Dan Millman is, without a doubt, my favorite writer and speaker on positive living and spirituality. I've been a devoted reader of his books for more than fifteen years, and have even had the pleasure of attending one of his seminars and meeting him. (Yes, I asked him to sign every book in my collection!)
What I like best about Dan is that he has no pretensions whatsoever, in print and in person. And he offers his ideas in a very clear, easy to understand way. I also really like that he has no problem offering the thoughts of others in his writings - stories, quotes, philosophies, you name it. His willingness to point to others who could be of value to those seeking to live a good life is something I very much respect, and it makes me pay all that much more attention to what he has to offer.
I receive Dan's occasional email newsletters, and always look forward to reading them. They always include several interesting quotes and valuable stories. In his most recent offering, Dan offers this little test, which comes from an anonymous source, a perfect example of Dan's willingness to offer positive thoughts, regardless of where he finds them. So....
How did you do? After taking the test, I realized that I have a few things to work on. Specifically:
1. I need to get rid of my crutches, on both of which I'm working hard.
2. While I'm not a complainer by nature, I could complain even less than I do, especially about the cold weather. (Different post; another time. :-) )
3. If I'm completely objective, I have to admit that I still have some issues with automatic judgements about people of certain political leanings. Taking a minute to consider this one, I realize that there is a lot I'd like to say on the subject, but I'll leave this one for another day, too.
Wow. That's a real eye opener, isn't it? Our dog Sadie is more spiritually advanced than me... and with the exception of a very few individuals, pretty much everyone I know. And yet, I came away from that test smiling, still feeling good about myself, yet with a very valuable lesson.
I highly recommend Dan's books, and encourage you to read them. You can learn all about Dan and his work by visiting his web site. You can also sign up for his newsletter.
To me, Dan is an excellent example of living a life with Spirit!
In peace,
Lane
What I like best about Dan is that he has no pretensions whatsoever, in print and in person. And he offers his ideas in a very clear, easy to understand way. I also really like that he has no problem offering the thoughts of others in his writings - stories, quotes, philosophies, you name it. His willingness to point to others who could be of value to those seeking to live a good life is something I very much respect, and it makes me pay all that much more attention to what he has to offer.
I receive Dan's occasional email newsletters, and always look forward to reading them. They always include several interesting quotes and valuable stories. In his most recent offering, Dan offers this little test, which comes from an anonymous source, a perfect example of Dan's willingness to offer positive thoughts, regardless of where he finds them. So....
How Enlightened Are You?
Well. . .
If you can live without caffeine or nicotine;
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains;
If you can resist complaining;
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you any time;
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment;
If you can ignore friends' limited educations and never correct them;
If you can treat the rich and poor alike;
If you can face the world without lies or deceit;
If you can conquer tension without medical help;
If you can relax without liquor;
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs;
If you can have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, or politics...
...then you have almost reached the same level of spiritual development as your dog.
How did you do? After taking the test, I realized that I have a few things to work on. Specifically:
1. I need to get rid of my crutches, on both of which I'm working hard.
2. While I'm not a complainer by nature, I could complain even less than I do, especially about the cold weather. (Different post; another time. :-) )
3. If I'm completely objective, I have to admit that I still have some issues with automatic judgements about people of certain political leanings. Taking a minute to consider this one, I realize that there is a lot I'd like to say on the subject, but I'll leave this one for another day, too.
Wow. That's a real eye opener, isn't it? Our dog Sadie is more spiritually advanced than me... and with the exception of a very few individuals, pretty much everyone I know. And yet, I came away from that test smiling, still feeling good about myself, yet with a very valuable lesson.
I highly recommend Dan's books, and encourage you to read them. You can learn all about Dan and his work by visiting his web site. You can also sign up for his newsletter.
To me, Dan is an excellent example of living a life with Spirit!
In peace,
Lane
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