Expansion

The passion for knowledge and wisdom is insatiable! Read read read, churn churn churn...and feeling helpless that I cannot ingest and digest everything all at once!

What for this expansion? What drives this quest? Truth is at the core. I have undoubtedly had what I am seeking now with such gusto. Everything seems familiar and natural. And yet, its not outside. When I went into silence, the essence was there... waiting calmly.

The desire to be complete and full... right now... its intense. And yet, it cannot be achieved by reading alone. In fact, it cannot be achieved by reading at all. He says, forget all that you have read and focus on me. I teach you the essence of it all.

The quest for more has had me in its grip today. Its very tempting to know more. Just a little more. Just one book a day... today it was philosophy and about traditions in society...

Actually this too is lust. Intense desire. It is not normal. It is not balanced. It is disempowering... how counter-intuitive. Now, to get back to the seed stage in a second.

56 Areas of Improvement

Half an hour of deeper than usual introspection yielded 56 varieties of food for thought...areas of improvement.

Each time I check, I find some things that are way better than I expected, some things that are just as I expected and some things that are way worse than I expected.

Just watching the shortcomings becoming visible in full flow...is an experience in itself. Felt calm... and lighter at the end of it. But am keenly aware that knowledge of the shortcoming is not equal to having addressed it with the mastery of a corresponding virtue or power... i've made that mistake too often.

Virtues are sources of power

Every virtue when valued and lived becomes a power. It changes situations, changes people, achieves that which is not possible without exercising this virtue as a power.

The Four Keywords

1. Introversion - To look inside to find out the meaning of what is outside
2. Concentration - To focus on what is relevant and actionable
3. Determination - To follow through the change process to make it sustainable
4. Success - The natural outcome of the above steps

Appreciating beauty

I saw so much beauty in the last few days... in people and places

• Amazing sense of humour... the ability to highlight multiple perspectives of any situation, keen sense of observation, almost mono acting multiple roles including the sharing of God's thoughts.
• Love for God from the heart - these mothers have such depth of connection that it takes every listener beyond as they narrate the stories. Language is no barrier. Love for God is universal
• A passion for knowledge in its purest, unadulterated for - Seeking incessantly to gain clarification, sharing profound perspectives on the thoughts offered, incredibly appreciative based on elevated self respect and regard for others.
• Instant Surrender - transforming completely overnight before people can understand what's going on. Instant connection, powerful decision and permanent change. Wow.
• Easy connection with universal eternal truths despite vivid diversity of backgrounds.
• Introspection, reflection, honesty and fearlessness.

Kuwait has been an interesting chapter.

Surrender

When there is plenty of change on the anvil, when there is chaos because of many divergent opinions, when there is pulls from many sides... a surrendered intellect stays blissful. At the bottom of the sea, it is always calm. The waves are always superficial and cannot shake a surrendered intellect.

It is absolutely beautiful!