tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31665789371360259902024-02-07T13:32:29.344+08:00Treasure Trove of Love & Light: Introduction to Spiritual TreasuresWe invite you on a journey where Short Stories and Parables will Inspire and Uplift, Mystify and Fascinate your mind with its rich SPIRITUAL TREASURES.STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-11071902841574742212011-09-13T18:39:00.001+08:002011-09-13T18:41:00.464+08:00Complete Freedom ?<p align="justify"><b>After creating everything, God gave man complete freedom to do as he liked. </b></p><p align="justify"><b>However God has imposed a condition. </b></p><p align="justify"><b>You may do what you want and enjoy what you desire, but you cannot escape the consequences. </b></p><p align="justify"><b>You have to face the result.</b></p><p align="justify"><b>Therefore, you alone are responsible for what happens to you. </b></p><p align="justify"><b>The good and the bad that happen to you were brought about by you alone. </b></p><p align="justify"><br /></p><p align="justify"><i>- quotes from Sai Baba</i></p>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-30433196942435177982011-09-13T18:21:00.002+08:002011-09-13T18:35:30.329+08:00We are Eternal !Once there was a poor villager who had a wife and a son. He found it difficult to make both ends meet. To improve his lot, he went to another town leaving his family behind, to take up some business there.<div><br />A few months later he decided to return to his native village. </div><div><br /></div><div>During his last night, he had a dream in which he was a rich man and had five sons. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next day when he arrived at his native village, he was informed by his wife that his only son had died as he couldn't bear separation from his father. </div><div><br /></div><div>This man stood unruffled. </div><div><br /></div><div>His wife then asked him, "Are you not sad over the death of your only son? What has happened to you?" </div><div><br /></div><div>The poor villager replied, "I know about the tragedy. But I am at a loss to know for whom I should cry. Should I cry for the loss of five sons in the dream there or for the death of the son here?" </div><div><div><br />Similarly, you should know that one is a<b> day dream</b> and the other is a<b> night dream</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>One doesn't exist, when the other is present, but you are present in both the states. You are the experiencer in the waking and dream states.</div></div><div><p align="justify">Then what is the difference between the day dream and the night dream? </p><p align="justify">The former is bound by factors such as the body, time, action, reason, and duty. </p><p align="justify">Suppose, one take a bus tour which takes 10 hours and along the way you take in the sights.</p><p align="justify">Later one is able to share all these experiences as part of our duty. </p><p align="justify">However , in a dream state these factors do not exist. </p><p align="justify">How did you travel, and how long does it took to reach your place while your body remains lying in the bed? </p><p align="justify">So there are differences between the two states, but you are present in both. </p><p align="justify">So you are eternal.<br /><br /></p></div><div>- <i>adapted from a Q&A session of Sai Baba</i></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-47137399454520948012011-09-13T18:13:00.002+08:002011-09-13T18:20:04.598+08:00Why did God ....Once a question was asked to Sathya Sai Baba, "<span>God is the creator. He should have created only happiness. Why did He create difficulties and troubles? Pardon me, Swami, for putting this question."</span><div><br /></div><div>Sai Baba replied :</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Without difficulties you can never get happiness. You do not get happiness out of happiness.</i><i> </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>No hardships end up in hardship. Without troubles, you will never know the value of pleasure.</i></div><div><i><br />For instance, you are spending your time in this air-conditioned room. If you have to know its value, what you should do is to come out and go round in the open space in bright daylight. </i><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="15" width="94%" style="text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td height="125" background="http://images/01_SpiritualBlossoms/02_Conversations_with_Sai/3407877823_b8ff8ab704.jpg"> <div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span><span><strong><i>You should face all the difficulties as tests of God. A devotee should welcome troubles which are the tests of his devotion and faith. How do you expect a student to be promoted to the next higher class without facing a test? Otherwise, he remains in the same grade. </i></strong></span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i>Even a mother would not be able to love her child, if there is no death in her family.</i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i>Look at an orange fruit. It has an outer bitter skin, but within it you find sweet juice. So, both good and bad co-exist. The bitter skin protects the inner sweet juice. </i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span><span><p align="justify"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Another thing you will notice is that a thing that gives you happiness now may make you unhappy later. Similarly, an unhappy thing now may make you happy later.</i></div><p></p></span></span><i>So, nothing gives you absolute happiness or unhappiness. A woollen coat in winter makes you happy, but in severe summer it makes your life unpleasant. So also a heater in winter makes you warm but in summer it same equipment makes you very uncomfortable.</i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i>Therefore, happiness and unhappiness depend on the time, circumstances and position. Pleasure is an interval between two pains. Pain is an interval between two pleasures. If you think of the difficulties and the intensity of suffering in times of sadness the pain doubles. In bad times, you should think of those days and moments when you were happy. Then, the intensity of suffering decreases.<br /><br /><span>You should face all the difficulties as tests of God. </span></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><span>A devotee should welcome troubles which are the tests of his devotion and faith.</span></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><span>How do you expect a student to be promoted to the next higher class without facing a test? Otherwise, he remains in the same grade. </span></i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i><br /></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-72747080113888308362009-12-31T20:17:00.005+08:002009-12-31T20:22:40.941+08:00Supreme Power<span style="font-size:130%;">Every Man wants to take control of his life.....but the truth is <strong>you are n</strong></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>ot in control.<br /><br /></strong>Someone else is in control - a higher being ..... <strong>a Supreme Power whom we call God.</strong></span>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-42693372774498009192009-08-22T21:26:00.001+08:002009-08-22T21:28:39.843+08:00Excessive EnjoymentWe attach too much importance to the well-being of the body - hence the misery. <br /><br />This world has no permanent happiness for us. <br /><br />We eat, we drink - in the end the food eats us. <br /><br />Excessive enjoyment through the senses will result in the senses enjoying us! <br /><br />We will become incapable of enjoying -- satiated. It is easily apparent that those who over eat get bad livers, stomachs, etc. <br /><br />The ancient Rishis related that the food angel went to Lord Vishnu with the complaint that people were eating him mercilessly. <br /><br />Lord Vishnu solved his problem by advising, "Those who eat you unnecessarily -- you eat them!" <br /><br />So, indulging in excess, loses its power of enjoyment.STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-85361690354682804662009-08-22T20:36:00.004+08:002009-08-22T20:38:36.618+08:00An Illusion ?We never stop to realize that the body will not last forever. <br /><br />A man went to a fakir and informed him that a certain man was dying.<br /> <br />The fakir asked the dying man's age and was told that he was seventy two years old. <br /><br />The fakir promptly said, "He has been dying for 72 years now--this is merely his last breath." <br /><br />A mother considers that her child is growing, but is he? <br /><br />If he is destined to live for fifty years, then when he is ten, only forty are left.<br /><br />When he reaches twenty years of age, only thirty years are left. <br /><br />We can never escape this paradoxical illusion without rising above the body by self-analysis.<br /><br />In summay, we are dying everyday.STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-31707228292172872402009-07-13T22:57:00.002+08:002009-07-13T23:06:14.800+08:00Daddy's Empty ChairA man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father.<br /><br />When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed.<br /><br />The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.<br /><br />'I guess you were expecting me', he said.<br /><br />'No, who are you?' said the father.<br /><br />The minister told him his name and then remarked, 'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up.'<br /><br /> 'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden man. 'Would you mind closing the door?'<br /><br />Puzzled, the minister shut the door.<br /><br /> 'I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,' said the man. 'But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.'<br /><br />I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' the old man continued, 'until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me:<br /><br />"Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest : Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because HE promised,<br />'I will be with you always'. Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now...'<br /><br />'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.'<br /><br />The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil,<br />and returned to the church.<br /><br />Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her father had<br />passed away that afternoon.<br /><br />Did he die in peace?' he asked.<br /><br />'Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him. But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?'<br /><br />The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-21275449550332142642009-04-24T22:34:00.002+08:002009-04-24T22:38:39.172+08:00The 99 ClubOnce upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle,was neither happy nor content.<br /><br />One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy.<br /><br />The King asked the servant, "Why are you so happy?"<br /><br />The man replied, "Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies."<br /><br />The king was not satisfied with that reply.<br /><br />Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor.<br /><br />Afterhearing the King's woes and the servant's story, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club."<br /><br />"The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?" the King inquired.<br /><br />The advisor replied, "Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep ."<br /><br />According to the advise this was done.<br /><br />When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins!<br /><br />He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were only 99 coins.<br /><br />He wondered, "What could've happened to that last gold coin ? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins! "<br /><br />He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive.<br /><br />Finally exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.<br /><br />From that day, the servant's life was changed.<br /><br />He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin.<br /><br />He stopped singing while he worked. Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. <br /><br />When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club." He continued,<br /><br />" <strong>The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented</strong>, <strong>because they're always yearning and</strong> <strong>striving for that extra one telling to themselves:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life ."</strong><br /><br />We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more!<br /><br />We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires.<br /><br />That's what joining The 99 Club is all about.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-84250634099917635072009-03-11T13:51:00.003+08:002009-03-11T13:58:40.249+08:00Pay Your Rent<strong></strong><br /><strong>This body is like a house given to us on rent. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The owner of this body is the Almighty God. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>HE has provided for us everything & everyone that we may need to lead a happy & contented life. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>We can live in this body as long as HE wills. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>All this time we need to keep thanking HIM & paying HIM the rent in the form of FAITH, DEVOTION and constant LOVING REMEMBRANCE of HIM. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>In case we don’t pay HIM the rent, HE sends down ‘gentle’ reminders first in the form of some problems or difficulties in life. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>If we still don’t pay up, then the intensity or the height of the hurdle is raised! </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>As the default continues, then the trouble becomes severe in the form of physical ailments. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>It’s also said that our mistakes & follies in life affects the ‘progeny’…..</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-28457135163090394042009-03-11T13:37:00.005+08:002009-03-11T13:49:55.530+08:00He Knows Best<div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Don’t ask GOD for anything at all. </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>HE knows best & let him give us what he wants & what he thinks is best for us.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="left">It is said that once Sage Vyasa explained that Draupadi had in a previous lifetime prayed to Lord Shiva to grant her a husband with 5 desired qualities. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Lord Shiva, pleased with her devotion, tells her that it is very difficult to get a husband with all 5 qualities that she desired. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">However she sticks to her ground and asks for the same. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Lord Shiva had no other choice but to grant her wish. Hence she gets married in yet another birth to 5 brothers each who represent a given quality !!! </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">(In the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi, is the daughter of King Drupada, who becomes the wife of the five Pandavas.)</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">condensed from a discourse by Sai Baba</span></em></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-34354601931877049312008-12-06T20:41:00.003+08:002008-12-06T20:52:24.713+08:00That Man.....<div align="center"></div><div align="left">That Man.....</div><ul><li>who in the midst of pain, does not feel pain</li><li>who is not affected by pleasure, affection or fear</li><li>who looks alike upon gold and dust</li><li>who is not swayed by either slander or praise</li><li>who is not affected by greed, attachment or pride</li><li>who renounces all hopes and desires</li><li>who remains desire-less in this world</li><li>who is not touched by sexual desires or anger</li><li>who remains unaffected by joy and sorrow, honor and dishonor</li></ul><p>Within that Man's heart - God dwells.</p><p>That Man blessed by his Guru's Grace understands the way.</p><p>O Nanak, that Man merges with the Lord, Creator or God, like water with water.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">from the Sri Granth Sahib</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-9513835969814981332008-12-06T20:33:00.002+08:002008-12-06T20:37:46.423+08:00O Mind, Wake Up !Why are you sleeping unaware ?<br /><br />That body, which you were born with,<br />shall not go along with you in the end.<br /><br />Mother, father, wife, husband, children<br />and relatives whom you love so dearly<br />will assign your body to the fire or earth,<br />when your soul departs from it.<br /><br /><strong>Your worldy affairs exist only as long as you </strong><br /><strong>are alive ; know this well.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />O Nanak, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord ;<br />everything is but a dream.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">from the Sri Granth Sahib</span>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-25478079722584999972008-12-06T20:26:00.006+08:002008-12-06T20:33:21.976+08:00O Master, i have come to Your SanctuaryGrant me the peace and glory of the Lord's Name,<br />and remove my anxiety<br /><br />i cannot see any other place of shelter ;<br />i have grown weary and lay collapsed at your door.<br /><br />Please ignore my karmic account ;<br />Only then may i be saved.<br /><br />i am worthless - please, save me.<br /><br />You are always forgiving and merciful ;<br />You give support to all.<br /><br />Slave Nanak follows the Path of the Saints ;<br />prays Nanak, save him O Lord, this time.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">from the Sri Granth Sahib</span>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-90475446486762885582008-12-06T14:53:00.004+08:002008-12-06T14:59:34.531+08:00His Will<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;">Life is but a DRAMA </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;">directed by GOD</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;">Therefore accept,</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;">accept & accept</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;">It's all His Will</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">J.P Vaswani</span></strong></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-24949673410237203362008-11-29T21:37:00.008+08:002008-11-29T21:44:39.636+08:00Heaven & Hell<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">The home which is filled with </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">love and harmony </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">is comparable to Heaven</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">The home where there is </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">dissent and hatred</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">that is Hell</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><em><strong></strong></em></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-69727230668392029422008-11-27T22:24:00.006+08:002008-11-27T22:55:33.214+08:00Rosary of thy Name<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Repeating thy name with loving remembrance, </strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>my heart's beat has turned into a rosary </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>rolling out thy name,</strong></div><div align="center"><br /><strong>i have come to thy feet,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>for they are the ultimate resting place </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>for my weary soul,</strong></div><div align="center"><br /><strong>my eyes yearn to see your radiant face,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>they await to behold that precious moment </strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>when thou shall appear</strong></div><div align="center"><br /><strong>Repeating thy name with love,</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>this life is dedicated to thy name</strong></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">author Unknown</span></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-23588988895434002132008-11-25T22:46:00.007+08:002008-11-25T22:53:59.499+08:00Meatless Day - November 25th<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330033;">MAKE YOUR STOMACH</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330033;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330033;">A GARDEN </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330033;">NOT A GRAVEYARD</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;"></span></strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">JP Vaswani</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-33236847389913170352008-11-23T14:47:00.005+08:002008-11-23T14:55:10.536+08:00The Merchant and his Clever ParrotThere was a certain merchant who kept a parrot in a cage.<br /><br />Being about to travel to Hindustan on business, he asked the parrot if it had any message to send to its kinsmen in that country, and the parrot desired him to tell them that it was kept confined in a cage.<br /><br />The merchant promised to deliver this message, and on reaching Hindustan, duly delivered it to the first flock of parrots he saw.<br /><br />On hearing it one of them at once fell down dead.<br /><br />The merchant was annoyed with his own parrot for having sent such a fatal message, and on his return home sharply rebuked his parrot for doing so.<br /><br />The parrot no sooner heard the merchant's tale than it too fell down dead in its cage.<br /><br />The merchant, after lamenting his death, took his corpse out of the cage and threw it away.<br /><br />To his surprise, the parrot immediately recovered life, and flew away, explaining that the Hindustani parrot had only feigned death to suggest this way of escaping from confinement in a cage.<br /><br />From The Masnavi by Maulana Rumi<br /><br />***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****<br /><br />The analogy of this story is similar to the plight of our soul.<br /><br />The soul is imprisoned in this body and True Masters or Saints of the Highest order come to this world with the message of "die to live".<br /><br /><strong>Only when we "die" while living - that is to achieve God consciousness while in this body - only then can we be free from this mortal world and work our way towards self-realization and ultimately God Realization.<br /></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-48574232605645938822008-11-23T14:15:00.003+08:002008-11-23T14:24:25.275+08:00Human Values* There is One God and He is the creator of all.<br /><br />* All humans are equal before God regardless of their caste, race, sex, creed, religion, origin, color, education and wealth status.<br /><br />* Love for God's creation.<br /><br />* To honestly earn one's living by one's own physical or mental effort.<br /><br />* Achieve God consciousness and constant loving remembrance of God.<br /><br />* To live in God's Will. Cultivate the ability to realize that happy and miserable events are two sides of the same coin.<br /><br />* Always speak the Truth and live a truthful life.<br /><br />* Cultivate the spirit of Giving and sharing.<br /><br />* Living in Harmony with one and all.STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-6065016931308759892008-11-17T21:09:00.005+08:002008-11-17T21:14:29.874+08:00Truth to Ponder.....<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>a</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>If there is a painting </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>there is a painter. </strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">a</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>If there is a Creation</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>there must be a Creator.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">a</span></strong></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-48357812410508148962008-11-17T21:07:00.001+08:002008-11-17T21:08:21.369+08:00Human LifeHow sad it is that human life, precious as a priceless diamond, has been treated as a worn out, worthless coin!<br /><br /><strong>There is no use repenting after having wasted one's time without meditating on God, or practising any other Sadhana (spiritual exercise) to realise Him. </strong><br /><br />What is the use of digging a well for water when the house is already on fire?<br /><br />To begin contemplation on God during the end of one's life is like beginning to dig the well when the fire is already raging on.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span><br /><div align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Sai Baba</span></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-46328790598303459922008-11-07T12:25:00.001+08:002008-11-07T12:28:24.541+08:00All About God** You are within God. God is within you.<br /><br />** God's delays are not God's denials.<br /><br />** God is infinite and without end, but the soul's desire is an abyss which cannot be filled except by a Good which is infinite; and the more ardently the soul longeth after God, the more she wills to long after him; for God is a Good without drawback, and a well of living water without bottom, and the soul is made in the image of God, and therefore it is created to know and love God.<br /><br />** Nothing hath separated us from God but our own will, or rather our own will is our separation from God.<br /><br />** To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge! To do the will of God is the greatest achievement.<br /><br />** To be full of things is to be empty of God. To be empty of things is to be full of God.<br /><br />** We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.<br /><br />** Love is a gift from God, and as we obey His laws and genuinely learn to serve others, we develop God's love in our lives. Love of God is the means of unlocking divine powers which help us to live worthily and to overcome the world.<br /><br />** There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, Thy will be done, and those to whom God says, All right, then, have it your way.<br /><br />** Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All things pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for; He who has God Finds he lacks nothing.<br /><br />** If I were to say, God, why me? about the bad things, then I should have said, God, why me? about the good things that happened in my life.<br /><br />** One has to believe that God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from us. With God in charge, believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Source: Quotationsbook</span></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-53530883510571110942008-11-02T18:12:00.007+08:002008-11-02T18:34:04.664+08:00Spirit of Giving<div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;">Lord Krishna says in the Gita:</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#990000;">Whosoever offers to Me with love and devotion</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#990000;">A leaf, a flower, a fruit, a little water, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#990000;">That offering of love made by a pure heart,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#990000;">I accept, O Arjuna !</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">It is not what you give that counts ; it is the spirit with which you give it.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">How so ever costly be the gift, if it is empty of love, it can be of no value to Him, the Lord of this creation. A little gift of no material value is precious to Him if it carries within it the love of a pure devoted heart.</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">A gift is but the container, the outer vessel. What does it contain - does it carry within it egoistic thoughts or a desire for self glorification ? Or does it contain the aspiration of a humble heart ?</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Once upon a time, a king built a marble temple at a cost of several million dollars.</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">When the temple was completed, he said to himself in the pride of kingship,</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">" What a beautiful building I have built unto the Lord ! Generations unborn will look at it in wonder and awe ! "</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">His offering was infected with a sense of "I"-ness and was not accepted by the Lord.</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Instead He accepted the humble offering of a poor widow, who took from her mattress pieces of straw and fed the oxen who drew the marble from the ships </div><div align="left">for the construction of the temple.</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Till this day, the credit for the marble temple is given not to the king who spent millions, but to the poor widow who, out of the fullness of a humble, loving heart, gave only pieces of straw !</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div><div align="left"></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-59334966320807575282008-10-28T09:29:00.001+08:002008-10-28T09:31:32.756+08:00Prayer<div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Our Prayers to the Lord should be filled with <strong>less demands</strong> and <strong>more thanks</strong>.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span></div>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166578937136025990.post-20752894725950420642008-10-24T23:19:00.005+08:002008-10-24T23:38:54.051+08:00A Dark Period of DisintegrationThe modern world is wading through a dark period of disintegration. There is unrest alike in the East and in the West. The global financial turmoil has cast worries and uncertaintity to one and all.<br /><br />Our scientific discoveries and technological achievements have not made us happy or contented.<br /><br />Mankind has reached the Moon but we have yet to learn how to make our world, this Earth, a place where men and nations may live together in harmony and peace.<br /><br />All over the civilized world, the cry goes forth from frustrated hearts :<br /><br />" Is life worth living ? "<br /><br />"Life is worth living ! ", the saint Sadhu Vaswani proclaims.<br /><br />"All suffering and pain spring from the lower self of desires and appetites, the ego, the sense of I-ness. The ego is the cause of our suffering and sin. The cure<br />of this pain is to renounce the ego and be filled with the 'Word" or Name of God."<br /><br />The question arises as to why is it that though we have all we need, we still are unhappy and there is no peace in our hearts ?<br /><br />Sadhu Vaswani says, " You are unhappy because you wander. You wander because you are victims to desires and appetites. These will not let you rest in peace."<br /><br />" Give your mind and heart to God. Let your hands be engaged in work ; but let your thoughts dwell on the Lord. For thoughts are internal forces. As you think so you make or mar yourself. "<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">a</span>STsayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250558112350893708noreply@blogger.com0