Letters

Yes indeed, write to me, with ideas, problems, inspirations - or whatever. I do answer each genuine one. I put the best ones here on this page but promise not to publish e-mail addresses. If you don't want your correspondence to end up here, no problem, just tell me so when you write.

Hello,

I started reading through your site a little while ago. I'll go read the rest in a little while, but I wanted to write you first. I've been on a constant quest for happiness for some time now. I guess about the past few years. I realized then that what I was looking for was happiness, not money, cars, power or anything of that nature. Please forgive me if this is in your site, but recently I've found a way to obtain happiness. It's very simple. I'll throw some quotes at you. 'Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling fo together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not... Thus, the sovereign voluntary path to cheerfulnees, if your cheerfulness be lost, is to sit up cheerfully and to act and speak as if cheerfulness were already there.' -William James. I've been using this technique for the past few days and it's really worked wonderfully. I know I would have been miserable if I had not found this. Also pushing bad or disturbing thoughts out of my mind helps alot. I can usually get out of a rut when it comes to most things, but the one thing that is extremely difficult for me to get through is problems with women. If you have any advice that could help me that's not already in your web site I would greatly appreciate it. I hope that what I've written can help you. Oh, yeah. Ignore the name on my e-mail. It's ficticious.

Dear Jeremy,

I think that you're right about feeling following action. With this technique I can turn mundane days into good ones, but I find that when I'm on a real downer I often don't have the strength of will to act happy, even if I understand the feeling will soon become real. I suppose the secret of happiness, or a large part of it, is will: the will to be happy. If that's the case then maybe our pursuit of happiness should be an investigation of will?

I'm not really the person to ask about women! Perhaps what I'm looking into now is relevant? I'm reading a lot of Buddhism at the moment and their ideas of mindfulness. I'm not sure if I've understood it but I'll give you my comprehension.

We go through life as slaves to our mental states. Our mental states are inspired/caused by the things out in the world, like experiences, people, situations etc. Thus we structure our lives to attract happy people, situations etc. that cause a good reaction/feeling inside ourselves - and of course we avoid the contrary. The problem is that nothing is permanent. We eat good food but get hungry again, glorify our bodies but get old, build careers but retire, fall in love but get bored, live life but get sick, buy cars that will break down one day. By avoiding bad and seeking good, we're constantly striving in a material world where nothing is guarenteed.

Well a cure (might be) mindfulness. And this is where I'm not sure I've got it but I'm just starting to make it work.

We strive for happy things, situations etc. in the material world because our happiness is a reaction to them. We avoid unhappy things, people, situations because our unhappiness is a reaction to them - wishing things were different. But we can practice mindfulness. So say I arrive at the beach for my holiday and stand purveying the beautiful sea and sand after working in an unpleasant city for six months. I feel a wave of joy and well-being. The trick is to focus on the feeling/emotion and... delink... it from the object. So I'm looking at the beach and the good feeling arises, and I'm aware of the feeling. In my mind is the rising good feeling and in another part of my mind is an awareness watching the feeling, watching the feeling alone and in its essence and not associating it with the beach in any way.

Of course, it works the other way also. Say I arrive back at the city and as I enter my hated office there's a surge of doom and depression... in part of my mind - plus an awareness in another part observing the doom and depression, yet not linking that emotion to my situation.

And (I think) the secret to it is (as well as maintaining the awareness) the UNLINKING. You said in your e-mail that you've realised cars and possessions can't make you happy, so maybe you're getting me; happiness is a mental state. We all chase good things in life because our happiness is found in our reaction to them. When we've been living mindfully for a while we might realise on an inner-level,that our emotions are independant of the outside world and can thus be controlled by... Oh wow, I didn't know I was coming to this... an act of will! By golly! I've even shocked myself there.

In a way that's what you're already doing with your idea isn't it? Delinking happiness from circumstances and experiencing it independant of the world. So what does all this have to do with problems with women? From your question I surmise that you can make yourself happy sometimes, but other times your reactions to the negative things in the world still cause unhappiness. So my answer is... well, I think I've written it already.

At this point I should admit that I'm a wrecked romantic still obsessed with a woman I knew for two weeks five years age and have to mentally prepare myself for all our anniversaries, meeting, her birthday etc. to stop myself falling into a month of gloom. So perhaps, as the Irish say, I'm 'full of piss and wind', if you'll pardon my Gaelic.

Well anyway, I hope all this is at least a little useful to you. I'm working on a new part to the site now, which is essentially my personal (and on-going) record of obtaining happiness. It has an essay section with ideas I've had since finishing The Happiness Hike. I might include e-mails and their answers, like this one, as a kind of Q & A section. What do you think?

Anyway, good luck with your quest and if you find anything more that works please let me know.

I was reading your ideas and they are very interesting. I was wondering when did you get published? Please email me back at address kept private in good manners. Thanks!

Dear G,

Thank you for your interest in The Happiness Hike. Unfortunately the work isn't published yet. I'm still working on two different sites, then shall start a new project which shall either be a non-fiction proposal based on these ideas, or a (fairly) unrelated novel that's been in my mind for a year or so.

Actually I'm a bit of s struggling writer! If I write the novel soon then it will be my fourth complete work; I can't remember how many non-fiction proposals I've penned. Yet the only place to read my work off-line is an alternative Australian newspaper, which I don't submit to anymore.

However, I've been in Asia for years and it was very hard to submit things proferssionally from developing countries. Now I'm into computers these problems are solved. As soon as I finish the web page I'm certain my next project shall make it. And I promise I'll let you know!

Dear JSL,

Well, I stopped crying long enough to read most every word you wrote. Then resumed. I think that, in itself, proves much of your advise. I'm most grateful. And thanks for all that typing!(that last sentence was an attempt at lightness).

Dear S,

Thank you for the complimentary email I recieved yesterday. Actually it couldn't have come at a better time. I'd printed out the site the day before to send home to my family so they could see what I'd been doing for the last four months, and all I saw were the spelling mistakes and missing pictures. I thought there was too much text and only just learnt that frames are considered old fashioned now. Plus I was just refused an Indian visa (I'm still in Nepal) and have to go to the embassy in Islamabad. The day I picked up the visa from the Pakistani embassy there was a military coup. My hotel room is full of stuff I'm trying to sell so I can travel light... well, just take it from me, it was a bad day.

Well, just two weeks after I uploaded the site arrives your email. All the hours sitting hunched over HTML books and scribbling in notebooks in almost every restaurant in Kathmandu was worth it. I was beginning to wonder if anyone's even seen the work. And there you are, having stopped crying long enough to read most of it, then resumed (resumed crying or resumed reading?) Why were you crying?

Anyway, you said your grateful for the site. I'm grateful for the good mood and feeling I haven't wasted four months after all.

Good luck on your Happiness Hike.

Dear JSL,

Being in Nepal sounds exotic. I applaud your courage. Travel is challenging.

In answer to "resumed crying or resumed reading"---I had read almost every word. When finished, the "negative" quickly moved in again. I was very glad of the break, though. And it proved the method for me, anyway.

In answer to why I was crying.--- I'm in a partnership & decided to be alone when reacting to the news---Our USA taxreturnes hadn't been sent in since '93. I think I won't have the problem of " trying to sell so I can travel light". I hear they pretty well clean you out. I've been poor before, it hold no mystery. And it is exceedingly easier than having so much stuff. I personally hadn't bought any of it, so I never thought of it as mine. I've been "cleared of wrongdoing for the present"--whatever that means.

After feeling much improved from trying your method explained at the site, I began gathering those "tools" I'll be needing for future life. Reference books, raw materials and computer are safe.

I haven't seen the future path yet, but the remarkable peace this method brings is my most important tool at this time of shock.

Hey, I saw something. Clear as a bell, just like you said at the Happiness Hike site (and in color)!

I already knew "trance" from "the Lamaz method of painless childbirth". Together with your writings I was able to 'see'. It was a tray (looking downward) with the Japanese dishes I know how to prepare. The tray was wine colored with upstanding handles. The dishes were that light blue with the darker blue characters (usually saying luck).

It didn't last long though. I got a bit excited to have succeeded and it was gone.

I felt happiness and a bit of contentment thrown in for good measure.

Now to think of what it could mean! I'll be spending good time on that!

I'm most grateful.


S

Dear S,

Thank you for your two emails; one negative, then one thankfully more positive. I've only just recieved that (trance) so since I read the first one I've been thinking how to reply.

I was sorry to hear of your business problems, while I pondered them a number of things came to mind. I thought of the time when I still lived in Europe, I've been in Asia for six years now. Well anyhow, I'm Asian and never really fitted in. After education I wrote but it was an unsuccessful period. When I was twenty one, everything went wrong, I can't explain what a downer I was on, really it should have been treated. It got so bad that I couldn't stand it, my parents arrived, saw what a state I was in and eventually helped me to leave. But looking back, since I was a child I'd been reading about Asia, collecting pictures for my scrap book, doing Asian things, dreaming about being there. Yet, I made absolutely no practical attempt to do what I really wanted. I think that my dark period came on because the the things I did with my life were detatched from my real dreams, all the fantasy, collecting pictures were really a form of magic perhaps, I set a power in motion to manifest what I wanted but wasn't fluid to move with what I was creating on an inner-level, and so was 'forced' to achive my goal, and I guess I'm glad now.

A lighter story. I was already abroad about a years later. I hated my hair, I always have done. I don't know why because it's thick and doesn't look so bad, but whenever I checked it it always seemed full of flakes. I decided I'd be happier shaving it, but that was such a big step. What if I started and something went wrong and I was left with half of it? No problem, I'd just visualise it as an inner-dream. Each evening I'd dream of myself looking how I wanted, and expected the universe to manifest a new friend that was expert at shaving heads or something. Of course, I didn't just go to the chemists and buy a razor, that's too easy, I knew my inner-thoughts would manifest.

.... And indeed they did. I caught lice off the street-children I knew, there was no medicine locally, it had to be shaved - so I got my dream, just not how I expected.

Of course, this could be totally meaningless to you. Perhaps you were totally happy going it alone and it was in synch with your inner-dreams. In that case I don't know what to say. Although today I had to go to the post office to send a load of book-post home so I don't have to carry all my finished work when I leave tomorrow. Everything always goes wrong in Asia so I've been sorting this out for ages... and indeed everythibng did go wrong. I took a load of stuff in and it wasn't wrapped up enough, then another day it was lunch-time. Then yesterday was the last day of an 8 day Hindu holiday. Well, I'm off tommorow so today was the last day I can get rid of it. I go there and the 'sea-mail' man just hasn't turned up for work, government employees do that sometimes here because they know they'll never get fired. There was an arguement and in the end the post-master (who'd told me friday the last time he took a day off to come Monday) looked at my book-post and told me I have to have it open so it can be checked before sealing! That's how I brought it in the first time when he sent me home with it!

I know you're not interested with my post office problems, and also being unable to send parcels isn't the same as losing most of what you own, but wait, it's relevant. On the way home I was thinking how to put the whole thing in a good light and stop being wound-up. Eventually I realised I'd lost my possibility. I was focused on sending all this work so I don't have to carry the damned stuff. Then again, I have inner-dreams that I'm working to manifest. Often, when I have successfully created something in life, it's come from something that was seemilngly bad, and I guess it seemed bad at the time because I wasn't fluid. Sitting in the rickshaw today I thought, who knows how my dreams will manifest, my faith shouldn't be in the sending of the parcels but in the dreams themselves, the possibility of the dreams. Now I have to send the parcels from India next week but perhaps something will happen there at the post office, maybe I'll meet a publisher by chance who takes a business card, see's my site, sends an email, one thing leads to another...

Fair enough, I'm not pretending this is a miricle solution for you. When I was arguing in the post office I wasn't all calm and happy at the time, I reasoned it all out later. I said on the site I was human and I got mad like anyone would. I suppose everything makes sense if enough time passes - but doesn't it go slowly when you want it to be fast?

Look, this is true. I have to run to the embassy now and I'm not sure the computer situation where I'll be (Varinessi). I wanted to say more (hopefully something more useful to you) and I'll do so when I find somewhere. I'm sorry if nothing I've written has any meaning to your particular situation, but I only mean well. I'm sure you're going to be fine. You've been poor before. Plus you're retreating with the tool you need (as you said), and they were books and knowledged based things so you already know that happiness is from within.

Must run! Let me know your experiences of clairvoyance. Oh, and you're very polite to never point out spelling mistakes and missing pictures.

Dear JSL,

Is it ok ( in your self) if I just mention you must be the most brave and courageous man with which I have ever corresponded?

I'm a bit nervous I may be crossing a cultural line, and I'm sure you don't deserve any more grief. A wonderful example, I've benefited a mountain's worth.

The trance, I was able to experience, has spurred me to action. I wasn't sure if I just wanted some Japanese food or if this could be what I want to do for a job. Been studying my Japanese recipe books. Studying never hurts, so was sure it was the right thing to do. I love Japanese origami, also. My favorite thing to do with movable models like the flying crane is--when I'm standing in line behind a troubled mother with a crying baby, I bring out the crane and make it fly for the child. Mother then starts to be concerned, "why has the crying stopped". I see she is turning and I hide the model and look around seeming innocent. Mother turns back again and baby & I have a glance of happy conspiracy.

Sorry about the bummer email. I can't say how healing it was that you had asked, "Why were you crying". The 'bad guy' in my situation is related, so I was unable to use the regular existing 'support system'. It's the very first time I've ever had to "go it alone". I find it a nice kind of challenge. Everything is in my hands and that has never been a freedom in this life so far.

You wrote " Of course, this could be totally meaningless to you. " I would never be so rude as to think that of someone who has been so gracious to me!!! May I be so bold as to say, "How cool is it to be pondering while 'Sitting in the rickshaw' ?" Sorry to be hinterland-ish or provincial, but it sounds ideal for pondering.

By the by, I wasn't being kind about the spelling etc. I was just carried away by the meanings of your word, I just didn't notice. There was high value in the content.

Most gratefully yours,

Susan

Dear Susan,

Thank you for your e-mail. I'm in a cybercafe near New Delhi station now and am leaving for Amritsar in about an hour. I always seem to write to you when I'm on the move somewhere. You just happened to contact me at the end of a visa. I actually recieved your mail while I was still in Varinessi but it's a very poor place and the only Internet was in this office, it wasn't really a cybercafe, more a design centre where they do menus for local restaurants. I was sitting there with all these people in lungis staring at me and spitting tabacco out the door. I want to write three things to you:

ONE.

You're not crossing any cultural barrier to compliment me. Please feel free to send all compliments you wish, even buy a thesaurus to send thousands. There's no cultural barrier really, I was born in England and brought up that way, true, I live here now and am maybe trying for residency - but I'm fairly European. I don't even speak Hindi.

TWO.

On the way down here, my bag got stolen; I'm only telling you about it because I feel so good about it! I got on the train in Varinessi, I asked a local to watch it while I went to buy water, when I got back - that local had ran off with it! Isn't it silly, all the times we ask strangers to watch things for us, never thinking that they could be the people who would steal it. Anyway, the guard couldn't speak much English and I didn't try so hard to recover it.

The night before I'd filled it with most of the things I wouldn't need when I go north so I could put it straight in storage when I got to Delhi. When I did get to Delhi I only had my shoulder bag with clothes, wash bag and some note books. I looked at my address book on the bed. It's full of addresses for publishers and agents, with my own comments of how receptive they are to new writing. It's taken me three years of experience to make it as comprehensive as it is and while I was praising I hadn't lost it, I was hit with the idea to turn it into an attractive web-page. That way I could send the book itself to England because the information would be on the Internet, nothing to carry and nothing to lose. Also, it would help other new writers from having to do the same research and they could e-mail me with their experiences to keep it up to date.

Then I thought about my other notebooks, I have one about how homeopathic remedies are affecting me, another one full of dreams and my own unique method of interpretation, one full of computer codes. When I thought about it, I realised that all my life, I've been filling notebooks with the ideas the head is filled with. All the books are irreplacable, all of them contain information unavailable elsewhere and all of them would be useful to other people. Now I know exactly what I'll be doing until the New Year, all of these books shall become web-pages, and from then on I shall always write everything directly as a web page. I think that's my destiny. I'm excited about it, I have to go to Pakistan and get a visa now but when I return I shall finish all that work and hopefully leave Delhi with nothing but clothes and my wash bag. The more I think about the lost bag, the more I think of the things that weren't worth carrying, books I'd look at once a month, a shirt I didn't like. About ten kilos of rubbish I can live without.

I think the whole thing is fated. I went to Nepal with the idea of writing a web page to support a novel I've completed, but when it was finished and to begin with no one visited, I kind of lost heart in things generally. I was between projects and not working, my visa was refused and I wasn't sure where to go or what to write. The morning I already told you about was when I felt most directionless, but on the way to the restaurant I had this inner-faith kind of experience of just handing all the worry over and allowing it to be worked out. Let go and let God one might say.

Then I get your e-mail. Then my bag is stolen but everything I need for my new plan I still have, I end up in Delhi - which must have the cheapest Internet in the whoile of Asia and a very nice cafe to work in, somebody else has since e-mailed me about the page, Also, I came into some extra money recently so the cost of it isn't a problem. Yes, everything comes together now. I think maybe I was born to do this. Even when I was about twelve I'd be sitting alone studying obtuse books and painstakingly writing notebooks so I could understand them; maybe it was my destiny to pass all this on. I'm sitting here typing this with just my little bag by my foot and it's so nice to travel north with nothing but that. I feel so free. I've no idea where I'll go or what I'll write when I've finished with the notebooks, but I have possibility and I have faith, and they're easy to carry because they don't weigh anything.

THREE.

I nearly forgot this was a list! I was pleased you had a positive experience of inner-seeing, and it could well be that your Japanese vision had a meaning for you. On that page, I did mention that, especially in the beginning, the images could be random or misinterpreted, and of course they could not. I just wanted to say that as I'd hate to think I made someone do anything hasty. These things come from our own minds and often our own future, but like dreams, they can also be wish-fulfilling type symbolism or fantasy which is simply fantasy. Like I say, you know your own situtation, you mention you're only studying and it can't hurt, which is true, and you sound sensible. I'm just paranoid some lawyer will turn up saying you converted your house to a Japanese restaurant, had a face-lift to look Japanese and are now filing suit to put everything back as it was! No, I'm only joking. Yet if the vision was an inner-dream and you attain it, that would be great. Let me end this paragraph: common-sense and faith in possibility.

I must run to the station. I brought my ticket yesterday (wed) for an eight hout train to Amritsar, then found out just after that the next train to Lahore doesn't go until monday! I've surfed the Internet and have a couple of addresses of possible cubercafes in Islamabad but there's nothing I can find in the Punjab. Never mind, I have some novels, faith, I'm happy with that.

Thank you for writing again. Hope you are well and your possibilities are weaving themselves as you are dreaming.

Dear JSL,

Preface-I can't wait to see you being interviewed (about your successful new book) so you can tell of your fine travels. What an interesting & (permit me) COOL trip in which you are engaged!!!

ONE-I'm glad I can say what I want about your writing. It's glorious and so clear and to the point. Never boring, it moves. I read much.

TWO-What an experience you had with your bag. My first cousin had one similar in France.

At that time there was a trash-collector's strike in New York, and the comedic writers were suggesting the citizens wrap their trash in nice paper and leave the package on the front seat of their car. Hinting, the result would be a stolen package and thus rid oneself of the unwanted items. I'm sure you have heard of New York's reputation. So the comedy was in the right ballpark.

Your plan for the web pages is just right. I'll get to read more of your talent. Sorry to be selfish, but I've got to say-your valuable.

About Homeopathic remedies, I study naturopathic for it is so gentile on the patient. Heroic measures of Homeopathic medicine can be harsh. My favorite gentile herbs are: tee tree oil, to dab all surface infections viral or bacterial (even though my friend successfully dabbed a staff infection away on the back of her mouth and I cleared my dogie of ear mites by dabbing inside). Purple cone flower, if I've been clearly coughed or sneezed on by an obviously sick person. And Goldenseal, for when you are very sick. Lavender oil at the temples for stress. If I need go where people are sad, I douse a handkerchief with Lavender oil and carry it around for their sake.

THREE - Your words about the home Japanese restaurant and face lift sent me Laughing Out Loud. You have a fine mind. Tragedy is so close to comedy, I've found. I've read of a famous comedian being asked if his illness and impending doom were hard. He answered "Dying is easy. Now, comedy... that's hard." OH! And I must tell you, I've never sued. I'm a person of good will and have fallen 2 times. The people were unbelieving and ended our relationship due to fear. My family gave me a lot of grief over it, too. I healed myself with herbs. So you are well safe,and please don't worry. I've proven myself.

In answer to your words," I just wanted to say that, as I'd hate to think I made someone do anything hasty." In reality, my study of your method as stated on the site,' held my hand' while things worked out. I'm glad I didn't do anything to interfere. That little weasel who didn't send in our taxreturnes since '93 has gotten himself (and by accident-ME) out of trouble. He was able to enlist a sympathy (that I don't understand, but who cares!) from the taxman-it was a lady. AND YOU WILL LOVE THIS---All of us who were affected went out for japanese food to celebrate our deliverance. And it had been 3 years since I'd tasted same. (I had nothing to do with the suggestion or decision. Pretty well proves your method I'd say.)

I'm going to your site again to refresh the learning. I think I've forgotten some-being convinced of the value-I'd better do that, before trying again.

Be sure I'm on the list to receive locations where your writing can be found. I'll be the first in line to purchase when available. Least I can do for your teaching, that I found enormously helpful. (even without facelift) heh-heh

Hoping for you always, the best in every way,

Dear John Simon,

I hear about Islamabad on the news. Big, Big doings yesterday, and I hoped you are OK. I knew you were traveling around that area of the world. I got kind of panicked when I saw the pictures. You had already survived a coup the day you went for the visa, I surely do hope your luck is holding!!!

Right away I "tranced" and pictured you as best I could. Very short hair, an asian, from all that restaurant food probably slender. It was bothering me that I couldn't come to terms with height, so you were sitting. Yes, sitting within a bullet proof, clear sphere. When danger came, the sphere rose to let the danger go under.

I do so hope you are alright. It would be so ungrateful of me not to try something on your behalf. If you can, please let me know if you survived unharmed or if you had been caught up or saw something.

Dear Susan,

I've made it to Islamabad, and I'm fine. I've no idea what happened yesterday. I was working in a cybercafe in 'Blue Area', for about three hours and needed a break. Well I went out and walked up the road looking for a restaurant but there wasn't anywhere nearby. It's a nice place, not at all like I thought it would be. The roads are very wide, lots of modern cars, nobody bothers me, it reminds me of Malaysia - nothing at all like India; I can't believe it's as poor as everyone says.

Anyway, I had some food and saw a high building with benches built into it at the bottom. I thought I'd sit and eat there, it would be nice. If you do that in India, then people run up and start trying to sell you stuff or beg, but here you can just relax in public.

I sat there and the police came and asked me in Urdu what I was doing (I presume they were asking me that). When they realised I was a foreigner they made hand gestures to indicate I was to leave. I wasn't very happy because I was just sitting on the bench eating; there was no one around - a very quiet place. In very bad English, he tried to tell me something but all I could make out was there was something about the building nearby. He pointed to it and said something like 'It's the Scottish Embassy'. Well, obviously he didn't say that, but a machine gun is very persuasive - so I walked back to the computer centre.

As I went I heard this screeching sound. I turned and a recovery truck came past me, it was towing a burnt-out car. It was burnt out so bad the wheels were all bent and it had no tyres, hence the sound. As it passed me it left long white scratch-marks in the road. It crossed my mind that I was moved on by the police because of some incident but I just went back to work and forget about it.

I went to the bookshops today and saw in passing that something had happened; I still don't know what for sure, a rocket attack or something. I think it was to do with the American centre, that's in-between where I work and where I was sitting yesterday.

Anyway, I didn't get blown up. How sweet to think you visualised for me, perhaps if you hadn't I'd have taken that break earlier? It really is very nice of you. Concerning my appearance: I'm not sure if I'm 'slender', I'll use your earlier phrase: 'in the ballpark'. You're right, very short hair, about six foot four inches, waist about 36" so not beanpole, yet people don't vomit at the sight at me. When I ask my Mother she says I'm perfect though I don't ask anyone else.

Let me answer your two e-mails. I was surprised at your opinion of homeopathy, though you're entitled to it. And you're interested in naturopathic medicine, does it work. I mean does it work for chronic conditions. I don't think any of the plants are available here. I was ill with various stomach problems in Nepal and used the native Indian medicine of Ayurveda, and it really worked. I mean I was very ill for a month and the allopathic drugs didn't work, this Ayurvedic powder took about four hours to clear me. Ayurvedic medicine is very respected here, I'd say just as popular as orthodox medicine. At medical collages it takes as long to qualify in Ayurveda, there are full four-year degrees. I only know so much because someone gave me a book while I was travelling up here. There's another system based on plants called Unnai, no that's the wrong spelling. Well, there's a hospital using the system in Delhi, the medicine is based on the elements and four humors of the body. Oh, I can't remember now but I might look into it when I get out of here.

Are you really an American who's never sued anyone? I thought there must be one. No, I'm joking, and I'm only speculating because you mentioned the New York trash collectors strike as though it was home and your friends experience in France (with the bag) as though it was foreign.

Concerning my own bag, I'm so happy without it - truly. When I first arrived in Islamabad it was late so I paid for a very expensive room just for the night. Next day I checked out with my little shoulder bag and went to American Express. By chance, it's near the computer centre, so I went straight there and worked for an hour. I then strolled round the streets looking for somewhere to eat and thought how nice it was, to have so few things and walk around with no where to stay that night, relaxed and enjoying the new sights. If I still had the bag that was stolen I would have had to get up so early, find somewhere to stay, return and checkout, etc. Also, when I arrive in train stations, they are always surrounded by unsavory types and dishonest drivers, I just trot out, keep walking until a restaurant looms and get my bearings.

Also, I've found a great place to work and am busy typing up my address book, I can't wait to send it home and be free of it, the worry of losing it, carrying it. Something that means so much to me now (the book itself) and soon it will be nothing, just so much paper because I've given it for other people. I'm looking forward to my bag being half full. I was right about that thief, definitely an angel in disguise.

And I was happy to hear 'the little weasel' worked out the tax problems. Though to inspire the sympathy of the tax lady they can't look like a weasel, maybe a big sad beagle dog; perhaps it simply involved begging and tears. It was interesting to hear of the 'Japanese synchronicity'. I think it was the palmist Cheiro who said 'certain signs proceed certain events'. I'm not sure if that's always true, though it often can be, but certain events that happen in strange coincidence that tally with my 'inner-work' often feel as though the universe is speaking to me in some way. Which is maybe as you felt? What do you think, I mean what do you think the whole episode the little weasel brought about means. Was it to change your direction, to stay as you are but change your perspective, or, I don't know. I mean, I always feel good about life when I feel I perceive it's inner-meaning - like losing my bag for example. Maybe the little weasel's another angel in disguise trying to teach you something! Then again, they might just be a little weasel. I'd have to personally meet the little weasel to judge it - and as Islamabad isn't a tax haven I guess it's not likely.

Anyway, thanks for the new compliments of your e-mails, they're great! And it really is very nice indeed to read that you thought of and visualised for me when I might have been in danger. Who knows what difference that made, it certainly made me happy. Also making me happy is that your own problem has worked out; did you visualise that? I must send you many of my own 'good vibrations'. I'll visualise them falling through a funnel so none accidentally fall on the little weasel.

Hope you are well and happy today, one step further on the Happiness Hike. I'll look forward to hearing from you.



Best Wishes,


JSL.

Dear John Simon,

You must have seen the remains of the fight in the extra attention and the burned car being towed. Glad you were out of the fray.

The news here is always filled with examples of the "powers that be" using ones internet words against oneself later. It's said there are roving representatives doing that very thing. But just to suffice, I've dealt with the weak link in the chain with new policies.

Happy you are eating well. Everyone I've known who has been outside the US, and has been 'taken' by local folk food has a favorite dish. I hope you will tell me the name of your favorite (or describe) from that region. You know, something everybody always seems to like.

Yes, Ayurveda is well respected. The Chinese style is popular here as well. I like gentile ways and gentile herbs and study same.

As to "what I have learned", I'm struggling. Mostly against being pessimistic about cruelty. Cruelty works against progress (waste of energy and positives missed), and I love progressing. My personal moral code provides "happenings are for good, but not necessarily my good". Perhaps bad guy will be scared, and reform. He almost didn't get out of this one. Has no respect for himself or anyone else. Must learn his way of something like that.

Happiness Hike going well. When preparing for the consequences of bad guy's actions that included me for the first days, I lightened up the possessions. A very good outcome of the recent unpleasantness. I'm continuing to do so since it is so good.

Happy you are taking such good care of yourself, you'll need to be well. Those concentrated hours of writing are work indeed. You can tell by the fine outcome. Your site is evidence of that.

Hi,

since the simple is coming back, do you have any info on living that way??Thanks R.D.

Dear RD,

Thank you for your e-mail. It's nice to know that anyone actually looks at my site. How funny you should ask me about the simple life, at this moment. I'm in Delhi right now and my bag got stolen on the way down. I was on a train and asked someone to watch it for me, stepped off to get water, and when I got back both the man and my bag were gone.

But for some reason I wasn't really upset, I don't know why. I kept trying to explain to the conductor what had happened and he didn't speak enough English, so I sat there for the whole journey and did nothing about it. Actually, it was a relief. Looking back it was full of books I look at briefly once every couple of months; some clothes I don't like; stuff I can live without.

Personally I think the whole thing was fated. Since finishing the web page I recieved a whole load of rejection letters from publishers concerning my last written project, then my visa for India was refused which means I have to travel through here in fifteen days onto another country. I left where I was with no plan on what to write now, fiction, non-fiction, or go home and see my family. I just kind of left with the idea that I'd be placed somewhere.

I arrived here in Delhi with just a really small bag, less than 3kg. and I opened it out and looked at the contents. I thought to myself how lucky it was that I didn't lose my address book. It's full of publishgers and agents addresses with notes of which work I've sent to them and how receptive they seemed to me/new writers generally.

Then I had this great idea. I should write my whole assress book as a web page. That way it's easy to update with new names/telephone numbers, there's nothing for me to have to carry and nothing to get lost or stolen, but best of all - if I write the whole thing up so it's easy to refer to, then it could help many other new writers.

After this, I had some more ideas. I've got notebooks filled with my own ideas and research on dreams, homeopathy, designing web-pages - all culled from hard experience or re-written in an accessible way after culling the info from obtuse books. Just think if I put the whole thing on the Internet, it could help a whole load of people, I'd never lose anything again and I could dump all of my notebooks. I'd be travelling round with nothing but clothes and my teddy bear.

All my life I've been filling notebooks with the ideas my head is filled with. I think an angel stole my bag personally, as a sign it's time to go public with my thoughts and ideas.

Your question was 'any ideas on the simple life'. Only as it applies to me I suppose. With my new idea, everything I own (the only thing I'll own) is ideas, and I have those for the benefit of other people, so are they really mine at all?

I probably haven't answered your question at all have I, then again, it was a very open-ended question - and I only mean well. I guess we can make life simple or we can make it complicated - but I bet it takes more effort to make it complicated because simplicity is letting things go.

Yes! That's it, let everything go RD.

Hi,

I'm a 21 year old college student living in the United States. I was only able to get through a few pages because it's close to 3:30 here and I got to go to bed. I just wanted to let you know your site is very interesting. As one acheives each step do they find more happiness? I'll check it out more tomarrow.

Dear Justin,

Thank you for your compliment of The Happiness Hike. Actually, you're looking at the old version. I've just spent six weeks completely redesigning the site, with better layout, design, new essays - and everything.

It still needs a bit of a spell-check so I've decided to upload it tuesday, when it shall be perfect and replace version 1.0 which is what you've seen. This new work really is a million times better.

So guess what? As you were kind enough in taking the trouble to say something nice, I'll give you a sneak-preview, you can be the first person to see it in the whole world except myself (honestly), everyone else has to wait until tuesday. Here's the address:

Note: I've removed this address as it's no longer valid.

It's great, as you've seen version 1.0 and you can let me know what you think of this new 2.0.

Thanks again for writing.

Subject: tHANK yOU

i JUST FOUND YOUR PAGE AND IT GAVE ME A CLEAR POSSIBLILTY OF ANACTION THAT MAY HELP ME SEE PAST THE CLOUDS OF MISERY IN MY LIFE. i BELIEVE FOR THIS SERVE THISDAY WILL BE GOOD FOR YOU AND ME.

tHANK YOU.

Dear ..... Surfer,

     Thank you so much for the e-mail letting me know my site was of some use to you. I spent so many weeks on creating it and then there was an awful period before the search-engines found it when I wandered if anyone would ever come! But now they do and every now and again someone tells me I made a difference to them --- and that makes a difference to me. Again, thank you so much for letting me know.

         Kindest regards,


                 JSL.

Re: have you written any books on this subjects?

I have really enjoyed your web site. Have you written any books on the subject of quantum magic? or do you have any tapes?

Vicky

Dear Vicky,

Thank you for your complimentary e-mail concerning The Happiness Hike.

Actually, it couldn't have come at a better time as I'm procrastinating as to whether I should write a book proposal for a non-fiction project based on the ideas in The Happiness Hike, so maybe this is a sign.

At the moment I'm still a bit of a struggling writer. The last agent I can find is considering my third novel (the other two are unpublished). However, I'm bullish on this non-fiction, possibly to be titled "Quantum Happiness", not least because of people such as yourself who keep requesting it.

So, first I must finish the proposal, then see if I can sell it, then actually write it - it might be a while before you see it on the shelves. But, if it happens, you'll be the first to hear about it.

But thank you very much for letting me know you enjoyed the site. It's such lovely gestures that fill the sails and push me through the ocean of rejection to the island of success.

Hey, that's poetic; am I a writer or what! ;-)

I have no idea what is going to happen next, but I had to stop right now (in the midst of the clairvoyant chapter) and write to you that this has already been happening to me! For years I have been able to close my eyes and have independent images appear! The first time it happened it was so poignant and beautiful. A lovely young woman turned her face toward me and blinked her eyes. All I saw was her face, but she seemed from another time. Ever since then I have been able to see these image, but when I try to concentrate on them or make them clearer by enlarging the picture, I tend to lose them. Another interesting thing I should point out too is that I often have images of people kissing. I am a romantic person very much by nature, but I haven't had a great love in a few years, so I can't figure out what this means at all. OK I must get back to your text...I am really excited to share this with you!

Bye for now,

Maria

Thank you for your response to The Happiness Hike, especially the 'Inner-Seeing' essay. I also have been seeing these images, basically since birth. I don't recall the first time. I remember at school, first class aged five, every now and again I'd see all diamonds of light floating down from the ceiling. But I recollect that we used to go to holiday to the beach and I'd sit there with various toys, and I could close my eyes and still see them! I never mentioned it to anyone as I thought it was perfectly normal. I think I mentioned on the site the first full-blown vision, in a cinema, and since then, well...

You said "But when I try and concentrate on them or make them clearer by enlarging the picture, I tend to lose them." Well, I think at this point, the "grasping" of them isn't so helpful. The best way is to simply observe them, without emotion but a mild sense of expectation. The time falling asleep is best to learn this initially, though I've really written everything I know in the site.

I used to have a recurring vision, of people drinking out of glasses. Also I wasn't sure what it meant. I don’t really drink, and no longer see this specific image. I think, once you can inspire the images at will, if you sat and watched them with the specific question in mind of what the repeating images are trying to tell you, with no grasping, just mild expectation, possibly this would work.

Anyway, good luck. I'm currently writing up The Happiness Hike as a book proposal, as the whole thing has grown since I finished the essays, it might be called "Quantum Happiness". It shall take a long time to finish though, and an even longer time to sell it (if I can). If it ever hits the shelves, I'll let you know.

But it's great to hear from you, really. As I slog on with the writing I love to hear from people, know that I'm not mad, know that I'm helping etc. Thank you for writing.

Best wishes,

JSL

Thank you very much for your response. I will take your suggestion and try a more gentle approach with my images. Send good thoughts my way.

I want to wish you luck with your book. To be honest, I believe you will have a hit with it. What you have learned, have experienced and written is so appealing and accessible to people. Personally, I love the memories of your childhood. Share that with your reader as much as possible. What happened to you then and afterwards (growing up where and how you did) is astonishing and poignant. My instinct is that you must write as much as you can and do not delay one bit. Do not satisfy yourself that you can be finished in two years if you can possibly do it in one. The time is just so right (and ripe) for this type of material. The last thing I want to suggest is I very much prefer "The Happiness Hike" title. But you will best determine what the title needs to be after it is done. It's just that anything with the word "quantum" on it either scares me or seems to be an over exaggeration. I could be completely wrong here, but if a book is selling me quantum happiness I probably won't believe it or I'll be really upset if I don't achieve it (ha, ha!).

This is just my two cents. Nothing more.

All the best,

I am overwhelmed!!! I wish to congradulate you on your powerful pen, and the gifts that you are contributing in your web page. I found your web page last night and I am so grateful that I did. You are so talented in presenting subjects so exquisitely and with such delicate impact. I would be most honoured if you let me know whenever you add to this web page.
"In the vastness of Space
and in the immensity of time
it is such honour
to share a planet with you"

As you know, it is a round world, what goes around comes around, from what I see you give, I assure you a most blissfilled life is yours to enjoy.

Thank you for you :)
Many blessings
Roxana

Wow.

I never usually begin an e-mail with wow, actually I don’t think I ever have – so you’re the first.

Wow. That must be the strongest compliment I’ve ever received in my entire life. I mean, even my mother never ‘thanked me for me’. I’m shocked… Wow.

Actually, I received it at a good time. It’s about a year now that The Happiness Hike has been on-line. Since then I’ve added new essays and redesigned it.

Well, the novel I wrote before creating the web-site was just rejected by the last agent I can think to send it to, but over the year the ‘system’ detailed in the site has grown, mushroomed, into something completely new. People kept e-mailing me and asking me where they can buy the book, so I thought maybe I should write this up as a non-fiction book proposal, possible called “Quantum happiness”.

At the moment I happen to be in north India. I had a huge collection of notes, mind maps and outlines and I took the whole bundle to Kushingar to meditate.

Kushingar is the place where the Buddha died. I’m not especially a Buddhist or anything, but I always feel focused, things seem clearer, when I’m around these religious sites.

So, I was unsure what to do. I also have a vague idea for a piece of fiction, though it looks like I can’t sell the last piece. Plus I’ve been sending out a lot of non-fiction articles, but every editor who took my pieces disappeared when it came time to pay!

Anyway, in Kushingar there’s a large brick mound where the Buddha was cremated; people walk round it and pray or meditate. I went there and started circling it. There was a Sri Lankan tour group there lighting incense, but soon they left and I was alone.

Walking round the mound I was grateful: my health isn’t perfect but it sure as hell could be worse; I haven’t made any living yet but I have a family that believes in my ideas and helps me; I had a terrible, unhappy start in life, but I found most of my answers and the means to disseminate them to other people (the Internet); I’m not rich, but there’s little I want that I don’t have – and so on.

I essentially stated (to the universe or whatever) that I’d dedicate my career and life to other peoples’ happiness. All the time we’re radiating our moods, good and bad, and they affect the way you treat people and interact with them, Your mood spreads to other people and they pass it on. Who knows how far a smile, kind word (complimentary e-mail!) goes?

If this were my mission in life then it would make sense of the wastelands I’ve trudged through. My intense, obsessive mind would have pre-ordained for a purpose.

So, I asked for inspiration and success. I looked into the sky above the mound and asked to be a channel to the truth, to have ideas that can lift people out of their darkness, unhappiness – the mundane.

Apart from the mound and some temples, there’s nothing else in Kushingar, so I came south to a smaller town for a week. I spent seven days turning a mass of yellowed, torn outlines and faded mind-maps into a chapter break-down, a general outline and half a sample chapter. While I was doing this, a whole torrent of ideas sprang up, my pen was racing - though not every day.

Now I look at the notebooks full of work, some of it looks good, inspired, some of it is stilted or forced. Sometimes I look at it and can almost see it on the shelves, flying off and transforming people’s lives, other times it’s just a mass of Arabic looking scribble that people wouldn’t even appreciate as a gift.

Next I came to New Delhi to edit, re-write and see if I can bang, hammer and mould it into a sparkling, clear, concise manual of transformation that’s ready to be sent to publishers.

I arrived the day before yesterday. Usually I get an e-mail concerning HH every 10 weeks on average. Suddenly three are sent on the same day – and yours of course, the best compliment I’ve ever received! Suddenly my mass of scribble doesn’t seem so bad after all.

But there are all sort of little coincidences coming about now. For instance, I need IRC’s to submit work to the US (for the replies). I’ve never been able to get them here before, but now 50 suddenly fall into my lap. Also, in India you can’t get the acceptable stationary you need, not even envelopes with glue on, but this all turned up by chance. And on the train here to Delhi I met a fellow passenger who just happened to be a professional writer. Even though I didn’t tell him my job or what I was doing, he spent the whole day giving me tips on writing, submission, editing etc. All sorts of things like this are happening.

So perhaps your thoughtful appreciation wasn’t only random inspiration, but part of a larger scheme of things? But whatever the case, it was a beautiful gesture, a pleasure to receive. It really spurs me on. Thank you so much.

Deepest wishes.

JSL.

Words are container of experience. They symbolize the baskets that we put our life energy into. In quickly looking over your web space, I get a sense you know what you are trying to express about yourself and the way of your journey to here.

"I found myself standing at a cross road. The new moon blazing in the heaven, hidden by the clouds that brought the puddles forming at my feet. I shivered, and tried to bury myself deeper into the light wind breaker that the warm summer afternoon had invited me to wear.

I'd not meant to be out this late. But road sign to road sign, my little day trip had turned into a night mare. I was barely holding on loosely and uncertain where the next moment would take me..."

Any way.... I just spate that out to give some clue of one why to approach fiction. If there are any questions, feel free to e-mail.

enjoy ric

Thank you for your appreciation of my web-site, and a brief sample of your own talent. A nice coincidence actually as I’m still slogging away, now on some short fiction pieces, which will hopefully sell.

It’s nice to know there’s someone actually reading all this hard work and that I toil not in vain! Thanks for writing.

Best Wishes,

JSL.

My name is Robyn Larsen. I live in the United States and my books are set in the United Kingdom. I'm a new writer who was offered a contract by Vantage Press, Inc., however, the $16,150 in publishing fees is just a bit much for someone who was recently laid off by-- of all people-- UPS.

I'm new to the industry and freely admit I don't know much about it. I realize that you're in the United Kingdom however, I would be willing to send a hardcopy of the book there or send you the entire manuscript via the Internet. I should warn you that it's 291 pages, not including the three introductory pages.

I really need some advice here. I'm at a loss as to what to do next. Writing the two novels was easy (yes, there are two of them- the first one is "A Suitable Murder" the second one is "The Ghost of Strathmore Manor"). I would more than appreciate any and all guidance you could offer me. I greatly appreciate your attention in this matter.

Thank you for your e-mail concerning the problems you are experiencing selling your project.

The New Writers Network was written, by myself, to help those of us producing quality work buyt experiencing difficulty finding a home for it in this ultra-competative market. This way fledgling writers can network new addresses, businesses, tips etc. to help each other’s chances.

But basically, I’m in the same position as yourself. I’m currently writing a non-fiction proposal, maybe my fifth, and have completed three full novels - and am still struggling; nothing is published yet, so I fully understand your situation. All told my rejections are close to 300. So I don’t know what to say to you; perhaps the same as I say to myself: believe in your work, persist, keep producing, keep submitting. But keep going. People that keep going get there in the end, no matter how uneven the playing field. I really wish I could do more.

One thing I can say is that writers don’t pay publishers, it’s the other way around. They buy your book, sell it and you share the profits. Anything else is fishy.

Good luck and best wishes,

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I'm sorry you've had 300 rejections. That's a lot. I'd be discouraged after number two, but I'm going to take your advice and hang in there. I can't quit. I've had my mom read two of the novels (the third one still is still in progress) and she likes them. She doesn't read mystery novels at all. I've only seen her with romance novels. I think it's because my characters are a bit on the quirky side. :)

I know if I ever need advice I can come to you. :) I'll do the same for you, should you need it.

Again, thanks so much. I wish you all the best in the world. Anyone who gets that many rejections deserves to be published!

Good luck,

Continued.....

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