Baba Hari Dass's Rules for Self-Development

These 19 rules were written on the wall on the way to the dining hall at Mount Madonna in California where Baba Hari Dass guides and lives for a good part of the year.
As I stood in line for food, I remember reading them and thinking wow, this is difficult but that I would love to live this way.
I still love reading the rules.......and they are difficult if you try to do them. Try to do them. I think you recognize the spaciousness and emptiness of the infinite and understand first, that you are that too, without the conditioning, the opinions, the rules, the shoulds and all that stuff - and then you become. You recognize who you are and you "become" ....be-come  to yourself and the rules are no longer rules but how you choose to live life - because that is who you are. Trying to be good is more difficult than just being yourself. Being yourself as the diamond you are only requires that you stop being who you are not. We are naturally good when all else falls away.

Here they are:

1. Express love and kindness in words and actions in dealing with others.

2. Express compassion in your actions toward those who are suffering physically or emotionally.

3. Anything that comes to you should be received as a gift from Providence.

4. Do not hoard things that are not required.

5. Give away things to those who are in need.

6. Keep busy in Selfless service.

7. Reduce your needs to a minimum.

8. Avoid reading books or discussions that are contrary to your self-development.

9. Do not indulge in any action that may cause harm to others in any form directly or indirectly.

10. Look for good qualities in others, rather than looking for their shortcomings.

11. Do not get involved in unnecessary talks.

12. Do not expect praise for your good actions.

13. Anger, hate, jealousy appear in the mind by comparing with others. They should be replaced by love to others.

14. Be humble and give respect to others.

15. Pray to God for forgiveness of any undesired actions, done knowingly or unknowingly.

16. Perform your duties towards your family, society, and country with pure and selfless intent.

17. Do not let laziness or dullness control your mind.

18. Be honest to others, as well as yourself.

19. Be firm in your spiritual convictions.