by Cherie Carter-Scott Read more
Just go here: www.101zenstories.com
But here are the first 10:
1. A Cup of Tea
2. Finding a Diamond on a Muddy Road
3. Is That So?
4. Obedience
5. If You Love, Love Openly
6. No Loving – Kindness
7. Annoucement
8. Great Waves
9. The Moon Cannot Be Stolen
10. The Last Poem of Hoshin
11. The Story of Shunkai
12. Happy Chinaman
13. A Buddha
14. Muddy Road
15. Shoan and His Mother
16. Not Far From Buddhahood
17. Stingy in Teaching
18. A Parable
19. The First Principle
20. A Mother’s Advice
As a student of life, I have read so many books on spirituality, self-growth, law of attraction, mind power, you name it! Yet, when I come across this one sentence, something clicked any my life begins to change.
I realize, most of my life, when I pray, I ask God or the universe to grant me something. I wish and I hope. Sometimes, I even command. Yet, there is always that question in the back of my mind – doubt. Between my girl Annisa and I, we always ask ourselves “how to eliminate self-doubt”? or just doubt for that matter? Can we really do it? Yet, when I came across this one line, it gives me peace that it automatically eliminates and doubt, worries or any limitations I might have.
What is it?
Well, I learn it from this book called “The One Command” by Asara Lovejoy (http://www.commandingwealth.com/)- a must read for all of you who wants to let go of all your worries, doubts and limitations to open yourself to be the true you who is attracting and manifesting your heart’s desire. It is not about law of attraction, not about affirmations, not about visualization that somehow ‘forces’ you to believe in something when you are not ready for it. This is the sentence that will bring you peace.
It begins with “I don’t know how…” Ends with “All I know is I do now and I am fulfilled.”
For example if I want to get a more fulfilling career, all I have to say (in a state of peace) is “I don’t know how I can have such fulfilling and rewarding career that is according to my passion. All I know is I do and I am now fulfilled.”
For me, when I start my prayer with “I don’t know how..” I come from a place of humility and peace. I am not forcing myself to change. I am not expecting anything out of myself. And I don’t pretend I know anything. I am communicating to God to jump in, because I don’t know. Yet I know deep inside I know and hence I am then fulfilled.
The moment I speak of such prayer, I let go of any attachment, expectations and worries. A new found peace, confidence and knowing sets in. I do not set limits on how everything is going to fall into places. I just know it is already taken care of. I let God and the universe to take its course and do its own magic. I am taken care of. And when I start practicing this prayer in every occasion, I start experiencing miracles beyond my own imagination.
I cannot explain it well. Read the book. Try it yourself, only if you’re ready for miracles to start happening in your life though 
Read more here: http://theonecommand.commandingwealth.com/
People come and go. Love come and go. Friendships also come and go. But the ones I treasure most are the ones that trigger my growth and understandings.
My friends and relationships range from an 3 year old boy named Brahni to an 80 year old Mongolian professor. They span across age, time and space. I don’t have to see them all the time. I don’t have to spend a lot of time with them. But when I do, they add something into my life, inspire my being and get me fulfilled.
They don’t always tell me all the good and beautiful things in life, but also all the misery and journey. They challenge my thoughts and behaviors. Some are honest. Some lie and hide things. Though honesty can hurt, I respect and appreciate their honesty and openness. Yes, we can even argue and fight and hurt each other without meaning to. Yet, we come to an understanding, forgive each other and fall in love back with each other. In that journey, we add value into each others life and make the friendship even stronger.
I have made friends. I have lost friends. It is all part of this journey – learning about me and about life.
The toughest lesson I have about friendship and any relationship is truly to see it as a lent gift. I am not given the friendship, I am lent. At any time, this friendship can be taken away from me. At any time it can go away. I have no right to hold on to it. And when I see relationship from this point of view, I give them the freedom to do whatever they want and for me to treat each moment shared with them with such respect, love and gratitude. I am not attached to the relationship. I let go of all expectations from that friendship. Yet I know, anytime I need or want a friend, a random stranger I meet down the street can fulfill that yearning.
With this, the whole world is my friend – better, my best friend – because I learn and discover new things from each of them. How can I be so selfish and close-minded to only call certain people “my friend” or “my best friend” when God has given me the whole world.
So, my lesson. For me not to get attached to the idea of love, friendship or even relationship, but to see, discover and appreciate the love, friendship and relationship each person brings into my life at each moment.
I thank you each and one of you who I have encountered in my life, people who have loved me, hated me, or just plain strangers – because you’ve taught me one of the greatest lesson in life.