Uplift Yourself, Change the World (Your Growth is a Gift)

It took me 47 years to write this book. Let me explain why.

It is said that "knowledge is power." It isn't. Knowledge is only information. It becomes power when reflected upon, realized and applied. This is called wisdom. And it is wisdom that changes us.

But wisdom takes time to ripen.

What I share in uplift Yourself, Change the World was known to my head long ago, but it took almost half a century to really be known to my heart. The journey from the head to the heart is said to be the longest distance in the universe, and this book is a result of that long journey. I wrote it with the hope of making your journey a lot shorter and your life a lot deeper.

Uplift Yourself, Change the World is primarily an inheritance of wisdom from the Eastern spiritual teachings and practices that I have incorporated into my daily life since I was 19, along with my study of various Western spiritual traditions and modern psychological disciplines. Uplift Yourself came about -and came alive - through the insights that matured as I applied these teachings to every challenge and aspect of my life, and then shared my realizations, insights and practical advice with thousands of others. I am happy that I can now share this ripe fruit with you.

It my hope that its sweet taste will help you grow closer to your brilliance, power and spirit, help you realize your highest self, and awaken you to a higher level of consciousness than you ever thought possible. What I mean by this is illustrated by the following story.

A poverty-stricken woman once found a precious jewel, a jewe so valuable it would end her financial problems for good. A needy man who saw what she found asked her for it, and she happily gave it to him without a second thought. The next day he returned the jewel and asked her for a more valuable gift, one he knew she definitely possessed. Bewildered by this request she said she had nothing more valuable than this. He said, "No, you do have something better." He then went on to ask her to give him what she had inside her heart that allowed her to give him that jewel.

When we come to a place inside ourselves where we act with this kind of uncommon consciousness, we up- lift the world. It is a fact of life that as you and I grow, the world gets better. It never happens any other way.

Uplift Yourself, Change the World is arranged as a collection of meditations divided into 29 chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of life. From the influence of your deep-rooted beliefs to following your dharma (or calling), from releasing blame to becoming one with the healing power of compassion and forgiveness, from the feedback your life gives you to the dynamics behind relationships, Uplift Yourself will take you to a level of awareness few achieve. It is the essence of the wisdom that has most dramatically transformed my life and the lives of those I have shared it with.

The book is written in the form of sutras. "Sutra" is a Sanskrit word meaning 'code' and used in a genre of Indian literature that expresses truths through codes. Sutras are meant to be read often and meditated upon. As this is done, their meanings grow in the heart, mind and soul. Allow them to speak to you, to guide you and to inspire you.

I leave these sutras for you to unpack and relish. Should you want further explanations, they are available through my other writings.