Wisdom Bytes

                            Wisdom  Bytes

•     Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
• Don’t  worry when you are not recognized but strive to be worthy of recognition.
• It takes a moment to make a decision that can take a lifetime to deal with consequences.
• The hallmark of patriotism is when a man is proud of the place in which he lives , and a man should live in such a manner that his place will be proud of him.
• All progress in life is sacrifice. The flower must bring forth the fruit. But when the time of fruition arrives, it sheds its exquisite petals ,and gives up its sweet perfume also. For the flower to develop, the bud sacrifices itself; for the fruit, the flower; for the seed, the fruit ; for the plant, the seed.
• It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.
• Always have faith in God, and do the right things in all circumstances. When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty, trust Him fully. Two things can happen- either He will catch you when you fall, or He will teach you how to fly.
• If there is anything that links the Human to the Divine, it is the courage to stand by the principles when everybody else rejects it.

Simple living and high thinking

                          Simple living and high thinking

       Man's real joy contains in simple living, and high thinking. In fact, the world with its variegated attractions is a test ground for his charcter.

Man has been created in such a way that it is the general tendency of the sense organs is to draw the man towards outside things, and not inwards. It is only the self-controlled one can shut his eyes to outward things, and behold the ever effulgent Self within. Such a self-controlled person is called ' Dhirah ' , the courageous one. The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidasa defines that those persons whose minds are not disturbed even in the presence of causes for such agitation,excitement or distraction, only they are called Dhiraah. In his great epic poem Kumarasambhavam, the context is Shiva was doing penance. Parvat, the daughter of the Himalayas, the lord of the mountains, in order to get Shiva as her husband, gave up all her royal comforts, and came to serving him. Lord Shiva, the great ascetic  he was, was not disturbed at all.
According to the Bhagavadgita that man is really courageous ' Dhira' who regards happiness, suffering alike, gold, mud, and stone equanimously, to whom the praise and blame, honorand insult are equal things.
But the natural tendency of common man is to get attracted towards things outside. In the present age of technological advancement and consumerism, there is no limit to attractive things. Working day, and night to earn money at the cost of health, and family, greed, and pride of possessing things, and enjoying them have become the traits of modern man.

The more we consume, the more waste we produce, and spoil the equilibrium , and atmosphere of Nature leading to the ruin of all species including ourselves.

It does not mean one should be always poor, and not enjoy things. But man should earn, enjoy things within limits, and if he has more wealth, it should be donated for the welfare of the society.

Regardless of man's material progress in life, his happiness is determined chiefly by his control over the senses and ability to remain contented with detachment towards the world of objects, realizing their impermanent nature , and running after them like a mirage will lead him nowhere except into the dark pit of unrighteus acts, and endless suffering.

There is a beautiful wise saying in Sanskrit,
" He is poor who is unhappy, not one who does not possess wealth. Likewise, he who has not conquered his senses is pitable, not the poor. He is free who is unattached to objects, but one attached to things is always in bondage."

The great philosopher Socrates was unique , and a model-role for everyone. He believed that a wise person instinctively leads a frugal life. He himself would not even wear shoes. Yet he constantly would go to market place quite often to look at all things on display. One of his friends, observing this was surprised, and asked him the reason for his strange behavior. Socrates said, " I have to go there, and discover how many things I am perfectly happy without."

The famous mystic poet Kabirdas always used to pray- " O Lord, Give me that in which my family is satiated. Neither I remain hungry nor any visitor goes unfed."

Humility brings power, haughtiness is a sign of downfall.

                                         Humility brings power, haughtiness is a sign of downfall


               We should always be grateful for what we get in life. It is due to the grace of the Almighty, the entire bounty of Nature is equally shared by all, and at our service so that we live in peace and let others live in peace. So , no possession should make anyone proud of himself, and great. Infact, too much attraction, attachment to materialistic things , and possession of them with the intention of displaying one’s superiority is a sure sign of one’s downfall only. Acquisition of  wealth, and power is not bad, because all don’t have the talent and opportunity to achieve the same. But materialistic possessions without the purpose of distibution to the welfare of the community lead to downfall only.

Someone told the great mystic Rumi, “ When the Mongols came to these parts they were naked, and bare. They rode on bullocks, and their weapons were made of wood. Now they are sleek,and well-fed, they have slendid horses, and carry fine arms.”
Rumi said , “ When they were desperate, and weak, and had no strength, God helped them, and answered their prayers. Now , when they are so powerful, and mighty, puffed with arrogance to plunder, and conquer others out of greed, God is destroying them with the comforts of the fullest, so that they will realize it was through God’s bounty and support that they captured the world, and not by their own force and powers.”

Woman- From a man's view

                                Woman - From a man's view

•    A man at the age of thirty admires the young body , and beauty of his wife.
•   At the age of forty, he understands her pure, and sincere love.
•   At the age of fifty, he realizes her as his priceless possession, and indispensable partnership in his family.
• At the age od sixty, he comes to the conclusion that he can't live without her.
•  At the age of seventy, she becomes the mother, and he her child.
•  Above and over the age of eighty, wife is adored as goddess, and he becomes a devotee.

Human beings are either Lark or Owl

                              Human beings are either Lark or Owl


        Generally the morning time is for work, and night is for rest according to biological body clock. In good olden days, Sunrise was the clock for work as it was the source of light, freshness, and energy, and Sunset with warmth, and light gone, spreading darkness, and coolness created a natural atmosphere for rest from day's hard work. Thus Nature dictated, guided, and maintained work-rest balance for man to lead a healthy,and happy life, enjoying all the gifts given by her.Thus we are all diurnal mammals designed to function during the day as oppossed to the night from time immemorial irrespective of age, and place.

Now with the invention of electricity, and artificial lights, and generator supplying incessant electricity, and due to nature, and pressure of work due to globalization, availability of various electronic devices pouring news, and knowledge from all around the world, the concept of day, and night is gone. Many are prone to work at night, and rest in the morning.

Morning people are like Larks to stary early, then go to bed early too. Evening or night people are like owls who prefer to start the day later, and slower, then carrying on into the night. Though Nature advocates that the work done during the day is more efficient, quicker, and productive, what really matters is the enthusiasm, energy, concentration, and sole application of mind to the work undertaken. If these qualities are there, whether day or night, man does achieve his desired goal. But the question is - " Does this have a long-term effect on the body, and mind health of the worker?

But the well- known saying is-
" Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
 Now it is for the people, and scientists to rediscover the truth behind this immortal saying.

Mines of Wisdom

                                    Mines of Wisdom

• Everywhere Fowers are the calendar of seasons.
• The law of the universe is, 'What you give is what comes back to you. 

•   Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals, and place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great works.
•   The greater the obstacle, the more is the glory in overcoming it. 

•   Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it is an experience.
•   Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, Faith looks up. 

•    When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.  

Why Kabirdas laughed?

 

   
                                      Why Kabirdas laughed?



        The saint Kabirdas was a Muslim saint, a devoted disciple of the famous Hindu preceptor Ramananda. He was a self-realized soul. For him different names denoted the same God. He fought for the unity of Hindus, and Muslims. Naturally, some groups from both the communities might not have liked this for the fear of losing their authority over the common people, as is seen today also.

Once both the groups scolded him. Kabirdas started laughing, instead of getting angry or reacting in a wild manner. The behavior of the saint irritated them.
Both Hindus, and Muslims asked, “ we are reprimanding you to make you feel bad,and warn you to remain yourself within your boundaries as you are entering on our territories . But you are laughing, ignoring us, so strange, why?”

The saint replied coolly, and with a pleasing smile, “ In scolding me atleast both of you are together, showing your unity in this atleast. That is why I laughed. This is the expression of happiness.”

Believe it or not

                                  Believe it or not

   

•     Egyptian pyramid builders used to eat a lot of garlic because they thought it would increase their strength.
• Some arthritis medications contain gold salts which is used as an anti-inflammatory.
• Bacteria that cause tooth decay, acne, TB, and leprosy can be cured with cashews.
• The itch from a mosquito bite can be soothed by cutting open a clove of garlic, and rubbing it on the bite.
• Pollen never deteriorates. It is one of the few natural substances that lasts permanently.
• Even though the rose does not bear any fruit, the rose hips have more vitamin C than most vegetables and fruits.
• One tree can provide oxygen for two people to live of , for their whole life. 

Intersting hidden facts

                                     Interesting hidden facts

•       Ants can live for 100 days without food.
•       The dog always sleeps keeping his head in the direction where the wind blows.
•       Man perspire all over the body but the dog’s tongue only perspires.
•       Female lion eats only after the male lion eats.
•        Ducks lay eggs only in the morning.
•        Radiation does not have any effect on cockroaches. It cannot destroy them.
•       A crab has no head, its teeth are in its stomach.
•       Spider webs are seemingly alike but each one is different in design.       

Thy name is woman, the great !

 




                                        Thy name is woman, the great!

            It is a privilege to be born as a girl. An ideal woman is an asset to society. If all women are pious, and idealistic, practicing their inherent qualities of selfless love, loyalty, patience, perseverance, sacrifice etc with which they are naturally endowed with, there can  never be anything bad , and unrest in the society,and in the world. The pity is that some women in the name of modernity, just educated without moral values, in the name of feminism claim equal rights , not only spoil their own lives being frustated, but also spoil the society with their whimsical outpourings , and writings.

Women think that they are equal to men, and in no way inferior to them. But the tragedy is that they don’t  realize that they are not equal, but greater than men.
It is the hand that rocks the cradle that rules the world.

• Give her anything little, she will quantify it.
• Give your strength, she will give you a child.
• Build a house for her, she will make it a home equivalent to heaven.
• Give her ingredients for cooking, she will make the most delicious foods of various varieties with her touch of love which no chef, however highly qualified he may be can offer.
• Give her smile, she will give you her heart.
• Even if you give her a little trouble, disturbance or show anger or shout, she will forgive you, treat you with all the more love And care as if nothing has happened making you ashamed of your own behavior.

A woman as a devoted wife is a constant companion, a beloved, an advisor, and mother respect of sharing and alleviating misery in times of distress, a beloved in multiplying  joy, an advisor in
dilemmas of life , and a mother nursing during illness throughout one’s life.

Because of these qualities she can shine in any field whether professional or domestic.
Whatever you give, it is her characteristic to multiply it. This is her unique divine gift. Every woman should realize, and feel this. This is the absolute truth. There is no question of tradionality or conservatism. Infact these qualities form the foundation rock of nobility of her character , and lends a unique touch to her personality, elevating her to the level of God in all times. God is not seen but His care, kindness, boundless love,and healing touch is experienced through His manifestation in the form of Nature whereas an ideal woman with such qualities is His visible form.
If a man or family or an organization or society fails to recognize this, and does not treat her properly with due respect to her qualities, taking them as a mark of weakness, he or that is doomed.
In the words of Mahatma Gandhi,
‘ To call woman the weaker sex is a libel. It is man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brutal strength, then, indeed, is woman less brutal than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing , has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage ? Without her, man couldn’t be. If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman ?’
In the words of Manu, the ancient law-giver,

“Where the women are worshipped, gods happily dwell there,
   Where they are not respected ( treated well ), all undertakings will be a failure.”

Strange are the ways of the world

                               Strange are the ways of the world

•     Onc a sculptor addressed a stone he was chiseling at thus,“ until I give you a proper shape I am called a sculptor. The moment you assume a beautiful shape, you become God , and worshipped, and I am ignored, not even remembered.
• One who drops trash from his vehicle on the road is respected as a high-class citizen, and the one who picks it from there, cleans the road is looked down upon ,and treated as a lower-caste person.
• The owner of the shop spends sleepless nights whereas the watchman  outside the shop sleeps all the time.
• Whichever insect dies, it is the smallest creatures ‘ ants’ carry it in procession, and cleans the place.
• God has given us both eyes to see the good things ,and eyelids to close the eyes to avoid seeing bad things. The one who uses it judiously is a wiseman. The cause of distress in the world is the ignorance of the people to use them at the appropriate time.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

                               Don’t judge a book by its cover


    Knowledge is of two types. Theoretical knowledge acquired from the books. When it is combined with skill, it becomes practical knowledge, useful to the society contributing to its development.
In this rich ,and varied  creation, everyone is born with some talent to contribute to the society.
Since the seats in the colleges and universities are restriccted, and specialized , all school students cannot get entry into them, the marks secured in the board final examination is kept as the deciding factor or a gate-pass for entry to that.
Theoretical knowledge in the school also involves learning, reading, understanding, memorizing, and retention of the subject matter learnt in various subjects. Examinations test the entire knowledge grasped by the students in a stipulated short time. All students try their level best to prepare for the examination. Sometimes students fail to secure the desired marks out of the fear for the examination, sudden nervousness, forgetfulness, lack of concentration in reading the questions because of hurry, and improper allotment of time in answering questions. There could be so many factors. So to judge a child by his low score in a single examination, and torturing him throughout his life, thus inhibiting the blossoming of any hidden talent is a crime on the part of the parents, and society.

There was a beautiful, touching letter sent by a school management and teachers to the parents of the students of their school before the examination.
Dear parents,

Examinations are approaching. Please guide your children properly, give them proper food and enough rest. But please remember these points :
Among those students who do not succeed or get the required marks in the examination,

• One artist will be there, he does not need Mathematics.
• There may be a business man, he does not need History or Literature.
• There may be a musician, Chemistry is of no use to him.
• A sportsman may be there, care for physical and mental health is important. He does not need Physics.

Please don’t judge ,

Students getting the highest marks as the best and students getting low marks as bad.

Don’t shatter their self-confidence,and their worth.

Tell them ,it is only school examination. In life- examination, a lot of questions are there to be solved.

Our love is not based your marks. You are always my dear child, my life !

You will see the fruit , and realize the magical effect of your loving, and soothing words !

The child of yours who could not succeed in the examination, will conquer the world one day!

It is a mere school examination, its result should not wipe out the dreams , and talents of your precious child.

Please don’t think that only Doctors, and Engineers alone are the best ,and the happiest in the world.

Every child is born here to contribute something to the society , so unique , and indispensable !

With best wishes to you and our dear students.

What a practical approach !

 Nature is a great teacher. Each flower has its own color and fragrance. Every fruit has its own taste and richness. Each vegetable has its own shape and unique nutrients contributing to the wholesome health of the taker.  No one is greater than the other.Thus, there is richness of diversity in unity. This is the nature of the entire creation itself.

The major value in life is not what you get, but is what you become.

In The inspiring words of Bill Gates who said thus,

‘ I am not topper in my university but all toppers are working in my Microsoft company.’

Doing what you love is freedom and loving what you do is happiness.

Expectations make people miserable. Research studies show that people are happier if they are grateful for the positive things in their lives, rather than worrying about what might be missing.

The value is always an inherent quality. It is aptly said, one should not judge a book by its cover, however attractive it might be, one should not also carried away by the external appearance. It is only the contents , that impart and enhance the value of the book, making its universal apppeal  beyond the boundaries of time, place, and age.

                 

Ocean in a droplet

                                          Ocean in a droplet



                   We live in a world where the excessive use of technology has taken us away from our roots. Man is caught in a web of so much information through social media and other advanced scientific and other types of information flooding everyday, he is lost in the ocean of vast knowledge and forgets and does not take notice of the fact that it is the droplet of observation and common sense that is the basis of all knowledge.

It is the knowledge of the past with the actual implementation of the present available materials that has produced all changes, all innovations, aand all improvement.

In the past people acquired knowledge through observation and experience. Observation is a skill we all innately possess and intuitively use. Even important breakthroughs in science arise from simple and constant observation of Nature, events, and people around us.

Sir Isaac Newton is said to have surmised the concept of gravity by observing an apple fall from a tree. Of course many people must have seen apples fall to the ground but only Newton discovered gravity. This means that simply looking is not enough. We need to oserve. Observation happens when we pay attention to what we see. And we pay attention to what we take interest in. When we pay attention with interest and observe constantly, we learn a lot and derive knowledge. This in turn accelerates our progress.

In fact, life itself is a whole field of observation. Flashes of insight need not be the prerogative of scientists alone. A curious mind, and an open mind, willingness to work diligently until the curiosity gets satiated purposefully opens the doors to miracles.

The uniqueness of observation that it is possible at various levels. It is possible of the external world. body, the mind and the inner self. By observing our body and its functions, we can become friendly and take care of this precious gift given to us by the Creator. We can find out the foods and other things that suit us, thus avoid other things causing problems. Thus knowing the cause and the cure, we can manage and maintain the body in a fitting condition. By observing the mind, we can control the emotions. By observing and introspection deep into the inner self, we can tap the divine state in us characterized by eternal inner beauty, strength, joy and wisdom. Now a days, meditation is very popular and is recommended in all fields as a relaxation technique and a stress management strategy.
In fact, the ancient scriptures all over the world have been revealed to the realized sages through meditation only. The sages were gifted with wonder and curiosity. They lived in the lap of Nature and observed its divine mysteries.  The wonder-filled observation focused their thinking into discoveries of variety of great fields of extraordinary knowledge beyond the ken of human imagination, perception , and experience, is still the lighthouse for the entire humanity in the ocean of life.

Even in the practical sense, in all fields of knowledge whether in cooking, gardening, beauty, kitchen pharmacy , Nature cure or anything, observation and trusting the authority of our own experience is easier than the knowledge from the volumes of books, blogs and internet which also have the basis of  observations gathered from other sources.
All the age-old tips practiced in various  ancient cultures like Roman, Asian and others by people living close to Nature by observation are not only appreciated and still practiced as they are without any side effects, till date are  unparalleled.



A king was holding his assembly in his courtyard. It was winter time. A man sought his royal presence to display something. He was granted permission. The man had two stones similar in size, shape and look. His contention was that he had been carrying these to the kings of various countries challenging them to prove which one them was real diamond, the other being mere a stone. His condition with the challenge was if anyone in the king’s country proved it correctly, he would donate the rare, precious diamond to the royal treasury otherwise, the king had to pay him an exorbitant amount equivalent to that rare precious diamond from the treasury. All along nobody in any king’s court could solve the contest and he had collected huge amount of money from them. Then having heard about the reputation of this king and his scholars in his court, he had come there with a hope. When he posed the challenge to the king and the assembled scholars there, no scholar came forward to accept the challenge fearing the disgrace of defeat. A blind man going outside heard the challenge from the people coming out of the court, and he expressed his desire to the royal body guards of the court to go and try the challenge.

With royal permission, he went and stood before the king. All the scholars in the court were laughing under their sleeves with the thought as to what that ordinary blind man , without any knowledge of the scriptures could do , when the universally acknowledged scholars like themselves could not come forward , and solve the problem in spite of their vast learning and knowledge.

When the blind man entered the court, he felt warmth. So he surmised that there must a window nearby through which rays of the Sun could be coming in. He took the stones , one in his right palm ,and the other in the left palm, closed them, went and stood near the window allowing the Sun-rays fall on the clenched palms for sometime. Then he came back, opened his closed palms pointing out before all that the stone in right hand was diamond , and the other in the left hand was stone. The challenger was astonished. It was correct. He was surprised as to how he, even without eyes, could judge so accurately ? On being asked, the blind man replied humbly, " When  I stood near the window for sometime,  I could feel the stone in the left palm getting hot and hotter in the heat of the Sun coming through the window , and the other in the right palm was not affected by the heat but remained the same in a normal manner. So I concluded that the hot stone must be an ordinary stone, and the other being a diamond."
This , he must have known from the general observation as, though without even eyes, he could have found stones on the way becoming hot in Sun's rays by the sensation of touch. Though he might not have seen or felt the diamond earlier, common sense prevailed upon him to decide and conclude that since only one of the stones was ordinary stone, the other must be diamond only, exhibiting a different character. According to the promise, the challenger deposited the precious diamond to the royal treasury and went away with satisfaction.

The king was very happy. Not only his honor was kept up, but also the royal treasury got the precious diamond.
He ordered his medical experts to do the needful to restore the eye-sight to the blind man. And he also appointed him( the blind man ) as one of his advisers in the court.

Thus many a times in the flood of knowledge gathered from other sources, it is the droplet of our observation, and experience which is the basis for taking correct decision. A tiny droplet of water merges into the mighty ocean.
Now the question is :
Is the droplet contained in the ocean or ocean in the droplet?

Everything in life has vibration

                                 Everything in life has vibration



           Albert Einstein rightly said,
 
        ‘ Everything in life has vibration.’

    Many a times we feel happy in the presence of strangers, and something uncomfortable amidst even acquaintances. The same is felt in spaces too. Sometimes when we enter some place, we experience a sort of friendliness, at some places, when we enter, we don’t like it for no reason.

  The uniqueness of Nature is that it vibrates on a higher level. It is a pure and powerful force. It transforms the human mind into its own pure and subtle vibration. That is why man feels a unique joy, relaxation and comfort in Mother Nature’s lap in any form whether it be amonst trees, hills, rivers, seas,waterfalls, flowers, leaves, beautiful butterflies, chirping of birds etc.

Nature’s vibration evokes two types of beneficial responses. The first is more the obvious physiological response. It serves by improving air quality, regulates the planet’s temperature, protect water bodies and all creatures including humans, who always respond naturally to Nature’s intrinsic purity, and freshness. The second, subtle impact of Nature is transportation of human beings to higher
Spiritual realms of vibration. This is the reason why  places of worship and pilgrimage centers situated in different places were ,are,recommended by sciptures all over the world to imbibe the positive vibes permeating there. The other added advantages are acquaintance with different cultures and customs, developing appreciation and understanding of different people and also paving the way for global integeration. Even the noble thoughts of all creatures have the power to create a positive environment in Nature. That is why in ancient sriptures, man’s quality of thoughts was accounted for Nature’s bounty and fury.

 A villager used to carry two pots on his shoulder slung on a pole, with ropes tied the pole and around the neck of the pots for balance and bring pure water from a long distance. After sometime one of the pots developed a small crack or hole at the bottom and water started dripping from that all the way home. By the time, the man reached his home, the water would be three fourth only. The villager did not bother about the wastage but happily carried it to and fro without throwing away the pot. The loyal pot wanted to serve the honest master in a proper manner. It started feeling that how a small hole has developed in it, causing inconvenience to such a good master.  It found no other way except to pray to the Almighty to compensate the loss for the villager. After a fewdays, the pot apologizing for loss of water, conveyed his deep feelings to his master. Moved deeply at the sincerity of the pot, the kind master consoled him telling  not to worry about the loss of water, instead he should look down on the path he is carried through daily. From next day onwards, the pot in stead of lamenting, started looking down on the path. What a beautiful sight he saw! Unbelievable! A lushy growth of plants with different kinds of flowers and vegetables had grown there. The master said to the pot, “ I could understand your genuine feelings of positive vibrations. To give a surprise to you, and to make you overcome the feelings of loss which bothered you, I sowed the seeds of flowers and vegetables on our path throughout. Daily trickles from you has produced all the greenery around. The flowers are so much, I give them to temple in the village, keep some for me, distribute to neighbors, and send the rest to the market for sale. The same is the case with vegetables. There is so much fresh produce, I distribute to neighbors after keeping for my use, and sell them. This way I am able to earn more money also.”

True, the Mother Earth has its magic for those who have noble thoughts. A small and single defect is no defect at all. When there is abundance of merits, the defect merges, it is never seen.

The Moon’s black spot is never taken notice of among  its other overwhelming merits like beauty, coolness, pleasantness, uniqueness of its nourishing quality etc.

Fascinating proverbs

                                 Fascinating proverbs


          Proverbs are short sentences drawn from long experience. - Cervantes



 The eternal and evergreen wisdom behind the proverbs is the greatest treasure for mankind.
This universality of wisdom can be found in all different cultures and locations in different times throughout the centuries. The striking factor is their similarity. Proverbs exhibit the values and principles which hold true for all people throughout the world although they may be phrased a little differently in each place in tune with the knowledge of their local things available. Thus they are characterized by the stamp of their locality, though the message is universally experienced one.

A sprinkling of these proverbs , not from all countries is shown here for a taste.

• A light is still a light even though the blind man can’t see it - Austrian
• Trust in God, but tie your camel.- Arabian
• Grain by grain, a loaf; stone by stone castle.- Bulgarian
• It is only when cold saeson comes that we know the pine and cypress to be evergreen.-Chinese
• Meddle with dirt and some of it will stick to you. - Danish
• Communicate more with yourself than you do with others. - Danish
• When two dogs fight for abone, a third runs away with it. - Dutch
• Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. - English
• Take care of the bull if you wish him to plough well for you. - Greek
• Feel for others as you feel for yourself. - indian
• The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune. - Irish
• A concentrated mind can pierce a rock.- Japanese
• Bushes have ears, Walls have eyes.- Jamaican
• Deliberate often, decide once. - Latin
• Don’t be tricked into thinking that there are no crocodiles just because the water is still.- Malayasian
• Depend on others and you will go hungry. - Nepalese
• Never cut what can be untied. - Portugese
• Choose a wife to please yourself, not others. - Rumanian
• Don’t talk too much, your ignorance exceeds your knowledge. - Spanish
• Forgiving an enemy is a requirement, trusting him is not. - Venezuelain

       All the above emphasize the fact and that real truth is humanity is essentially one though people try to divide it politically, geographically, and religiously. These are man created divisions, originally for convenience of governance, then it turned into an easy means for exploitation, and usurping power ,and domination over others.

Nature, the kind mother and a great teacher.

                                 Nature, the kind mother and a great teacher.



       Man should be regarded as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature rather than a member of society. God created Nature for the service of man by His invisible presence in it. Nature is a home for everyone. She protects all equally. The relaxation one experiences in the lap of Nature while sauntering through the lawns, gardens, the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements is unique in itself. You can find the springs of life in Nature only. Companionship with Nature gives more air and sunshine in our thoughts.
Nature never complains. She always loves and cares. She always gives and shares. Furthermore, she has the healing touch which no one else in the world has. Kindness incarnation is Nature. Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things to others even if we don’t get anything in return. It is said that God could not be present everywhere in person. So he created mother in his place to take care of the siblings with selfless service and love. The same thing can be said about Nature also. Nature is also adored like a mother. The uniqueness is that She is ever present  and always with you.
If you learn to appreciate and love,care Nature, you don’t need a companion or medicine even.
Nature is a valuable companion which accompanies one through all life, giving comfort and solutions to all problems one encounters on the way.

Once a king, after hunting in the forest was very tired and resting in a garden with his retinue on the outskirts of the city. Suddenly a stone fell and hit his forehead. The blood started oozing out, and the servants applied medicine and bondage on it. In the meantime the minister ran out in search of the culprit. Soon he brought a poor lady before the king telling him that that was the lady who threw stone at him. The poor lady pleaded before the king, “ oh King ! I didn’t throw the stone intentionally aiming at your forehead. I was throwing stones at the trees on the road in the outskirts to get fruits for my child who is starving for the past two days. I couldn’t find any permanent job here and whatever I get by doing sundry jobs available I tried to earn something and feed at least my child. But many a days, due to weather conditions and non availability of any manual work, I cannot earn anything. While looking for some work anywhere nearby, I came here and found a tree laden with fruits  hanging high. So with the intention of providing atleast fruits to my hungry child, I threw the stones at it as I don’t have the strength to climb up the big ,tall tree and pluck the fruits from the top, leaving the child alone in this forest area.”

Hearing this, the king was pleased and ordered his servants to give two big sacks full of grains, food ,and coins to the lady. Not only this, the king offered her a permanent job in the royal household in tune with her skill and ability. The minister was surprised at this and said to the king, “ His majesty! Instead of punishing the culprit who had the guts to hit you on your forehead, why do you reward her ? It goes against the scales of justice.”

The king replied with a smile, “ Even the tree when hit with a stone gives the fruit to the one who throws stone at it. I am a king, a human being endowed with intelligence and discrimination. I should be more kind. It has taught me a lesson. From the taxes collected and reports of the ministers I was under the impression that all my people in the country are happy without any want. Today for the first time I realized that there is poverty and hunger in this seemingly prosperous country. Now my eyes have opened. As a king I should be a protector of my subjects like a father who takes care of his children. So whatever I give to this lady is not enough or equivalent to the invaluable lesson I have learnt today.

Curious to know ?

                                  Curious to know ?


      When you are curious you  find a lot of interesting things to know.

                          Here are some facts for your knowledge-pack.

•        Human saliva contains a chemical compound called Opiorphin, which is a pain killer manifold times more powerful than morphine.
•   Crying releases extra stress hormones, which is why you feel better after doing so.
• When a person lies, he experiences a Pinocchio effect, which is an increase in the temperature around the nose.
• Numerous studies show that coloring mandalas and other complex geometrical shapes improves mental health and decrease anxiety.
• Receiving musical training early in life is associated with faster neural tuning.
• Watery yogurt - If you leave yogurt open for a while, a watery liquid will form. Don’t throw. It is full of Proteins and Vitamin B 12.
• Rubbing orange peels or lemon peels on yourself makes a good mosquito repellent.
• Sunflowers can be used to clean up radioactive waste by pulling radioactive contaminants out of soil.

Beauty of life

                                         Beauty of life


     Life on this beautiful earth is an opportunity and a blessing to realize the spring of joy inside in one’s own . Human birth is the best and sacred. Infact, all types of lives are sacred. There is some uniqueness attributed to human birth only. Animals are not endowed with the power of discrimination and high thoughts nor can the angels or deities attain to direct freedom without human birth. The body is a wonderful and an unique mechanism with inbuilt tools like senses, mind, heart and brain, all illumined by a mysterious power or energy called consciousness.

The whole world is present in your body. All the five elements Earth,Water,Fire, Air and Ether can be experienced through the five senses namely Fire element associated with eyes and sight, Ether with sounds- ears and hearing, Air element with skin and touch, Water with tongue and taste, Earth with nostrils and smell. The beauty, variety, the healing touch, and orderliness in the Nature presupposes the presence of divinity in and behind it. The very reason for Nature’s existence is for the education of the soul.

The body is a fertile field. If you sow the seeds of good qualities, nurture with the water of good thoughts, not allowing or cutting the weeds of bad thoughts, you can reap the sweet fruits of Karma or actions leading to the discovery of joy outside as well as inside.. There is a seed time and harvest, choose to sow at the right time so as to have a bountiful harvest.

Take care of the body. It’s the only place you have to live. We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life. There is a source of joy inside us. When we are connected to the source consciously, we will not be afraid of any task set before us. Every moment of life will be a moment of joy only.

If there is one essential ingredient for your successful quest for both wealth and happiness, it is discipline. Happiness comes from righteous living and the development of a noble character. You can observe this by noticing that people who are truly happy are honest, unselfish, kind, responsible and have a high moral standards, on the other hand, unhappy people are invariably selfish, lazy, irresponsible, and lacking of self-discipline. And the people who are miserable tend to be immoral, dishonest, greedy, cruel and in other ways dark in character.
 Swamy Vivekananda gives an easy way to become a moral giant. “ In the first place, a man who can work for five days, or even for five minutes, without any selfish motive whatever, without thinking of future, of heaven, of punishment, or anything of the kind has in him the capacity to become a powerful moral giant.”

That was the time, when the man was not born on the earth,. The creator took some clay and shaped  it into a beautiful body like a doll. Then the creator mixed the smile of the cool Moon, fragrance of rose , and sweetness of ambrosia, and put into the body shaped clay doll. The clay doll started glowing. He created more dolls out of clay and infused the same ingredients into them also. All the clay dolls started shining.
The deities, when saw this unique creation done by the creator, were wonderstruck and asked the creator about it. The creator answered, “ This is called life. This is my best creation.” One of the deities interrupted in the middle telling him, “ I don’t understand why you have given life to the body of clay. The clay or mud is the cheapest and most inert of all things. Instead of clay why no metal like  gold, silver or even iron could have been taken which would have made it durable and long-lasting.”

There was a mesmerizing smile on the lips of the creator. He said, my child ! this is the secret of life. I have put all the beauty, fragrance, happiness and wealth into this body of clay, and infused the joy of consciousness into the inert clay. You can use it in any manner you like. One who gives importance to the body will experience the inertness of the clay body only. One who rises above, he will discover the layers of eternal joy and bliss. But these bodies like the clay dolls are not permanent. That is why every second of life is valuable. The one who sleeps without doing anything loses everything. You are looking at the superficial qualities of the mud, not at the unique qualities of it. Only the mud has the potency to bring forth sprouts from the seeds. I have made the body as a field of actions, there in the Karmas or actions sprout. In this way I have given the field and farming to the man into his own hands. He will reap what he sows.”
Thus man’s deeds are responsible for his happiness only by his good deeds and concentration of mind. No one can be held responsible or blamed for his deeds. The more we grow in love, virtue,and holiness, the more we see love, virtue and holiness outside.

Strange is our situation here on the Earth. Like a doll of clay which susceptible to destruction any moment, each of us comes here for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. But from the standpoint of daily life, from the various types of creatures and Nature at our service, there is one thing we should know that man is here for the sake of others. We should use the best of our life. Thus, Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. Thus the body as a field is a treasure and the labor is its key. Man was deliberately planned, specifically gifted and lovingly positioned on the Earth by the Master Craftsman. To sum up:
‘Live your life as an exclamation rather than an explanation.’

A key to a joyful life- Always be a student !

                               A key to a joyful life- Always be a student !
               

            Successful people always stay as a student.

•      Don’t read a book and be a follower ; Read a book and be a student .
• History teaches, but there are no pupils.
• “ Do you know the secret of the true scholar ? In everyman there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.”
• Anyone who stops learning as a student is old whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning as a student always remains young.
• Be like a sponge, keep yourself clean but absorb every bit of information you get.
• In the field of Science, one has to remain a student , keeping an eye on the latest progress. Student : “Dr. Einstein, Aren’t  these the same questions as last Year’s Physics final examination ?  Dr. Einstein : yes, but this year the answers are different.”
• Ancient lawmakers like Manu and others also recommend acquisition of knowledge from persons of lower grade.

Strange but true

   

                                       Strange but true

•      Originally, children received letters from Santa rather than sending them, with parents using them as tools to change their kids’ behavior.
• The treadmill was invented as a means of punishment.
• Tattoos boost the immune system in a similar way to how working out builds muscle.
• The word ‘ scientist ‘ did not exist until late nineteenth century. Before this, scientists were referred to as natural philosophers.
• Babies start dreaming even before they are born.
• Diamond, despite being the hardest material known, will shatter if hit it with a hammer.
• In Thailand, monkeys are employed as harvesters on coconut plantation.
• Trees don’t die of old age, instead they eventually get so big that they fall over and pull out their own roots, uprooting themselves.

An insight into maxims

                                           An insight into maxims



      In good olden days when reading and writing were not known , great philosophical truths were revelations of the great sages and were passed on orally to deserving disciples. Memory was the only vehicle of knowledge. So brevity was the soul of wisdom. Even saving a syllable was considered a treasure. Even short crispy sayings known as maxims, drawn from Nature were quoted in scholarly discussions by the scholars imparted liveliness and useful for clarifying, strengthening and establishing their viewpoint.

A glimpse into some of the maxims will give a clear picture as to how  coherent and lively documents  of human experience of daily life depicted in succinct manner in these sayings added vigor to the language. In Sanskrit it is called Nyaya meaning ‘ nayati iti nyayah ‘ that which leads to clarification of the subject enabling one to achieve the desired objective or goal .

•   Narikelaphalambunyayah

        The maxim of coconut water.
       It takes its origin from the difficulty of explaining how sweet, nutrious water could exist inside a coconut fruit, and is used to denote that it is not in the power of man to understand clearly the unique ways of providence.

• Rashmitrunadinyayah

      The maxim of Sunlight and grass.

  It is used to denote that a thing which is found to be of essential importance at one time, may at another time prove to be the cause of destruction, just as the Sunlight, which is indispensably necessary for the growth of the grass ,is also the cause of drying up of the same grass.

• Chandrachandrikanyayah

      The maxim of the Moon and her lustre.

 This maxim originates from the inseparable connection between the Moon and her pleasing lustre, and is used to denote the inseparableness of two things.

• Hastiyuthapatinyayah

      The maxim of the leader of a herd of elephants.

    This maxim is used to denote that a popular leader must have the courage, strength and discretion enough to lead, guide ,help and protect his followers, just as a leader of the herd of elephants.

• Samudravrshtinyayah

  The maxim of the sea and rain.

The maxim is used to denote supply of a thing to one who is in the least need of it just as rain is quite unnecessary in the sea where there is no want of water.

• Shate panchashat nyayah

    The maxim of fifty in a hundred.

This maxim is used to denote that the whole always contains the part.

• Kurmanganyayah

   The maxim of the limbs of a tortoise

It originates from the fact that a tortoise projects its limbs i.e , its legs and neck, when it has to serve any purpose, and again it draws them in, when that purpose is served, or any danger is apprehended.

It is used denote that a sensible person will, like a tortoise , make an exhibition of his power only where there is proper opportunity or necessity for it.

•  Vatadinyayah

      The maxim of the wind and other humours of the body.

   This maxim is used to indicate that as wind, bile, and phlegm, the three humours of the body, though quite different from one another by nature, prove to be the source of sound health when they are harmoniously combined, so acts of very importance may be well performed by persons of different nature and disposition if they act in unison.

• Vanavyaghranyayah

  The maxim of a forest and the tiger.

This maxim is used to denote the need for mutual  help between two persons, just as a forest is preserved by tiger and the tiger by the forest. If there be no tiger in the forest, the herbivorous animals  come there in large numbers whenever they choose and eat the plants and the creepers and the forest is destroyed in no time. On the otherhand, if there be no forest it becomes difficult for a tiger to find out a secure place to live in.

• Jalamralanyayah

 The maxim of the lotus stalk.

It takes its origin from the growth of the stalk of a lotus with the increase of water in a tank during the rains. Again when the dry season comes and the surface of the water begins to sink, the stalk of the lotus gets dry but it does not die away. Similarly, when a great man or nation by the freaks of fortune is reduced to a miserable condition, he does not lose therby his  natural nobility of mind.

Don’t be a Chicken when you could be a Lark

                                 Don’t be a Chicken when you could be a Lark

There is a popular saying in Sanskrit,
“ Knowledge found in the books and one’s money locked in the hands of others is of no value and use until and unless one owns them and has it in his own possession.”

          The only security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. The beautiful thing is that no one can take it away from you. Human life is a splendid opportunity to acquire this treasure for enjoying the eternal joy , and radiating the same to others. Life without knowledge, learning , and endeavor is like entering a jewel mine and coming out with empty hands.

We acquire knowledge in two ways-   by active learning  from outside sources and from the heart by quiet introspection. Both are needed. Infact, learning, reading without thinking or reflection cannot lead to proper and clear understanding but is a burden, boring and cannot give inner joy.

In good olden days , when there were no written books, listening to the teacher was the first step. Then comes reflection, reflecting on it led to understanding and pondering over it again and again, the knowledge got assimilated. These steps are well-known as Shravana, Manana, and Nididhyasana especially emphasized in realizing the philosophical truths.

Love of reading and learning should be inculcated in children from their early age. Schools and homes should focus on creativity which comes as a result of love of learning. Learning is more than absobing facts. It is acquiring understanding. Thus teaching is more than imparting, it is inspiring change. In the words of Socrates :” I cannot teach students, I can only make them think.”
When you make Reading of books your company you will never feel lonely. But reading without reflection is like eating without digestion.
Reading is an important aspect of learning. If you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything. Writing adds to more understanding.. Writing is a creative process of distilling your thoughts in the still of your mind and collecting their essence of whatever you have understood. To quote Sir Francis Bacon , “ Reading maketh a full man;conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. “

Any work is creative work if done by a thinking mind. For learning, the learner should stay motivated. This motivation is there when he feels that he is accomplishing something great in life.
 When learning is purposeful, creativity blossoms, thinking emanates. When proper thinking emantes, knowledge is fully lit, inventions take place, economy flourishes. The German writer Goethe said,
“ We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”

Learning or knowledge should be undertaken as a pleasurable task because learning or knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind. The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. Learning should be the training of the mind to think of something that has to go beyond the learning of textbooks. Imagination is the highest form of research. All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind only. The infinite library of the universe is our human mind. It is marvelous and unique. Exploration is really the essence of human spirit.
Steve Jobs said, “ I would trade all my technology for an afternoon with Socrates.”

Anyone who stops learning is old whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning always stays young. This is true.
When one develops a passion or insatiable thirst for learning, he will enjoy the process of learning also. The end positive results will come naturally and easily and one will feel more motivated to do more and more. The beauty is the brain ‘s ability to absorb increases as one lears more and more.
Learning becomes fun and the time you spend working seems to fly away. Learning expands the mind into a reservoir of inexhaustible joy within.
Albert Einstein, once sent a message to motivate the students of a college in Brazil at the request of the college authorities. The message was:
“ He who knows the joy of understanding has gained an infallible friend for life. Thinking is to man what flying is to birds.
Don’t follow the example of the chicken when you could be a lark.”
 Many students learn by rote and pass the examns but they may not have understood the subjectat all. The chicken makes cackling sounds only, not sonorous. To understand something one should start thinking and keep on thinking until it is understood. Teachers should help students to think and understand the subject. When one understands the subject, he or she feels happy and carefree like a lark otherwise the lessons become a big bore. Great discoveries are made through thinking and understanding. The bird lark is the symbol of the joyous spirit of the divine. It soars high into the sky singing happily.
The joy from knowledge acquired for the sake of knowledge is immeasurable. A lone flower still blossoms for its own purpose not looking around for admirers.
Inside every human being there are innumerable treasures to unlock. When a person finds the key of learning and thinking to it , he finds joy, joy and joy only.

The spirit of service- The essence of worship

                                    The spirit of service- The essence of worship


    A king, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, built a big tank and ordered all his countrymen,especially cowherds to bring their entire milk and fill up the tank to the brim on every Monday ,once a week, so that he could worship the idol of Shiva in the nearby temple with continuous ablution of milk as a gesture of devotion. All the cowherds, out of fear for royal punishment brought all their milk and poured into the tank. They did not feed their children or sell the milk to the public to earn their livelihood. But still the tank was not full. Atlast, an elderly cowherdess came with a small cup of milk and poured it into the tank. What a wonder ! Immediately, the milk level in the tank rose to the brim. The king also observed this for two weeks. He stopped the lady after she poured the milk and turned back to go back home and asked her the delay in her coming and pouring so little milk that it zoomed to the brim. He wanted to know whether it was normal milk or something extraordinary. The woman replied, “ Oh king, there is no magic in the milk I bring. I milk the cows and take out fresh milk. I give a cupful to my husband and son who go to fields for work early in the morning. I give it to my grandkids who go to school, to my daughter-in-law first who does all the household works from early morning till night. I drink a cup for my health and sell to a small family nearby to earn some money for my family. Whatever is left, that is a small cup of milk, I bring here in obedience to your order. I pour this into the tank with faith and prayer that what I do is in tune with the inner dictates of my conscience. I cannot see my family starving and suffering at the cost of my worship. Infact, I firmly believe that Lord Shiva, as a kind father of this universe would enjoy and accept this faithful symbolic worship with a pure heart than taking the entire milk, cutting the only means of livelihood, causing distress and suffering to his own children, his created beings.” The king realized the truth and the real essence of worship, and was highly grateful to that lady.

Ritualism in any religion is to inculcate the idea of worship and to discipline the body and mind and involve one’s entire being-physical, verbal, mental and spiritual in worshipping the Lord. The principle, is to bring about a change in our attitude, mental thinking, and everything. Our family is our temple. We have to take care of them.
Devotion or worship is not a mere practice but a faithful and constant atmosphere around our head and heart.
In all our contact with the world outside, in all experiences, we must keep constantly a clear picture of our goal in our mind and live with devotion at all times in all activities.
Worship is not a part-time activity. Worship cannot be restricted to any particular time or day. Constant practice and frequent association with good thoughts are essential for the purification of the mind.
This unique bliss does not depend on any external things, beings or circumstances. Family is the cradle of spiritual values- love and togetherness, caring and sharing, then society, and then the entire universe.
Diversity of creation teaches that the spirit of service is the essence of worshiping the creator of this beautiful universe. The evolved human being’s mission is get the glimpse of divine bliss through his selfless, kind and loving service to his fellow creatures.
The best way to allign oneself to the divinity is through service to the created beings of the universe. This is the practical method to realize the divinity rather than the mechanical visits to religious places without any feelings.

In giving only, we grow rich

     

                                  In giving only, we grow rich




           There was a big majestic tree with thick branches of leaves spreading out, with beautiful flowers and delicious fruits on the banks of a river on the outskirts of a small town and looked joyful in serving others by its cool shade, fragrant flowers and sweet fruits.

Once, a small family of four members came and rested under the tree for awhile. The parents were resting underthe tree. Their children,a boy of seven or eight years and his little sister of four or five years old were playing around the tree. The little girl called her brother by name John. After sometime, the family left the place

The little boy John started coming almost daily and played under the tree, plucking its flowers and putting them on his head. He enjoyed picking its delicious fruits and eat them.

The tree developed an affection for that little boy. The unique feature of this created world is love. Love is the universal language which every creature animate or inanimate understands,longs for and fosters.
The boy grew up and had other activities to concentrate upon. After a long time, when the grown up boy was passing by that side, the tree asked him, ‘ John, why you never come here.?’
The boy said, “ I am grown up. I need money to buy things. What do you have except leaves and fruits.’ The tree said tenderly, ‘ You can pick and sell my fruits, you can get money that way.’ John plucked the delicious fruits and went away. The boy did not even feel grateful or thanked the kind tree. Years rolled by. As an adult, he was passing by the side of the tree without even looking at it. The majestic tree lovingly posed the same question to him. The man said that he wanted to build a house and asked the tree, ‘ You keep on calling me. Can you give me a house?’ The tree smilingly replied, ‘ yes, you can cut my sturdy branches and build a beautiful house.’ Without any hesitation, the man cut down the branches and took them for his building. After sometime, when John was passing by that side, the tree enquired about his welfare. Instead of expressing thanks for its concern, he poured out his problem to the tree , telling that he wanted to go to distant lands to earn more money and settle down there comfortably. So, he needed a boat. The tree cheerfully offered its big, strong trunk. The selfish man made a boat out it and sailed away.

The tree became a stump. With rains and grace from above, the tree got regenerated into a vast encompassing majestic one, fully laden with delicious fruits, fragrant flowers,and green luscious leaves offering shade to the travellers. Any person passing through that side could never miss the positive vibration of the joy and richness of the services rendered by that majestic tree to the travellers.

The tree did not forget John who, as a boy would come and play and whose desires it could fulfill. It had developed an affection for the little boy and was eagerly waiting to hear good news about his setttlement in a foreign land and nothing else.

Love is a universal language. Without words, one can feel the depth of the tree’s unselfish, unconditional love, kindness.
Man is gifted with words to express his beautiful thoughts of love, kindness and gratitude. But in modern times, the freedom of expression and speech and birthright is exploited to one’s own selfish ends.
The motherland is also like the tree. And, a y land where people come to earn their livelihood is like this great tree. It is only ungrateful men destroy the lands, fellow countrymen to satisfy their insatiable greed. The height of this greed can be seen in today’s politics. Election is nothing but a reshuffling of the same crooked politicians. The party men fight the election to defeat the rival candidates. Their object is never to take care of the country. They forget that they are mere representatives of the people , elected to govern the country, protecting the rights and safeguarding the people by providing healthcare, education, livelihood , and protection from the enemies. They are mere caretakers for a stipulated period. But they behave as if the country is their own property and loot taxpayers money to fulfill their whims instead of spending on the welfare and development of the country.
The unbridled power,  corruption of the politicians, instigation of the youths by fanatics, unemployment,poverty, illiteracy all create migration issues. The world belongs to everyone. Nature is common. In a country, people belonging to different religions live. Practice of religion is a private affair. The country belongs to all. Dividing the country on the basis of religion, driving them out of their own country by the powerful ones is a stigma and a shame on the humanity as a whole. In every country, people should realize that by giving space, help and love to one another, they don’t lose anything, but gain only, get the bounty like the majestic tree.

Cup of life

                                                  Cup of life




       A group of students, then well-placed in senior positions in various organizations, went to meet their professor. The professor was very happy to see them. The students poured out their problems, anxiety and stress they were facing, inspite of holding a high position and having monetary comforts. They pointed out that they could not find any joy amidst these.

The professor simply smiled, and prepared fresh coffee and poured it into different types of cups- some were of decorated porcelain ones, some plain, some made of glass, some plastic and some paper cups, and placing before the students , asked them to taste the coffee. Almost all of them took the beautiful looking, decorated, heavy porcelain cups containing hot aromatic coffee.

The professor said, “ I noticed you all preferred to take decorated heavy porcelain cups. Remember, cups are just medium to hold the essence i.e. is coffee and not the essence itself. The aroma and taste of the coffee does not vary according to the container. It is the same. Only the containers are perishable. Likewise, post, position, power, money are like soap bubbles in the air and at any time can disappear and be lost. But your innermost being, your eternal treasure which holds the values of joy and serenity and guide you with the same is eternal and is always with you. So realize this, worries and anxiety will never touch you. External riches in the form of money, position, house, cars and electronic devices are essential for a comfortable life. But they are not the only goal of life. But ,with the acquisition of these physical comforts, worries and anxiety are natural to mind like waves in the ocean. Waves are seen on the surface of the ocean only. Whereas the ocean in its depth remains calm and unperturbed by the external waves. But there are many ways to calm a negative energy without suppressing or fighting it. Try to recognize it, smile at it, and replace it with good thoughts and wisdom.

Now this is the right time to test your real knowledge you have acquired and prove your worth.
One should not lose the internal treasure by being caught in the external pleasures. Even the honey bee knows how not to get caught in the sticky honey it makes. The man of understaning, finds lasting pleasure in the positive achievement, and the acquisition and exercise of wisdom. Righteousness and enduring riches of internal life should be the driving force of your life. Committing your life to nurturing highest values of life like simplicity,serenity, love, kindness, and discovering a purpose to serve humanity, radiating the same, you will find the true riches. Wish you all the Best! .”

Real strength comes from love and co-operation

                               Real strength comes from love and co-operation



    There was a saintly man. He looked fragile but would roll down the big boulders on the path into the valley down without any effort. A man was curiously observing this for a long time. One day, he went to the saintly man and asked him the secret behind his strength. The saintly man smilingly said, “ My dear son ! I don’t know. I don’t make any effort. I just address the big boulders that have fallen down on the walking path from the nearby mountain, with love and kindness, asking them for permission to co-operate with me in rolling down them from the path as they abstruct the people from walking on the path and not for any other personal motive. “  Then without much effort, I roll them down far away from the path.
This demonstrates that the real strength comes from kindness and co-operation. Real strength does not come from mere physical control or out of ego that others should obey us. This is an important principle in management techniques. A team’s strength and success depends on these qualities only.

Great things are achieved by team work in any organization. Team work is the art of giving people a common platform for spreading ideas that work towards a project undertaken by a group of people.
All should love the common work they are sharing to achieve a common goal. All the members may not be of equal calibre. They may be from diverse background. With mutual understanding, trust, respect ,and concentration on single mission, all boundaries will disappear. Infact, the diversity should impart a richness to the work. The focus should be on the action rather than one’s ego. One should not cut others and ride over. All have to be avid learners. If we enjoy doing together, everything can be achieved. Achievement of excellence in the form of unique and real contribution should be the purpose, keeping in mind the reputation of the organization and benefits to the society at large.

When the goal is set, the will and love to work,ability to communicate and resolve conflicts before they get out of control,importance of timing, taking advantage of opportunities and available resources , a unique joy of togetherness, a sense of belongingness ,self-motivation ,  commitment ,integrity,loyalty to the organization will naturally be there, like the ant who is a self-starter and needs no manager to keep it on task.

In a team, a leader and members have equal role. With varied knowledge and experience, the members can offer information and novel insights into a project which a single person alone may not possess.
The leader should not be interested in the privileges of power rather than its responsibilities.
Leadership is not about one’s power, it’s all about one’s ability to empower, encourage and elevate others.
The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not ,rude or cruel,be kind, but not weak, be bold, but not bully, be thoughtful, but not lazy, be humble, but not timid, be proud, but not arrogant, have humour , but without folly and without being silly.
Such a team becomes strong, successful and is an asset to any organization.

Wisdom from the kingdom of plants

                                        Wisdom from the kingdom of plants

•  When the axe came into the forest the trees said, “ The handle is one of us.”
• I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we  do.
• The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.
• Just as a coconut tree bears the weight of coconuts on its head and gives nectarine water throughout its life in return for a little water that was given to it during the first year of its growth, a good person never forgets the help he had received and tries to return it to others in manifold forms and ways.       
•  Though the blue water lily, lotus, fish, and white lily are born in water, they have different odors.
• Plants are more courageous than almost all human beings. An orange tree would rather die than produce lemons.
• A lone flower still blossoms for its own purpose not looking around for admirers.
• If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if you pick it up, it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be in the plant itself. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.
• The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.
• Don’t chase the butterfly. Mend your garden, let the butterfly come.
• Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your garden and decorate yor soul.
• The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge, and it becomes another’s , smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.

Value of things

                                     Value of things


 Children,from the early age should be educated about the value of things and not money.

A boy had a beautiful piece of cloth with exquisite workmanship. He took it to a shop in antiques with the intention of selling it. The shopkeeper, looking at the unique artistic piece, was ready to offer him twenty gold coins for that. The boy became greedy and tore the beautiful cloth, a table spread, into two pieces and asked him for the price. As both the pieces had beautiful motifs weaved on them intact, the shopkeeper was eager to have them and was ready to offer twelve gold coins each. The boy, not being satisfied, tore the beautiful pieces into small, small pieces and wanted to know the price for all. The wise antique dealer declined to give anything for those small insignificant pieces and addressed the boy, “ Oh my dear boy ! You don’t know the worth of this beautiful cloth. You tore into small pieces without any regret. You don’t seem to realize as to many hands have labored in making this unique artistic cloth. The farmer grows and cultivate cotton in the fields, fighting against the vagaries of weather. The merchant buys it and gets the cotton in the form of threads and gets them  colored in different shades. It is the weaver who weaves it with patterns and gives  it  to the merchant, who fixes the price and ships it to shops for sale. This is the case with everything manufactured.
When a person realizes this, he would never waste a thing or underrate any worker. The worth of a thing, appreciation of the same will develop the qualities of reverence, honesty , and love towards all. Automatically, the necessity and importance of money will also be realized in due course as it is needed for a comfortable living of one's own and to support and preserve others and other things. This realization will motivate earning of money through rightful means without exploitation."
In our modern, hectic and consumer-oriented lifestyles, competition and profit motivate business. Our society attributes status, position, power to people rich in terms of money. Since with money, everything is bought, children take everything for granted. Money is necessary, but money is not everything. Money masks everything. So people have no hesitation in wasting food, throwing out the clothes and other things. Children and even adults don’t understand the value of things, the labor undergone and the sweat shed by The laborers. They provide us the basic things for our living like food, clothes, shelter and other things. These things are modified into various forms by big business houses, who thrive. As we have multiplied our possessions but reduced values, we’ve learned how to make a living but not a life.

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize that all the creatures that inhabit this earth- be they human beings or animals- are here mutually inter-dependent and are here to contribute each in its own particular way, to the beautty and prosperity of the world. We will understand others, we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance and care. We will also realize that in diversity, there is beauty and there is strength.
If we want to continue to enjoy varieties of food, clothing and other amneties of life, we need to help farmers and creatures carry on and preserve the pure environment, the bountiful Nature has provided us with. This will teach and value other people’s skill and knock out any thought of our superiority out of our head. We will realize that we all share a common thread and mutually depend on each other, our lack of healthy connection to each other, our inability to see the full dignity of each other is the underlying cause of lot of our problems.

When we understand the value of things, we will not waste food, clothes, toys, books or anything. Either things will be bought according to the needs or if more, will be distributed among the needy.
Even thinking of the wastage will be a shame, when many on the planet are starving, under-nourished, underclothed and uneducated.

We will consciously care for our planet and limit the damages we create and this will become a prioritized habit in our daily lives.
Value teaches the worth of everything. When we learn to respect even the smallest being of creation, whether animal or vegetable, nobody has to teach us to love our fellow human beings.
If we are able to see life from a broader perspective, we will thoroughly enjoy this place called Earth, our great common benevolent mother. All people, especially children will not feel isolated and glued to electronic devices for comfort, they will find their family-world has been transformed into a joyful fairy land of big , comforting, and loving world-family of "Live and Let live" resulting in boundless feelings of gratitude. This boundless gratefulness will lead to a total love to the Divine, who is our resource and who is also our refuge.

The miracle of love

                               The miracle of love




      All are basically good as the divine spark in all is one and the same. No one is born a thief or a terrorist. It is the deprivation of basic amneties of life  namely food, clothing, shelter especially love and care , lack of opportunities for employment that cause insecurity among people ,forcing them to extreme steps of terrorism, theft, robbery and other means as a retalatiation or compensation for the deprivation of love and care, not provided by the society in which they live. The yearning for love and care is a basic ingredient of the soul of every created being, whether animate or inanimate. Emotional life is richer and deeper than the intellectual life. When the mind is full and rich, the intellect works and wisdom also dawns.

There is a story that the most famous of all Japanese robbers, Ishikawa Goemon, once by night entering a house to kill and steal , was charmed by the smile of a baby which reached out hands to him, and that he remained playing with the little creature until all chance of carrying out his purpose was lost.

Man is like a plant with its green parts above the ground and its roots below the soil. Although a plant may be temporarily crushed and bruised by the weather conditions, its roots will survive and grow back again later. Similarly, man may be temporarily crushed and bruised by insecurity, neglect, deprivation of the basic necessities of life, his roots imbedded in love will survive and grow back again later  as a proper human being, if necessary surroundings are provided with.

The key to a joyful life

                               The key to a joyful life



      Two students went to a wise, scholarly teacher to learn the secret of success and joy in life. Before undertaking the teaching, the teacher wanted to to test the mental alertness and readiness of the students. So, he gave a small gift of flower seeds to each of them, asked them them to grow, cultivate and bring their pot of flowers after six months. Six months over, both reported to the master with their pot of flowers. The first student’s pot had three flowers only. He accounted for this that when he planted the seeds, half of the seeds were eaten away by the ants in the soil. There was no rain at all. While budding, insects ate away the flowers whatever grown. So, he could save and get only three flowers.
The other student’s pot was full of healthy flowers. On being asked about the cause of the same, he replied thus, “ I looked at the seeds you gave and developed a love for them. I put proper soil in a clean pot, planted the seeds with love, and watered with care. I took care to take out the weeds, protected them from extreme heat and cold. When the plant grew, I felt happy and prayed. When the buds appeared, a sense of gratitude and achievement overwhelmed me. When the first flower bloomed, its fragrance, structure and texture  transported me into a world of unique joy, unknown, unexperienced until then. I looked at it with a smile. Daily I would go and look at it with love and care like a child. It seems that the happy plant also reciprocated its feelings, expressing its smile in the form of bountiful flowers. That is why I could bring this pot full of flowers.
Then the teacher explained to them, “ you should develop a mind to love both animate and inanimate objects equally. Such people will find joy in everything, anywhere, at anytime. If you quietly observe natural things like a flower, a leaf, a fly, a dog or simply the grain of a piece of wood and marvel at their color, texture and other specialities in each of them, you cannot but admire at the unique craftmanship and wisdom of the creator by whom these masterpieces have been brought into being. Cultivate the mindset of a master craftsman. Think deeply about what you are doing .What you are really trying to achieve.Do the best as you can. Mistakes do occur. Take them as lessons only. Whatever we get in life, we should feel grateful for that. We should live life with faith and joy.
The wiseman, is a life-long learner and a student of human nature, always thirsting for the insights and understanding that leads to joy and success. He builds up a valuable store of useful knowledge and appliies it.
This is the first and basic lesson to be learnt for finding success and joy in every sphere of life.”

Unique relationship between saying and understanding

                                    Unique relationship between saying and understanding



       When Albert Einstein met Charlie Chaplin, Einstein said, “ what I most admire about your art is your universality. You don’t say a word, yet the world understands you !”. Chaplin replied, “ It’s true, but your fame is even greater. The world admires you when nobody understands what you say.”

        

Gentleman

                                     Gentleman



    Once a British gentleman asked Swamy Vivekananda, ‘ Sir, why don’t you wear fashionable clothes like a gentleman? You are always seen clad in orange colored single cloth ( dhoti ) only ?’

Swami Vivekananda replied with his own characteristic smile, ‘ According to your culture, tailor makes a gentle man. But according to Indian culture, good qualities and character make a gentleman.’