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Thursday, May 31, 2007
SUCCESS IDEAS
Among other services, Gita Coaching can help you find great ideas for your success in Srila Prabhupada's teachings.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
REFORMER
By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
The world stands in no need of any reformer. The world has a very competent person for guiding it's minutest happenings. The person who finds that there is scope for reform of the world, himself stands in need of reform. The world goes on it's own perfect way. No person can deflect it but the breadth of a hair from the course chalked out for it by providence. When we perceive any change being actually affected in the course of events of this world by the agency of any particular individual, we also know very well that the agent possesses no real power at any stage. The agent finds himself driven forward by a force belonging to a different category from himself. The course of the world does not require to be changed by the activity of any person. What is necessary is to change our outlook to this very world. This was done for the contemporary generation by the mercy of Sri Caitanya. It could be only known to recipients of His mercy.
The scriptures declare that it is only necessary to listen with an open mind to the name of Krishna from the lips of a bona fide devotee.
As soon as Krishna enters the listening ear, He clears up the vision of the listener so that he no longer has any ambition of ever acting the part of a reformer of any other person, because he finds that nobody is left without the very highest guidance. It is therefore his own reform, by the grace of God, whose supreme necessity and nature he is increasingly able to realise by the eternally continuing mercy of the Supreme Lord.
The world stands in no need of any reformer. The world has a very competent person for guiding it's minutest happenings. The person who finds that there is scope for reform of the world, himself stands in need of reform. The world goes on it's own perfect way. No person can deflect it but the breadth of a hair from the course chalked out for it by providence. When we perceive any change being actually affected in the course of events of this world by the agency of any particular individual, we also know very well that the agent possesses no real power at any stage. The agent finds himself driven forward by a force belonging to a different category from himself. The course of the world does not require to be changed by the activity of any person. What is necessary is to change our outlook to this very world. This was done for the contemporary generation by the mercy of Sri Caitanya. It could be only known to recipients of His mercy.
The scriptures declare that it is only necessary to listen with an open mind to the name of Krishna from the lips of a bona fide devotee.
As soon as Krishna enters the listening ear, He clears up the vision of the listener so that he no longer has any ambition of ever acting the part of a reformer of any other person, because he finds that nobody is left without the very highest guidance. It is therefore his own reform, by the grace of God, whose supreme necessity and nature he is increasingly able to realise by the eternally continuing mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Monday, May 28, 2007
BENEFITS AREAS
Use this quick quiz to easily identify areas that you may benefit from Gita Coaching:
SERVICE/CAREER
Do you feel dissatisfied with your service/work?
Have you always wanted to do the service that you like, but lack the motivation and confidence to get started?
Have you been out of the workforce travelling or raising a family?
Do you want a service you can be enthusiastic about?
Do you feel its time to change your service but not sure where to start?
Are you currently in transition at work?
Have you recently left school or graduated?
HEALTH
Do you want to exercise more?
Do you never have time for re-creation or exercise?
Do you want a healthier diet?
Are you experiencing health problems?
Do you want to relax and unwind more regularly?
FINANCE
Are you unhappy with your current income?
Do you worry about finances?
Do you know how to plan your finances effectively?
Are you dissatisfied with your spending and savings?
RELATIONSHIPS
Do you have a strained service/work place relationship?
Do you want to put more effort into your family relationships?
Are you having difficulty meeting new people?
Have you recently left a partner/spouse?
Do you want to end a relationship but can't make the break?
LIFESTYLE
Do you have an unrealised goal or dream?
Are you always short of time to do the things you want to?
Do you wish there was 'more to life'?
Are you having difficulty deciding what to do with your life?
Are you often stressed?
Do you want to make positive changes in your life?
SERVICE/CAREER
Do you feel dissatisfied with your service/work?
Have you always wanted to do the service that you like, but lack the motivation and confidence to get started?
Have you been out of the workforce travelling or raising a family?
Do you want a service you can be enthusiastic about?
Do you feel its time to change your service but not sure where to start?
Are you currently in transition at work?
Have you recently left school or graduated?
HEALTH
Do you want to exercise more?
Do you never have time for re-creation or exercise?
Do you want a healthier diet?
Are you experiencing health problems?
Do you want to relax and unwind more regularly?
FINANCE
Are you unhappy with your current income?
Do you worry about finances?
Do you know how to plan your finances effectively?
Are you dissatisfied with your spending and savings?
RELATIONSHIPS
Do you have a strained service/work place relationship?
Do you want to put more effort into your family relationships?
Are you having difficulty meeting new people?
Have you recently left a partner/spouse?
Do you want to end a relationship but can't make the break?
LIFESTYLE
Do you have an unrealised goal or dream?
Are you always short of time to do the things you want to?
Do you wish there was 'more to life'?
Are you having difficulty deciding what to do with your life?
Are you often stressed?
Do you want to make positive changes in your life?
Sunday, May 27, 2007
HOW DO I KNOW IF COACHING WILL HELP ME?
Do you wake-up every single morning, brimming with excitement and eager to start each new day? Are you as successful as you could be with your sadhana, service, relationships, lifestyle, career, finances and general well being? Do you have a clear plan for your life for the next week, month, year? If you answer no to any of these questions then coaching can and will help you.
READING AND COACHING
Seminars, tapes and books can be great sources of information, but individualised coaching services provide the momentum and accountability to make lasting positive changes in your life. Your coach can recognise your individuality and provide personalised guidance - an effective service in taking responsibility for your own life!
WHAT COACHING SESSIONS INVOLVE?
Sessions are conducted face-to-face or by phone at a pre-arranged time for a confidential discussion. These are generally scheduled at weekly intervals and take about 45 minutes.
It is unlikely you will achieve significant results in fewer than three sessions, although the benefits begin after the very first session. Worldwide coaching models have shown that three month blocks of coaching are short enough to keep focused and motivated, but long enough to achieve goals and specific projects.
Your coach will listen and ask questions acting as a facilitator to make the process easier. Your coach operates in a non-judgemental and non-critical structure and doesn't take on the responsibility of your personal issues. As each goal or desired outcome is defined, the coach will request specific actions that will move you closer to your desired results.
Each session closes with agreement on the actions that the client will take before the next call - homework! Follow up emails will usually also be exchanged during the week. The next session will begin with a review of those actions and their results. It is this instant accountability and need to report back which make coaching so effective.
It is unlikely you will achieve significant results in fewer than three sessions, although the benefits begin after the very first session. Worldwide coaching models have shown that three month blocks of coaching are short enough to keep focused and motivated, but long enough to achieve goals and specific projects.
Your coach will listen and ask questions acting as a facilitator to make the process easier. Your coach operates in a non-judgemental and non-critical structure and doesn't take on the responsibility of your personal issues. As each goal or desired outcome is defined, the coach will request specific actions that will move you closer to your desired results.
Each session closes with agreement on the actions that the client will take before the next call - homework! Follow up emails will usually also be exchanged during the week. The next session will begin with a review of those actions and their results. It is this instant accountability and need to report back which make coaching so effective.
HOW DOES COACHING WORK?
During regular weekly face-to-face or phone sessions, your coach will provide a structure for accountability, support and facilitate your assessment of where your are now and deciding on how you want to change.
Your coach will also assist you in discovering what is preventing you from achieving your goals and dreams, creating a personal blueprint for change and keeping you on track and responsible for achieving those goals. Working with a coach on a weekly basis or as required, ultimately increases your momentum to achieve.
Our practice uses the GITA model, popularised by Gita Coaching as a basis of the coaching relationship. This involves clarifying desired results, identifying strengths, identifying obstacles, creating a strategy, implementing the plan and evaluating progress. As prescribed by the professional coaching experts, coaches focus on individual's development by seeking to elicit solutions and strategies from the client. Clients are held responsible and accountable as they work towards their ideal life and their worthy goals.
Your coach will also assist you in discovering what is preventing you from achieving your goals and dreams, creating a personal blueprint for change and keeping you on track and responsible for achieving those goals. Working with a coach on a weekly basis or as required, ultimately increases your momentum to achieve.
Our practice uses the GITA model, popularised by Gita Coaching as a basis of the coaching relationship. This involves clarifying desired results, identifying strengths, identifying obstacles, creating a strategy, implementing the plan and evaluating progress. As prescribed by the professional coaching experts, coaches focus on individual's development by seeking to elicit solutions and strategies from the client. Clients are held responsible and accountable as they work towards their ideal life and their worthy goals.
WHY USE A COACH?
Simply anyone who wants to improve life and their service or reach a goal faster, can benefit from coaching. Whether you want to improve your spiritual practice, health, fitness, education, career, relationships, life balance or finances - coaching is a powerful process that provides momentum and accountability for you to make real, lasting changes.
Often when people are at a turning point in their lives or need to make a decision, they ask 'what should I do' not 'what do I want?" Your coach will ask the right questions to allow you to truly realise your values and desires in life. Partnering with a coach you will be facilitated to define what success/happiness means to you and design a strategy to achieve your aspirations.
Unlike friends and family, your coach is objective in his approach. He has an open mind and the skills to help you make things happen. Coaches use effective questioning techniques and listen to you with 100% focus. With no judgement, your coach starts with a 'blank sheet' and asks the right questions to allow you to discover what you truly want to change and then embark on creating those changes.
Often when people are at a turning point in their lives or need to make a decision, they ask 'what should I do' not 'what do I want?" Your coach will ask the right questions to allow you to truly realise your values and desires in life. Partnering with a coach you will be facilitated to define what success/happiness means to you and design a strategy to achieve your aspirations.
Unlike friends and family, your coach is objective in his approach. He has an open mind and the skills to help you make things happen. Coaches use effective questioning techniques and listen to you with 100% focus. With no judgement, your coach starts with a 'blank sheet' and asks the right questions to allow you to discover what you truly want to change and then embark on creating those changes.
FACILITATION
Gita Coaching is the facilitation, by a trained coach, of another devotee's
spiritual advancement and performance of devotional service. Coaching guides and motivates devotees to set and reach inspiring goals for a more successful spiritual life - a life they choose!
Caching gives devotees the confidence and ability to move forward positively in the areas of their life where they crave change. It encourages them to stretch themselves, brings out their best, dares them to take a risk and extends their comfort zone. It is a process for devotees who want results, the knowledge and skills on how to get them, faster!
During a series of weekly sessions, the coach will facilitate the devotee to define his needs, wants, ambitions and desires and then identify the strategies and tactics that will result in achieving his individual goals.
Coaching can help turn your dreams into specific achievable realities, covering areas as sadhana, service, career, relationships, family, life balance, finances, health, fitness, stress and general wellbeing.
spiritual advancement and performance of devotional service. Coaching guides and motivates devotees to set and reach inspiring goals for a more successful spiritual life - a life they choose!
Caching gives devotees the confidence and ability to move forward positively in the areas of their life where they crave change. It encourages them to stretch themselves, brings out their best, dares them to take a risk and extends their comfort zone. It is a process for devotees who want results, the knowledge and skills on how to get them, faster!
During a series of weekly sessions, the coach will facilitate the devotee to define his needs, wants, ambitions and desires and then identify the strategies and tactics that will result in achieving his individual goals.
Coaching can help turn your dreams into specific achievable realities, covering areas as sadhana, service, career, relationships, family, life balance, finances, health, fitness, stress and general wellbeing.
WHAT IS GITA COACHING?
Gita Coaching is a one-to-one service that helps you to:
* Clearly identify your Krsna conscious goals
* Take 108% responsibility for your spiritual and material life
* Assess where you are now
* Explore all the available possibilities
* Remove both internal and external obstacles to your success
* Build up your faith and determination
* Help you make an inspiring success plan
* Take intelligent and dynamic action
* Stay on track
* Please Lord Krsna and His representatives
A coach works with you to create your best possible life:
* First, he believes in you and demonstrates that by taking you and your thoughts, desires and feelings seriously.
* Second, he encourages you to believe in your innate goodness and in your ability to serve.
* Third, he defines with you a plan of action for achieving your goals and desires and keeps you on track towards achieving them.
You and your coach will together examine any area of your life that you choose and look at what's working and what isn't, so that you can clear the way for what you truly want to achieve.
If you are willing to do invest time and energy in coaching you will:
* Develop unbreakable determination and learn how to eliminate the doubts and limitations that hold you back
* Become mentally strong, think like a natural optimist, be more focused and handle setbacks effectively
* Clarify your desires, dreams and ambitions into precise Krsna conscious goals
* Be motivated to take dynamic Krsna conscious action
As you work with your coach you will achieve the mental strength and flexibility, performing at your best, competing against yourself to surpass your current achievements and being enthusiastic and determined as you do so. The more strong and determined you grow, the more you'll be able to push yourself forward and make a great spiritual advancement and contribution.
* Clearly identify your Krsna conscious goals
* Take 108% responsibility for your spiritual and material life
* Assess where you are now
* Explore all the available possibilities
* Remove both internal and external obstacles to your success
* Build up your faith and determination
* Help you make an inspiring success plan
* Take intelligent and dynamic action
* Stay on track
* Please Lord Krsna and His representatives
A coach works with you to create your best possible life:
* First, he believes in you and demonstrates that by taking you and your thoughts, desires and feelings seriously.
* Second, he encourages you to believe in your innate goodness and in your ability to serve.
* Third, he defines with you a plan of action for achieving your goals and desires and keeps you on track towards achieving them.
You and your coach will together examine any area of your life that you choose and look at what's working and what isn't, so that you can clear the way for what you truly want to achieve.
If you are willing to do invest time and energy in coaching you will:
* Develop unbreakable determination and learn how to eliminate the doubts and limitations that hold you back
* Become mentally strong, think like a natural optimist, be more focused and handle setbacks effectively
* Clarify your desires, dreams and ambitions into precise Krsna conscious goals
* Be motivated to take dynamic Krsna conscious action
As you work with your coach you will achieve the mental strength and flexibility, performing at your best, competing against yourself to surpass your current achievements and being enthusiastic and determined as you do so. The more strong and determined you grow, the more you'll be able to push yourself forward and make a great spiritual advancement and contribution.
GOALS EXERCISE
Take a piece of paper and write down 10 goals that you'd like to accomplish in the next twelve months. Write the word 'goals' and the today's date at the top of the page. Then ask yourself this great question:
If I could only accomplish one goal on this list, within 24 hours, which one goal would have the greatest impact on my life?
This is a powerful question because it will usually jump at you - the one that would have more positive impact on your life than anything else.
Sometimes it's a spiritual goal, sometimes it's a health goal, sometimes it's a financial goal or sometimes it's a relationship goal. Whatever it is, put a circle around that goal, turn the page over and write it at the top of the page. Then set a deadline on the goal.
Make a list of everything you can think of doing to achieve the goal and then begin working on your list.
And here's the key: Do something everyday! Do something everyday that moves you one step closer towards your major goal.
This exercise of selecting your most important goal, making a plan and working on it every day can change your life in many positive ways. It is said that people begin to become successful when they determine their major definite purpose, their number one goal, and work on it every day.
If I could only accomplish one goal on this list, within 24 hours, which one goal would have the greatest impact on my life?
This is a powerful question because it will usually jump at you - the one that would have more positive impact on your life than anything else.
Sometimes it's a spiritual goal, sometimes it's a health goal, sometimes it's a financial goal or sometimes it's a relationship goal. Whatever it is, put a circle around that goal, turn the page over and write it at the top of the page. Then set a deadline on the goal.
Make a list of everything you can think of doing to achieve the goal and then begin working on your list.
And here's the key: Do something everyday! Do something everyday that moves you one step closer towards your major goal.
This exercise of selecting your most important goal, making a plan and working on it every day can change your life in many positive ways. It is said that people begin to become successful when they determine their major definite purpose, their number one goal, and work on it every day.
BALANCE
Prabhupada wrote that everyone has to cleanse his heart by a gradual process, not abruptly. Therefore we need to balance between being too hard and too lenient with ourselves.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME?
When I coach devotees, we look at the things they spend most of their time on, and compare them to the things they really want. Do you think the two are aligned? ALMOST NEVER!
If your current priorities are fully aligned with what matters most to you, then congratulations! You are probably a happy and balanced person.
If your current priorities are significantly "out of sinc" with what's REALLY important to you, you are probably very busy, constantly rushing, a little stressed, and when you get what you are chasing - it's never enough! You turn around and go: "NEXT!". This is because we can never get enough of what we don't really want.
The "Things We Chase" list often includes: money, fame, recognition, power, position, responsibility, achievement, big house, car, more time.
The "Things we REALLY want" list often includes: spiritual advancement, love, adventure, peace, security, creativity, expression, freedom.
If you still think you really want something on the first list ... think again. Ask yourself: "When I get the car/house/promotion/money ... what will I have then?" You'll probably find the answer on the second list. So why is it we spend our time on the first list, and not directly on the second?
One seminar attendee said "We believe that if we get the things we're chasing - money, recognition, etc. - then we'll have the love, peace, security, etc. - things we REALLY want. But does it really work that way?
WHY NOT GO STRAIGHT FOR THE GOOD STUFF?
Go straight for spiritual advancement, love, adventure, security, peace, or something else, and get OFF the treadmill.
Action: Re-assess your priorities!
STEP 1
Ask yourself: "What's ONE thing I want more of in my life?" Really! If an angel
floated down and said you get ONE thing, or more of one thing you already have, and nothing else in life, what would you pick? Is it money? Power? Fame? Love? Adventure? Peace? Full self expression? Or maybe spiritual advancement?
STEP 2
What do you spend your time chasing? If you value spiritual advancement or "strong friendships" most, do you actively work on your advancement or build and strengthen your friendships, or do you spend your time working on making more cash?
Try the "death bed test": imagine lying on your death bed looking back at your life. Will your current set of priorities - the things you're NOW chasing - allow you to look back on your life and smile, knowing you lived your best life, you did your best to please Krsna?
STEP 3
If you're aligned - congratulations! If not, now is the time to write down HOW you will realign. What are you willing to give up to realign? Specifically what is the action you will take?
Perhaps this example will help. Suppose you've been spending too much time chasing recognition or money, and you're now realigning towards spiritual advancement and health. What's the maximum number of hours you'll work each week, and what EXACTLY will you do now during those saved hours that supports your spiritual advancement and health?
If your current priorities are fully aligned with what matters most to you, then congratulations! You are probably a happy and balanced person.
If your current priorities are significantly "out of sinc" with what's REALLY important to you, you are probably very busy, constantly rushing, a little stressed, and when you get what you are chasing - it's never enough! You turn around and go: "NEXT!". This is because we can never get enough of what we don't really want.
The "Things We Chase" list often includes: money, fame, recognition, power, position, responsibility, achievement, big house, car, more time.
The "Things we REALLY want" list often includes: spiritual advancement, love, adventure, peace, security, creativity, expression, freedom.
If you still think you really want something on the first list ... think again. Ask yourself: "When I get the car/house/promotion/money ... what will I have then?" You'll probably find the answer on the second list. So why is it we spend our time on the first list, and not directly on the second?
One seminar attendee said "We believe that if we get the things we're chasing - money, recognition, etc. - then we'll have the love, peace, security, etc. - things we REALLY want. But does it really work that way?
WHY NOT GO STRAIGHT FOR THE GOOD STUFF?
Go straight for spiritual advancement, love, adventure, security, peace, or something else, and get OFF the treadmill.
Action: Re-assess your priorities!
STEP 1
Ask yourself: "What's ONE thing I want more of in my life?" Really! If an angel
floated down and said you get ONE thing, or more of one thing you already have, and nothing else in life, what would you pick? Is it money? Power? Fame? Love? Adventure? Peace? Full self expression? Or maybe spiritual advancement?
STEP 2
What do you spend your time chasing? If you value spiritual advancement or "strong friendships" most, do you actively work on your advancement or build and strengthen your friendships, or do you spend your time working on making more cash?
Try the "death bed test": imagine lying on your death bed looking back at your life. Will your current set of priorities - the things you're NOW chasing - allow you to look back on your life and smile, knowing you lived your best life, you did your best to please Krsna?
STEP 3
If you're aligned - congratulations! If not, now is the time to write down HOW you will realign. What are you willing to give up to realign? Specifically what is the action you will take?
Perhaps this example will help. Suppose you've been spending too much time chasing recognition or money, and you're now realigning towards spiritual advancement and health. What's the maximum number of hours you'll work each week, and what EXACTLY will you do now during those saved hours that supports your spiritual advancement and health?
ARE YOU TOO BUSY?
People who say they are too busy somehow always find time for doing what they like to do or what they consider terribly important (I am also like that). To me, that means we do have time and we do choose how we will spend it. So I don't believe in being too busy. Being too busy is just an excuse to avoid things that are not important enough to us.
GARDENERS
People are actually living individuals or living organisms. Therefore the world needs leaders, especially spiritual leaders, who are not like mechanics, but like gardeners.
Friday, May 25, 2007
IDEA CHAMPIONS
You may read an interesting article on ideas here:
www.ideachampions.com/article_coaching.shtml
www.ideachampions.com/article_coaching.shtml
Thursday, May 24, 2007
HOW A COACH ASSISTS YOU
A coach is your spiritual success partner who:
* Thinks of you, listens to you and speaks to you
* Works alongside you with strong faith in you and your potential
* Assists you in making lasting positive changes in your life
* Supports you and encourages your spiritual and professional growth
* Suggest ways to achieve your goals
* Helps you to discover your natural gifts and talents, so that you can use them as a basis for your spiritual advancement and your material support
* Works with you and for you, not on you
* Keeps strictly confidential any information about you
* Has high expectations of you and wants the very best for you
* Believes in your inherent potential to be a pure devotee of Lord Krsna
* Thinks of you, listens to you and speaks to you
* Works alongside you with strong faith in you and your potential
* Assists you in making lasting positive changes in your life
* Supports you and encourages your spiritual and professional growth
* Suggest ways to achieve your goals
* Helps you to discover your natural gifts and talents, so that you can use them as a basis for your spiritual advancement and your material support
* Works with you and for you, not on you
* Keeps strictly confidential any information about you
* Has high expectations of you and wants the very best for you
* Believes in your inherent potential to be a pure devotee of Lord Krsna
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
MOST IMPORTANT TASKS
If we are like most people today, we are overwhelmed with too much to do and too little time. As we struggle to catch up, new tasks and responsibilities keep rolling in, like the tides. Because of this, we will never be able to do everything we have to do. We will never catch up. We will always be behind in some of our tasks and responsibilities, and probably in many of them.
For this reason, and perhaps more than ever before, our ability to select our most important task at each moment, and then to get started on that task and to get it done quickly and well, will probably have more impact on our success than any other quality or skill we can develop.
An person who develops the habit of setting clear priorities and getting important tasks completed quickly will run circles around a genius who talks a lot and makes wonderful plans but who gets very little done.
For this reason, and perhaps more than ever before, our ability to select our most important task at each moment, and then to get started on that task and to get it done quickly and well, will probably have more impact on our success than any other quality or skill we can develop.
An person who develops the habit of setting clear priorities and getting important tasks completed quickly will run circles around a genius who talks a lot and makes wonderful plans but who gets very little done.
Monday, May 21, 2007
TRIED AND TESTED IDEAS
I have studied success for more than fifteen years. Each time I came across a good idea, I tried it in my own service and personal life. If it was useful, I incorporated it into my seminars, coaching sessions and taught it to others.
Depending upon your level of knowledge and experience, the ideas in this blog will sound more or less familiar. When we learn and apply these methods and techniques over and over until they become habits, we might alter the course of our life in a very positive way. Over time, the process of learning and applying what I had learned changed my life for good.
I saw that some people are doing better than others because they do things differently and they do the right things - right. Especially, they use their time far, far better than most people.
Depending upon your level of knowledge and experience, the ideas in this blog will sound more or less familiar. When we learn and apply these methods and techniques over and over until they become habits, we might alter the course of our life in a very positive way. Over time, the process of learning and applying what I had learned changed my life for good.
I saw that some people are doing better than others because they do things differently and they do the right things - right. Especially, they use their time far, far better than most people.
GITA COACHING BENEFITS
Gita Coaching helps you to:
- Be authentic
- Be truthful
- Say what you mean
- Be congruent with what you value
- Penetrate past lazy thinking, facades, games, defenses, fears, illusions
- Get a core understanding
- Get to the heart of the matter
- Open your belief systems for examination
- Increase your awareness of what is really going on and your choices on how to respond
- Be authentic
- Be truthful
- Say what you mean
- Be congruent with what you value
- Penetrate past lazy thinking, facades, games, defenses, fears, illusions
- Get a core understanding
- Get to the heart of the matter
- Open your belief systems for examination
- Increase your awareness of what is really going on and your choices on how to respond
FOCUS
Banish the noise — increase your spiritual productivity with focus coaching.
With Bhaktivedanta Coaching, you and your team will:
* Enhance your communication skills.
* Hone your decision-making skills.
* Strike a solid balance between service and self-renewal.
* Boost your prioritization aptitude.
* Refine your organizational time-management abilities.
* Expand your leadership capacity.
* Improve your spiritual productivity.
* Gain impeccable information about management expertise.
* Focus your task execution capabilities.
* Unleash your natural skills for managing projects efficiently.
Focus in Your Life
In our ever-changing world, new communication media often create an overwhelming amount of noise. One of the biggest challenges is integrating new technology to enhance our existing processes. Focus helps us do exactly that! Coach will work with you to develop impeccable communication etiquette in a variety of media — including email, phone messaging, memo writing, and presentations.
Bhaktivedanta Coaching will help you be spiritually and materially productive and achieve life success through proven time management and effectiveness techniques. Our coaching programs are available to meet your personal needs.
With Bhaktivedanta Coaching, you and your team will:
* Enhance your communication skills.
* Hone your decision-making skills.
* Strike a solid balance between service and self-renewal.
* Boost your prioritization aptitude.
* Refine your organizational time-management abilities.
* Expand your leadership capacity.
* Improve your spiritual productivity.
* Gain impeccable information about management expertise.
* Focus your task execution capabilities.
* Unleash your natural skills for managing projects efficiently.
Focus in Your Life
In our ever-changing world, new communication media often create an overwhelming amount of noise. One of the biggest challenges is integrating new technology to enhance our existing processes. Focus helps us do exactly that! Coach will work with you to develop impeccable communication etiquette in a variety of media — including email, phone messaging, memo writing, and presentations.
Bhaktivedanta Coaching will help you be spiritually and materially productive and achieve life success through proven time management and effectiveness techniques. Our coaching programs are available to meet your personal needs.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
GREATNESS
"One’s greatness has to be estimated by one’s ability to tolerate provoking situations."
KRSNA Book, chapter 89
KRSNA Book, chapter 89
Clear Leadership
To me, with an effective leader people always know where they stand. He is always crystal clear about what people can expect of him and what he expects of them.
JAPA EXCELLENCE
Chant 16 rounds in one go every single day and see how your life changes positively in all areas.
GITA SUCCESS MODEL - LARGE
Use this for self-coaching and coaching others.
GOALS: What do you want to achieve?
IDEAS: What is possible? What are the options?
TESTS: What are the challenges or obstacles?
ACTION: What will you commit to do?
GOALS
1. What do you want to achieve?
2. What is your long-term goal related to this?
3. What is the time frame?
4. What intermediate steps can you identify, with their time frames?
IDEAS
1. List all the ways in which you could approach this issue.
2. What else could you do?
3. Who else could give you good ideas?
4. What would you do if you had more time and money?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each idea?
6. Which solution would give you the best result?
7. Which of these solutions sounds best to you?
8. What resources do you already have: skills, time, enthusiasm, money, support, etc.?
9. What other resources do you need?
10. Where will you get them?
TESTS
1. What is your present situation in more detail?
2. What are your concerns about it?
3. Who else is affected by this issue?
4. How much influence do you have over the outcome?
5. Who else has influence and how much?
6. What action steps have you taken so far?
7. What stopped you from doing more?
8. What obstacles will you need to overcome on the way?
9. What internal obstacles or resistance do you have to taking action?
10. What is really the issue here, the core of the issue or the bottom line?
ACTION
1. Which option(s) do you choose?
2. What are your criteria and measurements for success?
3. When precisely are you going to start and finish each action step?
4. What will you do to eliminate these external and internal factors?
5. Who else needs to know your plans?
6. What support do you need and from whom?
7. What will you do to obtain that support and when?
8. What could I do to support you?
9. What commitment, on a one-to-ten scale, do you have to taking these agreed actions? What prevents this from being a ten?
10. What could you do or change to raise your commitment to ten?
GOALS: What do you want to achieve?
IDEAS: What is possible? What are the options?
TESTS: What are the challenges or obstacles?
ACTION: What will you commit to do?
GOALS
1. What do you want to achieve?
2. What is your long-term goal related to this?
3. What is the time frame?
4. What intermediate steps can you identify, with their time frames?
IDEAS
1. List all the ways in which you could approach this issue.
2. What else could you do?
3. Who else could give you good ideas?
4. What would you do if you had more time and money?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each idea?
6. Which solution would give you the best result?
7. Which of these solutions sounds best to you?
8. What resources do you already have: skills, time, enthusiasm, money, support, etc.?
9. What other resources do you need?
10. Where will you get them?
TESTS
1. What is your present situation in more detail?
2. What are your concerns about it?
3. Who else is affected by this issue?
4. How much influence do you have over the outcome?
5. Who else has influence and how much?
6. What action steps have you taken so far?
7. What stopped you from doing more?
8. What obstacles will you need to overcome on the way?
9. What internal obstacles or resistance do you have to taking action?
10. What is really the issue here, the core of the issue or the bottom line?
ACTION
1. Which option(s) do you choose?
2. What are your criteria and measurements for success?
3. When precisely are you going to start and finish each action step?
4. What will you do to eliminate these external and internal factors?
5. Who else needs to know your plans?
6. What support do you need and from whom?
7. What will you do to obtain that support and when?
8. What could I do to support you?
9. What commitment, on a one-to-ten scale, do you have to taking these agreed actions? What prevents this from being a ten?
10. What could you do or change to raise your commitment to ten?
GITA SUCCESS MODEL
Goals: What do you want to achieve?
Ideas: What is possible?
Tests: What are the obstacles?
Action: What steps will you make?
Ideas: What is possible?
Tests: What are the obstacles?
Action: What steps will you make?
Saturday, May 19, 2007
FEW THINGS THAT MAKE DIFFERENCE
There is never enough time to do everything we have to do. We are swamped with service and personal responsibilities, projects, books and magazines we intend to get to one of these days as soon as we catch up.
The question is whether we’ll ever catch up, get on top of our tasks, get far enough ahead to be able to get to all those books, magazines and self-renewal activities that we dream of doing.
And what about solving our time management problems by becoming more efficient? No matter how many efficiency techniques we master, there will always be more to do than we can ever accomplish in the time we have available, no matter how much it is.
We can only get control of our time and our life by changing the way we think, serve and deal with the never ending river of responsibilities that flows over us each day. We can only effectively handle our tasks and activities to the degree that we stop doing some things and start spending more time on the few things that can really make a big difference.
The question is whether we’ll ever catch up, get on top of our tasks, get far enough ahead to be able to get to all those books, magazines and self-renewal activities that we dream of doing.
And what about solving our time management problems by becoming more efficient? No matter how many efficiency techniques we master, there will always be more to do than we can ever accomplish in the time we have available, no matter how much it is.
We can only get control of our time and our life by changing the way we think, serve and deal with the never ending river of responsibilities that flows over us each day. We can only effectively handle our tasks and activities to the degree that we stop doing some things and start spending more time on the few things that can really make a big difference.
Friday, May 18, 2007
BE EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH BHAKTIVEDANTA COACHING
Bhaktivedanta Coaching is the effective medium for integrating the Bhagavad-gita As It Is into our daily life and making qualities and behaviors described in the Gita a part of our character and performance.
With one-to-one coaching you will:
- Work on getting feedback from people you serve or live with
- Thoroughly assess how you view your personal strengths and behaviors
- Focus on applying each habit within your personal paradigm
- Set goals for practicing the traits that make you most effective
- Leverage your strengths to best achieve your goals
With one-to-one coaching you will:
- Work on getting feedback from people you serve or live with
- Thoroughly assess how you view your personal strengths and behaviors
- Focus on applying each habit within your personal paradigm
- Set goals for practicing the traits that make you most effective
- Leverage your strengths to best achieve your goals
LEADER OF THE FUTURE
The leader of the future will not be able to borrow his leadership
power from his title. He will have to take it from his example, character,
skill, and sincere desire to help people succeed.
power from his title. He will have to take it from his example, character,
skill, and sincere desire to help people succeed.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
FREE ASSESSMENT
Please take a moment to fill out this free assessment:
Section 1) Personal Effectiveness:
1. I focus my efforts on the things I can change rather than on the things beyond my control.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
2. I take responsibility for my moods rather than blame others and circumstances.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
3. I know what I want to accomplish in my life.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
4. I organize and prepare in a way that reduces having to work in a crisis mode.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
5. I begin each week with a clear plan of what I want to accomplish.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
6. I am disciplined in carrying out plans (avoiding procrastination, time wasters, and so forth).
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
7. I do not allow the truly important activities of my life to get lost in the business of my days.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
8. The things I do every day are meaningful and contribute to my overall goals in life.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
9. I care about the success of others as well as my own.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
10. I cooperate with others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
11. When solving conflicts, I strive to find solutions that benefit all.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
Section 2) Public Effectiveness:
12. I am sensitive to the feelings of others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
13. I seek to understand the viewpoints of others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
14. When listening, I try to see things from the other person's point of view, not just my own.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
15. I value and seek out the insights of others.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
16. I encourage others to express their opinions.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
17. I strive to build and improve relationships with others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
18. I care for my physical health and well-being.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
19. I take time to find meaning and direction in life.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
20. I express my appreciation for the contributions others make to the quality of my spiritual and professional life.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
When you finish, discuss the results with your coach or at least with a friend. Write down the major insights and use them to improve your life and performance.
Section 1) Personal Effectiveness:
1. I focus my efforts on the things I can change rather than on the things beyond my control.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
2. I take responsibility for my moods rather than blame others and circumstances.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
3. I know what I want to accomplish in my life.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
4. I organize and prepare in a way that reduces having to work in a crisis mode.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
5. I begin each week with a clear plan of what I want to accomplish.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
6. I am disciplined in carrying out plans (avoiding procrastination, time wasters, and so forth).
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
7. I do not allow the truly important activities of my life to get lost in the business of my days.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
8. The things I do every day are meaningful and contribute to my overall goals in life.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
9. I care about the success of others as well as my own.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
10. I cooperate with others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
11. When solving conflicts, I strive to find solutions that benefit all.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
Section 2) Public Effectiveness:
12. I am sensitive to the feelings of others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
13. I seek to understand the viewpoints of others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
14. When listening, I try to see things from the other person's point of view, not just my own.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
15. I value and seek out the insights of others.
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
16. I encourage others to express their opinions.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
17. I strive to build and improve relationships with others.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
18. I care for my physical health and well-being.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
19. I take time to find meaning and direction in life.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
20. I express my appreciation for the contributions others make to the quality of my spiritual and professional life.
Always Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
When you finish, discuss the results with your coach or at least with a friend. Write down the major insights and use them to improve your life and performance.
YOUR IMPOSSIBLE STARTS HERE!
Our Bhaktivedanta Coaching services offer you an opportunity to work with a life coach, trained to help you create success and life-balance through learning and living the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Your coach had been trained in the principles of the Bhagavad-gita for 24 years and in personal coaching techniques for 6 years. He will coach you to achieve more success than you ever thought possible.
Why Coaching?
Experts say that it takes about 90 days to make a habit stick. So the challenge isn't in learning new information, it's having enough FOCUS to carry the change through to your thinking and behavior. That's why coaching is so vital. Coaching programs could be the premier long-term solution to making enduring changes. Coaching programs last 90 days or longer. Nearly 80 percent of coaching clients agree that coaching is the most effective method they have experienced for learning, internalizing and effectively applying knowledge and wisdom they have learned.
Why Coaching?
Experts say that it takes about 90 days to make a habit stick. So the challenge isn't in learning new information, it's having enough FOCUS to carry the change through to your thinking and behavior. That's why coaching is so vital. Coaching programs could be the premier long-term solution to making enduring changes. Coaching programs last 90 days or longer. Nearly 80 percent of coaching clients agree that coaching is the most effective method they have experienced for learning, internalizing and effectively applying knowledge and wisdom they have learned.
Seven Empowering Questions To Ask Yourself
I have found this text on the Internet and adjusted it for devotees.
Many philosophers and psychologists through the years have reminded us that it's not the events that determine how we feel, and act, but rather, it's the way we interpret and evaluate life experiences. The "meaning" that we attach to an event will determine the decisions you make, the actions you take and the direction your life will follow.
Want to be more successful in service or improve productivity? Rather than having negative conversations with yourself revolving around the theme of "ain't it awful," try instead to ask yourself empowering questions of the type listed below and see the difference.
1. What specific actions should I take to be more productive in my service?
2. What is the best use of my time right now?
3. What important project have I been putting off? What will I do to get jump-started?
4. What have I been irresponsible about in my life? What action will I going take to make a change?
5. What habits are holding me back?
6. What did I learn from that situation or mistake?
7. What are other solutions to the problem I face?
By learning how to ask yourself and others the right questions, you are on the right course to drastically change you productivity, your emotional state (from negative to positive) and the quality of your life and service.
Many philosophers and psychologists through the years have reminded us that it's not the events that determine how we feel, and act, but rather, it's the way we interpret and evaluate life experiences. The "meaning" that we attach to an event will determine the decisions you make, the actions you take and the direction your life will follow.
Want to be more successful in service or improve productivity? Rather than having negative conversations with yourself revolving around the theme of "ain't it awful," try instead to ask yourself empowering questions of the type listed below and see the difference.
1. What specific actions should I take to be more productive in my service?
2. What is the best use of my time right now?
3. What important project have I been putting off? What will I do to get jump-started?
4. What have I been irresponsible about in my life? What action will I going take to make a change?
5. What habits are holding me back?
6. What did I learn from that situation or mistake?
7. What are other solutions to the problem I face?
By learning how to ask yourself and others the right questions, you are on the right course to drastically change you productivity, your emotional state (from negative to positive) and the quality of your life and service.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Most Important
What's most important to you is what you spend most time on, not what you say is most important.
SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
Found this today in one success book. Might be useful to you.
1. Set The Scene
Decide exactly what you want. Clarity is essential. Write down your goals and objectives before you take action.
2. Plan Every Day In Advance
Think on paper. Every minute you spend planning can save you five or ten minutes in execution.
3. Apply The 80/20 Rule To Everything
Twenty percent of your activities account for eighty percent of your results. Always concentrate your efforts on that top twenty percent.
4. Consider The Consequences
Your most important tasks and priorities are those that can have the most serious consequences, positive or negative, on your life or service. Focus on these above all.
5. Practice The Prioritization Continually
Before you begin to work on a list of tasks, take a few minutes to organize them by value and priority to ensure you are working on your most important activities.
6. Focus On Key Results
Identify and determine those results that you absolutely, positively have to achieve in order to do your service well, and work on them all day long.
7. Apply The Law Of Forced Efficiency
There is never enough time to do everything but there is always enough time to do the most important things. What are they?
8. Prepare Thoroughly Before You Begin
Proper prior preparation prevents poor performance.
9. Do Your Homework
The more knowledgeable and skilled you become at your key tasks, the faster you’ll start them and the sooner you’ll get them done.
10. Leverage Your Special Talents
Determine exactly what you are very good at, or could be very good at, and throw your whole heart into doing those specific things very well.
11. Identify Your Key Constraints
Determine the bottlenecks or choke points, internally or externally, that set the speed at which you achieve your most important goals and focus on alleviating them.
12. Take It One Step At A Time
You can accomplish the biggest and most complicated task if you just complete it one step at a time.
13. Put the Pressure On Yourself
Imagine that tomorrow you have to leave town for a month and work as if you had to get all your major tasks completed before you leave.
14. Maximize Your Personal Strengths
Identify your periods of highest mental and physical energy each day and structure your most important and demanding tasks around these times. Get sufficient rest so you can perform service at your best.
15. Motivate Yourself Into Action
Be your own cheerleader. Look for the good in every situation. Focus on the solution rather than the problem. Always be optimistic and constructive.
16. Practice Creative Procrastination
Since you can’t do everything, you must learn to deliberately put off those tasks that are of lower value so that you have enough time to do the few things that matter most.
17. Do The Most Difficult Task First
Begin each day with your most difficult task, the one that can make the greatest contribution to your service, and resolve to work on it until it is complete.
18. Slice And Dice The Task
Break large, complex tasks down into bite-sized pieces and then just do one small part of the task to get started.
19. Create Large Chunks Of Time
Organize your days around large blocks of time where you can concentrate for extended periods on your most important tasks.
20. Develop A Sense Of Urgency
Make a habit of moving fast on your key tasks. Become known as a person who does things quickly and well.
21. Single Handle Every Task
Set clear priorities, start immediately on your most important task and then work without stopping until it is 100% complete. This is the real key to high performance and maximum personal productivity.
Make a decision to practice these principles every day until they become your second nature to you. With these habits of personal leadership as a permanent part of your personality, you will be increasingly successful.
1. Set The Scene
Decide exactly what you want. Clarity is essential. Write down your goals and objectives before you take action.
2. Plan Every Day In Advance
Think on paper. Every minute you spend planning can save you five or ten minutes in execution.
3. Apply The 80/20 Rule To Everything
Twenty percent of your activities account for eighty percent of your results. Always concentrate your efforts on that top twenty percent.
4. Consider The Consequences
Your most important tasks and priorities are those that can have the most serious consequences, positive or negative, on your life or service. Focus on these above all.
5. Practice The Prioritization Continually
Before you begin to work on a list of tasks, take a few minutes to organize them by value and priority to ensure you are working on your most important activities.
6. Focus On Key Results
Identify and determine those results that you absolutely, positively have to achieve in order to do your service well, and work on them all day long.
7. Apply The Law Of Forced Efficiency
There is never enough time to do everything but there is always enough time to do the most important things. What are they?
8. Prepare Thoroughly Before You Begin
Proper prior preparation prevents poor performance.
9. Do Your Homework
The more knowledgeable and skilled you become at your key tasks, the faster you’ll start them and the sooner you’ll get them done.
10. Leverage Your Special Talents
Determine exactly what you are very good at, or could be very good at, and throw your whole heart into doing those specific things very well.
11. Identify Your Key Constraints
Determine the bottlenecks or choke points, internally or externally, that set the speed at which you achieve your most important goals and focus on alleviating them.
12. Take It One Step At A Time
You can accomplish the biggest and most complicated task if you just complete it one step at a time.
13. Put the Pressure On Yourself
Imagine that tomorrow you have to leave town for a month and work as if you had to get all your major tasks completed before you leave.
14. Maximize Your Personal Strengths
Identify your periods of highest mental and physical energy each day and structure your most important and demanding tasks around these times. Get sufficient rest so you can perform service at your best.
15. Motivate Yourself Into Action
Be your own cheerleader. Look for the good in every situation. Focus on the solution rather than the problem. Always be optimistic and constructive.
16. Practice Creative Procrastination
Since you can’t do everything, you must learn to deliberately put off those tasks that are of lower value so that you have enough time to do the few things that matter most.
17. Do The Most Difficult Task First
Begin each day with your most difficult task, the one that can make the greatest contribution to your service, and resolve to work on it until it is complete.
18. Slice And Dice The Task
Break large, complex tasks down into bite-sized pieces and then just do one small part of the task to get started.
19. Create Large Chunks Of Time
Organize your days around large blocks of time where you can concentrate for extended periods on your most important tasks.
20. Develop A Sense Of Urgency
Make a habit of moving fast on your key tasks. Become known as a person who does things quickly and well.
21. Single Handle Every Task
Set clear priorities, start immediately on your most important task and then work without stopping until it is 100% complete. This is the real key to high performance and maximum personal productivity.
Make a decision to practice these principles every day until they become your second nature to you. With these habits of personal leadership as a permanent part of your personality, you will be increasingly successful.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
START SMALL
“Sixteen attentive rounds are most important.”
We can improve our spiritual life by starting from where we are now and then going forward, step-by-step. Improvements may be small, but constant. If we just give attention to what really matters in our practice of bhakti-yoga, we will make advancement. We can improve our sadhana. We can make a plan to rise early. Take steps to make sure it happens: have a reliable alarm clock, or someone who is regulated and is willing to wake us up. Most important is to go early to bed.
We can improve our japa, for example, by keeping a Japa Quality Journal. Write down every day how we did in the morning. Assess ourselves. Give it attention. Sixteen attentive rounds are most important. Chanting along with Srila Prabhupada’s japa tape might help.
We may read every day, at least a verse and a purport; write down a main point; write what we can apply tomorrow from the text we've read. In this way we can renew our enthusiasm and spiritual strength every day and have strength to start developing nice devotional relationships with authorities and other devotees. And then we can cooperate nicely in the mission of spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world.
We can improve our spiritual life by starting from where we are now and then going forward, step-by-step. Improvements may be small, but constant. If we just give attention to what really matters in our practice of bhakti-yoga, we will make advancement. We can improve our sadhana. We can make a plan to rise early. Take steps to make sure it happens: have a reliable alarm clock, or someone who is regulated and is willing to wake us up. Most important is to go early to bed.
We can improve our japa, for example, by keeping a Japa Quality Journal. Write down every day how we did in the morning. Assess ourselves. Give it attention. Sixteen attentive rounds are most important. Chanting along with Srila Prabhupada’s japa tape might help.
We may read every day, at least a verse and a purport; write down a main point; write what we can apply tomorrow from the text we've read. In this way we can renew our enthusiasm and spiritual strength every day and have strength to start developing nice devotional relationships with authorities and other devotees. And then we can cooperate nicely in the mission of spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world.
How to Reach Antimaterial Planets?
This is an excerpt from "Easy Journey to Other Planets" by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
The following details outline a general practice by which one can prepare himself for an easy journey to the Vaikuntha (antimaterial) planets, where life is free from birth, old age, disease and death.
General practice (positive functions):
1. The serious candidate must accept a bona fide spiritual master in order to be trained scientifically. Because the senses are material, it is not at all possible to realize the Transcendence by them. Therefore the senses have to be spiritualized by the prescribed method under the direction of the spiritual master.
2. When the student has chosen a bona fide spiritual master, he must take the proper initiation from him. This marks the beginning of spiritual training.
3. The candidate must be prepared to satisfy the spiritual master in every way. A bona fide spiritual master who is fully cognizant of the methods of spiritual science, learned in the spiritual scriptures such as the Bhagavad-gita, Vedanta, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Upanisads, and who is also a realized soul who has made a tangible connection with the Supreme Lord, is the transparent medium by which the willing candidate is led to the path of the Vaikunthas. The spiritual master must be satisfied in all respects, because simply by his good wishes a candidate can make wonderful progress along the path.
4. The intelligent candidate places intelligent questions to the spiritual master in order to clear his path of all uncertainties. The spiritual master shows the way, not whimsically, but in accordance with the principles of the authorities who have actually traversed the path. The names of these authorities are disclosed in the scriptures, and one has simply to follow them under the direction of the spiritual master. The spiritual master never deviates from the path of the authorities.
5. The candidate should always try to follow in the footsteps of the great sages who have practiced the method and obtained success. This should be taken as a motto in life. One should not superficially imitate them, but should follow them sincerely in terms of the particular time and circumstances.
6. The candidate must be prepared to change his habits in terms of the instructions contained in the books of authority, and for the satisfaction of the Lord he must be prepared to sacrifice both sense gratification and sense abnegation, following the example of Arjuna.
7. The candidate should live in a spiritual atmosphere.
8. He must be satisfied with as much wealth as is sufficient for maintenance only. He should not try to amass more wealth than is necessary to sustain himself in a simple way.
9. He must observe the fasting dates, such as the eleventh day of the growing and waning moon.
10. He must show respect to the banyan tree, the cow, the learned brahmana and the devotee.
These are the first stepping-stones toward the path of devotional service. Gradually one has to adopt other items, which are negative in character:
11. One should avoid offenses in the discharge of devotional service and in chanting the holy names.
12. He should avoid extensive association with nondevotees.
13. He must not take on unlimited disciples. This means that a candidate who has successfully followed the first twelve items can also become a spiritual master himself, just as a student becomes a monitor in class with a limited number of disciples.
14. He must not pose himself as a vastly learned man simply by quoting statements in books. He must have solid knowledge of the necessary books without superfluous knowledge in others.
15. A regular and successful practice of the above fourteen items will enable the candidate to maintain mental equilibrium even amidst great trials of material loss and gain.
16. In the next stage, the candidate does not become afflicted by lamentation and illusion.
17. He does not deride another's mode of religion or worship, nor does he deride the Personality of Godhead or His devotees.
18. He never tolerates blasphemy against the Lord or His devotees.
19. He should not indulge in the discussion of topics dealing with the relationship between man and woman; nor should he engage in useless topics concerning others' family affairs.
20. He should not inflict pain--either in body or in mind--upon other living beings, whomsoever they may be.
Out of the above twenty items, the first three positive items are imperative and most essential for the serious candidate.
The following details outline a general practice by which one can prepare himself for an easy journey to the Vaikuntha (antimaterial) planets, where life is free from birth, old age, disease and death.
General practice (positive functions):
1. The serious candidate must accept a bona fide spiritual master in order to be trained scientifically. Because the senses are material, it is not at all possible to realize the Transcendence by them. Therefore the senses have to be spiritualized by the prescribed method under the direction of the spiritual master.
2. When the student has chosen a bona fide spiritual master, he must take the proper initiation from him. This marks the beginning of spiritual training.
3. The candidate must be prepared to satisfy the spiritual master in every way. A bona fide spiritual master who is fully cognizant of the methods of spiritual science, learned in the spiritual scriptures such as the Bhagavad-gita, Vedanta, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Upanisads, and who is also a realized soul who has made a tangible connection with the Supreme Lord, is the transparent medium by which the willing candidate is led to the path of the Vaikunthas. The spiritual master must be satisfied in all respects, because simply by his good wishes a candidate can make wonderful progress along the path.
4. The intelligent candidate places intelligent questions to the spiritual master in order to clear his path of all uncertainties. The spiritual master shows the way, not whimsically, but in accordance with the principles of the authorities who have actually traversed the path. The names of these authorities are disclosed in the scriptures, and one has simply to follow them under the direction of the spiritual master. The spiritual master never deviates from the path of the authorities.
5. The candidate should always try to follow in the footsteps of the great sages who have practiced the method and obtained success. This should be taken as a motto in life. One should not superficially imitate them, but should follow them sincerely in terms of the particular time and circumstances.
6. The candidate must be prepared to change his habits in terms of the instructions contained in the books of authority, and for the satisfaction of the Lord he must be prepared to sacrifice both sense gratification and sense abnegation, following the example of Arjuna.
7. The candidate should live in a spiritual atmosphere.
8. He must be satisfied with as much wealth as is sufficient for maintenance only. He should not try to amass more wealth than is necessary to sustain himself in a simple way.
9. He must observe the fasting dates, such as the eleventh day of the growing and waning moon.
10. He must show respect to the banyan tree, the cow, the learned brahmana and the devotee.
These are the first stepping-stones toward the path of devotional service. Gradually one has to adopt other items, which are negative in character:
11. One should avoid offenses in the discharge of devotional service and in chanting the holy names.
12. He should avoid extensive association with nondevotees.
13. He must not take on unlimited disciples. This means that a candidate who has successfully followed the first twelve items can also become a spiritual master himself, just as a student becomes a monitor in class with a limited number of disciples.
14. He must not pose himself as a vastly learned man simply by quoting statements in books. He must have solid knowledge of the necessary books without superfluous knowledge in others.
15. A regular and successful practice of the above fourteen items will enable the candidate to maintain mental equilibrium even amidst great trials of material loss and gain.
16. In the next stage, the candidate does not become afflicted by lamentation and illusion.
17. He does not deride another's mode of religion or worship, nor does he deride the Personality of Godhead or His devotees.
18. He never tolerates blasphemy against the Lord or His devotees.
19. He should not indulge in the discussion of topics dealing with the relationship between man and woman; nor should he engage in useless topics concerning others' family affairs.
20. He should not inflict pain--either in body or in mind--upon other living beings, whomsoever they may be.
Out of the above twenty items, the first three positive items are imperative and most essential for the serious candidate.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Change Your Mood Instantaneously
In my seminars I teach devotees to get up, raise their hands high and try as hard as they can to be miserable. They all laugh, because it's almost impossible to be miserable in that position, what to speak of starting a swami step and chanting Hare Krsna.
This simple technique, which we learn from Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, can help any devotee change his mood at once, when he feels bad or sad or mad.
This simple technique, which we learn from Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, can help any devotee change his mood at once, when he feels bad or sad or mad.
Gita Coaching Services
- Turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones
- Achieve balance in your various roles and duties
- Empower your confidence in Krsna and in your own sincerity
- Develop power to choose favourable
- Achieve Krsna conscious mental fitness
- Become more focused
- Become more determined
- Overcome counterproductive habits
- Give up harmful desires
- Fan the spark of devotion in your heart
- Become motivated and inspired
- Develop an outstanding attitude
- Think and act in a way that you will get more of Krsna's mercy
www.vedicilluminations.com/bhaktivedantacoaching
- Achieve balance in your various roles and duties
- Empower your confidence in Krsna and in your own sincerity
- Develop power to choose favourable
- Achieve Krsna conscious mental fitness
- Become more focused
- Become more determined
- Overcome counterproductive habits
- Give up harmful desires
- Fan the spark of devotion in your heart
- Become motivated and inspired
- Develop an outstanding attitude
- Think and act in a way that you will get more of Krsna's mercy
www.vedicilluminations.com/bhaktivedantacoaching
The Obstacle
The biggest obstacle to our success and happiness are not other people and circumstances. The biggest obstacle is our false ego.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Coaching Questions
Coaching Questions from coach Daniel Midson-Short (www.lifestylerevolution.com.au).
Goals
What is one thing could make the biggest difference to your life?
What do you want MORE of in your life? (Make a list)
What do you want LESS of in your life? (if MORE doesn’t trigger a response)
What areas of your life could be upgraded/ tweaked?
What research could you do to help you find the first (or next) step?
What are three actions you could take that would make sense this week?
What will you create for yourself and your family in the future?
What’s the first/next step?
Is now the right time for you to make a commitment to getting these goals achieved?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how compelled are you to do this?
What would be the biggest impact from achieving your goal/s?
Self-Improvement
What could we work on that now that would make the biggest difference to your life?
Who could you talk to who would illuminate this issue?
Who could help you understand this situation better?
How can you get/ buy/ borrow the knowledge/ information you need?
What have you tried so far?
What change are you seeking?
What are you doing well? What can you do better?
Balance
What are three things you are doing regularly that don’t support you?
What are the top 3 actions that support you in your life?
What do you love?
What do you hate?
What gives you energy and excitement?
What makes you enthusiastic?
If you were to FULLY live your life, what are some changes you would start to make?
What’s one way you could have more fun in your life?
What’s one way to get more energy into your life?
What’s one area of your life you KNOW could be better?
How can we make this something you're aiming towards, rather than something you're trying to move away from?
Attitude
What is the value of your current attitude?
How does your thinking propel you towards your goals?
How does your thinking limit your potential?
How can we turn this around?
How could you turn this around immediately, and enjoy the process?
What assumptions are you making that may be questionable?
What would you try now if you knew you could not fail?
What's great about this?
What's funny about this?
What can you learn from this?
What are you most excited about now? What are you looking forward to?
What can you choose to think about yourself that will empower you?
What fears have I already conquered in my life?
What's one of the most important decisions that I have made in my life?
In the past, how have I shined when the odds were against me?
What music/ movies/ books/ tapes/ people can source to inspire and empower me?
Fulfillment/ Purpose
What is my life really about?
What am I really committed to?
Why am I here?
Who am I?
What’s one thing you would love to do before you die?
If you had to guess your life purpose (from looking at your life to date), what would it be?
What would you like to most be acknowledged for so far in your life?
What are you tolerating/putting up with?
Coaching Questions
How could I best help or support you right now?
If you were your own coach, what coaching would you give yourself right now?
If a client was in your situation, what coaching would you give them?
What would Tony Robbins do in this situation? What would “massive action” look like?
Goals
What is one thing could make the biggest difference to your life?
What do you want MORE of in your life? (Make a list)
What do you want LESS of in your life? (if MORE doesn’t trigger a response)
What areas of your life could be upgraded/ tweaked?
What research could you do to help you find the first (or next) step?
What are three actions you could take that would make sense this week?
What will you create for yourself and your family in the future?
What’s the first/next step?
Is now the right time for you to make a commitment to getting these goals achieved?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how compelled are you to do this?
What would be the biggest impact from achieving your goal/s?
Self-Improvement
What could we work on that now that would make the biggest difference to your life?
Who could you talk to who would illuminate this issue?
Who could help you understand this situation better?
How can you get/ buy/ borrow the knowledge/ information you need?
What have you tried so far?
What change are you seeking?
What are you doing well? What can you do better?
Balance
What are three things you are doing regularly that don’t support you?
What are the top 3 actions that support you in your life?
What do you love?
What do you hate?
What gives you energy and excitement?
What makes you enthusiastic?
If you were to FULLY live your life, what are some changes you would start to make?
What’s one way you could have more fun in your life?
What’s one way to get more energy into your life?
What’s one area of your life you KNOW could be better?
How can we make this something you're aiming towards, rather than something you're trying to move away from?
Attitude
What is the value of your current attitude?
How does your thinking propel you towards your goals?
How does your thinking limit your potential?
How can we turn this around?
How could you turn this around immediately, and enjoy the process?
What assumptions are you making that may be questionable?
What would you try now if you knew you could not fail?
What's great about this?
What's funny about this?
What can you learn from this?
What are you most excited about now? What are you looking forward to?
What can you choose to think about yourself that will empower you?
What fears have I already conquered in my life?
What's one of the most important decisions that I have made in my life?
In the past, how have I shined when the odds were against me?
What music/ movies/ books/ tapes/ people can source to inspire and empower me?
Fulfillment/ Purpose
What is my life really about?
What am I really committed to?
Why am I here?
Who am I?
What’s one thing you would love to do before you die?
If you had to guess your life purpose (from looking at your life to date), what would it be?
What would you like to most be acknowledged for so far in your life?
What are you tolerating/putting up with?
Coaching Questions
How could I best help or support you right now?
If you were your own coach, what coaching would you give yourself right now?
If a client was in your situation, what coaching would you give them?
What would Tony Robbins do in this situation? What would “massive action” look like?
COACHING AND FALSE EGO
Without Krsna consciousness, life coaching helps people develop a very strong false ego in the mode of (material) goodness.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Wisdom Access Questions
What do you want?
What are you afraid of?
What is this costing you?
What are you attached to?
What is the dream?
What is the essence of the dream?
What is beyond this problem?
What is ahead?
What are you building towards?
What has to happen for you to feel successful?
What gift are you not being responsible for?
What are your healthy sources of energy?
What stops you?
What's stopping you?
What's in your way?
What would make the biggest difference here?
What are you going to do?
What do you like to do?
What can I do to make you happy right now?
What do you hope to accomplish by having that conversation?
What do you hope to accomplish by doing that?
What's the first step?
What would it be like to be with the excitement and the fear at the same time?
What's important about that?
What would it take for you to treat yourself like your best client?
What benefit/payoff is there in the present situation?
What do you expect to have happen?
What's the ideal?
What's the ideal outcome?
What would it look like?
What's the truth?
What's the right action?
What are you going to do?
What's working for you?
What would you do differently?
What decision would you make from a place of abundance?
What other choices do you have?
What do you really, really want?
What if there were no limits?
What aren't you telling me that's keeping me from coaching/helping you?
What haven't I asked that I should ask?
What needs to be said that has not been said?
What are you not saying?
What else do you have to say about that?
What is left to do to have this be complete?
What do you have invested in continuing to do it this way?
What is that?
What comes first?
What consequence are you avoiding?
What is the value you received from this meeting/conversation?
What is motivating you?
What has you hooked?
What is missing here?
What does that remind you of?
What do you suggest?
What is underneath that?
What part of what I said was useful? And how so?
What is this person contributing to the quality of your life?
What it is that you are denying yourself right now?
What do you need to put in place to accomplish this?
What is the simplest solution here?
What would help you know I support this/you completely?
What happened?
What are you avoiding?
What is the worst that could happen?
What are you committed to?
What is your vision for yourself and the people around you?
What don't you want?
What if you knew?
What's your heart telling you?
What are you willing to give up?
What might you have done differently?
What are you not facing?
What does this feeling remind you of?
What would you do differently if you tapped into your own wisdom?
What does your soul say?
"Living Your Best Life", Laura Berman Fortgang
What are you afraid of?
What is this costing you?
What are you attached to?
What is the dream?
What is the essence of the dream?
What is beyond this problem?
What is ahead?
What are you building towards?
What has to happen for you to feel successful?
What gift are you not being responsible for?
What are your healthy sources of energy?
What stops you?
What's stopping you?
What's in your way?
What would make the biggest difference here?
What are you going to do?
What do you like to do?
What can I do to make you happy right now?
What do you hope to accomplish by having that conversation?
What do you hope to accomplish by doing that?
What's the first step?
What would it be like to be with the excitement and the fear at the same time?
What's important about that?
What would it take for you to treat yourself like your best client?
What benefit/payoff is there in the present situation?
What do you expect to have happen?
What's the ideal?
What's the ideal outcome?
What would it look like?
What's the truth?
What's the right action?
What are you going to do?
What's working for you?
What would you do differently?
What decision would you make from a place of abundance?
What other choices do you have?
What do you really, really want?
What if there were no limits?
What aren't you telling me that's keeping me from coaching/helping you?
What haven't I asked that I should ask?
What needs to be said that has not been said?
What are you not saying?
What else do you have to say about that?
What is left to do to have this be complete?
What do you have invested in continuing to do it this way?
What is that?
What comes first?
What consequence are you avoiding?
What is the value you received from this meeting/conversation?
What is motivating you?
What has you hooked?
What is missing here?
What does that remind you of?
What do you suggest?
What is underneath that?
What part of what I said was useful? And how so?
What is this person contributing to the quality of your life?
What it is that you are denying yourself right now?
What do you need to put in place to accomplish this?
What is the simplest solution here?
What would help you know I support this/you completely?
What happened?
What are you avoiding?
What is the worst that could happen?
What are you committed to?
What is your vision for yourself and the people around you?
What don't you want?
What if you knew?
What's your heart telling you?
What are you willing to give up?
What might you have done differently?
What are you not facing?
What does this feeling remind you of?
What would you do differently if you tapped into your own wisdom?
What does your soul say?
"Living Your Best Life", Laura Berman Fortgang
IDEAS WITHIN
One thing that helps me a lot in my life and service is writing down nice ideas that come to my mind during the day, and especially in the morning. I believe these ideas mainly come from the Supersoul and that Ãt is my duty to remember them on paper and do something about them. When I act on these ideas, my day is reacher and I contribute more to other people.
GITA SUCCESS
In the second chapter of the Bhagavad-gita Krsna is telling Arjuna that he can do better and that his way of thinking does not lead to success. His Vedic excuses will not help him succeed. He has more potential and he must give up his weakness of heart in order to succeed.
He is encouraging him to arise. He says: "You are a warrior. Where is your pride?"
But Arjuna is not ready yet. He just comes up with more excuses.
The great thing about Arjuna is that he admits his weakness and is ready to take assistance. These are powerful success principles - right attitude and readiness to learn.
He is encouraging him to arise. He says: "You are a warrior. Where is your pride?"
But Arjuna is not ready yet. He just comes up with more excuses.
The great thing about Arjuna is that he admits his weakness and is ready to take assistance. These are powerful success principles - right attitude and readiness to learn.
SUCCESS
Many people want to be successful. Not many people want to learn how to be successful. Even fewer people are ready to pay the price of success.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
DO IT ANYWAY
People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway
Kent M. Keith
and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway
Kent M. Keith
I Wanted To Change The World
By Unknown Monk, 1100 A.D.
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town.
I couldn't change the town and as an older man, so I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family.
My family and I could have made an impact on our town.
Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town.
I couldn't change the town and as an older man, so I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family.
My family and I could have made an impact on our town.
Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
Shape Up
The beginning of shaping up to me means chanting 16 rounds in one go first time in the morning, as attentively as I can, in a prayerful mood.
Whom Would You Follow?
Which leader would you follow? One who says: "Thank you for tolerating my imperfections. Please continue to tolerate." Or one who says: "Please give me suggestions on how to improve my service. I will contact you in a month to ask you whether I have improved."
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Attitude
How can I change this attitude?
I want to change others but when I need to change, I become defensive.
I want to change others but when I need to change, I become defensive.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Bhagavad-gita's Success Principles
In the first chapter of the Gita we learn that even if you have the
best excuses, this will not help you become successful. Arjuna was
expert in bringing up first-class,Vedic excuses why he should not take action.
In order to move forward and advance spiritually and financially, we can ask ourselves:
What are my top excuses for not being the best I can be, for not getting out of my comfort zone, for not surrendering to Krsna's instructions, for not paying the price of success?
The answers to these questions can be the secret of our success.
best excuses, this will not help you become successful. Arjuna was
expert in bringing up first-class,Vedic excuses why he should not take action.
In order to move forward and advance spiritually and financially, we can ask ourselves:
What are my top excuses for not being the best I can be, for not getting out of my comfort zone, for not surrendering to Krsna's instructions, for not paying the price of success?
The answers to these questions can be the secret of our success.
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