Napkin Notes On the Art of Living Responsibly

By Dr. G. Michael Durst

"Napkin Notes on the Art of Living Responsibly" is about YOU! Its purpose is to assist you with your relationships, your family, your job and your life. Although countless “self-help” books have been published, none of them provides such a concise, easy-to-read guide for living and transformation as this one.

The focus--that we are 100% responsible for our lives--provides not only increased knowledge, but also the impetus to greater awareness, satisfaction, love and fulfillment. What more could a book offer?

“If you are ever stranded on a desert island and only allowed one book, this should be it.

“This is the best gift you can give to yourself and others. It’s entertaining, enlightening and uplifting.”

“A classic, must read. Easily absorbed, with clever drawings to make the points. An awakening!

“As this book points out, if your life isn’t working, only you can fix it. We can drop the ‘victim’ mentality whenever assume our 100% our responsibility.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 30, 2009
• ISBN: 9781445762241

Book preview

TheArtofLivingResponsiblyMeans:

BeingConscious……………………………………………………p.19

BeingWhere YouAre ByChoice……………………..p.24

Living Life NOW…………….…………………….…………….p.31

ExperiencingYourAliveness…p.38

.

ConfrontingYourself……………….……………………....p.55

Life Flowing, Expanding Your Beliefs, And the Truth…………………………………………………….……….…...…p.73

Giving Up the Drama and the Bad Feelings………………………………………………..…………….…p.101

.

Satisfaction-Getting A Little.………………….....….p.138

MakingandKeepingAgreements……………...….…p.157

Getting What You Want and Wanting What You Get……………………………………………………..……………..…..……p.174

MakingYourRelationshipsWork………….....………p.192

SEARCHINGFORTHETRUTH

OnceaTruth-Seekerbecamefrustrated.Itseemedthat no matter what

discipline he studied, course he took, religionhefollowed,or book he read,

hejust couldn’tfind THETRUTH.

Sohedecidedtotakeatrip

toa placewhere lotsofpeople

arereportedtoknowtheTruth:India.

Whenhearrived,theSeekerlookedforaGuru. (Guru’sarepeoplewho knowwhattheTruthis.)

HeaskedeveryonethenameofIndia’sPrimoGuru.

Afterweeksofsearching,theseekercameuponanAshram. (An Ashram is where Gurus hang out.)

Thelargesigninfrontsaid:

TheGuru is in,please take anumber.

TheTruth-Seekerwasledtoaroomwherehewaitedand waited… and waited.

Finally,theGuruappeared.

He was a little guy with a big smile on his face.(YoualwayssmilewhenyouknowwhattheTruthis)

HowcanIserveyou?askedtheGuru.

Master, I have traveled a great distance. I’ve tried so manywaystofindtheTruth.DoyouknowwhattheTruthis?

"Ofcourse,IknowwhattheTruthis.

HowcouldIbeaGuruifIdidn’tknowtheTruth?"

Sorry,saidtheSeeker,abitembarrassed. Would you share the Truth with me?

TheGurulookedattheSeekerintently. "It’sjustnotthateasy.LivingisanArt.

To know the Truth, you’llhavetopaytheprice."

TheSeekergulped.Ofcoursethere wouldbe aprice.

Youdon’t’getsomethingfornothing!AGuruwouldhaveto be out of his mind to give the Truth away for free.

TheSeeker,gatheringcourage,asked:Howmuchmoney will it take?

TheGurulaughed.TheTruthdoesn’tcostmoney.Theprice is that you’ll have to perform a service for ten years. The task you are to perform is obvious.

TheSeeker,whohadbeenadiscipleandafollowerbefore, knew the story. I’ll do whatever is necessary, Master.

Good,saidtheGuruashepointed.Doyouseethose barns down there?

Indeed,theSeekercouldnotonlyseethebarns, He couldsmellthe barns.

"ThosebarnsarethedwellingplaceoftheSacredCows. In order for you to know the Truth, You’ll have to keep those barns spotless for ten years,

Whenyouhaveperformedthetask,comebackandI’ll share the Truth with you."

TheSeekerthoughtaboutwhattheGuruhadsaid, "Ten years……Ten years! ! !"

Therewasnowayhewantedtoshovelcowdungforten years, sacred or not!

Noway!

Butashepondered,itbecameobviousbythewaytheGuru smiled that the Guru knew something that he didn’t know.

IfhecouldjustfigureoutTHETRUTHhislifewouldwork.

LiketheGuru.hecouldhavethatsameSatisfactionand Inner Peace,

Andthatwouldbeworthanyprice.

O.K.,I’lldoit!TheSeekershoutedtriumphantly.

Hebeganhistask.Daysbecameweeks,weeksbecame months, months became years.

TheSeekerattimesseemedlikearobot.

Heevenforgotforlongperiodswhyhewasshoveling.He seemed to be doing it just to be doing it.

Finally,thelastdaycame.

Atsunset,heranuptothehilltotheAshramwherehehad stood ten years earlier.

The Guru looked as though he had been expecting him. Outofbreathandstumbling,theTruth-Seekershouted, "Master, I’ve done it. I’ve done it.

I’vecleanedthedwellingplaceoftheSacredCowsfortenyears.

Now, will you tell me theTruth?"

TheGurusmiled."Yes,myson.You’veworkedsohardand you’ve kept your word. Now you can know THE TRUTH:

TheTruthisYOUARE."

TheSeekersaid,      Yes, go on. I’mready.

TheGurulookedattheSeekerandsimplystated:

"That’sit.That’stheonlyTruththereis. The Truth is YOU