Tag: abundance

This past weekend was the Quantum Ho’oponopono event led by quantum psychologist Dr. Garland Landrith and myself. It was a meeting of science and mysticism. It was exhilarating. We filmed it and we’ll release the DVD set later. For now, I wanted to talk about something that surfaced at the event.

A few days earlier a woman mentioned that at a dinner party her friends discussed how to tell when you’re enlightened. I thought that was a fascinating topic. It’s certainly better than discussing the latest exploits of actor Charlie Sheen.

Their conclusion was this: if you could resolve a trigger in your emotions in thirty minutes or less, you were enlightened.

Meaning, if someone said something nasty and you got upset, you’ve been triggered. But if you could release that trigger quickly, they said you were enlightened.

I don’t agree at all.

Dr. Garland Landrith and me at Quantum Ho'oponopono event

Anyone who can handle emotional upsets fast is simply a skilled psychological technician. They have tools and know how to use them. That’s wonderful.  That’s terrific. That’s healthy. That’s inspiring.

But that’s not enlightenment.

So at the Quantum Ho’oponopono event, I asked , “What is enlightenment?”

If you do a Google search, you’ll find the word “enlightenment” refers to an 18th century intellectual movement sometimes called the Age of Reason. I’m sure that’s not what the dinner party was discussing.

If you dig deeper, you find the word used to describe a state of awakening in Buddhism and Vedic thinking. That’s probably what the dinner crew meant. I prefer the word “awakening” over “enlightenment” but let’s go with the latter.

What is enlightenment?

It’s the state where you have merged into the background consciousness of life. You’ve dissolved as ego into the Witness of life. “You” are the Divine.

I describe all this in my book, The Awakening Course. One of my favorite books on the subject is Awakening to The Dream by Leo Hartong. It’s worth reading. (And no, I don’t know the author.)

The Awakening Course

At the Quantum Ho’oponopono event, I urged people to look past their thoughts…past their emotions…past their body…to the “background” sky to it all.

Something in them (and in you) is observing it all.

What is that?

That “background” in your awareness is the shared quantum field in each of us. When you merge with it and become it, you are enlightened.

I don’t know of any way to make enlightenment or an awakening happen. That would be the ego trying to manipulate the Divine. In my recent books and audios, I say you can prep for it, but you can’t will it.

Enlightenment comes by grace.

How do you prepare for it?

There are countless books, courses, rituals, laws, suggestions, principles, meditations, techniques and more, all created by people seeking to be enlightened (or even enlightened) and wanting to help you achieve that state, as well.

I’m not sure you need any of them. Including my own.

Meditation seems to be the most popular way to invite enlightenment. To help you understand where I’m coming from, let me give you two meditation related insights.

First, here’s the greatest meditation quote of all time:

“Meditation is not what you think.”

Think about that. (Or not.) 🙂

Second, here’s the greatest meditation of all time:

Relax into this moment…

Note what you are thinking but also note you are somehow noting that thinking…

Note what you are feeling and note you are not the feeling but something observing the feeling….

Note how your body feels but also note you are not your body but something inside of it aware of your body….

What all of this “noting” has in common is an observer.

That observer of it all is the source of it all.

The more you can meditate on it — listening to it, watching it, feeling it — the closer you will come to merging with it.

That’s where you will find enlightenment.

That’s where you can experience an awakening.

And it doesn’t take 30 minutes.

It’s there (here) right now.

And it’s free.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS –Another way to find this “background” to life is to look at the off-white space this blog post is set on. The words are on it. The off-white space behind the words is the backdrop to life: it’s a sort of “witness.” You have a Witness in your mind. Note it right now. It’s there. (Here.)

TIP: Bodhidharma said, “Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher‘s help.”

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Warning: The following may be controversial and confrontational. I’m doing my best to help you prosper during perceived tough times. I’m getting “in your face” so you can shake off limiting beliefs, drop the excuses, and begin to help yourself and others. May the following inspire you to do just that.

Often people have trouble attracting money because they unconsciously believe it’s evil. You wouldn’t want to attract anything you thought was evil, would you?

But is money really evil?

Ben Witherington writes in his book, Jesus and Money:

“Money in itself is just a means of exchange. It is no more inherently evil than any other material thing God created.”

Actually, the quote about money being evil is a partial one from Paul, not Jesus. Paul wasn’t enlightened but wisely warned about the love of money potentially being a problem.

I totally agree. Loving money over life itself could take you from the essence of life, not toward it. As I explained in my book, Attract Money Now, the wealthy people I know don’t love money. They appreciate it and leverage it, but they’re not in love with it. Big difference.

What about the story where Jesus said, “A rich man can’t get into heaven”?

It’s a misquote. Jesus said it would be difficult for a rich man to get in, not that he “can’t” get in.

And why difficult?

It’s difficult to get through the eye of a needle when you’re carrying a lot of stuff.

As I’ve taught, it’s fine to have material things — the material is the concrete form of the spiritual — it’s just not so fine to be attached to them. If your happiness is dependent on them, then you’re missing the miracle of this very moment.

What really matters is what is in your heart concerning money. If it’s your be-all and end-all, then money is your God and that, from a Jesus/Paul viewpoint, is a no-no. But if money is neutral to you, just a means to an end, then you are probably pure in heart concerning it. Godspeed to you.

What I do is appreciate money and use it to express my inspirations and Divinity. Money is just a cool agreed-upon tool to get things done. With it I can help myself, family and friends, and distribute it to causes and people I believe in. I do all that and more. It’s about being at peace with money.

I love Arnold Patent’s quote, in his book, Money:

“The sole purpose of money is to express appreciation.”

When you realize that money is neutral, that you can use it with a heart full of love, and you can be a steward for it to see that the Divine is expressed through you, then you are clear to attract all the money you will allow.

Mother Teresa said —

“Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God – the rest will be given.”

What is this “Kingdom of God”?

Religious wars have been fought over the answers. For me, it’s following your Divine connection; the voice in your heart that whispers what It wants you to do next. When you follow It, you move in the direction of experiencing and creating this Kingdom right here, right now.

What’s worth remembering is you can’t tell what is Divinely guided in another person any more than they can tell what is Divinely guided within you.

• Jay Leno and his car collection might be Divinely guided. I can’t honestly say. Neither can you.
• Bill Gates and his fortune might be there because he followed Divine guidance. We have no way of knowing.
• Jimmie Vaughan has 200 guitars. Not inspired collecting? How would you know?
• Donald Trump might be following his own spiritual path. Who’s to say, unless you project your own idea of wealth and spirituality onto him, and then who’s to say you’re right?

You’re on an ego trip if you feel you can determine someone’s motivation. We have to focus on our own connection and actions and refrain from judgments.

Scot Anderson, in his book, God Wants You Rich, says –

“What did Jesus say when someone was dumping perfume on His feet that was worth one year’s salary  — in today’s numbers more than $40,000 — and someone said it should be given to the poor? Jesus said, ‘The poor you will have with you always’.”

Anderson goes on to say, “…Get out of your holier-than-thou attitude. Stop judging others and live your own life.”

That may sound harsh, but maybe it’s time to be more direct.

Buddha had his own thoughts on money, of course. According to The Buddha’s Teachings on Prosperity: At Home, At Work, in the World by Bhikkhu Basnagoda Rahula —

“The Buddha never imposed limitations on his lay follower’s efforts to be successful; instead, he clearly encouraged them to strive for success. Whether in “trading, cattle farming, archery, government service, or any other profession or industry,” a layperson should strive to advance in his or her respective field. Notably, the motivation to achieve success is an important requirement in any person’s life — an attitude of “I have a job that’s enough for me to live on” has no place in the Buddha’s teaching.

Next, the Buddha set no limits to a layperson’s wealth and never told his prosperous lay followers to stop or slow down. Instead, he unequivocally encouraged them to plan, organize, and even to obtain more…”

Buddha encouraged attracting more?

Jesus didn’t think money was evil?

The sole purpose of money is to express appreciation?

Pretty eye-opening, isn’t it?

Given these insights, how do you feel about money now?

Whether you think money is spiritual or not doesn’t matter when you need it in today’s world to survive and thrive. You best make peace with it. If you want to help yourself and others, you best clean up your attitude toward wealth.

But how?

Attract Money for Good

I’ve created entire books and courses to help you get clear and then attract money to use for your own Divinely guided actions. Some of them, such as Attract Money Now, are free.

Have you read the book? If not, why not? If so, did you apply the seven steps in it? If not, why not?

Too many people have shrugged off the pursuit of money saying it was evil or material, or that Jesus or Buddha wouldn’t use or acquire or accumulate money today.

Come on. Obviously, that’s not true. They wouldn’t be attached to money, but they’d certainly attract it and leverage it for good.

And who’s good would they use it for?

Their choice.

Meaning they wouldn’t listen to you, but to their own inner direction. You might not even agree with how they handled their wealth. You might even be surprised and confused by it. You might even think they were greedy.

Do you think your opinion would stop them?

Hardly.

They’d adapt to modern times, too.

Do you really think they’d ride in an ox cart today? Not fly in an airplane to get overseas? Not have a bank account — or entrust someone to have one for them? Not do marketing to get the word out?

When I wrote my dissertation to earn one of my doctorate degrees, it was on the marketing methods every great religion and metaphysical movement did to attract followers. They all used money and marketing to spread the good word of their ideas. All of them.

Apparently their leaders were just fine with money.

But let’s dig below the surface of all this:

Why do you even care what anyone does with their money? Or what Buddha or Jesus thought about wealth?

Sometimes people use not having money as an excuse for not following inspirations.

I’m sorry, but excuses are no longer allowed.

It’s time to awaken.

You have a job to do here. I don’t know what it is. You do.

Dr. Kalinda Rose Stevenson, in her very enlightening e-book, Going Broke With Jesus, says —

“When you have money, you have the power to have a greater impact in the world. Most of us are used to playing small roles, partly because we don’t have enough money.”

John Kay, in his book, Obliquity, pointed out that the wealthiest people – from Andrew Carnegie to Bill Gates – achieved their riches through a passion for their work, not because they set materialistic goals.

Passion.

That’s the real ticket to success and the real thing to focus on.

Don’t let lack of money or time or energy or experience or education stop you. Far too many people with less than you have created their dreams.

Focus on your passion.

Don’t let opinions about what Jesus or Buddha would think or do stop you from following your own inspirations. That’s a cop-out.

Focus on your passion.

Don’t let religious bullies or well-meaning interpreters of ancient spiritual literature distort your perception of the world and what’s possible for you.

Focus on your passion.

It’s time to act.

Will you?

Ao Akua,

joe

PS — Let me be even more in your face: Stop judging people with money and how they use it. How does that serve you, except to make you feel self-righteous?  Start attracting money and using it for the good you see will help the most. If you want to make a difference, make a difference. It begins with you. Will you sit on the sidelines and judge or will you enter the game and be part of the solution? Will you follow your passion or not? The whistle has blown. The game is on. The clock is ticking. Get on the field and play. Now.

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There’s a wealth of tools and processes available for you to do inner work. But over the last two months I’ve been working with select musicians to create what I call “Healing Music.” In short, this is music that does the sweeping in your unconscious house. The results are amazing.

The beauty of this new form of healing is that you don’t have to do much more than relax and listen.

Years ago Pat O’Bryan and I created a series of Clearing Audios that use subliminal statements recorded by me and original music recorded by him to help people “get clear.”  These have been very popular. Our first one, The Clearing Audio, is a hands-down all-time bestseller. It’s only ten minutes long, is easy to listen to, and does a great job of kicking out the limitations in the unconscious.

But I didn’t want to stop there. I wondered if full-length, inspired original music, with audible chants or lyrics, could do an even better job at healing.

I teamed up with two of my favorite people — modern Flamenco guitarist Mathew Dixon and singer/songwriter Sarah Marie — and urged all of us to create original healing music: full length audios that will do the job of helping to de-stress bodies and minds and guide us into a closer relationship with the Divine, and on to natural healing.

I also threw my hat in the ring and challenged myself to create my first original music album, too. I hired Daniel Barrett of the band Porterdavis to guide me through the music producing process.

We gave ourselves two months to complete our projects, starting from zero, and using the date of May 1 as our deadline.  I was told I’d be on the cover of the May issue of Austin All Natural magazine — and I am as of today– so I figured all three of us could get exposure in the special issue.

Cover May '11 'Austin All Natural'

We had our goal.

We had our deadline.

The next step was massive action.

Could we pull this off in time?

My first music CD: "Blue Healer"

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” – Plato

What are the results?

Sarah Marie's Opera Mantra CD

Sarah Marie created seven mesmerizing songs on a CD called Opera Mantra. It’s heavenly music inspired by ho’oponopono (the Hawaiian system of healing I wrote about in my book, Zero Limits, coauthored with Dr. Hew Len). Sarah’s angelic, soaring voice, singing the healing phrases that have been proven to resolve problems, is unbelievably soothing. Her tracks invite repeated listening.

I feel my soul brighten as I listen to Sarah sing. One track alone brings happy tears as it opens my heart to Divine love. The whole CD is enchanting.  Daniel Barrett said Sarah’s voice is “pure love.” Sarah’s seven tracks are designed to invoke the Divine and then help you merge with it. It’s truly moving. You can hear a sample by going to Opera Mantra.

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without” – Confucius

Mathew Dixon "From Zero" CD

Mathew Dixon created ten tracks of inspired guitar playing, called Music from Zero, using his modern Flamenco guitar style to musically wipe out energy blocks and any negativity. He added my voice as a subliminal (below conscious awareness) saying the four phrases in my book, Zero Limits (“I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, and thank you”). Just listening to his beautiful music makes me feel relaxed, at ease, and one with the Divine.

He, too, was inspired by the ho’oponopono healing method to create his original music. No lyrics but plenty of enlightened vibe to free the mind and body to be here now. This is the kind of music that offers the vibrations of bliss. Track names suggest what you’ll experience: “In the Moment,” “Source”, etc. He dedicated the CD to me, which I’ll be forever grateful for. Go to Zero Limits Music to hear samples.

“Music takes us out of the actual and whispers to us dim secrets that startle our wonder as to who we are, and for what, whence, and whereto.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

And me?

Tracks on "Blue Healer" CD

I created a CD of five long tracks of healing mojo music called Blue Healer. They’re a blend of blues style music with ancient chants. I played as many as seven instruments to create this music, including a very rare 1915 Gibson Harp Guitar. I also chanted special Hawaiian and Sanskrit phrases designed to heal issues and remove blocks. One track (#4) in particular is so potent that I doubt any problem or issue can remain while you listen to it. I describe it as  “a freight train up your spine,” as it opens all the chakras and leads to a satori experience of awakening.

These five tracks are designed to be played as you meditate, work, play, drive, or rest. They are powerful. They move energy. They invoke spirit. Some are relaxing. Some are igniting. The “Gayatri Train” alone can help heal you.  It rumbles your energy and stirs your soul. Sarah Marie contributed her enchanting voice to four of the tracks, which creates a beautiful feminine-masculine balance. You’ll love it. Go see Blue Healer.

My CD was out first, so some early reviews are already in:

Marc Gitterle said, “I am inspired by your CD, as it is just so beguilingly listenable, and great sounding.”

Donna Aloia said, “It is truly a work of art.”

Mindy Audlin said, “So cool!!! I LOVE it!”

Donna Fisher said, “I have been listening to the Secret Harp track over and over and over and over in my car. This song is so soothing and I even notice myself breathing more deeply as I feel like I breathe in the energy of the music.”

Again, just go to Healing Mojo Music to order Blue Healer.

“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons.  You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

All three CDs were done before May 1st

Please note that having a clear intention, and a deadline, and taking action, led to all three of us getting our CDs done before our May 1st deadline.

“It’s amazing all that you can do…” – Jem

The idea behind all of these breakthrough audios is to allow the high vibration of inspired music to work on you. It’s music as guru. Or music as healer. It’s an easy way to help create the personal transformation you want, right down to healing stubborn issues that used to resist everything else. And again, all you have to do is relax and listen.

To paraphrase Emerson, these three breakthrough new audios are “…secrets that startle our wonder.”

What could be easier?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – Stay tuned for my next music CD, titled Strut! And other Songs of Motivation, Inspiration and Transformation, due out later this year. And my first public solo performance will be on a Las Vegas stage. (!) Sign up for free email updates right here.

Resources:

The Clearing Audio by Pat O’Bryan and Joe Vitale

Opera Mantra by Sarah Marie

Zero Limits Music by Mathew Dixon

Blue Healer by Joe Vitale

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For almost a year I held phone masterminds (at no pay to me) with a client. It was a win-win because we supported each other in our quest to be the best – or so I thought.

We “Nevillized” our goals.

We “What If Upped” our intentions.

We “remembered” our successes.

It was thrilling, energizing, exhilarating and wonderful.

But one day I told my client that I received another standing ovation at a recent talk. I was sharing my success with someone who I thought would be inspired by it.

He was silent.

I later learned he felt sick.

When I explored why, he said my success made him ill.

“How much is enough?” he asked.

Think about this…

As long as we talked about an imaginary success, it was fine. But when I reported an actual success, it wasn’t fine.

What’s the difference?

In my experience, it’s often safe to imagine what you want but not safe to actually manifest it. Obviously, there’s a deservingness issue there.

When success is out of arm’s reach, it’s fair to fantasy having it; but grasp it and now it’s real.

Do you accept it or push it away?

It depends on your comfort level with success.

And how much is enough, anyway?

At what point is success “too much”?

Who says a certain level of success is acceptable but more isn’t?

I’ve been saying for decades that you can have virtually whatever you want as long as you don’t need it. If you need something, there’s never enough. If you’re satisfied with this moment and just welcome more, than “enough” isn’t even an issue. You just enjoy life. You accept more because it’s joyful to do so.

And looking at this issue even deeper, doesn’t concern over “too much” reveal a belief in scarcity?

Leave Scarcity Thinking Behind

As I explained in my bestselling audio program The Abundance Paradigm, your perception creates your reality. You can look at life and see scarcity or abundance. It depends on your mindset.

Someone who thinks it’s possible to have “too much” success is coming from the scarcity mindset. That’s fine if that’s what you choose. Most of us don’t consciously choose it, though. And once you realize you have a choice, why would you choose scarcity over abundance?

How good can you stand it, anyway?

My client who confronted me about “How much is enough?” when I mentioned my standing ovation, was pulling back from his own potential success. Self-sabotage stopped him. He hit his comfort zone of deservingness.

Decades ago I was taught to be inspired by someone’s success, not jealous of it.

When I was broke and struggling, I learned to see someone driving the nice car or living in the nice house and feel proud of them and inspired by them. It made a huge difference in how I felt about myself, and released energy that I could use to build my own dreams. Today my success is real.

The lesson here is to go for your inspired dreams without reservation or explanation, surround yourself with supportive people who truly want your success as much as you do, and enjoy your adventure forward as every moment is the miracle you seek.

Steve Jobs said —

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs

There’s no such thing as a ceiling on good, happiness, deservingness or “enough.”

Unless you think there is.

What do you think?

How much do you deserve?

How much is enough for you?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – I am loving the bubbly music of singer Jem (Jemma Griffiths). Here’s her video for her song It’s Amazing (on her latest CD, Down To Earth), which is a great reminder of all that you can do in your life. Life is amazing. You are amazing. Enjoy.

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Recently I gave a talk where I handed out copies of my books, audios, movies, etc, to each person who asked a question. The crowd loved it, as most crowds do.

It was also an illustration of the power of giving. I told stories of my giving money to causes and people, and even a beloved car to a friend, as examples that giving feels incredible.

But later at my booth a woman came up to me, explaining her dire financial circumstances, and asked for my help in choosing what product of mine to buy. She couldn’t decide.

As I talked with her, I learned she was a medic in the military. She was retiring soon and wanted to open her own business.

I thought about how our troops are helping us and decided I wanted to help back. So I handed her a copy of my bestselling CD and DVD course, The Secret to Attracting Money.

Bestselling CD and DVD course

She refused it.

I explained that learning how to receive was an important part of growing.

She cried, still refusing the gift.

I kept talking and she finally accepted it.

But the experience made me wonder why it’s so hard for most of us to receive anything.

Then it was my turn.

Later the same day my friend, Lori Anderson, asked me what I would say if I were given a choice between two gifts.

Lori Anderson

I was curious but suddenly vulnerable and protective.

She said, “I know you’re interested in the art work we saw earlier, and I know you’re interested in the handmade drum we saw. Which would you accept as a gift?”

I crossed my arms. I stared at Lori. I felt my heart open but yet my mind wanted to shut it all down. I was being offered a gift. A big one. Both were expensive. Both were treasures to me.

Knowing I had to tell the truth to remain in integrity, I replied, “The drum.”

“That’s what I thought,” she said. “I’ll go buy it for you.”

I stood there in shock.  My body shook a little.

Can Beat This Gift

Why?

Years ago a coach would ask me and other clients, “How good can you stand it?”

He used the question as a way to probe our sense of deservingness. Most people self-sabotage when things get too good for their comfort zone.  They feel they don’t deserve the extra good coming their way.

I’ve seen this behavior repeatedly in people. There have been people I have personally helped (at no charge) who suddenly reach a point where an inner switch goes off and they stop accepting my counsel. It’s been sad to see, as most of them have great potential (which is why I was helping them), but when they hit their ceiling for deservingness, they pulled back.

My friend Gay Hendricks puts it this way:

“What is the ‘Upper Limit Problem’? The ‘ULP’ is the human tendency to put the brakes on our positive energy when we’ve exceeded our unconscious thermostat setting for how good we can feel, how successful we can be, and how much love we can feel. The essential move we all need to master is learning to handle more positive energy, success and love.”

ULP it is.

I saw it that very same day when a friend I was freely helping suddenly insulted me by email, as an unconscious way to get me to halt my giving.

I saw it earlier that day with the medic who initially refused my gift.

And I saw it rear up in myself later still that same day when I was offered a one thousand dollar drum as a gift.

Learning to receive may be as powerful as learning to give. It’s a way to stretch your capacity to love.

Here’s the punchline to round out this story:

Later that very same day (yes, the same day)  Mathew Dixon came up to me — not knowing any of the above — and told me of a drummer he met who was beaming with excitement because he had sold a special drum he made and he needed the money.

Of course, the drum he made was the one Lori bought and gifted to me.

Do you see the win-win-win?

The drummer made the sale, Lori got the joy of giving, and I received the beautiful drum.

And I absolutely love my drum.

Learn to give when you’re moved to do so — but also learn to receive when the moment comes.

How good can you stand it, anyway?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – If you’re ready to receive right now, go collect your free copy of my book, Attract Money Now. If you’re ready to give, tell somebody about it. 🙂

Heads Up: You can be one of the first to hear about my “Healing Music” CD by sending an email to [email protected]

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