Although we all want power, few of us freely admit it. It is common to think what one would do if he or she was a king or the president. We imagine that we would do good things; better than what is being done now. We think of power in personal terms too, as when we imagine that enough money or control over others would enable us to solve most of our problems.

The latter may be partly true. With enough money you probably could solve many of the problems you have now. But it’s also likely that you would have even more new problems. As for our “if I was emperor” fantasies, what makes us think that all the presidents and kings of the world haven’t shared our thoughts? They too undoubtedly planned to use their power for good. And in their position we would be subject to the same corrupting influences as them.

How, then, do we arrive at a power which is good and useful? We’ll get back to that in a moment. First, let’s look at some of the specific tools of power.

The Tools Of Power

Money is an obvious one. It is easy to imagine what could be done with large amounts of it. On the other hand, I have seen money come into peoples lives and wreak havoc. Not only did it not bring the beneficial changes they anticipated, but it put them further in debt and more stressed out. I have also seen people try to help others with money, only to make matters worse. Having money without proper knowledge and understanding is like having a car without a steering wheel - it’s a wreck waiting to happen.

Suppose you study subliminal influence over others, and learn powerful techniques. Then what? You use your secret techniques to win the love of a woman or man, but perhaps the relationship adds only pain to your life. Or you use your mind power to get a job, and learn years later that you not only hate it, but you passed up a carreer you would have enjoyed. Isn’t it common to find that our best-laid plans often get us not what we want, but more trouble?

There are other tools of power. Political connections, knowledge, and charisma come to mind. But they all have the same limitations that are hinted at above. Obtaining them is like putting more guns and knives in the hands of an infant - as long as we are in some ways like that child. This gets us to the real source of a good and useful power.

Self Knowledge

You cannot be powerful in a good sense without a high degree of self knowledge. You have to first exercise a kind of personal power to observe yourself honestly and come to understand who you are, what you need, and the nature of your relationship to the rest of the world. This is easy to understand intellectually if we use a simple example, like a man who has the power to build a kingdom - but not the wisdom to see that it is really a personal hell.

One definition of power is “The ability or capacity to perform or act effectively.” This view sees that the “engine” of a car is meaningless without a steering wheel and good driver. It raises the natural question, “effective for what?” In other words, we have to truly know what our highest values are, or the specific manifestations of power become self-destructive and destructive of others as well.

To return to the metaphor of the infant with a knife: He does not understand his own body, or the danger of a knife to that body and others, or how to use it and for what purposes. He has to grow and learn more before it is appropriate for him to have a knife. We are always that infant in some sense, because we too can have the tools of power put in our hands before we are ready to safely and wisely use them.

If what money you have now is not used wisely, why would having more change that? If what influence you have over others has not brought about great results, why would more be better for you or them? If the knowledge you have has not been very helpful in bettering the life of yourself or others, why would knowing even more of these things improve the odds?

The personal power to understand and be in charge of oneself is where we have to begin. Getting tools we are not ready for will only cause more harm. Seeking a better understanding of ourselves and the world is the path to True Personal Power.

Sometimes, bad breath is not caused by problems within the mouth at all.  As a matter of fact, there is a problem that many of us have to deal with on a regular basis that we may not connect with any form of halitosis that we may be dealing with.  What I’m talking about is reflux disease and if you have a difficult time with acid reflux or regular heartburn, you might be surprised to learn that they can also cause bad breath in many individuals.  What can be done in order to see if this is what is causing our bad breath and how can we treat it?

One of the reasons why reflux disease can cause halitosis is because it is constantly bringing acid and other things up from the area of our stomach into the area of our mouth.  This includes partially digested food which can easily decay and cause halitosis.  It may also make it difficult for us to eat the proper foods that may keep halitosis from occurring in the first place.  Whenever people deal with acid reflux, they will typically go to a doctor in order to get the medication that they can take to treat the disease.  Although this can effectively take care of it, there is a natural way that you might want to use in order to treat both your halitosis in the acid reflux that you’re dealing with.

One of the main problems that causes acid reflux, although most people are not aware of it, is a lack of acid in the stomach.  Most people would think that it is the exact opposite but the fact of the matter is, if you’re unable to digest your food because of a lack of stomach acid then that is what is causing your acid reflux. In order to overcome the problem, you should build up the acid in the stomach naturally through eating plenty of green vegetables and some fruit on a limited basis. Blending a fruit smoothie with some leafy green vegetables (known as a green smoothie) is the easiest way for you to take care of this.

If you can successfully get rid of the acid reflux, you can get rid of the halitosis that often goes along with it. That makes a win-win situation for you, one that helps you with your health, and helps you with your breath.

As a little girl, I loved the beach. I loved sitting on the beach just staring out at the ocean. I found it to be incredibly serene and powerful. I always imagined myself getting married on the beach. From the time I was 10 years old, I was determined that someday I would be having a beach wedding. I carried that idea with me all the way through my college years. When my boyfriend slipped a ring on my finger, it was not what type of groomsmen gifts he was buying for his groomsmen, but rather thinking ahead to how I was finally going to have my dream beach wedding.

My fiancé wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of a beach wedding. The closest beach to our hometown was three hours away. While I realized that having a beach wedding would mean it was limiting the number of guests that would actually attend, I was still determined. After debating for several months on setting a date, he was still not thrilled. However, since he knew that it would make me happy, he caved in. I was celebrating - my beach wedding would finally take place!

I found a lovely inn that was located directly on the beach. In order to have my wedding there, it was required that I reserve all of the guests rooms for the weekend. That wasn’t very cheap but we were in love with the little inn, so we agreed. I was assigned a wedding coordinator who was more than happy to take control of my beach wedding plans as well as buying our groomsmen wedding party gifts. She began to go over lots of details with me that I had never thought about when it came to exchanging my vows on the sand. She said that I really should get married in the morning because of the position of the sun. No one wanted photos taken with everyone squinting and the sun being in our eyes the entire time not even with personalized pub signs in the way. Or, she said that it would have to be late evening since I had chosen the summer to get married. In the late evening, the sun wouldn’t be much of an issue either. While I knew that there is usually always a breeze at the beach, I had not thought about that in regards to how it would affect a beach wedding. I hadn’t thought about my hair blowing or my dress not staying in one place. I hadn’t thought about the sand blowing around either. Because of all of the factors that had been brought to my attention, I had to adjust my thoughts on buying a dress and how I’d wear my hair. I bought a dress that was a bit more form fitting and didn’t have a long train. I opted to not wear a veil and wore my hair in an elegant bun. I chose to not decorate the chairs with flowers and ribbons, but decorated the inside reception instead. I made everything taking place on the beach very simply and hassle-free.

Buddha statue

Millions of people follow Buddhist studies but there are still many people in the Western culture that are unfamiliar with Buddhism. It is a religion that dates back thousands of years and has helped many people overcome their suffering and has taught countless others how to help end the suffering of their fellow man. This religion can seem difficult to understand when you first begin but if you take the time to learn the basic tenants, then you can find your own happiness and sense of self-fulfillment that many miss in life.

The Mahayana and Theravada are two different schools within the Buddhist teachings. Buddhism, in all its different sects, offers enlightenment as the personal goal of its followers. They strive to live a good life that is filled with compassion and sympathy for their fellow man. Each of the different schools gives its followers a set path to follow in order to reach enlightenment.

The Buddhist religion and philosophy is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha. There are four main beliefs that the Mahayana and Theravada believe in. These are: the Middle Way, Dependent Origination, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The journey to Buddhahood is the highest attainment that anyone following the religion Buddhism can attain.

Many people associate the Buddhist religion with meditation practice, a Buddha statue and Buddhist practice. These are all true for this belief. Meditation is a huge part of attaining enlightenment. It requires the person to enter into a Zen like state in which they search for the meanings of life. Many people who practice this religion will have a Buddha statue as a reminder of the trials and tribulations that Gautama Buddha went through on his journey to enlightenment. No one is asking you to fast and remain still for forty-nine days, as the Buddha did, but it does require some discipline.

One of the main tenants of this philosophy and religion is that you should not cause harm to others. The religion and spirituality Buddhism teaches is that the way to spiritual enlightenment is through letting transgressions go. Yes, there will be pain and suffering in life but each person should hold nothing against others for their wrongdoings. To hold transgressions and hatred close to the heart only stops the person from growing spiritually.

Buddhism has a lot to offer people from all walks of life. You do not have to be a practicing Buddhist monk to take advantage of some of the Buddhist teachings. Many people love to meditate and have found a way to incorporate this aspect into their own lives. Simply reading about the history of Buddha and learning a little about his journey can provide you with inspiration for your own life.

meditation practice

Millions of people around the world practice the Buddhism religion. But that does not mean that it is the right religion for you. You may be very happy with your current beliefs. But did you know that there are still aspects of Buddhism that you may want to consider practicing? Many people employ aspects of Buddhism each day and do not realize it. Meditation, Buddhist art and Yoga are just some of the ways that people are connecting with Buddhism each day of their lives. It may be time for you to give it a try.

The Buddhism religion offers symbols and artwork that can transform a room into a genteel place of meditation and mindfulness. It is true that most Buddhists have a Buddha statue in their meditation area but you can still own one for the sense of tranquility and decor that it provides. Try decorating a room using the traditional colors and symbols and you will have a relaxing retreat from the rest of the world.

Speaking of meditation, the art of meditation practice is one that everyone should learn. It is a way to clear the mind and rid the body of stress. If you have had a bad time at work or you are under considerable family stress, meditation may be just what you need to find relaxation and a way to work through those problems. You do not have to assume some of the more traditional poses for meditation. Simply sit in a chair with your back straight, shoulders squared and your feet planted firmly. You will then take in deep breaths through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth. While performing this breathing exercise you should begin working on clearing your mind. This mini “meditation retreat” can help you relieve the stress and tension in your body. If you devote just ten or fifteen minutes a day to this when things get stressful, then you will be able to tackle those touchy situations in no time at all. It will give you the time you need to think clearly.

If you practice yoga, then you are already taking part of a ritual associated with the Buddhism religion. It is an excellent form of exercise for people of all ages. It can help you relieve stress in your body and in your mind. If, after reading all of this, you are interested in finding out more, then check out books on Buddhism from your local library or bookstore. You will be glad that you did.

big Buddha statue

The story about Buddhism and how it came to be all started long ago with a king named Suddhodana. It was his son, Siddhartha, who would later in life become the Buddha. Yes, some of the stories you find on the internet and in books are often fantastical in its nature. It is a unique blend of fairytale and fact in the Buddhist teachings that can be found today. There is quite a lot more to Buddhism than just having a big Buddha statue sitting on your desk as a decoration. It is a great piece of history and millions of believers follow the teachings of Buddhism.

A prediction was made by a holy man regarding Siddhartha. The holy man prophesized that the young prince would either grow up to become a great ruler or he would become a wise holy man. The king was obviously dismayed that his son might abdicate his princely life and so tried to shelter the young man from the outside world. Unfortunately for Suddhodana, this did not stop the outside world from coming into contact with his son. At the age of 29, Siddhartha came into contact with what is now known as the “Four Sights.” He came across an elderly man, a corpse, a diseased man and a holy man. This gave him a glimpse into the sufferings of mankind and Siddhartha was so moved that he abandoned his princely throne to become a holy man himself.

The main principle behind the Buddhist teachings is one that Siddhartha sought to find, in order to put an end to human suffering. At first he tried fasting and enduring pain as a way to see the world clearly and to find the way to end the suffering that surrounded him. Fortunately for Buddhists, he found a less painful method. Siddhartha found that meditation was the true path. This fact about Buddhism still remains true today.

Siddhartha’s meditation retreat came in the form of meditating beneath a tree outside of a village for forty-nine days. It was during these forty-nine days that he attained enlightenment and could begin teaching his findings to the rest of the world. From this point on, Siddhartha became known as Buddha. Buddhist studies teach followers that the true path to ending human suffering in this world is to follow a strict path set forth by the Buddha. It involves ritualized chants and meditations to alleviate the conflicts that plague humanity.

If you are interested in learning more about Buddhism and the principles that make up this religion and philosophy, then there are many websites and centers that you can turn to for information. Perhaps the Buddhist practice will become one that you wish to follow in your pursuit of higher endeavors. You can visit www.buddhism.about.com for more information.