Training Your Mind To Realize Its Potential E-Book

Paul Davies

• Herausgeber: Grosvenor House Publishing
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Seitenzahl: 305

Beschreibung

In 1984 at aged 18, Paul Davies was introduced to personal motivation and higher consciousness teachings. After 30 years of personal development related studies and practices, Paul shares through a book trilogy a possibility how each one of us can realize our pure potentiality. Training your mind to realize it's potential is the 2nd book in the trilogy which conveys the benefits of spiritual practices in our daily lives. Paul tested these principles in running a number of successful and award winning business enterprises and shows tangibly "The way" of success is by kindness, integrity, fair dealing and service.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Zen 10 Ox Herding Story

Chapter 2 An overview of the journey so far

Chapter 3. Developing a support system for the journey on the spiritual path

Chapter 4. Characteristics of the Ego

Chapter 5. A few basic methods of meditation practice & an overview of renunciation

Chapter 6. A condensed life story

Chapter 7. The Andrew Carnegie/ Napoleon Hill story

Chapter 8. A Journey into the martial arts

Chapter 9. The City Giants story

Chapter 10. A message for the youth of today

Chapter 11. The Art of …

Chapter 12. The benefits of a vegetarian diet

Chapter 13. If there was oneness there would be no conflicts or wars

Chapter 14. The redistribution of wealth

Chapter 15. The Inspirational writings of James Allen

Chapter 16. The commencement into the final stage

Recommended Charities

Appendix

Acknowledgements

Copyright

FOREWORD

To whom it may concern.

I would like to thank Mr. Paul Davies for giving me the opportunity to be able to write this statement. It is not easy to describe years of fun and respect in a few words.

I have known Paul for 13 years both as a close family friend and as a man of honour and a truly spiritual man.

One of the many sides of Paul that amazes me is his ability to overcome obstacles in life and his will to persevere to pursue his goals in life. Not only is a creative individual, but he is also a person who has become a success in the business field.

As a friend Paul and I often discuss the concept of clearing our bodies from negativity to positivity.

Throughout all the years of knowing him, Paul has had a motivation in helping and supporting children. I suggested to Paul running children’s self-defence classes, he didn’t hesitate for a minute and made a decision to use his basement gym as a place to train pupils and as a result more than 5 families came to register including my son. This gentleman has achieved victory upon victory in supporting the community.

I have to mention the other beautiful hobbies of Paul, he is brilliant in gardening and a very good chess player, and it has become a habit whenever I see Paul, that he and I play a game of chess.

I wish Mr. Paul Davies all the best, all the way.

Dr. Ashraf Aldin Al-Hussaini 22nd May 2014

To Whom It May Concern

I have known Mr. Paul Davies since 1989. In 1986, he moved to London from North Wales and gradually developed himself and started a letting business in 1989 and joined a partnership in 1990 at Gem Newsagents in Tooting, South London. After 7 years, he left the newsagents partnership and started his own video store.

For the whole time that I have known him, he has run successfully the letting and property purchase business and throughout running the various businesses, he was consistently systematic, organized and energetic.

After achieving his business aims he changed direction in life. He became more spiritual and travelled extensively in the Far East.

I also know that he is involved with various charities all over the world especially in the Philippines.

N. Ranjithakumaran August 2014

Reference Paul Davies

I have had the great pleasure to have known Paul for over 20 years, I first met him in Gems which was a business shop partnership. From then on we have spent many hours discussing life and its meaning. Paul has always been very positive in his approach to life, setting goals and achieving them and after meeting his goals setting new objectives.

Paul is well travelled and it only takes a moment when speaking with him to understand the depth of his knowledge (first hand) from various parts of the world. His knowledge on most subjects is vast, but it’s the way in which he interlinks that knowledge which is amazing.

If you have read his first book, ‘The Joy of Hard Work,’ it soon becomes apparent that he has a vision of what he wants to do, where he is going and what he will do once it’s achieved. His disciplined manner he attributes to martial arts training, but I believe, he had the discipline before his training and the training only enhanced it.

A Welsh lad arriving in London with very little and through determination goes on to become wealthy. It’s often said that wealth is a state of mind, and this is amply demonstrated by Paul’s endeavours through all areas of his life.

Having recently re-read his first book, I cannot wait to read the second book and am grateful for all the knowledge and assistance he has afforded me over the years.

Ian Hussain

Every so often, we have the rare opportunity of meeting someone who stands out from the crowd.

That’s exactly how I felt when I met Paul Davies 12 years ago.

After having become a member of his video store, Paragon Video, I soon realized that this was no ordinary person, and that his vast knowledge would extend far beyond any portrait of life, all the way to some of life’s deep fundamental questions.

Why are we here? What is our purpose? How far would we like to go? these are some of the questions that human beings face at one point or another throughout the course of their existence, and certainly these are some of the questions which have helped shape Paul’s extraordinary and unique character.

Incorporating wisdom from some of the greatest Eastern philosophers to some of the greatest and most prominent Western characters and speakers of all time, Paul will take every opportunity to show you diamonds that will move and inspire you to search for your inner gold mine.

Nelson Paulo June 2014

PREFACE

This book is the 2nd part of a trilogy. The 1st book, ‘The Joy of Hard Work’ with a title within the title ‘Neurosis of the Human Condition and the Failure of Materialism,’ was written at age 39. This book is being written almost 10 years later.

I wish to share that which I have experienced, learnt and uncovered over the last 45 years.

The best way to convey this learning is by telling the condensed story of my life.

I write primarily as a student of the mind and am sharing many of the lessons learnt and benefits derived through my studies in successfully putting various theories into practice.

The work relates invariably to non-thinking and focusing on the present. The condensed life story which is all about the past is hardly ever thought about, but for the purpose of this book there are extensive recollections. There are also many references and encouragements to obtain further knowledge, although when the search for knowledge is complete there is no further need for knowledge – and then the learning becomes an unlearning.

I have been helping and advising people both spiritually and materially for 25 years by telling my stories and other peoples’ stories, sharing quotations, recommending and giving other people’s books and more recently recommending talks and brief biographies of successful people from YouTube. This book is written in the same way that advice is conveyed to people in person.

This book can be considered a compilation of writings, written for the purpose of assisting and encouraging the reader in changing from negative to positive i.e. pulling up many weeds and planting many seeds. Most of these seeds are from the great minds of others, combining profound knowledge and wisdom.

I have been seriously involved in development related studies for just 30 years, but the lessons of life began at the age of 4, when my leg was broken by a school bully in primary school.

A brief summary of my background up to age 39 is given by my friend Asiimwe in the foreword to ‘The Joy of Hard Work’:

“Paul Davies arrived in London from North Wales the day after his twenty first birthday with a twenty year goal: to be a millionaire by the age of forty. He brought with him £400 in cash, a guitar and the book his father had given him for his twenty-first birthday- ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill.

Since then Paul has achieved the majority of his goals, including:

Receiving a Merit Award for the company he worked for after first arriving in London in 1987;

Making a record with the band he was in as guitarist in 1988;

Obtaining his black belt in karate in 1988;

Receiving a joint Business Award with his business partner in 1997 (Area Award);

Receiving a Business Award in 2002 for his letting company for “Outstanding Customer Care” (Regional Award);

Receiving a Business Award in 2003 for his video store- “Best Video Store in Great Britain” 800-1000 square metres (National Award);

Writing a book;

By purchasing his tenth property, he is well on his way to achieving “his definite chief aim” in his fortieth year.”

INTRODUCTION

This trilogy can be summed up in the lesson learnt early in life – to repeat positive affirmations and to still and empty the mind, although many courses of study have been explored the main one I have used is in Zen.

The 3 books are based on the Zen 10 Ox Herding Story

Book 1 ‘The Joy Of Hard Work’ was primarily in 2 parts relating firstly to material achievement (“The Beginning of the Beginning”) and in the latter part (“The Beginning”) leaving behind the external world in order to go within to recognise our true potential, equivalent to stages 1-4 of the Ox Herding Story.

Book 2 ‘Training Your Mind to Realize it’s Potential’ title within the title “Used to be an overachiever but I’m alright now” is equivalent to stages 5-6 of the Ox Herding Story.

Book 3 is the final stages of the Ox Herding Story equivalent to stages 7-10 which will be written at a later date.

The message that is being conveyed through the books is that there is a place to live which is so different from the material plane – a place of joy, bliss and inspiration. There is a wish to share this and make it available to everybody.

The Ox Herding Story is a method of self-realization using the metaphor of the ox and is similar to the 7 chakras in Yoga.

Book 1 & 2 can take you from the 1st to the 6th chakra which will enable you to achieve many goals, reach your potential, give a sense of fulfilment and achievement and give your life meaning. However if there is still a seeking for pleasures there will be a continual ascending and descending up and down the spinal column (The chakras).

The journey from the 6th to the 7th chakra is not just one more step, it is the journey of 1,000 steps which can be compared to the 1,000 petal lotus in Buddhism. In Tao there is a clue described as “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.”

This in my experience and those who have made the journey know it requires renunciation and a complete reorientation of the mind. Although difficult, to come through this is considered to be the most meaningful event in a human being’s life.

Entering the 7th Chakra has been called many names-nothingness, nirvana, the void, samadhi, self-realization and enlightenment. To avoid getting attached to a state, the most appropriate name seems to be – our true nature.

It has been learnt that an “I” that “desires” can never reach enlightenment because we have “to be” in the present. Desiring anything in the future makes it unobtainable and it is also clear that “an experiencer is separate from the experience.” Therefore the “I” has to be dissolved as well as the “desires.”

A Korean Zen Buddhist Monk Seung Sahn used to say “Wanting enlightenment is a big mistake.” One of his students published a book with this as its title, including many of Seung Sahn’s profound talks.

CHAPTER 1

The Zen 10 Ox Herding Story

The basis of the Ox Herding Story is described in 10 pictures beginning with an ox herder searching for something:

STAGE 1: SEARCHING FOR THE OX

In this picture we are looking for some meaning in life and have found that material things are not giving the happiness we thought they would. We are searching for something, and this could be described as the beginning of the quest. There is a growing sense that deep in our being there must be a true and unchanging nature, a nature that we have lost and need to reclaim in order to be at peace.

STAGE 2: SEEING THE FOOTPRINTS

The ox herder sees some footprints. This represents the stage when we decide to do something about our inner dissatisfaction, signifying us making an attempt which normally coincides with seeing someone who has made changes in their life which can serve as an example or reading spiritual literature for the first time; signifying the direction of the footprints. Some tracks go off to the east; some to the west; there are choices to be made regarding practices and methods.

STAGE 3: SEEING THE OX

At this stage we decide to make a commitment to exploring the spiritual path, beginning with some basic studies, exploring different methods and types of meditation, even practicing some meditation and experiencing the small amount of peace that comes from initial practice, signified by seeing the ox for the first time. Getting a glimpse of the ox is equivalent to seeing our basic nature for the first time. It is like making a journey to a famous mountain and seeing it at a distance. It is close enough to see, but still too far away to climb.

STAGE 4: CATCHING THE OX

This picture signifies attempting to catch the ox and relates to our attempts to still the mind. We have caught the ox with the rope but the ox does not want to be caught. The ox herder has to hang on tightly as the ox jumps continuously. This signifies our attempts at sitting in meditation for a set amount of time; as soon as we sit down with the aim of concentrating our mind, we are flooded with thoughts, memories (of the past) plans (for the future) and we can feel discomfort in the body. Like the ox herder we have to hang on tightly; we face obstacles, restlessness, daydreaming, sleepiness. It is necessary to recognise, if we have spent our lives up to this point in wandering thought, that it will take considerable effort to formulate new habits of concentration and focus. It takes time before we dissolve the power of our previous tendencies. This stage also signifies an alignment, albeit briefly, with intuition or the ‘sixth sense’.

STAGE 5: TENDING THE OX

In this picture, the ox herder is gently tending the ox and the ox is tamed. After regular meditation practice and holding onto the ox tightly, it becomes easier. We are more conscious and we can concentrate for a set period of time; we have gained some calmness and clarity in our lives. The ox herder is still holding on to the rope loosely, because he knows that he must remain vigilant; the ox seems to be subdued but he could jump off at any moment.

STAGE 6: RIDING THE OX HOME

This picture signifies the ox and ox herder becoming one, the ox knows where to go without being told. This is a significant stage as this signifies being in the moment and the body and mind being as one. In Chinese philosophy this is represented by the Yin and Yang; meaning Yin your inner nature and Yang your active natural gift. This is alignment of your creativity (6thchakra) and your gift of internal energy manifesting your potential. At this point practice is effortless; there is ease, leisure and freedom. As we slowly release ourselves from the attachments and grasping which used to create so much tension, we begin to take ourselves less seriously and enjoy life more; we become friends with our body and mind.

STAGE 7: FORGETTING THE OX – THE OXHERDER RESTS ALONE

In this picture the ox has disappeared and the ox herder is resting alone. Previously there was a separation between ourselves and the practice, a meditator who was meditating; at this stage we are united in the practice. This doesn’t just happen when we are sitting in meditation; everything becomes a meditation. This is described as Zen in daily life. Attachments and aversions no longer afflict the mind. We take one thing at a time, fully present. When we move we are at peace with ourselves, our mind, body and heart; we do not need to even try to discipline ourselves. We do not have to do it, it does itself. Harmlessness and generosity comes naturally.

STAGE 8: THE OX AND THE OX HERDER ARE FORGOTTEN

The ox and the ox herder are both gone. This picture signifies emptiness – there is no I, me or mine, therefore nothing belongs to us and we are liberated. The recognition that we cannot hold onto anything is a great liberation. The liberation is that everything comes out of emptiness. There are no longer any self-created barriers or limitations. There is a transcendence of body and mind; this is the place of no mind and non-duality.

STAGE 9: RETURNING TO THE ORIGINAL PLACE

This stage signifies going beyond emptiness. The practice does not stop at emptiness and is a return to the source. There is a connectedness with all things. Having forgotten our self, we appreciate the efforts of all people. There is a saying that in the beginning, before one engages deeply in practice, mountains are mountains and rivers are rivers. Then, at a certain point, mountains are no longer mountains, rivers are no longer rivers. At this stage mountains are again mountains and rivers are again rivers; the process has gone full circle, the difference being that attachments are no more.

STAGE 10: ENTERING THE MARKET PLACE WITH HELPING HANDS

The final picture is of a man who has returned from his journey and brings with him a bag full of gifts to share; the bag contains joy, compassion, understanding, kindness, wisdom as well as skills. We are deeply connected to the world, we feel its suffering, we choose to respond and help. We are no longer encumbered by appearances. This last stage is freedom. We find spirituality everywhere; it is not confined to monasteries and secluded places.

CHAPTER 2

An overview of the journey so far

I begin typing out this book the day after my 49th birthday. It is exactly 28 years (4 septenaries) since first arriving in London from North Wales on the day after my 21st birthday. The septenary refers to the period of change that occurs every 7 years and is significant in both the working life and the spiritual life.

Most of the goals that were set have been achieved. It might be assumed that there would be a continuation in the pursuit of wealth but I went the other way. At the turn of my 35th birthday (5th Septenary) there was a complete loss of interest in business and a return to the spiritual path.

Muhammad Ali described in his book ‘The Soul of a Butterfly’:

“The greatest victory in life is to rise above the material things that we once valued the most.”

Beginning from my 21st birthday (3rd Septenary), for a 3 year period from age 21 to 24, I engaged in a self-imposed retreat –which has been the most continually peaceful years of my life so far – even though there had been many difficulties to overcome after first arriving in London.

As I was training for my black belt in karate, I was engrossed in spiritual study and worked constantly on stilling the mind to increase energy (Inner Chi) and inner strength to push the body beyond its previous limits.

For this 3 year period I wasn’t in a relationship, lived alone and hardly spoke, basically living like a monk. I later learnt that the state I was in at the time is called samadhi.

This state was lost when I began the letting and retail businesses, however I felt the meaning of existence was to give and help people and to share with others the fruits of both the labours and victories. I therefore set out in business, with both humanitarian and philanthropic motivation’s and concerns and began by giving a small part of the business profits to 3rd world registered charities – a practice that has continued for over 25 years and which will continue in the future.

The aim was always to use the achievement of the targets as the basis of the book that would be written in the future.

A businessman who has been a continuous guide for me, through his teachings and example, is Andrew Carnegie. He was at one time the richest man in the world, he gave to worthy causes from the commencement of his business and consider him to be the greatest humanitarian businessman the world has ever known. On his retirement from business he gave away most of his fortune to worthy causes for the betterment of mankind.

Two of the richest men in the world of today, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, both inspired by the example of Andrew Carnegie, are giving away part of their fortune to help people in 3rd world countries.

In Andrew Carnegie’s birthplace museum in Dunfermline, Scotland one of his quotes is written over an archway: “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”

By age 35, the goals list had been abandoned, which had caused stress by creating demands, and returned to the study and practice of Eastern philosophy.

Without the demands I was able to relax more in the workplace and the many character faults that during the 12 years in business began to dissolve.

Interestingly, it was only once I ‘let go’ that we finally came 2nd in the video store competition that I had entered into for 5 years and received the UK award for the best video store from another different competition entry.

I was resolved after the 35th birthday, to quit business and to commit 100% to spiritual practice. The ox herding story was the foundation, and by age 39 I had closed the video store, written ‘The Joy Of Hard Work’ and sold a number of properties to provide for a retreat, not knowing how long it would take.

I bought a ridiculously big house in North Wales, which was a mistake – it took years to sell it and nearly lost it when I ran out of money, went in to debt and missed a few mortgage payments.

I had met Marilyn in the year 2000 and she had seen the various changes I was going through. From age 39 for 7 years there was a considerable amount of time spent in the country in North Wales. I wasn’t seeing friends, hardly speaking and was travelling a lot to the Far East, eventually finding a beautiful retreat on an island overlooking the sea in Thailand.

The retreat was difficult for both of us. Marilyn mentioned in about the 6th year that she found the silence very difficult and when she asked how long this would continue, the only reply that came to mind was that it would take at least the next 3 lifetimes.

However, in the 7th year there was a gradual return, and there has been a gradual re-integration for the last 3 years. Sometimes the re-integration, occasionally referred to as the descent from the mountain to re-enter the marketplace, can be just as difficult as the retreat.

Not long ago Marilyn asked one of her friends over for a Philippines festival. Her friend who I had only met once when I was in retreat, said to Marilyn she felt uncomfortable when we met. Marilyn assured her “Paul’s alright now, he’s normal again.” We had a good laugh about this when we met.

As of today I express myself in the 3 areas which are my active natural gifts (Yang) – details given in 3 different chapters.

I have a small property business as a private landlord and receive a small weekly income for ½ a day’s work per week with good people as tenants. This is the goose that lays the golden egg (amended ending, the goose lives), a regular investment return from a financial investment (Maintaining the capital to live off the interest).

This gives plenty of free time to explore the mind through meditation and cross-referencing spiritual study. In my home there are about a 1,000 books relating to spiritual, Eastern & Western philosophies, martial arts and business studies, for referencing the 2nd and 3rd books.

Over the last 10 years, even whilst in retreat, I have also been doing labouring work, sometimes hard labour, to raise money for the homeless and poor people in the Philippines. The money raised from this is taken to the Philippines, particularly to Manila, where food, clothes and tarpaulin (for improved shelter) is distributed. The money is also used to send cargo boxes of clothes, food and toys to a few local churches in the mountains in the north of the Philippines where we stay with Marilyn’s family.

The heavy work is important as when I go through the poor villages carrying food items in the 3 sports bags they weigh about 60lbs – and I walk nearly everywhere sometimes for miles. I’d rather walk than give less due to paying for taxis.

Needless to say, I relate very much with the work of Mother Teresa.

The physical labour also compliments the Yang in martial arts. “The Art of Expressing the Human Body” the fitness practice, particularly the heavy lifting, compliments the karate practice. In addition, cycling, swimming and jogging keeps up the fitness levels with canoeing in Wales during the summer strengthening the upper body and midsection and mountain walking strengthening the legs.

I am once again playing music, after the years that were spent in playing in bands in North Wales and with the band City Giants in London. There is renewed interest in the City Giants (described in Chapter 9).

Due to the time in study and spiritual practice, I was able to give up eating any item of food that had previously had a heart beat roughly 7 years ago and have found an even deeper connection than before with animals.

As someone interested in “living off the land,” I have on my roof garden balcony assorted plant pots of spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, celery, carrots, strawberries, red berries, gooseberries, grapes and figs.

Additionally, in 2 of the other rental properties, there are blackberries, apples and pears.

CHAPTER 3

Developing a support system for the journey on the spiritual path

To enable us to realize our potential, it is necessary to align the body, mind and spirit. At the outset the focus in life is normally the physical, then mental and somewhere in the background the spiritual. On an earnest journey into the mind and spirit it reaches a point in reverse, with spiritual coming 1st, then mental and lastly physical. Our purest potentiality is when we become a manifestation of spirit, which also creates mental and physical well-being.

This chapter will make some suggestions for preparation. A business maxim which can be of benefit:

“If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”

It has been reported that climbers attempting to climb Mount Everest have to run 100 miles a week for a set amount of weeks to prepare for the difficult journey. The spiritual journey is not easy and at the outset requires the use of will, determination and persistence – however later on it is necessary to surrender and then go beyond the will.

Religious teachings can be of value as long as we can recognise the true teachings.

“I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit”- Kahlil Gibran.

The quote by Kahlil Gibran is a reminder of the many paths that all lead to the same destination.

The spiritual journey is a journey which can be seen as a life’s work. With a long term perspective, benefits can be derived which run contrary to the ego minds belief in instant gratification and which act to weaken the ego.

The victory on the spiritual path is the successful dismantling of the ego mind. The ego mind is often referred to as lower consciousness and the spiritual mind is often referred to as higher consciousness; however there is another level of consciousness which will be referred to in this book as highest consciousness and which will be more thoroughly explained in Book 3.

The state of highest consciousness has been described as ‘no mind’ or ‘emptiness’ or ‘the void’. With no mind you align with the divine.

“Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind rest at peace.” -Lao Tzu-Tao Te Ching

Using the Star Wars metaphor. In essence Book 1 ‘The Joy of Hard Work’ is the Luke Skywalker Book. Book 2 ‘Training Your Mind to Realize It’s Potential’ is the Obi Wan Kenobi Book and Book 3 The Yoda book.

If you are able to watch the 6 Star Wars movies and on the horizon a further 3 Star Wars movies and pay close attention to the teachings of Obi Wan, Yoda and the Jedi Knights you will have, in a relaxed and enjoyable setting, some beneficial spiritual principles as a support.

(The next Star Wars movie ‘Episode 7’ is due for release in 2015).

There can be great benefit in joining with liked-minded people who are also on the path – which can act as a motivator and encourager. However, the spiritual journey is a solitary journey and if there is too much dependence on teachers, teachings, methods and external supports it can stop the progress from higher consciousness to highest consciousness. The final stages of this journey is similar to reaching a high altitude of a mountain – nearing the summit you have to travel lightly (Leaving behind your books, associates and gurus/teachers).

Philip Kapleau was a former American businessman who left for Japan in the 1950’s and became a Zen Buddhist monk. In his book ‘Zen Merging of East and West’ there is a journey of meditation which occurs in an intensive one week retreat in Zen temples in Japan called Sesshin.

The metaphor used is that of climbing a mountain. The final destination is the peak of the mountain which can relate to Abraham Maslow’s theory of peak experiences. A success of the spiritual journey involves “Letting go” – it begins with letting go of materialistic ego habits then the letting go of the ego’s attachment to the spiritual attainments sometimes described as “spiritual materialism,” then letting go of all identifications – which is a gradual thinning of the veil.

The book, ‘Zen Merging of East and West’ can be of considerable benefit, together with ‘The Three Pillars of Zen’, in working through the maze of the mind.

In ‘Zen Merging of East and West’ from page 91-93 there is a description of the Sesshin journey described as ‘Scaling the Silver Mountain of Mind.’

Roshi Kapleau conveys the 7 day retreat as consisting of an initial 3 days of finding rhythm in meditation, describing climbing with cumbersome packs as carrying judgements, opinions, hopes and delusions which weight the climber down. Dropping the packs signifies moving with more ease up the mountain.

On the 4th – 7th day numerous obstacles occur within the mind which are attempts to discourage by the ego or makyo, as Roshi Kapleau describes; “As they approach the midway point they will be ambushed by the powerful and bedevilling ego spirits of the mountain, for no mountain is without them.”

The ego continues its resistance, as Roshi Kapleau describes, “Unwilling to relinquish their ancestral domain, they will labour energetically to drive the climbers back,” so the inner battle continues. On reaching the higher peaks and nearing the peak, Roshi Kapleau describes, “This is a silver mountain! There will be no footholds and nothing to grip on to from here to the summit. To attempt these last hundred yards will be gruelling, exhausting. And the mountain spirits will unleash all their fury.”

On nearing the summit the journey continues and “The guide knows that no one can be carried to the top. He also knows what others can only believe – that to reach the summit, conviction, determination and exertion are vital.”

On reaching the summit, Roshi Kapleau concludes with; “A handful of climbers have reached the upper ridge. Some three desperate climbers almost to the peak … a leap! … And then … they gaze around with astonishment and joy … a deep primordial silence … a vast emptiness, yet how much they see! How much they know, have always known – yet never really knew! Everything is as it needs to be; this and that self and other intersect, intermesh-nothing impinges … everywhere there is transparency and harmony.”

A key ingredient for success on the spiritual path is continually letting go.

The following story is about an island inhabited by monkeys. The islanders catch the monkeys by hanging coconuts with sweets inside them. The monkeys, attracted by the smell, puts a hand through the hole in the coconut and catches the sweets, but cannot get the sweets or their hand out because the hole is too small. If the monkey lets go of the sweets, he can get his hand out and be free, but he wants the sweets, so he holds on and is captured. To let go is to be free.

The process of letting go doesn’t happen overnight and progress may be slow. From a long term perspective even small interim improvements can engender encouragement to continue.

An Ancient Japanese Story

A young boy travelled across Japan to the school of a great and famous swordsman. When he arrived at the school he was given an audience with the founder, who was impressed that this young boy had made such a long journey.

“What do you wish from me?” the master asked.

“I wish to be your student and become the finest swordsman in the land,” the boy replied. “How long must I study?”

“Ten years at least” the master answered

“Ten years is a long time. What if I studied twice as hard as all your other students?”

“Twenty years” replied the master. “Twenty years! What if I practise unrelentingly, day and night with all my effort?”

“Thirty years” replied the master.

“How is it that each time I say I will work harder you tell me that it will take longer?” the student asked, quite confused by now.

“The answer is clear,” said the master.

“When there is one eye fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the way.”

* * *

Benjamin Franklin once wrote “the only two certainties in life are death and taxes.” I would change that to the only three certainties in life are adversity, death and taxes.

“One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.”

- Dr. Albert Schweitzer

“Every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent benefit.” These words of Napoleon Hill, written in 1937 can be of considerable benefit in life.

Further back in time in 1904 James Allen said that; “Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”

In 1888 Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in the same vain: “That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

And the man who inspired them and who, with his friend Henry David Thoreau, was a student of the Hindu teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Ralph Waldo Emerson stated in ‘Essays on Compensation’ in 1841:

“The law of nature is growth, this growth often includes adversities of many kinds, yet a deep remedial force operates to turn hardships and sorrow into guides for later life, and these same hardships often serve to end some period of life which was waiting to be closed. Also, adversity breaks off certain accustomed ways of living and helps us form new ones which may be necessary for our growth. The person tempered by hardship becomes a stronger person who can do more for himself and more for others.”