gdp's Comments

FinerMinds : If This Was My Last Day On Earth, I Would Have These 500 Words To Share

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:08:05 +0000

Hi Vishen-

Your comment about free Dutch beer \"flowing\" in the waiting lounge of the Amsterdam airport took me back to the Seventies when I took free tour of the Heiniken Breweries in that city. My friend and I kept switching from table to table until we each had nine glasses of my now favorite brew. We wound up frisbeeing coasters down from the top of the brewery.

So if this 500 word piece is any indication of future work, keep stockpiling beer and hanging around airports.

All my best,

Bob Zaslow (misterzee)

FinerMinds : If This Was My Last Day On Earth, I Would Have These 500 Words To Share

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:07:46 +0000

Vishen- I think it was Mark Twain who said something like "The dictionary has all the words we need to be as brilliant as Shakespeare. It's just a matter of how you arrange them." Congratulations on arranging those 500 words into a concise, insightful commentary on being happy, being in flow, and living in the moment. I know those 500 words aren't just nice-sounding bits of advice because I know you live from that space of Flow. The work you do proves it. So do the results. Thanks for inspiring so many to begin living in Flow.

FinerMinds : This Is What Happens After 50 Days Of Pure Personal Growth — The End Of The PhilosophersNotes Ch

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:29:44 +0000

In the last fifty days I’ve noticed a change in my attitude in several key areas of my life. The first is, I’m trusting in what many thinkers in the Notes have called “the Universal Intelligence.” I’m a teacher as well as a playwright and I’ve begun to really tap into this awareness/ intelligence which is far greater than the thoughts rolling around in my own mind. I’ve begun to align myself with this energy and been able to tap into it in a way that’s helped my writing move to a whole new level. I’ve been able to sit down at the computer and just “let the ideas come in.” In fact, I’ve written ten 10-minute plays in the last few months, thanks to trusting, not simply in my ability to write, but in my willingness to tap into this “something greater than me.” Secondly, I’ve started to meditate again. When dozens of people you respect, like Deepak Chopra and Pema Chodron, remind you that a way to connect to your pure potential is through stillness, it’s time to say, “OK, I’m going to make sitting and following my breath for twenty minutes a ritual again. I believe it’s helped me tap into that Universal Intelligence as it whispers inspiration to me. Third, I find I’m more present doing whatever I do, whether it’s teaching or washing the dishes or walking on a path near my home, I’m spending less time in the past or future and more time in the moment. I’m really tasting each bite of food instead of reaching with my fork for the next morsel. What a gift! Which brings me to the fourth difference I’ve noticed-- enthusiasm. The Buddah is quoted as saying, “If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.” Two days ago, I was pulling weeds in my garden. Not little weeds; we’re talking long, invasive wild rose and wild raspberry vines. I worked for three hours and loved it. (OK, I didn’t love having to take aspirin for my lower back later, but you get the idea…) In the past, I’ve either avoided doing that job or did it half-heartedly. Seneca said, “The wise person does nothing reluctantly.” That means even the chores that you used to hate. And George Leonard wrote, “Could all of us reclaim lost hours of our lives by making everything—the commonplace along with the extraordinary—a part of our practice?” A part of our practice. The Notes were a part of my practice for fifty days. Immersed in such great thinkers and great thoughts for fifty days had a transformative effect on me. And I’m so grateful to Brian, Vishen, and the NotePosters who became my friends every day as I read their insights. Thank you, all!

FinerMinds : The Power Of Full Engagement By Jim Loehr And Tony Schwartz — Last Day Of The PhilosophersNotes C

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:28:35 +0000

An important message in this book for me is the notion of the importance of ritual in our lives. I remember my grandmother lighting the sabbath candles every Friday night and what an anchor it was to me. Something solid to link me back to thousands of others over thousands of years. In his book, "The Sabbath," author Abraham Joshua Heschel writes something so simple and so profound I wanted to share it with you: "The higher goal of spiritual learning is not to amass a wealth of information but to face sacred moments." I think that's an important thing to remember when you want to cut through to the truth of who you are and what you really want for your life.

FinerMinds : The Power Of Full Engagement By Jim Loehr And Tony Schwartz — Last Day Of The PhilosophersNotes C

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:42:59 +0000

Thank you for the kind words. You've been the gift. Your heart encompasses worlds. The compassion you have for everyone you come in contact with is so evident in every supportive comment you've made. Maybe that's what's been most miraculous about the last fifty days: meeting so many people who care as much as I do about making a difference on the planet. Thank you, puresue. Be well.

FinerMinds : Meditations By Marcus Aurelius — Day 49 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:31:20 +0000

This Note helped me focus on gratitude. I was in a car accident recently, so I've been grateful for so many things in the past few weeks, the most important of which is, I'm grateful I'm alive! And I'm continually grateful to be back at school teaching and making a difference in the lives of my students. I was so grateful for each hug I got when I came back on Wednesday. I notice that, as Marcus Aurelius says, I'm grateful in this moment, not in some future moment, and my heart is filled with an experience of serenity and centeredness. Gentleness. Finally, I'm grateful to Brian for doing this wonderful work.

FinerMinds : The Book Of Understanding By Osho — Day 45 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:57:03 +0000

Wow! What amazed me today was looking at my most important goals, not as a destination but a guiding beacon that I don't have to reach but utilize for the journey. Here's how I transcribed Brian's discussion: "We want to make our ideals not a distant shore that we’re going to get to, but a guiding star, something we strive for, even though we know we won’t get there. You don’t have to be perfectly balanced. The guiding star is an ideal, a beautiful star that allows us to move toward a state that makes us more harmonious." For me, living with that guiding star as ideal and not as destination takes all the struggle and worry out of whether I'll get there or not. Because I now understand that each pull of the oars, is me lined up with that beacon at the far end of the lake that never ends.

FinerMinds : Pathways To Bliss By Joseph Campbell — Day 43 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:08:10 +0000

I've usually tried to avoid or put off doing the drudge work in my life. However, today I promised I'd clean the bathroom before I went on line. So cleaned half of it. Then I read Joseph Campbell's comment about drudgery being an attitude, and how you could turn any job into a spiritual practice. Before I posted this comment, I went back to the bathroom to finish the job. OK, it may not have felt exactly spiritual, but it sure felt like I was a lot lighter about making that bathtub shine. Amazing what can happen when you're just in the moment without the constant chatter of the critic saying, "You should be somewhere else right now."

FinerMinds : The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success By Deepak Chopra — Day 42 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:17:29 +0000

My "ah ha" moment today was Brian's comment about meditation being like bringing your intuition to the gym. I try to go to my local health club at least four times a week for the benefit of my body. Now, I'm going to begin meditating again while thinking of it as a habit to benefit my mind / spiritual body. Somehow that simile makes meditation feel less etherial and more down-to-earth. And I'm especially motivated after reading Deepak Chopra's comment that it is difficult to connect to your true self unless you meditate. I've read this book at least twice, but it wasn't until today, with Brian's comment about the gym, that committing to a a daily routine of meditation made so much sense to me. So once again, thank you, Brian.

FinerMinds : Money, And The Law Of Attraction By Esther And Jerry Hicks - Day 41 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challen

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:29:53 +0000

Thanks, Tom- I actually watched the movie a few weeks ago and I too, cried at certain points. Perhaps because it reminded me of how fortunate I am to be a teacher. I've been home with an illness for a few days and I'm anxious to get back to those kids! Best back to you, Tom.

FinerMinds : Money, And The Law Of Attraction By Esther And Jerry Hicks - Day 41 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challen

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:56:27 +0000

I never posted back-to-back comments before, but I just re-read my notes on the Notes and wanted to share one more notion that boils things down to their absolute essence: "We can tell how connected we are to Source by how alive we feel. It feels really, really good when you’re plugged into God/Source. In short, you feel joyful, appreciative, loving, free, empowered, you know that life is extraordinary. That’s when you know your emotional fuel tank is on ‘Full.’" What a wonderful thing to remember when I catch myself looking at a sunset or one of our cats playing in the grass or thinking about my kids as I text them my little wisdom message of the day....or loving a bit of dialogue I just wrote for a play I'm working on. That feeling is Joy...Full.

FinerMinds : Money, And The Law Of Attraction By Esther And Jerry Hicks - Day 41 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challen

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:35:52 +0000

I love it when someone boils down what I thought was complicated into something simple. I'm referring to this section: “You actually only have two choices in emotion: a better-feeling one or a worse-feeling one. So you could accurately say that there are really only two emotions, and you effectively utilize your Guidance System when you deliberately choose the better-feeling of those two options.” Deliberately choosing the better feeling option? Yeah. I can do that.

FinerMinds : Money, And The Law Of Attraction By Esther And Jerry Hicks - Day 41 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challen

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 14:30:33 +0000

Tom, if you keep this up, Brian's gonna have to do a Note about you! X-Y-Z is brilliant! I love how generous you are. You continually share, share, share, just like any great teacher. And I thank you for giving away your ideas in such a spirit of oneness with the planet.

FinerMinds : Your Erroneous Zones By Wayne Dyer - Day 40 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 19:07:21 +0000

Hi Lory- I wanted to respond to your note about how Dr. Dyer's book empowered you to "move into a much healthier relationship with your mother." That says volumes about the power of the written word. And it's a reminder to me what a great service Brian and his partners are doing for thousands of people. 100 masters have thousands of big and medium-sized ideas that you or I or anyone else participating could grab onto and empower ourselves with. Thank you for sharing in such a clear, honest manner.

FinerMinds : Your Erroneous Zones By Wayne Dyer - Day 40 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:07:01 +0000

The key nugget for me today was defining worry and comparing it to planning. I've tended to waste way too much time worrying about the way a project would be received or whether my finances would cover a particular cost, or...it goes on and on...What I realized was that when I'm doing "constructive worrying" that's really called, "planning." I'm not immobilizing myself. I'm taking action. The trick is to get rid of the negative emotional component of the worry and take actions in the present moment to get the result I want. As Gay Hendricks says, "Worrying is useful only if it concerns a topic we can actually do something about." I hope to continue to remember that whenever I feel the worry bug on my shoulder.

FinerMinds : Thresholds of the Mind by Bill Harris - Day 39 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:23:00 +0000

I'm delighted you enjoyed the meditations from Thich Nhat Hanh. He's another master with life-affirming messages if you listen (as you are). To me, much of his advice boils down to being gentle with yourself. Tone down all the trying and the running around and rather than being critical, simply be gentle with yourself. I find I can't help but smile when I'm treating myself with the same gentleness I'd treat my own infant in my arms.

FinerMinds : Thresholds of the Mind by Bill Harris - Day 39 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 04:04:54 +0000

You're welcome, Mark. And thanks for coining a wonderful word: "mediTEAtion."

FinerMinds : Thresholds of the Mind by Bill Harris - Day 39 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:24:50 +0000

I thought I posted a comment, but didn't see it turn up, so I'll share it again. Thich Nhat Hanh has created some beautiful meditations: To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem. To meditate means to observe. Your smile proves it. It proves that you are being gentle with yourself, that the sun of awareness is shining in you, that you have control of your situation. You are yourself, and you have acquired some peace. Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future; Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life. He also taught his listeners a simple mantra that keeps you in this moment and it's one I use: "I know that I am breathing in....I know that I am breathing out...breathing in....breathing out...

FinerMinds : Thresholds of the Mind by Bill Harris - Day 39 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 17:07:44 +0000

I wanted to share some mantras from Thich Nhat Hanh that are in harmony with all the Notes we've been reading: To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem. To meditate means to observe. Your smile proves it. It proves that you are being gentle with yourself, that the sun of awareness is shining in you, that you have control of your situation. You are yourself, and you have acquired some peace. Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future; Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life. When I meditate, I often use this simple mantra from Thich Nhat Hanh: "I know that I am breathing in...I know that I am breathing out...breathing in...breathing out...

FinerMinds : The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire By Deepak Chopra — Day 38 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challeng

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 13:43:02 +0000

For me, one of the most important things to remember is, "The best, most luminous part of ourselves is connected to all the rhythms of the universe." It helps me step back and see my life from a much higher perspective. If I hadn't gotten a particular job in 1980 and hadn't picked up the phone because the secretary was out, and hadn't met the woman on the other end of that phone, I doubt I would have met my incredible wife and had our amazing children. It's all part of that zigging and zagging and trusting that when you step back, it's all working out.