Once the Buddha was walking from one town to another with a few of his disciples. While they were travelling, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and the Buddha told one of his disciples, "I am thirsty. Do get me some water from that lake."
The young disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that right at that moment, a bullock cart had started crossing the lake. As a result, the water had become very muddy, very turbid. The disciple
thought, "How can I give this muddy water to the Buddha to drink!?"
So he went back and told the Buddha, "The water in there is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink!"
After about half an hour, the Buddha again
asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake.
This time too he found that the lake was muddy. He returned and informed the Buddha about the same. Once again, a few minutes later the Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake.
The disciple reached the shore only to find that the lake absolutely clean with crystal clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked pure enough to drink. So he collected some water in a pot and
brought it to the Buddha.
Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said,"See what you did to make the water clean. You just let it be and the mud settled down on its own, and you got clear water!"
And then he addressed his disciples:" Your mind is just like that lake ! When it is disturbed, it gets all muddy and confused. So just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless."
Having "Peace of Mind" is not a strenuous job; it is an effortless process!
In life everything goes on.......... .......Keep Going.
And dont forget to KEEP SMILING
............ ..not because of something, but inspite of everything!! !
Friday, September 25, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Think Good to Feel Great
According to an experiment conducted by Prof. Richard Wiseman (Psychologist from Hertfodshire University), the best way to feel hapier is to think of something good that happened to you the day before.
AN ACT OF KINDNESS led to 9% boost to happines.
BEING GRATEFUL TO AN ASPECT OF LIFE led to an 8% rise.
A SMILE made people 6% happier.
The Conclusion is Be Kind, Be Grateful and Smile more and you will be Happier.
AN ACT OF KINDNESS led to 9% boost to happines.
BEING GRATEFUL TO AN ASPECT OF LIFE led to an 8% rise.
A SMILE made people 6% happier.
The Conclusion is Be Kind, Be Grateful and Smile more and you will be Happier.
Monday, August 31, 2009
This too will Pass
Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them,
" Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstances, in every place and in every time. Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me is there any mantra?"
All wise men got puzzled by King's question. One answer for all question? Something that works everywhere, in every situation? In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought. After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appeal to all of them. They went to king and gave him something written on paper. But the condition was that king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way, only then he'll have to see it. The King put the papers under his Diamond ring.
After a few days, the neighbors attack the Kingdom. It was a collective surprise attack of King's enemies. King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. King had to fled on his horse. The enemies were following him. His horse took him far away in Jungle. He could hear many troops of horses were following him and the noise was coming closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself standing in the end of the road - that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished…and he could not return because it was a small road…From back the sound of enemy's horses was approaching fast. King became restless. There seemed to be no way.
n
Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was very small but very great.
The message was - " This too will pass."
The King read it . Again read it. Suddenly something strike in his mind- Yes ! it too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. However when those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. A calm come on his face. He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forget about those following him. After a few minute he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were not on that path.
The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regain his lost empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being thrown on King from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself," I am one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat me.: With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.
Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He open it and read it again: "This too will pass"
He became silent. His face went through a total change -from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness.
If this too is going to pass, it is not yours.
The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours.
You are just a watcher. Everything passes by
We are witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life come and go. Happiness come and go. Sorrow come and go.
Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life. This too will pass. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent ? They all come and pass away. Life just passes away.
There were friends in past. They all have gone.
There are friends today. They too will go.
There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go.
There were enemies in past. They have gone.
There may be enemy in present. They too will go.
There will be new enemies tomorrow and......they too will go.
There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks , all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away. Who are you in reality? Know your real face. Your face is not your true face. It will change with the time. However, there is something in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable ? It is nothing but your true self.
You are just a witness of change. Experience it, understand it.
Everyday for 10-15 minutes sit in silence. Just think over the sentence, " This too will pass." Pondering over your own life will make you realize the true meaning of this sentence. Everything passes yet your real identity remains the same. That real you is your true self. To know that self is true meditation.
" Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstances, in every place and in every time. Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me is there any mantra?"
All wise men got puzzled by King's question. One answer for all question? Something that works everywhere, in every situation? In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought. After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appeal to all of them. They went to king and gave him something written on paper. But the condition was that king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way, only then he'll have to see it. The King put the papers under his Diamond ring.
After a few days, the neighbors attack the Kingdom. It was a collective surprise attack of King's enemies. King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. King had to fled on his horse. The enemies were following him. His horse took him far away in Jungle. He could hear many troops of horses were following him and the noise was coming closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself standing in the end of the road - that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished…and he could not return because it was a small road…From back the sound of enemy's horses was approaching fast. King became restless. There seemed to be no way.
n
Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was very small but very great.
The message was - " This too will pass."
The King read it . Again read it. Suddenly something strike in his mind- Yes ! it too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. However when those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. A calm come on his face. He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forget about those following him. After a few minute he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were not on that path.
The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regain his lost empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being thrown on King from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself," I am one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat me.: With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.
Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He open it and read it again: "This too will pass"
He became silent. His face went through a total change -from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness.
If this too is going to pass, it is not yours.
The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours.
You are just a watcher. Everything passes by
We are witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life come and go. Happiness come and go. Sorrow come and go.
Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life. This too will pass. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent ? They all come and pass away. Life just passes away.
There were friends in past. They all have gone.
There are friends today. They too will go.
There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go.
There were enemies in past. They have gone.
There may be enemy in present. They too will go.
There will be new enemies tomorrow and......they too will go.
There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks , all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away. Who are you in reality? Know your real face. Your face is not your true face. It will change with the time. However, there is something in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable ? It is nothing but your true self.
You are just a witness of change. Experience it, understand it.
Everyday for 10-15 minutes sit in silence. Just think over the sentence, " This too will pass." Pondering over your own life will make you realize the true meaning of this sentence. Everything passes yet your real identity remains the same. That real you is your true self. To know that self is true meditation.
Lesson from a Donkey
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon,
everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less
He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon,
everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Parenting Tips and Exercises - Sulakshana Sirur
• Spend at least an hour of quality time with your child. This will help in Open Communication between parents and children.
• Find an outlet to Channelize their energy either through sports, dance, music, play, learning a new skill. Children are a bundle of energy n if they don’t have the right outlet to channelize it. The energy transforms itself into destructive -aggressive behaviour
• Encourage and praise the child for every small accomplishment. This improves their self-esteem and motivates them to do better.
• Always talk well of the child in his/her presence. If at all u need to discuss his/her negatives with a 3rd person, do it in his/or her absence. For e.g., if a child happens to hear that he/she is a spoilt brat. The tendency is to internalize the quality and to live up to the expectations of the parents of being a ‘Spoilt Brat’.
• Treat your child as a young adult capable of logical-rational thinking. Have adult discussions with the child about what he/she appreciate in the parent and what he does not appreciate. Then commit to correct it. You then go ahead n share your opinion about what you appreciate and don’t appreciate about your child’s behaviour. And then ask them for a commitment to change.
• Setting RULES: Make a list of 3- 5 of the child’s behaviour not approved by you.
E.g. (i) Back-answering, (ii) misbehaving in front of others, (iii) misbehaving with people who provide service to you like the house-maid, watchman, school peons etc. (iv) not doing their daily tasks like brushing, bathing or changing after coming from school without being told to do so (v) Behavior that cause harm to people, things n other living being like plants n animals.
• Chart system: The child gets a star or smiling face on his behavioural chart for abiding by all the rules. If he happens to break any rule, he is reminded about the rule he is breaking and given a choice of either continuing it n losing his star or getting a sad face or stopping it n receiving his star.
1 star / 1 smiling face = 1 dhm.
No star/ sad face = no dhm
• Positive reinforcement.: Reward the child for every good behaviour.In the above case he gets a star or smiling face for his good behaviour which he accumulates as money. The child is allowed to buy things out of the money e.g. toys, stationary, chocolates, or even gifts for others. This will teach the child to value money and use it wisely. It also send them the message that rewards can be Earned by good behavior
• Its important for parents to pass on virtues to the children. But as parents we need to remember this important VICE
V – ‘VIEW’ the world from the child’s eyes while dealing with him/her.
I- ‘INFLUENCE” i.e. parents and children Influence each other. Just as you try to influence him/her into being a good son/daughter. Similarly your children too influence you into being good parents.
C- ‘CONTRL’ i.e. don’t let your child control you. Nor do you need to control your child. All you need is to control his/her behaviour so as to get acceptable response and shape them into being better individuals.
E-‘EARN’ i.e. don’t deprive the child of happiness. Instead teach them to be responsible and Earn their happiness.
To bring up a child the right way, travel the way yourself.
• Find an outlet to Channelize their energy either through sports, dance, music, play, learning a new skill. Children are a bundle of energy n if they don’t have the right outlet to channelize it. The energy transforms itself into destructive -aggressive behaviour
• Encourage and praise the child for every small accomplishment. This improves their self-esteem and motivates them to do better.
• Always talk well of the child in his/her presence. If at all u need to discuss his/her negatives with a 3rd person, do it in his/or her absence. For e.g., if a child happens to hear that he/she is a spoilt brat. The tendency is to internalize the quality and to live up to the expectations of the parents of being a ‘Spoilt Brat’.
• Treat your child as a young adult capable of logical-rational thinking. Have adult discussions with the child about what he/she appreciate in the parent and what he does not appreciate. Then commit to correct it. You then go ahead n share your opinion about what you appreciate and don’t appreciate about your child’s behaviour. And then ask them for a commitment to change.
• Setting RULES: Make a list of 3- 5 of the child’s behaviour not approved by you.
E.g. (i) Back-answering, (ii) misbehaving in front of others, (iii) misbehaving with people who provide service to you like the house-maid, watchman, school peons etc. (iv) not doing their daily tasks like brushing, bathing or changing after coming from school without being told to do so (v) Behavior that cause harm to people, things n other living being like plants n animals.
• Chart system: The child gets a star or smiling face on his behavioural chart for abiding by all the rules. If he happens to break any rule, he is reminded about the rule he is breaking and given a choice of either continuing it n losing his star or getting a sad face or stopping it n receiving his star.
1 star / 1 smiling face = 1 dhm.
No star/ sad face = no dhm
• Positive reinforcement.: Reward the child for every good behaviour.In the above case he gets a star or smiling face for his good behaviour which he accumulates as money. The child is allowed to buy things out of the money e.g. toys, stationary, chocolates, or even gifts for others. This will teach the child to value money and use it wisely. It also send them the message that rewards can be Earned by good behavior
• Its important for parents to pass on virtues to the children. But as parents we need to remember this important VICE
V – ‘VIEW’ the world from the child’s eyes while dealing with him/her.
I- ‘INFLUENCE” i.e. parents and children Influence each other. Just as you try to influence him/her into being a good son/daughter. Similarly your children too influence you into being good parents.
C- ‘CONTRL’ i.e. don’t let your child control you. Nor do you need to control your child. All you need is to control his/her behaviour so as to get acceptable response and shape them into being better individuals.
E-‘EARN’ i.e. don’t deprive the child of happiness. Instead teach them to be responsible and Earn their happiness.
To bring up a child the right way, travel the way yourself.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Learn love lessons from nature
To feel love and compassion for all, observe nature with totality of mind without letting it get affected by any previously constructed image, opinion or past knowledge. Look around to observe things as if you are seeing them for the very first time. Become one with the object of observation.
The sun provides light and warmth irrespective of who benefits from it. It shines on all. The clouds, rivers, mountains and jungles follow the same example of universal love. Trees provide shade, fruits and flowers for healthy environment and food for hungry with the same unattached benevolence for all. They do not demand any favour in return. The earth matures the seeds into healthy plants irrespective of who planted the seeds or who will benefit from them. This truly is like mother's love which is equal and forgiving for all children even when some are the cause of hurt to her.
If one learns from nature, the world will be a much better place as the destructive tendencies like jealousy, envy, hatred and selfishness will be eliminated. A new era of mutual love and trust will dawn on earth. All differences of caste, colour, race, gender and age will melt away. Most of the modern age problems have arisen because we have stopped learning from nature and caring for it.
Imagine the blissful feeling one gets when listening to the chirping of birds at dawn, observing the river flowing its course, looking at the snow-clad peaks of mountains, taking a stroll in a forest with majestically standing tall trees and looking at the moon on a full-moon night or a star-studded sky on amavasya night. The divine feelings generated by such experiences compel one to ponder over the meaning of life, our place in the universe, and create an urge to become one with the Divine to experience eternal bliss. Live with nature, love nature, protect nature, learn from nature and you will soon rise above all parochial tendencies and become a votary of universal love.
Since long, we have been drawing spiritual inspiration from nature. According to Buddhist guru Daisaku Ikeda, who is also a keen photographer, response to nature's beauty is not merely aesthetic but reflects an ability to discern a deeper meaning and interconnectedness in things. With its universal language, the photographer of nature's beauty serves as a bridge connecting the hearts of people everywhere.
Osho in his discourse on 'Intuition' quotes the haiku of Basho the Zen mystic and master:
"When I look carefully I see nazunia blooming by the hedge!"
Osho says that the deep meaning of it cannot be understood intellectually but only intuitively. The idea Osho wants to convey is that one can draw deep spiritual inspiration even from simple things like looking at an ordinary flower and pondering over its beauty, its divine message, the mystery of creation.
The main cause of discontent of mind, heart and spirit is to spend too much time indoors and being away from the nurturing restorative powers of nature. So, try to get back to nature in some way. Give yourself some time in the woods, mountains, open meadows or walking barefoot on the beach. Drink in the beauty of nature as much as you can. Even if you live in the city, go and walk on the grass in a park. You will feel more complete, rejuvenated and blissful.
The sun provides light and warmth irrespective of who benefits from it. It shines on all. The clouds, rivers, mountains and jungles follow the same example of universal love. Trees provide shade, fruits and flowers for healthy environment and food for hungry with the same unattached benevolence for all. They do not demand any favour in return. The earth matures the seeds into healthy plants irrespective of who planted the seeds or who will benefit from them. This truly is like mother's love which is equal and forgiving for all children even when some are the cause of hurt to her.
If one learns from nature, the world will be a much better place as the destructive tendencies like jealousy, envy, hatred and selfishness will be eliminated. A new era of mutual love and trust will dawn on earth. All differences of caste, colour, race, gender and age will melt away. Most of the modern age problems have arisen because we have stopped learning from nature and caring for it.
Imagine the blissful feeling one gets when listening to the chirping of birds at dawn, observing the river flowing its course, looking at the snow-clad peaks of mountains, taking a stroll in a forest with majestically standing tall trees and looking at the moon on a full-moon night or a star-studded sky on amavasya night. The divine feelings generated by such experiences compel one to ponder over the meaning of life, our place in the universe, and create an urge to become one with the Divine to experience eternal bliss. Live with nature, love nature, protect nature, learn from nature and you will soon rise above all parochial tendencies and become a votary of universal love.
Since long, we have been drawing spiritual inspiration from nature. According to Buddhist guru Daisaku Ikeda, who is also a keen photographer, response to nature's beauty is not merely aesthetic but reflects an ability to discern a deeper meaning and interconnectedness in things. With its universal language, the photographer of nature's beauty serves as a bridge connecting the hearts of people everywhere.
Osho in his discourse on 'Intuition' quotes the haiku of Basho the Zen mystic and master:
"When I look carefully I see nazunia blooming by the hedge!"
Osho says that the deep meaning of it cannot be understood intellectually but only intuitively. The idea Osho wants to convey is that one can draw deep spiritual inspiration even from simple things like looking at an ordinary flower and pondering over its beauty, its divine message, the mystery of creation.
The main cause of discontent of mind, heart and spirit is to spend too much time indoors and being away from the nurturing restorative powers of nature. So, try to get back to nature in some way. Give yourself some time in the woods, mountains, open meadows or walking barefoot on the beach. Drink in the beauty of nature as much as you can. Even if you live in the city, go and walk on the grass in a park. You will feel more complete, rejuvenated and blissful.
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