I want to start by saying that my intent is not to preach to anyone about their or any religion.

I have recently been reading up on buddism (a close friend of mine is a buddist and always has a wise word for situations and seems to always hit things on the head). I have found it very enlightening and very positive especially with how im feeling with anxiety and panic. It works along the lines of optimism and pessimism, finding the balance and the understanding of ones self.

Im by no means a religous person but the story about buddha is how he sets about to enlighten himself about life. things like "all we perceive is mind made and reality is what our minds make it" . buddhism is a religion without a god, its more about discovering our inner self. it shouldn't contradict any belief you may have. Like many of the bible stories it is an interesting read.

one quotation i found to help is

" knowing and regarding reality as it is, one should know the true facts about this earthly life and look at it without making excuses, and regulate ones daily life according to this knowledge and standpoint."

here is where i read the story if your wanting a look

http://buddhism.about.com/library/blbudlifebirth1.htm

I recommended this site to someone and they replied "I went to the link Amanda suggested and I spent 1.5 hours reading... I really enjoyed this site and have added it to my favorites. THANKS Amanda!" so for the benifit of all who may miss that post, i thought i would start a new post.

Thought i would mention it as it help me feel a wee bit of possitivity, as i am a negative person and my glass is never anything but half full!

In the most part, the teachings or books of buddah is all about your interpritation of them and i look upon them as a sort of guidance to help me find the right way to think etc. Its also excellent at making you put negative experiences in a possitive light. If something good happens and we veiw that as luck, we think we are lucky. But if something bad happens, we might not have realised that it took for that bad experience to happen so we can then benifit the good one.

A quotation from the book "The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin":

Assumptions

"What is the meaning of fate, Mulla?"

"Assumptions."

"In what way?"

"You assume things are to go well, and they don't- that you call bad luck. You assume things are going to go badly and they dont- That you call good luck. You assume that certain things are going to happen or not happen - and then you so lack intuition that you dont know what is going to happen. You assume that the future is unknown."

"When you are caught out - you call that Fate"

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The book is by Idries Shah and is full of little verses of wisom, some of which may make no sence today but could mean something another day, depending on where you are and how you feel. Your frame of mind can be challenged by the humour and wisdom in what you read.

I hope that this is perhaps another slant on something that can inspire and in someways help provide possitive thought for those of you who are having a bad day and need that little bit of possitivity to help you through the day.

Let me know if this helps please, or i can shut up on this matter if ive babbled on too much! :0)

I send a possitive (((((hug))))) to ya'll

Amanda XXX

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" knowing and regarding reality as it is, one should know the true facts about this earthly life and look at it without making excuses, and regulate ones daily life according to this knowledge and standpoint." - the book of Buddism