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.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, October 16, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, October 12, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
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."
"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."
Thursday, September 03, 2009
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!
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!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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..
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..
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
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."
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."
Saturday, July 11, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, July 03, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
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.. ..
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.. ..
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, June 19, 2009
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."
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
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