Teaching vs Teacher

Once a man wanted very much to be a teacher. So he went to seek the advice of the wisest, most highly respected counselor in the land.

"Wise counselor," he began, "it has always been my dream to be a teacher. I want to stimulate the minds of the young people of our land. I want to lead them down the road of knowledge. Please tell me the secret of becoming a teacher."

"Your goal is a commendable one, sir. However, it is also a very difficult one to achieve. First you must overcome three major obstacles."

"I am ready to meet the challenge," answered he bravely.

"First you must swim the Sea of Children," directed the knowing counselor.

So he started off to swim the Sea of Children.
First he had to learn their 38 names.
He had to send the line cutters to the end of the line.
He made the paper throwers stay after school to clean the room.
He commanded the name callers, pushers, and punchers to apologize to their victims.
He checked passes to see how many children were in the bathroom.
And he tracked down students who were gone longer than was necessary.
He arranged the desks in alphabetical order, then boy-girl, boy-girl, and finally into small groups of four.
He lined his children up for physical education and music and library and lunch.
Then he stifled a cry when the secretary came into the room with number 39.
Tired and shaken but still undefeated, he returned to the counselor for his second task.

"You are a very determined lad," said the advisor. "However, now you must climb the Mountain of Paperwork."

He set out at once.
He wrote objectives and drew up lesson plans.
He made out report cards and graded papers.
He filled out accident reports, attendance reports and withdrawal reports.
He completed inventories, evaluations, surveys, and request forms.
Finally, he made dittos and more dittos.
He ran them off until he was purple in the face. But the courageous boy's resolve never dwindled.
He went to the wise counselor for his third task.

"You are indeed very strong, sir. But this third task will take all the courage you can muster. You must now cross the country of Duties and Committees."

At first he was hesitant. But his convictions remained steadfast. He began his long journey across the country of Duties and Committees.

He took lunch duty, bus duty, and recess duty.
He was on the social committee, patrol committee, and the faculty advisory committee.
He was the adult supervisor of the student government and ran the United Fund and Easter Seal drives.
He went to PTA meetings, NRA meetings, SST meetings, School Site meetings, and in-service workshops.
He organized bicentennial programs, talent shows, and book drives.
Finally, he was elected the building representative of the union.
At last he reached the outskirts of Duties and Committees.

Exhausted but happy, he returned to the knowledgeable counselor.

"I swam the Sea of Children. I climbed the Mountain of Paperwork. I crossed the country of Duties and Committees," he proclaimed. "So what next? When will I be a Teacher?"

"Why, Sir," began the counselor, "you have been a teacher all along."

He protested, "But I have not taught! I have not stimulated any minds. I have not guided anyone down the road to knowledge."

"Oh, so you want to TEACH? I thought you said you wanted to be a TEACHER. That is a completely different story,” said the counselor!!!!!

Two Drops of Oil

by Paulo Coelho

A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.

However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.

The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

With considerable patience, he listened attentively to the reason for the boy's visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.

He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours' time.

"However, I want to ask you a favor," he added, handing the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. "While you walk, carry this spoon and don't let the oil spill."

The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.

"So," asked the sage, "did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?"

Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

"So, go back and see the wonders of my world," said the wise man. "You can't trust a man if you don't know his house."

Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.

"But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?" asked the sage.

Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.

"Well, that is the only advice I have to give you," said the sage of sages. "The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon."

My thoughts: Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of the mind than the outward circumstances. The happiest people don't HAVE the best of everything. They just MAKE the best of whatever they have. Happiness is like a butterfly. The more we chase it, the more it will elude us; but if we turn our attention away it will come and sit softly on our shoulders. 

The three races

Author: Darren Edwards

In old times, fable retells the story of the young athletic boy hungry for success, for whom winning was everything and success was measured by such a result.

One day, the boy was preparing himself for a running competition in his small native village, himself and two other young boys to compete. A large crowd had congregated to witness the sporting spectacle and a wise old man, upon hearing of the little boy, had travelled far to bear witness also.

The race commenced, looking like a level heat at the finishing line, but sure enough the boy dug deep and called on his determination, strength and power .. he took the winning line and was first. The crowd was ecstatic and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm, expressing no sentiment. The little boy, however. felt proud and important.

A second race was called, and two new young, fit, challengers came forward, to run with the little boy. The race was started and sure enough the little boy came through and finished first once again.

The crowd was ecstatic again and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm, again expressing no sentiment. The little boy, however, felt proud and important.

"Another race, another race!" pleaded the little boy. The wise old man stepped forward and presented the little boy with two new challengers, an elderly frail lady and a blind man.

"What is this?", quizzed the little boy.

"This is no race" he exclaimed.

"Race!", said the wise man.

The race was started and the boy was the only finisher, the other two challengers left standing at the starting line. The little boy was ecstatic, he raised his arms in delight.

The crowd, however, was silent showing no sentiment toward the little boy.

"What has happened? Why not do the people join in my success?" he asked the wise old man.

"Race again", replied the wise man, "...this time, finish together, all three of you, finish together" continued the wise man.

The little boy thought a little, stood in the middle of the blind man and the frail old lady, and then took the two challengers by the hand.

The race began and the little boy walked slowly, ever so slowly, to the finishing line and crossed it. The crowd were ecstatic and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man smiled, gently nodding his head. The little boy felt proud and important.

"Old man, I understand not! Who are the crowd cheering for? Which one of us three?", asked the little boy.

The wise old man looked into the little boy's eyes, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, and replied softly .. "Little boy, for this race you have won much more than in any race you have ever ran before, and for this race the crowd cheer not for any winner!"

Your thoughts affect the food you cook

Adapted from Chinna Katha by Sri Sathya Sai Baba

There lived in Mallur, Mysore State, and a pious Brahmin who was a great scholar. He had an equally pious wife. He was always intent on Puja and Japa Dhyana and was known far and wide for his virtuous character.

One day, a sanyasin called Nityananda came to his door seeking alms; so, he was happy beyond measure. He invited the monk to take dinner with him the next day so that he might honor him with due hospitality. He hung green festoons over his doors and made elaborate arrangements for the reception. But, at the eleventh hour, physical impurity rendered his wife unfit to prepare food for the honored guest or for any one else.

A neighbor volunteered to cook the meal and she was brought in and introduced into the kitchen. Everything went off well and all were as happy as they could be, under the circumstances.

Only, the sanyasin was wrong during meals by an overpowering desire to steal the silver cup, which the host had placed near the plate. In spite of his best efforts, the evil idea won and the sanyasin hurried to his abode with the cup hidden in the folds of his robe.

He could not sleep that night, for his conscience pricked him so. He felt he had brought disgrace on his Guru and on the Rishis whom he invoked by the mantras he recited. He could not wait until he ran back into the Brahmin’s house and, falling at his feet, restored the article with tears of repentance trickling down his cheeks.

Everyone wondered how such a saint could stoop so low. Then someone suggested it might the person who cooked it transmit the fault to the food he ate.

And when they examined the history of the neighbor thy found that she was an irrepressible thief! The thieving tendency had, by subtle contact, affected the food she prepared.

This is the reason why Spiritual aspirants were advised to live on fruits and tubers only, when they reach a certain stage of spiritual achievement. To purify the mind and the intellect for the correct reflection of the truth, the first caution is in regard to food. In fact, this is a very serious matter for everyone. 

Birbal and red hot iron

One day, one rich man wanted to punish a man named Hasan. He blamed him that he had stolen necklace from his house, and reported to Akbar . The case was brought in the court.

Akbar asked the man, “Why do you think that Hasan has stolen your necklace?” 

The man replied, “Your Honor, I have seen him stealing the necklace.” 

Hasan said, “No Huzoor I am innocent, I do not know anything about necklace.”

The rich man said, “Huzoor If he is innocent, let him prove his innocence. Let me bring the hot iron, and if he can hold it in his bare hands, then I will agree that he has not stolen my necklace, and he is speaking truth.”

Hasan said, “If I am speaking the truth, then I will not burn my hands with that hot iron?”

“You are right. God will protect you,” said the rich man.

Now Hasan could not do anything to prove his innocence. He asked Akbar to give him one day to prove that he was speaking the truth and he went home.

He took advice from Birbal . 

When he returned next day, he said, “I am ready for that. But the same thing should apply to him too. If he is speaking the truth, then the red hot iron should not burn his hands also. So let him bring that red hot iron holding in his both hands, then I will hold that iron in my bare hands.”

Now the rich man was speechless. He told Akbar that he would go and search his necklace again in his house, maybe it was misplaced somewhere there.

Akbar ordered to give necklace to Hasan as a punishment to the rich man.

Develop Self-confidence to gain success in life

As told by Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Prasanthi Nilayam, 21st Feb 2009

"You all know about Abraham Lincoln, the past President of the United States of America. He was a perfect example of such self-confidence. He came from a very poor family and could not afford to have a decent dress and books. He was so poor that he had to study under streetlights.

His mother used to support him with the meager amount of money she earned by mending old and worn-out clothes.

One day his classmates, who were rich and wearing fine suits, boots, and hats, made fun of him and heckled him, saying that he did not deserve to walk along with them in that poor attire and that he should walk on the footpath. He came home crying and poured out his agony to his mother, explaining how he was insulted and humiliated.

His mother consoled him saying, “My dear son! Do not get affected by praise or blame. Understand the situation at home. Your father cannot afford to spend money on your education. Develop self-confidence. That is your property.”

These words made a lasting impression on the tender heart of Lincoln. He acquired selfconfidence and self-respect, with the constant support and encouragement of his mother. He even did some odd jobs and earned some money to support himself. The good name he earned for himself in society commanded the respect and love of his fellowmen for him.

In due course, his friends and well-wishers advised him to run for election. They assured him of their support and votes. On their advice, he ran for election and won. He became the President of America. Thus, Abraham Lincoln, the son of a poor artisan with little spare money even to pursue primary education, became the President of America by sheer hard work and selfconfidence infused by his mother.

People cannot reach great heights without self-confidence. Not even the nine forms of devotion — sravanam (listening), kirtanam (singing), Vishnusmaranam (contemplating on Vishnu), Padasevanam (serving His Lotus Feet), vandanam (salutation), archanam (worship), dasyam (servitude), sneham (friendship), and Atmanivedanam (self-surrender) — can help. Any amount of sadhana (spiritual practices) without self-confidence will be of little use. Hence, I wish that all of you should develop self-confidence. Face your examinations with selfconfidence. Without self-confidence, not even your friends can help."

Lincoln's Road to Whitehouse:

Lincoln was a champion and he never gave up. Here is a sketch of Lincoln's road to the White House: (by author unknown)

· 1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.
· 1818 His mother died.
· 1831 Failed in business.
· 1832 Ran for state legislature - lost.
· l832 Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn't get in.
· 1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.
· 1834 Ran for state legislature again - won.
· 1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
· 1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
· 1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated.
· 1840 Sought to become elector - defeated.
· 1843 Ran for Congress - lost.
· 1846 Ran for Congress again - this time he won - went to Washington and did a good job.
· 1848 Ran for re-election to Congress - lost.
· 1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state - rejected.
· 1854 Ran for Senate of the United States - lost.
· 1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party's national convention - get less than 100 votes.
· 1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost.
· 1860 Elected president of the United States.

Everyone must have faith in himself

Chinna katha  by Sathya Sai Baba

There was once a guru communicating wisdom to people who came with flowers and fruits as offerings to him.

One day, as the offerings were plenty, he called a disciple and asked him to cut the fruits and arrange for its distribution as prasad. The disciple reported to the guru that all was ready for distribution and asked him who would be given first.

The guru asked him to start with the person in whom he has the greatest faith and the highest confidence.

All the people assembled there thought that the disciple would first give the fruit to the teacher and then distribute to the others. But the disciple did not do so. He took the first fruit himself. When the surprised onlookers asked for an explanation he said that since he had had the greatest confidence and affection for himself, he took the first fruit.

One who does not love himself, has no belief in himself and has no ambition to rise higher and higher.

Pleasure and the Tongue

Zen story

A Zen master was resting with one of his disciples. At one point, he took a melon out of his bag and cut it in two so that both could eat it.

While they were eating, the disciple said: 'Wise master, since everything you do has a meaning, perhaps your sharing this melon with me is a sign that you have something to teach me.'

The master continued eating in silence.

'Your silence obviously conceals a question,' the disciple insisted, 'and it must be this: ‘does the pleasure I am experiencing in eating this delicious fruit reside in the melon or in my tongue?'

The master said nothing.

The disciple went on excitedly: 'And since everything in life has meaning, I think I am close to finding the answer to that question: the pleasure is an act of love and interdependence between us, because without the melon there would be no object of pleasure and without my tongue…'

'That's enough!' said the master. 'The real fools are those who think themselves terribly intelligent and spend all their time trying to interpret everything. The melon is delicious, and that's enough, now let me eat in peace!'

Justice should prevail

Vikram and Betal story

Once there lived an old and pious man, renowned for his honesty.

One day his neighbor, a rich merchant came to him with a request.

The merchant was leaving on a voyage and wanted the old man to safeguard his wealth, until his return. The old man agreed and with God as witness, promises to protect and safeguard the merchant’s wealth.

The old man then entrusted the safe keep of the merchant’s wealth to his son, from whom he took an oath of propriety and honesty.

Slowly the son started dipping into the merchants wealth, people noticed this and warned the old man of the son’s misdeeds.

The old man called his son asks him to explain, he also reminded him of his oath on following the right path. The son rubbished the accusations as rumors and the idle gossip of jealous people, who could bear to see his prosperity. The old man accepted the son’s explanation and things go on as before.

The merchant returned and demanded his wealth. The old man called his son, who handed over a quarter of the merchant’s wealth saying that is all there was.

The merchant realizing that he had been cheated approached the King. The King listened to the merchant’s complaint and summoned the old man.

The old man came to the court with his son and handing him over to the King said, “your majesty, the merchant is right. My son has confessed to the crime. Please punish him.”

The king had the son flogged and imprisoned. He then praised the old man's honesty and dismissed the case.

But the merchant demanded punishment for the old man saying, “I have still not received justice. I had entrusted my wealth to the old man which he swore by God to safeguard. The old man’s integrity is intact, but what of me, I have been robbed of my life’s savings and made a pauper. It was the old man’s decision to entrust my wealth to his son for safekeeping. As far as I am concerned the old man is the culprit, and should be punished."

The old man, was neither a party to the theft nor did he benefit from it. In fact, he had sent his son to jail. Yet, the merchant was asking for the old man’s punishment.

The Betal asks Vikramaditya, “What should the King's decision be?”

Vikramaditya replied, “Though the old man is innocent of the actual theft, he is guilty of dereliction of duty. The son’s crime was a straight forward one, the old man’s was a graver crime. He did nothing to protect the merchant’s wealth. Far from being vigilant he failed to take action even when he was warned of his son’s misdeeds. Because of his laxity the merchant is condemned to a life of penury. He should be punished.”

It is justice, more than charity, that is wanting in the world today. Justice is a collective conscience of the whole humanity. Justice is in reality is a Truth in action. Where there is justice, there is peace. It lies in finding the right and upholding it against any odds. "Blessed are they who maintains Justice, who constantly do what is right" Psalm 106:3

We are all One

Author Unknown

After years of searching, the seeker was told to go to a cave, in which he would find a well. 'Ask the well what is truth', he was advised, 'and the well will reveal it to you'.

Having found the well, the seeker asked that most fundamental question.

And from the depths came the answer, 'Go to the village crossroad: there you shall find what you are seeking'.

Full of hope and anticipation the man ran to the crossroad to find only three rather uninteresting shops.

One shop was selling pieces of metal, another sold wood, and thin wires were for sale in the third. Nothing and no one there seemed to have much to do with the revelation of truth.

Disappointed, the seeker returned to the well to demand an explanation, but he was told only, 'You will understand in the future.' When the man protested, all he got in return were the echoes of his own shouts.

Indignant for having been made a fool of - or so he thought at the time - the seeker continued his wanderings in search of truth.

As years went by, the memory of his experience at the well gradually faded until one night, while he was walking in the moonlight, the sound of sitar music caught his attention. It was wonderful music and it was played with great mastery and inspiration.

Profoundly moved, the truth seeker felt drawn towards the player. He looked at the fingers dancing over the strings. He became aware of the sitar itself.

And then suddenly he exploded in a cry of joyous recognition: the sitar was made out of wires and pieces of metal and wood just like those he had once seen in the three stores and had thought it to be without any particular significance.

At last he understood the message of the well. "We have already been given everything we need; our task is to assemble and use it in the appropriate way. Nothing is meaningful so long as we perceive only separate fragments. But as soon as the fragments come together into a synthesis, a new entity emerges, whose nature we could not have foreseen by considering the fragments alone."

Love your children as you love strangers

Author Unknown

I ran into a stranger as he passed by.
"Oh, excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please, excuse me too,
Wasn't even watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My daughter stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked her down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

She walked away, her little heart broken
at how harshly I had spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
But the children you love, you seem to abuse.
Look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers she brought for you.
She picked them herself, pink, yellow and blue.
She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise,
And you never saw the tears in her eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,
and now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by her bed;
"Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em, because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."

I said, "Daughter, I love you too,
And I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

Trust in God's powers

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come.

When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.

While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God.

The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

The Bible says, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

Believe what you feel

Adapted from: "Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom

A teacher had an exercise for the students to try. They were to stand, facing away from their classmates, and fall backward, relying on another student to catch them. Most of the students were uncomfortable with this, and they couldn't let go for more than a few inches before stopping themselves. They laughed in embarrassment.

Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl crossed her arms over her chest, closed her eyes, leaned back, and did not flinch, like one of those Lipton tea commercials where the model splashes into the pool..

For a moment, all were sure she was going to thump on the floor.

At the last instant, her assigned partner grabbed her head and shoulders and yanked her up harshly.

"Whoa!!" several students yelled. Some clapped.

The teacher finally smiled, "You see", he said to the girl, "you closed your eyes. That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, so you have to believe what you feel. And if you ever want to have other people trust you, you must prove that you can trust them too - even when you're in the dark. Even when you're falling".

Devotion and Purity

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 'My Dear Students', Vol 2, Ch 3.

Lord Krishna’s friend Uddhava, was adept in the Path of Knowledge. He approached Krishna so that he can teach it to the cowherds. 

Krishna smiled and said, “Devotion and purity are fundamental to Gopikas – they are in Me, I am always enshrined in their hearts, you may not understand it!” 

Uddhava wasn’t convinced, so Lord Krishna sent him to Gokul. Uddhava said to them, “Let me teach you the path of wisdom to realize the Divine”. 

The Gopikas admonished Uddhava, “We don’t want to waste time on Yogas and Scriptures. Krishna is everything to us, give us one simple means.” 

Confused, Uddhava, now asked the Gopikas, “How would you become one with Krishna?” 

The innocent Gopikas responded, “If Krishna were a flower, I would be a bee whirling around Him. If Krishna were the mountain, I will become a river. If He is the deep ocean, I will be a small stream, joining Him”. 

Uddhava then understood that Gopikas always tuned themselves to adore the Lord, anywhere and everywhere.

Ten Principles to The Zen of Attraction

1. Promise Nothing
Just do what you most enjoy doing.
Hidden benefit: You will always over-deliver.

2. Offer Nothing
Just share what you have with those who express an interest in it.
Hidden benefit: Takes the pressure off of wanting other people to see you as valuable or important.

3. Expect Nothing
Just enjoy what you already have. It’s plenty.
Hidden benefit: You will realize how complete your life is already.

4. Need Nothing
Just build up your reserves and your needs will disappear.
Hidden benefit: You boundaries will be extended and filled with space.

5. Create Nothing
Just respond well to what comes to you.
Hidden benefit: Openness.

6. Hype Nothing
Just let quality sell by itself.
Hidden benefit: Trustability.

7. Plan Nothing
Just take the path of least resistance.
Hidden benefit: Achievement will become effortless.

8. Learn Nothing
Just let your body absorb it all on your behalf.
Hidden benefit: You will become more receptive to what you need to know in the moment.

9. Become No One
Just be more of yourself.
Hidden benefit: Authenticity.

10. Change Nothing
Just tell the truth and things will change by themselves.
Hidden benefit: Acceptance.

The need for Grace of God

A story from the gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Once a Sadhu attained occult power while going through spiritual practices. He then forgot all about the highest of the spiritual attainment, merging in the divine.

The lord wanted to point that out to him, so He appeared as a common man in front of the Sadhu.

He asked Sadhu if he had great occult powers, to which the Sadhu affirmed with pride.

Pointing at an Elephant close by, the man asked the Sadhu, “Can you kill that huge elephant?”

With the smile of arrogance, the Sadhu said, “Not a big deal”. He took a pinch of dust, did some mantra chant and threw the same in air. The Elephant instantly was brought down on earth, struggled a while in pain, and was dead.

“Impressive”, said the man. “Now can you revive the elephant back to life?”, he asked.

The sadhu again picked some dust, did some mantra chant and let go the dust in air, with an arrogant smile on his face. The elephant came back to life. Got up and went off in search of food.

Then the Lord said: "Wonderful is your power. But may I ask you one thing? You have killed the elephant and you have revived it. But what has that done for you? Do you feel uplifted by it? Has it enabled you to realize God?"

Saying this the Lord vanished.

Though its a small word, if we make 'EGO' the biggest word in our vocabulary, it will start controlling our thoughts, words and actions. Ego is like dust in the eyes. It prevents us from seeing things clearly. It comes in the way and steals the joy. To let the Love shine through, we have to get the ego out of our way. Where God is, the ego cannot be.

The Hug!

-Author Unknown-

It's wonderous what a hug can do.
A hug can cheer you when you're blue.
A hug can say, "I love you so,"
Or, "Gee, I hate to see you go."

A hug is, "Welcome back again."
And, "Great to see you! Where've you been?"
A hug can soothe a small child's pain,
and bring a rainbow after rain.

The hug! There's just no doubt about it-
we scarcely could survive without it!
A hug delights and warms and charms.
It must be why God gave us arms.

A hug can break the language barrier,
and make your travels so much merrier.
No need to fret about your store of 'em,
the more you give, the more there's more of 'em.

So stretch those arms without delay
and give someone a hug today!

Children's prayers

A mother was teaching her 3-year-old the Lord's prayer.
For several evenings at bedtime she repeated it after her mother.
One night she said she was ready to solo.
The mother listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word, right up to the end of the prayer. "Lead us not into temptation," she prayed, "but deliver us some e-mail, Amen."

A woman invited some people over for dinner. At the table she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"
The girl replied, "I wouldn't know what to say."
"Just say what you heard Mommy say," the mother answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?

A 5 year old boy was sitting down to eat when his mother asked him to pray for his meal.
He replied, "Mom we don't have to. We prayed over this last night."
His mother had prepared leftovers from the day before.

A daddy was listening to his child say his prayer "Dear Harold,"
At this, dad interrupted and said, "Wait a minute, "How come you called God, Harold?”
The little boy looked up and said, "That's what they call Him in church. You know the prayer we say, "Our Father, who art in Heaven, Harold be Thy name."

And this particular four-year-old prayed: "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

Good friends can turn your life

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder.

Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden.

As they walked Mark discovered the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home.

They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school.

They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met.
“Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill.

“You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life.”

Never undervalue anyone
Keep each friend safe in your heart
Because one day you may realise
and notice that you've lost a diamond,
while you were too busy collecting stones.

Are You Blessed?

If you can read now, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation.......you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness.......... you are more blessed than the million who have not survived.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are luckier than 75% of this world's population.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace....... you are among the top 50% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married........you are among the top 25% of this world's blessed ones.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful.....you are among the top 10% and blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you prayed yesterday and today........you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.

B: Begin your day with
L: Love in your heart
E: Ever ready to help
S: Sharing love and
S: Spreading light like the sun
I: Inspiring all and
N: Never forgetting that
G: God is with you all the time

Life is full of Opportunities

A young man wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission.

The farmer looked at him and said, "Son, go stand out in that field. I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of the best of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the field awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out came the meanest looking bull he had ever seen.. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood pawing the ground, it eyed him. 'Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one,' he thought. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the best bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull, he said to himself. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He threw his hands to grab..... But alas..... The bull had no tail !!!!!

We do not get unlimited chances to get the things we want. Nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that would've changed our lives. Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises. One will always regret the opportunities missed more than the mistakes made. Weak men wait for opportunities. Strong men make them.

Live a life full of Love

'Why is it that some people can resolve the most complicated problems really easily, whilst others struggle over every tiny crisis and end up drowning in a glass of water?' the student asked the Master.

Master replied by telling the following story:

'Once upon a time, there was a man who had been the soul of kindness all his life. When he died, everyone assumed that he would go straight to Heaven, for the only possible place for a good man like him was Paradise. The man wasn't particularly bothered about going to Heaven, but that was where he went.

But the angel who received him there, gave only a cursory glance through the index cards before her and when she couldn't find the man's name, she sent him straight to Hell.

And in the hell no one checked, for anyone who turned up is invited in. The man entered and stayed…

Some days later, Lucifer stormed up to the gates of Heaven to demand an explanation from St Peter. "What you're doing is pure terrorism!" he said.

St Peter asked why Lucifer was so angry, and an enraged Lucifer replied: "You sent that man down into Hell, and he's completely demoralizing me! Right from the start, there he was listening to people, looking them in the eye, talking to them. And now everyone's sharing their feelings and hugging and kissing. That's not what I want in Hell! Please, take him into Heaven!'

When the Master had finished telling the story, he looked at the student fondly and said: 'Live your life with so much love in your heart that if, by mistake, you were sent to Hell, the Devil himself would deliver you up to Paradise.'

Only the Heart can view right

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean; she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, remaining silent.

Every time her neighbor hung her wash to dry, the young woman made the same comments.

A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and told her husband: "Look, she's finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband replied, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. The world doesn’t become green just because you view it with green glasses. The fault doesn’t lie with the world. Its your colored glasses that’s preventing you from seeing the reality and creates an illusory world. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. When the heart is pure and clean, what the eyes see is also pure and clean. 

God is in everything

A Bengali Folktale

"Where is God?" asked the disciple.

"Everywhere, in everyone and everything," said his Guru.

Later, as the disciple was going home, he saw an elephant charging towards him.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way," shouted the elephant-driver. "He has gone mad!"

But the disciple thought: "God is everywhere. He is in the elephant and he is in me. Would God attack God? No, therefore the elephant will not attack me."

He stood where he was. The elephant picked him up in his trunk and flung him aside. Fortunately, he landed in a haystack and was not too badly hurt. But he was terribly shaken and confused.

When the Guru and the other disciples came to help him and take him home, he said, "You said God is in everything, but see what the elephant did to me!"

"It is true that God is in everything," said his Guru. "He is in the elephant, but he is also in the mahout who kept telling you to get out of the way. Why didn't you listen to him?"

Evil begets Evil

There was once a king who was so cruel and unjust that his subjects yearned for his death or dethronement.

However, one day he surprised them all by announcing that he had decided to turn over a new leaf.

“No more cruelty, no more injustice,” he promised, and he was as good as his word. He became known as the ‘Gentle Monarch’. Months after his transformation one of his ministers plucked up enough courage to ask him what had brought about his change of heart.

And the king answered, “As I was galloping through my forests I caught sight of a fox being chased by a hound. The fox escaped into his hole but not before the hound had bitten into its leg and lamed it for life.

Later I rode into a village and saw the same hound there. It was barking at a man. Even as I watched, the man picked up a huge stone and flung it at the hound, breaking its leg.

The man had not gone far when he was kicked by a horse. His knee was shattered and he fell to the ground, disabled for life. 

The horse began to run but it fell into a hole and broke its leg. 

Reflecting on all that had happened, I thought: ‘Evil begets evil. If I continue in my evil ways, I will surely be overtaken by evil’. So I decided to change”.

The minister went away convinced that the time was ripe to overthrow the king and seize the throne. Immersed in thought, he did not see the steps in front of him and fell, breaking his neck

"As you sow so shall you reap", says the Bible. Cycle of Deeds always gives us back what we give to others. If we do good to others, good will happen to us. If we do bad to others, our turn will also come.

Acts of kindness turn around lives

In one of the training programs for managers, the coordinator asked the participants, “What has caused you to stay long enough to become a manager?"

One participant, with her voice almost breaking, said, "It was a Rs 200 baseball glove."

Mary told the group that she originally took a clerk job as an interim position while she looked for something better.

On her second or third day behind the counter, she received a phone call from her nine-year old son, Bobby. He needed a baseball glove for Little League. She explained that as a single mother, money was very tight, and her first check would have to go for paying bills. Perhaps she could buy his baseball glove with her second or third check.

When Mary arrived for work the next morning, the store manager, asked her to come to the small room in back of the store that served as an office. Mary wondered if she had done something wrong or left some part of her job incomplete from the day before.

She was concerned and confused.

The manager handed her a box. "I overheard you talking to your son yesterday," she said, "and I know that it is hard to explain things to kids. This is a baseball glove for Bobby because he may not understand how important he is, even though you have to pay bills before you can buy gloves. You know we can't pay good people like you as much as we would like to; but we do care, and I want you to know you are important to us."

The thoughtfulness, empathy and love of this store manager is what has caused her to change her mind to look for something better and stay long enough to become a manager.

This demonstrates vividly that people remember more how much an employer cares than how much he pays.

An important lesson for the price of a Little League baseball glove.

My thoughts:

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Acts of kindness does not only benefit receivers of the kind act, but also the giver, as a result of feeling a sense of contentment and relaxation when such acts are committed. 

   

Care for your parents

An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.

The father asked his son, "What is this?" The son replied, "It is a crow".

After a few minutes, the father asked his son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The son said "Father, I have just now told you 'It's a crow'."

After a little while, the old father again asked his son the 3rd time, "What is this?"
At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the son's tone when he said to his father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow, a crow...".

A little after, the father again asked his son the 4th time, "What is this?"
This time the son shouted at his father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"

A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his son was born.

On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".

While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the father asked his son the same question just 4 times, the son felt irritated and annoyed.

So..

If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents. From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me. They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".

Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, at all costs, at all times, at all places, by all means."

You are part of the Ocean

A short story by Mitch Albom in “Tuesdays with Morrie“

A little wave, bobbing along in the ocean is having a grand old time.

He’s enjoying the wind and the fresh air – until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore. “My God, this is terrible”, the wave says. “Look what’s going to happen to me!”

Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him: “Why do you look so sad?”

The first wave says: “You don’t understand! We’re all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn’t it terrible?”

The second wave says: “No, you don’t understand. You’re not a wave, you’re part of the ocean.”

Pray for others

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.

The two survivors who have been a good friends, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit.

The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land.

On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him.

However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.

He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”

“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”

“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”

“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “What did he pray for which I should owe him anything?”

“He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

Value your friends; don’t leave your loved ones behind. "Be motivated by love for God and a desire to help others (Hebrews 6:10, NIV)."

My thoughts:

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but include those of others praying for us either singly or in a group. Praying for others is vital for our own spiritual growth. We have to recognize the absolute necessity of praying for each other even when they have not requested us to pray for them. We must not excuse ourselves by saying, “How can I pray for them when they do not tell me their needs?” Most often, others’ needs are often similar to our own.