The fragrance that clings to the hand that gives roses

Reflecting on yesterday's blog, I realised that, of the five things I said I would do for others, the 'benefactors' of four were actually people I will always be grateful for. Here is why:

• "helping a friend edit a report before he submits it to his boss" - This friend does not know that it was his revelation a year ago that he had the habit of writing a blog a day which gave me the motivation and determination to do the same. Without his example, I definitely wouldn't have kept it up.


• "helping a friend who asked for ideas for a presentation do some research and then make some PowerPoint slides" - This friend is my former boss who has now retired. In a world where good bosses and colleagues are harder to find than Osama bin Laden, this great guy gave me more guidance, tolerance and, dare I say, love than I could ever dream of.


• "preparing for a lesson that I will teach as a volunteer teacher tomorrow" - The organiser of this volunteer work project is the priest who officiated my marriage in his home country when he was on holiday there.


• "helping my wife's friend figure out how he can upload things to the website that he paid someone to build for his business" - This person has been giving chiropractic treatment to my wife on a weekly basis.

So the realisation that, in helping them, I am actually paying them back in a small way has made the effort even more satisfying. To quote from Robin S. Sharma's The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari yet again, "when you work to improve the lives of others, you indirectly elevate your own life in the process."

Shrek's shackle

I went to the IFC to see the morning show of Shrek Forever After. At HKD65, the ticket price was about half that of the regular shows. Not a bad deal for those who do not have to sleep until noon on a non-working day. But on the other hand, these days there is basically only the 3D version available for these animation films means that consumers are left with no choice and have to pay more. The situation is much like when the bus companies started to introduce air-conditioned buses to Hong Kong many years ago. The companies claimed that passengers still had a choice, meaning that those who did not want to pay the 40 percent extra fees (especially in winter time when air-conditioning was not necessary) could wait for a bus without aircon if they did not mind spending the time. But it soon became clear that non-aircon bus services were only available in those unprofitable lines, and even in those lines buses without aircon are so few and far between that you'd have to be out of your mind or out of this world to actually wait for one. Fairly soon, when the non-aircon buses have all 'retired', such 'choices', if you can call them that, will be gone 'forever after'. I can see the trend of 3D films developing along this line.

Back to the film itself, the moral of the fable is that one should appreciate what one has in the here and now. In Shrek's case, he got bored about his life despite having a beloved wife, lovely children and a bunch of good friends. It was when he failed to count his blessings and yearned for the life in the yester-years which he considered to be more fun and adventurous that he succumbed to temptations and messed up his life. To use Robin S. Sharma's symbol for the seventh virtue introduced in the book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Shrek failed to appreciate the Path of Diamonds he was walking, and became a prisoner of the past. Likewise, we can be trapped in the past, or in the future, and fail to "embrace the present", which is what the seventh virtue is about.

Today, this day is all you have

Here is Robin S. Sharma's seventh and final virtue of enlightened living as introduced in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

The Symbol

The Path of Diamonds: a symbol of the path you are currently walking, one which is full of priceless treasures

The Virtue
Embrace the present

The Wisdom

• Live in the "now"; savour the gift of the present
• Never sacrifice happiness for achievement
• Savour the journey and live each day as your last

The Techniques

• Live your children's childhood
• Practise the art of gratitude
• Grow your destiny by savouring the "now" and following your dreams

Some Good Quotes

"The past is water under the bridge and the future is a distant sun on the horizon of your imagination. The most important moment is now."

"Being engaged in a pursuit that truly challenges you is the surest route to personal satisfaction."
"Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Live for today, there will never be another one quite like it."

"Happiness... is also a choice that you make. You can marvel at the diamonds along the way or you can keep running through all your days, chasing that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that ultimately reveals itself to be empty."

"Stop spending so much time chasing life's big pleasures while you neglect the little ones. Slow things down. Enjoy the beauty and sacredness of all that is around you."

"Never put off happiness for the sake of achievement. Never put off the things that are important for your well-being and satisfaction to a later time. Today is the day to live fully... Today is the day to enjoy the fruits of your efforts. Today is the day to live from your imagination and harvest your dreams."

"Live your children's childhood... Take the time to watch them grow and flourish."

"Life doesn't always give you what you ask for, but it always gives you what you need."

"When you savour 'the now', you kindle the fire of life that allows you to grow your destiny... We all have something that we are meant to do. Once you are connected to this mission, ...all your desires will be fulfilled effortlessly... Simply follow the path of your dreams, in full expectation of the bounty that is certain to flow. This will bring you to your divine destination. This is... growing your destiny."

"Revive your spirit and start tending to your soul. This is the way to Nirvana."

"Meditate on what your true calling is, and how you can give yourself to others."

"Everyone on this planet is a wonder of this world. Every one of us is a hero in some way or another. Every one of us has the potential for extraordinary achievement, hapiness and lasting fulfillment. All it takes are small steps in the direction of our dreams. Tiny, incremental changes and improvements... will create positive habits. Positive habits will create results. And results will inspire you towards greater personal change."

"Starting today, learn more, laugh more and do what you truly love to do. Do not be denied by your destiny."

Key Words
now, present, gratitude, Nirvana

Live to give

Here is Robin S. Sharma's sixth virtue of enlightened living as introduced in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

The Symbol

The Fragrant Roses: a symbol of serving or giving to others, our ultimate purpose of life

The Virtue

Selflessly serve others

The Wisdom

• The quality of your life ultimately comes down to the quality of your contribution
• To cultivate the sanctity of each day, serve othersBy elevating the lives of others, your life reaches its highest dimensions

The Techniques

• Perform some acts of kindness every day
• Meditate every morning on the good you will do for others during the day
• Cultivate richer relationships

Some Good Quotes

"Make it a priority to change your world view so that you stop seeing yourself purely as an individual and start seeing yourself as part of the collective."

"The most noble thing you can do is to give to others... It is all about losing your self-consciousness and starting to focus on a higher purpose."

"When we are born, we are crying while the world rejoices... We should live our lives in such a way that when we die, the world cries while we are rejoicing."

"Compassion and daily acts of kindness make life far richer."

Key Words
serving others, daily acts of kindness, compassion, ultimate purpose

"If youth only know, if age only could"

Here is Robin S. Sharma's fifth virtue of enlightened living as introduced in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

The Symbol
The Gold Stopwatch: a symbol of time, our most important commodity

The Virtue
Respect your time

The Wisdom

• 'The Ancient Rule of Twenty': Eighty percent of the results you achieve in your life come from only twenty percent of the activities that occupy your time
• Time mastery: Enlightened people are priority-driven
• Deathbed mentality: Live every day as if it was your last

The Techniques

• Plan your week and manage your time creatively. Focus your time around your priorities.
• Simplify your life.
• Wake up every day and ask yourself the simple question: 'What would I do today if it was my last?'

Some Good Quotes
"If youth only knew, if age only could."

"Time mastery is life mastery."

"Time mastery allows you more time to do the things you love to do, the things that are truly meaningful to you."

"Guard time well. Remember, it's a non-renewable resource."

"By anchoring all the most vital aspects of your life into your daily schedule, you ensure that your week and your life retain a sense of meaning and peace."

"Failing to plan is planning to fail."

"Stop living your life in compartments and understand once and for all that all you do forms one indivisible whole."

"Direct all your time to those activities that count."

"Life is like a fat strip of bacon. You have to separate the meat from the fat in order to be the master of your time."

"Don't let others steal your time. Be wary of time thieves... You must be ruthless with your time. Learn to say no."

"The most productive people in this world have cultivated the habit of doing the things that less productive people don't like doing, even though they too might not like doing them."

"Those people who are masters of their time live simple lives. Living a life rich with accomplishment and contribution did not have to come through the sacrifice of peace of mind."

"Simplify your life... One of the most tragic things that any one of us can do is to put off living. Too many people are dreaming of some magical rose garden on the horizon rather than enjoying the one growing in our back yard."

"Stop acting like you have five hundred years to live... Don't waste even one minute of your day. Develop a deathbed mentality.. When you adopt a deathbed mentality you live every day as if it was your last."

"The best time to plant a tree was forty years ago. The second best time is today."

"Push yourself to do more and to experience more. Harness your energy to start expanding your dreams... Don't accept a life of mediocrity when you hold such infinite potential within the fortress of your mind. Dare to tap into your greatness. This is your birthright!"

"Act as if failure is impossible, and your success will be assured."

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are a spiritual being having a human experience."

"The only thing you can take with you at the end of your life is your conscience. Listen to your conscience. Let it guide you. It knows what is right. It will tell you that your calling in life is ultimately selfless service to others in some form or another."

Key Words
time-consciousness, time mastery, simplify your life, deathbed mentality

Become the master of your will

Here is Robin S. Sharma's fourth virtue of enlightened living as introduced in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

The Symbol
The Pink Wire Cable: a symbol for self-control and discipline

The Virtue
Live with Discipline

The Wisdom

• Self control is mind control. When you control your thoughts, you control your mind, when you control your mind, you control your life. When you control your life, you control your destiny
• Moment is the secret ingredient to building self-discipline

The Techniques

• Repeat at least thirty times a day: 'I am more than I appear to be, all the world's strength and power rests inside me.' Blend this mantra with the practice of creative visioning.
  Start doing the things you don't like doing.
• Go an entire day without speaking, except in response to a direct question.

Some Good Quotes
"When the spider webs unite, they tie up a lion." (old African proverb)

"Willpower allows you to do what you said you would do, when you said you would do it."

"Through the steel of discipline, you will forge a character rich with courage and peace. Through the virtue of will, you are destined to rise to life's highest ideal and live within a heavenly mansion filled with all that is good, joyful and vital. Without them, you are lost like a mariner without a compass, one who eventually sinks with his ship."

"Building self-control and discipline into your life will bring you a tremendous sense of freedom."

"Most people have liberty... But too many people are also slaves to their impulses... They lack a key ingredient to a meaningful and enlightened life: the freedom to see the forest beyond the trees, the freedom to choose what is right over what seems pressing."

"Freedom is like a house: you build it brick by brick. The first brick you should lay is willpower."

"Developing the power of your will can erase the worry habit, keep you healthy and give you far more energy than you ever have had."

"Self-control is really nothing more than mind control. Will is the king of mental powers. When you master your mind you master your life. Mental mastery starts with being able to control every thought that you think. When you have developed the ability to discard all weak thoughts and focus only on those that are positive and good, positive and good actions will follow. Soon you will start attracting all that is positive and good into your life."

"When you control your thoughts, you control your mind. Whe you control your mind, you control you life. And once you reach the stage of being in total control of your life, you become the master of your destiny."

"When you come to know the tmeless laws of nature, those that govern the operation of this universe and all that lives within it, you will also know that it is your birthright to be all that you can be."

"Decide to do the things you know you should be doing rather than walking the path of least resistance. Start to fight the gravitational force of your bad habits and weaker impulses."

"Small victories lead to large victories. You must build on the small to achieve the great... You have set a goal and you have realised it. This feels good. The trick is to keep setting the mark higher and raising your standards continuously. This will then release that magical quality of momentum that will motivate you to keep exploring your infinite potential."

Key Words
discipline, self-control, mind control, freedom, willpower, momentum

Self-mastery is the DNA of life-mastery

Here is Robin S. Sharma's third virtue of enlightened living as introduced in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

The Symbol
The Sumo Wrestler: a symbol for continuous self-improvement

The Virtue
Practice Kaizen (constant and never ending improvement)

The Wisdom
‧Self mastery is the DNA of life mastery
‧Success on the outside begins within
‧Enlightenment comes through the consistent cultivation of your mind , body and soul

The Techniques
‧Do the things you fear
‧The 10 Ancient Rituals for Radiant Living

1. The Ritual of Solitude - Ensure that your daily schedule includes a mandatory period of peace
2. The Ritual of Physicality - Take some time every single day to nourish the temple of your body through vigorous exercise
3. The Ritual of Life Nourishment - Go on a vegetarian diet
4. The Ritual of Abundant Knowledge - Become a student of life and use what you have learned in the classroom of your existence
5. The Ritual of Personal Reflection - Take the time to think; get into the habit of personal introspection
6. The Ritual of Early Awakening - Rise with the sun and start the day off well
7. The Ritual of Music - Spend a little time with music every day
8. The Ritual of the Spoken Word - Repeat a mantra
9. The Ritual of Congruent Character - Take daily incremental action to improve your character
10. The Ritual of Simplicity - Live a simple life

Some Good Quotes
"No man is free who is not a master of himself." - Epictetus

"Success on the outside begins with success on the inside."

"When you have cultivated a deep sense of faith in your abilities and an indomitable spirit, nothing can stop you from succeeding in all your pursuits and living with great rewards."

"Questions are the most effective method of eliciting knowledge."

"Ultimately, the degree of courage yo live with determines the amount of fulfillment you receive."

"The only limits on your life are those that you set yourself."

"When you dare to get out of your circle of comfort and explore the unknown, you start to liberate your true human potential."

"Do the things you fear... Do the things you have always wanted to do but didn't because you tricked yourself into believing that you were too young, too old, too rich or too poor."

"Fear is a conditioned response: a life-sucking habit that can easily consume your energy, creativity and spirit if you are not careful. When fear rears its ugly head, beat it down quickly. The best way to do that is to do the thing you fear. Understand the anatomy of fear: It is your own creation. Like any other creation, it is just as easy to tear it down as it is to erect it."

"Truly enlightened people ... are prepared to put off short-term pleasure for the sake of long-term fulfillment. So they tackle their weaknesses and fears head on, even if dipping into the zone of the unknown brings with it a measure of discomfort."

"Doing what you love... requires a great deal of courage. It requires you to step out of your comfort zone. And change is always a little uncomfortable at first. It is also more than a little risky. Having said this, this is the surest way to design a more joyful life."

"Solitude and quiet connects you to your creative source and releases the limitless intelligence of the Universe... The mind is like a lake... By simply taking the time to be still and quiet every day, the lake of the mind becomes as smooth as a plate of glass. The inner quietness brings with it a wealth of benefits including a deep sense of well being, inner peace and boundless energy."

"If at all possible, commune with nature daily. Being with nature... allows you to tune in to the infinite wisdom of your highest self. This self-knowledge will move you into the uncharted dimensions of your personal power."

"To breathe properly is to live properly."

"Try not to live your life bound by the shackles of your schedule. Instead, focus on the things that your conscience and heart tell you to do."

"To truly get the best out of a great book, you must study it, not just read it."

"Read as many books as you can...every answer to every problem you have ever faced is in print."

"The only way to improve tomorrow is to know what you did wrong today."

"Happiness comes through good judgment, , good judgment comes through experience, and experience comes through bad judgment."

"Figure out what is right and what is wrong in your days and in your life. Then set about making immediate improvements."

"The ten-minute period before you sleep and the ten-minute period after you wake up are profoundly influential on your subconscious mind. Only the most inspiring and serene thoughts should be programmed into your mind at those times."

"You are what you think about all day long. You are also what you say to yourself all day long."

"Your self-image is a governor of sorts. It will never let you act in a way that is inconsistent with it."

"You sow a thought, you reap an action. Reap an action, you sow a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap a destiny."

"...industry, compassion, humility, patience, honesty and courage. When all your actions are congruent and aligned with these principles, you will feel a deep sense of inner harmony and peace. Living this way will inevitably lead you to spiritual success."

"Focus only on your priorities, those activities which are truly meaningful. Your life will be uncluttered, rewarding and exceptionally peaceful."

"Every being on this Earth, every object on this Earth has a soul. All souls flow into one, this is the Soul of the Universe... When you nourish your own mind and your own spirit, you are really feeding the Soul of the Universe. When you improve yourself, you are improving the lives of all those around you. And when you have the courage to advance confidently in the direction of your dreams, you begin to draw upon the power of the universe... Life gives you what you ask of it. It is always listening."

"Failure is not having the courage to try, nothing more and nothing less. The only thing standing between most people and their dreams is the fear of failure. Yet failure is essential to success in any endeavor. Failure tests us and allows us to grow. It offers us lessons and guides us along the path of enlightenment... It is a fundamental Law of Nature to profit through loss. Never fear failure. Failure is your friend."

"The universe favors the brave. When you resolve, once and for all, to lift your life to its highest level, the strength of your soul will guide you."

Key Words
kaizen, self-improvement, courage, laugh, mantra

Selflessly serve others

In introducing the second virture of enlightening living, Robin S. Sharma used the symbol of a lighthouse to represent the purpose of life.

It is easy to say that "the purpose of life is a life of purpose", but it is not quite so easy to identify the purpose of one life. I am sure that there are some lost souls out there who have spent a lifetime without finding it or some who haven't even tried.

Different people may have different purpose in life, but Sharma dropped a strong hint through the voice of Julian, the fictional character in his book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Asked what his Dharma is, he replied: "Mine is simple: to selflessly serve others."

This message of selflessly serving others is expanded in the Gospel yesterday, which was about this passage from Isaiah that Jesus read to those who were present at the synagogue:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Jesus followed up the reading by saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)

That passage from Isaiah 61 summed up the purpose of the life of Jesus. May the Spirit of the Lord also be upon us, and guide us to follow Jesus's example and make that the purpose of our life too.

The purpose of life is a life of purpose

Here is the second virtue of enlightened living introduced in Robin S. Sharma's The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

The Symbol
The Lighthouse: a symbol for the purpose of life

The Virtue
Follow your purpose

The Wisdom
‧The purpose of life is a life of purpose
‧Discovering and then realising your lifework brings lasting fulfillment
‧Set clearly defined personal, professional and spiritual goals. and then have the courage to act on them.

The Techniques
The power of self examination
The five step method for attaining goals:
1. Form a clear mental image of the outcome.
2. Create positive pressure to keep you inspired.
3. Attach a timeline to your goal.
4. Apply The Magic Rule of 21.
5. Enjoy the process.

Some Good Quotes
"Trust yourself. Create the kind of life you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into the flames of achievement." - Foster C. McClellan

"The secret of success is constancy of purpose." - Benjamin Disraeli

"Lasting happiness comes from steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing confidently in the direction of your life's purpose. This is the secret to kindling the inner fire that lurks within you."

"You must know your life's aim and then manifest this vision into reality by consistent action."
"You change your life the moment you set your goals and start to seek out your Dharma."
"From Dharma springs inner harmony and happiness."

"Concentrate every ounce of your mental energy on self-discovery. Learn what you excel at and what makes you happy... Whatever it is, find your passion and then follow it."

"You master the art of goal-setting - and goal getting - by starting off small."

"Never do anything because you have to. The only reason to do something is because you want to and because you know it is the right thing for you to do."

"There is tremendous power in a ritual."

"Make sure that you have fun while you are advancing along the path of your goals and purpose. Never forget the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration. Never neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things."

"Stay focused on your lifework and on giving selfless service to others. The Universe will take care of everything else. This is one of nature's truest laws."

"There is a purpose for everything that has ever happened to you, and everything that will happen to you.. Every experience offers lessons."

"A burning sense of passion is the most potent fuel for your dreams."

"Take complete control of your life. Decide, once and for all, to be the master of your fate."

"Always remember that what lies behind you and what lies in front of you is nothing when compared to what lies within you."

"We all have been granted a unique set of gifts and talents that will readily allow us to realise this life work. The key is to discover them, and in doing so, discover the main objective of your life."

"You will never be able to hit a target that you cannot see."

"Enthusiasms is one of the key ingredients for a lifetime of successful living."

Key Words
achievement, Dharma, purpose, joriki (concentrated mind), ritual, passion