the capabilities. What do you do, how can you help bring about positive changes faster, how do we open up the major challenges facing the world today and encourage universal action to mitigate the threats people face and support examples of progress is being made that resolves human activity that is causing harm. The concept was to flip the model of the G7, G8, World Economic Forum. And ask if the worlds elites can't leverage their influence and financial might positive change what if we brought together the best and most inspiring young leaders who are just emerging in enterprises contributing and enhancing life in their communities, disrupting old business models that cuts out the waste, have social policies that pledge to act and stand for activities that nurtures progress and purpose and ask them what decisions need to be taken today to address the challenges they will undoubtedly face 15-20 years down the line. The concept would fly that we were certain of but it too had no track record and of course it was a brainchild on paper only those in the office tasked with getting it off the ground were the only ones who actually knew about it. My job was to bring in and reach out to the thousands of applicants that we hoped would want to attend. That is not too difficult I hear you say. We aimed from the very start to have a representing delegate aged approx 25 who stood out for their achievements from every single country in the world. The first thing I bought for my desk was a Debrett's guide to Social etiquette and built a database of all of the foreign embassies in London. The benefit of having been an Imperial Empire London houses an Embassy for literally every country pretty much that is recognised by the United Nations. From summer of 2009 and spring 2010 I almost visited them all. I shared tea and tears with the Ambassador of Afghanistan who was personally desperately concerned as he and his wife's children were all daughters and he was acutely aware how the education of women was essential to liberating their lives but also boosting the social and economic prospects of his nation. I visited a very ordinary residence on a regular suburban ring road and sat with the Ambassador for North Korea, never for a moment imagining before meeting him that he regarded the inevitable outcome for Korea would be reunification, as he told me this I looked about the drawing room we were in,supposing cameras and microphones would be relaying our talk back to PyongYang. The gentleman I met over tea and crumpets with at the Travellers club building on Pall Mall in London was the Honoury Consul for the Kingdom of Bhutan, a British Man who lived way outside of London so we agreed to meet here which is where he met many of the people here with various national interests with the Kingdom of Bhutan. During our conversation I asked him to tell me about Bhutan's Gross Domestic Happiness, by know it had appeared across the business and social interest media and other countries had since published their Happiness audit results and a pipelines of new ones underway. I was curious and wanted to know how they went about assessing it, why and what happens when they see the figures what is the strategy to improve the levels of Gross Domestic Happiness. The Honorary Consul leaned towards me from large dark Chesterfield armchair embracing him towards mine glanced left then right to see if anyone was eves-dropping and said to me in a quiet voice "Now here's the thing about Gross Domestic Happiness". Bhutan is not by global standards a very wealthy country, it is largely agricultural and very mountainous so it has geographical constraints. But it has a rising economic power as its neighbour in India . India has increasing needs to generate electric power and Bhutan secured substantial investments in return for Indian infrastructure an it's power companies to be granted high altitude water deposits and rivers to be dammed and enormous hydro-electric dams built to serve India's surging demand for electricity. This kind of infrastructure takes a long time to build and there were setbacks and delays due to difficulties with bureaucracy on both sides, logistical blunders and one thing or another and the investment support on India's side was becoming increasingly impatient and hostile towards Bhutanese representatives at AGM's and the like where arguments became quite common and on both side tensions were being expressed. At one important news briefing the King of Bhutan was in attendance and naturally he gave an address to the cameras and reporters following developments. A journalist from the Economic Times of India raise his arm as soon as the King had finished speaking. He asked the King of Bhutan how the countries finance ministers were aligning its fiscal policies so that Bhutan would not is a year or two's time begin defaulting on the loans and repayments it had agreed in advance with Indian investors. In short his question was "How are you going to boost GDP your Royal Highness" to which the King looked at the journalist who asked him to respond. Looked down at his notes and stepped out in front of his podium and replied "Young man, I have no interest in Gross Domestic Production, I am interested in Bhutan's Gross Domestic Happiness" and soon after the briefing wrapped up. Perplexed the audience discussed among themselves curious as to what the King had meant. Gross Domestic Happiness. Such a thing had never been heard of before. When the King rejoined his national delegation there were some anxious looking advisors keen to speak with him. "What did you go and say a thing like that for, now the whole room of journalists have requested that Bhutan releases to them the Gross Domestic Happiness report, and the trouble is Your Highness we have never conducted one" The king said to his advisors "Well you had better get on a find out how Happy the Kingdom actually is seeing as you have promised the people in that room that you would supply one." And today out of a Kings quick thinking is the report and its findings https://ophi.org.uk/policy/national-policy/gross-national-happiness-index/

Good morning everyone The best thing about this last weeks practice was being told I could choose to either sit or lie down at the beginning of the meditation I chose to lie down and did not fall asleep progress.. Im fairly comfortable with physical unpleasantness as I know my body is telling me something and it’s often the only invitation I take to slow down as I am usually super active and feel like I’m not doing enough when I’m not. I’m lucky to think of housework as good exercise and take that attitude into most movement, but when I have real pain, I give my self permission to stop. Saying that, the mind is tricky and can tell me, ‘You didn’t get enough sleep last night, you could do nothing today’, when doing nothing is not necessary. I try to find a good balance to honour my energy. The meditation on emotional pain was timely though. I’ve moved home to be closer to my 94 year old grandmother who lives alone and has done for 36 years so while she needs a hand with some things, she doesn’t really want me around full time and there’s a sense of not being needed or useful. I notice after I finish my breakfast in the sun which I enjoy so much, I immediately think, ‘Right, I should get up and do something’ and then I wonder why sitting enjoying the sun is not something? Having a sense of purpose and what the purpose needs to be is something I’m looking at at the moment. Coinciding with this week’s meditation was a visit from my aunt who comes to stay with my grandmother for a few days every few months and who tells me that she is the only one who can live with and care for my grandmother and I don’t need to think that I need to be here. Her words and actions have been a real challenge for me throughout my life and I’m really working on trying to understand what experiences have shaped her and made her the person she is today. As I write this I’m aware of tears forming behind my eyes, of a sense of tightness in my chest and I’m taking long, deep breaths. As I pause and look out the window at the gum trees and the backdrop of the vast blue sky I also know that I can choose to focus on something else and come back to working on compassion when I’m not feeling the emotions so strongly in my body. That said I will get of the internet and go outside into the garden. and the journey continues .......

I do hope i have added this in correct area of the forum If Admin feel it is in wrong thread it is of course ok to move this thread Brief Introduction to Falun Dafa Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) is an advanced practice of Buddha school self-cultivation, founded by Mr. Li Hongzhi, the practice’s master. It is a discipline in which “assimilation to the highest qualities of the universe—Zhen, Shan, Ren (Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance)—is the foundation of practice. Practice is guided by these supreme qualities, and based on the very laws which underlie the development of the cosmos.” Master Li’s teachings are set forth in a number of texts, among which are included Falun Gong, Zhuan Falun, The Great Perfection Way of Falun Dafa, Essentials for Further Advancement, and Hong Yin (The Grand Verses). These and other works have been translated into over forty languages, and are published and distributed worldwide. The focus of Falun Dafa practice is the mind, with the cultivation of one’s mind and thoughts, or “Xinxing,” being singled out as the key to increasing Gong energy. The height of a person’s Gong is directly proportionate to that of his Xinxing. The concept of “Xinxing” encompasses the transformation of virtue (a white form of matter) and karma (a black form of matter). It also includes forbearance, discernment, and abandonment—that is, forsaking ordinary human desires and attachments, and managing to endure the most trying of ordeals. Much is encompassed by the concept. Falun Dafa also includes the cultivation of the body, which is accomplished by performing specific exercises. One purpose of the exercises is to strengthen the practitioner’s supernatural abilities and energy mechanisms by means of his or her powerful Gong force. Another purpose is to develop many living entities in the practitioner’s body. In advanced practice, the Immortal Infant will come into being and many abilities will be developed. The exercises of Falun Dafa are necessary for the transformation and cultivation of such things. A comprehensive mind-body cultivation system such as this requires both self-cultivation and physical exercises, with cultivation taking priority over exercises. A person’s Gong simply will not increase if he or she merely does exercises while failing to cultivate Xinxing. The exercises are thus a supplemental means to achieving spiritual perfection. Falun Dafa involves the cultivation of a Falun, or “law wheel.” The Falun is an intelligent, rotating entity composed of high-energy matter. The Falun that Master Li Hongzhi plants in a practitioner’s lower abdomen from other dimensions rotates constantly, twenty-four hours a day. (True cultivators can acquire a Falun by reading Master Li’s books, watching his 9-session lectures on video, listening to recordings of his 9-session lectures, or studying together with students of Falun Dafa.) The Falun helps practitioners to practice automatically. That is, the Falun refines the practitioner at all times, even though he or she isn’t performing the exercises at every moment. Of all practices made public in the world today, only Falun Dafa has managed to achieve a state in which, “the Fa refines the person.” The rotating Falun has the same qualities as the universe, and is the universe’s miniature. The Buddhist Falun, the Daoist Yin-Yang, and everything of the Ten-Directional World are reflected in the Falun. The Falun provides salvation to the practitioner when it rotates inward (clockwise), since it absorbs a great amount of energy from the universe and transforms it into Gong energy. The Falun provides salvation to others when rotating outward (counter-clockwise), for it releases energy that can save any being and rectify any abnormal condition. Being in the presence of someone who practices thus benefits a person. Falun Dafa “brings a person to a state of wisdom and harmonious existence. The movements of the practice are concise, as a great way is extremely simple and easy.” Falun Dafa is unique in eight ways: 1. A Falun is cultivated, rather than an energy elixir. 2. The Falun refines the person even when he or she is not doing the practice’s exercises. 3. One’s primary consciousness is cultivated, such that it is the person him or herself who obtains Gong energy. 4. Both mind and body are cultivated. 5. The practice consists of five exercises, which are simple and easy to learn. 6. The mind is not used to direct anything, there are no associated risks, and Gong energy increases quickly. 7. Location, time, and direction are not of concern when exercising, nor is how one concludes one’s exercise session. 8. Protection is provided by the master's Fashen, so one needn’t fear harm from malevolent entities. The teachings of Falun Dafa are thus completely unlike those of conventional practice methods or those that are based on the development of an internal elixir, or Dan. Falun Dafa practice begins at a high plane right from the outset, thus providing the most expedient, fast, ideal, and precious means of practice for those with a predestined connection or who have been practicing for years using other means but failed to develop Gong. When a practitioner’s Xinxing and the strength of his Gong reach a certain height, he or she can attain an imperishable, adamantine body while still in the secular world. A person can also achieve the “unlocking of Gong,” enlightenment, and ascension of the whole person to higher planes. Those with great determination should study this upright teaching, strive to achieve their ultimate rank, elevate their Xinxing, and forsake their attachments. Only then is spiritual perfection possible. May you cherish it—the Buddha Fa is right before you. Since I, Amanaki adding this info that come from the Falun Gong official site, this thread is not my own Words. and when questions is asked, it would be good if they are asked in a respectful manner, and letting me be able to answer Your question in a respectful manner back to you There are many rummors out there about Falun Gong, But if you want more true answer about this form of practice i would advie to read about Falun Gong or Falun dafa as it is also know as. on this two sites (hope it is ok to add website links here, if not Admin can remove the links) https://en.falundafa.org/index.html https://en.minghui.org/

Here's what I did - it doesn't replace friendship immediately, but it gives structure and something to look forward to. I joined a Sangha, which is meeting online, but I'll meet all these people IRL one day. There are also activist groups that meet regularly, which combine the sense of belonging with a sense of purpose which I love as with everything that is going on in the world, I can feel helpless, and those groups give me back my sense of agency.