A miracle is not the suspension of the natural
law, but the operation of a higher law.
a
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Accept
The refusal of acceptance and the absence of self-esteem, make us alienate ourselves.
Being at one with ourselves is the core of a healthy life.
They who do not accept this, become envious, jealous, imitators, ultra competitive and destructive in nature.
Be accepted, accept that you are accepted, and accept the criticisms.
Being at one with ourselves is the core of a healthy life.
They who do not accept this, become envious, jealous, imitators, ultra competitive and destructive in nature.
Be accepted, accept that you are accepted, and accept the criticisms.
Negativity
Negative people do not find solutions and they enlarge problems.
They prefer lamentation, gossip, pessimism.
It is better to light a match that to regret the darkness.
A bee is small, but produces one of the sweetest things that exist.
We are what we think.
The negative thought generates negative energy that is transformed into illness.
They prefer lamentation, gossip, pessimism.
It is better to light a match that to regret the darkness.
A bee is small, but produces one of the sweetest things that exist.
We are what we think.
The negative thought generates negative energy that is transformed into illness.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Who Do We Blame ?
Pleasure and Pain are the consequences of the actions of our past lives.
Our Creator, whose grace and blessings is always on us - He alone knows.
So who can we blame ?
The hardships and sufferings that we go thru in this life are the fruits of our own actions.
No one but we ourselves are responsible for our present status in life.
Source: SGGS 1030
Our Creator, whose grace and blessings is always on us - He alone knows.
So who can we blame ?
The hardships and sufferings that we go thru in this life are the fruits of our own actions.
No one but we ourselves are responsible for our present status in life.
Source: SGGS 1030
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Living Graves
"While we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we ever expect ideal conditions on earth" - George Bernard Shaw
Are we not Living Graves when we eat dead animals ?
We take our dead to the cemetery but by eating the dead bodies of animals, aren't we making our bodies the grave yards of hundreds of animals ?
Have we conveniently forgotten that these living creatures have a soul ?
It is time that all humans acknowledge the divine spirit in each and every living creature on this planet.
These poor animals who have not been blessed with speech can surely feel pain.
Are we not Living Graves when we eat dead animals ?
We take our dead to the cemetery but by eating the dead bodies of animals, aren't we making our bodies the grave yards of hundreds of animals ?
Have we conveniently forgotten that these living creatures have a soul ?
It is time that all humans acknowledge the divine spirit in each and every living creature on this planet.
These poor animals who have not been blessed with speech can surely feel pain.
They cannot express the suffering inflicted on them. They have no lawyers to stand up and fight for them nor leaders to revolt.
Thus humans take full advantage of their helplessness.
Are we so desperate to eat delicious food at the cost of inflicting suffering on these helpless creatures ?
It's time we ponder and decide for ourselves - is it worth it.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
You Are Real
One night, a King had a dream in which he dreamt that he had lost his kingdom and became a beggar.
He was going round the streets of the city begging for alms. The pangs of hunger made him cry. A kind hearted person gave him some food, but to his great misfortune, even that morsel slipped down from his hand.
Just then the horror stricken king woke up from his dream. He found himself in his royal palace.
The king asked himself, "Which is real - the dream world or the conscious world? "
The Queen who was observing him was also perplexed. They decided to consult their spiritual master.
When the King had finished describing his dream, the spiritual master thus explained:
"O King, both are real in one sense but there is also another point of view. You became a beggar in the dream world and you are the King in the conscious world. ‘You’ exist in both the worlds. While these two worlds are unreal,
‘You’ alone are real. You are the absolute reality of the dreaming state as well as the conscious state".
He was going round the streets of the city begging for alms. The pangs of hunger made him cry. A kind hearted person gave him some food, but to his great misfortune, even that morsel slipped down from his hand.
Just then the horror stricken king woke up from his dream. He found himself in his royal palace.
The king asked himself, "Which is real - the dream world or the conscious world? "
The Queen who was observing him was also perplexed. They decided to consult their spiritual master.
When the King had finished describing his dream, the spiritual master thus explained:
"O King, both are real in one sense but there is also another point of view. You became a beggar in the dream world and you are the King in the conscious world. ‘You’ exist in both the worlds. While these two worlds are unreal,
‘You’ alone are real. You are the absolute reality of the dreaming state as well as the conscious state".
Saturday, October 27, 2007
As ye Sow so shall ye Reap
Bhagavad Gita says: "Whatever we do, we will have to pay accordingly"
There is an interesting story in the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, of a powerful King Dhirthrashtra who was born blind. He was a wise, intelligent and a religious king.
It bothered him a lot, he wanted to know the reason he was born blind. One day, he had the opportunity to meet Lord Krishna.
The King told Lord Krishna that thru his own spiritual powers he had checked his 100 previous lifetimes but still could not find out why he was born blind.
Lord Krishna touched the King's head with his hand and King Dhirthrashtra was then able to see behind 106 lifetimes. The King saw himself as a child playing in the lawn. He saw a little bug, and not knowing any better, he pierced the bug's eyes with a small piece of stick.
The king paid for his action 106 lifetimes later.
There is no escape from the Law of Karma.
We hide ourselves behind closed doors, in the dark, but we only deceive ourselves if we think no one is watching.
God is always watching our every thought and action.
This story illustrates the eternal truth that 'whatever we sow, we shall reap'.
There is an interesting story in the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, of a powerful King Dhirthrashtra who was born blind. He was a wise, intelligent and a religious king.
It bothered him a lot, he wanted to know the reason he was born blind. One day, he had the opportunity to meet Lord Krishna.
The King told Lord Krishna that thru his own spiritual powers he had checked his 100 previous lifetimes but still could not find out why he was born blind.
Lord Krishna touched the King's head with his hand and King Dhirthrashtra was then able to see behind 106 lifetimes. The King saw himself as a child playing in the lawn. He saw a little bug, and not knowing any better, he pierced the bug's eyes with a small piece of stick.
The king paid for his action 106 lifetimes later.
There is no escape from the Law of Karma.
We hide ourselves behind closed doors, in the dark, but we only deceive ourselves if we think no one is watching.
God is always watching our every thought and action.
This story illustrates the eternal truth that 'whatever we sow, we shall reap'.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Who is Good, Who is Evil ?
First, God created the Light; then by His Creative Power, He made all mortal beings.
From the One Light, the entire universe welled up.
All human beings are part of His creation.
That one Light is in everyone, so who is good, and who is evil?
The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places.
The clay is the same, but the Fashioner has fashioned it in various ways.
There is nothing wrong with the pot of clay - there is nothing wrong with the Potter.
The One True Lord abides in all; by His making, everything is made.
Whoever realizes the Will of His Command, knows the One Lord. Only such a person can be called the Lord's true devotee.
Source: Saint Kabir (SGGS pages 1349-1350)
From the One Light, the entire universe welled up.
All human beings are part of His creation.
That one Light is in everyone, so who is good, and who is evil?
The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places.
The clay is the same, but the Fashioner has fashioned it in various ways.
There is nothing wrong with the pot of clay - there is nothing wrong with the Potter.
The One True Lord abides in all; by His making, everything is made.
Whoever realizes the Will of His Command, knows the One Lord. Only such a person can be called the Lord's true devotee.
Source: Saint Kabir (SGGS pages 1349-1350)
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Face of Death
The picture depicts a famine stricken child crawling towards an United Nations food camp, located a kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it. This picture shocked the entire world. No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer Kevin Carter, who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Meet Your Meat
The Truth Exposed - humanity’s cruelest invention.....
To play the Video, click on the above image
Special Thanks to GoVeg.com for this video post
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To play the Video, click on the above image
Special Thanks to GoVeg.com for this video post
In order to stop the blog's background music while playing the video, please click the 'Stop' button on your browser
Thursday, October 4, 2007
We Are What We Eat
What we eat and drink has tremendous effect on our body, mind and intellect.
For example, consumption of food such as meat, eggs, fish (ie flesh of animals) and intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs are generally very pleasing to an outgoing mind indulged in material life.
All of these lead to the material contamination of our mind.
The seed of bad habits : illicit sex, gambling, stealing, dishonesty, etc then begin to germinate.
As the saying goes: "We are what we eat"!
Conversely, the same diet has no appeal to a sincere Spiritual aspirant.
Thus, diet is a function of an individual's choice based upon his goal in life.
Do we want to become God conscious and go back to our Source, the Creator ?
Or do we want to merely continue to live a nonsensical life?
God has given us the free will to choose between these two.
No two ways about it!
For example, consumption of food such as meat, eggs, fish (ie flesh of animals) and intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs are generally very pleasing to an outgoing mind indulged in material life.
All of these lead to the material contamination of our mind.
The seed of bad habits : illicit sex, gambling, stealing, dishonesty, etc then begin to germinate.
As the saying goes: "We are what we eat"!
Conversely, the same diet has no appeal to a sincere Spiritual aspirant.
Thus, diet is a function of an individual's choice based upon his goal in life.
Do we want to become God conscious and go back to our Source, the Creator ?
Or do we want to merely continue to live a nonsensical life?
God has given us the free will to choose between these two.
No two ways about it!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Suffering
"Unto whom should I tie up and give the bundle of my pains? The whole world is overflowing with pain and suffering ;who can know the state of my inner self?" (p767)
a
"Wherever I look, I see loads of pain and suffering." (p710)
a
Suffering is universal - it is an ingredient of life which is seen throughout this entire creation.
One may think he alone is the victim of suffering, but when we look around, we find sorrow in every home.
We are all lost in love and attachment to this material world. No one seems happy. In fact every one is beset with one's woes.
Even the President of a mighty nation is not happy.
Across the entire globe, pain and suffering are a major part of life.
All of us who have to traverse through this human existence will have to endure suffering - some to a lesser and others to a greater extent.
Source: From the holy scriptures of the Sri Granth SahibTuesday, September 25, 2007
The Bare Fact of this Life...
This world will always remain a place of suffering and misery, and will never become a paradise.
a
Life in this world is made up of both joys and sorrows. Therefore spiritual masters or saints tell us to get liberation from this world of births and deaths,
of joys and sorrows, once and for all.
a
We can only achieve this goal while in this human body. We do not have the opportunity of having this human body in every birth.
a
It is a very rare and precious gift bestowed to us by the Creator.
a
We must not waste this opportunity upon the perishable things and objects of this world.
a
Our aim or objective in life ought to be the achievement of God Realization.
a
If we do not find a way to achieve this, then we have thus wasted this human life which the Lord has blessed us with.
a
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Wheel of 8.4 million
We are all caught in this endless cycle of 8.4 million life forms. Freedom from this never ending cycle of births and deaths can only be obtained in this human form.
a
Do we want to waste this priceless opportunity ?
a
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Light of God
The entire creation is filled with the Light of God. At various levels, its manifestation is different.
In stones and minerals, the Light is asleep
In leaves and vegetation, the Light is stirring
In birds and animals, the Light is dreaming
In Man, the Light is yearning to awaken
In stones and minerals, the Light is asleep
In leaves and vegetation, the Light is stirring
In birds and animals, the Light is dreaming
In Man, the Light is yearning to awaken
a
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Attributes of God
God is metaphysical , beyond time, Eternal, Unborn, Uncreated, Self-existant, and without form, feature, colour or contour.
Therefore, neither can He be described or depicted, nor can anyone make His image or idol. God is Universally Pervasive in His manifestations.
He cannot be confined to any particular place, land, country, religion, race, garb, body or name.
God is the Creator of the Universe and the laws governing it.
Never can anyone be outside the ambit of these laws nor can anyone have the power to oppose them. His Law and Justice is Righteous and Ultimate.
God is pervasive in His Creation and also extends beyond it; He is thus Immanent in His Creation and at the same time Transcends it.
God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient.
Nothing, whether good or evil, can happen outside of His Will.
He Himself is the Life of life, the Death of death.
He Himself is the Darkness of darkness, the Light of light.
He is the Creator-Sustainer-Annuller of His Creation.
Therefore, neither can He be described or depicted, nor can anyone make His image or idol. God is Universally Pervasive in His manifestations.
He cannot be confined to any particular place, land, country, religion, race, garb, body or name.
God is the Creator of the Universe and the laws governing it.
Never can anyone be outside the ambit of these laws nor can anyone have the power to oppose them. His Law and Justice is Righteous and Ultimate.
God is pervasive in His Creation and also extends beyond it; He is thus Immanent in His Creation and at the same time Transcends it.
God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient.
Nothing, whether good or evil, can happen outside of His Will.
He Himself is the Life of life, the Death of death.
He Himself is the Darkness of darkness, the Light of light.
He is the Creator-Sustainer-Annuller of His Creation.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Do We Have Mercy ?
The well known Nobel Prize winning author, Isaac Bashevis Singer once wrote :
" The longer I am a vegetarian, the more I feel how wrong it is to kill animals and eat them. I think that eating meat, fish (and the flesh of all creatures) is a denial of all ideals, even of all religions.
How can we pray to God for mercy if we ourselves have no mercy ?
How can we speak of rights and justice, if we take an innocent creature and shed its blood ?
Every kind of killing is savage and there is no justification for it.
As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures, there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people.
Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together.
If Man has the heart to cut the throat of a chicken or calf, there is no reason he should not be willing to cut the throat of another Man. "
" The longer I am a vegetarian, the more I feel how wrong it is to kill animals and eat them. I think that eating meat, fish (and the flesh of all creatures) is a denial of all ideals, even of all religions.
How can we pray to God for mercy if we ourselves have no mercy ?
How can we speak of rights and justice, if we take an innocent creature and shed its blood ?
Every kind of killing is savage and there is no justification for it.
As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures, there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people.
Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together.
If Man has the heart to cut the throat of a chicken or calf, there is no reason he should not be willing to cut the throat of another Man. "
Friday, September 7, 2007
Compassion
Compassion is about recognizing the pain and suffering that someone else is going through and wishing for that suffering to be alleviated.
This pain and suffering can be seen in individuals who we associate with on a daily basis, our parents, spouse, our children, relatives and close friends.
We identify with their suffering, imagine what they are going through and hope that this suffering will come to an end.
On seeing the pain of someone who is suffering, a compassionate heart softens and lead to tears in the eyes.
If we learn to generate compassion in our mind, then we will not harm other living beings - humans and animals alike.
This pain and suffering can be seen in individuals who we associate with on a daily basis, our parents, spouse, our children, relatives and close friends.
We identify with their suffering, imagine what they are going through and hope that this suffering will come to an end.
On seeing the pain of someone who is suffering, a compassionate heart softens and lead to tears in the eyes.
If we learn to generate compassion in our mind, then we will not harm other living beings - humans and animals alike.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Four Things to Know
A Persian mystic once said, " I have chosen four things to know, and have discarded all other knowledge in this world."
He was asked, " What are they ? "
This was his answer :
" Firstly, I know that my daily bread is apportioned to me and will neither be increased nor diminished. Consequently, I have ceased to augment it.
Secondly, I know that I owe to God a debt which no other person can pay on my behalf. Therefore, I am occupied with paying it.
Thirdly, I know that there is One pursuing me (death) from whom I cannot escape. Accordingly, I am preparing myself to meet him.
Fourthly, I know that God is observing me ; therefore I am ashamed to do what I should Not do in His Presence. "
a
He was asked, " What are they ? "
This was his answer :
" Firstly, I know that my daily bread is apportioned to me and will neither be increased nor diminished. Consequently, I have ceased to augment it.
Secondly, I know that I owe to God a debt which no other person can pay on my behalf. Therefore, I am occupied with paying it.
Thirdly, I know that there is One pursuing me (death) from whom I cannot escape. Accordingly, I am preparing myself to meet him.
Fourthly, I know that God is observing me ; therefore I am ashamed to do what I should Not do in His Presence. "
a
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Contentment
Contentment is a pearl of great price,
whoever procures it at the
expense of ten thousand desires,
makes a wise and happy choice.
a
Monday, September 3, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
Present State of Affairs
One day God heard a great deal of commotion on Earth and sent the angel Gabriel to find the cause. Gabriel returned and reported that everyone was discontented with his lot, and was calling upon the Lord to grant them their prayers.
The Lord instructed Gabriel to return and grant them their wishes and fulfill all their prayers. After some months, God found that there was complete silence on the planet. So once again He sent Gabriel down to find the cause.
Gabriel returned with a sad story ;
"My Lord," he said, "most of the people are dead."
The Lord asked, " Do you know, why ? "
" Yes " answered Gabriel, " its because my Lord granted them all their wishes and they all wished for each other's death."
The deep meaning of this legend exposes the actual state of our present world affairs.
a
The Lord instructed Gabriel to return and grant them their wishes and fulfill all their prayers. After some months, God found that there was complete silence on the planet. So once again He sent Gabriel down to find the cause.
Gabriel returned with a sad story ;
"My Lord," he said, "most of the people are dead."
The Lord asked, " Do you know, why ? "
" Yes " answered Gabriel, " its because my Lord granted them all their wishes and they all wished for each other's death."
The deep meaning of this legend exposes the actual state of our present world affairs.
a
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Charity
Wealth is never reduced by giving in charity,
Nor river waters lessened by daily use;
Give what is in thy purse
Give what is in thy hand;
For on the other side, there is no giving or taking.
Source: Eastern Mystic
Nor river waters lessened by daily use;
Give what is in thy purse
Give what is in thy hand;
For on the other side, there is no giving or taking.
Source: Eastern Mystic
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Faith
Faith is like a Lamp
Wisdom makes the Flame burn Bright
Carry this Lamp always
In good time the Darkness will yield
And you will abide in the Light
a
Wisdom makes the Flame burn Bright
Carry this Lamp always
In good time the Darkness will yield
And you will abide in the Light
a
Our Journey
Remember always that you are just a visitor here.
A traveller passing through.
Your stay is but short.
The moment of your departure unknown.
a
A traveller passing through.
Your stay is but short.
The moment of your departure unknown.
a
Monday, August 27, 2007
Death - the Ugly Truth
Death is merely the turning of the page in the book of the soul’s journey from God, through the created universe, back to God again.
The time of death is written & nothing can change this. All is destined.
Death is the fact of life, and yet we all manage to conspire in pretending it won't happen to us. In fact, death can strike us down at any moment. We live as if this day were definetly not our last.
a
The time of death is written & nothing can change this. All is destined.
Death is the fact of life, and yet we all manage to conspire in pretending it won't happen to us. In fact, death can strike us down at any moment. We live as if this day were definetly not our last.
a
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The Gift and The Bible
A young man was getting ready to graduate from College. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box, and found a lovely, leather bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said : " With all your money you give me a Bible? " and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen his father since that Graduation Day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him that his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to him. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.
With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11,
"And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him ?"
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his Graduation, and the words
PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God's Blessings because they are not packaged as we expected.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box, and found a lovely, leather bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said : " With all your money you give me a Bible? " and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen his father since that Graduation Day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him that his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to him. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.
With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11,
"And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him ?"
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his Graduation, and the words
PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God's Blessings because they are not packaged as we expected.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The Farmer and His Two Sons
During the time of Jesus, the temples in Jerusalem were treating birds and animals without pity. Jesus sought to put an end to these cruel practices.
Jesus entered the temple and objected to the selling of birds in a sacred temple. The priests jointly questioned Jesus about his authority to raise such an objection. Jesus then related the following parable:
A farmer had two sons. He ordered the elder son to go and keep watch over the crops in the field.
The elder son said that he would not go. The younger son was asked to go and he agreed to go and keep watch at the field.
The elder son, though he had at first declined to go, felt it was not right to disobey his father and went to the field. The second son, despite his promise did not go to the field.
Jesus asked the priest, "As between these two sons, who do you think obeyed the father’s command?"
They replied, "The elder son. He acted upto his father’s command. The second son promised to go but did not go."
"Priests and teachers are proclaiming that they are adhering to the injunctions of the scriptures, but in actual practice are not following them. All of you are acting in the same manner," declared Jesus.
Jesus entered the temple and objected to the selling of birds in a sacred temple. The priests jointly questioned Jesus about his authority to raise such an objection. Jesus then related the following parable:
A farmer had two sons. He ordered the elder son to go and keep watch over the crops in the field.
The elder son said that he would not go. The younger son was asked to go and he agreed to go and keep watch at the field.
The elder son, though he had at first declined to go, felt it was not right to disobey his father and went to the field. The second son, despite his promise did not go to the field.
Jesus asked the priest, "As between these two sons, who do you think obeyed the father’s command?"
They replied, "The elder son. He acted upto his father’s command. The second son promised to go but did not go."
"Priests and teachers are proclaiming that they are adhering to the injunctions of the scriptures, but in actual practice are not following them. All of you are acting in the same manner," declared Jesus.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Praying For a Horse
One fine Sunday, a farmer rode up to church in his horse. He tied the horse to the post and lovingly patted it before he went into church. After the service was finished, he stayed a bit longer and prayed to God that he give the farmer another horse just like the one he had.
While he was praying, a thief stole his horse.
When the farmer came out of the church he saw that his horse was gone. Quickly he went back into the church. Now, he had a new prayer. He fervently asked God,
"Please grant me only one wish. I do not want a second horse, just return to me the favorite and only one I had. He was the best horse in the world."
The moral: Guard what you have, and do not pray beyond your Needs.
While he was praying, a thief stole his horse.
When the farmer came out of the church he saw that his horse was gone. Quickly he went back into the church. Now, he had a new prayer. He fervently asked God,
"Please grant me only one wish. I do not want a second horse, just return to me the favorite and only one I had. He was the best horse in the world."
The moral: Guard what you have, and do not pray beyond your Needs.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Two Lines to Ponder.....
An Emperor enjoys carnal pleasures in his palace.
The same is experienced by street dogs.
Is that happiness ?
Story of The Tiger, the Python, and the Mice
One day a King left his palace for a horseback ride and after riding for several hours became lost in a deep and almost impenetrable jungle.
Reining his horse, he looked about him and was terror stricken as he saw a tiger coming towards him. He leapt from his horse, quickly climbed a nearby tree and sat on one of its branches.
The tiger came to the same tree and sat on his haunches, waiting to devour the King whenever he came down. Seeing this, the King began to test the branch on which he was sitting to make certain it was strong enough to bear his weight.
However as he looked along its length he was filled with fear, for he saw that two mice, one white and the other black, were gnawing away the inner end of the branch where it joined the tree.
He looked down at the ground to see where he would fall when the branch gave way, and whether the earth below was hard or soft. But here another terrifying sight met his gaze.
Beside the tiger, there was a huge python with its jaws wide open, waiting for him to fall. The King trembled with fright because his situation was so desperate.
As he clung to the branch wondering what he might do to save himself, he suddenly saw that honey was dripping from a branch above his head. He began to lick it and as he did so the honey had an amazing effect.
The king, absorbed in it's sweetness, soon became completely oblivious of his danger. The tiger, the mice and the python, were all forgotten as he became more and more enchanted with the taste of the marvellous honey.
In a short time, of course, the mice gnawed through the branch. It fell to the ground, and the king, with a happy smile on his lips, was killed.
The tree up which the King climbed in his search for safety symbolizes this world, the dense and dark material universe.
The tiger represents death, which eats every living creature born into this world. The python is the grave.
The branch on which the King sat represents the span of our life, whether it be ten, twenty or fifty years or more. And the two mice are day and night, which inevitably shorten the span of life.
The honey symbolizes this world and it's ephemeral pleasures, in which we become so completely absorbed that we forget even death.
The result of becoming absorbed in the worldly pleasures is that, like the King, we die without discovering the true purpose of our life.
Source: Eastern Mystics
Reining his horse, he looked about him and was terror stricken as he saw a tiger coming towards him. He leapt from his horse, quickly climbed a nearby tree and sat on one of its branches.
The tiger came to the same tree and sat on his haunches, waiting to devour the King whenever he came down. Seeing this, the King began to test the branch on which he was sitting to make certain it was strong enough to bear his weight.
However as he looked along its length he was filled with fear, for he saw that two mice, one white and the other black, were gnawing away the inner end of the branch where it joined the tree.
He looked down at the ground to see where he would fall when the branch gave way, and whether the earth below was hard or soft. But here another terrifying sight met his gaze.
Beside the tiger, there was a huge python with its jaws wide open, waiting for him to fall. The King trembled with fright because his situation was so desperate.
As he clung to the branch wondering what he might do to save himself, he suddenly saw that honey was dripping from a branch above his head. He began to lick it and as he did so the honey had an amazing effect.
The king, absorbed in it's sweetness, soon became completely oblivious of his danger. The tiger, the mice and the python, were all forgotten as he became more and more enchanted with the taste of the marvellous honey.
In a short time, of course, the mice gnawed through the branch. It fell to the ground, and the king, with a happy smile on his lips, was killed.
The tree up which the King climbed in his search for safety symbolizes this world, the dense and dark material universe.
The tiger represents death, which eats every living creature born into this world. The python is the grave.
The branch on which the King sat represents the span of our life, whether it be ten, twenty or fifty years or more. And the two mice are day and night, which inevitably shorten the span of life.
The honey symbolizes this world and it's ephemeral pleasures, in which we become so completely absorbed that we forget even death.
The result of becoming absorbed in the worldly pleasures is that, like the King, we die without discovering the true purpose of our life.
Source: Eastern Mystics
Desires
DESIRES are the creation of the MIND,
DESIRES bind US to the very object of DESIRE.
DESIRES tend to make us RESTLESS until we possess them.
After that the VERY DESIRE which WE DESIRED is NO longer DESIRED.
The LUSTRE of that DESIRE wanes AWAY and Another DESIRE crops up.
The MIND then continues to create NEW DESIRES and MAN is caught in it's CHARM of FULFILLING it.
THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF DESIRES SEEM ENDLESS............................
DESIRES bind US to the very object of DESIRE.
DESIRES tend to make us RESTLESS until we possess them.
After that the VERY DESIRE which WE DESIRED is NO longer DESIRED.
The LUSTRE of that DESIRE wanes AWAY and Another DESIRE crops up.
The MIND then continues to create NEW DESIRES and MAN is caught in it's CHARM of FULFILLING it.
THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF DESIRES SEEM ENDLESS............................
Thoughts for the Day
The tragedy is that we do not run away from sensual pleasures, nor are we afraid of offending the Lord, even though we are told daily of HIS supreme presence within us.
We would not dare commit an evil act in the presence of a small child, yet what wicked sins do we not perpetrate in HIS omnipresence ?
Evidently, we do not fear God as much as we do even a child.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For our whole life we go on hoarding money and wasting our time. Then comes death, and when the Lord of Death demands an account of our actions, there is not an ounce of merit to earn anything.
When we were born, our hands were held tightly in a fist. The Lord gave us the precious wealth of human breaths. When it is our time to go, we find that wealth has been dissipated.
And we return to the Lord empty handed. We stumble all the way when we forget to remember the Creator. If we want to extricate ourselves from the snares of Illusion, then we must engage in the worship of the Lord.
Sources: Eastern Mystics
We would not dare commit an evil act in the presence of a small child, yet what wicked sins do we not perpetrate in HIS omnipresence ?
Evidently, we do not fear God as much as we do even a child.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For our whole life we go on hoarding money and wasting our time. Then comes death, and when the Lord of Death demands an account of our actions, there is not an ounce of merit to earn anything.
When we were born, our hands were held tightly in a fist. The Lord gave us the precious wealth of human breaths. When it is our time to go, we find that wealth has been dissipated.
And we return to the Lord empty handed. We stumble all the way when we forget to remember the Creator. If we want to extricate ourselves from the snares of Illusion, then we must engage in the worship of the Lord.
Sources: Eastern Mystics
All We Need Is.....
A Russian peasant named Pahom owned a small piece of land and was leading a contented life. He was, however, roused to higher ambitions because his brother in law was a bigger and more prosperous landlord. Accordingly, he economized and saved as much as possible in the hope of becoming a landlord.
After he had collected some money, Pahom went out in search of land, and came to the territory of the Bashkirs, who were a race of nomads. They did not till the soil and so the land was very cheap there. Their chief accepted some presents and agreed to give Pahom as much land as he could cover on foot, provided he returned to the starting point before sunset.
Pahom jumped at the offer. The next morning the whole village assembled to witness the race. The farmer started off at a fast pace, eager to cover as large
an area of land as possible.
He went on and on as the sun rose to its height and did not stop for water to quench his thirst or for food to satisfy his hunger. He chose to run around a very large circle and the crowd of Bashkirs who were watching him wondered whether he would be able to complete the circle before sunset.
Goaded by ambition and greed, he defied the heat of the day and the fatigue of his body. He ran on and on until, just when the sun was about to set, and amid thundering applause, he reached the starting point. Then he stopped and collapsed on the ground.
Before the crowd knew what had happened, he was dead. They prepared for the funeral and buried him, and found that all the land he needed was only six feet from head to toe.
Pahom's story is an allegory of the modern age of materialism.
Acquiring and hoarding is its creed. All our Time and Energy are spent in a Mad Race for the Treasures of the World, its Empty Honors and its Transient Glory.
With folded fists we came into this world bringing with us our Destiny. Upon death we leave this world alone and empty handed.
After he had collected some money, Pahom went out in search of land, and came to the territory of the Bashkirs, who were a race of nomads. They did not till the soil and so the land was very cheap there. Their chief accepted some presents and agreed to give Pahom as much land as he could cover on foot, provided he returned to the starting point before sunset.
Pahom jumped at the offer. The next morning the whole village assembled to witness the race. The farmer started off at a fast pace, eager to cover as large
an area of land as possible.
He went on and on as the sun rose to its height and did not stop for water to quench his thirst or for food to satisfy his hunger. He chose to run around a very large circle and the crowd of Bashkirs who were watching him wondered whether he would be able to complete the circle before sunset.
Goaded by ambition and greed, he defied the heat of the day and the fatigue of his body. He ran on and on until, just when the sun was about to set, and amid thundering applause, he reached the starting point. Then he stopped and collapsed on the ground.
Before the crowd knew what had happened, he was dead. They prepared for the funeral and buried him, and found that all the land he needed was only six feet from head to toe.
Pahom's story is an allegory of the modern age of materialism.
Acquiring and hoarding is its creed. All our Time and Energy are spent in a Mad Race for the Treasures of the World, its Empty Honors and its Transient Glory.
With folded fists we came into this world bringing with us our Destiny. Upon death we leave this world alone and empty handed.
The Present
Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day.Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do ?
Draw out every cent, of course !Each of us has such a bank ; It's name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as loss whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance ; It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the day's deposits ; the loss is YOURS.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it in the loving remembrance of God for nothing in this materialistic world would accompany us after death.
The clock is running. Make the most of today.
Treasure every moment that you have.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery.
Today is a Gift, That's why it's called The Present.
Draw out every cent, of course !Each of us has such a bank ; It's name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as loss whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance ; It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the day's deposits ; the loss is YOURS.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it in the loving remembrance of God for nothing in this materialistic world would accompany us after death.
The clock is running. Make the most of today.
Treasure every moment that you have.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery.
Today is a Gift, That's why it's called The Present.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Our Heritage
Whatever has happened, Happened for the Best.
Whatever is happening, is happening for the Best.
Whatever will happen, will also happen for the Best.
What was your loss that made you cry ?
What did you bring, that you have lost ?
What did you create, That has been destroyed ?
Whatever you took, you took it from here.
Whatever you gave, you gave it here only.
Whatever is yours Today, Belonged to someone else Yesterday.
Tomorrow it will belong to another. Constant change is the Law of this Land
Whatever is happening, is happening for the Best.
Whatever will happen, will also happen for the Best.
What was your loss that made you cry ?
What did you bring, that you have lost ?
What did you create, That has been destroyed ?
Whatever you took, you took it from here.
Whatever you gave, you gave it here only.
Whatever is yours Today, Belonged to someone else Yesterday.
Tomorrow it will belong to another. Constant change is the Law of this Land
Inspiring...
The whole creation is engaged in feverish and senseless pursuits.
We shed plenty of tears for money, wife and children and suffer agony and anguish through loss of them.
But if we were to weep earnestly for God for only One day, we would surely attain Him.
Source: Eastern Mystic
We shed plenty of tears for money, wife and children and suffer agony and anguish through loss of them.
But if we were to weep earnestly for God for only One day, we would surely attain Him.
Source: Eastern Mystic
Introduction to Spiritual Treasures
We invite you on a journey where SHORT STORIES and PARABLES will INSPIRE and UPLIFT, MYSTIFY and FASCINATE your mind with its rich SPIRITUAL TREASURES.
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