How can I be so sure of this? Well, by honestly answering one simple but profound question that Dr Chopra asks, and theat is

“If you had all the money in the World, what would you do?”

He says that if you would still do what you are doing then you are “in dharma” because you are expressing your unique talent, finding how best to use this talent to serve humanity and seeking your divinity. As usual, he offers guidelines for me (us) to use in applying this Law of dharma.

Firstly, to spend time in silence (30 mins twice a day) just to listen. Do nothing, just listen. This may seem like time “wasted” in our hurly-burly, stress-driven, material, consumerist world of “modern” living but actually it is not wasted – it is an investment. An investment in yourself. I think that there are ways that we can all fit in this contemplative time to do nothing, after all, the only two things that are completely inexhaustible in our Universe are time and space – we can never run out of them so a simple re-scheduling and a commitment “to try” will probably allow us to re-priortise in some way so that genuine quiet-time can be found.
Secondly, he suggests spending time to list our unique talents and to spend time in finding ways to use these talents for the service of others. I know that I do this and I know that when I am deploying these talents, that time (and my spirit) flies.
Thirdly, continually ask “how can I serve?”. I hope with all sincerity that this book goes some way to delivering this. My businesses are all based around my helping others to grow and develop. My volunteer work is focussed on the same.

Is that it then? Is that all there is? I think so.

I have been distracted recently by the mundane activities and pressures of the material world – I have even considered changing my path and my plans but I know in my heart of hearts that this is what I am supposed to do. To find my ‘higher’ self, (to reach my full potential), to communicate this to others and to help them on their own journey if at all possible and to serve. I know this to be true because every time that I sit to write, or conduct a mentoring session, or complete a talk/presentation of ethical business and values, or any of the myriad of ways that I try to help others to live better, more fulfilled and balanced lives, that I feel the most alive. This is when I shine (or so I have been told). As to whether this will deliver my own abundance and unlimited wealth, only time will tell but I can report one thing with absolute confidence – when I am doing these things that I love doing and am doing them for others, I FEEL like I am in dharma and that may be as close as it gets to knowing. I have a passion to reach my potential. I do not know what it will feel like when I do or whether it is, in fact, even possible, but this journey is the start, if not the end, of my quest.

There is no real end to this journey – merely the completion of stages. A Tour de France without the yellow jersey or the finishing line. I, like us all, am a work in progress, a seeker searching, a project yet to be completed. As my life moves on and my travels and travails take me to places yet unknown my path will always be clear to me; find time to listen, develop and deliver my talents and do what I love doing in the service of others and you never know, one day I may even get paid for it!

In love and service.
PF

So, whinge over for today.
I have had an interesting couple of weeks; periods of energy and creativity regularly broken by periods on angst and weariness. A test of my resolve or a message to shift track? I am leaning towards the former – I have to! I have received a couple of those spooky coincidences too. Both messages have emerged in different guises from disparate people and circumstances and, as usual, I ignored them the first couple of times. I know, what an idiot!

The first concerns variations of the theme of “he took us to the edge and told us to jump”. This has recurred many times to me. I am not a practicing Christian (and I understand that this is the acknowledged source) but the essence of the message is profound irrespective of this. Cutting to the chase, my integration of this came when I met a new business contact this week. When we chatted about this (and that) she smiled “knowingly” (if that’s possible?) and said
“I don’t know what you are worrying about; you don’t have to jump or be pushed, you are already flying you just have not realised.” Mmm – don’t look down PF !
I know that these are just “words” but I think that my view on theses messages and coincidences is clear from past entries – they are “sent” to prompt and remind us of issues/situations that need to be addressed. Excellent for me then – just keep flapping and don’t look down!

The second involves the monkey and the trap. You know the tale where the monkey will not let go of the nuts in the trap and so cannot get its arm out to free itself. All it has to do is let go and he is free. I know what my “nut” is and am trying to feel secure in letting go of it. Like the monkey, my grip is tight on the “known” and despite the risks and dangers and the inability to be “free”, I cling on for dear life. The fact that my life is at risk (metaphorically speaking) and I cannot move on UNTIL I let go has obvious relevance to me. I must let go of the nuts! And, I guess, trying to fly whilst holding my nuts is not going to be effective either!

So, for everyone that I meet that says “What are you worried about? You have a great message and the time is right. Step into the light.” I AM trying. I still feel that I need a week on a beach but at least I am more energised and comfortable that I am on the right track. I am not sure who pushed me and I am still emotionally attached to my “nut” but hey, you can’t fly with a handful of nut so I must let go completely and not look down.
Tired but energised.
PF

Anyway, I digress. The second of these thoughts is the inspiration for this entry. (The first was to coin the phrase “investment marketing” so unless anyone can point me to where this currently exists I am claiming that one!). This particular one was inserted into my consciousness during the pause between focussed spells of thinking about my “real” work. I have recently had a business values and ethics book published; in this I refer to a couple of over-riding “principles” of behaviour – those of authenticity and personal values. It has been very well received and I am in the process of marketing this one and writing the follow up. In this part of the process I have met many business leadership and management development organisations, each offering their unique and specialised version of how to deliver values and ethics into business and leadership – my passion.

It occurred to me that my proposition was not in conflict with any of these products and services and, in fact, sits “above” them all (metaphorically) in many ways because my main “message” is that all behaviour – business, sport, home, life, play etc – starts and ends with the individual. Business, teams, groups and society as a whole is just the accumulation and reflection of all of these individual behaviours. This is true irrespective of the relative influence of peer groups, adverts, savvy marketing or Government initiative. At the end of the day we all choose individually how to behave. Whether to follow or lead. Whether to buy or not. Whether to confirm or rebel. Whether to walk away or stand our ground. In this context, our values influence our emotions and actions at an individual level and as such it occurs to me that we can all be “better”, more authentic people just by choosing to be so. More of this another time maybe (or search out my book!).

So, if we are all generally “good”, how come there is such unethical and inconsistent behaviour in our businesses and society? I offer the following by way of my understanding of some of the issues at hand.
If our actions do not follow our values and morales we are inauthentic. We may be able to “live” with this in the short term but I suggest that long term incongruent behaviour is not sustainable by most of us. I always advise that individuals start in the same place if they are having feelings of incongruence, imbalance or discontent. Start in the mirror! You cannot kid a kidder and you cannot lie to yourself.

So, I developed the theme thus:
The first step to balance and growth, or at least to change, is

A=Awareness. Once you acknowledge the issue, then the first step is taken. The,
I=Inclination. You have to want to change and/or grow. Then,
R=Resources. You will probably need tools and techniques and definitely inner strength and courage. Then,
S=Support. Change is difficult. The support of friends, family and even a detached coach/mentor will help you.

So, that’s the AIRS part. Simplistic but fairly concise.

And so the Graces. Well, how about inner peace, balance, love, harmony, fairness, truth, trust etc. Or even kharma, dharma and nirvana?

I do not wish to offend or undermine any specific religious scripture or belief system – I am, I hope, promoting their respective “higher” virtues so please excuse any unintended conurtation of the term “Grace”. I use these terms (emotions, feelings, behaviours) in a generic context as the higher virtues are obtained by living by basic, personal but universal values. I am sure that more erudite and knowledgable parties can expand on my fundamental understanding but I hope that my summary serves to get the message across.

Your AIRS and Graces are yours to manage and receive (respectively) and just imagine the overall benefits to life and society if we all looked at our own AIRS and Graces more often.
AIRily and gracefully yours
PF

This reservation extends to the new World of social media. I really do not understand why people live their life in full view of the World – Facebook posts that, to me, seem to make visible their private life and emotions. I just don’t get it. For me, my private feelings and emotions are just that – private. I am fully aware of the contradiction here – these ramblings have been strewn with personal experience and emotion – my self laid bare in some instances, but I see this as different. I have tried to understand life. I have tried to help – you and me I hope. I have kept some things relatively secret. The release of this blog, and potentially the book, still carry with it some detachment I think. I hope.

I do post Facebook entries – I kind of have to in order to promote my business (books, coaching and mentoring) so I pop along to F/B once in a while. This morning was one such occasion and I found a post that intrigued and, I must admit, surprised me. A friend, a typical or at least I thought typical, alpha-male type bloke posted a comment that caused me to pause. It went something like as follows:

“Tonight I’m truly overwhelmed. So through experience I would suggest if you have the chance to help someone, however small it may seem to yourself …… DO IT? The reward is second to nothing!……Now think on !”

Not only did this unusual entry catch my eye but also stirred my “spirit”. Clearly this chap has had a wonderful experience based on service and giving. Clearly the impact upon him was profound. This is not the sort of bloke that traditionally expresses such emotion let alone to the World at large and therein lies the power of service to others. Not only does it, apparently, motivate even the modest of souls to shout it out to the World but it also, it would seem, brings rewards both unexpected and profound. How wonderful is that?!?!

I have been wrestling with several ideas lately. I have been struggling to make ends meet and the ever-increasing pressure of an economy in recession does little to alleviate the daily requirement for adding gryst to the wheel without guaranteed reward. This little F/B post, however, has provided me with another chink of light. I am in no way suggesting that his entry was “meant” for me (maybe Dr Chopra would dispute that on a Universal level?) but it has served to re-kindle my desire to help and serve. I have spent all week developing a self-help product. I will release it next week. I have also been struggling with how much to charge for it. Now I know. I will make the product cheap and accessible. I will offer it at a price that is fair to me but within most people’s budget. I will try to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity and choice to buy it. In essence, I will try to help and serve as many people as possible with my work.

I do not know whether this will reduce my intermittent fear of the uncertainty within which I have placed myself. I do not know if this will deliver my abundance. I DO know that I will try to detach from this as a required result. I DO know that in writing this and creating these products that time flies, my creativity is in full flow and I feel as though I am on my “dharma”.

Who would have thought that a random (but poignant) F/B entry would have served as a message to me at the highest of levels? Well, probably Dr Chopra!
Live and love.
PF

1. Spend time in silence to contact my higher self. Just listen.
2. List my unique talents and list 3 things I love to do to serve humanity to create abundance
3. Daily – how can I serve/help.

I seem to be able to help others in this way with increasing regularity and effectiveness and guess what? I love it. It makes me feel useful and valuable. I can deploy my relatively expansive life experience (age tends to do that to a person!) with my coaching and NLP training and I simply love helping. It reminded me of the overall intention of my work – to help and serve others.

With an appropriate “nod” to coincidences, I opened an email that provided me with an invitation to a webinar and course on “Purpose of Life” and how to find it. Coincidence? Naaah. A message. I have been wrapped up int the “why” and more particularly the “how” of things. I have been focussing on what my services can offer to others but also on what’s in it for me. Not in a self-centered, unethical way but charging for my services and experience in order to make my own ends meet has been a constant companion to my work. I will change this.

I also received an email from an another girl friend. She is also a single working mum with 2 kids. She is struggling to re-adjust to single parenthood but is a strong, funny and essentially beautiful person. Again, I offered my help (if needed). Both events lead me inexorably to Dr Chopra and my 7th Law. Dharma, what is mine, how do I know I am “on purpose”?

Of course his advice is simple but profound. Simply approach life from a perspective of service. How can I help rather than what do I get from this. It is not easy – simple rarely is – but it is magnificently rewarding. I do not have to worry about how I can help (writing, coaching, mentoring etc) but simply be there to serve. IF this 7 Laws ethos is to be believed and succesful then the “what’s in it for me?” question becomes irrelevant – abundance will flow (says the good Dr). So I await the flow of my abundance with a different perspective. – that of How Can I help? It does mean that I have to trust the process. It does mean that I have to live in uncertainty. It does mean that my bank balance is not as predictable and healthy as my bank manager would like BUT it also means that I know that I am on purpose and that these actions are congruent and valuable and as Dr Chopra continually extolls, if you are on purpose, helping and serving, offering out to the Universe my unique and individual skills then my abundance will come to me.

So, good readers – how can I help?
Please comment below.
PF

I set up 4 meetings on Monday; my sister travelled down from Scotland to join me. All meetings were potentially very exciting and developmental for my magazine business. 1 no show, 1 real disappointment, 1 we can not help at this moment (we are not recruiting; this was not the original aim of the meeting !) and one that comes under the “good stuff but nothing at the moment” category. In essence, all could have been done with 4 x 15 minute phone calls. Tuesday I drove to Oxford for a meeting with a management leadership company that I had met previously and with whom I share many values and intent. We were supposed to be talking joint ventures/collaborations. I arrived and entered their Board meeting. They had not read my book, knew nothing about me (bar the Director that I had already met) and could not see any immediate prospects – “we will be in touch”.
Wednesday gets better. I have online banking so I have to check my account online then drive to my nearest branch to deposit money – always a joy! I queued and deposited, ran around the corner for a haircut – closed – ran back to the car – parking ticket the sad little ginger-haired dullard pressed the button as I shouted him from 2 cars away. “I’ve done it now. You could write to them and see what they say”. Yeah right! 3 minutes over and no cars around, plenty of spaces, half day shopping (all the shops were closed) – what do you think my chances are? Absolutely; I lose the £50 AND the time and postage. No thanks.
So, I get home and collect the post from the floor of the hallway. As I stand, the door blows open and I crack my head on the door handle. When the stars cleared I watched a Tom and Jerry lump rise spectacularly in the centre of my forehead and a beautifully contrasting eddy of claret trickling down between my eyes. Woo-hoo!
Still, undaunted I deal with the post and log on to write. Well, I didn’t actually because the modem was not working. 4 hours and 7 calls to and from BT later an engineer was booked to visit – on Friday!!! Feeling limbless I decided to call a day on the technical stuff and fall back to Plan B – gardening. I changed my clothes, collected my tools, locked the dog in, moved the car and bins and I recommenced my battle with the moss between the blocks on the drive. 3 minutes in – rain! So, tools collected etc I went and re-tried a remote fix on the laptop – no go. So, Plan C – walk the dog. The rain had stopped and the sun was beaming – excellent. I decide upon a medium walk along the canal; about 2 miles in, at the furthest point from home base it starts to rain. Well, actually I was personally revisited by Hurricane Katrina – “extremely localised and isolated depressions and high winds with rain will be visiting Cheshire” – my part of Cheshire! No, not even my part of Cheshire – me! It was clear that it had singled out me! (and the now smelly, sulky, damp dog!)
I did nothing else on Wednesday except burn my fingers on the stove.
Thursday – I awake early. Why? My first thoughts are along the lines of “the longer the day, the more sh*t I will get” but I rise anyway. Still no broadband so I cannot contact anyone, research, blog, email etc etc – still limbless! I decide to start writing my second book. I work solidly for 7 hours with the occasional stretch and breathe break and essential coffee (even this is crappy instant but hey, I could have gone to the supermarket 5 miles away and not the corner shop – see, personal responsibility in action!). I make great progress but have to stop when I need to do more research online.

So! A rant or a message? I have decided to take it as a message. Dr Chopra repeatedly refers to the “fact” that if things are not congruent then you are possibly forcing a solution to a problem. I have had not a single issue since I started to write again – is that my dharma? Has it just been uninterrupted and free flowing because the meetings required no follow up and the modem was playing silly buggers?

I cannot be definitive, obviously, but I did NOT let the week “get” to me; in fact I smiled quite a lot. I could not be interrupted with no connection to the outside World so did I manage to have such a productive writing day “because” of the silence or regardless of it? Again, I don’t know but I am certain of one thing – if you don’t know the question then how do you recognise the solution if it shows up?

Is writing my dharma and so all actions related to it flow and feel productive and harmonious or is it a message to plough on with other projects and the Universe is testing my committment to the cause? Does it matter?
I hope to find out more as I resume the dharma section of the journey. I hope that you are still with me at the end.
Accepting and confused.
PF

Dr Chopra describes “dharma” as “the purpose of life”. He goes on to explain that he believes that everyone on the planet has a unique ability or talent – something that they can do better, or more effectively, than anyone else alive. A bold and fantastic statement indeed but certainly one that I wish with all my heart to be true. He believes that we are here to fulfil a spiritual purpose and that for every expression of this, our unique talent, there exists a corresponding need. Connecting these two elements leads to unlimited abundance, he explains.

So, the first question is obvious; what is my unique talent?

I do not wish to run before I walk with this but I have been trying to find my “unique talent” for some time; all of my life possibly, or at least all of the times in my life when I felt lost, undervalued, de-motivated and such. Well actually that may not be absolutely true – I have also recognised those occasions where I felt relatively motivated and turned on by my work and efforts. There seems no point in completing a list (or maybe that’s the only point?) but the occassions of “why am I doing this?” have been given equal, or more, consideration and energy as those of “I love my work” or “that just felt great”. I am sure that you have experienced similar.

In walking away from my corporate career, and several uninspiring projects in between, I spent some time considering my “dharma” a couple of years ago. I did not refer to it as dharma at the time, it was more a question of finding something to do that satisfied at least 2 of the following criteria;
1. What inspires me or what do I REALLY want to do?
2. How can this help others?
3. Can I get paid for it?

Long story short, but this is it! This work, and my other writing, is, I think, part of my dharma. I love it. I started this particular work with one eye on self discovery and development and the other on helping other, equally lost and seeking souls. So, dharma sorted then? Well maybe not yet – I have not yet satisfied the 3rd criteria. By the time most of you read this I hope to have it in published form. I do have some online followers and a caring few that leave comments to this blog but I think that the “book” will reach most people (and, I hope, return some rewards for me personally). Time, as usual, will tell.

How do I “know” that I am in part following my dharma, you may well ask (let’s pretend that you did anyway). The way that I attempt to correlate and integrate activity with purpose is to engage my intuition. If it “feels” congruent, free-flowing and natural then I do it – writing fulfils these needs. I write because I enjoy it; I have received some loving and lovely feedback; the work is as much for others as it is for me – collaborative or virtual catharsis maybe? I do not NEED feedback nor, I suppose, reward; the joy is in the doing, so to speak, so about the remuneration, mmmmm???!! Maybe that’s a “detachment” issue !!!

I do not suppose that I do this “better than anyone else in the World”, clearly not. In fact I only just accept that this may be considered as “writing” but it does the job for me, for the time being. Is there a corresponding need? I have no real idea but, on the basis that my struggles are by no means unique, there must be souls abroad to whom my words may offer solace (by comparison or empathy I know not which). So it is with a slightly lighter soul that I begin this 7th part of my journey; my journey into life’s purpose. My dharma drama.
Purposefully yours
PF

Dr Chopra states that good luck is “simply” a matter of preparedness meeting opportunity. By not forcing solutions onto problems, which is the whole process of evolution, and by living with uncertainty then problems can be considered as opportunities. Good luck, he states, is nothing more than opportunity and preparedness coming together. Being prepared in the present to live within the uncertainty whilst witnessing this with detachment, allows you to seize the opportunity and this will deliver a huge new range of possibilities. Being grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty with an alert witnessing of the chaos delivers what is called good luck.

Mmm??!!

So, how to make this happen?
1. Witness uncertainty with detachment and not force solutions on problems.
2. Factor in uncertainty into every day as uncertainty is the path to freedom; through the wisdom of insecurity, I will find security.
3. Step into the field of all possibilities to experience the fun, mystery and adventure of life.

Sounds easy eh? Just “go with the flow”, witness the chaos, embrace uncertainty and watch the Universe provide the opportunities.

Well I have to admit that I am not a great “detacher”. Living with uncertainty is something that I have become accustomed to and I am certain that I am prepared for opportunities to present themselves without my necessarily directly creating them. So, do I feel lucky? I have mentioned previously my “bad luck” I think. The divorce, being seriously undermined and exploited by by “best mate”, being ripped off by the consulting agency that I joined, a couple of emotionally devastating romantic decisions etc etc; hardly the diary of as “lucky” man but I guess that there are two ways to look at all of this. The past has gone and over-laying these experiences on the future is definitively futile. I want to grow and move forward so I will resign the past to the bin of experience. Can I re-interpret these experiences as “good luck”? Is that a step too far? I reckon not.
The marriage was not right. My best mate was clearly a schiester without morals nor ethics. The agency was clearly unstable. The potential partners clearly not “right” for me. Don’t get me wrong, they all hurt and significantly affected me in many ways but would I want to be involved with any of them at this moment? NO. Absolutely not. I made costly mistakes but I have emerged “better”, certainly wiser and have a life of rich experiences.

Where do I go from here? Well, I go forward. I am alone but thankfully not in a dead or debilitating, false relationship. I am doing the work that I really enjoy (albeit at the moment for little financial return). I am free to plan and live my days with a high degree of freedom. I have good friends and sound business partners. I am, in fact, very lucky in these respects. I have created a life whereby I can be flexible for the opportunities that the Universe sends my way. Am I lucky? I think so. Am I happy? On the whole, yes. Am I comfortable living with permanent uncertainty? Well, in truth, not yet. I am by nature a planner, a controller, a manager. Being uncertain and insecure does not, yet at least, come naturally nor easily but what to do about that? Nothing. Embrace the uncertainty and be prepared for opportunity.

How lucky do you feel?
PF

I am not anywhere near the dark places from where I have steadily and gradually emerged, just lacking something fundemental and it is clear to me that it is the issue of security that tests me now. I have at least come to understand that this is my current challenge; I have, even if I say so myself, changed dramatically since commencing this journey and this journey is itself just the latest stage on a greater quest.

“Anything that exists in the physical universe can be acquired by relinquishing your attachment to it.” says the good Dr. “Attachment comes from poverty consciousness . . . without detachment we are prisoners of helplessness, hopelessness, trivial concerns, mundane needs, quiet desperation . . .” well that just about nails it for me at this moment. Quiet desperation; yes, that’s it, quiet desperation.”
He goes on to explain that the seeking of security is an ephemeral thing. That no matter how much of a certain “thing” we have, it will not alone bring peace and security and those of us that seek security throughout our lifetime will never find it. Security, like wealth and happiness, comes from the self. I understand the words. I make a coffee to let them settle into my mind. I know, absolutely, without any idea of why, that I am “supposed” to address this now, at this time. I know this not only because it resonates but because it has been thrown at me by the Universe a couple of other times in the last few days.

I had an email from a friend who explained that she was struggling with life/work and was contemplating packing things up and returning to her own cave. I did my best to lift her spirits and offered a couple of potential business strategies that she may deploy. She replied with the thanks and the words “I need to live with insecurity more elegantly”. It seems that so do I. Then, on the same day, I randomly clicked on my horoscope. I am not an avid follower nor necessarily a great believer, but the phrase “you are searching for security in the wrong place” jumped from the page (well the screen but you know what I mean!). So security it is. Security is my challenge; being secure in myself in the chaos of uncertainty.

I have, and typically I suppose, sought security in the past in the usual places; money and relationships; essentially, things and other people. I have earned large salaries and had nice “things” and left them in a past existence. They did not complete me nor even fill the growing void. I have lived with financial insecurity for several years and thanks to some wonderful friends and an extremely supportive family I have “survived”. I do not need things; just the basics. I have detailed elsewhere my disastrous decisions in looking for a partner too. I have little doubt that I will return to the days of more financial freedom with the choice, at least, to buy more “nice things” but will I ever find that “right” partner? The answer is two-fold I think. Firstly, when I stop looking for one the universe will contrive a way to bring one to me and secondly when I fully understand and accept that security comes from myself and myself alone. Again I confess to understanding the principle but to being somewhat less familiar with the practice. Detachment and security, it seems, are intrinsically linked to self esteem. Mmmm, lots of work to do then.

Well, I am off to find security in the uncertainty.
Take care.
PF

These words ring

How do I know this? Well, two reasons; one conscious and tangible, the other unconscious and more etherial. The first incident happened yesterday. I was returning from a business networking expo seminar event in Manchester on the train. I have to be dragged kicking and screaming to these things normally but the combination of my recent business book release (and brand launch for all you business-oriented types out there) and the insistence of my patient and forgiving marketing partner, Sue, meant that I could not squirm out of this one.
“It’s a really good one. Not like the normal little events and there are a couple of people that I think you should meet” were her persuaders.
As a person that avoids networking like the plague, this may not have been enough, but since I am currently challenging my resistance to achieving (that’s another tale!) I allowed myself to be drafted. I will spare you the details of my race against time and timetable to get back to the station but suffice to say I found an empty space with literally seconds to spare.
Question: why do we always sit in the middle of a bench seat and/or spread over 2 or 3 spaces in a vain attempt to avoid the possibility of any human connection?
Apologies, I digress.
After about 30 minutes I realised that I was still wearing my name badge clipped to my suit pocket. There it was, bright green and shouting to the World “look, here is a bloke that wants people to know he has been at a conference; cor, he must be important” (or at least that is what I felt that it was screaming). Upon noticing I blushed, coughed and surreptitiously removed the offending item whilst faking an exaggerated yawn. Curses – they had noticed! My usual reaction to this would be to put my sunglasses on and stare thoughtfully out of the window feigning deep thought or to pretend that I was busy replying to emails on my Blackberry, never to look up until my disembarking. Yesterday, however, I deployed a different tactic. I made a joke of it. I attracted attention to my discomfort. What happened? Well, everyone around smiled and laughed and mainly with/towards me rather than at me! Brief conversation ensued and we all had a little giggle to break to isolated silence of the journey. So what has this to do with detachment? Well, I was clearly not detached from my external image; in fact I was obviously extremely conscious of it; so conscious that I attributed judgement of it to all and sundry around me. I blushed. BUT, why did this matter? I had never seen these people before and probably never will again; why should I be uncomfortable at not removing my badge? Attachment to my own image of myself and to how/what I would think of someone else if the tables were turned. Image, appearance, ego etc – I am clearly still very attached to these things.

The second reason is not as specific. In fact, not in any way specific which makes it harder to deal with. I have a feeling. An intuitive, gut-tingling feeling that I cannot nail the cause of. Something is “wrong” or incomplete or off balance. My intuition is pecking my head and the only direction to which is it pointing me is detachment so, after losing Dr Chopra’s book from my PC and i-Tunes (another tale of technology woe!), I purchased another audio copy. There was and is much that I have missed with respect to detachment so I leave the final path of ascent (chapter 7 – dharma) and return to the trail that I thought that I had completed. It is clear that there is more to discover and, dare I say, understand.

In fairness, in listening to the chapter on detachment again I now “know” that I have more work to do. Whether the train incident or the etherial emotion are in any way connected to this I will let you decide. My decision is to go back. Dr Chopra does state quite clearly that detachment is a tricky issue (I paraphrase) and cor blimey guv’nor I have to agree.

How attached sre you to your own image? Just a question.
More soon. Take care to remove any unwanted labels!
PF