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Count Your Blessings

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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Jul 14, 2007
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ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਕੇ ਪਦੇ ਪੈਤੀਸ
गउड़ी गुआरेरी के पदे पैतीस ॥
Ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī ke paḏe paiṯīs.
Thirty-Five Steps Of Gauree Gwaarayree. ||

ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਅਸਟਪਦੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਕੀ
रागु गउड़ी गुआरेरी असटपदी कबीर जी की
Rāg ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī asatpaḏī Kabīr jī kī
Raag Gauree Gwaarayree, Ashtapadees Of Kabeer Jee:

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ
ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥
Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ਸੁਖੁ ਮਾਂਗਤ ਦੁਖੁ ਆਗੈ ਆਵੈ
सुखु मांगत दुखु आगै आवै ॥
Sukẖ māʼngaṯ ḏukẖ āgai āvai.
People beg for pleasure, but pain comes instead.

ਸੋ ਸੁਖੁ ਹਮਹੁ ਮਾਂਗਿਆ ਭਾਵੈ ॥੧॥
सो सुखु हमहु न मांगिआ भावै ॥१॥
So sukẖ hamhu na māʼngi▫ā bẖāvai. ||1||
I would rather not beg for that pleasure. ||1||

ਬਿਖਿਆ ਅਜਹੁ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸੁਖ ਆਸਾ
बिखिआ अजहु सुरति सुख आसा ॥
Bikẖi▫ā ajahu suraṯ sukẖ āsā.
People are involved in corruption, but still, they hope for pleasure.

ਕੈਸੇ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਰਾਜਾ ਰਾਮ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ
कैसे होई है राजा राम निवासा ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Kaise ho▫ī hai rājā rām nivāsā. ||1|| rahā▫o.
How will they find their home in the Sovereign Lord King? ||1||Pause||

ਇਸੁ ਸੁਖ ਤੇ ਸਿਵ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਡਰਾਨਾ
इसु सुख ते सिव ब्रहम डराना ॥
Is sukẖ ṯe siv barahm darānā.
Even Shiva and Brahma are afraid of this pleasure,

ਸੋ ਸੁਖੁ ਹਮਹੁ ਸਾਚੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੨॥
सो सुखु हमहु साचु करि जाना ॥२॥
So sukẖ hamhu sācẖ kar jānā. ||2||
but I have judged that pleasure to be true. ||2||

ਸਨਕਾਦਿਕ ਨਾਰਦ ਮੁਨਿ ਸੇਖਾ
सनकादिक नारद मुनि सेखा ॥
Sankāḏik nāraḏ mun sekẖā.
Even sages like Sanak and Naarad, and the thousand-headed serpent,

ਤਿਨ ਭੀ ਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਪੇਖਾ ॥੩॥
तिन भी तन महि मनु नही पेखा ॥३॥
Ŧin bẖī ṯan mėh man nahī pekẖā. ||3||
did not see the mind within the body. ||3||

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਕੋਈ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਭਾਈ
इसु मन कउ कोई खोजहु भाई ॥
Is man ka▫o ko▫ī kẖojahu bẖā▫ī.
Anyone can search for this mind, O Siblings of Destiny.

ਤਨ ਛੂਟੇ ਮਨੁ ਕਹਾ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੪॥
तन छूटे मनु कहा समाई ॥४॥
Ŧan cẖẖūte man kahā samā▫ī. ||4||
When it escapes from the body, where does the mind go? ||4||

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜੈਦੇਉ ਨਾਮਾਂ
गुर परसादी जैदेउ नामां ॥
Gur parsādī jaiḏe▫o nāmāʼn.
By Guru's Grace, Jai Dayv and Naam Dayv

ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈ ਪ੍ਰੇਮਿ ਇਨ ਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥੫॥
भगति कै प्रेमि इन ही है जानां ॥५॥
Bẖagaṯ kai parem in hī hai jānāʼn. ||5||
came to know this, through loving devotional worship of the Lord. ||5||

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਨਹੀ ਆਵਨ ਜਾਨਾ
इसु मन कउ नही आवन जाना ॥
Is man ka▫o nahī āvan jānā.
This mind does not come or go.

ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੬॥
जिस का भरमु गइआ तिनि साचु पछाना ॥६॥
Jis kā bẖaram ga▫i▫ā ṯin sācẖ pacẖẖānā. ||6||
One whose doubt is dispelled, knows the Truth. ||6||

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਰੂਪੁ ਰੇਖਿਆ ਕਾਈ
इसु मन कउ रूपु न रेखिआ काई ॥
Is man ka▫o rūp na rekẖ▫i▫ā kā▫ī.
This mind has no form or outline.

ਹੁਕਮੇ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਬੂਝਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੭॥
हुकमे होइआ हुकमु बूझि समाई ॥७॥
Hukme ho▫i▫ā hukam būjẖ samā▫ī. ||7||
By God's Command it was created; understanding God's Command, it will be absorbed into Him again. ||7||

ਇਸ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਨੈ ਭੇਉ
इस मन का कोई जानै भेउ ॥
Is man kā ko▫ī jānai bẖe▫o.
Does anyone know the secret of this mind?

ਇਹ ਮਨਿ ਲੀਣ ਭਏ ਸੁਖਦੇਉ ॥੮॥
इह मनि लीण भए सुखदेउ ॥८॥
Ih man līṇ bẖa▫e sukẖ▫ḏe▫o. ||8||
This mind shall merge into the Lord, the Giver of peace and pleasure. ||8||

ਜੀਉ ਏਕੁ ਅਰੁ ਸਗਲ ਸਰੀਰਾ
जीउ एकु अरु सगल सरीरा ॥
Jī▫o ek ar sagal sarīrā.
There is One Soul, and it pervades all bodies.

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਰਵਿ ਰਹੇ ਕਬੀਰਾ ॥੯॥੧॥੩੬॥
इसु मन कउ रवि रहे कबीरा ॥९॥१॥३६॥
Is man ka▫o rav rahe kabīrā. ||9||1||36||
Kabeer dwells upon this Mind. ||9||1||36||
 
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Archived_Member5

(previously jeetijohal, account deactivated at her
Mar 13, 2006
388
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London, UK
Any new books written regarding the power of positive thinking, of harnessing that power to not only conquer one’s own mind but be master and in control of one’s environment thereby. ‘Brahm Giani ki mat uchi, man neema’’. This beautiful and poetic statement is a firm edict and premise for a garland of life sustaining truths to light mans journey in a world of spiritual darkness and mental confusion. Focussing the mind, stilling its tempestuous diversion of attention. If life is a symphony, man must be the conductor of all tunes played about him.

Mans Consciousness is on three echelons or planes. The immediate attention to the physical actual world, the intelligent and subject reasoned perspective and the super universal consciousness. Any given situation or predicament occurring in our daily life can be studied immediately or with a higher conscience. The individual operating n the higher plane observes the cosmological, planetary, national, social and domestic world all governed by the same principles of rule.

Man must therefore concertedly condition and train his thoughts upon not only the immediate and apparent, but the greater universal perspective. The ability to divine consciousness enables him to view all situations from a common vantage point, giving due consideration not only to conflicting opinions of all, but why certain individuals hold positive and negative views in the first instance. Slowly the mind learns to view the world and all sitauat6ioons subjectively, with a detached and cognitive understanding.

Negativity exists, it is within mans power to not only recognise and control, but top cure such harmful intolerance in individuals about him, whether in the home, work or socially. To command authority over others is easy, to do so mindful and understanding of why family, friends, peers and politicians behave as they do, is productive to solutions than accusations.

Great philosophers are able to take ancient wisdom of scriptures and align them with all subsequent books written on any scientific topic. The Adi Granth is an amalgam of Quran, Gita and the Veda’s. It is perfect in its wisdom. Any new books can be recognised as regurgitations of long standing eternal tenets of ancient scribes all paths or pearls of a one golden chain of absolute truth. Love is Truth, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning, the search and the Ultimate end. He who recognises this and is able to communicate all truths and faiths as one is the true Brahm Giani....
 

Archived_Member5

(previously jeetijohal, account deactivated at her
Mar 13, 2006
388
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No matter how modernism in the name of progress succumbs and is driven by the demands of a faceless public and its demands and opinions, the underlying fundamental premise must always remain, integrity, morality, for the love and will to peace. Any such progressive changes and alteration sought to be implemented or associated with the scriptures should be negated and cited as modern translations than any bearing or semblance to Absolute truths. Any person quest for truth and wisdom, inspired by the ancient truth should be accredited as such. In a fast paced and moving modern society, displaced religious and cultural populations seek a new truth, become estranged from their parents and their scripture, with their confusion causing needs and wants to increase for the profiteers to amass great wealth from, and an incongruous equally faceless media to gain power by holding the worlds minds and hearts at its mercy and whim, all of course in the dubious cause of ‘unity’ and globalisation. Buyer beware is the moral there. The objective should rather be to not only cite verses from Adi Granth ad verbatim but with an application of personalised interpretation to the listeners and prevailing situation, This assists in keeping alive a Guru in danger of being cast as outmoded and old fashioned.
 

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.
You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through,
and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
[/FONT]

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.[/FONT]

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
They are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
[/FONT]

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
[/FONT]

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are NOT
the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones who care.
[/FONT]
 

Archived_Member5

(previously jeetijohal, account deactivated at her
Mar 13, 2006
388
76
London, UK
On the well publicised ‘law of attraction’’ it is another modern nouveau way of the ancient edict ‘Karo bala ho bala’’. Man sows with love and grace, is altruistic in his generosity and finds pleasure in sharing his bountiful store of humanity and compassion cannot fail or be brought low for long. He who has conquered his own mind, has conquered his world thereby, means man is an energy reactor, the energy, be it positive or negative, loving or bitter, he emits reacts positively with those around him, and if powerful neutralises the anger and animosity of and hostile people in his life. Anger fuels anger, love appeases and cleanses all. These are money making new fangled methods of eternal living truths repackaged for the profit making purposes. A cynical view yes, but any such theory derived from scriptures should be accredited to it as a mark of courtesy. We find atheism demarcating religion, taking its precious pearls and marketing them to a needful audience looted of their pastoral guidance.

NamJap Ji a wonderful video.
 

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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Page 4, Line 13
ਪੁੰਨੀ ਪਾਪੀ ਆਖਣੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
पुंनी पापी आखणु नाहि ॥
Punnī pāpī ākẖaṇ nāhi.
Virtue and vice do not come by mere words;
Guru Nanak Dev - [SIZE=-1]view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok[/SIZE]
 
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pk70

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Page 4, Line 13
ਪੁੰਨੀ ਪਾਪੀ ਆਖਣੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
पुंनी पापी आखणु नाहि ॥
Punnī pāpī ākẖaṇ nāhi.
Virtue and vice do not come by mere words;
Guru Nanak Dev - [SIZE=-1]view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok[/SIZE]



Namjap Ji, your one line Guru Vaak doesn’t say the whole truth, following Guru Vakas are necessary to mention, just a suggestion if you don’t mind. Here is the complete Guru message
ਪੁੰਨੀ ਪਾਪੀ ਆਖਣੁ ਨਾਹਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਣਾ ਲਿਖਿ ਲੈ ਜਾਹੁ ਆਪੇ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਆਵਹੁ ਜਾਹੁ ੨੦
Punnī pāpī ākẖaṇ nāhi. Kar kar karṇā likẖ lai jāhu. Āpe bīj āpe hī kẖāhu. Nānak hukmī āvhu jāhu. ||20||
By mere words of mouth (statements) a man becomes not virtuous or vicious. The often repeated actions are engraved on the heart. Man himself sows and himself reaps (he reaps what he sows). By God's Order, O Nanak! man comes and goes.
ਕੇਵਲ ਮੂੰਹ ਜ਼ਬਾਨੀ ਕਹਿਣ ਨਾਲ ਆਦਮੀ ਨੇਕ ਅਤੇ ਐਬੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਣਦਾ ਬਾਰੰਬਾਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਰਮ ਦਿਲ ਉਤੇ ਉਕਰੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਆਦਮੀ ਖੁਦ ਬੀਜਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਖੁਦ ਹੀ ਵੱਢਦਾ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਫੁਰਮਾਨ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਇਨਸਾਨ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਤੇ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ
 
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Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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PK70 Ji,

We always have a choice to hit this button for the whole shabad.
Thank you for highlighting another relevant part of the same shabad.
 

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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Quotes of Wisdom:

You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think.
The truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice.
What you do comes from what you think
.
A Course in Miracles

Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.
Elmer Letterman




The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for.
And the most you can do is live inside that hope.
Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.
Barbara Kingsolver


Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind.
To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse.
To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better.
To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

King Whitney Jr.

 

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies.
Ann Landers


The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering.
And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors.
If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy
.
Dalai Lama



If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you.
You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

Mary Pickford
 

spnadmin

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Nam Jap ji

This was wonderful. Maybe 3 of these I have known for a long time. The others? I may be now ready. It could even be that at this time in my life I can put these laws into practice.
 

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
Writer
SPNer
Jul 14, 2007
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Count Your Blessings
Welcome! Even if you don’t watch television, you may have heard of the CBS reality show “Survivor.” Contestants match their wits against primitive conditions in places like the Australian outback and the Amazon. Their simultaneous need to build up allies and dispense with competitors only adds to their struggles.
Have you ever wondered why the show became instantly popular? While reasons are varied, here’s an obvious one: When you see people shivering because their fire went out overnight, or itching like crazy from non-stop bug bites, or relishing the ultimately simple meal of corn they just toasted, because it’s better than nothing, you just can’t help but appreciate all that you’ve got.
Of course, the realities of the world offer a far more stinging comparison. We don’t always want to look, but we don’t have to look far. Homelessness, poverty, and hunger beset millions of our brothers and sisters. How can gratefulness begin to heal such suffering?



We begin by waking up to the gifts around us. Although our webteam isn’t omniscient, we can pretty much say for certain that you’re in front of a computer. We also guess that you can read, which sets you apart from two billion people in the world who cannot. So already you can tally opportunities you have that not everyone can claim. Look around at your surroundings, your own body included. What can you add to your list of blessings? You might mention such joys as comfortable clothing, good health, satisfying work, or a home to call your own. And what beyond your immediate surroundings: nourishing food, faithful friends, spiritual moorings? You may even discover less obvious blessings; for instance, a difficult relationship forces you to mature, or deep distress over violence spurs you to spread peace. On a sheet of paper or a word-processor at your fingertips, record a few of these gifts.
f_OrangeHand.jpg
You might actually make this into a more leisurely project if you have time. Gather a little pile of magazines and catalogues, and make yourself comfortable. Make sure you have a pair of scissors and a glue stick at hand. Now you are ready to clip out pictures and words that remind you of your blessings. Then paste these into a gratefulness collage, and keep it in a prominent place as a reminder.












No matter how complete your list of blessings, you may have left out a few. The more aware you are, the more astonished you may grow at the extent of your good fortune. While the balance of our world is constantly changing, these figures remain close to current and remind us of the riches we have near at hand.

When you recognize the abundance present in your life, you may find yourself greatly cheered during a dark time. But strangely, it may make you suddenly sad to realize that you have so much when others have so little. You may feel so undeserving. And yet, don’t let guilt paralyze you. Our world’s inequalities put you in a position to practice thanksgiving for what you have got. Giving is an integral part of thanksgiving. There are ways of giving that cost little or nothing at all. Right now, at no cost, you can go to The Hunger Site and – by clicking on the yellow “Give Free Food” button -- offer to a starving or malnourished person a cup of staple food. You might bookmark that page, and click there every day. That will make you feel good every time you do it. If you’d like to offer more of your talents or money, there is a site that will help you get started by steering you to worthwhile charities, volunteer jobs, and action alerts. It’s worth at least taking a look at it: Network for Good.

You may have other ingenious ideas for “living simply so that others can simply live.” Or you may want to hear how other people turn their riches into an active outpouring of compassion. With gratitude for the gifts of writing and reading, please visit our Simple Living message board

Congratulations!
Through these simple steps you’ve shared your fullness with someone else today. You’ve also created a collage of your gifts in words or images, and pondered how to use those gifts wisely. Encourage your friends by letting them know about this practice. And thank you for sharing your blessings by supporting this website.
 

Astroboy

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ (Previously namjap)
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How can I find inner peace
through gratefulness?
n_bench.jpg
Welcome!
Our inner peace begins with counting our blessings, and fans out to include even the hardest challenges, those which we used to consider a curse. Let's start by looking at the good in our lives. Step by step, we can expand the picture to see how acceptance grows until all of your life is bathed in peace.



Step 1​
n_hills.jpg
Are you really present here and now? Breathe deeply, and sink into this moment. What are you thankful for? (Give yourself a few moments to reflect on this question.)
Is there something you are not thankful for? What is it? Spell it out to yourself. Is it really in this present moment? If it's in the past (a painful memory), let go: You want to be present here and now. If it's in the future (an anxiety or fear), let go: You want to be present here and now. If there is something in the present that you can't be thankful for – pain, grief, confusion – accept it as given. What is, is. You are confronted with a given reality. You may not be able to be thankful for it, but you can obviously live with it: You do! -- at least in this one moment, and that's all you've got. Embrace this truth, not only with your intellect, which is too narrow, but with your whole heart. Let this experience sink in. Do you feel peace, a tiny bit, at least?
np_orangeChurch.jpg
You can fan this little spark of peace to make it glow a bit brighter. This moment is part of the rhythm of time. Are you aware of what hour of the day it is? Do not consult your watch. This is not a matter of clock time. You can attune yourself to time's fullness by getting in step with the peaceful round-dance of the hours.



When we are listening to peaceful chanting, or when the sound of bells makes our hearts fly up like a flock of doves from a steeple, it is easy to be present with the given moment, grateful and at peace. A moment later, however, our thoughts surge back to past and future. It is already a step forward in learning inner peace when we notice every time we slip out of the present. What is it that makes you most frequently lose your peace? Face it firmly. Name it clearly. This is an important step: Just to name what makes you lose your peace helps you regain it.

You are not alone. Look how others are struggling bravely in their attempt to sustain inner peace. By adding a word of your own, you can in turn encourage those who will do this exercise after you.
Even more important than encouraging others is to keep encouraging yourself. For instance, you can write the word “Now” on a piece of paper and put it where it will catch your eye. You may have your own creative ideas of how to bring your attention back to the present, so that you can hear the angels' message of peace each moment.
 

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