tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63203854676071652452024-03-06T10:15:45.626+04:00Is oasis a mirage?Sahira RVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830099882458767779noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-25402977238220511262010-04-08T16:51:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.105+04:00The Hell and HeavenA boy was having a conversation with a holy man one day and said, "I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. "The holy man led the boy to two doors.<br /><br />He opened one of the doors and the man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the boy's mouth water.<br /><br />The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The boy shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The holy man said, "You have seen Hell."<br /><br />They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the boy's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.<br /><br />The boy said, "I don't understand." "It is simple" said the holy man, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. While the greedy think only of themselves."<br /><br />Unknown authorUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-90237191776444705842010-03-17T14:02:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.138+04:00HonestOnce a general manager wanted to test his people who had come from all over India, about their values of life. He announced that in their seminar folder, there is PVC pouch and in it there is a seed. When they return, they must put it in a good soil in a pot and look after it very well. He would hold a competition in the next year’s seminar and that the best plants would be awarded suitably. <br />Everyone did what was told to him. A year passed quickly. And next year in a big hall, there were hundreds of pots and a great variety of plants-a great scene. Except one pot in which the soil was there and no plant! The owner was standing quietly and seemingly ashamed of himself!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAz3JWcr_KRaERZHHLhDGfAB9DAxNzm3Cb8aIlRWPGd3OrcI9Q1W8eRYBPK6O-v-x6idfnipBt1rO-fQ9i-R5_AFqKRNP5wvtQSIJye0Wtbsq9Ba7q-Xx0M8J5VhmoUc2hJTdQswWrB4/s1600-h/plant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAz3JWcr_KRaERZHHLhDGfAB9DAxNzm3Cb8aIlRWPGd3OrcI9Q1W8eRYBPK6O-v-x6idfnipBt1rO-fQ9i-R5_AFqKRNP5wvtQSIJye0Wtbsq9Ba7q-Xx0M8J5VhmoUc2hJTdQswWrB4/s400/plant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449545000840024114" /></a><br /><br /><br />The general manager called him on the stage. He asked him what happened and he told him the truth. He planted the seed which he was given – and did that was to be done- but nothing happened!<br />The general manager declared him the winner! <br />Everyone was shocked. It was announced, “Gentlemen! The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds. You planted them and nothing happened! You acted smartly and used some other seeds. This man was honest so that he didn't hesitate to proclaim what was really happened.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-64707765029445341792010-03-14T15:10:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.150+04:00The power of LoveA mighty King was marching home after being victorious in a gruesome battle. He had captured the crown prince of the neighbouring kingdom and killed the King. The King was crossing through a jungle. He wanted to rest. <br /><br />The army halted there for the evening. Nearby was a hermitage. The king decided to pay his respects to the sage there. He sent his Minister and some soldiers to seek an audience. They told the disciples there, "Maharaj wants to meet the sage." The disciples said, "Guruji has retired for the day, you can come tomorrow."<br /><br />The next morning the King came to the hermitage dressed in his royal finery, accompanied by his ministers and attendants. The sage was sitting under a tree and scattering bajra seeds all around. Hundreds of birds of different kinds were eating and the sound of their twittering filled the air. The King walked up to the sage. The sage did not look up. The king said, "Pranam, Guruji!" No answer.<br /><br />He spoke louder, "Pranam, Guruji!" Still, no answer.<br /><br />"Guruji, I said Pranam!" he said in an angry voice.<br /><br />The sage looked up and said, "Stop shouting, you are scaring the birds."<br /><br /><br />That made the king even more furious. "Do you know who I am?" he shouted. The sage said calmly, "Yes, I do. You are the one who kills for the love of power. You are the one who knows not that this power is temporary. One day another King shall kill you in the same way. The love of power shall bring about your downfall."<br /><br />The king was beside himself with rage. He said, "Your impertinence is intolerable. I shall behead you just now!" He drew out his sword and raised it to strike the sage.<br /><br />In an instant, hundreds of birds flew up and attacked the king. They poked their beaks into his face, his eyes and his arms and all over. The king moved his arms up and around to ward off the birds. But the birds wouldn't leave him. The sage said, "Leave him! Leave him! Come to me my dears!" All at once, the birds quietened down and sat meekly at the feet of the sage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRFSQv8jDRFySctNteIn4NoFmqytdGebTQqNcIhaH4_r82pxrMg0CDu_a_KGTn6HtTFgHv_M8Y_WVTZw6E-oWlFSS3dN3NjmtQuujB09D0rtqZqPe6GmvJspno5_X6PY4oSz6sSbxwqQ/s1600-h/parrots.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRFSQv8jDRFySctNteIn4NoFmqytdGebTQqNcIhaH4_r82pxrMg0CDu_a_KGTn6HtTFgHv_M8Y_WVTZw6E-oWlFSS3dN3NjmtQuujB09D0rtqZqPe6GmvJspno5_X6PY4oSz6sSbxwqQ/s400/parrots.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449580276363369730" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The sage said, "All I ever gave these birds is love. Oh King! Realize the power of love. The love of power has blinded you and brought you to the level of a killer. These birds would have killed you, but that's because they love me. I rule over them like a king too, but the only power I ever exercise over them is the power of love and it is greatest power on this Earth."<br /><br />It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have livedUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-41793404969159242342010-03-10T12:00:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.160+04:00Feeding loveIn Japan, a man breaks open the wall to renovate his house. Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls, and when when tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside had been hammered into one of its feet. The man sees this, feels pity, and at the same time is curious because upon checking the nail he realized it had been there since the house was built ten years ago.<br /><br />What happened?<br /><br />The lizard had survived in that position for ten years! In a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving, the man found this to be impossible and mind boggling. Then he wondered how this lizard survived for ten years without moving a single step--since its foot was nailed!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMMst6QR7PdhMDqTex_9sAvzXV-4yGrxljudaqwxzt8pQc1JIoewCONj2HRpbVWjyhEXC2vi4za2qAGXGSMkZlbBtw8eePSe6166l8u8f87-lzzq5ygrcKHPbNT_avan6eC7bRYUncBc/s1600-h/lizard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMMst6QR7PdhMDqTex_9sAvzXV-4yGrxljudaqwxzt8pQc1JIoewCONj2HRpbVWjyhEXC2vi4za2qAGXGSMkZlbBtw8eePSe6166l8u8f87-lzzq5ygrcKHPbNT_avan6eC7bRYUncBc/s400/lizard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449581177264560082" /></a><br /><br />So the man stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it had been doing, and what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing from where it came, appeared another lizard... with food in its mouth.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-12317039797077610332010-03-01T12:05:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.181+04:00How to criticiseA young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside.<br /><br />That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.<br /><br />Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.<br /><br />About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this." <br /><br />The husband said: "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows!"<br /><br />And so it is with life: "What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge. "Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-80028799740506898892010-02-25T08:58:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.191+04:00The true valueA king once got separated from his kinsmen while chasing a deer. He wandered alone in the forest. As dusk fell, he knocked at the door of a tiny cottage in the jungle. It was opened by a poor woodcutter who gave the 'stranger' a warm welcome. He offered him his own bed to sleep along with some simple but tasty food.<br /><br />In the morning, while taking leave of the wood cutter, the king disclosed his real identity and asked him, what he could give in return for his hospitality. The wood cutter being a simpleton asked, " Can you give me a place where I can cut trees and sell them?" The king took him far away to the edge of another jungle and said, "This is yours from today. Do what you like with it."<br /><br />The wood cutter would cut trees and burn them to make coal, because they were too heavy for him to carry to the market place. Several months passed. The woodcutter was very happy. When the monsoon season started, there was heavy rainfall and the wood became wet. The ground was full of slush, so it was impossible to burn the wood to make coal. He had no choice but to carry the wet logs of wood to the market to sell it. When he showed the wood to the buyer, the buyer offered a sum that was a hundred times more than he was paying earlier.<br /><br />The wood cutter was confused! Earlier he was supplying coal whereas now it was wood and that too, wet wood! Where was the catch? The buyer told him that the wood that he had brought was no ordinary wood, it was real Sandalwood! The wood cutter realized what a fool he had been. He had cut and burnt hundreds of Sandalwood trees to make coal, little realizing the value of this precious wood. Had he known, by now he could have been a very, very rich man.<br /><br />We also need to understand the value of this precious human body awarded to us by the omnipotent. Without realizing its importance and proper utility we are burning it at both ends in the fire of our worldly desires. Most of our energies are burnt in doing futile things that eventually have neither value nor meaning. But, by the time we realize that we are wasting our lives, it is perhaps too late. The whole life burnt in hoarding wealth, making friends and getting material pleasures, brings us to a miserable state at the end of life. At that time when nobody cares.<br /><br />The sooner we realize the better chance we shall have. Let's not waste our precious human birth like that foolish woodcutter. The one who attains a permanent place in spiritual world using this temporary and perishable body is really intelligent .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-77889505502315730482010-02-23T16:37:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.201+04:00InheritanceA frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.<br /><br />The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor". So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed their dinners together.<br /><br />Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.<br /><br />The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when you get old." The four year old smiled and went back to work.<br /><br />The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-64174409562011366242010-02-19T07:54:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.218+04:00Keeping limitsThere was once a man who was a champion wrestler. He had mastered 360 holds and tricks, and used a different one every day of the year. It so happened that he was fond of one of his students, and taught him all his tricks, except one. He kept on postponing the day when he would teach him the last trick. <br />The boy grew in strength and skill, and no one among his contemporaries was able to challenge him. One day, he boasted in front of the king: "My teacher is unchallenged only because he is older than me and because I respect him as my teacher. Otherwise my strength is not less than his and my skill is quite equal to his." <br />The King did not appreciate this boasting and ordered a match to take place. They cleared the broad wrestling ground and gathered ministers, courtiers and sportsmen to watch. <br />The boy charged out into the ring like a mad elephant. His master knew that his pupil was not stronger than him, so he used the 360th hold the he had never taught him. The boy did not know how to counter it. He was helpless. His master raised him with both hands above his head and smashed him to the ground. The crowd cheered wildly. <br />The King congratulated the champion and ordered a robe of honor to be given to him. He reproached the boy, saying: "You were ill-bred enough to dare to challenge your teacher and how you see how hollow your boast was!" <br />The boy answered: "O lord of the word! He did not overpower me with his strength but rather because of one trick which he never accepted to teach me. Today this one trick gave him the victory." <br />The King retorted: "It was just for such a day that he had kept his trick! Have you not heard what the wise say? "Never give a friend such power over you that if one day he tries to be your enemy, he can defeat you." <br />The teacher betrayed by his pupil said: "There is no such thing as loyalty in this world, or at least no one today knows the meaning of loyalty. Whoever learned a trick from me, finally tried to do me down."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-56004702506931997262010-02-18T14:04:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.227+04:00FreedomAn old man was on his death bed. His four sons who were very wealthy rushed to his side. Instead of attending to their dying father or thinking about how to work on the diminishing possibility of meeting each other after their father's death, they started discussing about how to transport the old man's body to the graveyard, once he was dead.<br /><br />The youngest of the four suggested that the body of his father may be moved to the graveyard in an expensive caras his father always wanted to own one. Since he could not have one for himself during his lifetime, they could bring one for him at least to transport him to the graveyard when dead. <br /><br />The second son claimed that the youngest son was still young and knew not how to deal with money. He said, the question is not about buying anexpensive carbut only about hiring one. It could better be a cheap truck! He pointed out that the dead father anyway would not be aware of whether he was moved in acar or a truck.<br /><br />The third accused of the second son to be immature and said that since their father would not be aware of how he is transported when dead, pointed out how it would matter if he is moved in a municipal truck which carries dead bodies free of cost. You just have to put him out on the road and he would be given a free ride!<br /><br />The father suddenly opened his eyes and asked the sons for his shoes. When the sons asked him why he needed his shoes when he was about to die any moment. The father replied, I am still breathing and can walk my way to the graveyard! He chided his sons for being spend thrifts and their irresponsibility in handling money!<br /><br /><strong>Attachment in different forms is a chain that keeps freedom at bay.Freedom obviously does not go with fetters. It is an individual issue. Once when one stops dwelling in the past and future, desires are automatically curbed. This paves way for total freedom beyond all limitations</strong>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-76328255888799920162010-02-03T12:43:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.238+04:00The way of livingThe birthday of a gallant knight of Rome was being celebrated with great pomp and show. Different types of recipes were being prepared in the kitchen. Lots of friends and relatives had been invited. The atmosphere was full of happiness and zeal. Suddenly, a few soldiers of the king arrived with bare swords in their hands and said to the knight, "You will be hanged to death in the evening at 6:00 PM." <br /><br />Immediately all the musicians stopped playing. The atmosphere became gloomy. The faces of all friends and dear ones became sad. <br /><br />Seeing this change, the knight said: <br /><br />"What is the matter? Why is everyone quiet? Let the music play and let us all dance. Fortunately, my death is happening on the same day as I was born. Till now only the dancers were performing, but now even I will dance. Till now only the singers were singing, but now even I'll sing. Where is the time left now to feel worried and to cry? There is not enough time. Smile and sing and dance. Who has seen the next minute... let us celebrate. I'll be hanged in the evening and not now so play the music and let the celebrations go on." <br /><br />What could the poor musicians play? They had to obey the knight, therefore they started playing the instruments with sad mood. As soon as they started playing music, the knight started dancing merrily on the tune. The musicians were filled with enthusiasm seeing the knight dance so naturally. This scene made others worried. They lost the charm with which they had come for celebrations and their hearts were filled with tears. <br /><br />Inspite of all this the knight kept dancing in happiness. The soldiers who had come with the message of death sentence were surprised at the knight's reaction to the news. It was strange that the knight was so merry even after hearing the news of his death... Bliss was getting reflected from each and every part of the knight's body! It appeared as if time for meeting a dear one and not death was approaching. <br /><br />Those soldiers informed the king and said: "Out of enmity the message of death sentence was conveyed to the knight to make him frightened. That knight is overflowing with happiness instead of getting worried. He did not panic at all after hearing the news. Will you hang such a man to death? Oh king! Atleast go and see the man!" <br /><br />Thereafter, the king himself went and was extremely surprised to see the knight dancing happily. He asked the knight: <br /><br />Have you become mad?" <br /><br />The knight: "Oh king! Why should I be mad? One day death had to come. These minutes are extremely valuable. The life which smiles even when death is knocking at the door is a true life. <br /><br /><strong>"Those who have learnt to drink <br />the poison of sadness, <br />they have learnt the way of Living, <br />this is the truth." </strong><br />The one who loves death experiences the real pleasure of life. The one who is not afraid of death is not afraid of any thing in this world." <br /><br />The king felt ashamed and thought, "It is not right to be enemy with such a pious man." Therefore, the king asked for forgiveness from the knight. <br /><br />Then the knight said: <br /><br />"Oh king! What should I forgive you for? So many birthdays arrived and departed, but on this birthday you sent the special gift of life and death together. Oh king! my heartiest thanks to you." <br /><br /><br /><strong>"Those who walk to reach the goal, <br />they do not ever complain. <br />And those who complain, <br />they do not ever reach the goal"</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-26190383257419235992010-02-02T13:39:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.250+04:00A Glass of MilkOne day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.<br /><br />He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.<br /><br />Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?"<br /><br />You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."<br /><br />He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."<br /><br />As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.<br /><br />Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.<br /><br />Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.<br /><br />Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.<br /><br />Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.<br /><br />He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.<br /><br />After a long struggle, the battle was won.<br /><br />Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...<br /><br />"Paid in full with one glass of milk"<br /><br />(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-70144923324549441132010-01-31T18:50:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.259+04:00What is freedomOnce there was a rebel sufi sage. He was known for his love for freedom. He used to go around the country singing songs of rebellion. So the Caliph arrested him and put him in the shackles, from his neck downward, but no one could prevent him from singing songs of freedom. After many days, the Caliph thought of meeting the sage in prison. So he visited him and asked whether he had any trouble. <br />The sage said, “What troubles? I am utterly happy as I am a royal guest, your guest; how can troubles even touch me? I used to live in a hut but now you have put me in a palace. Thank you!” The Caliph was amazed hearing such words. He said, “Are you joking?” The sage said, “I can say so as I have turned life itself into a joke.” The Caliph asked him a straight question, “Are the chains on your hands and feet heavy and painful?” The Sufi glanced at his chains and said, “These chains are far away from me; there is a greater distance between the chains and me. Don’t be under the illusion that you have imprisoned me, it is my body, which you have imprisoned, not my freedom. You cannot turn freedom into prison, because I know how to turn prison into freedom.”Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-49876530951994882862010-01-31T11:00:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.297+04:00What we should expectThere was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not. This angered him and he took the farmer to court.<br /><br />The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure. The farmer replied, " ur Honor, I am poor. I don't have a proper measure, but I do have a scale."<br /><br />The judge asked, "Then how do you weigh the butter?"<br /><br />The farmer replied "Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker."<br /><br />What is the moral of the story? We get back in life what we give to others.<br /><br />Whenever you take an action, ask yourself this question - Am I giving fair value for the wages or money I hope to make ?<br /><br />Honesty and dishonesty become a habit. Some people practice dishonesty and can lie with a straight face. Others lie so much that they don't even know what the truth is anymore. But who are they deceiving ? Themselves - more than anyone else.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-54308078007006539182010-01-29T12:33:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.318+04:00Unconditional loveA story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.<br /><br />"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."<br /><br />"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."<br /><br />"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."<br /><br />"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."<br /><br />"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."<br /><br />"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."<br /><br />At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.<br /><br />The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-39358288750349351702010-01-28T07:40:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.356+04:00Sharpening skills - Key to successOnce upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job with a timber merchant, and he got it. His salary was really good and so were the working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.<br /><br />His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to fell the trees. The first day, the woodcutter brought down 15 trees.<br /><br />" Congratulations," the boss said. " Carry on with your work!"<br /><br />Highly motivated by the words of his boss, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could bring 10 trees down. The third day he tried even harder, but he was only able to bring down 7 trees.<br /><br />Day after day he was bringing lesser number of trees down.<br /><br />" I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.<br /><br />" When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the boss asked.<br />" Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees..."<br /><br />That's right. Most of us NEVER update our skills. We think that whatever we have learned is very much enough. But good is not good when better is expected. Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to succesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-19735566952637400992010-01-28T07:36:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.388+04:00Whom to blameBoy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a Loving couple and the boy was the gem of their eyes. When the boy was Around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle Open. He was late for office so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep It in the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the kitchen totally forgot The matter. <br /><br />The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle fascinated by Its colour and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine Meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed the mother Hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She Was terrified how to face her husband. <br /><br />When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child , He looked at his wife and uttered just five words. <br /><br /><br /><strong>QUESTIONS: </strong><br /><br />1. What were the five words? <br />2. What is the implication of this story? <br /><br /><br /><strong>ANSWER : </strong><br /><br />The husband just said "I am with you Darling" <br /><br />The husband's totally unexpected reaction is a proactive Behaviour. <br /><br />The Child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. <br /><br />There is no point In finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to Keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. <br /><br />No one is to be blamed. She had also lost her only child. What she Needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her. <br /><br />If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would Be much fewer problems in the world. "A journey of a thousand miles Begins with a single step." Take off all your envies, jealousies, Unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are Actually not as difficult as you think. <br /><br /><strong>MORAL OF THE STORY :</strong>Sometimes we spend time in asking who is responsible or whom to blame, Whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this Way we miss out some warmth in human relationship.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-35515463327535804422010-01-23T14:04:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.433+04:00How greedy a man!Long ago there lived in Northern India a merchant whose wife had died and who went daily from his lonely house in the foothills to the town below, for buying and selling. "I must have a holiday," he said to himself one day, and he began to climb up into the hills to enjoy the view and the sounds of the forest. In the hot afternoon, feeling sleepy he looked for a quiet place for a nap. Soon he discovered a kind of hole in a cliff, actually a cave; so he lay down in the dark interior and slept. Waking up, he felt there was something with him, in the cave.<br /><br />Crawling back inside he found a large earthen jar. Then another, and another and another -- there were seven jars there, altogether! Now the merchant wondered if he dared to open them. There was no sound of anyone about, still it seemed a bit risky. But curiosity, as you know, is powerful indeed. He found he could lift the lid of the first jar. What do you know! It seemed to be full of gold coins. So were the second, third, fourth and fifth. Under the lid of the sixth jar he found an aged piece of paper.<br />On it was written, "Finder, beware!! The seven jars of gold are yours, but there is a curse. No one who takes them with him can leave the curse behind." Now, next to curiosity, greed is the most powerful urge. Our merchant overjoyed with his luck, wasted no time in borrowing a two-wheeled cart to carry the jars of gold to his house. It was exhausting and next to impossible. Bulky and hard to lift, they had to be taken two by two; in the dark of night he lugged them to his house. On the last trip, with the seventh jar alone thankfully the load was lighter, and he noticed nothing.<br /><br />"Let me count the coins," he thought, "and see how great my fortune is."<br /><br />But when that seventh jar was opened he found it was only half-full. "What!" he cried, "I was promised seven jars!" He had thrown the note away and forgotten about the curse. The merchant was overcome and obsessed by a spirit of grasping and greed. Now, in the town, he went at his money-making hand and fist; it was all he lived for. "I must fill the seventh jar with gold,": this was his constant thought. Yet the more he put into the jar, strangely the more it remained half-full. He lived some years more, but never did he enjoy spending the gold he had found, because it was never enough.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-26000529061346645472010-01-23T10:46:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.541+04:00This is goodAn African king had a friend who had the habit of uttering "This is Good" about anything and everything that occurred. One day the two friends went out for hunting where the friend loaded the gun for the king to shoot. But since he had loaded it wrong, the king's finger was blown off when the gun was fired. He immediately remarked as he normally did, "this is good" The king got furious as he writhed in pain. Consequently the friend was jailed.<br /><br />A year later the king went on hunting all by himself unescorted. To his horror he was captured by some cannibals and was tied up to a tree. The king watched in dismay as the cannibals stacked some wood to set up a stake and tied him to it. Just as they were about to set fire, they noticed the missing thumb of the king in one hand. With superstition overriding them, as they would not feed on a man who is disabled, they set him free.<br /><br />When the king reached the palace, he wasted no time to release his friend. He apologized whole heartedly for the wrong that he had committed against him. The friend as customary of himself remarked, "this is good!" When the stupified king asked why he said so, the friend replied that had he not been imprisoned he would have been killed by the cannibals as he would have escorted the king!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-57910275847763948272010-01-22T14:18:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.556+04:00Who is LiarThere once was a man with a water pump. To a friend he said, "This water pump will provide you with all the water you need. Here, it is yours." The friend was delighted to receive it, since he was thirsty as well as needing water for his dying garden.<br /><br />The next day the man came by again. His friend accused him, "This pump does not supply any water. You lied to me."<br /><br />The man asked, "Did you plug the pump into power?"<br /><br />"No."<br /><br />"Plug it into power and you shall have all the water you need."<br /><br />The next day the man came by again to see how his friend was doing. "You lied," his friend said. "I plugged it into power and it gave no water."<br /><br /><br />"Did you let a pipe into the well so that the pump could draw water?"<br /><br />"No."<br /><br />"Let a pipe down into the well and it will give you all the water you need."<br /><br />The next day the man visited once more and again his friend said, "You lied; I still have no water."<br /><br />"Did you prime the pump with water?"<br /><br />"No!"<br /><br />"Prime the pump with water and you shall drink indeed."<br /><br />The following day the man visited his friend and the friend rejoiced for all his water. The friend said, "Did I not tell you the truth?"<br /><br />"Yes," said the man.<br /><br />"Why then did you call me a liar?"<br /><br />"That's how it seemed; I did not realize it was my own ignorance that made your word a lie to me."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-87810629543927308312010-01-22T13:59:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.565+04:00We are judged by the company we keepOnce a farmer kept a trap for the birds who was eating his newly planted corns. When he came and looked he saw many cranes in it and one stork. When the stork saw the farmer the stork started begging to the farmer “ I am not like these greedy cranes I am a poor stork taking care of my aged parents. So please-". The farmer cut him short. "You must be saying the truth but you are captured with the same group that was destroying my crop. So you will have to suffer the same fate as those in whose company you were captured". <br /> <br />MORAL: We are judged by the company we keep.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-53513881865262191002010-01-21T13:21:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.575+04:00Pointing finguresA man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?<br /><br /><br />The Father-in-law answered in a smile, Never criticise your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you.<br /><br /><br />We all look forward to being loved and respected, many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are poitnting at ourselves.<br /><br /><br />If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-12229571945842815562010-01-21T13:19:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.584+04:00The Sun and Wind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGvHSxYnxAIbYm8yYgc1jF0VMbIpQpX3aJqavnSMg7q0dBdfL3tN0g5wP0XjlY1pNy59xjWhBw_V7OYku7E0eggUz-lEVhahop95_WWWvAFpEgTa30DL_urouZUjVz8TApndlihXEaI4/s1600-h/image008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGvHSxYnxAIbYm8yYgc1jF0VMbIpQpX3aJqavnSMg7q0dBdfL3tN0g5wP0XjlY1pNy59xjWhBw_V7OYku7E0eggUz-lEVhahop95_WWWvAFpEgTa30DL_urouZUjVz8TApndlihXEaI4/s400/image008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429121755208490738" /></a><br />Once upon a time, the Sun and the Wind got into an argument about who was the greater force of nature. The Wind was very proud of his unstoppable strength, so he challenged the Sun to a test.<br /><br />Looking down at the world, they saw an old man walking down a village road wearing a coat. So, they decided that whoever can get the coat off the man would win, and be declared the strongest.<br /><br />The wind tried first. He became a great storm, howling and pushing the man around. The sound was deafening, and the wind was freezing cold. But the old man had survived many storms in his years, so he just wrapped his coat around himself even tighter and continued walking against the force of the wind. Eventually, tired from all that effort, the wind gave up. He told the Sun it was impossible, for that man was surely a powerful wizard for having stood against his great powers.<br /><br />The Sun listened patiently. It was now his turn to try, so he smiled his warm smile down on the old man. Feeling warm in the sunlight, the man took off his coat himself, without a struggle.<br /><br />It’s usually easier to get someone to do somthing with kindness and warm smile than it is by force and shouting. And so the wind learnt his lesson.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-23948172301459891202010-01-19T07:29:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.597+04:00Everyone has problemsA mother who had lost her only son went to the man of religion in her village and said: "Is there anything you can give me to reduce the pain that I feel?" "Yes," he said. "There is a wonderful thing you can do. I want you to go and get me a mustard seed from a home that has no problems. Such a mustard seed can ward off all problems. When you find it, bring it to me and I will use it to relieve your pain." So the mother started out and came to a big mansion. Nothing could possibly be wrong here! She knocked on the door, told what she was looking for, and they answered, "You've come to the wrong house." And then they told her all their problems. As she was listening to their problems, she thought, "I know something about problems... Maybe I can help these people with theirs." So she listened to them; and this helped people. She kept on searching for her magic mustard seed. But no matter where she went, she could not find that seed. Everyone everywhere had some kind of troubles.<br />But she really did find the magic mustard seed, because in trying to help others solve their problems, she forgot all about her own.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-38873977853700283412010-01-19T07:18:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.609+04:00Ant storyOne morning I wasted nearly an hour watching a tiny ant carry a huge feather cross my back terrace. Several times it was confronted by obstacles in its path and after a momentary pause it would make the necessary detour.<br /><br />At one point the ant had to negotiate a crack in the concrete about 10mm wide. After brief contemplation the ant laid the feather over the crack, walked across it and picked up the feather on the other side then continued on its way.<br /><br />I was fascinated by the ingenuity of this ant, one of Allah's smallest creatures. It served to reinforce the miracle of creation. Here was a minute insect, lacking in size yet equipped with a brain to reason, explore, discover and overcome. But this ant, like the two-legged co-residents of this planet, also shares human failings.<br /><br />After some time the ant finally reached its destination - a flower bed at the end of the terrace and a small hole that was the entrance to its underground home. And it was here that the ant finally met its match. How could that large feather possibly fit down small hole?<br /><br />Of course it couldn't. So the ant, after all this trouble and exercising great ingenuity, overcoming problems all along the way, just abandoned the feather and went home.<br /><br />The ant had not thought the problem through before it began its epic journey and in the end the feather was nothing more than a burden.<br /><br />Isn't our life like that?<br /><br />We worry about our family; we worry about money or the lack of it, we worry about work, about where we live, about all sorts of things. These are all burdens - the things we pick up along life's path and lug them around the obstacles and over the crevasses that life will bring, only to find that at the destination they are useless and we can't take them with US......<br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320385467607165245.post-362379656693741322010-01-18T10:16:00.000+04:002010-08-12T05:28:24.620+04:00Control on bad habbitA wealthy man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits. The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there.<br /><br />The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all. “Now pull out that one,” said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out.<br /><br />“Now take this one out,” said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. “It’s impossible,” said the boy, panting with the effort.<br /><br />“So it is with bad habits,” said the sage. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted.”<br /><br />The session with the old man changed the boy’s life.<br /><br />Moral: Don’t wait for Bad Habits to grow in us, drop them while we have control over it else they will get control us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0