The Patient Poor Man

There was a rich old noble who lived in a great palace. There also lived nearby a poor man in a dilapidated hut, who subsisted on crumbs of food cast away by others. But he was ever cheerful, and never complained of his ill-luck.

Once it so happened that the poor man had nothing to eat for a long while. So he went to the rich noble for help. The old noble received him kindly and asked what for he had come. The poor man said that for days he had nothing to eat and that he would be happy if he was given some food.

"Is that all!" said the noble."Come, sit down!" Then he called-out; "Boy! A very important guest has come to dine with me. Ask the chief to make ready the dinner at once, and bring some water to wash our hands."

The poor man was surprised. He had heard that the noble was a very kind man, but he did not expect such a ready welcome. He was all praise about his host. The noble at once interrupted him and said, "Don't mention it, my friend. Let us sit down for the feast." And the old noble began to rub his hands as if some water was poured on them and asked the poor man why he did not wash his hands.

The poor man found no boy or water but decided that he should do what he was told, and so he pretended to wash his hands likewise. "Now let us sit down to dinner," said the noble, and began to order various delicious dishes. But there was no trace of any food or even a single bearer.

Then the noble said to the poor man, "We have such wonderful feast before us. Enjoy yourself, my friend. You must finish all these fine dishes." And the noble pretended to eat from imaginary plates.

The poor man was faint with hunger, but kept his wits. He did not allow despair to overcome him. He also pretended to eat from the empty table. The noble now and then exclaimed, "What a delicious soup! The curry is wonderful, isn't it my friend?" The poor man replied, "Sure, sure!" "Then why not have some more," and the noble pretended to dish out some imaginary curry. Likewise, he pressed more and more imaginary dishes on the poor man and asked him if they tasted all right.

Though desperately hungry, the poor man thanked his host profusely and said that he had never eaten such a glorious feast in his life. He did not betray a sign of remorse. He kept on maintaining the face cheerfully without the least affectation, as though everything was real.

The noble was a generous person. He was a man of charitable disposition. He wanted to test whether the poor man would give way to despair. He had heard of his reputation that he never lost patience. He thought that such a contented, cheerful person as this poor man should not starve and suffer from poverty. But he had his doubts. So he himself wanted to test him. Now he found that, all that was said about him was true.

The noble then clapped his hands and a retinue of servants came in with all the delicious dishes he had been mentioning. An elaborate dinner was laid on the table. This time the poor man did not have to pretend. He now ate heartily with the noble.

After they had finished their meals, the noble said, "Friend, you are a man of infinite patience. You know well how to make best of everything and bear adversity cheerfully. You are the man I was looking for to manage one of my farms. You should live with me hereafter."Thereupon the poor man did not have to suffer any more from poverty.

This story has several lessons for the common man to learn. When the poor man went to the rich man, he did not ask for any charity so that he might dispense with begging for some days. This shows that he was not greedy.

He lived in the present. He wanted some food and he asked for only that. Now, if he had asked for some money, he would have got it, and would have spent it in a few days, only to revert back to his former poverty. He did not ask any more than what he needed immediately, and this paved the way for his good luck in being employed in the rich man's farm.

When the poor man was harassed by his host with imaginary dishes, he did not lose his patience in spite of his extreme hunger. If he had done so, he would have been asked to get out and would have lost his dinner as well as his unforeseen appointment.He did not either complain about his ill-luck or bewail his misfortune as an ordinary beggar would have done before a rich man.

Hence the moral is that one must be patient and make the best of everything. One should learn to bear adversity cheerfully, do one's best, pray to God, and trust in His grace. One should never complain about one's misfortune. One must learn how to master courage and build one's destiny through self-effort.

Patience is golden. Without patience life will be a total failure. One important point in this story is that when one goes to somebody for any favour, one should be prepared, to nod to his tune, if anything is to be expected from him.Greed and the Grace of God cannot live together.

Where there is greed, there good luck can hardly exist. One should learn to live in the present, and ask for nothing more than one's due.With patience, cheerfulness, contentment and amiable disposition one should learn to make the best of the circumstances one is situated in.

Story of an old clock & a new clock

There was an Old Church. It is more than 100 years old. As the old priest is not physically well, the Church committee decided to appoint a new priest. The young priest took charge of the church. While roaming around the Church building, he thought to do some renovation in the church to make it more attractive.With the help of the church committee, they did many things like bought new carpets, painted the walls, put new sealing etc.

As part of the renovation, the priest thought to change the old clock which is powered by key and making noise with a brand new electronic clock. But the priest decided to keep the New clock beside the old clock for the time being as many old people are so much attached to the old clock.

The new clock was very happily and smoothly jumping each second with "tick" "tick" "tick" "tick" sound. There was power and enthusiasm in his jumping. At the same time the old clock with very difficulty and with the noise of wheels also tried to move along with the new clock.

In the beginning the new clock was very proud and was reluctant to speak to the Old clock. But after some time to burn the boredom, the new clock decided to talk to the old clock.

During the conversation, the new clock asked the old clock "How long have you been here?" to that the old clock replied that more than 100 years. Hearing the answer, the new clock fell into thoughts. It tried to calculate the jumps to make in order to complete the 100 years. For one minute 60 jumps, for one hour 3600 jumps, for one day 86400 jumps, for one month 2592000 jumps, for one year 31536000 jumps, for 100 years 3153600000 jumps.

Shortly after the calculation, the new clock stopped jumping the seconds.The old clock, noticing the silence of the new clock, asked the reason for the silence.
To that the new clock replied "I was calculating the jumps you have competed last 100 years. You have dome millions of jumps. I don't think I would be able to complete that much jumps. Thinking about all that jumps, I am stressed and cannot move. I am helpless and cannot jump one second. While thinking about it I had a heart attack."

The old clock knowing the situation, asked one question. "I know your situation, but I would like to ask you one question, Can you jump one second?"
To that the new clock replied. "It is very easy, I can easily jump one second. It is very very easy."
The Old clock replied "Do that."The old clock continued, Just think about one second at a time and jump. Don't think about 100 years, just think about one second. The new clock happily started to jump one second at a time.

The moral of the story is don't think about all the things to be done in a lifetime. Just think about the next moment. Just think about one day at a time. It will help us to continue our journey. Don't get depressed or discouraged. One step at a time will lead you to the destination. Don't give up!!!! Don't be a quitter!!

A Doctor & A Dog

A story of one dog and a doctor.

A doctor one day gave some food to the dog residing nearby and then this become usual. The dog always remain with the doctor whenever it is possible.. Doctor used to go by train everyday for his duty. Dog always accompany him till the Railway Station. And when the doctor come back for his duty, that dog waits for him at the railway station and both come back at home together. This was the usual practice.

Once in an accident doctor died. Dog kept waited for him till long. For two consecutive days it waited for Doctor without having food, water or anything.

Then after that every day the dog visited the platform at the arrival time of that train regularly till the time of its death. People around that platform started having sympathy towards dog and they started giving it food and started taking care of it. Everyone was impressed by the love between that dog and the Doctor.

Once a person took that dog at home and taking care for it. But dog every day visited that station without missing single day.Till dog died, it visited that platform and waited for doctor.

People put the statue of dog at that station for the loving memory of it and Doctor and in that city that dog is recognized as symbol of love.

Moral of the story is that..

If you love someone, then love unconditionally. Accept the positive and negative aspects of your loved one. Take care of the loved one even if it is not with you. Try to be honest and trust 100%. Develop the fear of loss for your love...make your love realize about that fear of loss. Give sweet smile to everyone and love a loved one such a way that it become a history.

Sometime people forgets the value of love even if his or her inside is pure. Because of personal problems, work tension, ego, misunderstandings and many more.... people started thinking wrong ways and loses the faith, then they miss wonderful days of life which they would have enjoyed if their loved ones are nearby. Imagine. Think of that enjoyment.

Remember days never comes back, time never stops, still if you feel that you are missing someone and due to certain problems you have lost your love, go immediately and catch it and enjoys those days of love which you may never get back. Always follow your heart.

More haste, less speed

A youth went up to a mountain to look for a famous swordsman to learn swordsmanship

"Master, if i practice diligently, how long would it take me to become adept at it?"

"Perhaps ten years"

"My father is getting old and i must take care of him. If i work far more intensively, how long would it take me?"

"In that case, it might have to take thirty years."

"You first mentioned ten years, and then you said it takes thirty years. I do not mind undergoing whatever hardship. I must learn it within the shortest possible time."

"Then you would need seventy years to master it"

More haste, less speed. Those who are too eager for results are apt to end up not having achieved anything.

"Ordinary-mindedness is the way" means exactly this.

The Eagle & The Oyster

Once there were two eggs discussing what they wanted tobe when they hatched. The first egg said, “I want to bean oyster when I hatch. An oyster just lay in the water and never has to make any decisions. The currents of the ocean move it about, so it doesn’t have to plan. The ocean water passing by brings its food. Whatever the ocean provides is what the oyster receives, no more, no less.”

The first egg continued, “That’s the life for me. It may be limited, but there are no decisions and no responsibilities. There is a secured existence controlled only by the ocean.”

The second egg said, “That’s not the life for me. I wish to be an eagle. An eagle is free to go where it wants and to do as it pleases. Of course it is responsible for hunting its own food and making survival decisions, but it is also free to fly as high as the mountains.”

The second egg continued, “The eagle is in control, instead of being controlled by others. Iwant no limits placed on me, nor do I want to be a slave of the ocean. Consequently, I am willing to expend the effort required to live the life of an eagle.”

The eagle is a symbol of strength, speed, height, and freedom. It is able to soar to great heights and have a beautiful view of the world.

However, the eagle has to pay the price for what benefits it has, by having to work, risk and fight for its survival. For freedom and success there is always a price to pay. Of course to play it save we can choose to take the course of action of the oyster to be in our comfort zone and achieve nothing.

Ten keys to inspiring yourself

Below are ten keys to opening your doors to your inspiration.

1. The first key to inspiration is enjoyment. It would take a spiritual master to get inspired about doing the dishes. So find something that really excites you. It can be anything that you really enjoy.

2. The second key is love. When you are actively pouring love into what you are doing, this will guarantee that you are opening yourself to experiencing more inspiration.

3. The third key is to trust yourself. Listen to that little voice inside yourself and know that this comes from heart. This is called intuition.

4. The fourth key is to follow what your intuition tells you. The more you listen to it, the stronger your intuition will become. If you don't pay attention, that little voice gets fainter and fainter until you can no longer hear it.

5. The fifth key is to keep telling yourself "I can". These are some of the most powerful words that you can ever use. When you say this to yourself often enough, you build abridge between yourself and your inspiration.

6. The sixth key is not to listen to anyone that says "no you can't". They might think that they may not be able to, and try to project this negative belief onto you, but remember to keep telling yourself that, "I can! "

7. The seventh key is to believe in yourself. When you are backed by a strong belief in yourself and your dreams, nothing is impossible.

8. The eighth key is to avoid negativity. Ask yourself, do you really need to read the newspaper or watch the news on TV everyday ? Nothing kills inspiration quicker than being surrounded by bad news.

9. The ninth key is acceptance. Accept that on some days you feel much more inspired than on others. This is normal, nobody can be completely inspired every minute of the day.

10. The tenth key is possibly the most important of all. Take action every day, no matter how small a step it seems. Action is the fuel to the fires of inspiration. Make it a daily practice to keep your fire burning. The taking of actions, no matter how small, will fill you with inspiration for taking the next step.

May your life be filled with love, happiness and inspiration.

A Smile

A smile is a glow on our face. It is more powerful than a bulb of one thousand watts and the warmth it gives can serve us more than any electric heater. We are not fully dressed until we wear a smile on our face. A smile has a power of liberating one from the loneliness. There are many friends to receive it and return it abundantly.

It was a great relief to understand the purpose behind offering a flower to god. A flower is a symbol of gratitude. The blossoming is the indication of living life in its full light, realizing its totality. It indicates the peak of necessity. There cannot be a level of being higher than it. And the offering is the proof of being thankful to god for the creation of such a tremendously beautiful world.

A smile is the door to that gratefulness. If a flower is offered without a smile, it has no meaning; it is merely acting but not living. However, the acting can be a progressive phenomenon but the offering without a smile can drag us only behind, it cannot lead us forward.

In prayer, the need is the offering of a smile; the flower is only an accessory. It should be remembered that a symbol is only a symbol. We can be full of love and life when we are even able to offer a smile to the trees, to the paths, to the buildings, to the sun and to the sky. The existence is hungry for our facial expression. It is good to satisfy that hunger.

When God created fathers...

When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, "What kind of a Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping"

God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?"

And when God made a Father's hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said, "Large hands can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats."

Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child's face in them."

Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders, "Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?" The angel chuckled.

God said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet any one had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?"

God again smiled and said, "They will work. You will see.They will support a small child who wants to ride to Branbury Cross or scare mice away from a summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."

God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant.

Finally, almost as an after thought, He added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?"

The angel said nothing more.

Ideal Needle vs. Idle Needle

Every single entity on the face of this earth requires to be updated to fulfill the ideal purpose of its being. Even a needle that apparently looks sharp needs to be polished and cleaned for being put into a fruitful usage.

An unused needle though sharp becomes rusted and unsuitable for use. Using a rusted needle for sewing would require investment of lot of energy, effort and time. Moreover it can cause septic if hurt by mistake.

Thus an idle lying needle is harmful and is a matter of risk and loss to the owner. If a small needle can matter so much; just think about the bigger helping aids of our life……..

Hence, it is ideally in the favour of the owner not to let their needle remain idle and remember to polish the Idle needle regularly.

So – Let us learn to clean, polish, pamper, maintain and value every big and small thing (living or non living) in our life.

Aim at becoming an Ideal Needle and not Idle Needle.

Embracing Imperfection

A touching story by a girl.
"When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of fruits and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember Watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!

When I got Up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad For burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burned toast.'

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if He really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Dear, your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!' You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook.

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your married life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a marriage where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!! "

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket."

Release your potential

A child was born three months after the death of his father. Born prematurely, he was a small child; his mother said that he could easily fit inside a quart mug.. When He was three, his mother remarried and went to live with her new husband, leaving her son in the care of his maternal grandmother.

Began his schooling in the village schools. When he was 15 yrs, his step father died and his mother came back only to remove him from school and attempted to make a farmer of him. He was thoroughly unhappy with the farm work. One of his high school teacher helped him back to school to complete his education.

At the age of 19 he fell in love, romanced for a year and got engaged to his beloved. But he became engrossed in his studies and let the romance cool itself and she left him and married someone else. He never married. He faced challenges everywhere!

He was born unlucky with much hardship for very survival and struggle for education.
What can you expect that child to do and achieve in life? Think!

He described universal gravitation (Gravity) and the three laws of motion. He invented the reflecting telescope and made many contributions to mathematics.

Yes we are talking of Sir Isaac Newton!

Best wishes to you to release your hidden potential in this life itself!

Maybe

Maybe. . we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.

Maybe . . . it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe . . . the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.

Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.

Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Maybe . . you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.

Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe . giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of the people who have touched their lives.

Maybe . . . you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Maybe . . . you could send this message to those people who mean something to you, to those who have touched your life, to those who can and do make you smile when you really need it, to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down, and to all those whom you want to know that you appreciate them and their friendship.

The Ant

One morning I wasted nearly an hour watching a tiny ant carry a huge feather cross my back terrace. Several times it was confronted by obstacles in its path and after a momentary pause it would make the necessary detour. At one point the ant had to negotiate a crack in the concrete about 10mm wide. After brief contemplation the ant laid the feather over the crack, walked across it and picked up the feather on the other side then continued on its way.

I was fascinated by the ingenuity of this ant, one of God's smallest creatures. It served to reinforce the miracle of creation. Here was a minute insect, lacking in size yet equipped with a brain to reason, explore, discover and overcome. But this ant, like the two-legged co-residents of this planet, also share human failings.

After some time the ant finally reached its destination - a flower bed at the end of the terrace and a small hole that was the entrance to its underground home. And it was here that the ant finally met its match. How could that large feather possibly fit down small hole. Of course it couldn't. So the ant, after all this trouble and execrising great ingenuity, overcoming problems all along the way, just abandoned the feather and went home. The ant had not thought the problem through before it began its epic journey and in the end the feather was nothing more than a burden.

Isn't life like that! We worry about our family, we worry about money or the lack of it, we worry about work, about where we live, about all sorts of things. These are all burdens - the things we pick up along life's path and lug them around the obstacles and over the crevasses that life will bring, only to find that at the destination they are useless and we can't take them with us..

Peace in You

You are strong... when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave... when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy... when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.

You love... when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise... when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true... when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive... when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.

You are growing... when you know that you are but not what you are becoming.

You are free... when you are in control of yourself but do not wish to control others.

You are honorable... when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous... when you can give as sweetly as you take.

You are humble... when you do not know how humble you are.

You are beautiful... when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich... when you never need more than you have.

You are you... when you are at peace with who you are not.

YOU must have a great day!!!!

The Best Gifts

The Best Gifts Ever That Money Can't Buy!

To yourself: The gifts of daily self-examination, self-discipline, self-respect, originality, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and regular mental and spiritual nourishment.

To your brothers and sisters: The gifts of love, help, understanding and emotional support.

To your spouse: The gifts of appreciation, support, affection, faithfulness, love, patience, understanding, and time.

To your children: The gifts of education, shelter, guidance, love, understanding, patience, sympathy, time, and good example.

To your parents: The gifts of thoughtfulness, love, appreciation, and thankful heart.

To your helpers: The gifts of kindness, appreciation, motivation, and reward.

To your friends: The gifts of encouragement, communication, help, and your presence in times of storms.

To strangers: The gifts of a smile, open-mindedness, kind words, and deeds.

To your colleagues: The gifts of sense of humor, open-mindedness, tactfulness, encouragement, sincerity, cooperation, and support.

To your boss: The gifts of humbleness, humility, loyalty, honesty, respect, quality service and creativeness.

To the broken-hearted: The gifts of undivided attention, emotional support and encouragement.

To the lowly ones: The gifts of helping hands and loving heart.

To your enemies: The gifts of forgiveness, humility, reconciliation, service, and a smile.

To the prisoners: The gifts of clothes, foods, medicines, and evangelization.

To your country: The gifts of loyalty, support, compliance to the laws of the land, and submission to the authority.

To the Almighty God: The gifts of daily communication, appreciation, diligent application on His wise counsels and finally, the gifts of sharing His words to all nations of the world.

Apply and give these gifts to yourself and to somebody else, so you can make this world a little better and peaceful place to live.

Teaching an ass

"IDIOT! DOLT! BLUNDER HEAD!" The owner of an ass as he kicked it on its way."What are you to me? What use are you to anyone? On your way, have lived your life in vain!"

He kept up the tirade, kicking and the ass, which quietly continued, as best it could, on journey.

They passed a wise man. "What is the point of this abuse?" he asked.

"The beast cannot learn much from you. It is not made that way. Stop the noise, therefore, and you learn from the beastinstead."

"Learn from this creature?" Spluttered the man. "What can this brute possibly teach me?"

"Patience and silence in the presence of an ass."

Losing Child

There was a young merchant and his son. The merchant had lost his wife and so loved his son very much. One day when the father was away from house, this young son was taken away by a group of thieves. Before the thieves left the house, they burnt down the neighborhood.

When the young merchant returned to his house, he found a body of burnt-to-death child near the debris of his house.Being so struck of losing his son, he brought along with him the bag containing his son's ash with him everywhere he went.

Several months later, the merchant's son managed to escape from the thieves and returned back to his old house. He reached his house around midnight and knocked on the door. But the father ignored it, thinking that it was just another naughty kid from the neighborhood playing tricks on him. The son then left the father, and the father lost his son forever.

As we let the doors of our heart remained closed due to past hurt and disappointments, we deprive ourselves from the many other goodness that come knocking on it.

The King and The Sage

There once was a king who led his mighty army across the snowy peaks that bounded his kingdom, into his neighbor's realm. On the lofty pass thick with snow, he saw a mendicant or ascetic sitting on a bare rock, with his head between his knees evidently to protect it from the chill wind that cut across the gap in the peak. He had no clothes on his body.

The king was overcome with pity; he took off his own shawl and coat and offered them to the sage. The sage refused to accept them, for , he said "God has given enough clothing to guard me against the heat and cold. He gives me all that I need. Please give these to some one who is poor".

The King was surprised at these words. He asked him where that clothing was. The sage replied "God himself has woven it for me; I am wearing it since birth and will wear it until the grave. Here it is, my skin! Give this coat and shawl to some mendicant beggar, some poor man".

The king smiled for, who can be poorer than he, he thought. He asked him, "But where can I find a poor man?" The Yogi asked him , where he was going and why.He said, "I am going into the realm of my enemy so that I can add his kingdom to my own". The sage it was who smiled now.

He said, "If you are not satisfied with the kingdom you have and if you are prepared to sacrifice your life and the lives of these thousands to get a few more square miles of land, certainly, you are much poorer than I. So offer the clothes to yourself. You need them more than I do". At this the King was greatly ashamed and he understood the futility of fame and fortune. Returning to his own capitol, he thanked the sage for opening his eyes to his own innate poverty. Contentment is the most precious treasure, he realised.

Great men spread the light of their wisdom through their every word and deed.

Excellence

A man once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby.

Surprised, he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?"
"No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage."

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage.
"Where is the damage?" he asked.
"There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work.
"Where are you going to install the idol?"
The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar fifty feet high.
"If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked.

The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, "I will know it."
The desire to excel is exclusive of the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not.
"Excellence" is a drive from inside, not outside.

Excellence is not for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction and efficiency.. ..

Prejudice

One man had a very close friend who had never yet come to visit his house again for a very long time. He was bewildered with it and asked his friend about the reason. His friend answered, "The last time I came to your house, you served me a cup of fine wine. When I raised up the cup of wine, suddenly I saw inside that cup a small snake. I was very scared, nevertheless I still drank it. After drinking it, I felt very sick and terrible.

The man remembered the last time he served wine to him, on the living room's wall, there was hanged a bow decorated with snake motif. The big bow was bright in color. The small snake mentioned by his friend must be its reflection, he thought.

He brought a cup of wine to the living room and asked, "What did you see in this wine?" His friend answered, "The same thing I saw the last time I visited here." The man then explained to his friend what was actually that his friend was seeing. Soon afterwards, his friend felt relieved and all his illnesses disappeared completely.

Prejudice is all in your head. Prejudice creates what was not there to be there, the illness manifested through thoughts.

Way back to home

The father of a teenager usually tries to teach him life skills in an attempt to prepare him for the proverbial 'Big-bad world'. One such father was on a business tour to a foreign country. He had taken his fourteen year old son with him. They were staying at a small hotel.They went out in the day. They were walking on a busy road. Suddenly the boy realized that the father was no where around. He looked around for him desperately, but to no avail. The boy looked in the restrooms;the shops; the restaurants and the corridors. But no where could he find his father.


The boy was scared. He felt tears brimming in his eyes, but he fought them back. He walked the street up and down several times but could not find his father. As the sun began to set, the boy decided that the best thing he could do was to make his way back to the hotel. He rummaged through his pockets,only to find that he did not have enough money to pay for his fare back to the hotel.


Anyways, he did not even know the way back. So, he tactfully asked the traffic policeman to guide him on how to get there,without letting him know his actual predicament. He took a bus to a place that was half way to the hotel, for that was the farthest he could pay for. The other half, he walked. He read the directions from the site maps on the way.


Many times he had to ask for directions from strangers. It was late in the night when he finally trudged into the hotel tired, hungry and weary. He marched up the stairs to their room,hoping to find father inside, but he was disappointed. He sat down and thought, 'What next? What should I do? How will I find him in this alien land, with no money in my pocket?'


Just then he heard the key turn in the door and father walked in! "Dad,Where were you? I've been looking for you all over? Why did you leave me alone and go away?" The father eased himself out of his shoes and stretched himself onto the bed, "I was only a few steps away from you,all the time!" "What do you mean?" asked the boy incredulously. "I wanted to see, if you could fend for yourself. I was testing you to see whether you could find your way back to me."
"Oh! Really? Then why did you follow me all the time?"
"I had to be sure you were safe. I must say, you did rather well. I'm quite proud of you!"


Years passed. The boy grew up to be a man and the father became old. One quiet evening, the old man sat in the garden, looking at the sunset. He was talking to God, "Lord, I am old now. I've gone through so many ups and downs in life. Do you even know what I have been through? As I sit in this armchair in the twilight of my life, I wonder what life is all about. I wonder why you created me and then left me alone in this world to fend for my self. Why do you not guide me? Why don't you talk to me sometimes?"
Then God replied, "Do you remember the day, you decided to test your son?"
"Yes."
"Did you let him out of your sight, even for a moment?"
"No."
"Neither did I! If only you had looked around carefully, you would have seen me.I too expect you to find your way home. Your son did well; he found his way back to his father! I too expect you to find your way back to your eternal father; to your eternal home! Come my child, I am waiting for you to find your way back to me because you belong to me."

Brotherhood

 
 Two brothers worked together on a farming field passed on from their parents. The one, the older brother, had married and have quite a big family. The younger brother was still single, and planned not to get married. When the harvesting season come, they always divide the harvest between them equally and fair. Always it has been like that.

  On one day, the younger brother who was still single thought about it, "It is not fair if we divide the harvest equally. I am still single and my necessity is not that much". So, for the sake of his older brother, every night he would take a sack of his grain and secretly put it to his brother's granary, thinking that a sack a day might be enough to reduce his older brother's burden and his family.

 While on that time, the married brother was also worried and concerned with his brother. He thought, "It is not fair if we always divide the harvest equally. I have a wife and children who will be able to take care of me later when i grow old. While my brother, he doesnt have anybody, nobody would care for him if he grow old and poor. He deserve to get more than me." Therefore, everynight, he too secretly move a sack of grain from his granary to his younger brother's granary, wishing that at least a sack a day would aid his brother, later in the coming future.

  So it went on for years that they kept moving a sack of their grain to the other's while keeping it as secret between themselves, and the amount of grain sack in the granary seems to be unchanged. Until one night they meet each other when carrying out their daily secret plot.
At that time, they realized what has been going on, and cried hugging each other. They knew in silence, that there is a very deep love that has been nourishing their brotherhood.

 Treasures becomes the glue of love, not the destroyer of love, that is how it is living in love and brotherhood.

Stamp Box & The Stamp

 Once there was an official who had done so many corruptions in his office, that the emperor sent an auditor to audit him. Realizing what was going to happen, the official asked help of a thief to steal for him the auditor’s official stamp that was in the auditor’s office.

 The next day when the auditor was going to start his work, he found out that his stamp was missing. He was very sure that it had been stolen by the corrupt official. In response, the auditor pretended to be severely ill. Some of the officials came to visit him, a very common practice of that time.

 When the corrupt official came to visit him, the auditor only talked light common matters. While they were conversing, somebody from the back corridor shouted, “Fire…! Fire…!” Hearing that, the auditor immediately took his stamp box and while being witnessed by several other important people present there, he presented it to the corrupt official and said, “Please go home and take care of this stamp box, as the stamp inside is very important.” The corrupt official left hurriedly.

 Only when the corrupt official got out of the auditor’s residence, he realized that he had been trapped, but it was all too late.The next day, the auditor requested the corrupt official to return back his stamp box that was being stored by the corrupt official.

 In such dilemmatic position, the corrupt official had no other choice but to return the stamp box together with the original stamp. If not, it would be seen that he made lost a government stamp.

 Right after the stamp got back to the rightful owner, the auditor immediately stamped the documents he had made, including the letter of mutation of the corrupt official. Not long after, the corrupt official was removed from his office.

The Jack-Fruit In The Courtyard

 A big jack-tree in a man’s courtyard was laden with fruits. From the very bottom of the trunk up to the topmost branch it was dotted with fruits. As though one possessed with an evil spirit, the man rushes out towards the fruit several times. He touches the jack-fruit, but the surface is uninviting. He abandons it in disgust.

 Far away from home he had seen one palm tree. Walking in the hot sun several miles, he stands near the tree. His craving had reached its zenith. The few small fruits that hung on the top of the tree tempt him. He rushes forward. He falls on the bush of prickly pears and gets injured by the thorns all over the body. Not discouraged by this he tries to climb the tree. The scales that cover the trunk are hard and knife-like. They hurt him. But he does not mind.

 As he climbs, a swarm of poisonous ants that sting like devils, sting him all over the body. He has somehow managed to reach the top; such is his mad passion for the little fruits. The fruits are surrounded by hundreds of bees. When he lays his hands upon them, the bees angrily sting him. In spite of this, he tries to grab the fruits. Then and there he drops more than half the catch.

 With the remainder, he tries to climb down. Several fruits drop off his hand before he reaches the ground. He sits himself down to enjoy the few fruits left with him. To his horror he discovers that the major portion of these little fruits is hard nut; and then even the skin has to be thrown away. There is little pulp in the fruit. In disgust he throws the fruits away. Instantly he comes back to his senses, and begins to suffer with agony. The pain of the thorns, the bites of the poisonous ants, the stings of the bees, and the cuts produced on his body by the sharp scales of the tree, these seem to torment him all at once. It is now past several days since he left home. With his tattered clothes and bleeding body, he runs home to find that his father had been waiting for him with the delicious jack-fruit.

 The young man stumbles into the house and falls at the father’s feet. Without asking a question, the father gives him new clothes, pulls out the thorns from his body, dresses up the wounds, all the time feeding him with the honey-like jack-fruit. The young man’s happiness is now complete.Peacefully he sleeps on his father’s lap.

 Similarly, man ignores the fountain of Eternal Bliss that is within the core of his own heart. He does not care to cut open this rough exterior and enjoy the highest bliss. He is hungry. He runs away from home and from this tree that yields the best fruit. Here he falls into the thorny bush of dishonor; there he knocks against the rock of failure. He falls in love with a woman. How many sacrifices of a care-free life, of freedom from worry and anxiety he has to make before he approaches her! Lured by illusory pleasure he succumbs to passion.

The tidy garden

 A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple there was another smaller temple where there lived a very old religious master.

 One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticuluously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves.As he worked, the old master watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the temples.

 When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "Isn't it beautiful?", he called out to the old master.
"Yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and i'll put it right for you."

After hesitating, the priest lifted the old fellow and set him down.Slowly, the master walked to the tree near the centre of the garden, grabbed it by the shrunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden.
"There," said the old man, "you can put me back now."

 Nature is more perfect than anything man can create. To make it more beautiful in our eyes is to disrupt its natural beauty and to make nature ugly.

This too shall pass

 Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them, "Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstances, in every place and in every time. Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me is there any mantra? "All wise men got puzzled by King's question. One answer for all question? Something that works everywhere, in every situation? In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought. After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them.

 They went to the king and gave him something written on paper. But the condition was that king was not to see it out of curiosity.

 Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way, only then he'll have to see it. The King put the papers under his Diamond ring. After a few days, the neighbors attacked the Kingdom. It was a collective surprise attack of the King's enemies. King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. King had to fled on his horse. The enemies were following him. His horse took him far away in the Jungle. He could hear many troops of horses following him and the noise was coming closer and closer.

 Suddenly the King found himself standing at the end of the road - that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished. and he could not return because it was a small road. The sound of enemy's horses was approaching fast. King became restless. There seemed to be no way. Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was very small but very great. The message was - "This too will pass."

 The King read it. Again read it. Suddenly something struck him- Yes! it too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. However when those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. A calm come on his face. He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about those following him.

 After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were not on that path. The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regained his lost empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being thrown on the King from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself," I am one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat me". With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.

 Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He open it and read it again: "This too will pass "He became silent. His face went through a total change - from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness. If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a watcher.

 Everything passes by We are witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life comes and goes. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes. Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life.. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass away.

 Life just passes away. There were friends in the past. They have gone. There are friends today. They too will go. There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go. There were enemies in the past. They have gone. There may be enemies in the present. They too will go. There will be new enemies tomorrow and. they too will go. There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away. Who are you in reality? Know your real face. Your face is not your true face. It will change with the time. However, there is something in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged.

What is that unchangeable?
It is nothing but your true self. You are just a witness of change .Experience it, understand it.

How Gullible Are We

 
 Very is the answer, now I need a glass of something wet;A student at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair.

  He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide."

And for plenty of good reasons, since:
1. it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
2. it is a major component in acid rain
3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
4. accidental inhalation can kill you
5. it contributes to erosion
6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
7. it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients

He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.
* Forty-three (43) said yes,
* Six (6) were undecided,
* Only one (1) knew that the chemical was water.
The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"
He feels the conclusion is obvious.

Important things in Life

 Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paying job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best money could buy.

 Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

 The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.

 Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation abroad.However, the family still did not get to see father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he enrolled for another course in the open university.

 Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

 Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Jubilantly, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough, it would be nice for his family to be ablt to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium.

 Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients.

 Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

 As expected, Father’s hard work paid off again and he bought a condominium overlooking the beautiful coastal city. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take anymore courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to his family.
Father did not wake up the next day.

The Dream Stealer

 There was once a young girl who was very fond of dancing. Her skill in dancing was extraordinary and surpassed her dancing friends that she often appeared as the champion in many competition held. She thought, with what she possess at that time, one day later when she grew up, she would want to be a world class dancer. She imagined herself dancing in Russia, China, America, Japan, being watched by thousands of people giving applause to her on salutation.

 One day, the city she resided in was visited by a dancing expert proffessional who came from abroad. This dancing expert was very fascinating, from his hands have been born out world class dancers. The young girl desired very much to dance and exhibit her prowess in front of the teacher, or even if possible, to be one of his pupil. Finally the opportunity came at last. The young girl managed to meet with the teacher behind the screen after his performance was over. The young girl asked "Sir, i really want to be a wold-class dancer. Can you give me a moment of your time, to judge my dancing skill? I want to know what you think of my dance." "Fine, dance then for 10 minutes", the expert responded.

 Not even 10 minutes have passed, the teacher stood up from his chair, and left the place without saying any word to the young girl. How broken heart the young girl was upon that. The girl immediately ran out, reaching her home, she cried and cried. She began hating herself. Afterall, the dance that she had been proud of all those years were nothing at all for the teacher. She then get hold of her dancing shoes and threw it in the garbage. Since then, she swore not ever to dance anymore.

 Several decades have passed, now the young girl have became a mother with three children. Her husband had passed away. And to feed her family, she had to work as waitress in a restaurant at the corner of a street.

 One day, there was a dance exhibition being held in the city. The same expert could be seen behind the young dancers behind the platform. The expert looked much older, with his hair whitening. The mother with her children went to see the dance show. After the show, the mother brought her three children into the back, looking for the teacher, and introduced him to her three children. The old teacher still recognize her, and so they converse with each other enjoyfully.

 The mother asked, "Sir, Istill have one thing that still bothers me. It was about me performing in front of you many many years ago. Was my perfomance that bad that you leave straight away?" "Oh yes, I remembered it. Frankly speaking, I never have ever seen in my life such beautiful dance that you showed me at that time. I was even sure that you would surely become a world-class dancer, but i was dumbfounded how you suddenly stopped from the world of dancing", answered the teacher.

 The young mother was extremely shocked hearing it. "This is not fair!", she exclaimed. "Your attitude had stolen all my dreams! If it was true that my dance was good, why did you just leave me that way when i had just only danced for several minutes? You should have praised me, not ignoring me like that. I am supposed to be a world-class dancer right now, not just a waitress!"

 The teacher answered calmly with his wisdom, "No...No, I think I have done what I thought was right. You don't need to drink a barrel of wine to know that the wine is good. The same goes with me. I didnt need to watch you for 10 minutes to prove that your dance was good. That night I was also very exhausted after the show. So I was thinking to leave you for a moment, to get you my name card, and hoped that you would contact me again the next day. But then you were not there anymore when I returned. And another thing that I have to remind you, that You should focus on your dreams not, on what I say or what I do or what the world say! Then applause? So you expected praise and applause? Ah, maybe at that time you were still growing, young lady. Praise is like a dobule edged sward. At some times it will motivate you, at other times it will weaken you. And the fact is that I had observed that most of the praise given to a growing child, will just make him/her feel satisfied of the current progress and hinders further growth. I even prefer to ignore you, as it supposedly can rocket your progress. Besides, praise is something that should come from myself, not something that you should ask for."

"You see, this was actually only a small matter. If only at that time you didnt ignore what happened and kept on dancing, you would have became a very great world-class dancer. You might felt hurt at that time, but it will dissipate quickly once you keep on practising again. But the hurt emerged from this regret today will never dissappear for the rest of your life......"

The Harmony

 Once, three monks gathered at an unattented lonely temples. "Why is this temple so unattended?", nobody knew who started the conversation, but then, "Must be because the monks do not have the sincerity in doing the prayers and rituals that the deities did not showed them their miraculous powers.", answered the first monk.
"Must be that the monks here are not hardworking enough that the temple was left unattended," explained second monk.
"Must be because of the monks living here do not respect one another that the followers grew few," added the third monk.

 Three of them argued...until that they decided to live in that temple to see who was the truest. The first monk do prayers, ceremonies, rituals sincerely, the second monk fixed and renovated the temple, and the third monk went preaching out to the public. Time passed and the temple became a very crowded well known temple.

"This all happened because of my sincerity in prayers that the deities decided to help and grant me miracles," said the first monk. "No, because of my hardwork working on the temple that it looked so magnificent and beautiful," replied the second monk. "Of course because of me who goes out teaching truths and preaching that our followers grow even larger everyday," the third monk explained.

 Day and night they kept arguing, and cared less of the temple condition. They did not realized that they began to neglect the temple's prosperity and was more concerned with their egoistic pride. Time passed again and the temple returned to its former condition, it was then as unattented as it once was before.

 The three monks left the temple, they realized and concluded that the temple was unattented not because of anything, but because there was lack of harmony within the people inside.

Painting on the wall

  There was a king who was a great admirer of art. He encouraged artists from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts. One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall not be disappointed."

  Now,the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end of the palace. So he said, "Alright you may work on one of the walls in the new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very pleased indeed. Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What would you like to make?" The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so,without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so that either of us can not seethe other."

  Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court, including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the king loved surprise sand he decided to give the young fellow a chance.

  The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc. The second one would some with a cloth and a bucket of water every day. After a month the first artist told the king that his work was complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king sent for the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man said, "My Lord, my wall is ready too!"

  The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up. Lo and behold! The same painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true! Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the first wall. But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side of the curtain. So how had he done it?

  The king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"
The lad said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every day!"It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the room, showed up in it!

  That is what it means to polish your self. For when we polish our hearts and souls we see God's reflection within. It is said that the world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to be that too. If you are happy, the world will look to be happy. If you are sad; jealous; dejected; angry; restless ... that is what the world will seem to be to you!

Helpless Love

 Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island.

 The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.

 Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realised it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.

 Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?”
“No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”

 A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.”
Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.”

 Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”

 When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.

 Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.

 On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?”
Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.”
“And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered.

 Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.”

“The important message is that when we are prosperous, we overlook love. When we feel important, we forget love. Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love. Only with time do we realize the importance of love. Why wait that long? Why not make love a part of your life today?”

The Real Poison

 
 After marrying with the man she loves dearly, a young beautiful woman lived together with her mother in law. In just short time, she realized that there were clashes and unfittings between them. The mother in law always managed to find flaws in almost everything that her daughter in law did. Debate and argues almost took place everyday. Unfortunately, the husband could not do much to improve the situation.

 The daugher in law had reached her patience limit. Day by day, revenge and anger poisoned her mind and thoughts. Thus, she went to his father's best friend who was a medicine man. She told him all about her sadness and grieved in tears. She desired him to prescribe a strong dose of poison so that she can revenge her mother in law. After a careful deep thought, the uncle smiled wisely, "I will give you the poisonous powder but you have to do it precisely as i instructed you to." The woman agreed and was willing to do anything to get her revenge.

"My dear, I wont let you use a quick reactive poison. People around you will be very suspicious of you with her sudden dying. Mix a little bit by bit into her meals. And do not forget, you have to cook the meal yourself. Just to make sure nobody will suspect you later on, you must treat your mother in law better in days to come. Treat her with love, respect and show your big heart by not arguing, just give in to her. Treat your mother in law as if she were your own mother."

 The woman went home, obeyed and just like what the uncle instructed. Everyday, she spoilt her mother in law by cooking all her favorite dishes and served her with all respect and compassion. Without realizing it, four months had passed, and a big change took place. Being treated with such respect and affection, the mother in law was touched and changed her behaviour towards her. Things turned around, she started to treat her daughter in law as her own one and loved her more and more each day.

 Seeing the changes in her mother in law, the daughter rushed to see the uncle, "Please uncle, give me the antidote to the poison that you gave me sometime ago. After doing what you told me, now my mother in law has treated me so well and full of love. I also start loving her. I dont want her to die from the poison that i gave her everyday."

 The uncle just smiled and answered, "My dear, don't worry. The powder that i gave you was not poison at all. It actually was tonic to enhance body strength instead." She was dumb founded.

"So the real poison actually is what dwells in your head, your attitudes towards your mother in law. And now all of those poisons have been wiped away by love and affection that you have showered her."

The best way to destroy an enemy is to befriend him/her...