“Journey of Life Contest”

1. December 13th, 2008 at 1:29 pm Saroj Mishra Says:

   Hello Sir,

   I watched your video “The Journey” and its a great inspirational video. This video gives a message that our life is a journey which God has given to us. Its a long journey and beautiful too. It is very adventurous and full of knowledge. In this journey, we will get many negative things and people who will try to mislead us, but we have to avoid these all. We have to be very much dedicated to our goal to avoid all these negative things.

   The journey is too long that we can visit many places and we can enjoy more summer mornings. Whenever we will reach at different places and stop there, we will purchase some goods related to God. We will visit the places to learn from the intellectuals.

   Our ultimate goal is to reach to God. We will not be hurry in our journey. The journey should last many years, whether we will be older by reaching our destination. We will reach there with all the experiences that we gained in the journey. We should not expect anything from God. We should be thankful to God that he provided a beautiful voyage to us which took us safely in the journey.

   I got many valuable messages from the video which I have implemented in my life, like I don’t let any negative things or sin enter inside me. Even if I am surrounded by many negative peoples, I am very much dedicated to my goal that nobody can misdirect me from achieving my goal.

   Thank You

   
   
2. December 13th, 2008 at 1:30 pm Kathleen Brewington Says:

   Hi Shafin,

   The video and poem contained within are about how one views and perceives he/she’s journey through life, we can embrace all the gifts the universe has placed at our feet in each moment, see, touch, feel the beauty within and all around us and each moment of our journey contains its own gift, blessings and life lessons, if we look upon the world as a student, we may see and know knowledge and wisdom, if we look upon all life with eyes of love we can then embrace the beauty that is there, if we listen to our hearts we can find compassion, love, forgiveness, and light in all. This journey we are all on is to expand our conscientious of all there is and to appreciate and enjoy all creation with gratitude.

   Kathleen Brewington

   
   
3. December 13th, 2008 at 1:30 pm Heather McCaw Says:

   My understanding of The Journey of Life video is about reaching enlightenment and living life to the fullest, hoping that life will be long. It also has the message to savor life’s journey while living your life without having expectations of becoming rich while on the road to Ithica, meaning “heaven”. ”It has the message that once you reach this stage, “Ithica may have nothing to offer you”, which I understand to hold any ideas, just trust in the flow. It also contains the message to “watch your thoughts” as your thoughts contribute to your reality. The message of “not fearing danger as these will not be on your path” if you keep your thoughts “lofty” meaning noble, rising to great heights. Basically if you don’t hold negative thoughts in your soul, you can’t be affected negatively, is the way I understand this message. Every time you visit a place, to treat it as if experiencing it for the first time. This will make life be more wondrous as if every day was the first day of life. The voyage itself is beautiful, and that “rich” is gaining the knowledge and the wisdom of experience, this is what is considered rich.

   Heather McCaw

   
   
4. December 13th, 2008 at 1:31 pm Gayl Liebman Says:

   For me the message in The Journey is simple, yet profound. Our focus
   determines our reality and therefore we alone create the lives we live by
   choosing how we wish to experience this lifetime. If we focus on fear,
   lack, hatred, this is what we will attract into our lives. Conversely, when
   we focus on love, abundance, love, they will appear in our lives. Life is a
   journey not a destination and its measure is determined by the choices we
   make throughout that journey.

   We are also free to change our minds, if we determine the choices we have
   made no longer serve our purpose. So what we see upon reaching Ithaca
   depends on our perception. If we approach Ithaca with open hearts, rather
   than just our eyes, it will appear, lush, radiant, full of abundance and our
   experience there will be magnificent. However, we choose to see only its
   poverty, lack, filth our experience will be very disappointing.

   The sole/soul purpose of life is to make a difference. Whether the
   difference we make is positive or negative depends on how we choose to
   experience life.

   
   
5. December 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pm James J Sheehan Says:

   This for me is a fantastic poem written by Constantine P. Cavafy in 1911. I think that most of the poets and all sort of scholars at that time had a far better understanding of how we should lead our lives in order to get the most fulfillment out of it. Fulfillment is not to be confused with our quick fix type pleasure that we try get from life today. A lot of the poems and sayings from that era are as relevant to our lives today as they were a hundred years ago.

   For me the road to Ithaca is our journey through life, so we should not get to Ithaca till we are old. Like most things in life it is the journey that is important not the destination. We are wisely advised here not to carry negative thinking about the bad things in life with us, because if you think negatively all the monsters will be chasing and tormenting us. Once your thoughts are lofty and your emotions are fine and positive none of the monsters in life will attack you.

   Basically here we are being told to savor every minute of our journey through life and if we are disappointed when we get to the end it is of our own making.

   James J Sheehan

   
   
6. December 13th, 2008 at 1:33 pm Santo Fadjaray Says:

   Hi Shafin,

   These are what I think the messages that video contains:

   Life is not a race. life is a journey.
   It’s not how fast we reach the end that matters, but it’s
   how much we’ve learnt and grown through out the journey that matters.

   Life is not a race, life is a journey.
   The reward is not found at the end, instead the reward
   is found through out the journey itself.
   Thus, choose a path that is long and fulfilling, a path that is enriching and full of adventure,
   a path that allows us to eventually “remember we truly are”.

   Do not fear the sufferings, for they are not real.
   They are the projections of our erratic thoughts, they only live in our mind.
   Keep a strong and peaceful mind, maintain a positive emotion, get the right attitudes,
   and these sufferings will not arise.

   The journey of life will be long and winding. We will face many obstacles and challenges along the way.

   Rest if we must, but never ever give up. Always keep sight at the final goal, and stay on track.

   Need not rush. Enjoy the journey with all the beauty that we find along the way.

   And lastly, follow you heart, pursue your dreams.

   
   
7. December 13th, 2008 at 1:34 pm Doreen Genoski Says:

   Hi Shafin,

   I look at this poem Ithaca by Constantine P. Cavafy and what it seems to say to me is that Ithaca seems to symbolize the Earth. And the Earth has so much beauty, so much to give to share. And if we humbly stand upon It’s ground and know in the deepest part of who we are that It is who birthed us and gave so willingly of Itself by giving us It’s beauty to experience this Life in the highest way possible. It gave us the most precious and greatest gift of all, to be able to experience life in a different way. Learn the lessons that are brought to you. Learn them well. They will never be repeated.

   The ability to express Itself through us. And us through It.

   By resonating with the beauty of what Earth is, we create more beauty. And naturally, our world is created, recreated over and over again.

   And our ultimate goal is to reach the place where learning is no more. For It has given all It could, the place to experience all that you truly are.

   With much Love and Peace,

   Doreen

   
   
8. December 13th, 2008 at 1:34 pm Adesh Goyal Says:

   Hi Shafin,

   The video is really nice. Thanks a lot. I think the message contained in the video is when you set out a journey of life, always ask it to be full of adventures, learning and competitions because then only your journey would be worthwhile. I read somewhere, “The ship is always safe at the shore, but that is not what it is built for”. I loved this quote. A ship is made for adventures, to face the sea storms. Similarly, we human beings are made to take actions rather than just sitting and wait things to happen. We might face difficulties, but then what we learn from those difficulties and what we get later on would be much precious than what we get without any difficulty. A hard earned $100 is always more precious than easily found $1million.

   Also we should not be scared of making mistakes. Mistakes always teach us lessons. I remember one incidence. My girlfriend made a mistake in her pre-final examination for Post-Graduation and she was quite upset. However I told her not to worry instead be happy as now she would not make the same mistake in the finals that would matter the more. Had she not made the mistake there, there was scope of making that mistake in the final and that would have hurt her even more. She felt very relaxed after that and did a great job in the finals. The essence is that always try to learn something from your mistakes. I can recall one more incidence, somebody asked Thomas Edison after he invented the bulb, that your first 100 attempts were unsuccessful. Thomas said that they were not unsuccessful, it is just that making bulb is 101 steps process. It just shows his attitude towards the life and this never say die attitude makes a big difference in life and you will always cherish that journey towards your successful life.

   One more thing that is important in the journey is that always ready to face the problems. Because if you don’t face a problem, that is the biggest problem, “The problem of no problem”. When you haven’t face any problem or competitions, you tend to be too careless. And when it comes infront, you are too egoist to consider it a problem or a competition. I think that is what has made the downfall of some of the big companies and persons. So always be ready to face the problems and competitions. Nothing is too small to rise and nothing is too big to fall.

   With the help of this video and its wonderful poem, I could recall all these things. It surely helps to change our attitude towards the life and we should always be ready to face new challenges, adventures, problems and competitions in life in a positive mannger.

   Thanks Shafin,

   Adesh Goyal

   
   
9. December 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pm Laurianne Anctil Says:

   ALPHA AND OMEGA

   Ithaca is the alpha and omega of existence.
   It is Life that births me into this world,
   And it is Life to which I return,
   Do not be deceived, or limited
   By worldly appearances,
   See into the Heart of all creation,
   That which is Eternal,
   Is that which you are,
   Hear the Truth of being,
   See Truth in your living.
   Wisdom is born of experience,
   Life is to be lived, and enjoyed,
   To be lived at its highest vibration,
   We bring heaven to earth,
   And earth to heaven,
   I choose and create my reality,
   What I find in the end of my journey,
   Is what I have chosen, and created,
   No more, no less, so choose wisely.

   Laurianne Anctil

   
   
10. December 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pm Janice Scarinci Ph.D. Says:

    The Journey of Life video contains many sacred messages that relate to the journey of our life. My perspective of this video is that it is a story about GOD (Ithaca) and that we are on a journey back to god but the journey along the way is "heaven on earth" if we create that with our thoughts and emotions. We are co-creators with GOD for we are made in his likeness and our soul knows this, our goal in life is to remember who we are and to be ONE with GOD. To follow are the specific messages that I found that you can immediately implement in your own journey.

    1. Life is a journey of adventure & knowledge: Be a lifelong learner. The application of information is knowledge. So experience and apply what you have learned in your life.

    2. Do not fear: Fear is False, Evidence, Appearing, Real… You are creating fear with your thoughts. Fear is a self inflicted suffering. You are loved and you have nothing to fear but fear itself. Cleanse your mind of thoughts of fear.

    3. If your thoughts are lofty: Keep your thoughts of love. Thoughts create things, keep your thoughts pure and joyful. You are in control of your thoughts and whatever you think about you bring about.

    4. Emotions touches spirit and body: Emotions are telling you what you are thinking. If you are feeling good you are having thoughts of LOVE. Keep your emotions full of love and joy and you will create "heaven on earth".

    5. Do not carry the Cyclops in your soul: Think of only what you want, your thoughts are what you are creating in your life. Only think thoughts of what you want to create in your life not what you don't want.

    6. Experience pleasure & joy: If you are experiencing pleasure and joy you are thinking thoughts of pleasure and joy. Joy brings INSPIRATION which means In-Spirit or In GOD.

    7. Mother of pearl, amber & essential oils: Honor nature and mother earth.

    8. Travel & Learn from scholars: Learn, remember, knowledge is power, be open to all information and apply it to your life so you can evolve to the highest level of LOVE.

    9. Always keep Ithaca on your mind: Always keep GOD on your mind, give thanks and LOVE and gratitude to GOD. BE AWARE, be present, be in the moment and see GOD in everything beautiful.

    10. Enjoy the journey, it is the journey not the destination: You are here to discover who you are, that is the journey of Self realization. Enjoy everything that you experience for everything happens for a reason, to bring you back to GOD.

    11. Anker yourself. To me this means, stay grounded. Stay connected to mother earth and always know you are loved.

    12. No expectations: Expectations are self created suffering. Enjoy everything in life without regard for the outcome. It is what it is and this too shall pass.

    13. You already know all the answers, it is only a matter of remembering.

    Remember who you are. You were created in god's likeness, you have the power within yourself to co-create with GOD (Ithaca).

    This video confirmed the way I think about the world based on what I have experienced and learned from my journey along the way. I wish you all a beautiful journey and heaven on earth.

    Lotsaluv,

    Jan

    Janice Scarinci Ph.D.
    Associate Professor & Department Chair
    Hotel, Restaurant & Resort Management
    Northwood University
    West Palm Beach, Florida

    
    
11. December 13th, 2008 at 1:38 pm Lisa Hanson Says:

    On a Friday night, while watching the paint dry, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself….
    It has been six months since my ex moved out of the house and left me to make all repairs to get the house ready for sale. I have spent the better part of these six months cleaning, sorting "our" things into little piles of "his" and "mine", selling much, and slowly fixing all the things that he walked away from.

    My seventeen year old son has been a great help. His father, my husband, died when he was five years old.

    The last eight years have been spent trying to keep a relationship together that wasn't worth keeping together. We just weren't a good fit.

    Three years ago, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, and since then, have spent most of my time in bed, and have been unable to work, let alone keep the house. I suspect that this is what caused the drinking, and mood swings with my ex.

    We never promised to see each other through sickness….

    During my illness, I have learned to treasure each tiny moment of energy, and have learned to be very careful with my choices of what to use my precious energy on. I have shared it with my son. I have read, a lot. I have stopped watching television. And suddenly, housework is not as important as I once believed it was. Sweeping the floor, or doing a load of laundry comes after I have shared time with my son, or my friends and family.

    But this particular Friday night, in between coats of paint on my bedroom baseboards and trim, after listening to some very sad music, and thinking about how I was left alone, with so much work to do and very little energy to do it with, I stopped to check my email.

    Shafin had sent a link to a video on Youtube entitled "The Journey of Life". In it, Shafin recites a story written almost a hundred years ago called "Journey to Ithaca".
    I watched the video several times, and suddenly found myself warmed. Physically & emotionally.

    I realize that I am living my own Voyage to Ithaca. My journey is what is most important, not my destination.

    I started this voyage with the belief that my destination; "Ithaca", was a husband, children, health, a happy home, a good job, and happily ever after. This "destination" is what gave me the courage to start my journey.

    I realize now, that I have collected many treasures from many ports on my journey. And still, I have many ports to see and learn from, and collect treasures.

    I have had many summer mornings and my journey has been sweet and exciting, never dull or boring.

    I have gained much knowledge from many scholars who have taught me what to do, and what not to do. Sometimes, a great many of them didn't even know they were teaching me! I realize that my ex was one of my greatest teachers. Also, my husband, who left me all too quickly…

    As I reflect on my past, I realize that all the sad and scary times were not big, unexpected scary monsters at all. Things like death and loss and disease were things that I was secretly afraid of, and held those fears inside of me until they actually happened! The video explains that you will not encounter the monsters "if your soul does not set them up before you"!

    When I arrive at my final destination, Ithaca may not be what I once imagined it was.
    But my boat will be loaded with great stores of knowledge, friends, and family; my treasures. And I will have many great stories to share with others, and I will be able to say; "I know what you are going through. I understand."

    The goal of Ithaca, your final destination, has given you the gift of your journey.
    Your life.

    And somewhere, in the back of your mind, if you learn anything throughout your journey, you should learn that.

    Thank you Shafin, for reminding me of that!

    Lisa Hanson

    
    
12. December 13th, 2008 at 1:41 pm Redefine Your Reality Says:

    And the winner is…

    Just a few hours more and we’ll post the name of the winner!

    
    
13. December 13th, 2008 at 2:31 pm Mena Aupy, Hypnotic Coach Says:

    Thank you Shafin.

    As I contemplated your beautiful gift of the journey, a voice narrated simultaneously a parallel one, my own.
    Here are those words:

    When you were born , you cried for 8 solid hours.
    One week later, you almost died.

    At fourteen you were in a coma.

    As a wife, you left your homeland and craved a home of your own.

    As a mother you felt not good enough, and when two children died in your arms, you felt there were no tears left in your being to cry any more.
    In Africa ,your heart ached at the terrible suffering of your brothers and sisters till you needed to run away, many times.

    When your beloved golden child was engulfed in the dark nigh of the soul, you once more cried to leave this mortal state, forever.

    That is when you were truly born, when you gave up the struggle and finally discover, with unstobbable laughter and eternal joy, that every thorn bush has a rose.
    My journey is an adventure with a mission, find the roses, while recognising and accepting the thorns unconditionally and share the beauty of the roses of love with all

    Love and Light to you Dear Shafin,and to all your students in love

    
    
14. December 13th, 2008 at 3:05 pm Roseline Fong Says:

    Life itself is nothing more than just a journey…
    When we pray that the road is long, we pray that we will be around for many more years to come…
    That we may experience the adventure & knowledge & wisdom of what life truly has to offer…
    As long as we trust ourselves & our own heart, we will be able to overcome whatever comes our way…
    As long as we set off on our journey with the right expectations, we can indeed attract & manifest the best in our lives…
    There will be many "firsts" in our lives as we travel on…just keep an open mind & heart…experience, try, unlearn, learn & relearn…
    Embracing the understanding that these are all necessary on the journey, but yet not forgetting where we are heading…
    Keeping our hearts & minds on our final destination…
    Nonetheless, we need not hurry the journey, for the longer it goes, the more we get to experience, learn, grow & enjoy…
    For true riches lie within us & not at the destination…
    And when we finally reach our destination, The experience, insights & wisdom we have gained within will be pricless…
    Without our destination, we would have never even taken that first step…
    Therefore, the existence of the destination itself whether we reach it or not has already given us all that we needed to make the journey in the first place…
    By then, we would truly understand the essence of what "The Journey" really means…
    For every journey happens for a higher reason…
    And more importantly, at the end of it all, it is who we have become as a result of "The Journey"…

    "I was feeling a little frustrated & discouraged as I felt that I seemed to be taking too long to reach my goals. After reading this poem, I felt a certain kind of peace…
    Every journey happens for a reason & I guess my own journey has its own reasons for where it is taking me. As long as I keep walking & keep learning, I will reach there ultimatly. More importantly, it is the person I am becoming along the way…And that is something permanent & priceless…Perhaps, by then, the destination will no longer be of much significance…"

    
    
15. December 13th, 2008 at 6:05 pm shubhneet Says:

    This video is about how our destination is actually just a guiding force in our life. Our existence is between our birth and our goal. The poet says that if you are conscious you will explore every moment for intense experiences and whatever difficulties you encounter are a reflection of your belief and infact take you forward to your goal…during such encounters stay in touch with the finer side of your experience which does not loose sight of your Goal. Make sure you enjoy every small accomplishment and keep moving on. Make sure your goals are lofty for your journey will be long then and so will be the precious beautiful experiences.
    On the way whenever we feel we have accomplished something we must compile it in our “Self”, we must collect precious lessons which come by virtue of such intense existence. Perfumes for sensuous pleasures signify enjoying in the worldly sense so as to have a fulfilling existence and learning from scholars means learning from others but always align it to your Goal.
    It’s important to explore and explore a lot before finally settling down with the riches: which symbolize the experiences on the journey. Do not expect to find those experiences on the island or your destination, for it was your destination which took you on the journey and provided those experiences on the way. The longer and more intense the journey, the more rich with experience you are at experience Ithica.
    To summarize have a lofty goal to ensure a long journey and intense happening life and live everyday fully for the riches actually lie in the intense experience of the journey.

    
    
16. December 13th, 2008 at 9:25 pm Irma Barbosa Says:

    Hello,

    My name is Irma. I am a native american woman of Yaqui/Mayo descent.

    I share this with you in great respect and mutual love. This is what I have learned. May it bless your path. The journey of our life is our search for Heaven/Ithica. This world contains all of the clues to aid our search. We can view the world as a distraction or we can glean through each day and gather each fragrance, color, emotion and
    follow the scent, the hue and tears or laughter to aid us to follow our path. In truth there is no destination but to awake to each day and stand upon our path in in helpless expectation. We are not the scent or the hue, we are light and we witness the beauty of creation.

    We are the gift to this plane of existence and we carry blessings and communication with the source of all creation. All this beauty, all this love, can manifest as distraction if we lose attention and intent. In distraction there is fear. Our mind is the battlefield,
    not the world. As impeccable warriors of love and light we guard our attention so that our mind can only be used to appreciate this gift and experience great love… and with great love release this world to return to the source at the end of our journey to begin our next adventure.

    Con todo carino,

    Irma

    
    
17. December 14th, 2008 at 1:44 am Anonymous Says:

    Ithaca is your direction…

    Aim for it now,

    Establish lofty and noble thoughts as your sails and anchors,

    Let joy and love wrap their arms around you to keep you warm and safe,

    Banish Cyclops by refusing his conversation,

    Own the experiences with the sweetest scents,

    Treasure companions that dazzle and delight,

    Great books and knowledge lie in the direction of Ithaca,

    Praying will lengthen your journey,

    Stay the course,

    The sailing is at hand…

    
    
18. December 14th, 2008 at 11:37 am Claude Says:

    Ithaca by Constantin P. Cavanty was written in 1911. It describes a journey to an
    island in Homer’s Odyssey. It speaks to the idea of enjoying one’s journey over one’s
    destination.

    A prouncement of life itself, Ithaca answers the question: should one seek to have
    an adventuresome life? Ithaca unabashedly answers: fulfill yourself with lifes riches,
    explore its beauty and wisdom, take the time to smell the roses, bask in the sunshine
    and live each moment to its fullest in order to live a meaningful and fulfilling life for the journey is the destination. This is a basic premise that I can implement in my life
    immediately.

    It is a message that is still as relevant today as it was in l911. A visit to a local
    bookstore yielded several tomes on the subject:

    l000 Recordings to Hear Before You die Tom Meon

    The Last Lecture
    Randy Pausch

    l000 Places to See Before You Die
    Patricia Schultz

    A New Earth
    Eckhart Tolle

    These books suggest concepts and beliefs to live by, places to visit and recordings to
    listen to for enriching ones journey. I intend to add these selections to my repeitore and visit some of the places listed. I was not aware of Cavanty’s Ithaca and found it enlightening. I am appreciative of its timely message.

    claude