More than fifty years ago, pioneer researcher Abraham Maslow recognized the importance of ‘studying’ the healthy people, those who were self realized.

Are you fascinated with mental pathology, serial killers, gossip, roadside accidents—name your grisly scene? It’s clear that most in our culture are swept away to support such aspects of social behavior.

If you want to excel above the mundane, to evolve beyond social conditioning, choose your model carefully and with restraint.

Here’s another favorite Zen tale that you will find in my book, An Artist Empowered.

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

To welcome his guest and set the stage, Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!”

“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

MORE...

You may have heard about blog author tours, where writers are interviewed on other blogs.

I’m being hosted on these two:

by Janet Riehl on her blog: www.riehlife.com—in three parts: 4/8-4/10/08

And tomorrow by Clif Johnston on his blog: zenjunk.tumblr.com: 4/10/08

Visit their blogs where you will discover much enlightened information.

Eden

Here’s a challenge from An Artist Empowered:

You must make it through an entire day, while conversing with others, without using these three common tick words: just, hope, and wish, or uttering a single cliche. I call them tick words because they are merely marking time, nothing more. If you’re unaware of abusing cliches, then your are (let’s use an apt one here) adding insult to injury.

The point of this exercise is this: prove the insidious power of social conditioning to yourself; from this insight, original work can begin.

Leave a comment, and let me know how you made out.

In response to the many questions I’ve received about my publishing experience with Lulu.com, please read The Zen of POD publishing—link in the Inside Preview sidebar section.

With the power to do it yourself as an ‘Indie’ publisher comes great responsibility; it can be done by any self-inspired individual.

One of the essential characteristics of a creator is self-reliance, which is also the mother of invention.