Success Now!

Posted on October 25, 2008 by Rio

In this world of matter everything is temporary, nothing stays. To try to wrestle permanence out of situations and things is not seeing reality as it is. To cling selfishly to anything is the mark of the ignorant. (This is the ignorance caused by an ego that refuses to acknowledge that everything is interconnected) Success comes when we see clearly that when we unconditionally help others we help ourselves, for we are never separate from the Source; to think otherwise is delusion; it is, again, the work of the ego.

Now, to see things as they are, to see the unity of all things, requires presence of mind, which means that your thoughts are not in past or future situations (unless you are using the past for reference or planning a shopping trip) but in what you are doing right now! Remember, you can’t cross the bridge until you get to the river. If you see ‘Reality’ as it is you’ll see that success, like well-being, does not depend on outside circumstances, for we actually have all we need. If you see reality as it is your life situation could change suddenly and drastically without affecting your inner balance because you’ll see that you are part of a whole that is in perfect balance and working perfectly well.

Of course, you will not see this if you don’t discipline your mind and develop presence because the ego will render you blind. And I am afraid that just reading or hearing about it will probably help you little. But if you do just your best and practice, you’ll see it as clear as sunshine. And allow me to quote from “Mindfulness in Plain English” by H. Gunaratana: “Your practice can show you the truth. Your own experience is all that counts.”

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Change is Permanent

Posted on October 18, 2008 by Rio

Suddenly everything changed! My work is on hold. It is almost like I am starting all over again. And it dawn on me that I wasn’t enjoying the process anymore. I was rushing. My presence of mind was slipping away. I was forgetting that the future never holds a safe haven for us; it only holds change. So all that matters is our inner balance. All we ever have is “just this” and everything is contained “here”. Eternity itself is “now”–the absence of time. Enjoy!

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Communication | Social Networks | Business Networks

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Rio

I have joined a couple of social networks and it has proved to be a learning and rewarding experience. But I am seeing a great lack of communication among many of its members. Automated emails and auto responders seem to be the order of the day. It is understandable that we want to promote our products and services. But there seems to be a lack of understanding regarding the importance of personal communication in all our endeavors to foster better relationships. Not only it is very important to communicate with personal messages, we must do so professionally and intelligently.

We should read carefully the message we are responding to in order to reply adequately. (Isn’t it disappointing to read an answer that does not relate to the question you asked? Or an answer that only addresses part of your questions?) And if we don’t know the person, it is also advisable to find out who he/she is (if possible) so that we can address that person properly (at least check their website). And how about using our cell phones? I recently found a couple of programs that would have blended perfectly with my own, but I refrained from joining due to disappointing communication; for the fact is that we don’t do business with companies, we do business with people.

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The Right View | Buddha

Posted on September 22, 2008 by Rio

Early this morning I was worrying about something I had done when I realized that the past is gone; it can’t be brought back or fixed. Then I saw what the present moment contained; I almost missed it. I almost missed the bright warm sunlight, the shade under the trees where I had stopped to rest, the cool ocean breeze, the quarreling of birds… In the present all our mistakes vanish.

Recommended reading: Buddhism is not what you Think by Steve Hagen

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A Worthy Leader

Posted on September 18, 2008 by Rio

When I was doing my service in the armed forces (army) I was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas with the first battalion of the 46th infantry division for awhile. It was there that I met sergeant Johnson and sergeant Wolfe. And the reason I remember both of them well is because they stood out as leaders; they knew what leadership was.

As an example, there was a particular week in which my platoon worked really hard doing war games out on the field. It was the month of January; there was snow on the ground and we worked throughout the week facing cold and unrelenting wind. That Saturday night we finished exhausted after cleaning and washing our vehicles and equipment at the motor pool.

On Sunday morning, sergeant Wolfe, the war veteran who was our platoon leader, brought himself donuts and coffee to each and every soldier of his platoon while we were still in bed. He didn’t have to do this at all, believe me, but he understood what a leader was. He was showing his appreciation for a job well done; he was showing he was there for his men. He understood that a worthy leader does not oppress and dominates; he serves and motivates.

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A Short Poem | The Hobbit | JRR Tolkien

Posted on September 15, 2008 by Rio

“The road goes ever on and on,

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the road has gone,

and I must follow if I can.

Pursuing it with eager feet,

until it joins some larger way

where many paths and errands meet.

And wither then? I cannot say.”

–J. R. R. Tolkien in “The Hobbit”

J. R. R. Tolkien was once asked in an interview if his books were allegorical. He responded that they were not, that they were just entertainment. I am convinced that professor Tolkien was pulling the interviewer’s leg. What do you think? Have you read Tolkien?

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More about GDI

Posted on September 13, 2008 by Rio

I got an email from GDI today. They apologized for not giving us notice before launching the new web builder. They actually seem to be committed to improve on their service. And they are giving us notice about the new webmail system that is coming soon. But the web builder still doesn’t work properly. Amazing! I wonder how the new email system will work.
I am concerned myself about good service, and I am also concerned about the fact that the owners are not communicating at all and they seem to be unreachable. I have been trying to communicate with them to no avail. Is there a CEO or even a manager to talk to? I just sent them another email trying to find out. Decisions…decisions…decisions… I have to make a decision regarding my future with Global Domains International. Any suggestions?

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Digression | Presence

Posted on September 8, 2008 by Rio

I was caught by the flu last weekend. It came out of the blue; I had been feeling great and the weather couldn’t have been better. San Diego, CA almost always has a summer breeze.

Isn’t it amazing how a simple virus can reduce a human being to a sniveling, panting heap of pain and discomfort? You can feel miserable enough to see your death staring at you; some viruses do kill. One positive thing about getting sick is that it can give you some perspective; it points out to us the impermanence of all life. All we have is the moment we live.

The flu made me think about the most important thing we can have…

Our actions are frequently affected by worries and influenced by misleading assumptions that stem from our aimless self-reflection. It is our undisciplined and relentless mind that produces irresponsible or base behavior induced by irrational fears, which originate in non-existent sources or situations. Reality is warped by the wandering mind; reality is not what we think (our concepts and ideas). Thus, the most important thing we do is to discipline our minds to focus on reality as it is now. We have the uncanny ability to ignore the obvious.

Although all sages from the beginning of time have stressed the importance of having presence of mind, we refuse to see the necessity of it. We refuse to see what it can do for us. To try to simplify something rather complex I would say that it does three things for us: Physically speaking, presence can even save our lives by helping us be aware of what is coming at us; mentally, it will eliminate stress because stress dwells either in a non-existent future or a past that we refuse to let go; and spiritually, it will help us to see that we are never separate from the Source–“be still and know that I am God”–psalms 46:10.

I don’t know anybody that can be mindful at all times, but just trying our best (just our best) makes a big difference. And with a disciplined mind comes equanimity and inner balance whether we have or have not. And bear in mind that “having” and “having not” are always subject to change, so the most important thing we have is our presence of mind.

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Announcement: Global Domains International

Posted on September 2, 2008 by Rio

I must apologize because GDI”s new web builder has not been working properly since it was launched, so I can’t update my website. I am looking for alternatives and for new ways to host my site; please bear with me.
I don’t know what the principals were thinking when they launched a new web builder without testing it properly first; they didn’t even give notice. Such unprofessional attitude prevents my recommending GDI anymore. Would you recommend them? Please advise me. The Network

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