Rules I am learning from Life..

1. Rules I am learning from Life.. Life’s a miraculous journey. Enjoy it! Look out the window Know your needs, not wants Look for mountains to climb Never give up This too shall pass – Let go Don’t seek to blame – ask yourself where you went wrong Give what you have, you will get what you deserve There is no right & wrong, only perceptions Reduce your likes & dislikes – be a witness Nobody’s perfect, but everybody’s unique Don’t poke your nose in other’s business Don’t offer advise unless asked for Listen to your inner voice Be thankful for what you already have You have to account for your actions in this life only Know your place under the sun Be a student of & for Life

2. Rule 1. Look out the window.."You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry. Don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.“ - Walter C. Hagen • Human species are special. We are conscious! • You are a guest of Mother Earth. You are here only for a while. Don’t waste it! Miracles are happening all around you.. • Why don’t birds of a flock in flight never collide? • How do Olive –Ridley turtles come back to their breeding place? • No two leaves or flower in the whole world is alike!! • DNA wise, we’re very close to trees but how different we are! Galaxies & humongous stars are being born & collapsing all the time. Even within you, even as you are reading this, cells are being created & destroyed. So, there is no time to waste. Start enjoying the journey. Now!

3. Rule 2. Know what you need..He who is greedy is always in want - Horace • Do I really need that Ipod - at this stage? • Or that fancy watch? • Or should I be investing to secure my future? • Maybe get enrolled in a course to improve my career prospects? Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed - Mahatma Gandhi • Find out what is necessary • Be suspicious of your wants! Find out what you enjoy rather than what you want - and just do it! Don’t let other’s dreams drive your actions….

4. Rule 3. Look for mountains…It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves - Edmund Hillary • Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. - Albert Einstein • Look for worthy challenges – compete against yourself • Define your milestones • Keep sharpening the saw • Conquering leads to self-respect • If you respect yourself – others will too! • Add new weapons to your armory • Ask yourself – “ After this what?” Aim high – stay low!

5. Rule 4. Never give up…Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.-- Helen Keller • Have the right attitude • Never question but overcome obstacles • Say no to negativity • Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.-- Henry Ford • Think, analyze, strategize • Things might go wrong – but you can learn from them • Only those who do nothing make no mistakes. -Muhammad Ali Nobody’s got anything right the first time!

6. Rule 5. This too shall pass…The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain – Dolly Parton • Nothing is permanent • Change is the only constant • Learn to go with the flow • Cultivate equanimity – take the middle path • Sense of balance – key to happiness • In life, adversity is the best Teacher • If you can’t take it, you can’t make it!

7. Rule 6. Don't seek to blame…A bad workman always blames his tools - Proverb • You are responsible for what happens to you • Man blames fate for other accidents but feels personally responsible for a hole-in-one. - Martha Beckman • Be accountable • Everybody has their own agenda • Seek within – did you do right? • Accept what comes your way Who told you Life is fair?

8. Rule 7. Give what you have…The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose. Heda Bejar • Don’t hold back • More you give – more will come back • Be vulnerable – expose yourself • You are only a custodian • He who obtains has little. He who gives has much -Lao-Tzu • They can take your possessions – not your spirit You have to trust to become trustworthy!

9. Rule 8. There is no right…You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses - Ziggy • Is it possible to be right always? • Maybe you don’t know enough • Emotions cloud judgment • Is the glass half full or half empty? • Who was right – Krishna or Gandhi? • The eternal question – do ends justify means? Your conscience always knows the answer. Obey it!

10. Rule 9. Reduce your likes… • Reduce your wants • Likes & dislikes are subjective • Likes & dislikes create tensions within you • You need not have an opinion on everything • Don’t let the environment affect you • Learn to stand apart & look at yourself Don’t live on the edge Move to your center

11. Rule 10. Nobody’s perfect… • Accept people as they are • Do not aim to change the other • "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." Carl Jung • Life is interesting because of diversity • Know thyself & you will appreciate others too • Concentrate on common interests • Respect differences Everyone is different That’s why you are Unique!

12. Rule 11. Don’t poke your nose…Give every man your ear, but few thy voice. Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Shakespeare • Mind your own affairs – you’ll have more friends • Give room – everybody has a sacred space • People will respect you if you respect them • Non-interference in each others affairs creates goodwill If you let others be They will also let you be!

13. Rule 12. Don’t offer advise…Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't – Erica Jong • Nobody likes to be preached • People resent unwanted advise • Recognize that sometimes people have the need to share • Empathize – don’t sympathize • If you are asked for advise, then tell them its your own opinion & they have to judge for themselves Reach – Don’t Preach!

14. Rule 13. Listen to your inner voice…“Your mind knows only some things. Your inner voice, your instinct, knows everything. If you listen to what you know instinctively, it will always lead you down the right path.” – H Winkler • Meditate – silence your mind • There is a Guru residing in you • The voice never misguides • Align your actions with the Inner Voice • Conflict arises when we go against it Banish the noise Listen to your inner voice

15. Rule 14. Be thankful…If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get - Frank A. Clark • Appreciate what you already have • When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree- Proverb • There are unfortunates who are worse off • We will know the worth of what we have only when we lose them • Treat your possessions with the respect they deserve What you want has a price What you have has a value!

16. Rule 15. You have to account…Responsibility: A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor ~ Ambrose Bierce, • There is no escape from it • Your actions will produce results in this life • As you sow so shall you reap - Jesus • Confront reality – correct yourself • Take ownership – will make you stronger You have only one life Make the most of it!

17. Rule 16. Know your place…When duty calls, that is when character counts. William Safire • We all have roles to play • Know what that is & do it to the best of ability • Don’t over-reach – you’ll only strain yourself • Remember – you are here for a purpose • Cultivate humility Play your role perfectly Exit gracefully!

18. Rule 17. Be a student of life…Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. ~Chinese Proverb • Learning should never stop • Be curious of everything • Cultivate interests in other creative pursuits other than your profession • Have a sense of Humor • There are lessons to be had from people, nature, events – Don’t miss it You are here for a limited time.. Enjoy the journey – look out the Window God bless you - Om Sai Ram!

19. Credits & References I am indebted to: • All the people I have met in Life • Nature and its myriad magical creations • The past & the present • The great souls who have visited this earth occasionally – Buddha, Jesus, Gandhi, Osho, Ramana Maharishi, Ramakrishna, Lao Tzu, Zen masters, Confucius etc. • And books, books & books…. • And LIFE itself Yours truly - avalok