Living On Purpose
Straight Answers to Life’s Tough Questions
Preface
The House Rules:
Answers to Life’s Questions
Years ago, I met a peaceful warrior in an all-night gas station. His name was Socrates, and he once told me, “I’ve noticed three kinds of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch what happens, and those who wonder what happened.” Back then I was a skilled athlete, making things happen. But outside the gym—when I faced real-world dilemmas and decisions— I mostly watched and wondered.
And I was not alone.
Many of us live our lives by accident—stumbling into relationships, wandering into careers, searching for meaning, hoping and praying that we’ll get lucky in love, find our fortune, and stay healthy. I spent years like this, living at random, until I learned to live on purpose. My education began the first time I asked Socrates a question. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “It’s the House Rules.” The “House” is Life, the Tao, the Universe, Reality; the “Rules” are universal laws or guiding principles. The House Rules presented in this book—distilled lessons from the school of life—provide reliable strategies for living wisely and well.
Purposeful living embraces both reason and faith. Reason provides clear goals, while faith and intuition teach us to trust the process of our lives. The Taoist sages remind us that flexibility overcomes rigidity—and just as a rushing stream flows around obstacles, so must our purposes adapt to the changing tides of life. Therefore, the House Rules are not rote formulas, but flexible reminders. In living on purpose and acting on principle we become like bamboo—strong yet supple—yielding to the forces we encounter, then snapping back on track.
The format of this book is also purposeful—designed for different learning styles, it provides easy access to these universal principles. Turn to any section and note that each section:
- opens with a universal question, followed by —
- a House Rule:
- a clarifying summary;
- two related questions and answers;
- a personal application page to bring that House Rule home.
Some of the questions in this book are deeply personal, while others touch universal themes; some express curiosity, while others cry out from the depths of despair. Yet all these questions come from real people around the world, and all reflect our common desires and dilemmas. The topics vary widely—relationships, work, children, health, spirituality, psychology, values, and decisions. I have edited the questions and answers for readability, and eliminated correspondents’ names because their identity bears no relation to the larger issues raised.
My responses seem to come not so much from me, but through me. I do not, however, channel any discarnate warrior-sages from the fifth dimension, chat with God, or transcribe the dictations of astral guides. I claim only a gift of expression, an intuitive ability to apply the House Rules, and an open heart. As the proverb goes, “There are no secrets where there’s love.”
Test these House Rules in your own experience; tailor them to fit your particular circumstance. You will find that they point the way to greater productivity, creativity, and fun, and show us how to live a more spiritual life in the material realm. God helps those who help themselves—and this is a self-help book. For the better we become, the better we serve our world. By living on purpose and improving the quality of our lives, we become a source of light to others.
I can’t give you any wisdom you don’t already have inside you, but I can highlight your hidden strengths. If this book stimulates self-reflection and insight — if you find yourself reaching within to find your own truths — then Living on Purpose will have served its purpose. As you turn these pages, keep faith in the higher truth that despite the dilemmas and difficulties of this world, our lives are a great Mystery, unfolding perfectly, in accord with universal laws, in the service of our awakening.
Dan Millman
Spring 2000
Is there a larger purpose for living?
Earth is a school and daily life is our classroom.
We are here to learn
by expanding our awareness
about the world
and about ourselves.
Learning about the world
helps us to succeed.
Learning about ourselves
helps us to evolve.
Our challenges in the arenas of
relationship, health, and finances
are all part of the curriculum.
Daily life teaches us all we need to know
for the next step on our journey.
Each and every day,
we find new lessons to learn.
We are involved in a mystery
that passes understanding,
and our highest business is daily life.
– John Cage
More in Living on Purpose . . .
Straight Answers To Life’s Tough Questions
Using his gifts of intuition and expression, Dan Millman presents 24 powerful reminders about Reality, then illustrates how these reminders apply to everyday life by sharing answers to real-world questions he has received from people all over the world. In what may be his wisest work, Dan reveals the truths that can set us free.
Comments by Dan:
In this reader-friendly, bite-sized book, designed to be read in sections of seven pages each, I present timeless principles — reminders that Socrates referred to as “The House Rules.” Then, through anecdotes and teaching stories, I respond to questions I’ve received that address some universal challenges of daily life. Readers of Living on Purpose will encounter familiar situations and questions, such as “How can I find the right teacher for me?” Here are reminders for daily living in a new and refreshing format.