One of the many blessings that comes with having your own blog is that you get to talk to anyone that you want. Sometimes, the people you want to talk to, don’t want to talk to you. However, I have been very fortunate and most of my requests for interviews have been granted.
The great thing about interviews is that you get a sense of the person behind the story and sometimes subjects of interviews become friends. Jaimal Yogis, the author of Saltwater Buddha, whom I interviewed in the summer, fits that category.
He truly is someone that I like and even more importantly, respect. The dude is real in every sense of the word and when you ask him a question, he really takes his time to answer it and he is open with his journey. Plus, Jaimal is the only person I know besides myself who almost became a monastic.
Back in July, when I first interviewed Jaimal, I wrote down notes as we talked. After that interview, I realized that I needed to record my interviews. I noticed that by focusing on making sure that I was writing down everything someone is telling me, it prevented me from really being engaged in the conversation.
Whenever I talk to someone, whether it is for an interview or otherwise, I really like to be fully present. I realized that I needed to buy a little gadget that lets me record conversations. So when I did, I asked Jaimal if it would be okay to do another interview about being spiritual in a material world. He graciously agreed.
Here is how our conversation went:
Because of the journey that I have had, sometimes when I go out in the world, it can be tough because everything seems to be so materially driven. As you know, I have been in situations where I had everything I wanted and was miserable. Then I have been in situations where I had nothing and life never looked more beautiful. Do you ever struggle with that too?
Jaimal: Yes, I do. I really had an interesting experience while in Bali which epitomized to me how I want to go about finding spiritual contentment in a material world. Even if you choose to live in a monastery or up in a cave, you have to meet some amount of responsibility.
I was thinking about it while in Bali, I was there for six weeks, and I usually stay in a palapa which is very simple and by the beach. You have a bucket shower and the bare essentials. I love it there. I love the feeling of having a view and stark simplicity.
The simplicity also helps to connect with other people. There are a few other rooms and everyone is very humble. The cost is $2.50 a night. I was there for a while.
Then I was at a writing conference in Ubud and since I was part of the conference, they put me in a place that cost $350 a night. The room was a huge suite with your own pool and a four course meal. It was really neat and beautiful. I appreciated it so much but after a few nights, I wanted to go back to my palapa.
All the material things were perfect in the expensive hotel but when anything discordant happened on the inside, it made my life feel emptier. Everything was perfect around me yet I felt some discontent based on the issue of the day. I was dealing with some complications with the relationship I was in and it painted a metaphor for me.
Some people get into the situation of having the nice car, the house and the perfect job and they start feeling that their lives are empty. And I think that is because since they are not any unhappier than someone living a simple life but all the things you are supposed to have are there and they are still dealing with some kind of discontent which is normal. Life has its challenges.
When I got back to my palapa, I felt so full of spirit and realized that this how I want my life to be. I want to have a roof over my head and food to eat. But I don’t need the lavishness and the fancy car. I can get by with simple things and actually want only the simple things. When you have been blessed to see both sides like we have, it gives perspective and not everyone has that opportunity.
I am just having faith and if I stay true to myself, the basic necessities will be there. Actually, they have always been there and I always have tried to follow my heart.
How would you define faith?
Jaimal: I don’t define faith as a blind belief in anything that you cannot see. Faith for me comes out of an experience of going deep inside yourself and deep into silence. And feeling that there is a web of compassion in our world and in our universe that is holding things together and that you are held by.
It does not always feel that way when you lose touch with that clarity in meditation and in other joyful quiet times of life. But I think experiencing that and the fullness of that creates a kind of lifeline.
So that when life gets really out of whack and it doesn’t seem to be any compassion in the universe, your recollection of that experience of compassion is the lifeline that helps you. It is a recollection of beauty, God….for me it is a recollection of full compassion that exists in the Universe. It can be hard to talk about it with people who are not spiritually inclined, but I think it’s primarily a problem of how it’s described. I think most people use faith of some sort in their daily lives.
I also think based on how you answered the other question, you have an awareness that things work out in some shape and form. If you follow your heart, as you said that you do, do you think that makes it easier to see that clarity compared to someone who follows their mind?
Jaimal: I do think so. People who live at the heart level are basically not living to conform to what other people think they should do. They are trying to live based on how they really feel. I think there are many amazing examples of people who are doing what they love and it looks like things magically click together for them.
It has been like that for me at times but then I go off track, and run into challenges when that happens. It is a blessing when you fall off the wagon and it teaches you to come back to yourself and live according to your heart. Things do click more and when they don’t click, there is a lesson to be learned there and you cannot see why it is happening but in retrospective, it will all come together.
How do you deal with the moments of worry? Do you have that faith immediately or I guess it depends on the situation?
Jaimal: It does. Some moments of worry pass very quickly. You see that it is an unnecessary worry and let it go. Others are much more profound. I think when it is something that is very difficult such as a romantic issue with someone that you love or something with your career…sometimes it can take a lot longer.
For me, when there is a worry of the heart, one of the techniques that I find really helpful is that I kind of recollect that I have experienced this before and that it will pass. I recall that it is impermanent and it will change.
I think the most potent force in the universe is compassion and it can also be really helpful to reflect that you are not the only one in this boat. Thinking about the problems that other people are dealing with and realizing that there are other situations in the world that are as bad or even worse. It is amazing how finding compassion for other people gives you a completely new perspective on what you are dealing with in your own life.
I know from your book and the last article you did for Shambhala Sun, you mention your parent’s divorce and how it affected your romantic relationships. Do you worry what happened to your parents will happen to yourself?
Jaimal: Yes, it has a big effect. I really buried the pain of the divorce when I was young. I kind of played it off as being happy about it because my parents did not have a happy marriage. But there was a moment in the divorce which was the clincher of pain when my dad said he was leaving.
It set up a huge fear of abandonment and there are moments when that fear gets triggered. It happened and it will always be a part of me and understanding to have compassion for myself has been essential.
Because of being afraid of being abandoned, I have ended up abandoning people that I love and regretted that. I’ve also over-reacted or become needy when I fear being abandoned. It works in all kinds of tricky ways. My first horrible break-up that I had, I realized that I was grieving my parents divorce. Patience and compassion come into play again. You have to have patience with yourself when you realize that you are not 100% free of it just because you realize that is what is going on.
Years ago, at a conference, someone asked the Dalai Lama about how to deal with self-hatred. He did not understand the question so they brought in translators in the hopes that they could present the question in a manner that was easier to understand. The Dalai Lama still did not understand how someone could hate themselves since they have the Buddha nature inside of them. Based on all your travels, do you think self-hatred is more common in the West than in the East?
Jaimal: In my opinion, the differences between Eastern and Western psychology have been overplayed a bit. I think we are all dealing with the same issues but they manifest in different ways. We communicate differently but we all desire happiness.
How would you define happiness?
Jaimal: My definition of happiness is constantly being connected to that ocean of compassion and at the same time, acknowledging the waves on the surface and those waves represent the emotions. They are just the surface and are just the 1% of the whole picture.
Jaimal Yogis is currently working on his second book and will be the subject of a documentary which will be available in 2010. If you have not read his book, Saltwater Buddha, please do so. It is a delight to read. For more information about Jaimal, you can check out his site: www.jaimalyogis.com .
With palms together, I would like to give a special thanks to Jaimal for taking the time to talk to me and for being so open. You truly are one of the nicest people I have ever met.
{ 44 comments }
This was really interesting, Nadia! I think this is my favorite interview you have done. I like the fact that you have a recorder now, because I could really feel you being more present in the interview.
And Jaimal seems like someone I would really like to know. Thoughtful, considerate, and just a really nice guy. Thanks for doing another interview with him!
.-= Jay Schryer´s last blog ..Thou Shalt Not Sell Out =-.
Hi Jay,
Thank you for the kind words, Jay. I think probably another reason why this interview is different is because Jaimal is a friend and as I stated in the piece, I truly respect the guy. Not many people are so open and so willing to share. I admire that trait and plus, the spiritual path…especially the almost monastic path is something not many people do. So it always nice to talk to someone who has gone through that experience.
I enjoyed this, Nadia, and your pleasure in doing interviews really shines through as well as the thought you put into asking great questions. Jaimal has a great fresh air spirit and I always enjoy what he has to say about the importance of compassion.
I know interviews work at different levels, but I feel they work best when both participants actively enjoy the connection and dialogue as well as the process of editing and filtering the results to create a great experience for the reader. That pleasure really showed up here; recording has lots of advantages, too.
That line stood out for me as a parent. My “worry of the heart” intensified when I had kids. Although I believe with all my heart that everything works out as it’s meant to, there’s a heightened awareness of the passage of time and the importance of staying healthy and being fully present that I didn’t have when it was just my husband and me.
Our children are only on loan to us and my family life has become my living meditation and my greatest source of learning and evolution. Like many parents, I try to convert my concerns about my children’s safety into doing all I can to keep them safe and prepare them for life’s uncertainties, then I try to let go and trust, even though, spiritually, that’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I think it’s good for them to learn to love themselves and to trust the universe. Some day, they’ll have their own “worries of the heart” and I hope I’ll have given them some skills to help them embrace and learn from the challenges in their lives.
Thanks to both of you for the post – I love reading pieces in the morning that get me thinking!
.-= janice´s last blog ..Does anxiety make you over-explain? =-.
Hi Janice,
Thank you so much for all the kinds words. As I said to Jay, it is different when you interview a friend and someone you respect. Plus, one of the great things about Jaimal is that the fact that he is so open with his journey. Not many people are so transparent and it is a joy to talk to someone who is real and human about his life. So what really made this interview is Jaimal and not me.
As for “worries of the heart”, I hear you. Funny enough, I was thinking about something today and I remembered that line from the interview too. Nothing in life lasts forever and therein lies the beauty and peace of life. Things are always fluid.
I would think being a parent is a great test in learning to let go and trust your children. I know you have written about this before and it is interesting to see how parenting has had such an effect on you. Not many parents, that I know, every openly discuss that struggle so I am grateful that you did.
I’m going to have to agree with Jay on this… something about this interview felt more alive, like I was a fly on the wall during your conversation, instead of hearing the information second-hand… paraphrased. I love it! Keep these coming.
Jaimal sounds awesome, and like he’s on a great path in life. I love his definition of happiness, and hope he is able to find it in his romantic life (sounds like that may be one area that is still “in progress” for him).
.-= Lisis´s last blog ..15 Brilliant Thoughts About Unschooling (and my own) =-.
Hi Lisis,
Thank you for the positive feedback. As I have stated in previous replies, I think the difference with this piece is not in so much the recording (although that is a factor) but rather that Jaimal is so open and willing to share his journey. Plus, he is a friend and it is always easier to talk to a friend who has been on a similar journey. So really the praise needs to go to him and not me. As I said, the dude is real and he is one of the nicest people I have ever met.
Hey, Nadia, since I have not been reading your blog as long as some of the others, this is your first interview I’ve read. And was wonderful!
I loved how Jaimal spoke of the “people who live at the heart level,” and how things magically click for them. I think we all can live such lives, it all ties in with being happy with what we have. All we need the Earth and our hearts provide. And the sea, of course!
I do wish I could get my husband to downsize in life and be happier, so I gently try to persuade him life can be simpler and happier. Not sure if he’s listening.
but I’m trying to open his eyes to the gift of “less stuff means more joy.”
(I love my little digital recorder too, I use it mostly for song ideas. )
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..One Blogging Buddy Down, 758 To Go =-.
Hi Jannie,
Thank you so much for the positive feedback.
I am with you on the fact that we all can be “people who live at the heart level”. I used to not always be aware of that perspective but that is the good thing about living…we can change.
As for living simply, I truly think everyone reaches that realization eventually. I mean…there does come a time when people do see that the stuff is just stuff that ties you down. Then again, I have always been the kind of person who did not need much so maybe it is easier for me to say that. However, I do know that less stuff does mean more joy because you are not tied down to it. So often material stuff starts to take hold of us more so than us taking hold of it.
And I know what you mean about the little digital recorder. I love it so much. I have been recording all kinds of things. As you can see, some adults just never grow up!
Hi Nadia and Happylotus readers,
Thanks so much for the very kind feedback. What an honor to be here at all. Nadia’s such a sweetheart, it makes it easy to feel open and comfortable in an interview. The openness comes through in her writing too, which is why I’m so excited she’s writing a book!
Thanks again for asking such great questions Nadia. The cool thing about being interviewed by a person with a lot of depth and experience is you find little insights that are difficult to come by without a steady and reflective person to bounce ideas off. This was a real learning experience for me. Hope to do more.
.-= Jaimal Yogis´s last blog ..Swell of the Season Hits Padang =-.
Hi Jaimal,
A very wise person once told me that people are mirrors for one another. So what we see in another is a reflection of what we see in ourselves. So all the wonderful things you said about me is truly a reflection of you.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do another interview and for being so open. Our talk brought so many things to mind for me which I will have to share with you sometime soon. So this was a learning experience for me too! Actually, I am still contemplating a few things as a result of our chat.
And as I told you before, you are always welcome to share your work on here because so many people are struggling to find their way and it is thanks to books like yours which show people that they are not alone in how they feel.
Nadia,
Thank you for this interview. Jaimal’s book has been on my “to buy” list and now it’s a definite. There were so many points he touched on that I needed to hear in this stage of my journey. The first is on a personal level– I had a terrifying Coast Guard rescue on a charter boat named Palapa–I almost died and the whole thing was senseless because I have my own boat but went on another “bigger, better” boat so my friends would have a more lavish experience, and then we almost died becasue the boat was ill equipped for the weather conditions. Huge lessons, and life changing. I always wondered what Palapa meant. Jaimal’s example hit home on many levels–I don’t need lavish and fancy, I thrive on simple and comfortable and when I compromise that there are lessons to be learned!
As far as following your heart–I’ve been so conflicted about that lately. It’s reassuring to find people who live so openly in love and faith and enjoy life so fully.
There was lots of wisdom in this interview–thank you for sharing, and I’m excited to read the book!
Hi Joy,
You are most welcome. Actually, when I was writing preparing this post, you came to my mind because I know of how you are trying to live your truth. So I am so happy that this post really resonated with you. With that in mind, you will love his book. Please let me know what you think after you read it because it is always nice to see other points of view.
I also loved how you wrote that when you compromise on who you truly are it creates a situation where there are lessons to be learned. I have noticed the same thing too. Anytime I go against my gut, I end up in far more of a mess than if I had followed my heart. That is why it is so important to follow that inner voice. The problem is that the ego can be louder than that inner voice but therein lies the opportunity for mastery.
I love reading this blog! This interview is such a great discussion about how to be in this world and be aware of the role of compassion.
.-= lena´s last blog ..Using "The Peaceful Scene" =-.
Hi Lena,
Compassion is the way to go, isn’t it? I often think society places so much focus on doing what is right for the individual, we kind of forget about the importance of being compassionate to those who are around us. Hope all is awesome.
Nadia:
Thank you for this awesome interview! First off, congrats on getting a recorder so that you can share your interviews with us. I have a lot of interview ideas, myself, and know I need to get busy in this area. This interview really hit home with me…I could really identify with Jaimal. I mean really identify. My parents got divorced when I was young and what he said about breakups and fear of abandonment was very enlightening. I think my parents’ divorce has really shaped the relationships in my life (I’m still single at 40).
It was also nice to read about Jamail’s connection with the ocean. I think all of us need that part of our lives where we can have a strong connection with something that gives us energy. Thank you, as always for your book recommendation (once again!) and for the opportunity for some spur of the moment therapy. Your post today was a lightening-bolt moment of “a-ha” for me.
Hi Tim,
You are most welcome. I am so happy that this post gave you a lightening bolt moment. I love moments like that.
Kind of amazing how childhood events haunt us is so many obvious and not so obvious ways. Funny enough, the other night, I was thinking about the issue of abandonment, I realized that I have been struggling with that fear ever since I was a kid. For some reason I always thought it came later in life but then it hit me, that I was faced with it sooner. So goes to show you….the seeds sometimes are planted far sooner than we think.
You also made a create point about having something which gives us energy. Nature always seems to do that as does music…for some reason.
Have a beautiful Friday!
Hi Nadia,
I enjoyed the interview with wise and compaasionate Jaimal, also adding another book to my list. I agree witht his definiton of faith, the connection within where there is all knowing, where Spirit graces us and we become one with truth.
Interesting how it did not matter what language the Dali Lama heard the concept self hatred in; the concept was so foreign he could not grasp it. Beautiful example of total faith, absolute knowing.
And we do all have faith, when we buy our food from a store, when we put gas in our cars, we believe that we are receiving what we think we are… thanks.
.-= Suzen´s last blog ..A Spiritual Perspective on Alice in Wonderland =-.
Hi Suzen,
Amen to what you said about faith! Faith surrounds us everyday but we do not see it as such. I always think people expect faith to come with the ceiling parting and God himself coming down and telling you what you need to know. The funny thing is that the answers that we seek are shown to us, we just need to pay attention. Our backs are always protected.
Hope all is well and apologies again for not seeing that you were the author to that great post on what we can learn from the story of “Alice in Wonderland”. Have a beautiful day!
Hi Nadia,
I loved this interview for many reasons. I think the first concept that really hit me stems from having lived in surfer communities in souther Cali for over a decade now (although, I’m ‘stranded’ in SF temporarily…lol). There’s a certain connection that comes with spending a lot of time in the salty blue that really connects everyone to each other – a certain vibe, and that really came through in your interview. Shaka that.
Second, I enjoyed Jaimal’s take on life and interpretations of the questions you presented to him. I extremely enjoyed and related to how he used so many ocean references to describe his thoughts. Again, shaka that!
Great article, Nadia, and great interview.
~xo
.-= Lori´s last blog ..Jane Makes Me Feel Warm and Loving =-.
Hi Lori,
The ocean rocks, doesn’t it? I don’t know if you read the first interview I did with Jaimal but I mentioned about how the ocean always brings a sense of peace to me. Actually, sitting on the beach is my perfect idea of going to church or a temple. Everything in life seems so small in comparison to the massiveness of the ocean. So I totally understand what you mean about the vibe. That is one of the many reasons why my husband and I so much want to live in Hawaii. There is something sacred about being rooted in nature and the sea.
And I love your phrase “shaka that”! I have been meaning to tell you that for some time and now I remembered.
I have a preference to write rather than record too. However, most certainly, I can see that there are obvious advantages to recording a one-to-one interview. Just one month ago, I got myself a recording device that fit snugly into my ipod.
The topic that you have chosen is indeed interesting. I find it challenging sometimes to relate to the material world when I operate from my spiritual self and at others, difficult to relate to spirituality when I operate from my material self. I guess the idea is to build congruency and an alignment.
The sentence that really stood out for me from your interview with Jaimal was “So that when life gets really out of whack and it doesn’t seem to be any compassion in the universe, your recollection of that experience of compassion is the lifeline that helps you. ” How true in my experience. Thanks for a great follow-up to the first post that you had on Jaimal!
.-= Evelyn Lim´s last blog ..Abundance Tapestry is Live =-.
Hi Evelyn,
I did not know you get a recording device for your iPod. Thank you for the information. How cool.
One of the reasons why I wanted this interview to be focused on being spiritual in a material world is because I often struggle with that subject too. Personally, I would love to be just be constantly surrounded in spiritual things and people. Sometimes it is very hard to go out into the world relate to those who are rooted in the material.
Where we live, not many people that I know are rooted in spirituality and so it makes it even harder. Thankfully I am married to someone who shares my love for spirit and that makes a huge difference. So you are not alone in having to build some type of congruency and alignment.
As for compassion, the Dalai Lama says that it is his religion and that to me just sounds absolutely wonderful. So may we all cultivate and spread more compassion not only for ourselves but for the rest of the world too.
Reading that interview was like meditating for ten minutes. I felt peaceful, content and filled with love. He gives me hope, through his serene view on life, that all of this that we see – this illusion that we’ve all read about – is not only pervasive amongst our fellow humans, but surmountable. We all suffer, as Buddha said, and we all want our suffering to end.
I especially appreciated reading about his take on living in the palapa versus the hotel stay he had, as well as how his parents’ divorce affected him.
Thank you, Nadia, for being so cognizant of what we (your readers) needed to see right now. It’s been a banner week in the this blogging community we’re part of, and this article is at the forefront.
.-= Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s last blog ..Love Leaves Again =-.
Hi Megan,
Thank you so much for all the kind things you wrote. I am so touched.
I am also so happy that you enjoyed the interview. Talking with Jaimal is so much fun and I am so happy that it felt like a meditation for you. Please know that the illusions and suffering are surmountable….it is just a matter of how you look at things.
As is shown in the interview, whether it is dealing with a palapa or a lavish hotel room or fears of abandonment, we all have to realize that we need to be more compassionate in how we view ourselves and life. The Universe is a compassionate being. It always has our back, we just do not think it does because things operate according to its timetable as opposed to ours. Life is full of love…we just need to be reminded of that and I think Jaimal really did an awesome job in helping us see that.
Hi Nadia. I am always heartened listening to folks like Jaimal who add more to the world than they take. I wish I’d continued growing Human at his age….instead of running after big money and red cars for decades before resuming real growth. Anyhow, I’m motivated by Jaimal’s account of “beach living vs the 5 star hotel” to comment on “materialism”. As we speak, there are legions of people seeking Secrets of “attracting an abundance” into their lives. Translation….bucks, boats, cars and mink coats. You might even call this frantic desire to manifest money “Spiritual Materialism”. The mother of all oxymorons? Yes and no. You can’t HAVE life without material stuff. Our bodies are material stuff for instance, and make nice houses for our Spirits. But what about an “abundance” of material things? Do we need cars and planes and million dollar watches? Not exactly. We need a “real abundance” of material things. To see where I’m coming from….imagine we all come here as “seeds”. Just like daisy seeds or acorns or whatever. And what are these seeds supposed to do? Grow. Each of us is supposed to grow human in a unique way….until we blossom into a fully mature human being. O.K., so to see what I mean by a “real abundance of material things” let’s look first at an oak tree seed. Plant an acorn and come back fifty years later. What do you see? An abundance of things necessary to the life of that tree. Branches and leaves and birds nests and tree houses perhaps. That’s a real abundance of material things. Everything necessary to the growth of some unique life. But now imagine the acorn you planted didn’t grow. You can still make an abundance of material things appear. Just pile a bunch of cash, houses, and expensive things in a circle around the oak’s grave. There you go. You have an “dumb abundance” of material things. Now to you and I. If we learn how to grow ourselves the Way we’re supposed to grow……guess what? We will be surrounded by an real abundance of material things needed to grow our lives. Carpenters will have hammers and fences and houses and so on. Captains of industry will have big money and bigger houses. And the moral of the story? Any abundance of material things is absolutely alright if it comes from growing yourself YOUR way. But the same abundance is just plain sad if you’ve simply surrounded yourself with it……living a lie all the way…..because you don’t know who you really are. Here’s how to tell if the abundance you’ve got is O.K.. Ask yourself this. Do I get up every day absolutely driven to fulfill some Mission? If so, you’re growing the way you’re meant to grow…..and that material stuff around you is wonderful. If not….you’ll regret that abundance at the end of it all. Thanks for the guest interview Nadia. John Duffield
.-= John Duffield´s last blog ..Yes There is Real Magic =-.
Hi John,
I am happy that you enjoyed the interview and thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I totally got what you are saying about the distinction between dumb abundance and smart abundance. I do know of people who are rich but their motivation throughout their entire career was never money. One person specifically that I know, even turned down a gig for a salary of a million dollars a year because it was not in line with his passion. As a result, he ended up going after what he loved which did not pay that much but he is not hurting in any way.
You are right that our intention for why we do what we do is very important. When something is done with love, it carries a far different energy than if something is done out of obligation or pressure. I think the key is to be tuned in to who we truly are and be true to that inner voice. That said, there are many people who truly do love simple living and that is a choice that they make. It is admirable, in my mind, to consciously choose simple as opposed to being forced to be simple. Maybe I am prejudiced on this because I have a simple life.
To be candid, simplicity is truly an art form. Anything that looks simple usually requires a lot of work. In the words of Ernest Hemingway: “do not confuse motion for action”.
Thank you again for a thought-provoking comment. Hope all is awesome!
Hi Nadia!
Fantastic interview – aren’t those recorders perfect for really, really BEING there during an interview?!
I love how he said falling off the wagon is a blessing because it brings us back – so true! I need to be reminded of that so it was a blessing to me that he said what he did. I believe it, but needed to hear that again! I can see just from this interview how you would say he was one of the nicest people you’ve ever met! His book will be in my hands in a matter of postal days – thank you so much for this!
I see there is another Suzen – uh oh – I saw her comment and got all confused because I knew I hadn’t responded to this yet. Doesn’t take much to confuse me! haha!
.-= suzen´s last blog ..Reclaiming Great Relationships! =-.
Hi SuZen,
Thank you so much for always bringing a smile and a laugh with your comments.
Those little digital recorders totally rock. I wish I had bought one sooner but oh well….better late than never, right?
No worries about needing to be reminded….we all do at one point or another. It is part of being human. And please let me know what you think of the book after your read it. It would be cool to know your thoughts because I like to hear other points of view.
Have a beautiful Friday!
What a great interview. Jaimal seems like a very loving person. I liked how he talked about emotions only being 1% of the picture. I think of emotions as a huge part of my day, but underneath it all there is that foundation that keeps me grounded. I can connect to this source anytime I feel overwhelmed. I feel emotions are a big part because they are what I can see, but in reality it’s this weight that I put on them.
When we don’t let our emotions dictate our happiness that’s when we truly can be happy in any moment.
.-= Karl Staib – Work Happy Now´s last blog ..The Hard, The Fun, and The Beautiful – Puffy Smile Edition =-.
Hi Karl,
Great point about emotions. You are so right. Often we let our emotions dictate how we feel which in turn dictates how we view our day. Jaimal’s imagery was perfect because it shows that the emotions are just the surface while the core is truly just compassion. The key is to be connected to that compassion the majority of the time. Awareness is an important step. So yay for being aware.
Thank you for this fine interview. I enjoyed getting to know more about Jaimal and couldn’t help but be inspired by his way of life and his beautiful smile.
Loved this quote: “I think the most potent force in the universe is compassion.”
Namaste’
.-= Shann´s last blog ..How To Be Rich and Happy – A Review =-.
Hi Shann,
You are most welcome and thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Compassion truly does rule the Universe.
With palms together, namaste to you too!
Hi Nadia
Thank you for bringing yet another enlightening and inspiring individual to my attention – to all of our attentions.
I just love stories like Jaimal’s as they show me more and more how many magnificent people are in this world. Jaimal says it so well “to be connected to that ocean of compassion” – how true!
And amazing experiences he has had over the years – it definitely inspires me to seriously consider a trip like that to Bali or even like you took Nadia in your past to step into a different world – a much simpler one.
.-= Evita´s last blog ..Choice Point 2012 – Boston 2009 Conference – Gregg Braden =-.
Hi Evita,
You are most welcome and thank you for all that you wrote.
There are truly a lot of beautiful souls out there in the world. We just do not hear about them since the majority of the media attention is on the negative.
As for traveling, if you have a chance to go to the East, please do. It is such a beautiful part of the world. From sights to food to people….it is all beautiful. Makes you realize how in the West we take so much for granted and that life is truly meant to be simple.
Hey Nadia, I just discovered your blog today and all I have to say is WOW! Very good stuff you have going on here. Secondly, I loved this post! I’ve actually come across Jaimal’s book before but have never read it. Now I must! I loved this interview and thank you for sharing!
Cheers to you,
Dayne
.-= Dayne | TheHappySelf.com´s last blog ..Clean Your Desk, Clear Your Life =-.
Hi Dayne,
Thank you so much for finding your way here. It is always great to have new readers. I also greatly appreciate all that you said about my blog. I am touched.
As for Jaimal’s book, it is a great read. I laughed and cried while reading it. You will enjoy it or at least, I think you will. Let me know your thoughts once you do read the book. It is always great to get different points of view. I always learning something which I love.
Dearest Nadia,
Thank you so much for introducing us (me in particular!) to Jaimal. I loved the interview and for a split second felt as if you were talking to my dearly departed friend, Brad.
I’m adding this to my quote journal: “It is a blessing when you fall off the wagon and it teaches you to come back to yourself and live according to your heart.”
Blessing to you and Jaimal!
Peggy
.-= Peggy´s last blog ..Autum’s Last Hoorah =-.
Hi Peggy,
I remember how in one of your previous posts you wrote about your friend Brad. How cool is it that Jaimal reminded you of him. That is interesting.
And I am happy that you have a new quote for your journal. Yay!
Blessings to you too!
Hi Nadia
What struck me most is the sense of inner and outer alignment. When in luxury and the inner doesn’t feel luxureous, all the outer is not worth much, they both need to grow together.
I never wanted to live in a big house, I never felt worthy I suppose. Thanks to a joke from the universe, I now live in a big house to make me realize that I am worthy and I do not even care anymore if it is big or not. I do care that I love where I live and I am pleased that I got the joke!
Oh, I love where you and Jaimal are going with this, it is exciting and it so strengthens my heart.
Love to you both, Wilma
.-= Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Ann-Marie on saying NO to requests. =-.
Hi Wilma,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I liked what you wrote about inner and outer alignment. That is important and so often people compartmentalize life so much that we forget that all aspects are meant to be merged into one. Meaning we should carry ourselves the same regardless of where we might go in the course of a day.
Good for you for discovering that you were good enough to have what you have. What a blessing!
Love to you too!
Hi Nadia,
I read Jamail’s book based on your first interview with him. I loved it, as you know! Thank you for revisiting your interview with him. I love the subjects you addressed!
.-= Jodi at Joy Discovered´s last blog ..A Gardening Tale =-.
Hi Jodi,
You are welcome and thank you so much for the positive feedback. I just had to feature him again because he is so fun to talk to and has great insights. So it was a pleasure.
Jaimal said – ‘I recall that it is impermanent and it will change.’ How true. I recently had a reminder of the fleeting nature of life when a starling got caught in my woodburner after I lit the fire. It was horrible to watch a bird that was so full of life and desire to live one moment, turn into nothing but grey ash the next.
Hi Moon over Martinborough,
Wow…what an experience. I am sure that must have been hard to watch. I know it would have been very hard for me since I am such an animal lover. However, as you so stated, this experience is a great reminder that nothing lasts forever.
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