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10 Timeless Lessons From Dalai Lama

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” - Dalai Lama

Through his teachings and writings, he serves and inspires Buddhists worldwide, as well as followers of other faiths.” And here are ten of his timeless lessons:

1. Dalai Lama said: “Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.”
Why he is right: People who consistently perform at a higher level have certain things in common. They are committed to their success, have passion for what they do, have clear goals and are uniformly more comfortable taking risks than most. Their ability to take intelligent risks is an important ingredient in their success and a huge determinant in anybody’s level of achievement. I don’t know what rewards you will enjoy by your willingness to take thoughtful risks, but I know for sure that those rewards will not occur unless you are willing to take those risks. And wouldn’t it be a shame to forgo some wonderful, if unknown, rewards just because you just can’t seem to find your way out of your comfort zone?

2. Dalai Lama said: “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.”
Why he is right: Mistakes are part of the human condition. Alexander Pope once said “To make mistakes is human”. Clearly, some things never change. Try as you might, you eventually will mess up. How you respond to your error determines just how smart you are. Look for the silver lining in the cloud, even if it’s just an opportunity to learn how not to make the same mistake again (and again). Even better, think about what you may have done well and build on that element. You will have plenty of chances to learn from your inevitable mistakes.

3. Dalai Lama said: “When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.”
Why he is right: This is counterintuitive to your wishful thinking to wait and see if the mistake somehow corrects itself. It won’t. If you do not act quickly, and put off tending to the problem, it will only make you feel more stressed, and the problem could get bigger with the passing of time.

4. Dalai Lama said: “Spend some time alone every day.”
Why he is right: Give yourself one hour on certain days to do an activity you truly enjoy. Work on a hobby, do some exercise, go for a walk, or read a book. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it. These breaks will help you renew your energy and concentration. Or even try doing nothing, try sitting in a quiet room thinking about nothing for at least 20 minutes, twice a day. It sounds simple, even boring, but transcendental meditation isn’t just for mantra-chanting yogis or herbal-tea-drinking hippies. Maxed-out professionals are turning to daily meditation to lower blood pressure, prolong concentration, and crank up creative juices.

5. Dalai Lama said: “Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.”
Why he is right: When you engage another person in conversation, always think before talking. I know your mind has many random thoughts, but there is no need to expose them to the world. Look at good politicians, sales people, and diplomats. They are masters at saying enough to stay out of a conflict, but somehow they still manage to get a particular point across. So, before you open your mouth, just turn over your thought and try to inject it with a trace of reason, and if it doesn’t work, just shut up!

6. Dalai Lama said: “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.”
Why he is right: A wise person once said to me that if I wanted to learn something, I should teach it. Stephen Covey, one of my favorite gurus, also suggests that the way to internalize an idea, habit or principle is to share it with someone else. Advice is usually overrated. Before you learn what others know, you need to learn what you know. Find someone whom you can mentor on the subject that you want to master. You will learn quickly and indelibly. There are also an incredible number of opportunities for information sharing over the Internet. What if you don’t feel that you are a writer? Well, we all need to work on our communication skills, so writing on a blog like this will give you the practice you need to learn how and increase your skills. So try it! I’m sure you’ll like it!

7. Dalai Lama said: “Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.”
Why he is right: These are the things that make us the people we are, they define what is important to you, they determine how you spend your time. Values determine what you accomplish with your time - the results you get. They are the source of your motivation, so don’t be afraid to communicate them. And never let go of your values.

8. Dalai Lama said: “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”
Why he is right: Ever heard the phrase “Be careful what you wish for - you may get it”? You may call it luck, maybe fate or something, but yes, sometimes when you don’t get what you want you are lucky because it turned out that you got something better anyways.

9. Dalai Lama said: “A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.”
Why he is right: When life’s storms set you adrift in an ocean of worries, you know you can always find an anchor in those closest to you, in your family. You feel rejuvenated when you’ve made a connection with someone who knows you well. It’s just that you’re particularly good at drawing energy and inspiration from those around you, from those who really care about you. So next time life makes you feel pulled in too many directions, set aside some time to restore yourself by spending time with your family. We often get so wrapped up in the importance of money or other things in life that we sometimes forget about the most important little things.

10. Dalai Lama said: “Be gentle with the earth.”
Why he is right: Our earth is fragile too, and deserves our gentleness. In this century, man seems to finally realise just how fragile our Mother Earth is - and about time too! Remember the words of Chief Seattle, “This we know: All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand on it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself.”

The Dalai Lama is the world’s greatest living exemplar of nonviolence and compassion, accessible to followers of all faiths. As one of the greatest people of the 20th century, he offers an inspiring vision of the likelihood that humanity will realize its highest potential in the 21st. Listen to his teachings

Join me in Greenpeace's 7-step climate campaign

Last week I joined this 7-step climate
change campaign with Greenpeace. We are
starting with lightbulbs, but it's about
energy efficiency generally. You should
join:

Click here to sign up
(http://greenpeace.org/7steps)

Greenpeace proposes an "Energy
Revolution" to save the world from
catastrophic climate change. Half of it
is about saving the power we use. And
this campaign is about people like us
helping to outlaw products that waste
energy. Every week, for seven weeks,
Greenpeace sends out an email with
instructions how to campaign effectively
for energy efficiency.

Every ton of carbon dioxide pumped into
the atmosphere, every coal burning power
plant built and every energy wasting
lightbulb installed makes it harder for
us to stop climate change. Each one is
one more thing we'll need to undo.
Better to do it right the first time.

Let's start an energy revolution!

I hope you'll join me today: Click here
to sign up (http://greenpeace.org/7steps)

15 Extra Ways to Keep Your Brain In Shape

“If you nurture your mind, body and spirit, your time will expand. You will gain a new perspective that will allow you to accomplish much more.”

- Brian Koslow

It’s simple, your brain is at the center of everything you do, all you feel and think, and every nuance of how you relate to people. It’s both the supercomputer that runs your complex life and the tender organ that houses your soul. So it is very important to focus on keeping your brain in shape.

By regularly engaging in the right activities, you can increase your memory, improve your problem-solving skills and boost your creativity. Here are some extra tips on how to keep your brain in top nick.

1. Just stop.

“Take 20-30 minutes out of your day to think about nothing. But don’t sleep – you’ve got to meditate. Sit still, reduce sensory input, and try to focus your mind on something like a calm scene or a color (to begin with thinking about something rather than trying to think of ‘nothing’ is easier). A study at the University of Kentucky revealed that subjects who took a late-afternoon test after meditating for 30 minutes had better scores than those who napped for the same time.”

2. Hit the streets.

“Lace up your running shoes and get moving. A study from the University of Illinois, US, revealed that aerobic exercise actually increases brain volume. They put two groups through different regimens - one did aerobic training three times weekly for one hour; the other group did just stretching and toning exercise. The aerobics group had increased their brain volume and white matter, which forms the connections between neurons.”

3. Mix it up.

“Exercise has long been hailed as an aid to brain-power longevity. But to ensure you’re not leaving the gas on in your eighties, vary your workout routines now. Try changing things up on a regular basis and you’ll stimulate your brain more because you’re not using the same pathway over and over again.”

4. Read a book.

“Choose from classic literature, science fiction or personal development books and give your brain a boost. Pick up a novel before your next flight or vacation. On top of the cerebral benefits, the escapism that comes from reading can be very relaxing. Reading helps you exercise your cognitive skills and increase your vocabulary. Do it regularly and you’ll be amazed at the information you absorb, which will make you a more interesting conversationalist.”

5. One-cup-manship.

“Swilling coffee could be the perfect accompaniment to the cryptic crossword. Austrian researchers measuring brain activity found short-term memory and concentration improved after consuming 100mg of caffeine - equal to an Americano. But after 40 minutes those guinea pigs were back to the dumbness levels of a twice-a-day Deal Or No Deal viewer.”

6. Engage in a debate.

A lively discussion can be invigorating. As long as you avoid letting it digress into an argument, you can have a lot of fun debating the pros and cons of an issue with a friend or colleague. Playing with your brain stimulates blood flow and strengthens the connections (synapses) between nerve cells in the brain. You’ll practice your quick thinking skills, logic and creativity. And developing convincing theories on the spot will help you in your career and in your personal relationships.

7. Grab the Brainbox 360 controller.

“Believe it or not, playing certain video games can actually be good for your health. You’ll develop stronger visual skills and make decisions 85% faster than non-gamers, say experts from the University of Rochester, New York. Gamers can read the newspaper, recognize a scene or pick out facial features faster in between fragging killer aliens.”

8. Subscribe to a daily newsletter.

“Make the most out of your web surfing. Whether it’s a “word of the day,” “quote of the day” or “this day in history” newsletter, receiving new information each day will add data to the hard drive in your head. The mental stimulation will increase your comprehension skills. The additional knowledge will also make you sound more worldly and intelligent.”

9. Curry favours.

“Tuck into a Ruby Murray tonight to clear the mental cobwebs. Scientists from University of California discovered that curcumin – a yellow-coloured compound found in the curry spice turmeric can slow the onset of memory loss. Small doses of curry could also help protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease - at least that’s the effect in rats. Curries with a yellow tinge will have the highest curcumin count.”

10. Grab a cue and play pool.

“Rack ‘em up, grab a cue and concentrate on your strategy. Billiard players must focus on the immediate, blocking out distractions as they plan their next moves. Strategic planning increases mental clarity. Concentrating on the immediate helps keep your mind sharp. Furthermore, this game of angles demands that players think in terms of physics, something most of us rarely do in our everyday lives. And it’s a brilliant way to pass the time.”