Foot Prints

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.


In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.


This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”


The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”


Ram Ram

Story of Potatoes

Once a school teacher asked her students to bring some potatoes in a plastic bag. Each potato will be given a name of the person whom that child hates. Like this, the number of potatoes will be equal to the number of persons they hate.

On a decided day the children brought their potatoes well addressed. Some had two, some had three and some had even five potatoes. The teacher said they have to carry these 

potatoes with them everywhere they go for a week.

 As the days passed the children started to complain about the spoiled smell that started coming from these potatoes. Also some students who had many potatoes complained that it was very heavy to carry them all around. The children got rid of this assignment after a week, when it got over. The teacher asked, "How did you feel in this one week?" The children discussed their problems about the smell and weight. Then the teacher said, "This situation is very similar to what you carry in your heart when you don't like some people. This hatred makes your heart unhealthy and you carry that hatred in your heart everywhere you go. If you cannot bear the smell of spoiled potatoes for a week, imagine the impact of this hatred that you carry throughout your life, on your heart?"

Moral

We need to regularly clean the unwanted weeds that we grow. We must learn to forgive those who have not behaved with us as expected and forget the bad things. This would keep our mind more open and the cup will always have room for more good.

Ram Ram

Miracle .... Lord Shiva

In 1879, when there was British Rule in India, Lt. Col. Martin of Agar Malva was leading the army in the war against Afghanistan.

Col. Martin used to regularly send messages of his well-being to his wife. The war continued for long & Lady Martin stopped getting messages. She was very upset.

Once riding on her horse, she passed by the temple of Baijnath Mahadev. She was attracted to the sound of Conch & Mantra. She went inside & came to know that the Brahmans were worshipping Lord Shiva. They saw her sad face & asked her problem. She explained everything to them. They told her that Lord Shiva listens to the prayers of devotees & takes them out of difficult situations in no time.

With the advice of the Brahmans, she started the "Laghu-rudri Anushtthan" of the Mantra: "Om Namah Shivaya" for 11 days. She prayed to Lord Shiva that if her husband reaches home safely, then she would get the temple renovated.

On the last of the "Laghu-rudri", a messenger came & gave a letter to her. Her husband had written: "I was regularly sending messages to you from the battle grounds, but suddenly the Pathans surrounded us from all sides. We were entrapped in a situation where there was no scope of escaping death. Suddenly, I saw a Yogi of India with long hair, carrying a weapon with three pointers (Trishul). His personality was amazing & he was maneuvering his weapon with a magnificent style. Seeing this great man, the Pathans started running back. With his grace, our bad times turned into moments of victory. This was possible only because of that man of India wearing a lion skin & carrying a three-pointer weapon (Trishul). That great Yogi told me that I should not worry & that he had come to rescue me because he was very pleased with my wife's prayers"

Tears of joy were falling down the eyes of Lady Martin's eyes while reading the letter. Her heart was overwhelmed. She fell into the feet of Lord Shiva's statue & burst in tears.

After a few weeks, Col. Martin returned. Lady Martin narrated the whole incident to him. Now both husband & wife became devotees of Lord Shiva. In 1883, they donated Rs. 15,000/- for renovating the temple. The information engraved slab for the same is still there in the Baijnath Mahadev Temple of Agar Malva. This is the only Hindu temple built by British.

When Lady Martin left for Europe, she said that they would make Shiva Temple at their home & pray to Him till the end of life. 

Faith is the essence of all miracles and faith in God always protects.

Ram Ram

Kanchi Paramaacharyal's Gems

Assume that a person has some land for himself. Assume also that year after year the land gives higher yields. Beacause of this feeling " this field is mine " he is pleased whenever the yield increases.

The yeild then starts decreasing. He sells the land to somebody else. Again next year the land gives higher yield. When he finds this does he feel happy ? "Last year when i had this land it was barren.

Now the same land is yeilding a fortune for someone else".... he thinks in this way and feels jealous about it. so long as the connection mine was there with the land, there was happiness. Later, even when the crop was good the feeling has changed.......what is the cause for this change....THINK

Ram Ram

Tukaram Maharaj Abhang

sunder te dhyan ubhe vitewari

kara khatawari tevuniya 

tulasi hara gala kanse pitamber

aawde nirantar hechi dyan

makara kundala talapthi shrawani

kanti koustubhamani virajata

tuka mahne maze hechi sarva sukha 

paheen shrimukha aawadine

Rama Krishna Hari

Vaasudaeva Hari

                                

The Reward

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman. "You should be working rather than lying on the beach!"

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer. "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling. The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again. The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said. "And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.

The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!" Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?" The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"

Ram Ram

Peace or Piece

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.

Ram Ram

Krishna to the rescue

The Kauravas are consumed by jealousy of the Pandavas, and lose no opportunity to cause them trouble. With a view to harming the Pandavas, Duryodhana sends sage Durvasa to them, telling him that they will have no trouble providing food to him and any number of people accompanying him.

The Pandavas have in their possession a vessel called Akshayapatra, which supplies infinite amount of food, to feed sages who turn up on their doorstep. But the vessel will give food only till it is cleaned for the day. Once that is done, it will not yield anything, until the next day. Durvasa   goes to the Pandavas with a large number of his disciples. He says he is hungry and asks for food for all of them.

The sage said he is going to bathe in a river and while coming back, he and his followers will take food. Meanwhile, Draupadi had cleaned up the Akshayapatra and the Pandavas were in a fix. If food is not served, Durvasa, known for his quick temper, will curse them.

DURYODHANA'S MISCHIEF

Draupadi pleads to Lord Krishna for help & save them from the situation caused by Duryodhana's mischief. The Lord asks her to serve Him some food. Draupadi is puzzled by the request. How can she serve Krishna when there is no food left? Krishna, asks Draupadi to see whether there is at least some leftover in the Akshayapatra. She looks out and finds a leaf in the vessel. The Lord takes it from her and eats it.

No sooner has the Lord eaten the grain, Durvasa senses a certain fullness in his stomach. He feels he cannot eat even a morsel of food. So he does not come to Draupadi for food.

Thus, as always, Lord Krishna comes to the rescue of Draupadi.

The Lord always comes to the help of those who are devoted to Him.

Ram Ram

Devotees Lord .....Vipra Narayanan

Show just a little devotion and Bhagavăn goes to any length to help you.

Thondaradipodi Ăzhwăr (Vipra Nărăyana) was a great devotee of the Lord. In his Păsuram 'Thirumălai' he repeatedly speaks of the glory of Năma (the Name of the Lord). In this, he sings, "Kăvalil pulanai vaithu kalidanai kadakkap păindu'. He had one-pointed devotion to Lord Ranganatha and his 'Thirumălai' depicts the deep anguish of a bhakta. Once a 'dăsi' (dancing girl) wearing the garb of 'Hari dăsi' (servant of Lord Hari) enticed him into her net of desire. One who had known only the Lord was now at the home of a 'dăsi'! All advices from his well-wishers fell on deaf ears. But what does the Lord do? HE works in the 'buddhi' of the bhakta and corrects him. Even if the bhakta falls in 'dur sangha' (bad company) due to fate, Bhagavăn does not forsake him but helps him out of it.

The 'dăsi' threw him out once she had sucked out all his wealth from him. What did Bhagavăn do on seeing his loving devotee cry at her doorstep? Calling himself the servant of Vipra Nărăyana, the Lord went to the 'dăsii's' home in the form a young boy and offered her a golden plate so that she would accept his devotee back!

On learning this, Thondaradipodi Ăzhwăr rushed to His beloved Bhagavăn and sang "Bhăviyen unnai allăl! Păviye! Păviyene "( never will I think of anyone else! a sinner that I am! a sinner that I am) and never again did he move away from Bhagavăn.

Show just a little devotion and Bhagavăn goes to any length to help you!"

-- SRI SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIJI

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Karunai Daivame ............Paramaacharyal

This incident happened at the SriMaTham camp in Trichy, National College High School campus, or Madurai Sethupathi High School campus.

The darshan queue was stopped from moving because of some important deliberation that was going on inside the SriMaTham camp. An old woman was standing in the queue. She can be described as the old woman of old women! She could have been over a hundred years old, standing bent at a right-angle, a staff in her hand that she was holding shakily. She was crying with all the tiredness of her soul: "Sankara, my Sankara! I was agitated if I would see you, or leave this world without seeing you. You came seeking this place. Since you have come, I came to have your darshan, but you have stopped me. (nirutthi vecchu-tiyedaa) Sankara!"

Sri Sambha Murthi SastrigaL was going inside the camp, passing the old woman on his way. He was the pUrvAshrama younger brother of Maha PeriyavaL. He was of a kind heart, true to the family blood that coursed his veins. No sooner he heard the old woman's wail of yearning than he hastened his steps towards the interior. As he entered, he told Sri CaraNar who was immersed in an important delibration, "Outside--a Paatti--of a hundred or hundred and twenty or whatever age. Stands yearning and wailing for Periyavaa's darshan."

Before the last words were out of his mouth, PeriyavaaL stormed outside!

"Why have you stopped me, Sankara?" The Paatti was wailing repeatedly. He went to her, stood very near to her and said, "PaattI, here your Sankaran has come. Look! Without knowing that you have come, I was busy with something inside. And as I came to know it, here I have come running." The Ruler of Grace spoke the words of nectar, which came up as the essence of his love.

"Vanduttiya, Sankara (so you have come, Sankara)!", said Paatti and held his hands tightly! The hands that were held by his mother Mahalakshmi AmmaL, were held today by another person, after a span of about 55 years!

As she raised her face and looked at the holy visage of Sri CaraNar, the vRiddhAmbikA (the good old mother) said, "Though you have come running for my sake and stand before me, I cannot look at you properly with my dim eyesight! ennappA (my son), only you should give me some good sight for a good darshan."

It was the time of a hot sun. There was a narrow, thatched roof over the heads of the people in the queue. At Paatti's words, the bhakta parAdhIna jumped aside the shelter of the roof and stood in the hot son, barefooted!

"Is the vision better now, Paatti?" he said.

"It shows up very well ennappA, it shows very well!" Paatti patted her cheeks loudly.

PeriyavaaL gave her a complete darshan of his person, letting sunlight fall well on his face, tilting it, lifting it, and turning it in many angles, even turning his whole body giving her a darshan of his back.

In a torrent of emotion, without knowing what she spoke, the old woman stuttered and lisped, cried profusely and was very happy!

Sri CaraNar came near her again and said, "Have you seen me well Paatti! Can I go?"

"Yes, I have seen you very well (PAtthuNtempa), my son! Even for this anAmadeyam (nonentity), KaruNAmurti, you have given your darshan. I was holding my soul just to see you. I have seen you know. Take me now my son, take me!" The parama bhakta prayed to him.

"PaattI! When the time comes, let us take it. I shall ask you now to be dropped in your place. Go there and remain in Swami smaraNa (remembrance of God). Don't come running again to see me! I shall always be with you without leaving you aside for a moment!" The kRupA varSA (shower of compassion) gave her his words.

Is there anything that matches the bhAgyam of the Paatti who received such words of assurance from Sri CaraNar who out of his modesty uses words only sparingly when he gives his abhayam to the bhaktas?

Ram Ram

Speaking with Mind

Once, during the mid-eighties, Kanchipuram Mahaswamiji Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamiji, desired to see Bhagavan Yogiramsuratkumar and invited him through a personal attendant. He asked the personal attendant to bring Yogiji.

Yogiji, accepting the invitation of Kanchi Maha Periyava, went to Kanchipuram. Maha Periyava sat down and so did Yogi. Maha Periyava and Yogi looked at each other. They did not speak a word to each other verbally. After looking at each other for sometime, Periyava, laughing lightly, said to his personal attendant who had brought Yogi to Kanchi, “The matter for which he came is over. You may take him back to Tiruvannamalai.”

Did they meet just to see each other or did they exchange some news? Nothing could be comprehended. Yogi went back to Tiruvannamalai.

Later, when Yogiji was asked what really happened, as there was no conversation and yet Maha Periyava remarked that the work was over, Yogi Ramsuratkumar explained thus:

“We both spoke to each other – through the mind.

Kanchi Periyava said, ‘Bhagavanaama Bodendral chanted Rama Naama throughout his life. He was the 59th ‘Peettadipathi’ of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Later, installing his successor for the Peetam he went around giving ‘upadesam’ of Rama Naama for all, irrespective of caste and creed; he offered the ‘upadesam’ that the Name of the Lord was the only ‘gati’ (succour) for all in this Kali Yuga. Living in this manner his body was transformed into a ’siddha sarira’. He attained ‘jeeva samadhi’ at Govindapuram on the banks of the river Cauvery. Living in ‘jiva samadhi’ for the past 300 years, to date, he is incessantly chanting Rama Nama. You may go and remain in that Govindapuram where Bodendral is.’

This beggar replied, ‘No! No! For this beggar Tiruvannamalai is enough.’

Acharya  said, ‘OK’.

This is what we spoke!”

Ram Ram

Dasopadesham...... Kanchi Paramaacharya

1. One of our duties as human beings is to avail ourselves of every opportunity to do good to others. The poor can serve others by their loyal work to the country and the rich by their wealth to help the poor. Those who are influential can use their influence to better the condition of the lowly. That way we can keep alive in our hearts a sense of social service.

2. Man by himself cannot create even a blade of grass. We will be guilty of gross ingratitude if we do not offer first to God what we eat or wear - only the best and choicest should be offered to Him.

3. Life without love is a waste. Everyone should cultivate "Prema" or love towards all human beings, bird and beast.

4. Wealth amassed by a person whose heart is closed to charity, is generally dissipated by the inheritors: but the family of philanthropists will always be blessed with happiness.

5. A person who has done a meritorious deed will lose the resulting merit if he listens to the praise of others or himself boasts of his deeds.

6. It will do no good to grieve over what has happened. If we learn to discriminate between good and evil, that will guard us from falling into the evil again.

7. We should utilize to good purpose, the days of our life-time. We should engage ourselves in acts which will contribute to the welfare of others rather than to our selfish desires.

8. We should perform duties that have been prescribed for our daily life and also be filled with devotion to God.

9. One attains one's goal by performance of one's duties.

10. Jnana is the only solvent of our troubles and sufferings.

Prarthanamathre Sulabhaya Namahah

Ram Ram

Birbal's wit

At the end of Akbar’s Durbar, a pandit came to the court & said he wanted to question him. Akbar was tired & told Birbal: “Please answer the pandit’s questions fast. I want to end this Durbar.”

The pandit said: “I’ll give you a choice. You can either answer one difficult or a hundred easy ones.”

Birbal saw Akbar would have no patience to sit through a hundred questions and opted for one difficult one.

Pandit: “Which one came first, the hen or the egg.”

Birbal: “the hen, of course!”

Pandit: “How can you be so sure?”

Birbal: “I am sorry, that is your second question. I agreed to answer only one!”

"If you want to trap somebody, ensure you close all the exit routes but don’t get trapped yourself! Or else you may become an unexpected victim".


Ram Ram

Sri Naarayana Theerthar

Birth name  : Tallavajhula Govinda Sastrulu
Born           : 1650
Origin         :  Andhra Pradesh, India
Samadhi      :  1745

Narayana was born in South India in Andhra Pradesh. He lived in Kaja near Mangalagiri in Guntur district. They belonged to Tallavajhula family. His birth name was Govinda Sastrulu. They eventually moved to Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

While there is significant dissention as to his exact time, historians place him between 1610 and 1745 AD. An extensive research done with the help of archives preserved in Saraswati Mahal Library has helped place the time closer to 1650 AD – 1745 AD, and he reportedly lived a long life.

He mastered music at a very early age and studied Puranas, Srimad Bhagavatam and other Sanskrit works. He renounced family at a very early age and took a life of a religious devotion. He went to Varanasi to spread his philosophy.

Naarayana Teerthar was very well versed in music and, natya shastra, and a great scholar in Sanskrit. He used at least 34 popular ragas. He used Triputa, Adi, Rupaka, Chapu, Jampa, Matya, Vilamba, Eka and Ata taalams. Many of the songs are structurally well set for direct use as nritya or natya padams. He carefully avoided complex usages and utilized easy expressions. His Gadyams and Padyams are exquisite in beauty. He wrote 15 books and some of them are available in Benares Hindu University and Parijatapaharanam at Saraswathi Mahal in Tanjore. He is also credited with composing two other operas , Parijatha Apaharanam and Haribhakthi Sundarnavam.

Sri Narayana Teertha rattained siddhi in 1745 at a nearby village called Tirupoonthuruti under a huge mango tree, on the banks of river Kudamurutti, on the Masi Sukla Ashtami, Guruvaram, Krithika nakshatram day. It is said that he attained `Jeeva Samadhi' (even while alive).

Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini

Narayana Teerthar was the author of a Sanskrit opera called Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini on the life of the Hindu god Lord Krishna. It deals with the life story of Krishna starting with his birth, childhood pranks and ending with his marriage to Rukmini. Narayana Theerthar uses various literary and musical forms such as songs, prose passages, Slokas (praises in verse), Dwipadis (couplets), etc. The songs are popularly called "Tarangams" means waves. The lyrics are simple yet beautiful and effective.

Legend has it that the inspiration to compose this piece occurred when he was along the banks of Naducauvery. He was suffering from a serious stomach ailment and prayed that he should be given the strength to go back to Tirupati, where it all started. A divine voice asked him to follow a boar (varaha) to wherever it led him. The varaha led him to Bhupatirajapuram, which came to be known as `Varahur' later. The people of the village knew that a maha-purusha was coming. With their help, he raised the temple for Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Lord Venkateswara and settled down on the banks of river `Kudamurutty' the name by which the Cauvery was known at this place.

Tarangini is an opera highly suitable for dance drama and it has been very well utilized by Indian classical dancers over the last two centuries. Tarangini consists of 12 Tarangams and encapsulates 153 songs, 302 slokams and 31 choornikaas. Teertha followed Veda Vyasa’s Bhagavatham and concentrated on the 10th skandam

Ram Ram

Give it a thought

Do not just have career or set academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

"Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die. .......

One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? .......

It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices........."

"Don't be serious, just try to be sincere."

Ram Ram

The Judgement

In Mathura , there were two oil merchants Ram & Shyam. They minted money in this wholesale business. Both were moderately educated. They had two servants to assist them. Both were idiots to the core.

One day both of them met at a common place. After usual enquiries, their talk moved to their servants. Shyam said that his servant was idiot to the core and Ram said his servant was worse than Shyam's servant. They entered into a bet to prove their point.

Shyam called his servant,gave him Rs1000/- and told him to go to an electronics shop and get a 32 inch plasma color TV and drop it in his house. His servant took the money and calmly left the place.

Ram called his servant and told him to go his house and check whether he is at home or at his shop. His servant also left the place immediately. Now Shyam told Ram," You see what an idiot my servant is. How can he get a plasma color TV for Rs.1000/. He has not even asked for more money."

Ram told Shyam about his servant, "Just see I am here but that fellow without thinking is going to my home to check whether I am there or not. Let us have a break and see what is running in the minds of the servants.

The two servants met each other in a tea shop and discussed how idiotic their masters are. Shyam's servant said," My master is an idiot, he does not even know that all electronic goods shops are closed on Sundays and also he has not paid me extra money for taking the TV in an auto . Also why should I drop it there at his home, will it not break?"

Ram's servant told the other fellow," My master is a filtered idiot. He wants me to go to his home and check whether he has reached there or still in the shop. The fool has mobile phone with him. He can as well ring up his home and check it with his wife. He is asking me to go all the way."

I leave it to your choice, who is more idiotic-- Masters or the servants?

Ram Ram

The Eye Opener

Indeed, a beautiful reminder for each of us to take time off to ponder over whatever we're up to & examine our conscience.

Value of Happiness & Time 

Yesterday, I was driving, and the FM radio went off for few seconds.  I thought , I should have an iPod. Then suddenly I realized that I have not used my iPod in last 6 months.  And then, more things, Hand camera in last 2 years, Digital Camera in last 2 months, DVD player in last 1 month and many more.  Now I can say that I bought that Handy cam just out of impulse, I have used it twice only in last 4 years.

So, what's wrong and where?  When I look at myself or my friends I can see it everywhere.  We are not happy with what we have but all are stressed and not happy for the things we don't have. We have a Santro, but we want City;  we have a City, but we want Skoda.  Just after buying a new phone, we need another one.  Better laptop, bigger TV, faster car, bigger house, more money.  I mean, these examples are endless.  The point is, does it actually worth?  Do we ever think if we actually need those things before we want them?

After this, I was forced to think what I need and what I don't.  May be I didn't need this Hand camera or the iPod or that DVD player. When I see my father back at home, he has a simple BPL color TV, he doesn't need 32" Sony LCD wall mount.  He has a cell phone worth Rs 2,500.  Whenever I ask him to change the phone, he always says, "It’s a phone , I need this just for calls."

And believe me; he is much happier in life than me with those limited resources and simple gadgets. The very basic reason why he is happy with so little is that he doesn't want things in life to make it luxurious, but he wants only those things which are making his life easier.  It's a very fine line between these two, but after looking my father's life style closely, I got the point.  He needs a cell phone but not the iphone.  He needs a TV but not the 32" plasma.   He needs a car but not an expensive one.

Initially I had lot of questions.

I am earning good, still I am not happy ,...why ?

I have all luxuries, still I am stressed.... ....... why ?

I had a great weekend, still I am feeling tired...... why?

I met lot of people, I thought over it again and again, I still don't know if I got the answers, but certainly figured out few things.  I realize that one thing which is keeping me stressed is the "stay connected" syndrome.  I realized that, at home also I am logged in on messengers, checking mails, using social networks, and on the top of that, the windows mobile is not letting me disconnected.  On the weekend itself, trying to avoid unwanted calls; and that is keeping my mind always full of stress.  I realized that I am spending far lesser money than what I earn; even then I am always worried about money and more money.  I realized that I am saving enough money I would ever need, whenever needed.  Still I am stressed about my job ,salary and spends.

May be, many people will call this approach "not progressive attitude", but I want my life back. Ultimately it's a single life, a day gone is a day gone.  I finally realized that meeting friends, spending quality time with your loved one's; spending time with yourself is the most important thing.

If on Sunday you are alone and you don't have anybody to talk with, then all that luxuries life, all that money is wasted.  May be cutting down your requirements, re-calculating your future goal in the light of today's happiness is a worthwhile thing to do.  May be selling off your Santro and buying Honda City on EMIs is not a good idea.  I believe putting your happiness ahead of money is the choice we need to make.

I think, a lot can be said and done but what we need the most is re-evaluation of the value of happiness and time we are giving to our life and people associated with it.


++++++++++

THINK  

Ram Ram

Kabirdas.....Raama Naamam

Kabirdas explains, "We move with our neighbors, friends and relatives. If some misunderstanding arises with them feel happy and blessed. Just drop that relationship because if they are affectionate towards you, you will not come out of it. If any misunderstanding arises with Sadhus/your Guru, do not give it up as a blessing but somehow try to earn back their association. Do everything to earn their Grace back". 

Kabirdas gives a wonderful example for this - 'we go to the market and buy a 'mala' (chain) made of ordinary beads worth some 5 or 10 rupees for our child. When this breaks we throw it away as it is not of much worth. However, when the diamond or gold necklace bought for the child gets cut, we repair it and keep it safe. Relationship with other people is akin to the chain made of ordinary beads while association with Mahans is akin to diamond or gold necklace. 

Do not feel happy and blessed if their association gets cut. Go repeatedly to their Presence and somehow manage to bring about reconciliation.' He speaks on the glory of Satsangh and Sadhus. The reason for this is that he yearned very deeply for a Guru and attained Him with lots of difficulties.

Kabirdas, in spite of belonging to Islam religion, was attracted to Rama Nama. He desired to receive upadesa of this Mantra from Ramananda, a great Mahatama in Kasi. 

Kabirdas dressed up only as befitting his religion. Everyday he would go to the gates of Ramananda's ashram and await him. He would plead with everyone who walked out of this gate, "I desire to receive upadesa of Rama Nama from the Guru. Please recommend my case to him." But, none seemed to help him. Instead they advised him to chant the Mantra of his religion. He would plead, "No! My heart desires only Rama Mantra. Please speak about me to the Guru." 

Not at all discouraged by the words of others, he would stand at the gates of the ashram all through the day, everyday, without fail. He never once felt that he should not return here as none seemed to help him. For months he stood at the gates of the ashram, awaiting the Grace of the Guru. 

Mahans have no sleep. The 'Atma', remaining as a Witness ('Sakshi'), watches the body taking rest. This is a kind of 'nishtai'. Humans are caught in the three states of 'jagrat' (waking), 'swapna' (dream) and 'sushupti' (dreamless sleep). But, Mahans are in the fourth state of 'turiya'. Therefore, there is no sleep for them. 

When Ramananda was in this state, he heard the conversation between his 'puja murtis' Rama and Lakshmana. Rama told Lakshmana, "Oh! Lakshmana! Let us leave this ashram!"

Lakshmana asked the brother, "Brother! Why do you wish to leave this ashram?" 

Rama explained, "There is a person coming to the gates of this ashram every day desiring to receive upadesa. But, none seem to help him. Why then should we remain here?" 

Immediately, Ramanada pleaded with Rama, "Oh! Lord! I was not aware of this till now. I will find out and give upadesa to this person. You should not leave this ashram. You must remain here, please." 

Early the next morning Ramananda took his 'kamandalu' and japa mala and wearing the 'Paduka' walked to Hanuman ghat on the banks of the Ganges for his bath. 

Kabirdas was lying on the steps leading to the river, weeping, "Today, too, I have not received upadesa of Rama Nama. I have not been able to receive the Grace of the Guru!" He lifted his head when suddenly the Paduka worn by Ramananda hit his head! Mahans always have the Lord's name on their tongue. Since, his foot hit against something in the dark, Ramananda uttered, 'Rama! Rama! Rama!' 

The Sun had not yet risen but Kabirdas looked at this Sun that was Ramananda! Ramananda stood there lustrous like the Sun! Kabirdas's heart leaped with joy as he heard Rama Nama uttered from the lips of the Guru. 

He thought, "I desired upadesa of Rama Mantra from the Guru. But, how blessed am I that I have received it at the banks of the Ganga with the blessings of the Guru's Paduka touching my head!" From that moment onwards Kabirdas began incessant japa of the 'Taraka Mantra'. Due to his deep bhakti he attained the highest state. 

Ram Ram

The Golden Windows

The little girl lived in a small, very simple, poor house on a hill and as she grew she would play in the small garden and as she grew she was able to see over the garden fence and across the valley to a wonderful house high on the hill – and this house had golden windows, so golden and shining that the little girl would dream of how magic it would be to grow up and live in a house with golden windows instead of an ordinary house like hers.

And although she loved her parents and her family, she yearned to live in such a golden house and dreamed all day about how wonderful and exciting it must feel to live there.
When she got to an age where she gained enough skill and sensibility to go outside her garden fence, she asked her mother is she could go for a bike ride outside the gate and down the lane. After pleading with her, her mother finally allowed her to go, insisting that she kept close to the house and didn’t wander too far. The day was beautiful and the little girl knew exactly where she was heading! Down the lane and across the valley, she rode her bike until she got to the gate of the golden house across on the other hill.

As she dismounted her bike and lent it against the gate post, she focused on the path that lead to the house and then on the house itself…and was so disappointed as she realized all the windows were plain , rather dirty, reflecting nothing other than the sad neglect of the house. So sad she didn’t go any further and turned, heartbroken as she remounted her bike … As she glanced up she saw a sight to amaze her…there across the way on her side of the valley was a little house and its windows glistened golden …as the sun shone on her little home.

She realized that she had been living in her golden house and all the love and care she found there was what made her home the ‘golden house’. Everything she dreamed was right there in front of her nose!

"We should see the brighter side of the things we possess .. we dream with our closed eyes and we miss things around with our open eyes .., how strange, but true…".)

Ram Ram

The Reward

Maha Periyavaal was camping in the Sanskrit College, Chennai.

A small girl submitted a notebook in which she had written the name  Sri Rama Jayam (many thousand times) and asked for a silver coin. Those were the days when Mahaperiyavaal was giving a gold coin for those who wrote one lakh names and a silver coin to those wrote 12,500 names, which is one-eighth of a lakh.

When the small girl asked for a silver coin, he ordered one to be brought to him and gave it to her. The girl ran laughing happily but came back soon after, rubbing her eyes in tears.
"Why do you cry ma?" asked our beloved Maha PeriyavAL with compassion.
"The coin has somehow gone missing", sobbed the child.
"Don't cry", said Periyavaal kindly and asked, "Right, how many names had you written?"
"8,500" said the child.
"Only if 12,500 names are written, a silver coin will be given, you knew that?"
"I knew. Knowingly  I cheated. I committed a mistake. Please pardon me."
Sri PeriyavAL's heart melted as the small girl admitted her mistake and sought pardon for it.
"It's alright ma! Do not do it again. Sit here." He seated the girl near him with affection.
Looking at the people near him, he said, "Right now all of you write Rama Naama and complete the balance of four thousand names. Let this child also write, along with everyone." Everyone was given paper and pencil. Maha Periyaval graced the bhagya of writing that Divya Namam to many people on that day due to the mistake of a balaki. Since many wrote, the balance of four thousand was completed quickly.

The  Paramaacharyal  called the balaki. "No silver coin for you. I shall give you a gold coin itself." As a great bonus the GuNakunjarar dropped a poR kazhanju (gold coin) in the tender hands of that young  girl.

What a way to propogate Raama Naamam.

Effective Communication

Jack and Max are walking from religious service. Jack wonders whether it would be all right to smoke while praying.
Max replies, "Why don't you ask the Priest?"
So Jack goes up to the Priest and asks, "Priest, may I smoke while I pray?"
But the Priest says, "No, my son, you may not. That's utter disrespect to our
religion."
Jack goes back to his friend and tells him what the good Priest told him.
Max says, "I'm not surprised. You asked the wrong question. Let me try."
And so Max goes up to the Priest and asks, "Priest, may I pray while I smoke?"
To which the Priest eagerly replies, "By all means, my son. By all means." 

Moral : The reply you get depends on the question you ask . 
For Example: Can I work on this project while I'm on vacation


Ram Ram

Joy of Giving

A tale of Two Seas…the joy of giving …..

Sitting in the geography class in school, I remember how fascinated I was when we were being taught all about the Dead Sea. If you recall, the Dead Sea is really a lake, not a sea. It’s so high in salt content that the human body can float easily. One can almost lie down and read a book!
The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35% – almost 10 times the normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No sea animals. Nothing lives in the Dead sea.

Hence the name: Dead Sea.

While the Dead Sea has remained etched in my memory, I don’t seem to recall learning about the Sea of Galilee in my school geography lesson. So, when I heard about the Sea of Galilee & the Dead Sea and, the tale of the two seas – I was intrigued.
Turns out that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both, the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, receive their water from river Jordan. Yet, they are very, very different.

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with rich, colorful marine life. There are lots of plants and lot of fish, too. In fact, the sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of fishes.

Same region, same source of water, and yet, one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come?

Here is why.
The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and out – and that keeps the Sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.

But, the Dead Sea is so far below the sea level, that it has no outlet. The water flows in from the river Jordan, but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams at all. It is estimated that over a million tons of water evaporates from the Dead Sea every day, leaving it salty. Full of minerals and unfit for any marine life.

The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give/flow out. Result? No life at all.
Think about it.

Life is not just about getting. It’s about giving, sharing. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.

We are fortunate to get wealth, knowledge, love and respect. But, if we don’t learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea. The love, the respect, the wealth and the knowledge, could all evaporate. Like the water in the Dead Sea.

If we get the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in more water, more money, more of everything, the results can be disastrous.
A good idea is to make sure that in the sea of your own life, you must have outlets. Many outlets for love, wealth and everything that you get in your life.
Make sure you don’t just get, you give out, too. Open the taps. And you’ll be opening the floodgates to happiness.

Make that a habit. To share, to give.

Experience life. Experience the magic of giving..!

Ram Ram