When your Gran swears and doesn’t realise it

Yeah, housework isn’t my favourite thing in the world.

It was pretty obvious the neglect in my house,

When I found my brain -

You might recall, I totally lost it the other day.

Misplaced it.

Found it,

Down the back of the sideboard.

Bit dusty, I have to say.

Covered in, what you call them … ?

Dust bunnies -

Those bundles of dust and hair and assorted stuff,

That if they were bigger, would be rolling down the street of them western cowboy films.

Now, as a minor but interesting aside -

I have a friend whose Gran calls them “sl*t’s wool”

And the weekend day when you slob around the house in your dressing gown?

“Sl*tty Sunday”

Heh heh - That term now has a whole new, more modern, meaning, doesn’t it?

But, ahem, housework is necessary soon as I have guests over the weekend.

26 of them.

We have an advanced Ascension course -

Something you can do after you’ve learnt to Ascend so you can really make super fast tracks to end stress and live the meaning of your life.

I really am excited, even though it’ll require me to help eradicate the sl*ts wool from the large old Georgian house we’re using.

It’s been the hub of Ascension for probably quite close to 20 years now.

Sacred ground indeed.

You know that feeling when you relax,

Like you’ve been carrying something super heavy all day and don’t realise it until you put it down?

That’s right -

You can feel that kind of peace the minute you step inside the gates.

People go "ahhhhhh" when they walk in. True!

So I’m a little bit excited to have everyone here to show them how life can really be lived.

In town and like to come visit?

Well, sure!

Come on down - just bring a feather duster and help out, will you?

The other way to come and see for yourself is to attend an Ascension course.

The perfect setting for learning the tools for huge amounts of calm, focus and happiness.

And you won’t have to do any housework while you’re here.

www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Why do I feel the need to always PS you?

Oh that’s right - here’s a thing, a conversation I had with another Ishaya monk recently all about this stuff.

A podcast they call it -

www.lilab.life/09-arjuna-finding-the-true-sense-of-me/

Have a listen, I’m sure you’ll find it quite lovely.

Derren Brown, master illusionist, and the harmful stories you tell yourself

A quote for you from the great mentalist / illusionist Derren Brown (from his latest book) …

You see, he’s a master at getting you to see what HE wants you to see,

Therefore missing out on what is ACTUALLY happening in plain sight.

It’s fun - it’s entertaining - it’s a show …

But your mind does that to you every single day.

Derren speaks:

_______

"Paying attention to the present moment is our most effective means of undoing the harmful and perpetuating narratives by which we live, by challenging them with the counter-evidence we notice around us."

________

To translate, what Derren is talking about is this:

We tell ourselves lies, porkies, untruths, fake news -

and those stories hurt and limit you.

It affects everything you do - and don’t do too.

Sometimes, actually in my experience, OFTEN times -

You don’t even notice this relatively steady diet of limitation.

It’s become so normal that you think that voice is the true voice of “You”.

You don’t see what is true in life, you don’t see the beauty of you, the potential -

You believe the stories filled with the negative, why you did wrong, why you can't ...

Simply because your own mind mis-directs you.

Your mind is a master at creating illusions.

Powerful illusions for sure -

But only because you give them power by believing them, only because you don't stop to examine them.

The way out of living a life of illusion? Of believing the fake news?

Get super present - then you start to see what is real and what isn’t.

Examine your thoughts -

Don’t take them as real,

Take them with a large pinch of salt until proven to be your ACTUAL experience.

(and then let them go too, because your experience will change quickly on this basis)

That is just one of the benefits of regularly closing your eyes to meditate.

The gap between what you experience to be true and real -

And what a voice in your head tells you is true and real -

Gets more and more contrasting.

You gain CHOICE - and that is a powerful thing in freeing yourself from the Matrix,

From the illusion you’ve believed in your whole life.

The end of stress and negativity, the beginning of real Life.

It’s something I recently talked in depth about with Lila, another Ishaya monk from New Zealand.

Here's the conversation if you’d like to listen to it.

I’m sure it’s worth it -

www.lilab.life/09-arjuna-finding-the-true-sense-of-me/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS. of course, if you’d like to get the tools that make choice so real and so simple,

Here is the best place to start, and it's free:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Nothing simpler for finding peace and freedom.

A quick story, a podcast and some book links too

Just a quick one today -

I have lost my brain somewhere so I have to go find it.

It could well be under my pillow where I left it last night for safe keeping before I went to sleep.

Hopefully it hasn’t rolled off and is now under the bed, covered in dust and fluff.

Or bubsy hasn’t found it and is giving it her own brand of slobbering love.

Not good for what was a small brain to begin with.

OK - so:

I was on another podcast the other day.

A ton of fun, the hostess was very cool.

Lila’s New Zealand accent took me back to my roots.

Here’s the link should you wish to have a listen.

You can even download it so you can take it with you:

www.lilab.life/09-arjuna-finding-the-true-sense-of-me

There were some fantastic questions.

Lila wanted me to come up with a book I could recommend to others.

I said “Awareness” by Anthony de Mello,

Apparently it has the ability to annoy people.

It didn’t annoy me, but it sure did make me go “wow” when I read it first, 20 odd years ago.

Anthony sure doesn’t hold any punches.

He basically says “wake up and stop sleepwalking through life”.

If you like that sort of thing then I fully recommend it.

Just make sure you grab your brain before you head up and out though.

If you want something a little more fluffy -

A touch fluffier, not fluffy like a pink unicorn fluffy,

Still straight up the line …

Narain Ishaya wrote “Chit Happens” - a nice little play on words,

And it's true - it does happen when you put yourself in the way.

Now that IS indeed a cool book.

Good questions there, all answered beautifully.

It’s a book full of wonderful guidance on how to meditate and how to live a “spiritual” life.

Tricky word “spiritual” - means many things to many different people.

And so it should.

How you live your life in awareness and fulfilled with connection and meaning and purpose and gratitude and happiness is a slightly more longwinded way of saying the same thing.

Enjoy!!!

Arjuna

PS.

Want to be more mindful?

Want to wake up and be more aware of what you're doing?

This little challenge (it's free) will really help you do just that:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

It's all about how to forget being stressed by remembering to be awake and mindful.

Super cool.

A tip to help you stop struggling

I’ve recently been asking what people struggle with -

Specifically about meditation and ending stress and just being happy,

But what I found out applies to any struggle in any part of your life.

I have a fair idea about the meditation struggles, but helping people get EXACTLY what they need is something crucial, no?

The clearer I can be about what you need, the more useful my whole mission becomes.

In the asking, it’s obvious -

And its only obvious because I used to do this myself, a lot -

One of the biggest problems you have is your own judgements about yourself -

What you’re doing wrong, how you messed up again, let someone down, let yourself down.

You know?

Everyone wants to do good and not do bad.

Yet that distinction is not that helpful.

You do "bad" and then feel bad.

It’s not motivating, it’s easier to say “I’m useless” and give up trying.

You get into that cycle of stop / start / stop - “what’s the point?”

Everyone does stuff bad - everyone makes mistakes - sometimes constantly.

Given what you say you want -

WHATEVER that maybe -

Close your eyes more, eat better, move more, be more appreciative and considerate to your partner …

It helps to consider that some choices you make are simply “unskilled”

These choices aren’t giving you what you say you want -

YET.

If you are “unskilled” then you can definitely get more skilled, right?

It becomes a straight forward matter of practicing the right things.

Sometimes you have to ask an expert what these right things are.

(Expert: an intimidating word that simply means someone who has made all the mistakes - and learned from them - so you don’t have to)

But once you set in place a small plan to do things just a little bit better than yesterday …

A little bit better, and a little bit better -

(who cares if progress is “only” a tiny amount? Do it regularly and it adds up to something sweet!)

The result is you start to feel pretty darn good about yourself.

Because everyone feels best when they feel like they’re improving.

And so much better than good/bad, right/wrong, great/useless …

Removing right and wrong from the equation takes the pressure off, cuts the self-judgement and all that stuff.

OK?

So have a little think about reframing good/bad to skilled/unskilled -

“How can I do this better?”

Be careful how you define yourself -

And THAT will require being aware of how you think about yourself -

Which meditation is (partially) all about

So - if you have any questions about this, just ask -

I’d love to help.

Otherwise, go well!

Arjuna

PS.

If you’d like to get started on learning the best meditation techniques on the planet for becoming more aware?

Here’s a free guide that will get you up and running, super quick:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

You're probably making the same mistake I did

When I first really started meditation, I was in my twenties.

I’d climbed mountains, kayaked some wild rivers, I'd fallen fully in love (several times), I’d taken various recreational drugs.

I’d experienced some real highs in life -

(And equally, like many people, I’d experienced some real lows).

I turned up to meditation with a head full of ideas about what life would be like -

Once I found the magic key.

I was wrong -

I was wrong about so many things, and while I hated being wrong then - it now causes me great humour.

But this time, what I thought I wanted from life - wasn't that at all.

What’s more my expectations meant I caused myself a lot of unnecessary struggle.

So if you can avoid this trap - that would make me happy.

Take a moment - and for you, honestly:

What do you want from life?

Is it to live in blissed out peace, chatting with butterflies? Floating from the ceiling and sending out love to the cosmos?

Or is it more like …

Ending stress, ending suffering, being happier with more balance and more energy?

Being really authentic and real, “here I am with nothing to prove and nothing to hide to no body”?

Maybe it’s to be able to be fully content in the world and not be too shaken when “stuff” happens?

Or to get a few things done without turning into a stressed out grumpster, your mind whirring away, unable to sleep?

Is it to love your family completely but not worry so much about them?

It’s not about the mega highs that you can get -

The feelings, the bliss, the visuals,

It's not even about stopping your thoughts.

Rather, it's about simple contentment.

Quiet joy.

The end - I say again, the END - of fear and self-doubt.

Being present and connected to the things and the people in front of you.

Freedom from being triggered and flying off the handle.

Complete love and compassion and acceptance and allowance for everyone - and yourself.

The real treasure that meditation brings to you is the simple things.

Because not only are they ACTUALLY achievable by ANYONE who wants them -

They’re lasting.

Every single moment of every single day lived freely.

Once found, they are permanent - because they are the simple things.

And that’s what I guide people to when they come and learn Ascension.

Sound good?

It’s truly simple when you know how.

How do you get started?

Getting this free guide is an excellent place:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Go well, and make yours a wonderful weekend.

Arjuna

PS.

Keep it so simple, OK?

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

And - 

Should you have any questions?

I’d love to help.

Just hit me up - you can try it. I really am here to serve. 

Bet you didn’t know this about snails (careful!)

Bet you don’t know this:

The World Snail racing championships are held every year in Norfolk.

How exciting could that be?

Well - I just gave 3 minutes and 50 seconds of my life to find out.

The 13 inch course world record is 2 minutes by Archie the snail in 1995.

There's my boy!

Youslime Bolt didn’t live up to his potential though,

I think it was a snail called Trev that came through this year.

The world of the internet …

Sometimes you end up in the weirdest places when you just put your toe down the rabbit hole.

As exciting as world snail racing is -

I need to be so careful with all of this stuff.

“Just one video”… “ooh, who's that on Facebook who I haven’t seen since I was 12 …”

Means hours can be lost.

At the end of the day I want to get stuff done.

How about you?

Well - I’m writing a book  - which I’m aiming (and on track - yersss!) to have finished before 2018 starts.

And I’m raising funds for the Felix Fund - the bomb disposal charity,

(If you’re interested in donating? Or own a hotel that could help us run some courses? The link is: www.felixfund.org.uk/support-us/ or get in touch with me, you angel!)

I also want to stay fit and healthy,

I want to have the most amazing relationship with Sumati and Bubsy,

I want to educate myself in several spheres,

I want to get time to close my eyes so I prioritise peace and profundity in life too.

I guess that’s the point of World Snail champs …

I also want to have fun and slack off too.

But you know -

“I want”’s only happen when you actually prioritise and do them.

Balance and focus -

That’s one of the things practicing Ascension meditation gives you -

Is the ability to see your life choices super clear,

And the motivation and energy and half step back perspective to actually make the choices that really count in the long term.

So if you’re interested in “getting stuff done” in a balanced, calm and fun way,

Rather than in a stressed, chaotic, unbalanced, always exhausted and grumpy way … ?

It is exactly what I teach you here:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

I really wanted Youslime Bolt to win, but alas.

Next year buddy!

That Prosecco Smile

A dentist has come out with a public health warning on excess Prosecco consumption -

Mentioning one thing I hadn't thought about -

That being the damage a lot of sparkling wine can do to the old tooths,

Resulting in, as the good dentist has warned against, a smile that is somewhat less than shiny and whole.

Yikes!

Having recently become a parent myself, I know first hand the advantageous nature of a glass of something good.

Enhances the mood doesn’t it?

Helps you switch off and kick back,

To enjoy those rare moments when you can put your feet up and enjoy doing nothing.

I get that.

What interests me is the point where something helpful becomes a hinderance,

Where it becomes about sedation -

Where you NEED it to cope, to relax, to switch off.

(And I always thought my mum just had a nose with a reddish hue,

Until she retired from work - then her nose returned to a more normal colour.)

Ya know?

What if …

You could switch off and relax as simply as you might switch off a light?

What if you could just ignore certain thoughts so you don’t need to sedate to distract yourself?

That there is one of the biggest results from learning and practicing meditation.

That’s what I’d teach you when you learn to Ascend.

All so you can enjoy your Prosecco,

Without making your teeth run away or your nose turn red, like a demented toothless human reindeer.

Now THAT is quite a thought.

If you want to get started on meditation,

If you'd like to know more about Ascension meditation?

Head this way, I'll give you a free guide to meditation and how it ends stress and makes you happy:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Go well,

Arjuna

PS.

Remember - to repeat the Ishayas' Ascension meditation course, forever more, is free.

If you've already learnt?

Why not pop in, even for a few hours it will be WELL worth your time.

You don't know what I'm talking about?

Start here and I shall reveal all:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Why inconsiderate people are amazing

Why is it that kids' toys are so darn tooting noisy?

I was driving down the street with a toy wedged somewhere in the back,

I fully knew it was there because every little bump meant it starts singing to me,

Loud.

Every bump starts it again.

Oh boy … who left that in the car??

I know who.

Cue chuntering about whose fault it is.

And where do these toys come from?

Sumati and I didn’t buy them.

More chuntering …

All kinds of relatives must have been throwing them in the house …

Like brightly coloured plastic grenades,

Then standing back, sniggering, waiting for us to blow our tops.

Ahhh … they’re really not being inconsiderate, are they?

Anyway -

Young bubsy, my progeny ... is a master at "letting go"

Something happens, she doesn't like it, then she’s over it.

Done and dusted.

Something happens to us, we don't like it, and we carry it for, oooh ...

At least a week.

Right?

To bubsy, it’s not something that’s done TO her, just something that happened.

You carry stuff well beyond the incident,

Whether that’s a mad toy driving you nuts or an argument in the swimming pool with another parent …

Because it's done TO you, someone is to blame, and you need to make sure you're right -

Even just in your own head.

And because you have built a habit of constantly re-going over the past,

It becomes so you can’t NOT go over it.

The secret to be like bubsy and “let go” is to become more present.

Then unpleasant stuff can happen,

You respond accordingly,

Then you move on.

That would be an amazing skill wouldn't it?

Such freedom there.

So if you do meet someone inconsiderate?

Consider it your chance to practice being more free.

How amazing is that?

Then you can thank them too ...

heh heh

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Of course, I reckon meditation is your way forward -

Not only for becoming more present,

But helping you let go of stuff that you’re holding onto.

Works like gangbusters.

(Whatever one of those is - but it sounds amazing!)

Head this way if you want to learn more,

A super simple, and super free guide to being more mindful:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Do you know the half step back?

How do you be?

I’m sitting here in my little office, trying not to stare out the window at the lovely trees across the way.

Oh - there I go again …

Good job I can apply my laser-like relaxed focus - IF I wished to apply it, that is.

Laser-like relaxed focus?

You got me - complete awareness on the thing, but without effort.

Spacious and relaxed, but absolute.

Let’s apply it now.

You feeling it?

Excellent. Me too. Let's go!

The half step back -

Robbie and I were talking about it the other day -

And how useful it is.

A brilliant concept is the half step back.

Wait! Before you jump back - 

It's not a physical thing, no, not at all -

More of an attitude, I guess you could say …

A sense of perspective, a touch of distance from your life.

A smidgeon of witnessing too, some mind space.

See -  when you’re too close,

When you’re mega involved in something,

Everything else goes out the window.

That can be a wonderful sensation - like in a state of flow or being in the Zone, when you’re completely absorbed …

But so often for people it’s more SO involved they don’t have a sense of perspective,

When you’re like this you forget what the whole point of life is.

You’re too easily made wobble by things that go unexpectedly.

Sense of humour is out the window quicker than a dog sneaking a tasty morsel from the kitchen bench ... 

Or quicker than a bubsy grabbing something she shouldn't really put in her mouth just as you turn your back for a single second ...

Like for me today - drove to town, a quick trip I thought …

2 hours later … you know that story right?

Every Sunday driver is out, and as I write, it’s not even Sunday!

What ARE they doing driving on their non-allocated day?

A half step back is choosing to have the insight when you’re starting to fight and get stressed -

And how actually that is counterproductive to you.

So instead with the half step back,

You’re able to accept, be fluid with what’s happening, and most of all keep your calm about you.

Keeping of your wits about you too … (love that saying).

An eyes closed practice of meditation, such as the Ishayas’ Ascension, works wonders for maintaining the half step back.

However - with your eyes open?

Well Ascension has you covered too.

If you don’t know how (yet) - you can still choose to "engage" the half step back,

Just apply it when you remember.

Let getting stressed be a good sign … a reminder -

“Oh yeah, that’s right - I don’t need to be stressed … I have an option … half step back … breathe …”

Might just save your sanity.

It did mine.

If you want to know more about how to get that?

Here's a free thing for you:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Let me know how you go - I’d love to hear.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Here's that link again, if you'd like more half-step backness in your life.

Which is code for an end to stress and mucho happiness and laser-like relaxed focus:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

I can’t be mindful - I’m busy!

A great question from a busy mum on our hour a day mindfulness challenge.

(to join, head this way: https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/)

It basically is (and sorry for misquoting you!) - I’m so busy I can’t be mindful.

I need to get stuff done.

It’s a super common statement / question -

But first -

I started on all of this because I really didn’t like how I felt when I was stressed.

When I was so busy and overwhelmed that my body and mind rebelled.

I couldn't sleep right, my jaw and shoulders ached, I would be paralysed with "what to do"...

I also knew those times when getting stuff done was simple and orderly and even a little bit fun.

It's why I got into this meditation and mindfulness business.

The thing many people don’t know is how being present and aware ALSO helps you be busy.

Busy in the sense of achieving, ticking off the to do list,

Rather than being busy in the sense of spinning around in small circles getting faster.

Moving with haste and not getting a lot done.

It means you will enjoy it more too.

You don’t get all overwhelmed and snappy and grumpy at everyone -

Your sense of humour stays firmly in place.

So actually a mindfulness and meditation practice gives you two things:

The ability to be more effective and the ability to enjoy yourself fully - no matter what you’re doing.

So you don’t get that stressed, frazzled overwhelmed feeling.

So you don’t snap and react in ways you regret.

So you do things once, and do them right …

And you CAN learn to be present and mindful and incredibly productive.

It’s a skill. An easy skill too, when you know how to get it.

Alright?

If you’d like that kind of balance -

A productive AND profound life …

This is a brilliantly simple way to start -

I'll tell you what to do, and what to do next too:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Questions?

Let me know!

Go well-

Arjuna

PS.

It’s not an either or thing -

Being mindful or being productive.

It actually is a “you need both” thing.

And it only takes a little practice to really get both going.

Let me show you how easy - and rewarding - it can be:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Alone at home in your underpants, drinking

Let me explain -

As a human there is no black and white.

No absolutes - there are always shades of grey, as you might well know.

In terms of being busy and getting stuff done there is also a continuum of activity.

I’ve been reliably informed (by one avid reader of these emails who has this in a prominent place to remind him)

At one end is Kyoshi - the Japanese term meaning to work oneself to death.

(Not so good)

And at the other end of our continuum is Kalsarikannit - the Finnish verb for getting drunk in ones underpants with no intention of going out.

(As a regular choice? Not so good either)

You are busy - you have things to see, people to do.

Commitments, responsibilities, all the rest of it.

Yet - to have a balanced life - to be productive and enjoy it all -

You need to find a balance between these two poles of madness:

Death by busy-ness or death by underpants.

It’s a balance that constantly shifts, constantly moves, depending on what is happening in your life at the time.

There is a time for more work, there is a time for more relaxing.

In your day there needs to be this ebb and flow too …

A time for doing, a time for switching off and not doing.

Now - mindfulness, meditation, being present and aware -

Many people can see how it means they can switch off -

It’s mental training in a sense to learn to focus on certain thoughts, ignore others.

Getting out of the past and the future that can’t be controlled -

And living now, in this moment in time.

Which is relaxing and recharging in all ways, indeed.

But learning and practicing something like the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation means you get going and DO stuff so much better and more effectively AS WELL.

You can examine your thoughts and see if they hold true.

You leave negativity and overwhelm and reacting in ways you regret back at the door.

You lose stress and doubt and all that stuff that stops you.

Ascension meditation also means you can get that balance right -

The balance between two extremes.

The half step back it gives you means you just know when it’s time to switch off,

And when it’s time to go.

Balance in all things,

A fine art - the art of life no less.

It takes practice, but you can find that - you can live it.

To get going on your practice, here's a little challenge that will help you rapidly find just that:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

It’s a while away, but it gives you time to prepare!

Go well,

Arjuna

PS.

It’s what Buddha meant by walking the middle path -

The Goldilocks Path

Not too hot, not to cold.

Not too extreme.

Just right:

Straightforward, simple, enjoyable.

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

What is the meaning of life? Dodging difficult questions

I did a super fun interview recently with a really lovely fellow called Pat Flynn.

I totally dodged a huge question from him - so here's my chance to make amends.

But first, if you haven't listened -

We talked about meditation and why you should practice regularly and how to get started - which just floated my boat -

And it might float yours too.

Head this way:

http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/monk-explains-meditate-pat-flynn-show-ep-10/

You can even download it so you can listen while you’re in the bath, for example.

The Meaning of Life

So early on Pat asks about the meaning of life,

I felt like I skimmed what may be the most important question in my life.

So here’s my chance to add to my answer.

Perhaps buckle up, grab a cup of tea, this will be a longer email than usual.

I’m not sure how far we’ll go with this one, and I’ll say this only once (unless you ask nicely) ...

You have to realise the answer to “what is the meaning of life?” is not really about the words.

It’s not knowledge, it’s not mental.

The meaning of life comes from an experience.

And when you connect with that inner experience, the meaning of YOUR life gets clear.

Not life in general, but your life in particular.

You see:

We’re all searching for a feeling.

It’s a combo, an indefinable mashup that comes out something like -

Peacelovejoyhappinesscontentmentalivenessyeah!

Everything we do, we do to chase happiness, and avoid suffering.

If you’re clever though,

You will realise that an inner experience cannot come from external things.

But sure, sometimes a wonderful meal can give you that indefinable joy and contentment,

That special man or woman in your life too,

Getting that career goal, going on holiday, buying those £50 flip flops …

They all press the YES button.

So to speak.

Although happiness may be sparked by external things, it does not need to be determined by it.

That is what causes suffering…

Because people believe “I can only be happy when x or y or z (external thing) happens”

And because tomorrow never seems to come,

Or happens how you least expect it,

Happiness is always a future game and an externally caused game.

Meditation is making happiness a NOW game, an internal game.

You hear me so far?

Now -

The source of this indefinable peacelovehappyclear mooshup is already within you.

It is the You that lies beyond your thoughts,

Beyond your dreams and desires and feelings too.

You already have it, you were BORN with it - in fact, you ARE it.

Check out a little bubsy - totally one with themselves.

Enlightenment and unity that is talked about in some circles is complete freedom from the external caused game of happiness.

It comes from realising you are that inner experience of presence and awareness.

The more you touch on that experience, the happier you get AND the more the meaning of YOUR life becomes clear.

Your thoughts and feelings?

Something you have, not something you are.

When you realise the difference - and NOT as a mental idea, but as a lived experience,

That's when the meaning of life gets so obvious, so clear you’re surprised you never knew.

And even a little venturing down this path means you start living in a different way.

And I don’t want to get too mystical because that creates all kinds of ideas of what you SHOULD be experiencing -

But one of the first things that happens is that you become more aware of all the limiting and doubt filled thoughts that you have,

How you provide momentum for them by unconsciously thinking on them a lot.

Being aware means you have choice.

It means you don’t get derailed by them.

It means getting those things you want in life gets easier and more straight forward.

You find freedom from self-sabotage,

From all the negative emotions and thinking,

You get happiness that is uncaused,

Freedom from depending on other people or other things to make you happy,

You realise that all fear is caused by a thought.

You become the source of all stability, all unchanging goodness and being.

Priceless and wordless.

And all simply by regularly practicing your meditation.

Going inwards, going inwards, going inwards -

Until you remember that experience.

Now -

Take it easy.

Gentle stubborn persistence is a valuable ally.

Learn to Ascend. Honestly, it’s the darn tooting most amazing thing.

OK?

Questions?

Want to know when the next course is?

Just hit reply - I love talking about this stuff.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

That link to the interview is right here:

http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/monk-explains-meditate-pat-flynn-show-ep-10/

I think you’ll really like it.

Do you ever get that slight cringe when you hear the sound of your own voice too?

Pat’s specialty is fitness and strength using kettlebells - and I can’t recommend a better teacher than him.

He totally knows his stuff: www.chroniclesofstrength.com

I highly recommend quitting

Quitting?

Don’t listen to those motivational people who say “never quit!”.

Quitting is awesome.

You see, I’m sitting here in Starbucks,

The people who make my car are kindly fixing a big chunk of it,

For FREE.

How about that?

I’ve been sitting and doing my work here, courtesy of the coffee shop wifi.

And I’ve just realised the power of Quitting.

The story is -

I forgot to bring my water bottle of which I usually drink much from.

Since I’m too cheap …

Err, I mean ... environmental ... to buy bottled water,

I haven't been drinking enough.

And I was wondering why I was so sluggish, so feeling blah and off …?

I get some tap water and …

Instantly better.

Alive again.

Weird, isn’t it?

I didn’t realise what an effect drinking water had on me,

Until I stopped (and loaded up with coffee - gotta pay for my wifi!)

It’s the same with everything -

Sometimes you don’t realise the full extent of how good something is until you don’t do it.

Some of you won’t even notice AT ALL until you stop.

Humans are weird like that.

Take your daily practice of Ascension meditation,

Or anything you do every day to recharge your batteries, get perspective, and protect your peace and sense of humour …

It may not be immediately,

But as the battery starts to run out,

As stress and reaction and over-thinking and worry takes over

As you get snappier and snappier …

And your fun heads out the window …

THEN you start to notice it.

So many people tell me that they stopped and THEN they realised why they needed to do it …

Or their partners told them they’ve become such a pain in the backside,

They’ll divorce them if they don’t start practicing again -

(True story).

Quitting can be useful just to show you how good you had it.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

You don’t NEED to quit,

I haven’t gone ever gone cold turkey on my Ascending, but I do notice when I reduce the amount of time I spend very quickly.

I figure why quit when it’s so good?

PPS.

This “Forget No More - an hour a day, 7 day mindfulness challenge” is up and running -

It’s a very simple way to build the mindfulness habit super quick,

And end stress, boosting calm, Alive presence.

Even when you have a full on, super busy day.

Head this way to join us:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

It's completely free, AND I think you'll love it.

That “your delivery is coming today” feeling

Got myself a text this morning.

My online delivery is headed my way, today.

Isn’t that a glorious feeling?

Yah! My new stuff is coming -

A new pair of shorts since you asked.

To stride about in, lounge in, and just be calm and cool and content in.

All while being a style icon (or something like that).

Even better?

They said 3 days delivery, and it’s coming in 1.

Hurrah!

I know I’m a simple man with simple pleasures -

But this is one of life’s better pleasures.

The world is full of good things, it really is.

What I’ve worked out is that I need to put myself in their way,

Otherwise I simply don’t get that “Yah!” feeling that we all know and love.

You can focus on what’s wrong, and that’s one way to live.

Or you can focus on what is good and right, and that is another.

Way back when I was getting into this meditation and mindfulness malarky,

I thought you had to give up the good things.

Not all of them, to be sure, to be sure,

But some.

Because somehow I thought enjoyment and peace and contentment weren’t on the same team.

It’s weird that isn’t it? Now that I’ve put the idea down in pixels.

Yet the things that make you Alive are great things.

They shouldn’t be cast aside as being somehow wrong …

You know?

Someone once said that what thy world needs more than anything is people who are fully Alive.

So you should go right ahead and do all those things, because then you’re Alive and joyful AND content,

And it helps everyone around you be the same.

Here’s to Aliveness!

One thing -

To be as Alive as possible, be as mindful and present as possibles.

Then you enjoy the good things even more.

And can endure the not so good even better.

I have a thing that will help you get into the mindfulness and presence habit -

A little free 7 day challenge no less.

I think you’ll like it.

Head this way to get going:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

In this challenge I’ll show you how to disconnect your reactions from events.

So you don’t react unconsciously, and then regret it.

You can see the reaction coming, take a big step back, and choose differently.

Useful skill that.

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

How many billions do you give away?

PS -

I know!

How ridiculous to start with a PS.

But that’s just how I roll.

Read this, then read the PS (the bottom PS),

Or skip this, and read the PS only - if that’s how YOU roll.

Whatever you want to do, do it.

Now, onto the main message:

___________

I just found out that Bill Gates - the world’s richest man,

Has just given away US$4.6 billion to charity.

Since 1994, his wife and his good self have given a total of US$35 billion - all to charity.

Isn’t that awesome?

I think so.

No hanging on to billions of dollars,

No swimming in a pool of cash a la Scrooge McDuck,

But sending a huge chunk of it to those who don't have anything.

Awesome.

A question, if you don’t mind,

And I’ll explain why it’s so important in a minute:

How much do you give?

^^^

You may be thinking, “It’s alright for Bill, he can afford to …”

But the fact is, you can’t afford NOT to give.

Studies have shown time and time again that the happiest and most satisfied and fulfilled people are those who have found a way to regularly give.

It’s true.

Now - when I’m talking about giving, I’m not talking just about money.

It could be time, advice, some appreciation, or doing something for someone.

And as always, it’s not about what you give -

It’s not about billions of dollars …

It’s about the attitude behind it that counts.

Why? Why bother?

Ahhh, that eternal question.

Well - just to start with:

Having an attitude of service makes every single part of your life easier, more fulfilling, more joyful.

It’s the end of stress and resentment too.

Seriously.

Picture this:

You're doing something menial, cleaning for example, for someone - say your family.

You’re doing the thing, but in your head you’re thinking all too much about how you hate cleaning, and they should have done it last week, and why am I always doing it …

Whether you have a conversation about what they do and don’t do is definitely something you need to consider …

But right now:

You’re over thinking, you’re full of resentment,

There’s no joy, no presence to this moment.

You’re winding yourself up.

If you drop all that, and assume the attitude of service,

The whole situation changes.

It becomes an act of love - both for the people you’re doing it for,

And yourself.

You stop choosing to be miserable, and really embrace what you need to do.

You jump into complete immersion in the task in front of you -

Complete presence -

And that is a wonderful experience.

The only thing I can suggest is you just DO it -

See what happens.

Give, give, give and find out why.

Good stuff!

Go well,

Arjuna

PS.

Announcing the “Forget No More! An Hour a Day Mindfulness Challenge”

Want to end stress?

Live a really Alive life, being the best version of you?

Of course you do!

The secret to Life (with a capital L) is fully showing up for it.

That’s why the “Forget No More! An Hour a Day Mindfulness Challenge” is for you.

A very cool challenge that will boost your “mindfulness muscle” (or habit if you prefer)

So you can remember to be present and forget to be stressed – no matter what you’re busy doing, in Real Life.

If you want to:

    •    end overwhelm and stress; “I’ve got too much to do and no time to do it”

    •    no longer feed negativity; “I’m useless, I can’t do this, I’ll never get it right”

    •    ditch anxiety, worry, regret, guilt and over-thinking; “I’m scared, I’m did it/am doing it wrong; I need to be in control”

    •    stop unconsciously reacting and then regretting it

    •    find happiness that is uncaused, enjoy this moment as it is and who you are, as you are

This challenge is for you.

There’s a free guide with some nifty tricks,

A Facebook group for questions, support, to keep you reminded and inspired with regular little goodies such as videos from me.

Everything you need to stop forgetting, end stress and get super present and super Alive.

If you want in, head this way to get the (short) guide and get going:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Join us!

My Wonderous Stress Ending, Life Boosting Mindfulness Challenge - For You!

It’s arrived!

Let me tell you about the “Forget No More! An Hour a Day Mindfulness Challenge”

You’re here because you want to end stress.

You don’t want to just manage it,

You want to put it down.

No more stress! Yah!

No more resentment, no more overwhelm, no more anxiety or guilt or such like.

None!

AND - because at the rate you drop stress, Aliveness blooms in all its glory.

Clarity, calm, contentment - a profound and productive life is revealed.

Living life as the best version of you.

Awesome!

HOW?

The secret lies in being super dooper present, or mindful as you might call it.

The hardest thing people tell me about being mindful?

“I keep forgetting!”

We’ve spent so long not being present, forgetting to be mindful and then being drawn into stress and overwhelm is a super common experience.

Well – forget no more!

This “eyes open” challenge is so you can build your “mindful muscle” (or habit, if you’d prefer)

And remember to be present and forget to be stressed – no matter what you’re busy doing.

Doing this challenge will result in a radical boost to your real life “Forget No More” mindfulness and presence.

You would be interested in this challenge if you want to:

    •    end overwhelm and stress; “I’ve got too much to do and no time to do it”

    •    no longer feed negativity; “I’m useless, I can’t do this, I’ll never get it right”

    •    ditch anxiety, worry, regret, guilt and over-thinking; “I’m scared, I’m did it/am doing it wrong; I need to be in control”

    •    stop unconsciously reacting and then regretting it

    •    find happiness that is uncaused, enjoy this moment as it is and who you are, as you are

As part of the challenge there's a great little Facebook group that’s been getting going so you can stay reminded and inspired,

Tap into a community of like minded people,

Get support, answers to your questions,

Regular stuff like videos and such from me -

I’m excited.

It’s completely free,

And all you have to do to download the guide and get going,

Is head this way:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Questions?

Lemme know!

Go well,

Arjuna

PS.

The “Forget No More! An Hour a Day Mindfulness Challenge” is open to anyone …

As long as they’re cool!

So if you have buddies who might be interested,

Send them this link:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/ 

Think you can do it?

The 2 traits necessary to transform

Transformation.

Stepping from one state of being to another.

Mastering your mind, mastering your stress, for example.

Being free of heart, mind, body and soul is another example.

Transformation requires many things.

A method - a tool, in other words, is one thing.

I use Ascension meditation but the breath is an excellent place to start,

And you always have the breath.

Guidance on how to use the tool is also extremely useful.

Many a person has tried to use a hammer where a screwdriver is better suited.

I think I’m mixing my metaphors here … but hopefully you get the idea.

Also - super useful to have someone, someones, who has been there, done that,

Tried to hammer and realised that is just mashes everything up …

This experience just fires you along as quickly as possible.

“Stand on the shoulders of giants”,

Is what, I believe, Sir Issac Newton once said.

And he made apples fall from trees - so clearly he was no dumbo.

But in terms of YOU -

2 personal traits that will help you immensely in mastering your mind,

Getting rid of stress and stepping into a cool, calm, content Aliveness,

Are:

Gentleness and Stubbornness.

Gentleness?

Because you have to treat your head -

When it gets angry and full of rage and jealousy and frustration,

Or good old sorrow and guilt and worry -

You have to treat it as you would a baby having a loud cry and a bit of a tantrum.

No need to stick your ear close and listen to the shrieks -

(I know this one from experience)

But to shout and shake and try and get the damn thing to SHUT UP! is counter-productive.

Be as patient and gentle as possible,

As if your head was having teething troubles along with gas and colic and as many other baby / toddler troubles I can think of …

It isn’t you. It won’t last forever.

Gentle does it - bring yourself back to what you want to focus on,

Even, and especially, when it’s extra loud and extra mad.

OK?

Return, return, return.

Fighting it only creates more stress.

Stubbornness:

This is the ability to not stop until you get where you want to be.

Winston Churchill once said:

“When you’re going through hell, keep going”.

It could be tempting to stop and give up, to lie down and throw in the towel.

But the ability to gently but consistently keep going means nothing can stop you, ever.

And the truth is,

No matter what you are going through,

No matter what your head is telling you,

It will change.

It will settle, it will transform.

I can tell you this because I’ve been through it.

Buddha once said there was only two mistakes you can make on your part to freedom.

Not starting, and not going all the way.

OK?

If you’d like to talk about any of this,

Or anything at all - preferably not politics, but I am open to talking about good recipes …

But essentially how you can use my experience to help you transform in ways you wish …

Let’s do it.

I’ve got a few free spots this week and I’d love to help.

http://www.arjunaishaya.com/contact/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

I’ve got something coming I think you’re going to like.

I’ve been testing it over the last week or so to iron out the crinkles and it’s been just super.

It’s a plan to help you forget to be stressed.

Imagine that!

If you could just forget to be stressed?

Hang in there, and I’ll tell you more tomorrow.

Creating your future, now

A big part of the teaching of Ascension, and any meditation or mindfulness practice worth it's salt, is:

Being present - practicing mindful, aware, non-judgemental acceptance.

The other part is actively creating your future ahead of you.

What do I mean by that?

When you’re super present, absorbed in the moment, you tend to have a glass half full point of view.

Life gets rosier because you’re not giving much attention to judgements and expectation and stuff like that.

You’re not spending a lot of time focusing on what you think is wrong or what you think "should be", you see.

When you’re fully tuned into “what is” -

All is well.

It is quite a place of contentment.

Now, if you get present AND also choose to focus on what is good and right in  your world,

Then that habit of focusing on the wrong and taking the good for granted starts to burn up.

You’re creating a better future for yourself by ridding yourself of the habits that are downward spiralling.

SO -

If you are feeling grumpy,

If you know you are making your partner’s life a misery,

If you want to improve any relationship, actually,

If you want to completely free yourself of ALL stress,

(I’m serious - because stress is caused when you overwhelmingly focus on what is wrong)

If you want to feel real gratitude for your life, your body, your world?

And never take anything for granted again?

If you want a truly Alive life?

Start appreciating and -yes- being grateful for everything, and anything -

Right NOW.

Go out of your way to choose to notice and speak these things.

Fill your days with them.

Your relationship will come alive.

Your body will come alive.

Your life will do the same.

And so quickly too - the future is here!

It’s not fake, it’s not forced -

It only feels that way because, actually, you haven’t done it much.

It’s an indicator of how much you focus on what is wrong.

Don’t wait to feel it before you say it - just think and say it, then the feeling will come.

Make sense?

Super important ^^^

That’s what I mean by creating your future ahead of you.

OK?

Give it a try and tell me how you go!

Go well

Arjuna

PS.

Your spouse may initially say something like “What have you done?”; “What do you want?” …

All in a suspicious manner ... like you're apologising in advance ...

Keep doing it, they’ll get used to it for sure.

PPS.

Interested in a coaching call to get to the heart of creating your future, now?

Amazing what we can do in a short period of time …

http://www.arjunaishaya.com/contact/

Ronaldo, temper tantrums and feeling foolish

You might know of Ronaldo,

The world’s second best football player … ?

(oooh….)

Bear with me - you might be no sports fan, but there’s something in this for you.

Recently he was banned for 5 matches.

Because he had a little tantrum and PUSHED the referee.

Now, I’m not a professional athlete,

But it seems to me the last people you want to physically mess with are the officials.

“Don’t you know who I am?” isn’t the best approach, is it?

Professional athletes know the head game is as important as the physical game -

or they should.

It looks like when that red mist descends, it’s hard to stop - even for the experts.

Well, that’s not true.

I have had quite a temper.

Never physical violence, but sure to be sure, I have thrown a few strops,

Had a few meltdowns,

Said some things …

And never been very proud of any of it when the dust settles.

How about you?

Not necessarily something as dramatic as a melt down,

But how about that "snapping" at your kids, at your partner?

And how guilty you feel about it after?

Or just the low grade grumps when you make everyone’s lives just that little bit more miserable.

Grump, grump, grump.

Heh heh - I know those SO well.

The thing I realised is that the more head space you have,

The easier it is to see these reactions coming, and do something different.

What gives you less head space?

Exhaustion and tiredness is one. Stress is another - that overload. Losing your sense of humour, that’s another - isn’t it? How busy you are in your head - how much your overthink things, lack of sleep …

All that stuff.

How do you get MORE head space, so you can see a reaction coming -

And have a choice about whether you follow it,

Or decide to do something different?

It’s the whole reason why I’m a meditation teacher.

If Ascension meditation didn’t work for me and my temper (amongst many other things) then I would not be here telling the world about it.

You CAN permanently adjust your baseline of temper.

It is a practice, for sure,

But the more I practiced my Ascension meditation the more “teflon” I got.

Life would throw those custard pies, and they'd slide right off.

What was previously intolerable began to have zero effect on me.

Amazing huh?

If I can do it - you can do it.

It’s just a case of how much do you WANT to do it.

Is it worth devoting a little time every day to?

I think so.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Anyone have Ronaldo’s number?

Haha - just had an imagine of a bunch of you Ronaldo fans going

“oooh, I’d like his number …”

PPS.

If you'd like a free coaching session with me?

It's amazing what you can get done in a short amount of time

Super relaxed, no pressure - we'll talk about something you want to work on, and go from there?

http://www.arjunaishaya.com/contact/

There’s no time for surfing - you’ve got TOO much to do!

Boy, did I have a busy day yesterday.

Sumati doesn’t get ordered around by herself, you know.

At one point - it may have been a little way into one too many cups of coffee,

As I was testing the couch (to make sure there were no springs loose)

And juggling my pedicure schedule …

I tell you - that was frantic!

I mean, how do you decide between the full French pedi or the Thai foot experience?

Doing both seemed like my only option.

But then I couldn’t find Sumati anywhere to book it for me, no matter how loud I yelled.

People used to accuse me of being out of touch -

“You’re a monk, what would you know about the real world?”

Clearly they have no idea.

In the middle of this epic storm of frazzle,

Of overwhelm actually - because I had so much to do, and no time to do it all …

I had an epiphany …

Or, as I’ve just dictionarized the work -

A realisation of momentous proportions.

And that was this:

The scale of your frazzle and overwhelm …

You know that feeling, right?

When you have so much to do and zero time to do it …?

Has nothing to with the length or even “heaviness”  of your to do list.

BTW: You know when a to do list is heavy?

I mean, it may only be 2 items long, but they are:

1. Move house;

2. Save the world.

All by tomorrow, 9am.

Heavy, man …

In truth, your foreboding sense of overwhelm and panic rising is all related:

To the amount of focus you give it.

How much you hold the "to be done's" in your head.

Overwhelm is therefore related to over-thinking.

Which is a wonderful thing to realise - honestly.

Because sometimes you can’t do much about how busy your days are,

But you CAN do a huge amount of how busy your head is.

And that makes ALL the difference.

It’s all related on future thinking …

“I have this and this and this to do”.

Holding it all in your head is a recipe for panic.

So - get it out of your head.

On paper if you need.

Get present.

Prioritise.

Then get super present and do one thing at a time.

Fully give yourself to this moment.

You CAN only do one thing.

If you do this fully and completely,

All overwhelm and stress and frazzle will go.

Promise.

And you’ll be a nicer person to be around.

You won’t snap at your kids, again.

You'll be more efficient.

You’ll also enjoy yourself a great deal more too.

OK?

So that is the answer to your to do list overwhelm woes.

You’re future surfing!

There’s no time for surf - you’re busy.

Get yourself back in the present moment.

Jolly good!

Go well,

Arjuna

PS.

Of course - a meditation practice helps so much with the ability to “put things down”,

Out of your head so you’re not carrying them.

If you head this way, you can pick up my FREE (capitals!) guide to all the things you can do to make your life more mindful,

And even start to meditate, should you wish.

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb