“When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Source: https://quotefancy.com/quote/2530/Abraham-Lincoln-When-I-do-good-I-feel-good-When-I-do-bad-I-feel-bad-That-s-my-religion

     To truly know ourselves, we must know more than just our mind.  We must know whatever it is that makes us, us.

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 21)

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

     “Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.”

– Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Source: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/lucius_annaeus_seneca_155019

     Now that we have illustrated the basic principles of why so many people suffer and how to understand, free, and harmonize your mind, it’s time to expand your mind.  Continue to cultivate your garden.  Question and explore this amazing world.  Search for useful knowledge, helpful habits, and empowering ideas.

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 20)

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

Spelling (note: only veteran English-speakers will get this:)

     I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a word are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azmanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tuohhgt slpeling was ipmorantt!

Source: http://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/Spiritual_Humor.html

     “The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”

– Marcus Aurelius

Source: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/marcus_aurelius_383110

     …We have a choice in what we let into our minds, and how much we let internal and external forces affect us…  Remember, energy flows.  Where energy goes, power flows.

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 17-18)

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

     “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested. But when it is wasted in heedless luxury and spent on no good activity, we are forced at last by death’s final constraint to realize that it has passed away before we knew it was passing. So it is: we are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it… Life is long if you know how to use it.”

– Seneca

Source: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/09/01/seneca-on-the-shortness-of-life/

     When someone expressed her hatred for the oppressors of her country, the Master replied, “Never allow anyone to drag you down so low as to make you hate them.”

– Anthony de Mello, More One Minute Nonsense

     …Knowledge is the first step towards freedom.  If freedom is the goal, one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is, “What forces exist that keep us from being as free as we can be?”  The answer to this question falls into one of two categories: internal and external forces.  Internal forces are your fears, desires, pride, envy, ego, attitudes, etc.  External forces would be the people, (friends, family, associates, government, strangers…) or circumstances in your life. 

     All internal forces related to emotion or thought are connected to the mind, the most powerful tool at your disposal.  Like any tool, it must be used to serve its purpose.  When used to the height of its abilities, it becomes sharp as a razor.  It’s only when the mind is strong that it can be used to control emotion and will, and thus achieve its goals with any kind of consistency.  When it is weak, it only tends to create turmoil.  Before a person can even dream of freedom, they must have a strong mind and an iron will.  In fact, these must be indomitable.  You must have a clear vision of yourself and the people and world around you—not as you want them to be, but as they are.

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 16-17)

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications