One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
Very good, Dad!"
"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.
"Yeah!"
"And what did you learn?"
The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon."
When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.
His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!"
Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you've got everything!
You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sitting by the side of the mind !!!
One day Buddha was passing by a forest on a hot summer day and he felt very thirsty. He said to Ananda, his chief disciple, “Ananda, you go back. Just four miles back we passed a small stream of water. You bring a little water — take my begging bowl. I am feeling very thirsty and tired.”
Ananda goes back, but by the time he reaches the stream, a few bullock carts have just passed through the stream and they have made the whole stream muddy. Dead leaves which had settled into the bed have risen up; it was no longer possible to drink the water — it was too dirty. He came back empty-handed, and he said, “You will have to wait a little. I will go ahead. I have heard that just two, three miles ahead there is a big river. I will bring water from there.” But Buddha insists. He said, “You go back and bring water from the same stream.”
Ananda could not understand the insistence, but if the master says so, the disciple has to follow. Seeing the absurdity of it — that again he will have to walk three, four miles, and he knows that water is not worth drinking — he goes.
When he was going, Buddha said, “And don’t come back if the water is still dirty. If it is dirty, you simply sit on the bank silently. Don’t do anything, don’t get into the stream. Sit on the bank silently and watch. Sooner or later the water will be clear again, and then you fill the bowl and come back.”
Ananda goes there. Buddha is right: the water is almost clear, the leaves have moved, the dust had settled. But it was not absolutely clear yet, so he sat on the bank just watching the river flow by. Slowly slowly, it became crystal-clear. Then he understood why Buddha was so insistent. He gave the water to Buddha and touched his feet.
Buddha said, “What are you doing? I should thank you that you have brought water for me.”
Ananda said, “At first I was angry, because it was absurd to go back. But now I understand the message. Sitting on the bank of that small stream, I became aware that the same is the case with my mind. If I jump into the stream I will make it dirty again. If I jump into the mind more noise is created, more problems would start unravelling"
“Now I will be sitting by the side of my mind too, watching it with all its dirtiness and problems and old leaves and hurts and wounds, memories, desires. Unconcerned I will sit on the bank and wait for the moment when everything is clear.”
As they say, if we can control our mind we can control everything inside-out not only concerning us but the whole universe. The objective should be crystal clear, that's the ask
Ananda goes back, but by the time he reaches the stream, a few bullock carts have just passed through the stream and they have made the whole stream muddy. Dead leaves which had settled into the bed have risen up; it was no longer possible to drink the water — it was too dirty. He came back empty-handed, and he said, “You will have to wait a little. I will go ahead. I have heard that just two, three miles ahead there is a big river. I will bring water from there.” But Buddha insists. He said, “You go back and bring water from the same stream.”
Ananda could not understand the insistence, but if the master says so, the disciple has to follow. Seeing the absurdity of it — that again he will have to walk three, four miles, and he knows that water is not worth drinking — he goes.
When he was going, Buddha said, “And don’t come back if the water is still dirty. If it is dirty, you simply sit on the bank silently. Don’t do anything, don’t get into the stream. Sit on the bank silently and watch. Sooner or later the water will be clear again, and then you fill the bowl and come back.”
Ananda goes there. Buddha is right: the water is almost clear, the leaves have moved, the dust had settled. But it was not absolutely clear yet, so he sat on the bank just watching the river flow by. Slowly slowly, it became crystal-clear. Then he understood why Buddha was so insistent. He gave the water to Buddha and touched his feet.
Buddha said, “What are you doing? I should thank you that you have brought water for me.”
Ananda said, “At first I was angry, because it was absurd to go back. But now I understand the message. Sitting on the bank of that small stream, I became aware that the same is the case with my mind. If I jump into the stream I will make it dirty again. If I jump into the mind more noise is created, more problems would start unravelling"
“Now I will be sitting by the side of my mind too, watching it with all its dirtiness and problems and old leaves and hurts and wounds, memories, desires. Unconcerned I will sit on the bank and wait for the moment when everything is clear.”
As they say, if we can control our mind we can control everything inside-out not only concerning us but the whole universe. The objective should be crystal clear, that's the ask
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Driver And The Priest
We all know what is to be inside an autorickshaw especially when the driver happens to be or thinks himself to be a serious contender of Bernie Ecclestone's wealth churner, the Formula 1. Read on :
Once a priest took an auto to reach his abode. Unfortunately during the traverse, they met with an accident. Both went up but the surprising part was this :
Priest was given second chance to enter heaven and the autodriver was given the first chance. Of course our priest asked to double check the anomaly in arrangement of the who-goes-first. But the result, as documented by the angels with firmness, was the same.
And the reason was quite simple :
Auto driver had made people remember God more intensely than the Priest !!!
Once a priest took an auto to reach his abode. Unfortunately during the traverse, they met with an accident. Both went up but the surprising part was this :
Priest was given second chance to enter heaven and the autodriver was given the first chance. Of course our priest asked to double check the anomaly in arrangement of the who-goes-first. But the result, as documented by the angels with firmness, was the same.
And the reason was quite simple :
Auto driver had made people remember God more intensely than the Priest !!!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
What Can 1 Do
Taken from an anonymous poem in Tim Berner's Lee popular paradigm...Have a look at it and think about it !!!
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true,
One life can make a difference,
You see, it's up to you!
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true,
One life can make a difference,
You see, it's up to you!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Well and the Donkey
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for ...hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
If at all, we can sustain and shove off things just like the four-legged, things would be brighter most of the time, if not everytime
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
If at all, we can sustain and shove off things just like the four-legged, things would be brighter most of the time, if not everytime
Thursday, October 13, 2011
"Dont just hope...Decide !!" was the answer
When Amar went to drop his friend in the airport, he seldom thought that he would be the witness to the most beautiful thing everyone wants in this world....Love And Affection. A family was waiting anxiously for their Head to land and when the opportune moment came, the father hugged his elder son first and then his younger son.
In the meantime, the little baby girl was almost jumping from her mother's lap to greet her returning father. Father took her in his shoulders and hugged her with all the compassion and love for his lovely daughter. She immediately got relaxed as she lay her head on his shoulders.
Then came the man's beloved's turn. He kissed her passionately for some time and then they hugged each other with all the contentment and happiness of being a happy couple, as they were.
Amar went to the couple, greeted the man and said, "I have been looking you guys for some time. I felt so good to see your family union. How long have you guys been married".
"Twelve years !!!" came the reply.
"Great...and you both still seem to have the same feelings you would have carried before marriage...that's wonderful"
"How long have you been away from your family then" and the startling answer was "Two whole Days !!"
Amar replied, "How I only hoped and wished that I too have the same fervour of togetherness with my family even after 12 years"
"Brother, dont wish just take the decision for once and for all, that your family would be the most cherished and the best-thing-to-have-happened in your life"
For any matters of life, there's this decision making which takes and makes the cut of making things wondrous around us or dreary around us. Its all a matter of decision to be right and to be not right. If you are not able to come to the right perspective, fight the seemless situations/un-opportunes and dont stop vying till your last's last
In the meantime, the little baby girl was almost jumping from her mother's lap to greet her returning father. Father took her in his shoulders and hugged her with all the compassion and love for his lovely daughter. She immediately got relaxed as she lay her head on his shoulders.
Then came the man's beloved's turn. He kissed her passionately for some time and then they hugged each other with all the contentment and happiness of being a happy couple, as they were.
Amar went to the couple, greeted the man and said, "I have been looking you guys for some time. I felt so good to see your family union. How long have you guys been married".
"Twelve years !!!" came the reply.
"Great...and you both still seem to have the same feelings you would have carried before marriage...that's wonderful"
"How long have you been away from your family then" and the startling answer was "Two whole Days !!"
Amar replied, "How I only hoped and wished that I too have the same fervour of togetherness with my family even after 12 years"
"Brother, dont wish just take the decision for once and for all, that your family would be the most cherished and the best-thing-to-have-happened in your life"
For any matters of life, there's this decision making which takes and makes the cut of making things wondrous around us or dreary around us. Its all a matter of decision to be right and to be not right. If you are not able to come to the right perspective, fight the seemless situations/un-opportunes and dont stop vying till your last's last
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Hang On to Chime
This is a strange world,
Sometimes...
If we laugh, you are bound to laugh less,
If you cry, you are bound to cry more
You are here and You have to do,
No matter what, you have to move,
Even if being laughed or made to cry,
Try not to lose yourself from I
In the end, what matters is You,
You being yourself,You being One Self,
Wearing, you may be, in the dunes of time,
But Never give up and learn to chime
When you lose a thing, You feel crestfallen
When you win a thing, You feel bedfallen
If you want to be happy,
Just be simple as you could be
And never stop to rise,
Everytime you fall
Sometimes...
If we laugh, you are bound to laugh less,
If you cry, you are bound to cry more
You are here and You have to do,
No matter what, you have to move,
Even if being laughed or made to cry,
Try not to lose yourself from I
In the end, what matters is You,
You being yourself,You being One Self,
Wearing, you may be, in the dunes of time,
But Never give up and learn to chime
When you lose a thing, You feel crestfallen
When you win a thing, You feel bedfallen
If you want to be happy,
Just be simple as you could be
And never stop to rise,
Everytime you fall
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Serendipity Within Us
George Dantzig was a famed mathematician who contributed inmmensely to Operations Research and Systems Engineering. He was a hard working student during the school days and often slept late in nights. One day he overslept and arrived late for Professor's class.
He quickly copied the 2 math's problems on the board, assuming they were the homework assignments. It took him several hours to work through the problems, but finally he got the breakthrough and dropped the homework on the professor's desk.
Six weeks later, on a Sunday morning, his excited professor awakened George at 6 AM telling him the unparalleled news. Since George was late for the class, he hadn't heard the professor announce that the two unsolvable equations on the board were mathematical mind-teasers that even Einstein hadn't been able to answer.
But George Dantzig working without any thoughts of limitation had solved not one, but two problems that had stumped mathematicians for thousands of years. And how did he do it...He simply didn't knew that he couldn't.
We are always under the impression that the things which we are doing or as a matter of fact, things which we ought to do are only the ones which we can do. But we never realise our true potential unless and until serendipity occurs in our life, which sometimes turns out to be a life changing one and sometimes not !!!!
He quickly copied the 2 math's problems on the board, assuming they were the homework assignments. It took him several hours to work through the problems, but finally he got the breakthrough and dropped the homework on the professor's desk.
Six weeks later, on a Sunday morning, his excited professor awakened George at 6 AM telling him the unparalleled news. Since George was late for the class, he hadn't heard the professor announce that the two unsolvable equations on the board were mathematical mind-teasers that even Einstein hadn't been able to answer.
But George Dantzig working without any thoughts of limitation had solved not one, but two problems that had stumped mathematicians for thousands of years. And how did he do it...He simply didn't knew that he couldn't.
We are always under the impression that the things which we are doing or as a matter of fact, things which we ought to do are only the ones which we can do. But we never realise our true potential unless and until serendipity occurs in our life, which sometimes turns out to be a life changing one and sometimes not !!!!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Affirming The Lessons
Make the mind and the body tell,
There are many ways to excel,
It is easy to quit, hard to try,
Just reverse it and you can fly.
Fly as far as you can,
But dont forget, you're a man,
Always be within your limits,
On crossing, you become a mimic
Whatever you do, please remember,
Dont do, if your soul tremble,
It could give you the lust of life,
Paying for, may cause the rest of life
There are many ways to excel,
It is easy to quit, hard to try,
Just reverse it and you can fly.
Fly as far as you can,
But dont forget, you're a man,
Always be within your limits,
On crossing, you become a mimic
Whatever you do, please remember,
Dont do, if your soul tremble,
It could give you the lust of life,
Paying for, may cause the rest of life
Monday, September 19, 2011
Have the courage to not blink
During the civil war in Korea, a certain general and his troops were advancing implacably, taking province after province, destroying everything in their path. The people in one city, hearing that the general was approaching and knowing his cruel reputation, fled to a nearby mountain.
The troops found the houses empty. After much searching, though, they found one Zen monk who had stayed behind. The general ordered that he be brought before him, but the monk refused to go.
Furious, the general went to him instead.
‘You obviously don’t know who I am!’ he bawled. ‘I am capable of stabbing you in the chest with my sword without so much as blinking.’
The Zen master turned and replied calmly:
‘You obviously don’t know who I am either. I am capable of letting myself be stabbed in the chest by a sword without so much as blinking.’
This is what is courage in its exact sense. We all tend to get into adversities but how many of us really face them with full vigor and grit and still manage to do things in the correct way. Its what lies within us that usually decides how much fight lies within us.
The troops found the houses empty. After much searching, though, they found one Zen monk who had stayed behind. The general ordered that he be brought before him, but the monk refused to go.
Furious, the general went to him instead.
‘You obviously don’t know who I am!’ he bawled. ‘I am capable of stabbing you in the chest with my sword without so much as blinking.’
The Zen master turned and replied calmly:
‘You obviously don’t know who I am either. I am capable of letting myself be stabbed in the chest by a sword without so much as blinking.’
This is what is courage in its exact sense. We all tend to get into adversities but how many of us really face them with full vigor and grit and still manage to do things in the correct way. Its what lies within us that usually decides how much fight lies within us.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Taking Things For Granted
Sometimes, we do take people, things, situations around us for granted and when the time flies past, if we have the level headedness to check back, we begin to realise the importance of them.
When I was loved without my Knowledge,
When I was moved without my Movement,
When I was called without my Calling,
When I was happy without knowing the Reason
Alas, I took things for granted
When I was helped, without the Need,
When I was asked for, just to make me feel good,
When I was hated, To make me feel strong,
when I was sincerely sought after,
Alas, I took things for granted
Now that I learnt, Its easy to misunderstand,
Now that I heard, Its hard to Contemplate,
Now that I felt, The Life's tantalizing Reverie,
I hope I dont miss the Love,
The Honesty, The Modesty, The Faithfulness,
And I could view The Things As It Is
Or view the People As They Are
For Things Should Never Be Taken For Granted,
Trust me, Would give us more than ---- We Wanted !!!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Onam Ashamsakal - The Story Behind Kerala's Biggest Festival
Come September 9, 2011. The day happens to be the most popular and big festival of my native state, Kerala. It is called Onam or Tiruvonam. Almost all the local channels, hoardings and shopping malls would be buzzling with the offers, discounts and debits - to happen from the shopping cards !!!
Well, to commemorate the advent of Onam, here's the real story behind the festivities in God's Own Country.
It marks the advent of a great demon King, called Mahabali(grandson of Bhakt Prahlad), who used to reside in Kerala long time ago. It is said that everyone in his kingdom were happy and prosperous and no one was touched with the sadness or unhappy quotient.
His rule and vigor became so famous that he was thought to be a replacement of Indra, the God of Gods. Maha Vishnu then took the Vamana (Dwarf) avataram and came with the intention of tricking him
When he came, he asked Mahabali to grant him some land. The majestic king humbly agreed and asked him to take as much land as he wants. The Vamana then started increasing in size in cosmic proportions and in first step, he measured the whole of earth. On the second step, he measured the whole of skies.
Third step was still to be kept and there was no place to keep or measure anything. The noble king asked Mahavishnu, in disguise, to keep the third step on him and he was pushed to Patala (the nether world).
It is said that Mahavishnu was so touched by his generousity that he asked him any wish he wanted. And the king, as he was attached to his kingdom, asked him to let him come and visit his kingdom atleast once a year.
The day happens to be now called "Onam". To wish any Keralite, here's the magic age-old mantra "Ellavarkum Hridayam Niranja Onam Ashamsakal" which means "Heartful wishes for Onam to everyone !!!"
Well, to commemorate the advent of Onam, here's the real story behind the festivities in God's Own Country.
It marks the advent of a great demon King, called Mahabali(grandson of Bhakt Prahlad), who used to reside in Kerala long time ago. It is said that everyone in his kingdom were happy and prosperous and no one was touched with the sadness or unhappy quotient.
His rule and vigor became so famous that he was thought to be a replacement of Indra, the God of Gods. Maha Vishnu then took the Vamana (Dwarf) avataram and came with the intention of tricking him
When he came, he asked Mahabali to grant him some land. The majestic king humbly agreed and asked him to take as much land as he wants. The Vamana then started increasing in size in cosmic proportions and in first step, he measured the whole of earth. On the second step, he measured the whole of skies.
Third step was still to be kept and there was no place to keep or measure anything. The noble king asked Mahavishnu, in disguise, to keep the third step on him and he was pushed to Patala (the nether world).
It is said that Mahavishnu was so touched by his generousity that he asked him any wish he wanted. And the king, as he was attached to his kingdom, asked him to let him come and visit his kingdom atleast once a year.
The day happens to be now called "Onam". To wish any Keralite, here's the magic age-old mantra "Ellavarkum Hridayam Niranja Onam Ashamsakal" which means "Heartful wishes for Onam to everyone !!!"
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A Trapped Whale in 2005
If you read the front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday, Dec 15, 2005, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines.
The fifty-foot whale was weighed down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her tail, her torso and a line tugging in her mouth.
A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallone Islands (outside the Golden Gate), USA and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her - a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.
They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around - she thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.
The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
It doesn't matter whether we helped a large being or a small one. It does matter whether we helped or not, for it may have made a world of difference to someone, including you.
The fifty-foot whale was weighed down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her tail, her torso and a line tugging in her mouth.
A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallone Islands (outside the Golden Gate), USA and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her - a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.
They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around - she thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.
The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
It doesn't matter whether we helped a large being or a small one. It does matter whether we helped or not, for it may have made a world of difference to someone, including you.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Barber and The God
A man went to trim his hair and beard. As always happens, he and the barber chatted about this and that, until – commenting on a newspaper article about street kids – the barber stated:
"As you can see, this tragedy shows that God doesn’t exist. Don’t you read the papers? So many people suffer, abandoned children, there’s so much crime. If God existed, there wouldn’t be so much suffering."
"You know something? Barbers don’t exist."
"What do you mean, don’t exist? I’m here, and I’m a barber."
"They don’t exist!" insisted the man. – "Because if they did, there wouldn’t be people with such longs beards and such tangled hair."
"I can guarantee that barbers do exist. But these people never come in here."
"Exactly! So, in answer to your question, God exists, too. It just so happens that people don’t go to Him. If they did, they would be more giving, and there wouldn’t be so much misery in the world.
"As you can see, this tragedy shows that God doesn’t exist. Don’t you read the papers? So many people suffer, abandoned children, there’s so much crime. If God existed, there wouldn’t be so much suffering."
"You know something? Barbers don’t exist."
"What do you mean, don’t exist? I’m here, and I’m a barber."
"They don’t exist!" insisted the man. – "Because if they did, there wouldn’t be people with such longs beards and such tangled hair."
"I can guarantee that barbers do exist. But these people never come in here."
"Exactly! So, in answer to your question, God exists, too. It just so happens that people don’t go to Him. If they did, they would be more giving, and there wouldn’t be so much misery in the world.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Divine Play of Lion, Cats and Mice
We all have our kitty of compaints and regrets against God sometime or many times in our life. Check the simple divine fact in the form of a beautiful story :
A lion came across a group of cats having a chat. “I’m going to devour them,” he thought.
But then an odd feeling of calm came over him. And he decided to sit down with them and pay attention to what they were saying.
"Good God!"said one of the cats, without noticing the lion’s presence. "We have prayed all afternoon! We asked for the skies to rain mice on us!"
"And so far nothing has happened!" said another. "I wonder if the Lord really exists."
The skies remained mute. And the cats lost their faith.
The lion rose and went on his way, thinking: “funny how things are. I was going to kill those animals, but God stopped me. And even so, they stopped believing in divine grace. They were so worried about what was missing that they did not even notice the protection they were given.”
A lion came across a group of cats having a chat. “I’m going to devour them,” he thought.
But then an odd feeling of calm came over him. And he decided to sit down with them and pay attention to what they were saying.
"Good God!"said one of the cats, without noticing the lion’s presence. "We have prayed all afternoon! We asked for the skies to rain mice on us!"
"And so far nothing has happened!" said another. "I wonder if the Lord really exists."
The skies remained mute. And the cats lost their faith.
The lion rose and went on his way, thinking: “funny how things are. I was going to kill those animals, but God stopped me. And even so, they stopped believing in divine grace. They were so worried about what was missing that they did not even notice the protection they were given.”
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Enlighten and Enliven Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the traits which sometimes takes a backseat in our day to day chores. Unfortunately, most of us value only the thing given rather than the feelings embodied in it.
A young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher.
After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.
Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student asked his teacher: "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?"
The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter."
Let the Gratitude inside us be always alighted and enlivened !!!
A young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher.
After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.
Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student asked his teacher: "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?"
The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter."
Let the Gratitude inside us be always alighted and enlivened !!!
Friday, August 12, 2011
!!! Happy Independence Day !!!
On the occasion of 64th version, here's wishing all my fellow brothers and their sisters a Very Happy Independence Day. Here's an attempt to pen down my thoughts on one of the most important day in the life of all of us, as Citizens of India!!!
When we were school going kids
When we stood in the assembly line,
When the National Anthem was sung,
When we raised our heads and minds,
When we thought about the martyrs,
When we learnt about the abundance,
Plethora of knowledge and divinity inherent
I loved my India
As we grew up,
As we started understanding the world,
As we learnt that We are Citizens,
As we learnt about Democracy,
As we saw the goods and the bads,
As we learnt the mysteriousness,
Wrong and the Righteousness,
I loved my country
Religions aplenty, dogmas a plenty,
Breakthroughs, happenings, bigshots,
Everything which is Dormant and Revealed,
Birthland of Zero and the Infinity,
Makes me wonder the vicinity
And for all that It has given me,
The mere existence of being Me,
In the Geographical demarche
On the Day of its Independence,
One thought in my mind,
I Love You My Country
I Love You My India !!!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Let The Children Play
A priest, having started a family, no longer had any peace for his prayers. One night, when he knelt down, he was disturbed by the children in the living room.
"Children keep quiet!" he shouted.
Thereafter, whenever the priest came home, they all maintained silence during prayers. But he realized that God was no longer listening.
One night, during his prayers, he asked the Lord: "what is going on? I have the necessary peace, and I cannot pray!"
An angel replied: "He hears words, but no longer hears the laughter. He notices the devotion, but can no longer see the joy."
The priest stood and shouted once again to his wife: "Let the children play! They are a part of prayer!"
Story apart, thing is we can't attain inner peace unless and until we make sure that our external paradigms are well taken care of. We can feel abyss only when we make everyone around us feel the same, or atleast do the best we can to make things around us seem better
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Ramakrishna Teaches About Faith
Sri Ramakrisna tells the story of a man who was about to cross a river, when master Bibhishana came over, wrote a name on a leaf, tied it to the man’s back, and said:
Don’t be afraid. Your faith will help you walk on the waters. But the minute you lose faith, you will drown.
The man trusted Bibhishana, and began to walk on the waters, without any difficulty. At a certain point, he had an overwhelming desire to know what his master had written on the leaf tied to his back.
He took it and read what was written:
“Oh god Rama, help this man to cross the river.”
“Is that all?” thought the man. “And who is this god Rama, anyway?”
The moment this doubt became lodged in his mind, he was submerged and drowned in the strong current.
Which explains the fact that if we want to do the improbable, impossible, impertinent things to be done or happen in our life, we are supposed to condition our mind so that its got to believe and visualize things which have not materialized in the first place. We should have unflinching faith in whatever we do.
Don’t be afraid. Your faith will help you walk on the waters. But the minute you lose faith, you will drown.
The man trusted Bibhishana, and began to walk on the waters, without any difficulty. At a certain point, he had an overwhelming desire to know what his master had written on the leaf tied to his back.
He took it and read what was written:
“Oh god Rama, help this man to cross the river.”
“Is that all?” thought the man. “And who is this god Rama, anyway?”
The moment this doubt became lodged in his mind, he was submerged and drowned in the strong current.
Which explains the fact that if we want to do the improbable, impossible, impertinent things to be done or happen in our life, we are supposed to condition our mind so that its got to believe and visualize things which have not materialized in the first place. We should have unflinching faith in whatever we do.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Keep Breathing !!!!
We were screening Tom Hanks starrer, Cast Away, in our office and there was this dialogue by him in the end which made me pen down this one. Hope it helps us to stay There and breathe...
When happenings happen,
When breeze turns into storms,
When tides are higher than your depth,
Keep Breathing !!!
When we know we would be down,
As nothing could be done,
When we know we did our best,
And nothing comes off blue,
Keep breathing !!!
When lumps fills your throat,
When your heart feels to be free,
When you feel the need to connect to You,
Keep breathing !!!
No matter what the fate brings to you,
No matter how much you can sustain,
No matter how many times you kiss the dust,
No matter whether Matters matter,
Still hang on And
Keep breathing !!!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Hit with an umbrella
A fervent Buddhist lady made every effort to love others. But every time she went to the market, a merchant made indecent proposals to her.
One rainy morning, when the man bothered her once again, she lost control and hit him on the face with her umbrella.
That same afternoon, she sought out a monk and told him what had happened.
“I am ashamed,” she said. “I couldn’t control my hate.”
“You did wrong to hate him,” answered the monk. ” But life is about communicating our feelings to each other – and you need to understand that people are different”.
“The next time he says something, fill your heart with goodness.
“And hit him again with your umbrella, because that’s the only language he knows.”
In short, sometimes we have to do what we ought to do, there should not be any second thought to it. But at the same time, we have to maintain the correct decorum inside us, so that we dont lose our feet and balance
One rainy morning, when the man bothered her once again, she lost control and hit him on the face with her umbrella.
That same afternoon, she sought out a monk and told him what had happened.
“I am ashamed,” she said. “I couldn’t control my hate.”
“You did wrong to hate him,” answered the monk. ” But life is about communicating our feelings to each other – and you need to understand that people are different”.
“The next time he says something, fill your heart with goodness.
“And hit him again with your umbrella, because that’s the only language he knows.”
In short, sometimes we have to do what we ought to do, there should not be any second thought to it. But at the same time, we have to maintain the correct decorum inside us, so that we dont lose our feet and balance
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Let Go Off It !!!
A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream.
The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.
The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.
But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.
“Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.”
Let no thing in this world be so luring to us that we cannot part with it for the noble and the right deeds. Think about it and keep in mind the conscious righteousness !!! Let go off It, if it is for the goodness of the whole !!!
The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.
The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.
But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.
“Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.”
Let no thing in this world be so luring to us that we cannot part with it for the noble and the right deeds. Think about it and keep in mind the conscious righteousness !!! Let go off It, if it is for the goodness of the whole !!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Stress buster hang-ons
Stress is a wonderful enhancer of unwanted things happening in our life. It ensures that we are tapping the weakest potential we all possess inside the temple of mind and body.
While in a grocery store, a person overheard a mother, saying to her baby, "Dont yell Jennifer !!! Dont scream Jennifer !!! Be calm Jennifer !!!". The person was very impressed by her social understandability and he went on to her and said, "You did a good job by making your baby understand the correct behavior".
She replied, "I am Jennifer" !!!
We all need some stress buster to hang on, to ensure that our mode of functioning does not go into the reverse gear and we still maintain the same energy and vitality on our part, which of course, make sure that we are tapped to our utmost and best potential
While in a grocery store, a person overheard a mother, saying to her baby, "Dont yell Jennifer !!! Dont scream Jennifer !!! Be calm Jennifer !!!". The person was very impressed by her social understandability and he went on to her and said, "You did a good job by making your baby understand the correct behavior".
She replied, "I am Jennifer" !!!
We all need some stress buster to hang on, to ensure that our mode of functioning does not go into the reverse gear and we still maintain the same energy and vitality on our part, which of course, make sure that we are tapped to our utmost and best potential
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Make The Heart Go First
In the middle of a storm, a pilgrim reaches an inn and the owner asks where he is going.
“I’m going to the mountains,” he answers.
“Forget it,” says the innkeeper, “it’s a risky climb, and the weather is awful.”
“But I’m going up,” answers the pilgrim.”It is my dream”.
“If my heart got there first, it will be easy to follow it with my body.”
That's why it is said that whatever and howsoever you do, we should first like the thing we are doing. If we like it from heart, then it becomes all the more easy to sustain and make sure that the thing is probably taken care of in its right form
“I’m going to the mountains,” he answers.
“Forget it,” says the innkeeper, “it’s a risky climb, and the weather is awful.”
“But I’m going up,” answers the pilgrim.”It is my dream”.
“If my heart got there first, it will be easy to follow it with my body.”
That's why it is said that whatever and howsoever you do, we should first like the thing we are doing. If we like it from heart, then it becomes all the more easy to sustain and make sure that the thing is probably taken care of in its right form
Sunday, July 17, 2011
It Takes Courage To Show Courage
It takes courage, To refrain from gossip
When others delight in it,
To stand up for the absent person
Who is being abused.
It takes courage, To live honestly
Within your means,
And not dishonestly
On the means of others.
It takes courage, To be a REAL man or a TRUE woman,
To hold fast to your ideals
When it causes you, To be looked upon
As strange and peculiar.
It takes courage To be talked about,
And remain silent,
When a word would justify you
In the eyes of others,
But which you dare not speak
Because it would injure another.
It takes courage, To refuse to do something
That is wrong
Although everyone else
May be doing it
With attitudes as carefree
As a summer song.
It takes courage, To live according
To your own convictions,
To deny yourself
What you cannot afford.
To love your neighbor
As yourself!
----Courtesy : Anonymous
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Risk living your dreams
There are times when you know what you should do and you could not do. There are times when we think we can but we are not recognized. There are times when you dont get the right input and affection. There are times when external factors are more strong than your inner strength. There are times when day seems to be night. There are times when we are bound to think that things would never be the same. There are times when you lose your importance to yourself.
But......
When an individual remains calm and resolute, determined to prove his mettle, stoic in his belief towards living his dream and believe himself
There would be a time when you would be appreciated for what you thought. There would be a time when you would be the source of the right inputs. There would be a time when your dreams would nurture themselves. There would be a time when factors does not matter anymore. There would be a time when your night would bring a bright sunshine every moment in a day.
Its all a matter of inner peace and satisfaction which you have to learn to contemplate and balance so that you get the right waves from your inner spheres.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Rendezvous With Corporate World
Finally, I managed to pen down a post after a long hiatus, for this time I was truly vying for my old dormant verse-writer to resurface. And here is one of my experience with the corporate world and how we should ideally and rightly so, take them in our own stride as and when it starts its aura of engulfing you inside You.
Welcome To The Corporate World,
The World Where One Would Be Twisted,
The World Where One Would Be Shaken,
The World Where One Meets The Threshold,
The World Where One Becomes The One - A Corporate
Inside the Corporate WOrld -----
There's a Game, where everyone plays their own,
There's a Game, where someone plays their own,
There's a Game, where no-one plays their own,
There Would be a Game, where You play your own
Inside the Corporate WOrld -----
Things may seem lively, but they aren't
Things never seem lively, but they 're
Things, sometimes, never seem like things,
But then, sometimes, Things make you Think
Now, When You Think, You Should Think Global,
When You Think Global, You Learn Things,
When You Learn Things, You Understand Things,
When You Understand, You Get The Righteous...inside-out
Best Shot In The Corporate World ---------
Be The Best You Can, Take The Best You Can,
Try The Best You Can, Meet The Best You Can,
On course, dont shove off the best you have,
Let the Corporate World Be the Game/Same,
For What Matters is Your Growth
And How You Remain The Same...inside-out
Welcome To The Corporate World,
The World Where One Would Be Twisted,
The World Where One Would Be Shaken,
The World Where One Meets The Threshold,
The World Where One Becomes The One - A Corporate
Inside the Corporate WOrld -----
There's a Game, where everyone plays their own,
There's a Game, where someone plays their own,
There's a Game, where no-one plays their own,
There Would be a Game, where You play your own
Inside the Corporate WOrld -----
Things may seem lively, but they aren't
Things never seem lively, but they 're
Things, sometimes, never seem like things,
But then, sometimes, Things make you Think
Now, When You Think, You Should Think Global,
When You Think Global, You Learn Things,
When You Learn Things, You Understand Things,
When You Understand, You Get The Righteous...inside-out
Best Shot In The Corporate World ---------
Be The Best You Can, Take The Best You Can,
Try The Best You Can, Meet The Best You Can,
On course, dont shove off the best you have,
Let the Corporate World Be the Game/Same,
For What Matters is Your Growth
And How You Remain The Same...inside-out
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wait Till Your Worry Is Worth Worrying
How many of us are tempted to worry about things, which never saw the broad day light. But still we went on worrying too much and when we looked back, we saw that no dragon was ever there, for most of the time. This has happened and would happen many a times in our lives, every now and then. One small article which I came across while surfing which was quite good to be pondered upon.
I used to worry. A lot. The more I fretted, the more proficient I became at it. Anxiety begets anxiety. I even worried that I worried too much! Ulcers might develop. My health could fail. My finances could deplete to pay the hospital bills.
A comedian once said, "I tried to drown my worries with gin, but my worries are equipped with flotation devices." While not a drinker, I certainly could identify! My worries could swim, jump and pole vault!
To get some perspective, I visited a well known, Dallas businessman, Fred Smith. Fred mentored such luminaries as motivational whiz Zig Ziglar, business guru Ken Blanchard and leadership expert John Maxwell. Fred listened as I poured out my concerns and then said, "Vicki, you need to learn to wait to worry."
As the words sank in, I asked Fred if he ever spent time fretting. (I was quite certain he wouldn't admit it if he did. He was pretty full of testosterone-even at age 90.) To my surprise, he confessed that in years gone by he had been a top-notch worrier!
"I decided that I would wait to worry!" he explained. "I decided that I'd wait until I actually had a reason to worry-something that was happening, not just something that might happen-before I worried."
"When I'm tempted to get alarmed," he confided, "I tell myself, 'Fred, you've got to wait to worry! Until you know differently, don't worry.' And I don't. Waiting to worry helps me develop the habit of not worrying and that helps me not be tempted to worry."
Fred possessed a quick mind and a gift for gab. As such, he became a captivating public speaker. "I frequently ask audiences what they were worried about this time last year. I get a lot of laughs," he said, "because most people can't remember. Then I ask if they have a current worry - you see nods from everybody. Then I remind them that the average worrier is 92% inefficient - only 8% of what we worry about ever comes true."
Charles Spurgeon said it best. "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."
So let us wait for the real worry to come before us before we really start worrying about the real worry
I used to worry. A lot. The more I fretted, the more proficient I became at it. Anxiety begets anxiety. I even worried that I worried too much! Ulcers might develop. My health could fail. My finances could deplete to pay the hospital bills.
A comedian once said, "I tried to drown my worries with gin, but my worries are equipped with flotation devices." While not a drinker, I certainly could identify! My worries could swim, jump and pole vault!
To get some perspective, I visited a well known, Dallas businessman, Fred Smith. Fred mentored such luminaries as motivational whiz Zig Ziglar, business guru Ken Blanchard and leadership expert John Maxwell. Fred listened as I poured out my concerns and then said, "Vicki, you need to learn to wait to worry."
As the words sank in, I asked Fred if he ever spent time fretting. (I was quite certain he wouldn't admit it if he did. He was pretty full of testosterone-even at age 90.) To my surprise, he confessed that in years gone by he had been a top-notch worrier!
"I decided that I would wait to worry!" he explained. "I decided that I'd wait until I actually had a reason to worry-something that was happening, not just something that might happen-before I worried."
"When I'm tempted to get alarmed," he confided, "I tell myself, 'Fred, you've got to wait to worry! Until you know differently, don't worry.' And I don't. Waiting to worry helps me develop the habit of not worrying and that helps me not be tempted to worry."
Fred possessed a quick mind and a gift for gab. As such, he became a captivating public speaker. "I frequently ask audiences what they were worried about this time last year. I get a lot of laughs," he said, "because most people can't remember. Then I ask if they have a current worry - you see nods from everybody. Then I remind them that the average worrier is 92% inefficient - only 8% of what we worry about ever comes true."
Charles Spurgeon said it best. "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."
So let us wait for the real worry to come before us before we really start worrying about the real worry
Friday, February 18, 2011
A Simple Guy Named Bryan Adams
I had one of my dreams come true recently when I saw him in the real and true sense. The dream was to see and hear Bryan Adams, whom I adore for his sheer simplicity and down-to-earth persona, live. And he was just fantastic and rocking, as usual. The rock star had come to Hyderabad for an open concert and me and my friends made sure that we do not miss this memorable extravaganza.
The heartening thing about Bryan was that he performed on stage with his electric-guitar and his trademark mouth-organ, with such ease and gaiety that everyone present to witness the demi-god were mesmerised. The environment was electrifying and each one of us were blissfully enjoying the musical aroma created around us. His raspy voice sang more than 20 songs and all-of-them were as afresh as the ones which he recorded on studios.
I could never forget his numbers like Summer Of '69, Here I Am, Clould Number 9, Star...and many more...Another thing which really made my impression about him was that he quit school at the tender age of 15 -- all for the sake of music and used to play in the nightclubs. He had his own stages of hardships in his early career as he had to give demos and be content with small work, whenever he got any. But he finally got the stature, that he truly and fittingly deserved.
This makes me wonder one thing and that is if we work hard and we truly believe and enjoy what we believe in, one day by the God's grace, we would reach the abode for which we all are here to sail for.
Wonderful Evening it was and an unforgettable one...Thanks Bryan for being what you are...God Bless!!!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Light
We all have that innate ability to disseminate the right with wrong and the essential with the non essentials. However, for a reason which may or may not be known, we tend to ignore the correct things to be done at the expense of something else.
This poem has been penned to remind me of keeping the flame of choosing the right, with a strong belief & smile, and if we can sustain it for a reasonable amount of time, the former version is slated to be startled by the second version.
To make you go wrong or weak,
Fight the right to bolster your might,
Which will help to make things go right
Believe the Belief that believes,
For once your belief would come true
Nurturing your belief with the right spirit,
To make believe the Belief to believe
Smile a smile every now and then,
And smile would become your simile,
For if you smile, others may smile,
And if you dont, others would surely not
Intent of the Intention,
Is to put forth the mention
If you see the Light, Go through It,
If the Light is moved, Move through It,
If you feel the Light, Feel through It,
And unknowingly, You Would
Become The Light And
Will Shine Through It !!
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