Improve your spiritual life with the help of jewels


How To Make A Fortune

How To Make A Fortuneby: Shifra Hendriesomewhere else.
YOU CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH OF WHAT YOUTHE PRINCE ANDTHE CHICKEN FAT
DON'T REALLY WANTHere's a little kabbalistic story for
Life keeps getting faster and faster.you.
More and more, we spend our time tryingOnce, a king sent his only son, a
to make things happen, fitting more intohandsome prince, to make his fortune in
each minute than ever before. Buta country far across the sea. In that
somehow, we are neither satisfied norcountry, it was said, gold and jewels
fulfilled. Why? Because the things we'rewere so abundant that they were lying in
running after so fervently are in mostthe streets.
cases not the things we really want.The prince was excited by the
And, if what you go after is not whatopportunity. Although his ship took
you really, truly want, it will neverseveral months to make the long journey,
satisfy you. You will always be leftat last he arrived at the far-away
wanting more.country. As soon as he set foot on shore
In fact, you can never get enough ofhe saw that all the rumors were true -
what you don't really want.the ground was literally covered with
COOKIES VERSUS APPLESprecious stones and gold. Quickly he
Here's an example: When you cravepicked up a handful and put them in his
cookies and eat one, more often than notpocket.
your craving won't be satisfied. InArmed with his newfound riches, the
fact, sometimes eating one cookieprince entered a shop filled with
actually makes your craving stronger.delicacies. He picked out some delicious
In contrast, when you crave a juicy redfoods and went to the counter to pay. To
apple and eat it you almost never needhis shock and dismay, when he held out a
to eat another one. The first apple hitslarge diamond to the shopkeeper, the man
the spot.looked at him as if he was crazy. "What
That's because what draws you to theare you trying to give me?" he asked
apple is a craving for things thatangrily. "A worthless stone! If you want
actually can be found in an apple.to buy something here, you'll need to do
Things like vitamins, fiber and healthybetter than that! You'll need to bring
sweet energy - the very things that arein some chicken fat! That's the only
abundant in a fresh, juicy fruit.currency we accept here."
But, in many cases, the craving that"Well," thought the resilient prince,
draws you to a cookie can't be satisfiedgetting over his shock, "A person has to
by a cookie. Or even more than one.live. I'll just have to get hold of
There's nothing much that your bodyenough chicken fat to keep me going
wants in a cookie. So when you cravewhile I'm here. Once I'm established, I
that cookie it's probably not really acan easily go out and collect a fortune
physical craving. What you want is moreof gold and jewels." Being rather
likely a "soul food'; i.e. somethingclever, he managed to somehow acquire a
emotional or even spiritual. You might,few starter chickens, selling their fat
for example, be craving the experienceat a good profit. He reinvested and over
of sweetness, goodness, pleasure,the course of several years amassed a
connection, abundance, a sense ofgreat store of chicken fat. He was able
security or comfort.to afford a lovely big house, servants
If you associate cookies with thoseand expensive furniture.
feelings you'll keep going for theThe prince stayed on for twenty years -
cookies. But unfortunately, no matteruntil he had accumulated the largest
how many cookies you eat, your cravingstock of chicken fat in the entire
will never be satisfiedcountry. He was tremendously pleased
In fact, rather than making youwith his success. Finally, he decided
satisfied and fulfilled, most of thethat it was time to go home, but he was
time giving yourself a lot of what youso proud and excited about his success
don't really want does the very oppositein buying and selling chicken fat that
- it makes your craving even bigger.he forgot all about the gold and jewels
This is true whether we're talking abouthe came for.
cookies, booze, money, 'toys', a biggerSo, at the end of the twentieth year, he
house, or a more exciting relationship.loaded up his ship with his hard-earned
That's why, sometimes, the people whochicken fat and set sail.
have the biggest share of the things weWhen the prince at last arrived at the
are all striving for - things likepalace, he watched proudly as his
money, success and adulation - end up onservants unloaded the treasure at the
drugs.feet of the king. But his father's
That's because money, success andexpression caused his heart to drop.
adulation are not what they really want."Chicken fat!" declared His Majesty in
They really want the happiness, pride,dismay. "Twenty years of working to make
love, connection, purpose, beauty,your fortune and all you could bring
fulfillment and appreciation that theyhome is chicken fat!!"
associate with those things.Suddenly the prince remembered why he
There's nothing wrong with fame andhad traveled to that distant country in
fortune - like there's nothing wrongthe first place. Frantically, he
with cookies - as long as you aren'tsearched the pockets of his clothing -
using those things to satisfy a cravingbut all he could find was the handful of
for something else.treasure that he had picked up from the
CRAVINGS AND ADDICTIONstreet on the very first day.
In fact, this is one definition ofCHICKEN FAT AND YOU
addiction - the insatiable need toLike our prince, most of us have gotten
satisfy a deeply rooted craving withvery, very busy collecting chicken fat.
something that simply can't satisfy it.True, if you do manage to cleverly
When your craving for something isinvest, as he did, you might acquire a
healthy, indulging that craving will notlovely home, beautiful furniture and
only satisfy you, it will allow you tomaybe even servants. But those things,
be more present in your life. Enjoying adesirable as they may be, are only a
gourmet meal, an evening by the beach, ameans to an end. If you can't remember
passionate connection with anotherwhy you are here, you'll never be able
person, or a glass of good wine can allto get what you really came for.
enhance your sense of joy and aliveness.HOW TO ACCUMULATE A TREASURE
But when your craving is unhealthy orIf, on the other hand, you want to
addictive, the opposite is true. Ratheraccumulate a real treasure, this is what
than bringing you into the present,you should do.
indulging the craving will distract andFirst of all, stop whatever you're doing
dull you.right now and ask yourself why you're
And when you can't indulge the craving -doing it in the first place.
if, for example, you fail to achieve theAsk yourself what it is, deep down
level of material success you think youinside, that you really want. What, at
need - it will disappoint and frustratethe end of the day, will give you
you too.genuine and long-lasting satisfaction
HITTING THE SPOTand pride? What is it that you're
Imagine living a life where everythingputting off until after you 'make it'?
you crave - everything you do - actuallyAnd no less important, what special
hits the spot, leaving you present,person is waiting for your time, your
alive, satisfied and fulfilled. Whatsmile, your listening ear?
could be more desirable than that?Stop waiting for the end of the day. You
The trick is, in order to know what itcan do something right now, this minute,
will take to hit that spot, you have toin order to create true joy,
know exactly where the spot is. Or insatisfaction and meaning in your life or
other words, you have to know what youthe life of someone you love. To fulfill
really want. Deep down inside, in thethe deep-rooted cravings of your soul.
core of who you are.All you have to do is recognize the
Do you want peace of mind? If you areopportunity for the treasure it is.
looking for it in a cookie, a new car orYou don't have to stop collecting
a greater level of material success, youchicken fat. That's not the point. But
probably won't find it.don't forget to pick up the gold and
Does that mean that you shouldn't strivejewels that are lying all around you,
for or enjoy those things? Not at all.unnoticed and unappreciated.
It just means that you shouldn't look toThat's where the real fortune lies.
satisfy your deep-rooted craving for© 2005 Shifra Hendrie,
peace of mind in the car dealership.*Since the Torah forbids the erasing of
They only sell cars.G-d's name, it's customary to avoid
For peace of mind you have to shopwriting it out in full.



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