A Template for Happy and Free (non-attached) Life
(PDF Download: HappFreeTemplate )
Considering life as a system (of body, mind and intellect) and its inner workings, following template (made of Skillfulness, Music and Literature) can be used to live happily and freely. The template is divided into three sections. First section, primarily involving body, is to build foundation on which happiness can be retained and freedom (non-attachment) can be exerted; second section, primarily involving mind, is to create happiness and third section, involving intellect, is to establish freedom (non-attachment).
How to Build Foundation:
A) Perform basic-actions with awareness:
1) Breathing: Breath deep; when taking breath in expand lungs downward and breath out
completely.*
2) Listening: Listen patiently and entirely.
3) Speaking: Speak complete sentences with a low volume and gentle speed.
4) Thinking: Think objectively. **
5) Walking: Walk with straight pasture (as if a string is attached to chest and pulling up
and forward); every step lift feet and put it down firmly.
6) Sitting: Sit with a straight spine.
7) Handling objects: Handle objects with appropriate firmness.
8) Drinking: Drink slowly with a small deep breath between sips.
9) Eating: Chew each byte till no solid parts felt in the mouth; and take small deep breath
between two bytes.
10 Excreting: Breath normally and relax when urinating. Take deep breaths (expanding
lungs downward into stomach) when going to toilet.
B) Perform activities skillfully:
An activity is a set of basic-actions performed in certain sequence at a certain pace. Perform (if
needed, learn to perform) each activity skillfully (aka the best way).
(Examples of activity: Cutting vegetables, folding cloths, hammering nail, driving, running)
needed, learn to perform) each activity skillfully (aka the best way).
(Examples of activity: Cutting vegetables, folding cloths, hammering nail, driving, running)
C) Plan all tasks:
Task is a set of activities performed in certain sequence at a certain pace.Perform tasks
as scheduled; and schedule all tasks. (Examples of task: Making lunch, doing laundry, set of
work activities, meetings)
as scheduled; and schedule all tasks. (Examples of task: Making lunch, doing laundry, set of
work activities, meetings)
[Note: Fill up void time with walking, reading or learning and practicing to perform activities skillfully.]
D) Exercise or play sport (every day): up to the point of sweating and raised
heartbeat: to excrete accumulated toxins from the body._____________________________________________________________________________
*To train for deep breathing, do 5-6-7 breathing [breath-in for 5 seconds (expanding lungs downward and then expanding chest), hold for 6 seconds and slowly breath-out for 7 seconds] five times. Perform the routine once in morning, once in afternoon and once in evening.
**To train for objective thinking, do the following once a day: Pick a small object (i.e. a fruit, pen, a tool etc.). Look at the object closely and entirely; write down all attributes (you can think) of the object such as shape, color, brightness. Feel the object entirely with both hands; write down attributes such as softness, smoothness, dryness. Smell the object; write down attributes such as intensity, absence or presence of smell. If the object is edible, taste the object; write down attributes such as type of taste and intensity. Now, put the object aside and slowly read everything you have written. Erase (or scratch) what you have written, and discard the paper.
_____________________________________________________________________________How to Create Happiness:
typical continuous mental activities. Singing also enhances mind’s pattern recognition and
comprehension capabilities; affecting positively in building the foundation to retain happiness.
F) In the evening play a musical instrument for few minutes: Playing a musical instrument, in
rhythm, causes mind to initiate and engage in cyclical and relaxing mental activity. Playing a
musical instrument also enhances mind’s capabilities to focus and to remain cognizant of time;
affecting positively in building the foundation to retain happiness.
G) In the evening spend some time for hobby (i.e. drawing, writing, painting, puzzle, house
project etc.): Hobby causes satisfaction and increases curiosity. Hobby also enhances mind’s
capability to attend details, as well as enhances mind-body coordination which in turn affects
positively in strengthening the foundation.
How to Establish Freedom (non-attachment):
H) Before going to bed, or in bed, read for 20-30 minutes:
Freedom (non-attachment) is made of principles and protocols; and can only be established
and sustained within the intellect. So, the degree and sustainability of freedom is directly
proportional to purity of the intellect. Reading books on religion, philosophy and science
and sustained within the intellect. So, the degree and sustainability of freedom is directly
proportional to purity of the intellect. Reading books on religion, philosophy and science
purifies the intellect. Also, the reading increases mind’s ability to discriminate and navigate
efficiently through abstract systems.
Society 2) Mercantile & Political economy 3) Law & Government, and 4) Politics
& Religion. To exert, freely (non-attached), membership in the systems one needs to have
one’s own set of principles and protocols. Exerting membership in the systems, without set of
principles and protocols, would require one to invent and/or develop new method for almost
every interaction with the systems; causing one to remain attached by means of being occupied
in doing pretty much the same things in different forms.
Following list of books can be used as guide to derive principles and protocols.
[Recommended Reading Method: Read following books two times. First reading might instigate emotions and/or add new perspectives to understanding; highlight those passages. Second time read highlighted passages.]
1) “What then must we do” (by Leo Tolstoy): In this book Tolstoy shows behavior and mindset
of three types of people, i) village farm workers, ii) people who migrate to city (and working
class of the city) and iii) wealthy people. These three groups, roughly, can also be identified
as i) those who primarily use their body (secondarily use mind and intellect) to secure food
and shelter, ii) those who primarily use their mind and intellect(secondarily use their body)
to secure food and shelter, and iii) those who do not use body, mind or intellect to secure
food and shelter. The book also includes Tolstoy’s introspective thoughts as well as thoughts
on family and virtues. [This book can be a guide to develop one’s own protocol for the
system of Family & Society]
2) “Bhagvad Gita Chapter-14 (Slokas: 5-13, 17)”: This chapter contains definitions of mind’s
three basic moods (‘Saatvik’, ‘Rajsik’ and ‘Tamsik’); and description of behavioral outcomes
when one mood becomes dominant over the other two. [This chapter can be a guide to derive
one’s own principles for the system of Family & Society]
3) “Unto this last” (by John Ruskin): In this set of four essays Ruskin shows how the political
economy negatively affects society; because of political economy’s complete disregard for
human affection. He has also clarified on virtues of five noble professions. [This book can
be a guide to develop one’s own protocol for the system of Mercantile & Political Economy]
4) “Bhagvad Gita chapter-16(Slokas: 1-3, 4, 7, 8, 10-15, 17)” can be used as guide to derive
principles for exerting membership in the systems of Mercantile & Political Economy.
5) “Civil Disobedience” (by Henry David Thoreau): Thoreau explains what government is,
and what kind of government should be; also, provides guidance for a citizen’s role and
participation in elected government. [This book can be a guide to develop one’s own
protocol for the system of Law & Government]
6) “Satyagraha in South Africa” (by Gandhi): Gandhi shows how to exert membership in
politics without deviating from one’s own principles for the system of Law &Government.
7) “Experiments of truth” (by Gandhi): In this autobiography Gandhi shows how to exert
truth in life.
8) “Bhagvad Gita chapter-17(Slokas: 3, 4, 8-22)” can be used as guideline to derive
principles and rules of engagement to serve Family & Society.
9) “Walden” (by Henry David Thoreau): This is a guide for ‘how to live a free, virtuous
and happy life with little to no participation in the four abstract systems; as well as provides
an overview of the four systems.
10) “Bhagvad Gita chapter-13(Slokas: 2, 3, 6-12, 21, 22, 30-32, 35)” provides architectural
and functional view of the system of body-mind-intellect and the existence at large.
Assessing exertion, happiness and freedom (non-attachment): Bhagvad Gita chapter-18
(Slokas: 2,4,5,7-9,11,14,16,18,20-28,30-35,37-39,47,48) can be used to measure progress in
terms of (three types – Saatvik, Rajsik, Tamasik- of) Renunciation, Knowledge, Performer,
Action, Determination, Intellect and Happiness.
_______________________________________________________(Slokas: 2,4,5,7-9,11,14,16,18,20-28,30-35,37-39,47,48) can be used to measure progress in
terms of (three types – Saatvik, Rajsik, Tamasik- of) Renunciation, Knowledge, Performer,
Action, Determination, Intellect and Happiness.
