Two small stories with big Lessons...

#Story 1

An old man and his son worked a small farm, with only one horse to pull the plow. One day, the horse ran away.
"how terrible," sympathized the neighbors, "What bad luck."

"Who knows whether it is a bad luck or good luck," the farmer replied.

A week later, the horse returned from the mountains, leading five wild mares into the barn.
"What wonderful luck!" said the neighbors.

"Good luck? bad luck? who knows?" answered the old man.

The next day, the son, trying to tame one of the horses, fell and broke his leg.
"How terrible. What bad luck!"

"Bad luck? Good luck?"

The army came to all the farms to take the young men for war, but the farmer's son was of no use to them, so he was spared.

"Good? Bad?"

[ mare: A fully mature female horse; barn: A large farm used for storing hay, grain, etc ]
---

The situations we are in might have some treasures hidden inside, some greater purpose which is to be understood later on perhaps. There are no accidents, everything has a purpose.

We don't seek pain, but if pain comes we should use it.

---

#Story 2

In a small fishing village in Japan, there lived a young, unmarried woman who gave birth to a child. Her parents felt disgraced and demanded to know the identity of the father. Afraid, she refused to tell them. The fisherman she loved had told her, secretly, that he was going off to seek his fortune and would return to marry her. Her parents persisted. In desperation, she named Hakuin, a monk who lived in the hills, as the father.

Outraged, the parents took the infant girl up to his door, pounded until he opened it, and handed him the baby, saying, "This child is yours, you must care for it!"

"Is that so?" Hakuin said, taking the child in his arms, waving good-bye to the parents.

A year passed and the real father returned to marry the woman. At once they went to Hakuin to beg for the return of the child. "We must have our daughter," they said.

"Is that so?" said Hakuin, handling the child to them.

---

I will leave it to you to wonder about the lesson behind it...

Till then...

Smile... :) 

Jay Hind...!

Things arise perfectly at the right time. My father sang this song  many time during my childhood. This is Gandhi's favorite hymn and so does our nation's. Feeling so proud and happy for the movement going on in India. Though we have started the celebration, still more time to go to write the whole book. There is a long road ahead. 

Stay united.

Jay Hind. 

Mirror Affirmation

I like to look in the mirror the first thing in the morning and say: ‘I love you. What can I do for you today? How can I make you happy?’ listen to your inner voice, and start following through with what you hear. You may not get any messages to begin with because you are used to scolding yourself, and you don’t know how to respond with a kind, loving thought.

If something unpleasant happens to you during the day, go to the mirror and say: ‘I love you anyway.’ Events come and go, but the love that you have for yourself is constant, and it is the most important quality you possess in your life. If something wonderful happens, go to the mirror and say, ‘Thank you.’ Acknowledge yourself for creating this wonderful experience.

Affirmations performed in front of a mirror are advantageous because you learn the truth of your existence. When you do an affirmation and you immediately hear a negative response such as, ‘Who are you kidding? It can’t be true. You don’t deserve that,’ then you have received a gift to use. 

You cannot make the changes you want until you are willing to see what is holding you back. The negative response you have discovered is like a gift in that it becomes the key to freedom. Turn that negative response into a positive affirmation such as: ‘I now deserve all the good. I allow good experiences to fill my life.’ Repeat the new affirmation until it does become a new part of your life.

And remember, When you smile at mirror, it will always smiles with you.... :) 

The Power of Music...

It is Saturday today, the 23rd July and year 2011, 9:45pm

Friday was the public holiday in Northern territory because of Darwin Cup. We are having long weekend. I did not plan anything for this weekend other than staying home and catching up with cleaning and some paperwork which was pending since couple of weeks. Friday just went into relaxing and doing nothing. I thought Saturday and Sunday will be the day to catch up with these work. Friday night was very late one that made me stay in the bed till quite late the next Morning. Late breakfast happened and so does very late lunch. Being in lazy mood, I could not carry myself to kitchen and get myself to do any sort of cooking. I had lots of fruits (Apple, Carrot, Orange, Cucumber and rock melon - Yes a total mix of fruit salad) and then Doritos at about 3pm. Later at 4pm I had big glass of milk. No No.... I am not going to describe the food I ate or going to write about my daily activity here and kill you with boredom. Something extra ordinary happened later that day, in fact just NOW, which brought me here to penned down my heart's voice.

I got heavy stomach ache because of overeating. Again No, this is not that extra ordinary thing, the reason to write... :D

I had really bad stomach ache, the one that we get blessed with in years and a heavy back pain.. two terrible things together is sufficient enough to make you scream and almost kill you... for the first time I felt "thank god, I don't have to conceive a baby" and realized again how strong and wonderful women are to do this for months...

Anyway, back to my pain...

So, I, me, the one who hates any sort of tablets, thought, God what do I do with this pain and as usual my patient attitude came into rescue. I wanted to bear it and wanted to see how thoughts can be useful to cure pain. I sulk into calmness and lay down on the floor on my stomach, allowing my brain to have good thoughts and did not realize when did I feel asleep. I think I felt better after an hour or so and I dragged my body to cozy bed. The stomach ache wasn't entirely gone I guess so I decided to stay there and again felt slept ( I think...)!

After two hours or so a soothing voice just crossed my mind and touched my soul. I felt as if I was dreaming. You know that moment when you go into confusion that you are in dream or is it actually happening, specially when you are in sleep, Yes that, the same feeling....

I, now was awake, but in bed.... and it occurred to me that some music is being played outside in the neighborhood. I did not get up from the bed because I felt the music started healing my stomach ache... I felt like crying with Joy. Late, I could not stop myself and went outside to locate the place and this is what I see....

A candle light dinner in the back yard. A couple was sitting there with their dog. A lady was pregnant I noticed. All the painful thoughts I had few hours ago about stomach ache and conceiving baby crossed my mind and it clicked to me that something is connecting here. The couple and I had never spoken to each other before. I, from the gate wave at them and beg their attention. I fold my hand in "Namaste" position to apologies greatly for disturbing their wonderful night. But I was selfish and wanted to know what music piece is this which is connecting some strings. I wanted to experience how life gives us signs and wanted to join some dots.

The pregnant lady came to me with most beautiful smile as If she knew the purpose of my coming. The dog for the first time did not bark at me. I told her about my entire story and how this piece of music was healing me. She went inside and brought me the CD. She was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Today was the day when Emanuel proposed her four years ago during one candle light dinner. He requested restaurant to play a CD which he made for her specially for that night. And today again Emanuel wanted to recreate the whole emotion. Really my stomach ache was completely disappeared by now. I felt my presence there more than a minute was not appropriate now. I took the CD, wrote the name of the artist and songs and returned them in no time.

And this introduces me to - " Yo-Yo Ma ".  A miracle . The music was played by this guy.

Yo-Yo Ma is a French-born American Cellist, virtuoso, orchestral composer of Chinese descent, a winner of multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2011 and the Presidential Medal of freedom in 2011. He is one of the most famous cellists on our age.

Yo-Yo Ma

He does not play the instrument with his hand and string. He plays with his soul. He can make you cry and can take you into the trance. I wondered how come it took me so long to find him and the instrument " Cello" . But then realized that everything happens at the right time and so did this. I got to know that there is something called "Cello" exist and the Violin looking instrument is not Violin but a "Cello". A violin is smaller than cello and the cello bow (string) is much thicker than violin bow.

Cello

Violin

The music piece which connected my story with them, which touched my heart, which made my stomach ache disappeared and which taught me bit more about life was "Ennio Morricone - Played by Yo-Yo Ma". 

You must listen to him. He is god's gift. 

And the time is 11:35pm. I am starving again but this time will be very careful.... :)

Have a good night friends...

Peace and love,

Rakesh

Footprints on the sand...!

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 were one set of footprints.

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 have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."



(by Mary Stevenson)

Guru Purnima

Guru Govind Dono Khade
Kaake Lagoon Paaye
Balihari Guru Aapne,
Govind Diyo Bataaye.
–Kabir Das


Translation in English: "If My Guru and God himself were to stand infront of me, to whom should I bow first. Well, I choose you my teacher because If you hadnt been there I would have never known what God is"


I bow my head to my father who was ironically my teacher in the school where I had studied and in my life. I extend my prayers.


Much Love,
Son

Nevergone... !

The things we did, the things we said


Keep coming back to me and make me smile again

You showed me how to face the truth

Everything that's good in me I owe to you


Though the distance that's between us

Now may seem to be too far

It will never separate us

Deep inside I know you are


Never gone, never far

In my heart is where you are

Always close, everyday

Every step along the way

Even though for now we've gotta say goodbye

I know you will be forever in my life

Never gone



No no no

I walk alone these empty streets

There is not a second you're not here with me

The love you gave, the grace you've shown

Will always give me strength and be my cornerstone


Somehow you found a way

To see the best I have in me

As long as time goes on

I swear to you that you will be


Never gone, never far

In my heart is where you are

Always close (always close)

Everyday (everyday)

Every step along the way

Even though for now we've gotta say goodbye

I know you will be forever in my life (in my life yeah)


Never gone from me

If there's one thing I believe (I believe)

I will see you somewhere down the road again


Never gone, never far

In my heart is where you are

Always close (always close)

Everyday (everyday)

Every step along the way


Even though for now we've gotta say goodbye (yeah yeah)

I know you will be forever in my life (in my life)


Never gone, never far

In my heart (in my heart is where) is where you are (you are)

Always close, everyday

Every step along the way


Never gone, never far

In my heart is where you are

 
Nevergone...

I have learned...

I've Learned -

that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned-


that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.




I’ve learned-


that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.




I’ve learned-

that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.




I’ve learned-


that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.




I’ve learned-


that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.




I’ve learned-


that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.




I’ve learned-


that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.




I’ve learned-


that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.




I’ve learned-


that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.




I’ve learned-


that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.




I’ve learned-

that you can keep going long after you can’t.




I’ve learned-


that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.




I’ve learned-


that either you control your attitude or it controls you.


I’ve learned-

that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.


I’ve learned-

that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.


I’ve learned-

that money is a lousy way of keeping score.


I’ve learned-

that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.


I’ve learned-

that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.


I’ve learned-

that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned-

that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.


I’ve learned-

that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned-

that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned-

that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.


I’ve learned-

that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.


I’ve learned-

that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.


I’ve learned-

that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.


I’ve learned-

that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.


I’ve learned-

that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.


I’ve learned-

that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.


I’ve learned-

that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.


I’ve learned-

that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.


I’ve learned-

that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.


I’ve learned-

that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.


I’ve learned-

that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.


I’ve learned-

that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.


I’ve learned-

that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.


I’ve learned-

that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.


I’ve learned-

that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.



By Omer B. Washington