Manifest

Have a clear vision of exactly what it is you want to manifest in your life. Visualize yourself in the ideal scene of your hearts desire by focusing on the details and feelings, spoken words, and unspoken thoughts. Have faith that the universe will answer your call and remain open to receiving. Meditate on what you wish to manifest by surrounding your vision with loving and supportive thoughts. Affirm your statement to the universe through repetition until it becomes a reality.

Saṃsāra

Saṃsāra (sanskrit: संसार; Telugu: సంసారం) literally meaning “continuous flow”, is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth or reincarnation) within Buddhism, Hinduism, Bön, Jainism, Sikhism, and other Indian religions. The word has its origins in the sramanic traditions of ancient India, and is today used in many modern Indian languages to refer to the physical world, or family, or the universe. In modern parlance, samsara refers to a place, set of objects and possessions, but originally, the word referred to a process of continuous pursuit or flow of life. In accordance with the literal meaning, the word should either refer to a continuous stream of consciousness, or the continuous but random drift of passions, desires, emotions, and experiences.

In most Indian religions, life is not considered to begin with birth and end in death, but as a continuous existence in the present lifetime of the organism and extending beyond. The nature of the actions (karma) committed during the course of each lifetime, (good or ill) determines the future destiny of each being. Samsara is closely linked with the idea of rebirth (or reincarnation), but mainly refers to the condition of life, and the experience of life.

In Buddhism, at the moment of death the consciousness (consciousness of the different senses, such as eye consciousness, ear consciousness etc.), acts as the seed for the spawning of the new consciousness in a new biological structure, conducive to the volitional (Saṅkhāras) impulses at the moment of death (which are themselves affected by previous volitional impulses). In other Indian religions, the volitional impulses accrued from the present life are transmitted to a consciousness structure popularly known as the soul, which, after an intermediate period (in Tibetan called the bardo), forms the basis for a new biological structure that will result in rebirth and a new life. This cyclical process ends in the attainment of moksha.

Personal Stress Test

WhiteLotus_on_BlueWater_8

This following test will help you assess your own stress levels, while indicating particular areas that may need attention. The higher your total score, the more likely you are to need specific attention. The higher your score, the more likely you are to need help to manage stress more effectively.

Scores

1 Never
2 Almost never
3 Sometimes
4 Fairly often
5 Very often

Rate each question with a number based on how often you:

  • Feel unable to control how you spend your time?
  • Get easily stressed, nervous, or irritated?
  • Feel unable to cope with all you have to do?
  • Fail to build relaxation into every day?
  • Tend to put everyone else first?
  • Get too little rest?
  • Feel ‘drained’ by certain clients?
  • Feel you don’t have enough people in your life to support you?
  • Lack confidence in your ability to handle challenges?
  • Feel unable to say ‘No’ to unreasonable requests?

    • Total Score:

    Action Plan:

    A truly holistic program of self-care needs to encompass all the following approaches:

    * Quick and easy de-stress strategies
    * Work-life balance
    * Recreation and fun
    * Regular exercise
    * Time for your self
    * Healthy eating
    * Social support
    * Clear limiting patterns that prevent self-care
    * Set clear personal and professional boundaries
    * Safe use of empathy

    Why not create a plan of action for yourself right now and choose a goal focused on one of the above. !!

    (Sarah Kulpers MSc, Stress Management, Reflexions Journal, Sept 2009,12-13)

    http://www.whitelotustherapy.com/

    HK's millionaires up by 164,000, but so is number earning under HK$3,500 a month

    HK’s millionaires up by 164,000, but so is number earning under HK$3,500 a month
    May Chan
    SCMP Mar 09, 2011

    The property boom and market rebound added 164,000 new millionaires to Hong Kong last year – the biggest increase since Citibank started to analyse residents’ wealth in this way eight years ago.

    In the same year, Hong Kong reported 1.26 million people making less than HK$3,500 a month.

    Together, the numbers paint a stark picture of a big wealth disparity in the city of seven million.

    Citibank yesterday announced the latest findings of its annual survey on the number of Hongkongers with liquid asset of more than HK$1 million.

    The city had 558,000 millionaires by the end of last month, up 42 per cent on 2009. This is a record high, in terms of absolute number and the growth rate since Citibank started the survey.

    These people now make up 10.8 per cent of the city’s adult population, and the millionaires are getting younger. The average age of the group went down by five years to 46, and the average age of the 164,000 new additions to the list was only 40.

    The surge in personal wealth can be attributed to the city’s booming property market. Of the new millionaires, 29 per cent said they made their first million dollars through property transactions – compared with only 8 per cent in 2009.

    Most of the newly rich, about 47 per cent, made their fortune last year from investments in the capital market – such as stocks, funds, currency trade and yuan-related investment products. A year ago, the figure was 55 per cent.

    Simon Chow wing-charn, Citibank Global Consumer Group’s deputy country business manager, expected the number of millionaires would grow in the next few years because of a strong economy.

    He noted the millionaires generally were positive about this year’s property market, with 20 per cent saying they planned to buy property this year, up 8 per cent from 2009.

    “The new millionaires tend to be younger, and they are still in the workforce,” Chow said. Twentysomethings should be optimistic about the future – 4 per cent of the new millionaires were aged 21 to 29, he said.

    The survey also showed a positive relationship between the level of wealth and the level of happiness. Respondents with less than HK$100,000 of liquidity averaged 5.75 on a scale from 0 to 10 in terms of happiness, while those with HK$5 million or above scored 7.83.

    The survey was conducted by the Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong, with 4,626 adults interviewed by phone from December last year to February.

    The number of millionaires in Hong Kong, according to survey data, had increased from 260,000 to 558,000 during the period of 2003 to 2010, with a sharp decline in 2008 from 414,000 to 348,000 due to the global financial crisis.

    At the same time, the number of Hongkongers earning HK$3,500 or less a month grew steadily in the past decade, from 1.186 million in 2001 to 1.26 million in the first half of last year, according to a study of Census and Statistics Department figures by the Council of Social Service. The projected percentage of poor people went from 17.2 per cent in 2005 to 18.1 per cent in the first half of last year.

    According to the latest statistics from the United Nations, Hong Kong’s Gini coefficient – a measurement of social inequality – stood at 0.53, the highest in Asia last year.

    Chua Hoi-wai, the council’s business director for policy advocacy, said he was worried that the income gap would escalate with inflation.

    “The increase in salary of the poor can hardly catch up with the inflation rate,” he said. “They can hardly manage to pay for their basic needs, so it is next to impossible that they should have spare money for investment and build up their wealth.”

    Roxette – It Must Have Been Love

    “It Must Have Been Love” is a power ballad written by Per Gessle and performed by the Swedish pop duo Roxette. The ballad became the duo’s 3rd #1 hit in the United States, and is one of their best-selling releases, leading the single to be certified gold in a number of countries.

    The song, included on the soundtrack to the hugely popular film Pretty Woman, rivals “The Look”, “Joyride” and “Listen to Your Heart” as the song most closely associated with them. In 2005, Per Gessle received an award from BMI after the song’s four millionth radio play.

    Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water (1969)

    “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel’s final album together, released January 26, 1970. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” also topped the adult contemporary chart in the U.S. for six weeks.

    This song’s recording process exposed many of the underlying tensions that eventually led to the breakup of the duo after the album’s completion. Most notably, Paul Simon has repeatedly expressed regret that he insisted that Art Garfunkel sing this song as a solo, as it focused attention on Garfunkel and relegated Simon to a backing position. Art Garfunkel initially did not want to sing lead vocal, feeling it was not right for him. “He felt I should have done it,” Paul Simon revealed to Rolling Stone in 1972.
    Garfunkel said that the moment when he performed it in Madison Square Garden in 1972 was “almost biblical”.

    United States Principles of War

    The United States Armed Forces use the following nine principles of war in training their officers:

    * Objective – Direct every military operation toward a clearly defined, decisive and attainable objective. The ultimate military purpose of war is the destruction of the enemy’s ability to fight and will to fight.

    * Offensive – Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. Offensive action is the most effective and decisive way to attain a clearly defined common objective. Offensive operations are the means by which a military force seizes and holds the initiative while maintaining freedom of action and achieving decisive results. This is fundamentally true across all levels of war.

    * Mass – Mass the effects of overwhelming combat power at the decisive place and time. Synchronizing all the elements of combat power where they will have decisive effect on an enemy force in a short period of time is to achieve mass. Massing effects, rather than concentrating forces, can enable numerically inferior forces to achieve decisive results, while limiting exposure to enemy fire.

    * Economy of Force – Employ all combat power available in the most effective way possible; allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts. Economy of force is the judicious employment and distribution of forces. No part of the force should ever be left without purpose. The allocation of available combat power to such tasks as limited attacks, defense, delays, deception, or even retrograde operations is measured in order to achieve mass elsewhere at the decisive point and time on the battlefield.

    * Maneuver – Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power. Maneuver is the movement of forces in relation to the enemy to gain positional advantage. Effective maneuver keeps the enemy off balance and protects the force. It is used to exploit successes, to preserve freedom of action, and to reduce vulnerability. It continually poses new problems for the enemy by rendering his actions ineffective, eventually leading to defeat.

    * Unity of Command – For every objective, seek unity of command and unity of effort. At all levels of war, employment of military forces in a manner that masses combat power toward a common objective requires unity of command and unity of effort. Unity of command means that all the forces are under one responsible commander. It requires a single commander with the requisite authority to direct all forces in pursuit of a unified purpose.

    * Security – Never permit the enemy to acquire unexpected advantage. Security enhances freedom of action by reducing vulnerability to hostile acts, influence, or surprise. Security results from the measures taken by a commander to protect his forces. Knowledge and understanding of enemy strategy, tactics, doctrine, and staff planning improve the detailed planning of adequate security measures.

    * Surprise – Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared. Surprise can decisively shift the balance of combat power. By seeking surprise, forces can achieve success well out of proportion to the effort expended. Surprise can be in tempo, size of force, direction or location of main effort, and timing. Deception can aid the probability of achieving surprise. …

    * Simple – Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans and concise orders to ensure thorough understanding. Everything in war is very simple, but the simple thing is difficult. To the uninitiated, military operations are not difficult. Simplicity contributes to successful operations. Simple plans and clear, concise orders minimize misunderstanding and confusion. Other factors being equal, parsimony is to be preferred.

    Officers in the U.S. Military sometimes use the acronyms “MOSS COMES”, “MOSS MOUSE”, “MOOSE MUSS”, “MOUSE MOSS”, “MOM USE SOS”, or “SUMO MOSES” to remember the first letters of these nine principles.

    (US Army Field Manual FM 3-0)

    The Three Degrees – When will I see you again (1974)

    The Three Degrees are a female Philadelphia soul and disco vocal musical group, formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The original members were Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. The trio, tagged by the media as ‘Prince Charles’s favourites’ in 1974, were the first girl group to top the UK Singles Chart since The Supremes in 1964. They are best known for their million selling 1974 hit song, “When Will I See You Again”.

    Fayette Pinkney died on June 27, 2009, in Lansdale Hospital, Pennsylvania, after a short illness, at the age of 61.

    DEFCON

    A defense readiness condition (DEFCON) is an alert posture used by the United States armed forces. The DEFCON system was developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and unified and specified combatant commands. It prescribes five graduated levels of readiness (or states of alert) for the U.S. military, and increase in severity from DEFCON 5 (least severe) to DEFCON 1 (most severe) to match varying military situations.

    DEFCONs are a subsystem of a series of Alert Conditions, or LERTCONs, that also includes Emergency Conditions (EMERGCONs). DEFCONs should not be confused with similar systems used by the U.S. military, such as Force Protection Conditions (FPCONS) and Watch Conditions (WATCHCONS), or the Homeland Security Advisory System used by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

    The preparations that take place under the five DEFCONs are difficult to describe because they vary between many commands, they have changed over time as new weapon systems were deployed, and the precise details remain classified. Additionally, during tests, exercises, or drills, the United States Department of Defense uses exercise terms when referring to the DEFCONs. This is to preclude the possibility of confusing exercise commands with actual operational commands. The current exercise terms have been used since at least 1960, when they were used in a North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) exercise.

    The five DEFCONs, their exercise terms, and their general descriptions are shown below.

    Defense condition Exercise term Description Readiness

    DEFCON 5 FADE OUT Lowest state of readiness Normal readiness

    DEFCON 4 DOUBLE TAKE Increased intelligence watch and strengthened security measures

    DEFCON 3 ROUND HOUSE Increase in force readiness above that required for normal readiness

    DEFCON 2 FAST PACE Further increase in force readiness, but less than maximum readiness

    DEFCON 1 COCKED PISTOL War is imminent. Maximum readiness

    Quote of the Week

    “We have met the enemy, and they are us.”

    – this is a twist on Oliver Hazard Perry’s words after a naval battle: “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” The updated version was first used in the comic strip “Pogo,” by Walt Kelly, in the 1960s and referred to the turmoil caused by the Vietnam War.

    U2 – With or Without You

    (The Joshua tree, 1987)

    With or Without You is the lead single from U2’s 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. It has since become highly acclaimed as one of the bands most popular songs. Released as a single in March 1987, it became the groups first American #1 hit, spending three weeks at the top.

    With or Without You features sustained guitar parts played by guitarist The Edge with a prototype of the Infinite Guitar, along with vocals by lead singer Bono and a bassline by bassist Adam Clayton. The song originated from a demo recorded in late 1985 that the group continued to work on throughout The Joshua Tree sessions.

    The lyrics ostensibly describe a troubled relationship between two lovers, although the lyrics have been interpreted in religious contexts. The Washington Post interpreted the song as both an acerbic love song and a tune lamenting the moral contradictions one faces with their religious faith. Toby Creswell echoed these sentiments, saying it “can be read as a song about either marital romance or spiritual need”. Bono explained that the lyrics had romantic intentions, saying, “there’s nothing more revolutionary than two people loving each other. One, ’cause it’s so uncommon these days, and two, ’cause it’s so difficult to do.” In 1987, Bono explained that “And you give yourself away” lyric refers to how he sometimes feels exposed being in U2, and that his openness, both to the public and music press, can do damage to the group. Author Niall Stokes interpreted the line as encompassing the theme of “surrendering the ego” to one’s love and spiritual faith.

    In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine placed the single at number 131 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

    Watch your money grow

    Watch your money grow
    Buying the right timepiece can pay off quickly
    Peter McGarrity
    SCMP Jan 09, 2011

    jaeger_lecoultre

    Buying a new watch is in many ways similar to buying a new car – a premium is paid for the latest models and once you take it out of the dealer’s showroom its value will likely drop by around 30 per cent.

    However, in certain circumstances it is possible to make money from buying watches. At the top end of the market, it is easier simply because you can buy more exquisite pieces, the supply of which is strictly limited by the manufacturer.

    For example, at a recent Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong a 2009 Patek Philippe diamond and platinum perpetual calendar sold for HK$2.1 million, handing the owner a healthy HK$500,000 profit on the purchase price in under a year.

    Now before you rush out and buy an expensive watch – and try to justify the purchase to your spouse as a wise investment – there are certain factors to consider. In the middle range of the market (HK$40,000 to HK$100,000) it is considerably more difficult to make money from your collection.

    Vanessa Herrera, head of the watch department at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, said: “If you want to buy a watch as an investment in this sector of the market, you should focus on brands that have an established history and are able to tie in their newer pieces to that history, creating a narrative that purchasers can relate to.”

    Certain brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex and Cartier have been very successful at this, and so it is no surprise that their watches do particularly well at resale. For example, Patek has created an aura of timelessness and nostalgia by implying that their watches are heirlooms to be passed down to the next generation and the current owner is just a temporary custodian.

    Panerai is another brand that uses this technique with great success. The company, which originally made military instruments for the Italian navy, now makes huge diving watches. The advertising features the company’s military connections and the connotations associated with this: precision, robustness, manliness.

    These factors, plus an ever-increasing demand (often from desk-bound businessmen) for larger and more rugged timepieces, have helped add to the desirability factor of the watches.

    As a result, select Panerai titanium models from only five or six years ago are now selling for more than double their original price.

    Herrera’s other suggestion for those buying in the middle range is to buy recently discontinued models of successful brands that have been replaced with updated versions.

    “In the short term, when a new model of a successful brand is launched, people will be looking to buy that model, but during this time the recently discontinued pieces are neglected and so the price drops. I recommend you take the opportunity to pick up one of these watches during this time because when the novelty of the new model has worn off, the price [of the discontinued model] will go up again,” she said.

    If you are interested in investing, Hong Kong is as good a place as any in the world to start. China is the largest market in the world for Swiss watches, accounting for more than 25 per cent of total worldwide sales.

    Hong Kong-based international finance lawyer Neil Campbell has been buying for about 15 years and his collection includes six Rolexes, two Jaeger-Le Coultres, two Cartiers, a Panerai and a Franck Muller. His primary motive for buying watches is pleasure – he enjoys looking at them and above all wearing them.

    However, Campbell, who has never sold one of his watches, is also an astute reader of the market. Many of the watches in his collection have gone up in value and most, if not all, have at least maintained their value.

    He considers one of his best purchases to be a Jaeger-Le Coultre with a rose gold case and a black dial. Jaeger no longer makes this watch with a black dial and has no plans to do so in the near future.

    “A dealer in Switzerland told me to hang on to this watch as it is in much demand and that if I lost it I would be unlikely to be able to get hold of another one,” he said.

    Another of his successful purchases is a Rolex Daytona – again with a black dial. “This watch retails at HK$73,000 but it is almost impossible to buy a new one from a Rolex dealer. I picked this one up for HK$82,000 a couple of months ago and it is already retailing on the second-hand market at HK$95,000.”

    For would-be investors, the watch market is a highly visible one as manufacturers publish the recommended retail purchase price for models and authorised dealers are bound by this recommendation. The internet has also transformed trading. It is now easy to purchase watches from dealers around the world and compare prices.

    However, as with buying anything on the internet, there are issues to consider. One of the main stumbling blocks is that the seller is unlikely to be an authorised dealer and any warranty it gives will not be backed by the original manufacturer.

    Other common problems include the difficulty in confirming whether you will receive the watch’s original case, tools and receipt – the absence of which will affect value if you try to resell. There are also many fakes.

    Most serious collectors avoid the internet simply because there is no substitute to seeing your purchase first hand. Campbell cites an example of how he once saw a Rolex Milgauss with a green sapphire crystal (it gives a greenish hue around the edge of the dial) on the internet and was not particularly impressed. But later when he was shown one by a dealer, he liked it so much, he bought it on the spot.

    If you are uncertain about the value of the watch that you want to buy or sell, you can always contact an auction house. Sotheby’s, for example, has a database on watch prices and tracks sales around the world. Even if you have no intention of bidding at an auction you will be able to speak to an expert and access some top quality advice free of charge.

    When you are purchasing a watch with a view to resell, it is important to remember that even though the watch market is global, there are some regional variations. There is a strong preference in Asia for new pieces, whereas in Europe a vintage or antique watch that has obviously been worn and reeks of old money can command a premium. Even flaws such as the discolouration of the dial – a common occurrence on certain types of vintage and antique Rolexes – can add value to the piece.

    According to Julian Chow Shum of David Watch, “the trend in Western markets is for solid, durable, practical watches which are suitable for everyday use. In the Asian market, we like more luxury, more diamonds, rose gold and complications”.

    International watch dealer Marc Djunbushian said of the vintage and antique market: “It is difficult to make money in this sector of the market if your budget is under HK$100,000.

    “If you have a bigger budget, there is money to be made, especially in minute-repeating watches and enamel watches, because both require the attention of master craftsmen. What I have learned from my 15 years’ experience as an expert is that perfection, rarity and complication will always bring a profit.”

    Djunbushian recommends “watches from the ’70s that use different materials and have unusual designs” as more affordable investments. Already dealers in Europe are holding on to these pieces in anticipation of future demand.

    Another tip from both Djunbushian and Herrera is pocket watches. These types of European watches are in high demand in China (especially the ones in gold) and good pieces can still be picked up for a reasonable price.

    If you are thinking purely in terms of investment, few would dispute that there are much easier ways of making money than in the watch market, especially if your budget is limited. However, if you are interested in watches, then it seems that if you follow a few simple principles it is possible to combine your interest and either maintain the value of your collection over time or even realise a healthy profit.

    Paul Young – Everytime You Go Away (1985)

    Everytime You Go Away is a song written by Daryl Hall and covered by Paul Young. The original appeared on Hall & Oates’s 1980 album, Voices, although it was not released as a single.

    Young’s version hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 27, 1985. It remains his only number-one hit and one of only two top 10 hits he had on the U.S. pop singles chart. It also topped the U.S. adult contemporary chart for two weeks. The song peaked at No. 4 in the UK, Young’s home country.

    The Oracle (The Matrix)

    Gloria Foster was an American actress, most known for her stage performances portraying an array of African-American characters, including her acclaimed roles in plays In White America and Having Our Say, winning three Obie Awards during her career. In films, she was perhaps best known as The Oracle in The Matrix (1999) and The Matrix Reloaded (2003), the latter film being her last.

    Foster died on September 29, 2001, in New York City of complications from diabetes before her role in The Matrix Revolutions was shot.