Better to be than to seem said. Parable, legend "It is better to be than to seem

Audrey Karlan

calendar girl. Better to be than to seem

Dedications

Rose Macanulty

July is dedicated to you, my Puerto Rican princess. Thank you for making sure that the Puerto Rican dialect and Puerto Rican culture in this book is authentic and true to the spirit of the characters. Thank you for being an amazing member of my team and support group, but most of all for being my friend. BESOS, Angel.

Kathy McLean Beal

August is dedicated to you.

In a sea of strangers, you found me, offered me your friendship, smile and sharpest sense of humor. I will never forget how memorable you made my first meeting with colleagues. No way in the world... I won't forget you.

September

Karin Roma

September is dedicated to you, my Australian friend. Your reviews are always honest, whether you liked the book or not. And yet you never stopped believing in me.

Ultimately, I believe that constructive criticism makes me work harder and strive to be better. You make me better.

Thank you Angel.

Chapter first

Blonde. Blue eyed. High. Goddess. Jesus and all his followers! The universe must have been laughing out loud at me as I stood like a pillar looking at this model-looking woman. She looked like Rachel's indignantly perfect sister, and I thought Rachel had an amazing appearance. And here it is not. A 100% miss.

The woman stood next to a highly polished Porsche Boxster and shifted from foot to foot, as if she was very nervous. With her fingers, she loudly beat the rhythm on the tablet with my name, which she held in her hands. And the way she shifted from foot to foot in high heels only added more sharpness to the furious impatience that radiated from her whole figure. On the other hand, maybe the Miami heat was to blame. Good Lord, you could choke in your own sweat, but this blonde looked flawless, as if she stepped into the airport straight from the video clip for some rock song. Skinny jeans so tight they showed off the delicious curves of her ass. And at the sight of her T-shirt, my mouth watered - the monogram that crossed a couple of impressive boobs read: “ Hold me and die". The stranger's slender neck was adorned with at least a dozen necklaces of various sizes and with beads of various sizes. She also had a zashiben hairstyle - curls and loose strands, pulled back and laid in an intricate design in the best rock-chic style.

After I stared at her for at least a few minutes—or so it seemed to me—she fixed her blue-gray eyes on me. Exhaling noisily, the woman threw the cardboard through the car window and briskly walked towards me. She looked me up and down, from my loose black hair to a sundress and a pair of simple ballerinas on rather big feet.

“It won’t go from the word “absolutely,” the stranger said, shaking her head hopelessly. Then she turned around and threw me over her shoulder:

Let's go, time is money.

The trunk swung open and I tossed my suitcase into it.

“By the way, I’m Mia,” I said, holding out my hand to her.

The blonde put on a pair of ultra-cool aviator glasses, turned around and looked at me over them.

- I know who you are. It was I who chose you.

There was a clear note of disgust in her tone. The woman started the car and pressed the gas pedal to the floor, not even waiting for me to buckle up. I was thrown forward, so that I had to rest my hands on the leather-covered dashboard.

"Did I piss you off in some way?" I asked, adjusting my seatbelt and looking at the blonde's profile.

She exhaled slowly and shook her head.

“No,” the girl said with a groan. - I apologize. Anton pissed me off. I was on important business when he said I should follow you - because to him We need our driver to fuck a couple of fans in the back of the Escalade.

I winced. Just great - looks like my boss next month will be a stinky goat. Just not again.

- Lousy.

She turned quickly to the right, onto the highway.

- Can we start dating again? my companion asked, this time in a sincere and guilty tone. “I'm Heather Renee, Anton Santiago's personal assistant, by the way. The hottest hip-hop singer in the country.

Everyone knows the Ten Commandments
not all perform.
1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; may you have no other gods before me (Ex. 20, 2…3).

In pursuit of "advancement of religious views", many today are trying to connect the incompatible. Occult literature and non-Christian mysticism generates a complete "mess" in the minds of the newcomers. Here you have the Jesus Prayer, and Agni Yoga, and Buddha and Krishna in one package. Here and advice to gather more often - "to cleanse the chakras"! Ignorance of one's faith and a proud desire to know other people's beliefs gives rise to complete confusion of the soul. And, as a result of this confusion, - instead of "I believe in the One God the Father Almighty ...":

Well, I don't really believe in God. I just believe that there, from above, someone is there and knows everything about everyone.

Judging by your description, you believe in Aunt Klava from the 10th floor, - the priest noted.

2. Do not make for yourself an idol and no image of what is in the sky above, and what is on the earth below, and what is in the water below the earth; do not worship them and do not serve them, for I am the Lord your God, a jealous God (Ex. 20, 4…5).

Today, hardly anyone will carve an idol out of stone. But talismans and amulets are sold in every stall. However, it is not at all difficult to turn into an idolater without them. Shamemaking is a popular entertainment for the townsfolk. "Cult book, cult film, cult band" is heard from all sides. Modern mass culture has already spawned thousands of "cults" and "cults". A teenager with eagle vision suddenly starts wearing "Harrypotter" glasses. The girl sincerely wonders why the vegetable shop does not understand simple elvish words. And someone might get angry if they hear from you that in Rammstein's songs there are no answers to all life's questions.

When the charm is replaced by disappointment, the idols collapse. But, collapsing, they injure the fans standing at their feet with fragments. And therefore, “take a calmer attitude to the hits of the season!”

And in conclusion. If everyone free time you're running through the swamps in search of the "great Jedi teacher" - stop watching Star Wars immediately!

3. Do not pronounce the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave without punishment the one who pronounces His name in vain (Ex. 20, 7).

Many, having barely crossed the threshold of the church, at every step say: “Lord, Lord!” Not for the sake of praying to the Almighty - just like that, for the sake of a saying, "for a bunch of words in a sentence." But the Name of the Lord is a strong tower(Prov. 18, 10) - here, don't mess around with it.. Otherwise - a bunch of eloquent words - and not one sincere.

Or like this:

Father! Sorry, bless!

Why forgive? You haven't done anything to me yet.

Forgive me for everything, for all sins ...

With sins - for confession. Bless for what?

Well, bless me to go to my cousin's cousin in Zaporozhye, to sell the house.

Dearest! What godfather, what house, what Zaporozhye? I see you for the first time in my life...

We need to remember well the words of the Savior: Not everyone who says to me: “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven (Matthew 7:21). Better to be than to seem.

4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; six days you shall work and do all your works, and the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God (Ex. 20, 8…10).

Not attending the temple today is often justified by the lack of time. Like, "you need to earn money." But you can't earn all the money! Or maybe because there are not enough of them all the time, because you rarely go to the temple?

5. Honor thy father and thy mother (Ex. 20, 12).

“Ancestors got it!!!” - we declare, defending our right to a three-day spree with friends. And we completely forget about “dostacha” when, washed and ironed, we leave the house. We turn to parental life experience only when parents have to urgently solve our problems. Problems arising from our own stupidity and carelessness.

6. Don't kill (Ex. 20, 13).

“But I didn’t kill anyone!” Many will calmly say. Really? By prior agreement, without the slightest hesitation, hundreds of couples in Ukraine “get rid of unplanned children” every day!

But even without this legalized infanticide, there are enough murderers among us. How many times have we wished our neighbor: “May you die!” How many times itched hands to break someone's head. Are we afraid of God? We were afraid of the policeman! And it would not have been… But for one who lives without the fear of God, even a policeman soon ceases to be an obstacle. Every year, crime reports are increasingly filled with reports of senseless, unmotivated murders.

7. Do not commit adultery (Ex. 20, 14).

Everyone knows that adultery and fornication are sins. However, the cohabitation of future spouses before marriage is becoming a sad fact today. And then they wonder why their children get sick.

The church calls this "marriage robbing." For many, it has become the “norm” to get acquainted in bed, and to remember the wedding only when you get tired of fornication. That is why it happened that modern marriages no stronger than spring “dog weddings”.

When the world is shaken by sexual revolutions, the Orthodox join the ranks of the counter-revolutionaries.

8. Don't steal (Ex. 20, 15).

If we do not climb the windows and do not smash the safes, this does not mean that we are “clean on hand”. We rarely encroach on someone else's, but, without hesitation, we put in our pocket "not our own." We "forget" to pay the fare, stupidly justifying ourselves, they say, "others steal more." Anyone who encroaches on someone else's, imagines himself a "noble Robin Hood", in fact, turns out to be a banal swindler. Nobody wants to be robbed, but many try to steal. And then they are still indignant: “They stole everything!” If you don't want thieves to get in, train yourself to at least pay on the bus. For as you want people to do to you, so do you to them, for this is the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12).

9. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor (Ex. 20, 16).

10. Do not covet your neighbor's house; Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, [neither his fields,] nor his male servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, [nor any of his cattle,] anything that is your neighbor's (Ex. 20, 17).

Tell me, Shura, honestly, how much money do you need to be happy? - Asked Ostap - Just count everything.

One hundred rubles,” Balaganov answered, regretfully tearing himself away from the bread and sausage.

Unfortunately, many people cannot, like Shura, answer this simple question. And that is why they continue to survey the surroundings with an unsatisfied eye, exuding waves of envy.

If only I had such a Lexus!

Well, what would you do with it? I would think where to put it, how to protect it, how to refuel it, where to repair it?

Our desires can be limitless. Only we can limit them. It is always worth remembering that God, by His mercy, gives a person not what is desired, but what is appropriate. That is, what will be good for his soul. Determine the "necessary and sufficient" that you need, and learn to be content with it.

Even in everyday practice there is this wisdom. "The system should be adequate to the user", - experienced computer scientists believe. Really, do you need the fastest processor just to spend hours playing solitaire and chasing monsters in the virtual world?

But if your soul is pure, God will certainly give you everything you need to serve the Lord and your neighbor for the good. Seek the Kingdom of God most of all, and all this will be added to you. Fear not, little flock! for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:31…32).

Audrey Karlan

calendar girl. Better to be than to seem

* * *

Dedications

Rose Macanulty

Kathy McLean Beal

August is dedicated to you.

September

Karin Roma

September is dedicated to you, my Australian friend. Your reviews are always honest, whether you liked the book or not. And yet you never stopped believing in me.

Ultimately, I believe that constructive criticism makes me work harder and strive to be better. You make me better.

Thank you Angel.

Chapter first

“It won’t go from the word “absolutely,” the stranger said, shaking her head hopelessly. Then she turned around and threw me over her shoulder:

Let's go, time is money.

The trunk swung open and I tossed my suitcase into it.

“By the way, I’m Mia,” I said, holding out my hand to her.

The blonde put on a pair of ultra-cool aviator glasses, turned around and looked at me over them.

- I know who you are. It was I who chose you.

"Did I piss you off in some way?" I asked, adjusting my seatbelt and looking at the blonde's profile.

She exhaled slowly and shook her head.

I winced. Just great - looks like my boss next month will be a stinky goat. Just not again.

I had an acquaintance, a good friend and friend - Sanya. It seems to be a good man, decently dressed, from the outside it seemed - a wealthy man, director of the St. Petersburg branch of one of the Moscow offices. In general, by his 36th career, he seemed to have developed and the chickens did not peck money, but on the personal front everything was somehow muddy and unsettled. A decent-looking guy… ordinary… not handsome, but not ugly either… he was married, but for some reason he divorced his wife… he had a mistress, but for some reason he divorced his mistress. He explained all this with the negative accumulated over the years of his life and communication with these people, and that money was pulled from him for all sorts of gifts, fur coats and perfumes ... He often complained about the lack of warmth and care, complained that there was no love in life, and everything around was mercantile and only money has meaning for others ... "Better to be than to seem!" - flaunted on the back of his business card. The motto that he never forgot and often mentioned in conversations and when evaluating this or that person.

I looked at him and couldn’t understand why everything in a person’s life doesn’t go well ... why no one loves him, why he is deprived of attention ... he seems to be so nice and good, and he’s not lucky in life for warmth, love, care and attention...

He was very categorical. He boldly gave sharp descriptions to all my acquaintances, which usually boiled down to the fact that “it’s not Men who surround me, but all some kind of dishonorable rags.” So we communicated with him, meeting from time to time, not intersecting either for work or business, for a long time, until at one moment he showed himself as a real MACHO, revealing to me all the richness and fullness of his personality, as well as answering his act to questions that have long worried me about his loneliness and uselessness to anyone!

I got together, as you know, to make repairs ... and the money was there and the work seemed to be in full swing, but suddenly the dollar rate went down sharply ... I thought, thought and decided to turn to this very Sana, who was “into fire and water” for me and in general, a reliable person, with a request to help me with a loan of rubles for a month - another, so as not to change the bucks I had at that time at an unfavorable rate. And then something happened to him. It began with the fact that accusations fell upon me from his side about the commercialism of my attitude towards him, they say, it’s only because of the money that I communicate with him ... but I didn’t refuse to give money. Type people are not strangers.

We met. He told me for a long time about warm countries and business trips to Europe, about the fact that business is in full swing, contracts are concluded and chickens do not peck for money ... Again he recalled the eternal topic about the lack of human warmth in life ... and in the end, when it came to money, to to my great surprise, got the contract. Everything is in the form, as in adults - the borrower and the lender, the data of both parties, a place for signature, the interest on the loan is 2.5% ... Dear mother! The person is not a stranger, I even thought that he was my own, i.e. close, and even before that there was no talk about interest ... I didn’t take money from the surprise of what I saw, and it wasn’t so necessary ...

Later, on the way home, when the shock passed and thoughts gathered in a heap, I thought - taking into account all the percentages, I should have returned him only $ 250 more in two months ... And then I understood everything! And about his life so useless to anyone ... and about the lack of love and care for him ... and about accusations against someone else ...

... and inside I thought - an "INEXPENSIVE" friend turned out to be! ;)

When you pick up a book on spiritual development, always ask yourself, "Do I need this?" Listen to yourself, and if the inner voice says what you need, open the book, but not before.

I realized that it is necessary to communicate with stress, and, having taken up this, I realized that we are talking about the most ordinary communication. I've found that it makes no difference whether you're talking to a person or talking to stressors.

I helped myself, helped family and friends, until it dawned on me to put the acquired knowledge on paper.

Introduction

On January 20, 2002, as a result of a car accident on the Riga-Tallinn highway, the heart of a person full of creative powers and plans stopped beating. demise

L. Viilma became a heavy loss for everyone who knew and loved her, for whom she was a teacher and a sympathetic friend. A lot of time has passed since the death of Dr. Luule Viilma, but her books are in demand, her advice, knowledge, experience have helped and continue to help millions of people become healthy and happy. Of course, our readers have a lot of new and new questions, they write letters to the editor - and there is no one to answer them ...

And so we (the editors) took the liberty (with the permission of L. Viilma's heirs) to create new books using the available material and adding previously unused material.

How often do we replace the real state of affairs with appearances! Why? Out of fear.

We try to look the right way, feel the right way, make the right impression, the right impression.

Who ordered? People. Society. Tradition. Definitely not nature.

We are afraid of not being like everyone else, we are afraid of falling short, of not meeting, we are afraid of looking worse than others. Therefore, we try to look happy, successful, healthy, but in fact we are not. But only pretending and destroying yourself from the inside with this pretense and a sense of internal contradiction.

However, it is in our power to become truly healthy, happy and successful. We have all for this.

And the first step towards this is honesty with oneself, awareness of one's stresses, because one's own life and forgiveness speak to a person in the language of stresses.

Let's walk this path together with Luula Viilma.

Modern man will not be free as long as he seeks and finds the guilty. The other person is blamed.

Life is a struggle, and struggle has its upsides and downsides. The stronger the struggle for the good, the more good that has already been won back. And the stronger the struggle against the bad, the greater the bad becomes if a person succumbs to it. Who fights against the bad with the bad, he loses. Strength and stamina in this struggle gives love.

The more given, the more asked. The only rational being on Earth is man, he is obliged to properly use the great treasure given to him - the mind. With the help of the mind, a person is able to enter the spirit if he believes his feelings and considers them correct. One who strictly adheres to the material world and dogmatic teachings rises slowly, with difficulty and torment. The one who pursues his truth, for him the path is thorny and ends in a dead end.

The one who masters the art of forgiveness can free himself from the bad that clings to him, and the path of movement is open to him.

Forgiveness is the ultimate liberating force.

In order to forgive, you need to know yourself. The one who denies the presence of the negative in himself or in his loved ones goes his way through his own bruises and bumps.

Erroneous humanity goes exactly in this way, because it does not open itself to true love.

God gave us as a model Christ, who taught us to love and forgive. But humanity did not accept the doctrine. God sees what a crisis it has reached again, and again tries to give us a teaching to help people.

Whoever tries to hide his laziness behind a lack of education, let it be known: a three-year-old child can turn out to be more spiritual than a fifty-year-old academician, and an outwardly exhausted eighty-year-old hard worker who has been doing hard physical labor all his life can be more spiritual and receptive than a thirty-year-old worker of art. It does not matter what gender, nationality, education, intelligence level, fame, money or degree of honor a person has.

Faith, hope and love matter because they are truth and reality. They cannot be removed from the physical world. Forgiveness breaks all bonds. Don't let yourself be fooled by outward brilliance. Listen to the warm jolts of your heart and perceive them as the highest value. Learn to use your feelings. Learn the art of forgiveness, then you will get what you need including material goods.

If you hope to immediately become rich, happy, successful, then it may happen that you are not yet ready to assimilate such an experience and get the opposite. Who sincerely feels that he is ready ... Why not! But if the rich man does not dispose of his wealth with dignity, then in future life he may appear as a beggar. If he learns his lesson, that is, he manages to rule over money without doing them badly to others, then in the future life he can come as a king in order to learn how to rule over the people.

But we all have spiritual millions now.

And whoever asks: “If I immediately start thinking and living right, then my life will get better?” - let him know - he did not come to the market. It is there that they will immediately weigh a piece at will.

In the spiritual world, an act entails a consequence worthy of an act. For this, a person must think and direct the energy of feelings in the right direction with mental work.

Those who make conditions may be left with nothing. Whoever does good without expecting a reward will be doubly rewarded. Everything we do, we do for ourselves and get doubled back.

Life is a struggle, and struggle has its upsides and downsides.

Every experience is necessary because it teaches.

Who has not yet found his way, look and decide.

You may find it in this book.