THE DIAMOND CUTTER, PART 1

Did you see The Secret? Did you find it deep?
I have found a teaching for wealth + health that goes way deeper.

AN ENLIGHTENED GIFT...
Two years ago, I was recommended a very special book. It was recommended
to me by a rare being, an enlightened Tibetan Monk who was visiting the US when
I was there. He was just a young guy, 31 I think. But he had awesome presence.
Even better perhaps, was the gifts and recommendations he gave.

One of them was a book called, "The Diamond Cutter".

The Diamond Cutter, I feel, is a profound teaching that for me is taking the Secret and the
mind to a whole other level. It has illuminated for me how mind and karma
works to create the experiences of our lives.

IT'S OLD...

The Diamond Cutter, writes the author, is the oldest dated book in the world that was
printed, rather than being written out by hand. One museum holds a copy that is dated
A.D. 868, or about 600 years before the Gutenberg Bible was produced. It is a record of
a teaching given by the Buddha... originally inscribed onto palm leaves.

The name of the book, in the ancient language of India, is:

"Arya Vajra Chedaka Prajnya Paramita Mahayana Sutra"...
...which the author says contains profound wisdom itself. It could be translated
as "High Diamond Cutter Wisdom Perfection Greater Compassion Way Book".


IT BEGINS WITH IMPRINTS

It says that whenever we do anything, our mind forms imprints, like a
picture. And it does so at a rate of 65 a second. It takes these imprints
especially, of the good and bad we do to others throughout the day.

Imprints in our own mind.

So these imprints, like seeds, go into our subconscious mind, and there
they begin to gain power. Eventually, they manifest as an experience, similar
in content to the one that created it, but of much greater magnitude - and
back at us. Negative imprints create a negative experience.
Positive imprints create a positive experience.

Our thoughts and actions are the cause, the result is our experience.

And the Diamond Cutter points out both Causes and Results together.
Which brings us to the Correlations.

Here's how it looks:
It describes 46 problems along with their causes, the imprints that create them.
These are called "The Correlations", and once you see them, you can stop
doing them, of course. Problem and cause dropped together.

The Diamond Cutter teaches that *everything* is the result of imprints,
health, wealth, everything.

And it seems that its the small things we do, the things we do every day, that create
the most trouble for us. Small imprints that reap a bigger result later...

So we can create positive imprints, for example when we speak truthfully,
or share what we can. Or we can create negative imprints, like when we
help ourselves to what's not ours or speak harshly, or un-mindfully.

And each kind of imprint wil in time make us see ourselves undergo an
experience of similar quality to the original imprint. Negative imprints lead
to (bigger) negative experiences for us. Positive imprints lead to (bigger)
positive experiences for us.

And imprints vary in strength. They vary according to:
1. Intention - (of our action, ex: did you mean well? or unwell?)
2. Emotion (ex: an action done from strong anger is a stronger imprint)
3. Style (ex: if you know its wrong, and you do it blatantly ...its a stronger imprint)
4. How you feel after, and whether you own it

Then: Every imprint leads to an experience.

So now you know another Secret. The Secret of Imprints.

And...according to The Diamond Cutter, Imprints do EVERYTHING:
Our finances, or lack thereof...our health, or lack thereof...the stability
of our business, or lack thereof...to the point where we can even choose
what Results we want, and trace them back to its Causes (as Imprints).
So you can pretty much design the kind of future you want, and then create
the imprints for it. Brilliant? I think so...

...and hence we get what's called,

"THE CORRELATIONS"

And The Diamond Cutter explains 46 of them.
46 Results along with the Imprints (the Actions) that create them.

Here's some examples from the book... they are written for
a business, but a person really is a business if you think about
it...we all have cash flow for example:

1. Company finances are unstable.
- Be more willing to share your profits with those who helped you produce them,
and be strict about *never* making a single penny through any improper action.
Notice that, when cash flow becomes less, we usually respond by cutting back giving.
And that just leads to less money coming in. It becomes a downward spiral.
Instead, keep sharing what you can - it doesn't have to be a lot. If you have a little, share
a little. At best, "be strict about sharing *all* your resources with those
who helped you produce them."

2. You fall out with business partners again and again.
This is caused by the kind that has as its intent the splitting up of
other people. Watch for that kind of talk: that leaves two people farther apart
than before you started talking. And, even more, go out of your way to bring
people together: regular fence-mending to transform this imprint.

3. You find yourself second guessing your decisions.
This comes from two things: Failing to care for your employees, and,
representing yourself as something you are not at all. The solution is to
represent yourself exactly as you are, maintain a high degree of integrity - then your own mind and
decisions will be crisp, decisive and effective. Be a straight-shooter and your decisions are made fast
and clear and money comes easily.

4. You find yourself unable to control your temper, you get angry at anyone and anything.
This kind of anger is a *result* of wishing harm on others. So if you get angry, be especially watchful for
any thoughts of ill-will towards others. Our usual tendency is to do the precise thing that
*continues* the problem...don't. End it.

5. You notice small health problems cropping up, and becoming worse.
The solution here is to be more caring for others' health, all through the day, doing
what you can. Like all imprints, for this to affect *your* health, it has to reach a point
where it's a natural part of your life. (The analogy in the book is 'like playing piano where
you hands move naturally across the keys')

6. You've been having little bouts of depression or self-doubt.
This comes from encouraging others to have less than total integrity on your behalf,
from encouraging others to be less than completely honest on your behalf.
Instead, study and walk the path of total integrity. A kind of confidence and joy comes
when you support integrity from top to bottom.

7. You're often exposed to an unpleasant environment, filthy, dirty or polluted...
This can be a hard one to accept. The book says that the cause of this one is some
kind of lewdness or sexual harrassment in the way you talk or think. The solution
is to clean it out. A dirty mind leads to living or working in dirty environments.
Personally, I believe it. It makes sense.

8. You find yourself afflicted recently by a lack of confidence.
The solution is to avoid all useless talk, especially the kind when you make plans
and pronouncements that you don't follow through on. Do what you say you will,
or don't talk about it. Avoid all kinds of useless talk - speak only with a sense of purpose.


So there's 8! And there are 38 others in the Diamond Cutter.

I felt this was so good...that I had to share it....Plus...I'm aware that...according to the
Diamond Cutter, sharing wealth ensures my own future wealth...as Imprints are
formed, gain strength...and then manifest in my experience.

So there you have it. Deep wisdom from the Buddha.

The Diamond Cutter is about knowing that whatever we
give today, we will get back - in an even bigger way.

Its about being mindful, today, so that I plant only good seeds in my
mind for the future. Being mindful of my thoughts, words
and actions. And the author recommends choosing your top 3
to work with to begin...and it gives a simple tracking system to do that.

Brilliant. More to come.

With respect to the author, Geshe Michael Roach...who spent 22 YEARS (!) in a monastery earning
his Master of Buddhism degree...then helped build a $500 million dollar business, using the principles
of The Diamond Cutter, of course.
______________


A few great quotes from the book (I paraphrase):

"...by far the most powerful imprints are created by attitudes alone." (like in prayer or well-wishing)

"You'll notice that the usual reaction to a problem just perpetuates the problem... The tibetans call that 'Korwa' - or, a 'self-perpetuating circle of trouble'. " [the book points out 48 of those circles.]

"...and this is the most important point in the book: Any actions taken with the consciousness of how imprints makes you see the world as they do...will have TREMENDOUS results."
The big point of the book - is that by being conscious of the process in our mind-stream, we can actually plant the imprints for the things we want to see happen - and our Conscious awareness of the process will make it MUCH more powerful. This is the explanation for how a poor person can rise out of poverty: by sharing whatever small amount they can now, they plant seeds to receive more in the future...and then they can share even more..and receive EVEN more...of course, this is how a person
can fall from wealth as well...we can ride a spiral either way.