What do you want more of in your life?

Today, I will deviate from my ideas on memes and free will and talk about giving.
Did you know that if you want more of something in your life, you begin by giving it away?
I'm not talking about giving away all your money or your products and services, I mean those things that you feel lacking in your life.


A example would be Love.  Do you feel like you want more love in your life.  Start by giving love away.
When we give something away there are no strings attached, we merely give it away and that is it.
We don't expect a return or to be held in some regard or esteem for giving something away.
There is compassion, compliments, appreciation, and maybe even some of your possessions.


You are not using all the stuff you have.  Why not make room in your house and at the same time make it possible for someone who needs your stuff to have it and enjoy it.  There is a benefit both ways.
It's like that with Love and compassion and all the other wonderful things we have to give away. The receiver enjoys it and we do to.  The benefit is for both and then there is the added benefits we get; because as we give more, more will come to us.  We can never know from whence it will come, but come it will.  It is like Karma in reverse, or better still good Karma.  The benefits are unfathomable.  They go on and on, maybe forever. 


Is there someone in your life that needs caring, sharing, compassion or Love?  Start there, but go slowly. Someone that has starved for a while needs to be nourished slowly; that is so with Love and all the emotional needs.  Be patient and give as much as the person can receive.  You will know, how much and when.


When you give before you get, you will experience great fulfillment in your life.  Most people are trying to get all they can without giving anything away first.


What are you holding on to that others may desperately need.  It is some knowledge, some beautiful art, a beautiful song, your presence, your compassion?  There is something you are holding now, that others desperately need!  There has to be, that is why you are here!! 


It there some way you can help others succeed?

Remember that Love is not Love until you give it away!

Napoleon Hill:

***"It is literally true that you can 

succeed best and quickest by helping others 

succeed."***

Isidro Sid Martinez 

What about free will?

We do not react directly to the world, but rather, the world as it is filtered by our nervous system's habits and perceptions, That is, how you view things and your conditioning. We break down the world according to what we expect to find. What we do, what we think and feel is what is important to pay attention to.  Our language or word systems is selective and indicates what we focus on or hide. This is very similar to what Robert Anton Wilson meant when he discussed Reality Tunnels in his work Quantum Psychology and Bander and Grindler indicated with the models of language in Neuro Linguistic Programming.

The practical person would then say, so what does this mean in practical terms? How does this affect me?   Basically, I would say that we see, think and behave according to our conditioning.  That is very basic and to the point.  Most people would not agree with this and probably feel that they are consciously in control of their perceptions, thoughts, and behavior.  Yet we all would agree that there are times when we see not, thoughts intrude on us, and we behave in ways we would not have anticipated.  The question is, what if, this is happening most or all of the time?

Most people would say that we consciously decide based on what we need to do at a particular instance. Question this, as it may be flawed.  We are mostly not aware of the instruction we have received from may influences, conversations and perceptions. Researchers have proven that action occurs prior to thought, that we, at times, carry out rote responses a full half-second prior to our minds making a decision in the form of measurable thought energy in the brain. 

This was written to open the conversation and to explore the concept of memes not only as they apply to the transmission of information and culture but how memes can influence our behaviors. 

In a future post I will write more about the concept of memes or the body of knowledge known as memetics.

Isidro "Sid" Martinez

Wisdom of Sai Baba

All action results from thought, so it is thoughts that matter.

Do not be misled by what you see around you, or be influenced by what you see. You live in a world which is a playground of illusion, full of false paths, false values and false ideals. But you are not part of that world.

Let love flow so that it cleanses the world. Then man can live in peace, instead of the state of turmoil he has created through his past ways of life, with all those material interests and earthly ambitions.

Life is a song. Life is love - enjoy it.

Love one another and help others to rise to the higher levels, simply by pouring out love. Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy.
 Real values can have meaning to man only when he steps on to the spiritual path, a path where negative emotions have no use.


What matters is to live in the present, live now, for every moment is now. It is your thoughts and acts of the moment that create your future. The outline of your future path already exists, for you created its pattern by your past. 

Room full of Mirrors: By Jimi Hendrix

I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see.

Jimi Hendrix

To Know Me: Poem by Isidro Sid Martinez

To Know Me

I am spent on searching

for life's meaning,

yet not knowing

me.

I am wasted on thinking

that one can know,

yet not knowing

me.

I go on each day seeking

for some certainty,

yet not knowing

me.

What does it gain to know

to know anything,

yet not know

me.

Is there anything to know?

Can one find it somehow?

Can I ever know,

Me?

Sid 8/16/2009

The Definition of Purpose: By Isidro Sid Martinez

Have you considered the definition of Purpose?
I have researched it and have combined what I found into a definition that is specific enough to clearly define purpose as it relates to the spiritual path.

Purpose is a cognitive awareness in cause of effect that guides our thoughts and actions for an intended function. The object for which something exists or is done.

Purpose requires Role, Passion, Development of talent, and Need or fulfillment of a need.

If you are truly considering your purpose in this life experience. The above definition will go far in clarifying you mind about how purpose interacts with your life and helps to define who you are.
Sid Martinez

Noon Creek a reminder of serenity: Poem by Isidro Sid Martinez

Noon Creek

Enchanted by your pristine presence,

I see your eternal grandeur,

and your cold crystal essence.

Noon creek, you giggle, you laugh,

With me, At me?

So rushed, so serious, so tense,

You know my soul.

I sigh, can I just let go?

I know, I whisper with deep gratitude

Thank you for letting me know.

Mt Graham, motorcycle ride. 08/16/2008, 12:00 noon

What is the Purpose of Life? By Isidro Sid Martinez

Have you deeply considered this question?
I have heard many answers to this age old question, from trite expressions like, the purpose of life is love, or happiness, or service to others, to statements about God and heaven, reincarnation and immortality.

So is it that complicated? We were put here with a question that will outlive us? A question that will remain a mystery for all time? We all know that the human itself is a complication factory. It seeks explanations and has an infinite capacity for rationalizations. In its little world it is King, it is awesome to itself, yet it knows nothing. So if that is true, than how do we answer this question?

I have spent years pondering this dilemma and have come to realize that the Purpose of Life, is actually very very simple. It is a Life of Purpose! Yes, a life of purpose. Simple! Or are we at another dead end? Am I saying that the purpose is some moral justification for serving others or following another religious dogma or some high sounding activity. That is not the case at all. It is simple in itself. Have a purpose in your life and you will live the purpose of your life.

We all want to know ourselves, to truly be ourselves, to do what is the best for us. Even the saint and the sinner want this. I say you cannot and will not find this when life is lived without purpose. By living life with a purpose, what ever it might be for us, we find ourselves. We can only know ourselves from our own view. You cannot know yourself from another persons perception, only yours. In purpose we discover ourselves. We are all multi-dimensional beings that aspire to find perfect self knowledge.

There is an infinite number of ways that you can fulfill your purpose. It is not something mystical or hidden. I will let you in on a little secret, your purpose is what you decide it will be. Yea, you make it up, you decide it. It is not some mysterious predetermined assignment thrust upon us by the universe. If you live without purpose, the universe will not force you to have one. How do you determine it? Like I said, you just make it up, you decide. What do you care about, start there. Yes, it can change as you mature or grow or experience loss or experience success. It is a dynamic living thing, like you. It is you, and it reflects you. It is bi-directional, it will sustain you and guide you, if you give it a place in your life.
Isidro

Have you Leaned to Think for Yourself: By Isidro Sid Martinez

To many of us a spiritual path requires obedience and following religious rules and rituals in order to gain some favor with God or the Universe of maybe some great reward here or in the afterlife. Maybe some reward here in now time or maybe some future reward or maybe even Heaven! So now we are attached to some reward, to some technique, to some ritual, to some belief, to some path. Think on this because if we really are honest and sincere with our thoughts and motives we will find some attachment. Are we worshiping because of the fear of retribution, or some attachment to rewards. It might be as overt as a rigid thought that my way or religion is best, or subtle as an attachment to daily ritual. It is not the ritual or that thoughts that are the concern. It is the attachment to something we have not truly evaluated for what it really is. Doing what is right because it is right to do, not because of some desire for gain or some fear of retribution is also part of thinking for yourself. You know what is right, from down in your depths, you have a built in compass we just have to learn to connect with it a let it guide us. Thinking and acting are intimately related to freedom.

We can go to a teacher or minister and he will say, I have a technique for freedom. We say, I want freedom, I must know this technique. So he says do all these things and freedom will come. I say to you, think, what is freedom? Define freedom. Are you attached to the idea and quest for freedom. Does that whole concept somehow contradict itself. How can you be attached and free at the same time? Think on this. Circular thinking is going in circles. Dogs chasing tails. Do you need a teacher or minister or guru to tell you what to do? Do you need a book to direct your life. Think! Who wrote this book? The teacher or minister or guru is a person like you. The author is a person like you. Think! What gives them the authority to tell you how to get to heaven. Has anyone been there who knows the way and has come to show you the way.

I am not against technique and ritual and/or religion. I am concerned how so many blindly do it with no real thinking. They think that for their much doing there is some reward. They are acting for the reward! Ok, so what is wrong with that. I say to you again, attachment to the reward conflicts with freedom. If we really look we see that attachment brings with it jealousy, being superior, fear, isolation, arrogance, insecurity and many other conflicts to freedom. I propose to you that spirituality in its purest form is freedom! Think about it. Let me know what you think.

What is the Meaning of Spirit? By Isidro Sid Martinez

What is the Meaning of Spirit?

What does it mean to you? What does the spiritual path mean to you?

Please post your definition or your comments for everyone to see. It would be greatly appreciated to begin a dialog as to the meaning of spirit and the spiritual path.

I have included a dictionary definition below:
How did the meaning become what it is today when originally it meant breathe or breath?

Main Entry:
1spir·it Listen to the pronunciation of 1spirit
Pronunciation:
\ˈspir-ət\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, espirit, spirit, from Latin spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare to blow, breathe
Date: 13th Century


1: an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms

2: a supernatural being or essence: as acapitalized : holy spirit
2b: soul
2c: an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible; specifically : ghost
2 d: a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being

3: temper or disposition of mind or outlook especially when vigorous or animated

4: the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person

5 a: the activating or essential principle influencing a person
5 b: an inclination, impulse, or tendency of a specified kind : mood

6 a: a special attitude or frame of mind
6 b: the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something

7: a lively or brisk quality in a person or a person's actions8: a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature9: a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness

The Struggle For Native American Religious Freedom

Traveling the Spiritual Path:

For centuries Native Americans have struggled to retain and to engage in their traditional spiritual practices in a society dominated by Judeo-Christian values and beliefs. As difficult as this struggle has been in free society, for Native Americans incarcerated in prisons throughout the United States, the struggle has been even more arduous. Little Rock Reed, a former federal prisoner, compiled first hand accounts of these struggles by Native American prisoners in a powerful book called The American Indian in the White Man's Prisons: A Story of Genocide.(1) Many cases have been brought by Native American prisoners desperately trying to have their spiritual practices afforded the same respect and treatment that prison officials give to Christian practices.
Follow this Link: Traveling the Spiritual Path

The Ultimate Paradox: By Isidro Sid Martinez

The Ultimate Paradox

The mind reels at the idea that it may never really know anything.
It wants to know and explain it all. It is the mind’s function to compare, categorize, explain and know it all. And it does, from its own conditioned perspective! But does it really know anything, just because it can explain something based on some perceptions from the past?

How do you separate truth from illusion with an instrument that can only operate from the conditioned response that it is? It is impossible to actually know anything as truth; except that you cannot really know anything as truth. Can we leave the great mysteries as the great mysteries that they are? The unified field theory can only ever be the unified field theory. How can you prove that which inherently is without proof. It is like saying I can calculate how God operates and what God will do and how God will do it, therefore I know God. Quantum mechanics suggests that the observer affects the outcome of the experiment just by being the observer. Does that not indicate that what we experience as reality is a subjective experience? That we cannot experience an objective reality. I believe that the mind is a great instrument necessary for our earthly survival and for giving us endless streams of entertainment and sensory impressions but the mind can never know anything about anything. The faculty of knowing really does not even exist in our sensory-mind structure. Knowing falls into the category of the unknown; which is the ultimate paradox.

Review: "Your LIfe As Art" Course held 9/9-9/11/05

Robert Fritz Inc - Your Life as Art:

 I attended the course "Your Life as Art" held in Vermont during the 2nd week in September.

Robert Fritz, the author of "The Path of Least Resistance", "Creating" and most recently "Your Life as Art", along with his lovely wife Rosalind, provided three days of intensive training on the basics of creating your life the way you want. The basics included hands-on workshop training along with several assignments to be done during the evening. Participants came from many walks of life and from places as far away as New Zealand and even the Netherlands. You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from this course. You just need the desire to make you life a work of art.

What makes this workshop so valuable? For me, I can say, that the training made a big difference in how I look at my "current reality". Making the fundamental choices of being the predominate creative force in my life, being free, healthy, and being true to myself means I have to really see where I am in order to establish the impetus to create what I want. No more lying to myself! How does this relate to spiritual work you might ask? Well, for me, it means that my spirit cannot adequately be expressed or even flourish if I am hiding from myself the truth of my being, my likes and dislikes, and going through life feeling like things are really obligations rather than choices. Creating what I really want is what spirit wants. How much more spiritual can you get!

I would highly recommend this training to anyone interested in creating their life experience on their own terms rather than letting circumstances dictate their experience! A real milestone on the spiritual path!

Robert Fritz Inc - FREE NEWSLETTER


Review the Book: Your Life As Art

Robert Fritz Inc - Creating your life as Art

Robert Fritz Inc - Your Life as Art:
Robert discovered that there are four life-changing issues common to most people and found that, by exploring these issues from the perspective of structural dynamics, people are able to rethink their most essential life-premises. The issues concern identity, purpose and existence, freedom and control, and parental preoccupation. Exploration of these issues is an important part of Your Life as Art."



Review Books by Robert Fritz

Our Date with Death: By Isidro Sid Martinez

We are all so good at never considering our date with death. It seems like it is so far away that we doubt that we will ever have to face it. Sometimes something happens that exposes us to our mortality and then we go back to living as we usually live. We try to get things back to normal as soon as we can! Our loved ones also want it that way. It is like the odds of our death are no longer a consideration.

I want to let you know I speak form experience. I recently was found to have a very large tumor on one of my kidneys. According to the doctors, it was so large that it required immediate removal. The diagnosis was renal carcinoma in late stage. How could this be, I never had any symptoms, I felt just fine, but there it was on film. A tumor the size of a melon. The doctor said the prognosis was not good; at this stage it would probable spread. The tumor had probable become soft and would fall apart upon removal, making this a very difficult operation. I was told to get my affairs in order and report for surgery. On June the 21st I went into surgery for 5+1/2 hours. An artery sprung a leak and I required several pints of blood. The tumor had been removed along with the kidney, the adrenal gland, lymph nodes and two ribs. So there I was, still alive, but dreading the possibility of the cancer spreading and chemo and radiation, and all the pain.

Two day after the surgery the pathologist determined that my cancer was not renal carcinoma but something else, onco-sarcoma. A rare form that forms many layers of scar tissue and does not spread or recur if totally removed. Fantastic news, I had been spared, and I had dodged the death bullet. Now the healing begins. It has now been a little over two months. I am still in pain and the huge scar look really bad. My flesh has developed a ridge along the area where the rib was removed. It swells and gets irritated, by evening it is very uncomfortable just to walk or sit.
The chemo is horrible but I am told it is necessary insurance, just in case some cells are still in my system.

So now we get to the point of it all. I dodged the death bullet this time. What are the odds? My spouse became very distant, she was depressed, she wants thing to get back to normal as soon as possible. Why are they NOT back to normal now! Like I can forget this ever happened and just go on! I wish it was that way, but I have some physical processes still going on that keep reminding me. Even if we could forget, does it make sense to not consider our own mortality.

"Salvation belongs to the time before death. If you don't break your ropes while you are alive, do you think your ghost will do it after".......Kabir. Is not now the time to live, while we are alive?

Conscious Awareness

Conscious Awareness: "What are the benefits of being consciously aware? When we are consciously aware of our true identity, we no longer feel a need to experience emotions of anger, of resentment, of depression, victimization, separation or hate. We humbly recognize our role as divine creators and also recognize our oneness with all that is. We also are able to honor the unique choices of others without allowing those choices to 'violate' us. We recognize that we all travel on different levels of conscious awareness and as such, we all react and/or respond to the actions of others in different ways. "

Healing with sound

Healing with sound
"The human voice is considered one of the most powerful healing forces in our world. You can learn to use your own voice naturally - in ways you may never have known - for healing and for expressing your true self." A must read if you are looking for a simple method or relaxing and rebalancing!

Color & Sound Therapy

Color & Sound Therapy
Chakra balancing, feelings of well being, better speach, more resonence in your voice and more conifdence. Please read this one!

Identifying signs of depression - Sedona Method

Identifying signs of depression - Sedona Method
This valuable article helps you identify the signs of depression. Are there alternatives to medication and therapy?
Please Note: Do not self-diagnose. Depression symptoms can mimic a number of physical illnesses, and it is important that a medical assessment, including clinical tests and diagnosis, are made by your treating doctor/specialist.

Empowerment through Spiritual New Age Wisdom

Empowerment through Spiritual New Age Wisdom
This site posts the following warning. WARNING: This site contains mature subject matter, including frequent references to spirituality, authenticity, trust, intuition and a sense of higher purpose. Some may be offended. Reader discretion is advised. FREE NEWSLETTER OFFER.

Do Yourself A Favor--Forgive

Do Yourself A Favor--Forgive
So what is forgiveness? I recently heard a great definition from Dr. Charles Stanley: “Forgiveness is giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.” Read more about the health, mental and spiritual benefits of fogiveness.

“Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” Buddha

Law of Attraction Article: Do You Know About The Power Of Flow?

Law of Attraction Article: Do You Know About The Power Of Flow?
Are you programmed to sturggle through life thinking and feeling as if that is a sign of valor? Have you assumed that life is hard and you must work hard to get ahead? Steven Lane Taylor, author of the book Row, Row, Row Your Boat; A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow", suggests that we can intentionally tap into the flow of life's benevolent energy and live a successful life without the unending presure of working harder and going faster.

Neurophysiology of Meditation

Neurophysiology of Meditation

A very lucid and scientific presentation of how the body and mind respond to the process of various meditation techniques.

The Essentials of Spiritual Life

The Essentials of Spiritual Life

Right relationships to God, Self and Others. The way of undoing and support from others in our spiritual quest.

The Spiritual Path and Its Stages

The Spiritual Path and Its Stages

The experiences one encounters on the Spritual Path and how they relate to stages of growth are explained. Much information is available here.

Disciple of the Light : The Spiritual Path : Definition

Disciple of the Light : The Spiritual Path : Definition

Defining the Spiritual Path as a path of experiencing Love, living Love and abiding in Love.
Great information and ideas for those wanting to experience the path of Love and devotion.

Experience It Now - Self Realization through Sahaja Yoga

Experience It Now - Self Realization through Sahaja Yoga
An audio guided meditation in Sahaja Yoga from Sri Mataji. Very clear instructions, please turn on your sound system!
You can receive your Self Realization (connection with your Self) while sitting in front of your computer. The only condition is your sincere desire to have it.

About Maharishi Transcendental Meditation program

About Maharishi Transcendental Meditation program

A real audio/video presentation on the TM Program. How it works, where to learn it and the documented benefits of this great life enhancing program.

Who Do You Want To Be?

Who Do You Want To Be?- Spirituality - Indiatimes

Deepak Chopra .... Now that we understand the power of the word and of the mind, we have come to the realisation that all of our statements are simply creating self-fulfilling prophecies.

Are You On A Spiritual Path?- Spirituality - Indiatimes

Are You On A Spiritual Path?- Spirituality - Indiatimes
The story of a spriitual seeker that shows that it's never too late to start?
If you turn on the light in your living room, it doesn't matter how long the room was dark.
Don't sell yourself short. Discover your inner compass and go all the way. What you've always wanted is already there waiting for you.

A Wisdom Archive on the Spiritual Path

Spiritual Path

Several pages of articles and links on the Spiritual Path from different perspectives.

The Spiritual Path: Theosophical Topics in Depth

The Spiritual Path: Theosophical Topics in Depth

A whole lot of information, links and articles on the Spiritual Path based on Theosophical principles. Take you time, there is much here to see.

The Spiritual Path to Creating More Success

The Spiritual Path to Creating More Success
Personal power and creativity, when balanced, generate tremendous energy! Success includes helping others, harnessing your own creative genius and living your life from a space of calm, personal power. These tips can help you find that walk of strength to bring forth your personal goals and dreams in a good way.

Traveling The Spiritual Path

Traveling The Spiritual Path

Traveling The Spiritual Path:The Struggle For Native American Religious Freedom© by Laura Brooks

Putting the Spiritual Teachings Into Practice

Putting the Spiritual Teachings Into Practice

The importance of gaining an understanding of the spiritual life and how it relates to our day-to-day living concerns is examined. Learning and living our learning, is putting the teaching into practice.

PhysOrg: 'Deep Down Things' explores the astonishing world of particle physics

PhysOrg: 'Deep Down Things' explores the astonishing world of particle physics

"Ever since the development of relativity and quantum mechanics, science has come to have increasingly wondrous and jarring metaphysical implications," "We know that there is a lot more to the universe than meets the eye, and some of what we know scientifically is exceedingly mysterious from a philosophical point of view.".......Bruce Schumm professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz,

Late guru's teachings assert yoga is crucial part of Christianity: 12/ 18/ 2004

Late guru's teachings assert yoga is crucial part of Christianity: 12/ 18/ 2004
The Three Wise Men who came to worship the Christ child hailed from India and named him Isa, or "Lord," in Sanskrit -- a name that became Jesus in the Bible. The star they followed to find the infant Jesus was not a physical celestial body. It was the omniscient "wisdom star of infinite perception" in the spiritual eye, located between the eyebrows, which the wise men accessed through deep meditation

Straight.com: Health Notes

Straight.com: Health Notes

Wellness, health, touch healing, and various other techinques are appropriate in spiritual work as we relax and our bodies become healthier we can experience that quite calm necessary for spritual growth.