Sunday, August 30, 2009

Hope


Question: If we have Faith in our ideas, talents and the course of
action we have plotted for ourselves, why then do we need Hope?

Before we can evaluate the concept of Hope, it is important that we
do not confuse Hope with false hope.

False hope is a negative energy. It is the Karmic debt we incur
when we Choose to surrender the option and privilege of being
responsible for our thoughts and actions.

False hope is fear disguised as potential fortune. It is the "carrot"
placed before our eyes which keeps us focused on the illusion of a
tempting reward while taking our eyes off of our Path.

False hope is the wishful thinking that we have come to associate
with, and accept as, true Hope. It is a desperate wish which is
void of all vision and effort. It is beseeching external forces to do
for us what we are too lazy to do for ourselves. It is imploring these
same external forces to make Events turn out the way we want
them to turn out without exercising any effort of our own.

False hope, simply put, is the abandonment of self-reliance and
self-responsibility in the gamble that a situation will improve, or
someone else will look after our best interests for us.

When we wallow in false hope we are risking our physical and
mental health, wealth and security on the roll of a pair of loaded
dice whose outcome has already been determined.

False hope shackles us to destructive Relationships, losing
propositions, failed investments and unsatisfying careers. It drains
our energies, plunders our fortunes, erodes years from our lives and
blinds us to the true opportunities which surround us.

Hope: While we can have Faith in our talents and abilities, we can
only have Hope that we are using our talents and abilities in a way
which will make our plans and dreams come true.

It is important to keep in mind that Hope, by itself, does not
guarantee us success in any of our endeavors. This is due to the
fact that, regardless of our confidence or perseverance, we can never
be absolutely certain that our plans and dreams will turn out the way
we originally intended.

Hope does, however, instill within us the combination of expectation
and desire; it is an "educated guess" that our plans, ideas and efforts
are well-founded and have the possibility of bearing fruit; it also
contains the "principle of uncertainty" which cautions us from
simply tying our dreams and ambitions to "blind faith" and
"false hope".

Hope is Divine Inspiration. It is a cosmic energy which excites us
and spurs us on. Hope is our Star. It is the Guiding light which shines
upon us and brightens our way as we pursue the dreams and
ambitions which are such an integral part of our Divine Nature and
personal Destiny.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009
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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Passion


"Our passions are the winds that propel our vessel."
-Proverb

The word "passion" can arouse many different Thoughts and feelings
within us.

Some people may associate Passion with lust, greed, jealousy,
vengeance or wrath. Others may associate Passion with an
obsession to obtain something, or someone, regardless of the cost
to themselves. And yet another group of individuals may associate
Passion as an extreme desire to "show off"; to have something, or
someone, which is newer, more attractive or more expensive than
what their friends, neighbors or associates possess.

These are some of the destructive, materialistic and ego-based
aspects of Negative Passion.

However, we live in a realm of duality. Therefore, just as Passion
has a negative, destructive and materialistic extreme, it also has a
constructive, creative and spiritual side. This is the side on which
the Divine Principle of Positive Passion resides.

Negative Passion is a forceful, ego-driven emotion which
overpowers our reasoning. It is the alluring Siren, temptress and
seductress that charms and bewitches us with material delights only
to leave us standing naked, alone and exhausted upon the battlefield
of pride.

Negative Passion is a fire that flares up and burns out quickly within
us. It is like the evening campfire whose cold morning ashes are but
a brief reminder of the bright enchanting flames of the night before.

When it is all over and Negative Passion has consumed itself within
us we end up muttering to ourselves, "what did I do?", "what was I
thinking?" and "boy, was that ever a mistake!", as we look back at
the destruction which lies in our wake.

Positive Passion, on the other hand, is like a slow-burning ember
whose gentle glow and warmth lingers within us. It is a Burning
Desire to Become, to Learn, to create. It enriches our Character
and broadens our Horizons.

Our Positive Passions, our Burning Desires, are those special
"somethings" which consume our dreams; they are the hobbies,
interests and fascinations which absorb our free time and are
in Harmony with our Divine Nature.

Whether it be astronomy, archaeology, gardening, other languages,
or any one of a multitude of other subjects, Positive Passions are
those "things" in which we have a deep interest; they are the
"things" we truly enjoy.

Positive Passions add excitement to our life, enhance our character
and are the source of the unconscious contributions we provide to
those who are closely associated with us.

As long as we reside in the realm of duality we will be confronted
by the many faces of Passion. It is up to us to recognize Negative
Passion for what it is, give it a gentle smile, and send it on its way.

Once we have banished the Siren of Negative Passion from our
lives we are then free to bask in the warm gentle embers of Positive
Passion; the embers which provide us with the bliss we Seek as we
Travel down our personal Path in this world of duality.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009
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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Simplicity


"The simplest things are often the truest."
-Richard Bach

Simplicity eliminates confusion. Whereas confusion results when
we complicate an issue, Simplicity enables us to rid ourselves of
confusion and see issues and Events clearly.

Simplicity is one of the Divine Principles which the Master Teachers
of antiquity revered, practiced and passed on to their Students. This
includes: Simplicity in lifestyle, Simplicity in Thought, Simplicity in
evaluating an issue or Event, and Simplicity in Actions.

Today we are trained to Believe that genius lies in complexity; that
the more we can complicate an issue the more "sophisticated", and
"ingenious" we prove ourselves to be.

Nothing is further from the Truth. Genius lies in Simplicity. Only
Simplicity allows us to see things as they truly are. Only through
Simplicity can we see what is real and true.

Complexity, on the other hand, creates confusion and chaos. It
"clouds" our judgement in the same way that a heavy Mist blinds
our vision. Whenever we allow more than one issue to occupy our
mind we abandon Simplicity and complicate our lives.

In most instances the issues which confuse us are not complex
issues. They are merely Simple issues which we have Chosen to
make complex. We do this by attaching unrelated, or semi-related,
arguments and "information" onto them.

At the center of every complex problem or discussion there is one
central issue which has been hidden and buried deep beneath
layers of distracting arguments. This central issue is the "heart of
the matter". It is the one and only issue which needs to be resolved.
All of the other arguments are simply distractions which are designed
to confuse and fool us.

We practice the art of Simplicity in the same way we peel an
onion. We remove and discard, layer by layer, all unrelated
"information" and distracting arguments that cover up and hide the
"heart of the matter". Once we arrive at the heart of the matter
we are able to "see" the central issue clearly and thereby resolve
it.

Simplicity is the ability to focus on one solitary issue at a time.
Once that issue is resolved, we are then able to move on to the
next solitary issue.

Also, Simplicity is ridding ourselves of all the vague, complicated,
and confusing Thoughts and activities which hamper us physically,
mentally and spiritually.

Peace, Harmony and Contentment reside within Simplicity. And
as these are the Virtues we truly strive for, we should make every
attempt to make our lives as Simple as possible.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009
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Sunday, August 9, 2009

Compromise


"Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right
or good in the hope of retaining another-
too often ending in the loss of both."
-Tryon Edwards

Compromise is an uneasy agreement in which each party sacrifices
something dear to them while the central issue remains unresolved.
It is the agreeing to a current concession with the hope of gaining
something greater in the future. And, although "hope springs
eternal", a Compromise made today rarely, if ever, bears healthy
fruit tomorrow.

A Compromise can occur between individuals, between factions,
between individuals and factions, and within ourselves. And
regardless of the persons and the factions involved, Compromise
can best be described as: "sacrificing what we want most for what
we want most at that particular moment".

Simply put: if the agreement entered into is not completely
satisfying for all parties concerned, it is a Compromise.

When we Compromise, we give something of ourselves away. That
"something" is usually a concession which creates a conflict with
our Divine Nature.

And, it is not that we are unaware of the fact that we are making
a concession which is in direct conflict with our Divine Nature; we
make this concession voluntarily and grudgingly in the Hope that
"this time things will be different" and that this decision will "make
everything better". The Truth is, we have not made things "better".
We have, in fact, made things worse.

Because a Compromise is not a win-win agreement, the issue which
was swept under the carpet of Compromise will eventually erupt
again in the future; often in a more devastating manner. When we
grudgingly agree to a Compromise we are not entering into a
positive agreement. We are creating a festering sore. And as with
all festering sores it will need to be eventually cured or removed.

It is important to keep one thing in mind: Compromise, in this
sense, does not pertain to minor interpersonal differences such as:
leaving the toothpaste cap off, or using too much closet space, or
forgetting to close the garage door. The "festering sore" type of
Compromise pertains to the issues which are in direct conflict with
our Spiritual Path and our Divine Nature.

Perhaps the most critical issue for us to focus on is that Compromise
is not Harmony. It is a degree of dis-Harmony. But regardless of
the degree, dis-Harmony is still dis-Harmony. And this dis-Harmony
must eventually be resolved before true Harmony can prevail.

Any dis-Harmonious truce creates regret, frustration, and
unhappiness. It also creates a Self-Imposed Limitation for all parties
involved. Eventually all of these issues must resolve themselves.
And it is unfortunate that this usually occurs by way of a much larger
"battle", over the same original issue, sometime in the future.

In the end, when working toward an agreement, all parties are
either in Harmony with each other in their pursuit of a win-win
resolution or they are not. There is no middle-ground in this matter.

Keeping this in mind, why should any of us Choose the shackles of
Compromise, along with all the negative energy that it fosters,
when we can instead Choose to Travel along the unrestricted,
rewarding, and Harmonious Path of Our Divine Nature...the Path
of Personal Sovereignty?

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009
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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Adversity


"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors."
-Proverb

Adversity is a Character Builder. Adversity is the Master Teacher
who presents us with the obstacles we must overcome, and the
Lessons which we must master, in order to gain personal enrichment
and spiritual enlightenment. It is the Fire in which we forge our
personal and spiritual strengths. When we face Adversity head on,
overcome it, and Learn from it, we strengthen our Character and
become the Master, and Hero, of our Personal Destiny.

Metaphor, mythology, and Symbolism provide us with excellent
examples of the strength which is forged within the Fires of
Adversity.

The metaphor "baptism by fire" teaches us that it is only by facing
our ordeals, fears, and Inner Demons head-on that we can build,
improve, and strengthen our character.

The Roman god Vulcan and the Greek god Hephaestus forged their
finest steel in the intense heat of their furnaces. This steel was
used to create the armor and weaponry that Heroes required in
order to vanquish their adversaries...their Adversities.

The ancient Alchemists purified their most sacred metals in the
Fires of their hottest furnaces. The heat of these furnaces
dissolved all which was not pure, leaving only that which is pure
(another metaphor for overcoming, and dissolving, Adversity).

Just as the strongest steel can only be forged in the most intense
Fires so, too, our Truest Nature can only manifest itself when
tested by the "Flames of Adversity".

Adversity can come to us in many forms: from minor setbacks to
major tragedies. It is how we Choose to handle Adversity that
determines the person we are, and the person we will Become.

When we face, overcome, and Learn from Adversity we forge
strong character traits. When we avoid the challenges of Adversity
we instill weak character traits within us which prevent us from
experiencing personal and spiritual growth.

Our spiritual and emotional skills are just like the physical muscles
in our body: when they are not used they become weak and useless;
they atrophy.

And, just as it is important for us to understand how we handle
our own Adversity, it is also important for us to evaluate how others
handle their Adversities.

This is an especially important consideration when we are
considering a business or personal Relationship. Does this other
person handle stressful and Adverse situations with calmness,
prudence, insight, and Awareness, or, do they lose control of
themselves, become confused or hysterical, and make quick and
hasty Decisions? Just as we must understand ourselves, so too
must we understand, and be cautious of, other persons we allow
to enter our lives.

To quote the ancient Roman philosopher Epictetus, "Adversity
introduces people to themselves". Therefore, the next Time we are
faced with an Adverse situation we should recognize it for what it is.
It is an opportunity to grow and acquire new skills which will help
us face future challenges that await us as we Travel our Road
toward our Personal Destiny.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009
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