BookonLife

Lifeanswersthateveryoneislookingfor Rev.2

Revision2:Dated6thSep2008

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Author: PrashantP.Shah(pshah.mumbai@gmail.com) Copyright: (C)2008PrashantP.Shah LegalNotice: Thisbookisunderpublicdomain. Thisbookmaybefreelyreproduced,distributed,transmitted, used,builtuponbyanyoneandeveryonewithoutpermissionforany purpose,commercialornoncommercial,andinanyway,including bymethodsthathavenotyetbeeninventedorconceived. Theauthorshastakencareinthepreparationofthisbook,but makenoexpressedorimpliedwarrantyofanykindandassumeno responsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Noliabilityisassumed forincidentalorconsequentialdamagesinconnectionwithor arisingoutoftheuseoftheinformationorprogramscontained herein. Contact: Website:http://thebookonlife.googlepages.com/ Email:pshah.mumbai@gmail.com

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PREFACE
Noneoftheknowledgeismine.WhatIhavelearntisfromothers.You willfindsuchsimilarideasinmanybooks.ButIwantedabookthatis precise,simpletounderstand,makessenseandisfreelyavailableto anyone.Astraighttothepointbook.Thisistheeffortofmanyyears, boiled,purifiedandrefinedtotheverybasicprinciples. Therearetoomanypeopletothankfor,fartoomanytoevenlistthem downinthisbook. ButIwouldliketothankthegreatestteacherofall:mymistakes. EverythingthatIhavelearntovertheyearswerefrommyownmistakes andfailures.

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Chapter1:INRODUCTION
Iwrotethisbooktobeaguidetoothersinthejourneyoflife. Itsjustaguidelinetobeunderstoodandfollowed.Somethingsmightnot makesenseimmediatelyortheinterpretationofthereadermightbe differentbutthebasicprinciplesremainthesamenomatterwhat. Isuggestreaderstofollowthisjourneyasmallpartatatime.WhatI amabouttopresenthereisextremelydifficultandcannotbedonewithin adayoramonthorayear.Itwilltakeyearsofeffortandsacrifice. Whatliesattheendofthisjourneywillbecomemoreclearasyou progressdownthispath. Ihopeyoumakegooduseofthisknowledgeanddistributeittoothersin need. Thisisgoingtobeajourneywithinyourself,soIwishgoodluckto thosewhowanttoknowthetruth.

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Chapter2:WORK
Workwithoutattachment.BhagavadGita Donotseekoraskforthefruitsofyoureffort. Workasititisyourdutytodoit. Askyourselfeveryday"IfIdidntgetpaidtodothis,willIstillbe doingthis?" Dowhatyoumust. Donotseekwhatyoucangetoutofit,ratherhowmuchcanyougive. Itisingivingthatonereceivespeace. Donottrytocontrol,ortowinortohorde. Doitbecauseyoureallyreallywanttodoit. Amanwhoseeksthefruitsofhiseffortisforevercaughtinthetrapof delusion,wantinganddesires. Amanshouldnotcarewhogetsthecreditsforit. Amanshouldnotcarewhatmoneyhewillgetforitinreturn. Amanshouldnotcarewhathegainsoutofit. Amanwhogivesuphisownpersonaldesiresandthinksaboutthegreater good,willalwaysenjoyhiswork. Amanmustworkforthebenefitofothersandthesociety.Hemustuse hisskillsforbettermentofthesocietyratherthantojustserve himself. Everyoneborninthisworld,havebeengivenaspecificpurpose.Itisa man'sdutytofindthatoutandcompleteitinthebestpossibleway.He hasalsobeengivenskillsthatwillassisthimthecompletionofhis duty.Bygettingcaughtinthetrapofdesiresheforgetshisreal duties. Itisfarbettertofailinyourownduty,thantodoothersduty.

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Chapter3:DESIRE
Desireistherootcauseofman'ssuffering.Buddha Whenadesirearises,amanbecomesattachedtoit. Ifhegetsit,hefeelshappy,thenhewantsmore.Ifhedoesnotgetit, hefeelssadandblamesothersforit. Itsaendlesscycle. Onceamanhasahighpayingjob,hewantsabiggerhouse,thenacar, thengoodclothes,thennewfurnituretomatchthestatusofhislife, thenmoremoneyisneeded,thenhewantstojoinclubhouses,thenhe wantsanotherhouse,thensomemoremoney,thenmore...theneverending cycle. Onceamangetstrappedinthecycleofdesiresandwantingthenisno peaceforhim.Helooseshissleepandpatience,runningafteronething oranotherallhislife. Amanwhoisfreeofallpersonaldesiresandwantsisahappyman.

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Chapter4:OTHERS
Amandoesnotwantanything. Theonlyreasonhewantssomethingisbecauseothersarehavingit. Heisalwaysengagedincomparisonwithothers. Ihavesomuchmoney,thatpersonhassomuchmore. Ilooklikethis,thatpersonisbetterlookingthanme. Ihavefewfriends,thatpersonissoluckysincehehasmore wealthyandinfluentialfriends. Ihaveasmallerhouses,thatpersonhasabiggerandabetter house. Ihavesuchclothes,thatpersonisbetterdressedthanme. Iamnoteducatedorintelligentlikeothers,thatpersonisbetter educatedandintelligentthanme. Myfatherispoor,thatperson'sfatherismorefamousandrich. Thatotherpersonissomuchsmarterthanme. Thatotherpersonissomuchbetterthanme. Thatotherpersonhassomanyfriends. ThatotherpersonhassomethingthatIdonthave...

Andsoonandonitgoesforever.Neversatisfiedwithwhathehas,aman seesothershavingmorethanhim,hewantsmoreandmore. Thishekeepsdoingeveryday.Intherealityhedoesnotwantabigger house,cars,etcbutsincesomeoneelsehasit,hetoowantstohaveit. Thisleadstogreed,jealousyandenvy. Althoughhesaysnicewordstoothers,butinhishearthedoesnotlike otherswhoarebetterthanhim. Heonlyfeelsbetterwhenheisatthetop.Nooneelseisabovehimin anyway.Assoonassomeonehas0.001%morethanhehashedoesnot likeit. Thisleadstocompetitionandaracetowin. Hewhoiscontentwithhimselfisatpeace.
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Chapter5:DARKJUNGLEOFLIFE
Lifeislikeadarkjungleandherearetheenemiesofamanthatheis goingtomeetinhisjourneywhichhemustconqueronhisown. Greed Anger Lust Egotism Falsehood Deception Lying Stealing Dishonesty Cheating Cruelty Killing Pride Arrogance Conceit Vanity Jealousy Envy Sloth Impatience Indecision Selfishness Revenge Hate Wrath Gluttony Idleness Attachment

Therearemore,itsnotpossibletolistallofthemhere,butIhave listedthemajorones,thefirstthreebeingthebiggestenemiesofall.

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 Whereevenoneoftheaboveenemyispresent,othersareboundtobe found.Thereareextremelydifficulttolocateandremovesincetheyare hiddenwithinthemanhimself.Theyareliketermitesthateatupaman frominside.Ittakesamanawayfromhistruedutiesandleadshimtoa falsematerialisticlifewhichalwaysendsupindisaster. Amindfilledwithsuchimpuritiesisalwaysagitated. Everymanmustcrossthisdarkjungleoflifeonhisown.Noonecanhelp himinthisprocess. Amanmusttakeathroughnoteofhimselfatendofeverymonthtosee whichoneoftheseenemiesisstillpresent. Belowisaroughdescriptionofeachoneofthemtoassisthiminthis process. Greed Greedistheselfishdesirefororpursuitofmoney,wealth,power, food,orotherpossessions,especiallywhenthisdeniesthesame goodstoothers. Anexcessivedesiretoacquireorpossessmorethanwhatoneneeds ordeserves,especiallywithrespecttomaterialwealth. Aselfishandexcessivedesireformoreofsomething(asmoney)than isneeded. Angerisanemotionalstatethatmayrangefromminorirritationto intenserage. Lustisanyintensedesireorcravingforgratificationand excitement. Intenseorunrestrainedsexualcraving. Tohaveanintenseorobsessivedesire,especiallyonethatis sexual. Thetendencytospeakorwriteofoneselfexcessivelyand boastfully. Aninflatedorexaggeratedsenseofone'sownimportance. Thepracticeofthought,speech,andconductexpressinghighself regardorselfexaltation,usuallywithoutskepticismorhumility. Thepracticeoftalkingaboutoneselftoomuch. Egotismisthemotivationtomaintainandenhancefavorableviewsof self.Egotismmeansplacingoneselfatthecenterofone'sworld withnodirectconcernforothers.

Anger Lust

Egotism

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 Falsehood Anuntruestatement;alie. Thepracticeoflying. Absenceoftruthoraccuracy. Deceptionistheactofconvincinganothertobelieveinformation thatisnottrue,ornotthewholetruthasincertaintypesof halftruths. Deceptioninvolvesconceptslikepropaganda,distractionand/or concealment. Trickingothersforownpersonalgain. Topresentfalseinformationwiththeintentionofdeceiving. Toconveyafalseimageorimpression.

Deception

Lying

StealingorTheft Theftistheillegaltakingofanotherperson'spropertywithout thatperson'sfreelygivenconsent. Lackofhonestyorintegrity. Astheactortoactwithouthonesty;alackofprobity,tocheat, lyingorbeingdeliberatelydeceptive;lackinginintegrity;tobe knavish,perfidious,corruptortreacherous;charlatanismor quackery. Todeceivebytrickery;swindle. Todeprivebytrickery;defraud. Tomislead;fool. Toactdishonestly;practicefraud. Toviolaterulesdeliberately. Cheatingisanactoflying,deception,fraud,trickery,imposture, orimposition.Cheatingcharacteristicallyisemployedtocreatean unfairadvantage,usuallyinone'sowninterest,andoftenatthe expenseofothers.Cheatingimpliesthebreakingofrules. Something,suchasacruelactorremark,thatcausespainor suffering. Crueltycanbedescribedasindifferencetosuffering,andeven positivepleasureininflictingit. Tokill,killingortohavekilledmeanstocausethedeathofa livingorganism.

Dishonesty

Cheating

Cruelty

Killing

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 Pride Prideisaloftyviewofone'sselforone'sown. Inordinateselfesteem. Delightorelationarisingfromsomeact,possession,or relationship. Anattitudeofsuperioritymanifestedinanoverbearingmannerorin presumptuousclaimsorassumptions. Excessivepride. Afavorableandespeciallyundulyhighopinionofone'sown abilitiesorworth. Anattitudeofsuperioritymanifestedinanoverbearingmannerorin presumptuousclaimsorassumptions. Excessivepride. Excessiveorinflatedprideinone'sappearanceoraccomplishments. Excessivebeliefinone'sownabilitiesorattractivenesstoothers. Seekingadmirationforoneslooksorachievements Jealousytypicallyreferstothethoughts,feelings,andbehaviors thatoccurwhenapersonbelievesavaluedrelationshipisbeing threatenedbyarival.Thisrivalmayormaynotknowthatheorshe isperceivedasathreat. Intolerantofrivalryorunfaithfulness. Disposedtosuspectrivalryorunfaithfulness. Hostiletowardarivaloronebelievedtoenjoyanadvantage. Afeelingofdiscontentandresentmentarousedbyandinconjunction withdesireforthepossessionsorqualitiesofanother. Painfulorresentfulawarenessofanadvantageenjoyedbyanother joinedwithadesiretopossessthesameadvantage. Envymaybedefinedasanemotionthat"occurswhenapersonlacks another'ssuperiorquality,achievement,orpossessionandeither desiresitorwishesthattheotherlackedit." Aversiontoworkorexertion;laziness;indolence. Disinclinationtoactionorlabor. Todepriveoneoflife.

Arrogance

Conceit

Arrogance

Vanity

Jealousy

Envy

Sloth

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 Impatience Restlessorshortoftemperespeciallyunderirritation,delay,or opposition. Eagerlydesirous. Concernedchieflyoronlywithoneself. Seekingorconcentratingonone'sownadvantage,pleasure,orwell beingwithoutregardforothers. Selfishnessdenotestheprecedencegiveninthoughtordeedtothe self,i.e.,selfinterestorselfconcern.Itistheactofplacing one'sownneedsordesiresabovetheneedsordesiresofothers. Arisingfromconcernwithone'sownwelfareoradvantagein disregardofothers. Theactoftakingvengeanceforinjuriesorwrongs;retaliation. Toinflictpunishmentinreturnforinjuryorinsult. Revenge(alsovengeance,retribution,orvendettaamongstothers) consistsprimarilyofretaliationagainstapersonorgroupin responsetoarealorperceivedwrongdoing. Hatredorhateisawordthatdescribesintensefeelingsofdislike. Itcanbeusedinawidevarietyofcontexts,fromhatredof inanimateobjectstohatredofotherpeople. Describedasinordinateanduncontrolledfeelingsofhatredand anger. Overindulgenceandoverconsumptionoffood,drink,orintoxicants tothepointofwaste. Excessineatingordrinking. Greedyorexcessiveindulgence. Idlenessmeanstheactofdoingnothingornowork. Apersonwhospendshisdaysdoingnothingofrelativeimportance. Exaggeratednotwantingtobeseparatedfromsomeoneorsomething. Attachmenttopeople,places,things,wealth,status,etc.

Selfishness

Revenge

Hate

Wrath

Gluttony

Idleness

Attachment

Onceyoustartdownthedarkpath,foreverwillitdominateyour destiny,consumeyouitwill..."Yoda(StarWars)

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Chapter6:SENSEORGANS
Thereare5senseorgans: Sight(eyes) Touch(skin) Hearing(ears) Taste(tongue) Smell(nose)

Amanmustlearntocontrolthesenseorgans.Hemustmakehimselfthe masterofhissensesandbeabletocontrolthematwill. Belowarefewexamplesthatshowhowaman'ssenseorgansgooutof control: Ifamanseesomethingpleasurable,thenadesiretoownitarises. Ifamansmellssomethingdelicious,hismouthstartswateringanda desiretoeatitarises. Ifamantasteadeliciousdish,hewantsmoreagainandagain. Ifamanhearsanicemelody,hefeelsbetterforsometime. Ifamancomesincontactwithapleasurableitem,hewantsmoreof it.

Senseorgansblindamantoreality.Amanbecomesaslavetohissenses. Sensesareverystrongandhardtocontrol.Theyarelikewildhorses runningafteronethingoranother. Amanmustbeabletowithdrawfromhissenseorganslikeatortoise withdrawsinhisshell. Hemustbeselfrestraininfood,speech,spending,sleepandallother formsofsenseenjoyments.Takingonlywhathemust,andgivingbackall hecan. Asteadandresolutedeterminationisrequired.

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Chapter7:REALNEEDSANDWANTS
Whatdoesamanneedforsurvivalinthisworld? Foodtoeat Placetolive Clothestowear Education Toolstodohisjob Butwhatdoesamanwant? Expensiveclothes Clubmemberships Ahugehouse Lotsofexpensivecars ExpensiveHolidays Ahighlysuccessfulbusiness Hugelandstoown Gardens,Farmhouses,etc AlmostEverything! Aman'swantshavegonewaybeyondhisrealneeds.Hisdailyexpenses keeprisingeveryday.Hekeepsbuyingthingsthathedoesn'tneed.He wantstoowneverythingandruleoverthisplanet. Thishasleadtofewpeoplewhohavealotmorethantheyneedandmany peoplenothavingeventhebasicnecessityoflife.Thishasleadof everyonegrabbingeverythingthattheycanlaytheirhandson.Amadrace toownandpossess.Amadraceforsuccess,power,fameandmaterial wealthwhichanywayamanisgoingtoleavebehindafterhisdeath. AmadracetoaccumulatethingsinhislifethatwhichhehasNOreal needof. Allhislifeisspentinearning,accumulating,spendingandconsumption. Houses,cars,electronicgizmo's,clothes,toys,etc.Inordertoget suchthingshehastolieandcheatwithothers. Amanwastefood,money,time,etc...justforhisownpleasureand enjoymentandturnhisheadsawayfromtheproblemsofothers.Livinga veryselfishandselfcenteredlife. Thereisenoughforeveryone,ifamanunderstandshisownrealneedsand

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 livesaccordingly.Onlytakingthatwhatheneedsandlettherestpass by. Ifamancontrolhisneedsandliveaccordingly,nothavingany extravaganceeveryonecanlivepeacefullyinthisworld. Hereareafewstepstofollow: Makenoteoftheexpensesyoumakeandremovetheonesthatarenot needed. Keepaexpensediary. Takeaccountofthingsinyourhouseandgiveawaywhatyoudontuse orhavenoneedforit. Makeyourlifesimple. Beforeyoubuyanything,makesurethatyoureallyneedit. Amanshouldnottrytobeatothersinthisgame,orcomparehisown wealthwithothers. Havingmorethanwhathereallyneeds,willleadhimtoalotofanguish, frustrationandproblemslatterinlife. Amanshouldlivealifeofcontentandhardwork. Firstoff,Imactuallyperfectlywelloff.Iliveinagoodsized house,withaniceyard,withdeeroccasionallyshowingupandeatingthe roses(mywifelikestherosesmore,Ilikethedeermore,sowedont reallymind).Ivegotthreekids,andIknowIcanpayfortheir education.WhatmoredoIneed?Thethingis,beingagoodprogrammer actuallypaysprettywell;beingacknowledgedasbeingworldclasspays evenbetter.Isimplydidntneedtostartacommercialcompany.Andits justabouttheleastinterestingthingIcanevenimagine.Iabsolutely hatepaperwork.IcouldnttakecareofemployeesifItried.Acompany thatIstartedwouldneverhavesucceededitssimplynotwhatIm interestedin!Soinstead,Ihaveaverygoodlife,doingsomethingthat Ithinkisreallyinteresting,andsomethingthatIthinkactually mattersforpeople,notjustme.Andthatmakesmefeelgood.Linus Torvalds,creatorandchiefarchitectoftheLinuxkernel.

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Chapter8:BRAINISJUSTATOOL
Brainofmanisjustatoolthatisprovidedforsurvivalandcreation. Butamanuseshisbrainto: Makingplanstofulfillhisselfishdesires Findloopholesinthesystemforhisownexploitationandgains Planninganddoingallthewrongacts Makingplansofharmingothers Makingplansofdestruction Amanmustunderstandthatthebrainisjustapartofbody.Itisthe controlcenterofallbodilyfunctionsandthought.Itisnotmeantfor makingplansforexploitationofothers,neitherforselfenjoymentnor foronesselfservingpurposes. "Aknifecanbeusedbyarobbertokillapersonandthesameknifecan beusedbyadoctortosaveaperson'slife." Thisisthesamethingthatappliesforaman'sbrain.Eitheramancan useittodowrong,orrightwithit. Doingtherightthingwithitistherightandproperuseofit. Alwaysaskthesequestions: "WhetherwhatIamabouttodoisgoingtohelpothers?" "WhetherwhatIamabouttodoistherightthingtodo?" Doingtherightthingswillbringamanpeaceandhappinessanddoing wrongwillagitatehimandothers.Thiswillleadtoallsortofdiseases andproblemslaterinhislife.Amanmustbeverycarefulofwhathe thinks,says,hears,seesanddoes.Everythingwillleaveaimpressionon him. Whatwehavedoneforourselvesalonedieswithus;whatwehavedone forothersandtheworldremainsandisimmortal.AlbertPike

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Chapter9:CONSCIENCE
Amanmustalwaysfollowhisownconscience,hisinnervoice. Wheneveramanisgoingtowardswrong,hisconsciencewillalwaysstop him.Butamanrefusestolistentoit,thinkingthatheismoresmarter. Aman'sconscienceisneverwrong.Italwaysshowstherightpath.Aman mustalwaysdowhateveragreeswithhisownconscience,judgmentand commonsense. Blindlyfollowingotherswillleadamanintoawrongpath. Amanmustlearntobepatientandtrusthisconscience. Amanmustmakehisconsciencehismoralcompasstonavigatehimthrough life. Amancanescapehispunishmentfromthecourtsoflawusinghismoney andpower,buthisconscienceneverforgivesawrongdeeddone.Hisown innervoicewillkeephurtinghimforallthewrongthathehasdone. TheonlytyrantIacceptinthisworldisthe'stillsmallvoice' withinMahatmaGandhi ThereisnopillowsosoftasaclearconscienceFrenchproverb

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Chapter10:MATERIALWEALTH
Accumulationofmoneydoesnogood. Neitherdoessuccessorwinninghasanyrealmeaning. Donotlookatthepossessionofothers. Amanwhoworksforthebettermentofsociety,ratherthanhisown successisfarsuperiorandintelligent. Gettinggoodgradesincollegeandusingtheknowledgeforonesown desireandachievementsisdisaster. Knowledgewhichdoesnorbringpeaceandhappinesstoselfandothersis notworthkeeping. Strivenottobeamanofsuccess,ratherstrivetobeamanofvalue. AlbertEinstein Knowingthatsuccessandfailureisjustastateofmind,oneshould alwayskeephismindsteadyfastinboth.Neithergettinghappywhen successful,norbecomingsadinfailureamanmustnotconcernhimself withsuchdelusionsofnature. Attachmenttoworldlyobjects(houses,cars,phones,clothes,looks, fame,fortune,money,prestige,society,etc)willleadtosuffering. Amanshouldforgettheveryconceptofpossessionandownership. Amancannotownanythinginthisworldforever.Whenhedieshehasto leaveeverythingbehind.Soheshouldnotspendhislifeintheuseless pursuitofacquiringthingsthathedoesnotneedbutrathershould thinkofwhatservicecanherenderforhumanitythatwillserve everyone.

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Chapter11:LEARNING
Onlyalearnedmanisabletohelpthesocietyinabetterway. Amanmustdevotesometimeeverydaytolearning. Anywasteoftimeisveryharmful. Amanshouldnotbetotallydependentonotherstoteachhimsomething. Hemusttakeapersonalresponsibilitytowardslearning. Themoreamanknows,thebetterwayhewillbeabletoservethe society. Donotlearnjusttoearnmoney,ortogainsuccessandfame.Such selfishlearningisofnouse. Anyonewhostoplearningisold,whetherattwentyorateightyHenry Ford

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Chapter12:FINALTHOUGHTS
Amanshouldbeunmovedincriticismorpraise Neithershouldhebeconcernwithvictory,norwithdefeat Neitherhatenorloveswayshismind Neitherdoeshegetsdictatedbyemotions Neitherdoesheseekpleasure,noravoidsdiscomforts Neitherdoeshegetangry,norfeelssad Neithergreedofmoneynorpowercanchangehisway Neitherdoeshebecomeaslave,nordoesheenslaveanyone Looksatapieceofgoldandarockwithanequaleye Nevermakesenemyofhisfellowbeings,normakesfunofothers Correctshisownmistakesfirst,ratherthanlookingatthemistakesof others Treatsotherswithcourtesyandrespect,richorpoor Doeswhatisright Livesforbettermentofsocietyandothers Freeofallattachmentsanddesire ...isahappyman

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Chapter14:THEEND
Thisisaveryshortandpreciseguide.Ihavetriedtokeepitassimple aspossiblesothatanyonecanunderstandit.

Donotbelieveinwhatotherssayordo,orwhatiswrittenin books.Alwaysuseyourowncommonsenseaboveeverythingelse.Know thistobethegreatestwisdomofall.

Thisbookisnotyetfinished...morerefinementisneededwhichIhopeto doitincomingyears.

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