THEY SHOULD

I hear people saying "they should". "They" refers to various people: leaders, politicians, parents, children.

To me, it is a waste of time. Why should we think what others should do?

Better to think "I will".

What should I do to make a difference?

ASK NEW QUESTIONS

You can get new answers only if you start asking new questions.

If you continue asking "Why they are not perfect?", you will continue wasting time and torturing your mind.

If you start asking "How can I make a difference?", you will start focusing on positive future instead of negative past or present.

Create a few powerful daily questions that will help you focus on most important areas of your life, write them down, and use them as an inspiration and guidelines for your daily service or work.

CREATING A CULTURE OF PURE CHANTING

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"Krishna is attracted to a humble heart, not a heart filled with pride. To suspend thoughts of our daily dramas while chanting is a challenge, but it's required. The more we can simplify our lives and center our activities on Krishna, the easier it is to put aside plan-making and worry while chanting. Krishna will reveal Himself more and more, and we will see how He is our maintainer and protector."

"...if we want to become good at something, then we must find people who are already good at it."

"I've found that focused, attentive chanting benefits all my other activities. I can be more present and attuned to my environment and feel Krishna’s presence more acutely than before."

By Arcana Siddhi devi dasi

INQUIRY COACH

There is a new trend in coaching set up by the Inquiry Institute (inquiryinstitute.com).

Coaches usually say, "We have questions, you have answers."

In this new trend instead of a coach asking expert questions, client himself finds his own best questions and, of course, his answers, and the Inquiry Coach facilitates the process.

It is called Q-Storming, or finding your own best questions to help you succeed.

I used to do a similar thing with few of my clients.

Before a session I would ask them what questions they want me to ask them in a session and they would email them to me in advance.

In a session I would ask those questions, and some sub-questions if needed, which would help them think deeply about their issues.

These were some of the best coaching sessions I had.

PERSONAL GUIDANCE

Personal guidance is a process which helps you to go from where you are to where you want to be. It is a personal improvement and achievement process that helps us achieve what we want in a Krishna conscious way.

Apart from assisting you in going from where you are to where you want to be, your personal guide provides you with personal support, committed to your development and success. He or she looks more into your strengths than weaknesses. A personal guide is not blind. He can see that you have some blindspots or improvement areas, but he will be focusing more on your strengths and building upon them.

Then he will help you clarify where you are in your life, help you open up possibilities, focus on what you want to achieve, learn new ways of doing things and discover new value and purpose in your life.

A personal guide will question your current ideas, your current beliefs and ways of thinking that prevent you from moving forward. Essentially this means looking into internal obstacles to what you want to achieve. He will help you become more self aware and more responsible, take 100% responsibility for your life, or even better, 108% responsibility for your life! Then he will help you release your potential.

We have a lot of potential that we are not using very much. Somehow it is covered and our spiritual potential is especially not being utilised. A personal guide will aid you to uncover and eliminate destructive behavioural and thinking patterns in your life, in a supportive, caring and inspirational environment.

So personal guidance is simply a process that is meant to help you succeed.

SMART QUESTION COACHING

Smart Question Coaching Resources

7 P's Personal Performance Process

These performance questions catch your blind spots, keep you on track and improve your habits. Become more focused, clear, creative, purposeful, aware and balanced.

There is magic in taking time to ask yourself the right questions that will pop out the right answers for you. At least monthly, if not weekly, spend about an hour and answer all of these questions. Be brutally honest with yourself. Once you have answered the questions, create a list of action steps for your next week or month. Do this process regularly and watch your life change.

Patterns, processes, procrastination, habits:
Where can I be more efficient in my life?
What 5 things have I been procrastinating?
What are my time wasters?
What excuses keep me stuck?

Problems, past, pain:
Where am I vulnerable?
Where do I hold myself back?
What am I afraid of?
What stresses me?
For what problems must I ask for solutions?

Perceptions and perspectives of myself and others:
What are the needs/desires of my boss or partner or family?
What is God's agenda for me?
What contacts or friends do I want to develop more?
What negative or limiting thoughts keep jumping into my mind?
What key choices am I ready to make?

Prosperity:
How can I create another or larger or easier income stream?
In what areas do I want to receive more learning?
How can I be more productive and effective?
Where are some opportunities for me to give?

Principles and values:
What 3 areas in my life do I want to recommit to?
Where do I need to clarify my stand or position?
What deeds or actions need my forgiveness or acceptance?
What can I do to increase balance in my life?
What value is most important for me to express now?

Purpose, potential, passion, power, possibilities, path:
What are my deepest heart-felt desires, dreams and visions?
Where are my life purpose and goals unclear?
How can I experience a greater sense of meaning in life?
What new ideas are teasing me these days

Peace of mind, play, pleasure, pamper:
When do I feel greatest happiness in my life?
What can I do to have more fun in all areas of my life?
How can I get more stillness, solitude and peace in my life?

When you have completed the answers and the resulting action steps, ask yourself, "What am I missing? Is there anything else?" Use questions often. The subconscious mind is always answering. We must only practice asking and then listening.

www.smartquestion.com

PAIN OF REGRET

There’s always an excuse, isn’t there? Excuses abound for why we don’t strive to restore a suffering relationship, expand into new markets, present new solutions to old problems, or go outside and get fit. Complacency is the course of least resistance.

Getting out of my comfortable routine may require change, and after all, isn’t change painful?

The late business philosopher, Jim Rohn, said, “We must all suffer from one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”

Change might often be painful, but there is usually a much more profound pain of regret associated with inaction.

- Todd Wangsgard

NOT EASY

It is easy to pull a person out of materialism, but it is not easy to pull materialism out of a person.

- Sinisa Punek

ENOUGH PERSPECTIVES

If you free yourself from the perceived rigidity of the situation and see things from enough perspectives, you can almost always find usable solutions.

- Mark Levy

AS IF

“I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.”

- Albert Camus

SIMPLE

Life is simple: you either love or fear.
When you love you are bold.
When you fear you are blocked.

A DEFINITION OF LIFE

Life is a balancing act between soft and hard.

MAINTENANCE

If you do these three things you will never have problems with your basic maintenance:
1. Be humble
2. Be grateful
3. Add value to people's lives

GRATEFUL

Today I feel so grateful. Some people really value my presence in their lives. I do not deserve this, and this value that they see is due to Krsna consciousness. If I can draw their attention to the holy name and the eternal principles of success given by God from time immemorial, then my contribution to their lives will have value.

The opportunity to serve sincere seekers of the truth is a blessing and a privilege for me. Krsna is sending more of them into my life and I see it as a benediction.

I was thinking today who would be my ideal client, or the ideal person I want to serve as a coach. It would be a spiritual warrior ready to improve and contribute day by day, week by week, month by month, year after year. Someone who does not blame anything or anyone and who is grateful for an opportunity given by God as a human form of life. Someone who is humble but bold.

I was also thinking, if I would die today, what would I regret. I would regret that I was not preaching about Krsna enough and chanting enough the Lord's holy name. But one thing certainly I would not regret. One thing I am so grateful for. That I have met so many amazing people, interested in God.

THE ONLY CONSIDERATION

In Vedic literature it is said that God, Krsna, simply accepts your bhāva or your situation, how much you have developed your attraction for God, or Krsna.

That is taken into account.

He does not take account that "Oh, you are very rich. You are very beautiful. You are very opulent," or "You are very poor. You are not beautiful."

These considerations are not there.

The only consideration is how much you love God.

Then your life is successful.

- Srila Prabhupada

DHARMA

You have got love within you. You want to love somebody. A young boy tries to love a young girl, young girl tries to love another young boy. This is natural, because the love is there. But we have created certain circumstances that love is being frustrated. Why? Everyone is frustrated. Husband, wife, boys, girls, man to man, states to states, everywhere, the love is not being utilized properly. Why? The missing point is that we have forgotten to love the Supreme Person. That is the disease.

So the purpose of religion is to train persons how to love God. That is the purpose of all religion. Either you take Christianism or Hinduism or any "ism," the purport is that you try to love God, because that is our natural inclination. Even in uncivilized society, when there is some thunderbolt, they immediately offer obeisances. That is natural. And in the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6].

Now this word dharma is translated or explained in the English dictionary, "religion," as "a kind of faith." But in Sanskrit dictionary, dharma means characteristic. Just like sugar. Sugar's characteristic is sweetness. If you are given some sugar, if you find it, it is not sweet, you at once reject it: "Oh, it is not sugar. It is something else." So that sweetness is the characteristic of sugar. Similarly, sour taste is the characteristic of salt, pungency is the
characteristic of chili.

Similarly, what is your characteristic, living entity? That you have to study. That is your religion. Not that Christian religion, Hindu religion, or this religion, that religion. Your eternal characteristic, what is that eternal characteristic? You want to love somebody, and therefore you want to serve. That is your characteristic. You want your society... You love your society, you love your family, you love your country, you love your community. Because you love, therefore you serve. That is your characteristic.

Either you are Christian or either you are Muhammadan, either you are Hindu, this characteristic will go on. Suppose today you are Christian, tomorrow you become Hindu. That service mood, that loving spirit, goes with you, either you become Hindu or Muslim or Christian. Therefore that service spirit and love, the tendency to love and service spirit, is your characteristic, and that is your religion.

That is the universal form of religion. You have to apply your natural characteristic in a certain place, where you will be satisfied. Your service spirit is (indistinct). You have to apply your natural characteristic in a certain place, where you will be satisfied. Your service spirit is there, your loving spirit is there, but because it is misplaced, you are not happy, you are frustrated, you are confused.

The Bhagavata gives you indication, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. That is the first-class system of religion, which trains you to love God. And if you have developed that tendency to the fullest extent, to love God, then you are perfect man. And then you will feel perfection within yourself. Yayatma suprasidati. You are hankering after satisfaction, full satisfaction. That full satisfaction can be obtained only when you love God. That is the natural function.

- Srila Prabhupada

CHOICE

99% - happiness is a personal choice.

1% - it is circumstances or other people.

TAKE SANNYASA AT ANY TIME

It is not that one has to accept sannyasa in ripe old age like me, seventy years or seventy-five years. Not that. Caitanya Mahaprabhu set up the example, that for Krsna's service one can take sannyasa at any time. So He did it by His personal example. ... That Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave up His opulent family life. When He was... He took sannyasa. At that time, His wife was only sixteen years old, and He had His affectionate mother, Sacidevi, very old. Nobody was to take care of him, her. But still, He took sannyasa for giving mercy to the poor human society in this age.

- Srila Prabhupada, The Nectar of Devotion, Vrndavana, October 21, 1972

SOLUTION FOR ALL FEAR

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.15

apannah samsrtim ghoram
yan-nama vivaso grnan
tatah sadyo vimucyeta
yad bibheti svayam bhayam

Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krsna, which is feared by fear personified.

PURPORT
Vasudeva, or Lord Krsna, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is the supreme controller of everything. There is no one in creation who is not afraid of the rage of the Almighty. Great asuras like Ravana, Hiranyakasipu, Kamsa, and others who were very powerful living entities were all killed by the Personality of Godhead. And the almighty Vasudeva has empowered His name with the powers of His personal Self. Everything is related to Him, and everything has its identity in Him. It is stated herein that the name of Krsna is feared even by fear personified. This indicates that the name of Krsna is nondifferent from Krsna. Therefore, the name of Krsna is as powerful as Lord Krsna Himself. There is no difference at all. Anyone, therefore, can take advantage of the holy names of Lord Sri Krsna even in the midst of greatest dangers. The transcendental name of Krsna, even though uttered unconsciously or by force of circumstances, can help one obtain freedom from the hurdle of birth and death.

BASIC DETERMINATION AND FAITH

Unless the basic determination to become successful in Krsna consciousness is there, any type of occupation or any place where you are serving Krsna will similarly become a source of restlessness and troubling of your mind.

Therefore, my advice to you is simply this: that you search out in yourself whether that basic determination and faith in our Krsna consciousness program is strong in you, and whether if, by going here or going there or doing this or doing that, this determination and faith will be enhanced.

Sometimes Krsna may put us into some difficulty just to purify us and force us to advance in Krsna consciousness.

The devotee should always see his difficulty in this light, that Krsna is so kind upon me for creating this condition of struggling, thus He is relieving me of so many billions of lifetime of sinful reactions by this very insignificant and temporary condition of suffering something.

- Srila Prabhupada, Letter to: Vaikunthanatha -- Bombay 29 December, 1972

PASSING OF TEST

Faith means that you are meant for giving some service to Krsna. You should stick to that service, that path, in spite of all impediments. That is the passing of test. Generally, just like we are meant for preaching Krsna consciousness. So there may be severe test, but still we shall remain determined. That is wanted. There may be so many impediments, punishment, still you should do that. That is wanted. That is test. Not that as soon as there is some difficulty I give it up. There may be severe test, but still we shall not give it up. We must go on. That is determination.

- Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk -- August 11, 1976, Tehran

FIGHTING DETERMINATION

Sravanadi means this process. Just like you have come here; you are hearing about Krsna. This is the process. You may be illiterate, you may be rich, or you may be poor. Whatever you may be, it doesn't matter. Please come, sit down and hear. But in the hearing process, there is so many impediments, maya.

Just like people are coming here to hear, but there has been impediment: "Oh, sir, our lift is being to much used. The electric supply will cut off." Maya is always there. They will, I mean to say, spend electric energy in so many ways, that is not loss. But people were coming for half an hour and one hour, gentlemen, "No. Electricity will be spoiled." This is maya.

Maya is always after this checking process. So we have to fight against the maya, then we come to Krsna consciousness. That fighting determination must be there. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. One must be determined. So maya may check my progress in Krsna consciousness, but I must fight maya. This determination wanted.

Drdha-vratah. Bhajante mam drdha-vratah. That is wanted. "All right let me do. All right, not. That's all right. Let me do my business." No. One must be very serious. Drdha-vratah. Drdha-vratah and firmly convinced. These things are required to revive your Krsna consciousness.

- Srila Prabhupada, Bombay, January 5, 1973

EXCUSES

What are your top ten excuses for not being more happy and more productive?

What would your life look like if you could not use these excuses?

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

“It is a simple task to make things complex, but a complex task to make them simple” (Meyer’s Law)

The starting point of simplification is to reduce the number of things that we do in our service or work or personal life.

We can only make a best use of our time to the degree to which we stop tasks that are of little value.

We need to stop doing things that we have become accustomed to doing over the years.

We even need to stop doing some things that we do well and which we enjoy, if they are of little value.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by the grace of the Lord. SB 3.31.18 P

By Krsna's supreme will, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Krsna Book 50

By the blessings of a Vaisnava, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. SB 5.1.10 P

For advanced devotee, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Lecture 1975

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by controlling the senses. SB 3.31.19 P

For a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE because the Lord is also known as Urukrama." Urukrama is a name for Lord Vamanadeva, who performed the wonderful act of occupying the three worlds with three footsteps. SB 5.1.35 P

For one who pleases the Supreme Lord, no achievement is wonderful. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE for him. SB 6.18.73 P

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by performing yajna. SB 9.14.47 P

if we accept the inconceivable energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we can understand that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. There is no need of mundane arguments in this connection because mundane arguments are meaningless in regard to inconceivable potency. CC Adi 17.1

by the grace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we understand that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by the grace of Krsna. Madhya 4.79

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE for a pure devotee because he acts under the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Madhya 16.67

By Krsna's supreme will, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE, KB 50

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE if the Lord desires. N98:RTW 5.1

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE provided you agree, tapasya. Samo damas tapah. 730818BG.LON

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE simply by bhakti-yoga. 740531SB.GEN

Simply we have to go through the process; otherwise EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is the omnipotency of Krsna. 760911SB.VRN

If we are little inclined, that is called..., that is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam hareh. He gives up all other duties: "I am no more any followers of any dharma. I am followers of Krsna's lotus feet." If this determination is there, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 741229SB.BOM

So if we actually formulate peace formula, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Simply we have to accept the instruction of Krsna. Our Krsna consciousness movement is for this purpose. We are simply requesting to accept the Krsna philosophy. Then the whole world will be peaceful. 761108SB.VRN

But unfortunately, in this age everyone has become sudra, so it is little difficult to raise them again. But if everyone is engaged in chanting Hare Krsna mantra, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 750902SB.VRN

So in this age, although it is a very difficult task, at least if we teach our children to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is the facility of this age. He'll be gradually trained up to the highest perfection. 760625SB.NV

By love EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 670313SB.SF

Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. So EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE provided we are serious. Then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 730125ND.CAL

So EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE, provided you people take our instruction. Otherwise, there is no other remedy. What can be done? The remedy's there. The medicine is also there. But if you don't take the medicine, how the disease will be cured? 740606LE.GE

We cannot do anything whatsoever but if our sincere service is accepted by the Vaisnavas EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE … 66-02-04.Tir

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by the Grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu 68-09-22.Kir

So EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE provided one is serious. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that if somebody is not too much addicted, neither he is completely powerful to give up some bad habits, this via media stage is favorable. Immediately if he cannot give up the medicine as he is taking, that doesn't matter. Let him chant HARE KRISHNA very seriously and he will gradually be able to give up everything. 68-09-22.Kir

So gradually in your center also one day we may have our own buildings because EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE if Krsna desires. 70-04-02.Vam

By association, good association, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Therefore you have to make this association of Krsna consciousness so perfect that anyone who comes in contact with that association, he becomes purified automatically. 680325rc.sf

How can these boys, who have been trained to practice these four items from the beginning of their lives, give them all up? EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE, provided we make the choice. 720902iv.nv

That is possible. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 750512mw.per

"Even she is prostitute," striya. Te 'pi yanti param gatim: "They can also go back to home, back to Godhead." Mam hi partha... If he takes Krsna very seriously, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. No impediment. Ahaituky apratihata. Krsna devotional service is so strong that it cannot be checked by any material impediments. 760209mw.may

By Krsna's mercy EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. So we shall stick to Krsna's lotus feet and EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 760709rc.ny

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by Krsna's inconceivable energy. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is inconceivable. It is called therefore "inconceivable." You, we cannot conceive how it is done. Our intelligence is very little. We cannot conceive. Therefore we say, "Oh, this is all mythology." Because we cannot conceive of it. Whatever we cannot conceive we take it as mythology. Nothing is mythology. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is inconceivable. But they cannot understand what is inconceivable. Unless it is conceivable by them, they do not accept. 760903gc.vrn

THREE SUCCESS TIPS

1. Concentrate every day single-mindedly on one most important thing, all day.

2. Develop a daily habit of planning, setting priorities and then starting first thing in a day on your highest-value task.

3. Ensure to always make the best use of your time, because your time is limited.