My mother had only one eye, I hated her as I was ashamed of her
She was a cook in the school cafeteria where I studied.
One day, when I was still in a primary class,
She came to visit me to see for herself that I was all right.
I was very upset, how dare she do this to me?
After that incident I ignored her & looked on her
Only with hateful eyes….
The next day, a fellow-student told me,
"Oh, your mother has only one eye!"
At that moment, I wanted to crawl under the floor
And that my mother would be out of my life completely.
The next day I went to meet her & to tell here:
" because of you I am the joke at school,
Why don't you go away!
But, she did not respond….
I wasn't thinking and did not know what I was saying,
I was very angry. I could not imagine
how she would react to my remarks.
And, I left town.
I studied relentlessly and obtained a scholarship
to continue my studies abroad.
In fact, I completed my studies, got married, bought a house
and set up my family. I lived a happy and a peaceful life.
One day, my mother came to visit me.
It has been many years since we had got separated;
She had never met her grandchildren.
She remained at the doorstep
While my children were making fun of her
I shouted at her: " How dare you come all the way here and
frighten my kids? With a calm voice she responded:
"I apologize, I am at the wrong address."
And she disappeared.
One day, I received an invitation from my hometown school to
attend a reunion under the "close family ties" topic.
I lied to my wife and made her believe that I was traveling
for business.
After the school reunion I stopped by the house
where I grew up.
The neighbors informed me that my mother had passed away.
I did not shed even one drop of tear!!!
The neighbor handed me a letter
that my mother had left for me
"My Dear son, I always thought of you.
I regret having visited you abroad
And frightened your kids
…I was very pleased when I heard that
you would come to attend the school reunion
…
The only thing was that I could not get up
from my bed to come and see you….
… I am broken-hearted that I brought
shame to you on numerous occasions…
Did you know that when you were a baby
you had an accident and lost one eye?
… and, as any other mother would,
I would not let you grow up with only one eye….
So. I gave you my eye…
I was very proud and happy to know that my son would be able
to see the world with my eye
…
With all my love…
…your mother….
But now it was 'too late' for the son to do anything!
"It is one of the greatest sins that a man should not respect his parents."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Happiness After Sorrow!
THE TEACUP
There was a couple that used to go to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."
"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet."
Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips, as He shook his head, "Not yet."
Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."
Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."
Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."
"I want you to remember," then, he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.
I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life.
And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."
God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay.
He will mold us and make us, So that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
There was a couple that used to go to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."
"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet."
Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips, as He shook his head, "Not yet."
Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."
Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."
Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."
"I want you to remember," then, he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.
I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life.
And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."
God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay.
He will mold us and make us, So that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Lets Be Humble and Meek
“Saints say we should search for God within our body.
Instead of taking this advice, we let ourselves be deluded by our pride and egotism.
Just think for a moment. While we are in this body, what are we proud of?
Is it our youth?
Have we not seen old age creeping up on people?
Have we not seen the pitiful condition of patients in hospitals?
Is it our wealth?
Have we not seen rich people losing all their money?
Is it power and authority or honor and glory?
Have we not seen powerful and influential leaders forced to face the hangman's noose or being shot by an assassin's bullet?
In the space of a moment, monarchies may be overthrown and their monarchs may end their lives in prison or be sentenced to death
-or be shot dead.
What then are we proud of?
Kabir Sahib says:
The burning wood says to the blacksmith:
Even though you are burning me in your forge today,
Do not forget that there will come a day
When I shall burn your fine body in the same way to ashes!.
To the potter, the clay says:
It matters not if you today
Are kneading and crushing me
heavily with your feet and hands;
For the day will surely come
When ‘I’ shall tread on you! And trample on your body!!.
The blacksmith burns wood in his forge to heat and make horseshoes.
The wood warns him that the day is not far off when it will burn him on the cremation pyre.
The potter kneads the clay to make earthen jars and pots.
The clay warns him that before very long it will make him a part of itself when he is buried in a grave.
Similarly, Soami Ji says:
O man, what are you so proud of?
Your body will turn to dust
And you will return
To the cycle of ‘birth’ and
’rebirth’.
The saints therefore advise us to be meek and humble. The more humble and modest we are, the greater will be our devotion to the Lord and the greater will be his grace.
Christ also speaks of humility and meekness in the Bible, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven....
Blessed are the meek: For they shall inherit the earth."
He again says, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven….”
Verily I say unto you: Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Soami Ji similarly states,
"Implant meekness and humility in your mind and save yourself from lust and anger."
Likewise, Guru Arjan says:
My deeds are all wretched,
I have taken refuge with you;
O Nanak, save me!
Saints, who are the highest among men, are always meek and humble.
Humility is their distinctive quality.
They approach the door of the Lord as beggars. Guru Nanak, in deep humility, calls himself the `lowest of the low', the `slave of his slaves'.
Even after they have attained the highest possible degree of spirituality and become the Lord himself, they still maintain their humility.
We should draw inspiration from the lives of the saints!
When we get a little power in our hands, we are apt to become proud and to look down with disdain on other human beings.
Kabir Sahib says:
I went out in search of an evil man,
But could not find one;
When I searched within my own self,
I found I was the worst of all.
I am, O Kabir, the worst of all;
Except for me, all are good.
He who understands this is indeed my friend.
The principal aim of saints is to tell us that we should try to get rid of our pride and ego.
They guide us to be humble and to devote ourselves to meditation on the Supreme Lord.
Then alone will we fulfill the object of human life.
Saint Dadu Sahib says:
With what face can I laugh and speak?
O Dadu, I should rather weep;
I am departing, and I have wasted
This priceless birth of mine for nothing.
Mahatma Charandas says:
Horses and elephants and wealth,
And countless concubines—
Each one as lovely as the moon—
All these are worthless,
For without the treasure of Naam,
One suffers endless tortures
-in the land of Yama, the lord of death
Guru Nanak says:
There is no true companion,
No true comrade,
Other than Nam;
Salvation can be gained
Only if you meditate on Nam.
When humility is instilled within us, we will naturally turn towards God.
This however can happen only through the infinite ‘Grace’ of the Lord!
Instead of taking this advice, we let ourselves be deluded by our pride and egotism.
Just think for a moment. While we are in this body, what are we proud of?
Is it our youth?
Have we not seen old age creeping up on people?
Have we not seen the pitiful condition of patients in hospitals?
Is it our wealth?
Have we not seen rich people losing all their money?
Is it power and authority or honor and glory?
Have we not seen powerful and influential leaders forced to face the hangman's noose or being shot by an assassin's bullet?
In the space of a moment, monarchies may be overthrown and their monarchs may end their lives in prison or be sentenced to death
-or be shot dead.
What then are we proud of?
Kabir Sahib says:
The burning wood says to the blacksmith:
Even though you are burning me in your forge today,
Do not forget that there will come a day
When I shall burn your fine body in the same way to ashes!.
To the potter, the clay says:
It matters not if you today
Are kneading and crushing me
heavily with your feet and hands;
For the day will surely come
When ‘I’ shall tread on you! And trample on your body!!.
The blacksmith burns wood in his forge to heat and make horseshoes.
The wood warns him that the day is not far off when it will burn him on the cremation pyre.
The potter kneads the clay to make earthen jars and pots.
The clay warns him that before very long it will make him a part of itself when he is buried in a grave.
Similarly, Soami Ji says:
O man, what are you so proud of?
Your body will turn to dust
And you will return
To the cycle of ‘birth’ and
’rebirth’.
The saints therefore advise us to be meek and humble. The more humble and modest we are, the greater will be our devotion to the Lord and the greater will be his grace.
Christ also speaks of humility and meekness in the Bible, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven....
Blessed are the meek: For they shall inherit the earth."
He again says, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven….”
Verily I say unto you: Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Soami Ji similarly states,
"Implant meekness and humility in your mind and save yourself from lust and anger."
Likewise, Guru Arjan says:
My deeds are all wretched,
I have taken refuge with you;
O Nanak, save me!
Saints, who are the highest among men, are always meek and humble.
Humility is their distinctive quality.
They approach the door of the Lord as beggars. Guru Nanak, in deep humility, calls himself the `lowest of the low', the `slave of his slaves'.
Even after they have attained the highest possible degree of spirituality and become the Lord himself, they still maintain their humility.
We should draw inspiration from the lives of the saints!
When we get a little power in our hands, we are apt to become proud and to look down with disdain on other human beings.
Kabir Sahib says:
I went out in search of an evil man,
But could not find one;
When I searched within my own self,
I found I was the worst of all.
I am, O Kabir, the worst of all;
Except for me, all are good.
He who understands this is indeed my friend.
The principal aim of saints is to tell us that we should try to get rid of our pride and ego.
They guide us to be humble and to devote ourselves to meditation on the Supreme Lord.
Then alone will we fulfill the object of human life.
Saint Dadu Sahib says:
With what face can I laugh and speak?
O Dadu, I should rather weep;
I am departing, and I have wasted
This priceless birth of mine for nothing.
Mahatma Charandas says:
Horses and elephants and wealth,
And countless concubines—
Each one as lovely as the moon—
All these are worthless,
For without the treasure of Naam,
One suffers endless tortures
-in the land of Yama, the lord of death
Guru Nanak says:
There is no true companion,
No true comrade,
Other than Nam;
Salvation can be gained
Only if you meditate on Nam.
When humility is instilled within us, we will naturally turn towards God.
This however can happen only through the infinite ‘Grace’ of the Lord!
Friday, September 26, 2008
God. why me?
We always complain to god when we are in trouble and misery. Let us learn a lesson from the following and stop complaining to god and count our blessings:
Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of HIV
which he contracted through a tainted blood transfusion. From
world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed:
"Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?
To this Arthur Ashe replied:
The world over 5 crore children start playing tennis, 50 lakh learn to
play tennis, 5 lakh learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit,
5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final and 2
to the finals.
When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?”
And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"
Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of HIV
which he contracted through a tainted blood transfusion. From
world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed:
"Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?
To this Arthur Ashe replied:
The world over 5 crore children start playing tennis, 50 lakh learn to
play tennis, 5 lakh learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit,
5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final and 2
to the finals.
When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?”
And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"
Saturday, August 30, 2008
CHAT WITH GOD!
God: Hello. Did you call me?
Me: Called you? No. Who is this?
God: This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I
thought I will chat with you.
Me: I do pray. Just makes me feel good.
I am actually busy now.
I am in the midst of something.
God: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.
Me: Don't know. But I can't find free time.
Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the
time.
God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But
productivity gets you results.
Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.
Me: I understand. But I still can't figure out.
By the way, I was not expecting YOU to
buzz me on instant messaging chat.
God: Well, I wanted to resolve your fight for
time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era,
I wanted to reach you through the medium
you are comfortable with.
Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?
God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it!.
Analysis is what makes it complicated.
Me: Why are we then constantly unhappy?
God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried
about yesterday.
You are worrying because you are analyzing.
Worrying has become your habit.
That's why you are not happy.
Me: But how can we not worry when there is so
much uncertainty?
God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is
optional.
Me: But then, there is so much pain due to
uncertainty...
God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is
optional.
Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people
always suffer?
God: Diamond cannot be polished without friction.
Gold cannot be purified without fire.
Good people go through trials, but don't suffer.
With that experience their life becomes better,
not bitter.
Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?
God: Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard
teacher.
She gives the test first and the lessons
afterwards.
Me: But still, why should we go through such
tests?
Why can't we be free from problems?
God: Problems are
P urposeful
R oadblocks
O ffering
B eneficial
L essons to
E nhance
M ental
S trength.
Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance,
not when you are free from problems.
Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems,
we don't know where we are heading...
God: If you look outside you will not know where
you are heading.
Look inside.
Looking outside, you dream.
Looking inside, you awaken.
Eyes provide sight.
Heart provides insight.
Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt
more than
moving in the right direction. What should I do?
God: Success is a measure as decided by others.
Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.
Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than
knowing you rode ahead.
You work with the compass.
Let others work with the clock.
Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?
God: Always look at how far you have come rather
than how far you have to go.
Always count your blessing, not what you are
missing.
Me: What surprises you about people?
God: When they suffer they ask, "why me?"
When they prosper, they never ask "Why me?"
Everyone wishes to have truth on his or her side,
but few want to be on the side of the truth.
Me: How can I get the best out of life?
God: Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Me: One last question.
Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.
God: There are no unanswered prayers.
At times the answer is NO.
Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat.
I am so happy to start the New Day with a new
sense of inspiration.
God: Well.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs.
Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to
resolve.
Trust me.
Life is wonderful if you know how to live.
-Sham Hinduja
God: Hello. Did you call me?
Me: Called you? No. Who is this?
God: This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I
thought I will chat with you.
Me: I do pray. Just makes me feel good.
I am actually busy now.
I am in the midst of something.
God: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.
Me: Don't know. But I can't find free time.
Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the
time.
God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But
productivity gets you results.
Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.
Me: I understand. But I still can't figure out.
By the way, I was not expecting YOU to
buzz me on instant messaging chat.
God: Well, I wanted to resolve your fight for
time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era,
I wanted to reach you through the medium
you are comfortable with.
Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?
God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it!.
Analysis is what makes it complicated.
Me: Why are we then constantly unhappy?
God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried
about yesterday.
You are worrying because you are analyzing.
Worrying has become your habit.
That's why you are not happy.
Me: But how can we not worry when there is so
much uncertainty?
God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is
optional.
Me: But then, there is so much pain due to
uncertainty...
God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is
optional.
Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people
always suffer?
God: Diamond cannot be polished without friction.
Gold cannot be purified without fire.
Good people go through trials, but don't suffer.
With that experience their life becomes better,
not bitter.
Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?
God: Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard
teacher.
She gives the test first and the lessons
afterwards.
Me: But still, why should we go through such
tests?
Why can't we be free from problems?
God: Problems are
P urposeful
R oadblocks
O ffering
B eneficial
L essons to
E nhance
M ental
S trength.
Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance,
not when you are free from problems.
Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems,
we don't know where we are heading...
God: If you look outside you will not know where
you are heading.
Look inside.
Looking outside, you dream.
Looking inside, you awaken.
Eyes provide sight.
Heart provides insight.
Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt
more than
moving in the right direction. What should I do?
God: Success is a measure as decided by others.
Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.
Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than
knowing you rode ahead.
You work with the compass.
Let others work with the clock.
Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?
God: Always look at how far you have come rather
than how far you have to go.
Always count your blessing, not what you are
missing.
Me: What surprises you about people?
God: When they suffer they ask, "why me?"
When they prosper, they never ask "Why me?"
Everyone wishes to have truth on his or her side,
but few want to be on the side of the truth.
Me: How can I get the best out of life?
God: Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Me: One last question.
Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.
God: There are no unanswered prayers.
At times the answer is NO.
Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat.
I am so happy to start the New Day with a new
sense of inspiration.
God: Well.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs.
Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to
resolve.
Trust me.
Life is wonderful if you know how to live.
-Sham Hinduja
TRUE BEAUTY!
‘TRUE BEAUTY!!’
“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
(Never talk rudely!)
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
(Do not criticize anybody!)
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
(Do lots of Community Services to stay slim and trim!! Do charity and help the poor!)
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
(Be like a small loving child who LOVES everyone!)
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
(For the Lord, God and Master is always with you!)
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived,
reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
(Be merciful, humble, helpful and kind to all!)
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the
end of each of your own arms.
(‘God helps those who help themselves!’)
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;
(Don’t wait till you are too old. It might be too late. Act now!!)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A BEAUTIFUL ANALOGY
A BEAUTIFUL ANALOGY
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to havea good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would
allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop
again and he said to the barber:
"You know what? Barbers do not exist." How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed.
"Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber.
“What happens, is people do not come to me.”
"Exactly!” - affirmed the customer.
"That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
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