People talk about six degrees of separation, but that’s just on the physical layer! When we get down to metaphysics, there are not six degrees, it’s zero degrees because ultimately we are all connected. When you go back to the big bang singularity, you, me, the car you drive, the tree across the street, the rat in your garbage were all just a mass of vibrating energy until we chose to explode in the great cosmic awareness that we are today. As Pythagoras stated everything in this universe will return to it’s original state so sooner or later, you, me the car you drive, the tree across the street, the rat in your garbage will all coalesce again into one single mass of vibrating, infinitely dense energy. Everything in this universe is forever connected.
Hi All,
A while back I mentioned of Peep Laja who created a website called Dreaminder. He has now created a new website called The One Question where you can find some great resources, articles, exercises to discover your lifes purpose. Drop by and visit the new site and even send Peep a message and introduce yourself! 
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It’s not about the sight you see, it’s about the sight you see it with!
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Isn’t it funny how when you stop looking for “it”, “it” shows up knocking at your door!
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Kitaro Nishida said: “If my heart can become pure and simple like that of a child, I think that there can probably be no greater happiness than this.”
While I was reading this quote in my little zen companion book on my desk at work, it made me realise the simple truth that as children we become so eager to become adults and when we become adults we become eager to become like children.
I had written this a few days ago and just after I had written this a person I am life coaching came to me and said those exact words, almost word for word in a conversation we were having. It’s something we all realise and yet we repeat those mistakes onto our children by letting them rush into adulthood only to find that they don’t like what they see and want to go back to their childhoods.
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Amit Sodha | 
Daily, Happiness, Positive Thoughts, Proactivity, Wisdom | 
08 18th, 2007| 
No Comments »It can be quite easy to get overcome by someone’s negative energy when you’re in their presence. What it will be worth doing on your part is instead of focusing on their negative energy, focus on your positive energy and then what you will find is that your positive energy will envelope and transform them.
This may sound like a bit of new age mumbo jumbo but try it for yourself and see. If you notice someone, a friend or stranger, being totally negative and only sharing their stories of what’s wrong in their life, stop them in their tracks!! Then, don’t talk about what’s good in your life but rather find out what they like or enjoy and then fully participate with them in that enjoyment, show interest and ask questions to get them excited. You’ll see for yourself how fast the energy and dynamic of their persona will change!
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You can only learn new knowledge fully once you’ve fully lived it and applied it to life. That is called wisdom and when you have wisdom you’re in a position to then share that with other people. Anything else is just empty words.
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Amit Sodha | Amits Quotes, Cosmos, Daily, Power of Choice, Spiritual, Thoughts, Wisdom | 08 16th, 2007| 3 Comments »Life has no meaning or purpose except the meaning and purpose we choose to give it. So, now you know, what does life mean and what purpose does it hold for you?
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From guilt to gratitude!
Why be even more tough on yourself if you’re having a genuinely bad day? Being tough on yourself is the worst way to overcome that feeling as you’ll just dig yourself deeper and deeper into it and then you’ll just end up feeling even worse! When you punish yourself with guilt and frustration you doom yourself to repeating the same cycle over and over. The next time you have a bad day, instead of cursing yourself and trying to make yourself feel guilty, try this approach. Say to yourself; “I’m having a bad day and on this day, because I feel bad I will do whatever it is I feel like doing! Whether that doing a movie marathon or eating all the foods you know are bad for me! I’m thankful for this time, as it makes me appreciate even more the good days that I have!”
When you no longer punish yourself and you turn your guilt into gratitude, you will find that automatically you will start to feel much better faster and before you even know it your bad will be over and it’ll end up being a great and productive day! I had one such day recently and automatically without even realising it I was cursing myself and in turn that was making me feel even more like shit! When I realised what I was doing, I turned it around, I accepted the bad day for what it was and just did the things I loved doing like I watched a few movies back to back and I ate tonnes of food! Instead of feeling guilty about any of those actions I changed my inner dialogue to one of gratitude and made the conscious choice that I was going to enjoy the “bad” day and lowen behold, before I had even realised, it had turned into a good day!
The next time you catch yourself cursing or making yourself feel guilty, turn on the gratitude switch instead and I gaurantee that the guilt and cursing will extinguish rapidly!
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kavikim | Business Ideas!, Career, Challenges, Confidence, Creative, Current Affairs, Daily, Diary Entry, Faith, God, Growth and Self Development, Happiness, Kavikim, Manifesting (LoA), Passion, Positive Thoughts, Power of Choice, Proactivity, Self Esteem, Spiritual, Thoughts, Work and Career, Your Stories | 08 15th, 2007| 1 Comment »
His passion is music (although he would argue it is chocolate!). His voice, so deliberate yet strategically subtle, gentle teasing you into submission for the message he brings. A winning combination to the lyrics, which are layered like a rich tapestry of life experience, higher learning, faith, goals and love. It’s like the poetic murmurings of a beautifully sung prayer – it touch’s your heart and leaves light in your soul!
Read the following in depth interview to uncover why this inspiring new artist is promoting the one thought “the human solution is a divine evolution” and why he has decided to donate his profits to a charity close to his heart.
So Stu, when and why did you start playing guitar, and when did you discover you had the talent to sing?
I asked for a guitar on my 16th birthday, as soon as I knew a few chords I started writing my own songs. A few months later I made my own studio by lashing together my ghetto blaster to my girlfriend’s dad’s stereo.
I knew I could sing as a child because I could imitate all the songs I liked, but I was v shy.
What are your fondest musical memories?
Playing my old Walt Disney record, yes vinyl! My favourite “I wanna be like you” over & over. Still know it word for word & every monkey noise.
Then my next favourite memory is when I was 17 & went to Dingwalls Jazz club on a Sunday afternoon. Giles Peterson was playing frenetic but musical 60’s bebop & two guys (I think maybe “brothers in Jazz”) were dancing, the floor just cleared for them. I can’t describe in words how I felt, the sound & the sight just moved me to tears as I stared, it was a v deep experience. They had such style, grace & physicality, the rhythm, joy & energy was shinning from them, the sound … it was a high that no drugs could come close too.
That experience got me into dancing, so I went every week to these Sunday afternoon jazz clubs, even on my own, it was so cool. Never packed & always full of interesting souls struttin n stepping, expressing their thing. You can see a person s soul through the eyes & how they move to rhythm.
So who are your influences?
The person who is the single biggest influence on me musically is my music teacher, Professor TV Gopalakrishnan, a master of Classical Indian music.
Who are your favorite musicians? Groups?
Musicians & influence is such an enormous question for me; so here goes. My musical training came from listening, first to the radio, with whatever caught my ear. As a young teenager I loved rock n roll, especially Little Richard, but the radio is so diverse & so my taste has always been diverse, but generally its Black music in its many forms. Growing older I could afford records: I loved the songs Prince did, up until about 90’s, loved hip hop beats, conscious lyrics of KRS1 & Chuck D, but the best flow was Big Daddy Kane. At that time you were either an indie kid or hip hop, I was the odd ball, I did like both, though I could only dance to hip hop. Indie songs, bands I appreciated. The breaks in hip hop got me into funk, JB being the obvious, but then the breaks began to get more obscure, jazz influenced & soon my record collection was well over 10,000; gospel, jazz, funk, soul etc.
No one name really stands out, but sooo many songs & artists have influenced me.
So how do you handle mistakes during a performance and do you ever get nervous before a performance?
Mistakes, if u don’t make a big deal of it, other people won’t either. When buskin on the underground I would actually be trying things out, writing, working ideas. True performance art ! the energy & vibe of all those people would become part of the creation. Busker’s do 2 hour slots, its all v official, sometimes for those 2 hours I’d work on 1 song, but people only hear 10 seconds of it so it cool. Any way if I didn’t make “mistakes” I wouldn’t get ideas. Of course I got nervous. The mind is such a trickster. Some days u listen to its crap more than others.
Do you work with other artists, If so who? and why?
Yeah, I got into doing my own stuff by working with others. My first single “Money” by Coco & the Bean, I did the rap for it. These guys did hip hop in their bedroom so this inspired me to do likewise. Currently I’m working with Sali, a Carnatic (south Indian classical) singer on an innovative dance track, also an RnB singer called Kavita, she’s great but keeps burping like Barney (Simpson’s) after a great vocal take.
Ha ha, very funny – I’ll get you back for that!
So, tell us about the REAL Stu?
Big question eh? I’m special, there’s no one quite like me. Then we are all unique & special so I guess I’m ordinarily special. I’m very blessed, I’ve had the opportunity to experience a “western” & “eastern” family life. I’m v healthy. Funny, well I laugh at myself. V positive, love life, especially people, but I think our potential is nowhere near reached. I’m also blessed with many talents, musical creations being the primary. But the more I witness people struggling with themselves, religion, God etc the more I realize that my most treasured blessing is having a direct communication with the divine. I always feel truly at ease with my personal faith & this actually also makes me feel at ease with any religious faith. Religious texts are words but the wisdom is woven between the words, interpretation depends on the heart & mind of the reader. The essence of love is universal, humanity is corrupted by ego. Music transcends all this political egotistical crap because its feeling comes not from words but the movement of notes. Like love it has its universal law. I study Carnatic music because the “laws” that define this music have evolved over thousands of years & its focus is more internal, it has more culture, not to say its better, but it has a different emphasis. It will be many more years before I will master this art but its influence will permeate into my creations.
Why do you want to record and release your own music?
I make one big assumption in life: if I like something, other people will also like it, not everyone, but then not everyone likes Thai red curry, but I do.
“I admit, this rhyme is not mine, it’s inspired, divine….” That’s a quote from “Beats n Love” but it reflects my music. I feel that my music will inspire other people, whether it’s a social or political comment or whether its lust or love, my tunes are varied, but whatever the message & emotion that combination of notes conveys, other people will share & appreciate hearing it.
I feel I have a “product” which is not eclectic, cliquey but has a wide appeal. I want to get “mass” appeal, that will mean more influence, power & of course money. With those ingredients I stand a chance of creating a school for deprived kids.
How do you describe your music to people?
It depends who I’m talking to. Music is a science, its full of maths, symmetry, structure, its incredibly beautiful. Its nature & nature is not as crazy & abstract as many people think. If you are not aware of the fundamentals of it, then how can it be discussed? If u wanna chat like a critic then its all about your perspective, your interpretation & feeling. Many people may share that feeling but not everyone so its not really a discussion.
My music is natural, so without trying it has a structure, symmetry, flow etc. its natural because its inspired: by the millions of songs, rhythms & nature, by life, energy & love.
Out of the songs that you have written so far, which one is your favorite and why?
“On my way” seems to be a big favorite, I like it cos its catchy & has a great positive message. Its not my personal favorite. My favorites are some of my earlier tracks which wont be released till I’m in a position of having a great studio & engineer to do them justice. The sound scape of them is amazing, I would spend sometimes up to 4 months on one track. Now I spend about 4 weeks.
What challenges have you had to face in order to pursue music?
Time has been the biggest challenge. I’ve needed a lot of time to be ready for this release. Physically, spiritually, mentally as well as musically. I’ve practiced yoga for 15 years, studied martial arts, Sufiism, Carnatic music, ayervedic medicine, dance, all to get a balance in my life. I trained to become a school teacher, its all part of the BIG plan, its starting to come together. My drive has pushed me through some v tough times, fate has continually pulled me along. I’m ready now.
Why have you decided to donate your profits to charity and why have you chosen this charity?
The Parry Charitable foundation is a small independent charity that provides a loving home for handicapped children. It’s standard of care is high & there is a big waiting list. Every penny from donation goes into helping the kids NOT on administration. ALL the workers are volunteer, most charities 70% of your donation goes into paying their admin costs.
I know this charity & sometimes work there myself, for these reasons I donate to them.
In the long term I want to set up my own school for deprived children. I’m a qualified school teacher, yoga teacher & scientist as well as many other “life” skills. From a young age I would talk to God. When I was 12 years old I received instructions to help deprived children. This goal is my purpose, music is the vehicle to propel me there.
OK, finally what does “the human solution is a divine evolution” really mean?
It’s from the track ‘On my way’….
Ok this small phrase has a big meaning, & rather like a sutra in yoga text, a surah in the Holy Qur’an or verse from the Holy bible its open to interpretation. Unlike those wonderful books of wisdom the writer is fortunately for me still around. So here’s the intended meaning: evolution; this word is kicking up a big fuss lately, in America some schools are refuting the scientific evidence & claiming the “literal” bible version of evolution. Well books of ancient wisdom such as the Old Testament were written with hidden meaning & depth that belies a superficial surface. The true value of the words lie in studying those hidden meanings. The Darwin theory of evolution & the scientific evidence is compatible with religion in fact it’s magnitude & beauty reinforces a divinity & creation. However this is not the platform for this debate & as I said before, interpretation is dependant on perspective. What’s important is that evolution is not HISTORICAL its continuous. We are still evolving & compared to the history of the world we have just climbed down from the trees. If you look at how we behave we are still as ruthless as we ever were as beasts. Capitalism is the law of the jungle but applied to the City. “Only the strong survive. “ Fortunately this is not the whole story. All over the world people are silently working, giving unconditional love to those who are in need or weaker. I believe that right now, historically, we are at a cross roads of evolution. Technology is changing our lives & the global communication phenomena can & is spreading a message of love. It’s mixed up with violence & sex but Its harder to get any more violent than we are, its impossible to take off any more clothes, but the message of love is limitless & individuals & groups everywhere are able to contribute & unify in a way even the hippies never dreamed off. I read in a Sufi book once (can’t remember which one, sorry). “When we act like animals we are worse than the animals but when we act like angels we are better than the angels.”
Its just a case of time. When will we choose the path of love?
Thank you to Stu for sharing his work with us and giving us the time for this interview, and thank YOU for reading the article.
Peace and Love
If you would like to know more about this artist, then please check out his website WWW.STUSOUNDS.COM
Special thanks to the designer of the website: Pj (www.websitedesignz.net) and Phil (www.macpips.com)
Article written by: Kavita Sohanta - I DO NOT burp in between songs!
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Luck may favour the prepared but life favours the grateful.
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Amit Sodha | Amits Quotes, Daily, Growth and Self Development, Happiness, Wisdom | 08 13th, 2007| No Comments »There are always exceptions to the rule. Those who find the exceptions to the rules of life are the ones who will live it to the full! In essence, become the exception to the rule if you truly want to shape this world into a better place.
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Special Relativity
For me, it’s not about special relativity so much as relativity which is infinitely special. It’s with the true gift of contrast and relative experience that I enjoy the greatest things that I can possibly imagine. So everyday I give extra special thanks for the special relative universe I have the great gift of being a part of.
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A truly important question to ask yourself when facing a tough decision is this: 10 years from now, looking back at this very decision, would I like to look back with pride and gratitude at the decision I made? Or would regret suit me better?
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We are not inherently born good or bad, we choose what we become along the way. Yes there are other factors involved, like parental influences, peers, environment, among others. Ultimately though, no matter the external factors it is always the inner voice that dictates what we do and that inner voice is always under our control. Choose every action consciously!
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Post 300!
Yes this is my 300th post on this blog and it seems like not so long ago that it was my 200th!
In every pursuit it’s easy to hit a plateau. Lets say for example you decide that you no longer want to use the lifts at your office and you decide you want to use the stairs from now on! You work on the 5th floor and so every day you walk up the stairs. Now what will happen is that you’ll expect yourself to get used to the stair climbing pretty quickly!
However, it doesn’t quite work like that. For the first week or two you may even find yourself getting more tired and more puffed out by the time you reach the top and then you’ll hit a point where you get so tired where you feel like you want to stop doing it! That is exactly the point at which you must continue!
If you give in at that point, you’ll enter the world fruitless repetition where you may try again in about 6 months but the same thing will happen again! It’s at that point where you get the most tired that you must choose to continue because it’s when you push yourself when you least feel like doing it is the time that you will grow the most and when you will overcome the plateau!
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It is not your job in life to “make” others happy. Do not fall into that trap. You and only you alone are responsible for you well being and happiness. As soon as you try and put that torch into someone else’s hands you set yourself up to be hurt. Instead, find ways of making yourself happy and then through your happiness, increase other peoples enjoyment of life. Yours will increase concurrently!
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We truly have amazing power within us, are you truly tapping into your full potential?
