Living Wisely Living Well | With Asha Nayaswami

Encourage others in their efforts to improve themselves. But remember, they don’t owe it to you to be better than they are. That debt is one they owe only to themselves.

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When setting out to accomplish anything, give less thought to what has already been done than to what is required of this particular task, at this particular moment.

Speak the truth kindly: never in a judgmental spirit, and never sarcastically. Speak it to be helpful, not to destroy another person’s self-confidence.

Listen for expressions of truth in the simple speech of children. See what you can learn from them. Their insights are less conditioned by convention, and often are refreshingly perceptive. Be careful, however, not to be so childlike as to create trouble for others. To give an amusing but illustrative example, during my family’s visit to America when I was nine, my mother took us three boys across the border into Canada. As we returned through customs, the officer asked her, “Have you anything to declare?” “Nothing,” she replied. Instantly all three of us, hands over our mouths, cried out, “Oh, Mother!” Sternly, the official ordered her to open the trunk. There he found three little birchbark canoes, six inches long. So—be childlike, but don’t be naive!

Treat others as though it were a treat to be with them!

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If anything or anyone distresses you, think how you’ll probably feel a week—a month—a year later. If you can imagine yourself being happy and peaceful then, why waste all that time? Be happy and peaceful now!

Live more in the heart. Send rays of love out to all the world, knowing that everyone aspires, each in his own way, to the highest possible attainment: perfect bliss. Bliss, in union with God, must come eventually to everyone.

State the truth in a normal, conversational tone. Often, people who shout their thoughts are either lying or talking through their hats.

If someone insults or makes fun of you, thank him (even warmly) and say, “I appreciate your reminder that I’m very far from perfect. Since perfection is what I hope to attain someday, I consider it a helpful reminder to be told I still have work to do.”

To be fully aware, look for the hidden reality behind all appearances.