Tea Or Iron

The Zen master Hakuin used to tell his students about an old woman who owned a tea shop in the village. She was skilled in the tea ceremony, Hakuin said, and her understanding of Zen was superb. Many students wondered about this and went to the village themselves to check her out. 

Whenever the old woman saw them coming, she could tell immediately whether they had come to experience the tea, or to probe her grasp of Zen. Those wanting tea she served graciously. For the others wanting to learn about her Zen knowledge, she hid until they approached her door and then attacked them with a fire poker. Only one out of ten managed to escape her beating.

http://xdejonge.angelfire.com/funt/spirit/zen_tales.htm

Moving mind

Two men were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind. 

"It's the wind that is really moving," stated the first one. 

"No, it is the flag that is moving," contended the second. 

A Zen master, who happened to be walking by, overheard the debate and interrupted them. "Neither the flag nor the wind is moving," he said, "It is MIND that moves."

http://spiritual-minds.com/stories/zen.htm

Mind Control

An itinerant Sadhu, in the course of his wanderings, came to a village and settled himself down in a temple for some days. He used to sit quiet and serene on one of the verandahs of the temple. He was hardly going out, and spent all his time inside the temple. The Pujari of the temple, finding in the Sadhu high spiritual qualities, gave him at mid-day a part of the food offered to God as Naivedyam. The Sadhu lived only on one meal a day. This went on for some days. One day, the manager of the temple happened to pay his periodical visit to the temple for inspection. He saw the Pujari in the act of giving food offered to God to the Sadhu. The manager did not like this. He told the Pujari, "Why do you feed this lazy fellow? He  is sitting quietly without doing anything. Such people do not deserve to be given food. So I order you not to feed him any more."

The Pujari obeyed. The Sadhu did not mind the stoppage of food to him. He would go out at mid-day, beg for food in two or three houses, and having satisfied his hunger, return to his seat in the temple in about half-an-hour's time. Thereafter, he would continue to sit silent in his Asan until the next day. Thus the Sadhu continued to live in the temple.

About a week later, the manager, as usual, came nd saw the Sadhu sitting quietly as before at the same place in the temple. He came to know from the Pujari that the Sadhu did not receive any food from the temple and that he was satisfying his hunger by begging. 

Now, the manager, getting interested in the Sadhu, was curious to know why he was sitting the whole day doing practically nothing. He went up to the Sadhu and, sitting near him, asked him "Sadhuji, what is the meaning of your sitting the whole day without stirring out?"

The Sadhu replied, "I will give you the answer in five minutes. Please wait."The manager waited. Five minutes passed. But no answer came from the Sadhu. The manager reminded the Sadhu about his question. The Sadhu again said, "Brother, will you wait for five minutes more to get the answer?" The manager, with a little impatience, told the Sadhu he would wait for five minutes more but would not do so any longer.

Again five minutes passed. Still the Sadhu was silent. Then the manager questioned him a little sternly, "What is this, Sadhuji, ten minutes have passed and you have not yet answered my question?" The Sadhu calmly replied, "Brother, will you please wait for another five minutes?" The manager was impatient and excited at what the Sadhu said. He stood with his watch in hand and told the  finally, "Look here, Sadhuji, I have a lot of work to attend to. I cannot afford to idle away my time like you. I give you five minutes more for the answer. If you do not fulfil my wish, I will go away."

The manager waited for five minutes more and no answer came. In a huff, grumbling and in an irritated mood, the manager went out of the temple. When he had gone a few yards, he stopped and reflected - "I cannot sit at one place for 15 minutes quietly, whereas the Sadhu is there on the verandah all the 24 hours except for a short period. What tremendous power and control he has over his mind!" His admiration for the Sadhu became very great. He turned back and, entering the temple, called the Pujari and said, "Pujari, from tomorrow, you should feed the Sadhu from the offerings of food to the Deity as you were doing before as long as he chooses to stay in the temple." After saluting the Sadhu in all humility and reverence the manager left.

Verily, to control the mind and sit steadily at one place without the thought of moving about is not a joke. Only rare souls who have subdued the mind by concentration upon God can do this.

http://www.anandashram.org/html/ebooks/Stories_as_told_by_SwamiRamdas.pdf

No More Questions

Upon meeting a Zen master at a social event, a psychiatrist decided to ask him a question that had been on his mind. "Exactly how do you help people?" he inquired. 

"I get them where they can't ask any more questions," the Master answered.

http://standard-deviations.com/2013/11/22/zen-koans/

The Stone Cutter - More is not enough

There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.

One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever imagined, but envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. Soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. "How powerful that official is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a high official!"

Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around. It was a hot summer day, so the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. "How powerful the sun is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the sun!" 

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. "How powerful that storm cloud is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a cloud!"

Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. "How powerful it is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be the wind!"

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, feared and hated by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it - a huge, towering rock. "How powerful that rock is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a rock!"

Then he became the rock, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the hard surface, and felt himself being changed. "What could be more powerful than I, the rock?" he thought.

He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stone cutter.

http://users.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/more.html

May be

There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "May be," the farmer replied. 

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "May be," replied the old man. 

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "May be," answered the farmer. 

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "May be ," said the farmer.

http://goodmorninggratitude.com/2012/03/25/to-be-certain-is-ridiculous/

It Will Pass

A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!"

"It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.

A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!'

"It will pass," the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=uXo3AgAAQBAJ

Chasing Two Rabbits

A martial arts student approached his teacher with a question. "I'd like to improve my knowledge of the martial arts. In addition to learning from you, I'd like to study with another teacher in order to learn another style. What do you think of this idea?"

"The hunter who chases two rabbits," answered the master, "catches neither one."

http://www.cyjack.com/cognition/Zen%20Stories.htm

World is God

A man living in the world  was disgusted with life and, renouncing it, went to a solitary spot and dwelt in a cave praying to God to give His Darshan. He fasted and prayed for a long period and just when he was despairing of seeing God, He appeared before him saying, "Lo! I am here." What did the man see before him? God had come to him in the form of the world itself which he had renounced in search of Him. On having this vision the man returned to the world and saw God everywhere in it and ever remained filled with bliss and peace.

http://www.anandashram.org/html/ebooks/Stories_as_told_by_SwamiRamdas.pdf

A True Yogini

In a forest lived a great Tapaswin. His wife was a highly evolved soul. She passed away leaving an only daughter. The daughter grew up in all innocence and purity. Her father was getting old. She used to seat him on a Jhula and swing it to and fro. She was guileless and pure and free like a child. One day, a Raja who happened to pass that way, saw the young girl in the company of her old father. The Raja was a bachelor and had declined to marry so far, though he had many offers. Seeing this girl, he told his minister that if at all he married, he would marry her only. So they went and asked the Tapaswin if he would be willing to give his daughter in marriage to the Raja. The old hermit replied, "I have absolutely no objection if she agrees. You may approach her and get her consent."

They then asked the girl. She replied, "I have no objection. But there are two conditions to be fulfilled. Firstly, you should engage somebody here to look after my old father. Secondly, I will bring with me the clothes that I am wearing now and I should be permitted to spend one hour daily in a solitary room in the palace where I will put on these clothes." The king agreed.

The marriage was duly performed and the girl cheerfully left her father and carried on the duties of the queen peacefully in the kingdom. She was very loving and compassionate to every one. According to her vow, she was spending an hour daily in a lonely room, wearing her simple forest-dress. In course of time, a girl was born to her. Unfortunately, the subjects felt that as their king had married some forest-girl, they should not allow her children to inherit the throne. They requested the king to get the child killed. The king conveyed this tragic news to the queen. She gladly agreed to give away the child. The child was then handed over to two men who were instructed to take it to the jungle and kill it. They took the child to the jungle but seeing its beauty and innocence, were prompted to leave it there alive. They falsely reported to the king that they had killed it. The child was soon taken away by another king who happened to pass that way.

Two years later, a son was born to the queen. Again the subjects agitated that the son should be killed. The queen readily gave away this child also. The men who were commissioned to kill it left it alone in the forest as before and reported to the king that they had killed it. It so happened that this child was also found and taken away by the same king who had taken the first baby girl. After sometime, another daughter was born to the queen, which went the way of the previous two and was adopted by the same king who took away the first two children. The three children grew up nicely under the loving care of the king and queen who had no children of their own.

Now the subjects requested the king to send the queen back to the forest and marry another - a princess, - as they thought there was no use having a queen whose children were unfit for the throne. The king told the queen about this. She cheerfully fell in with the idea and went back to her father and started to serve him as before, swinging him on the Jhula. She was as happy as ever. She had no regrets, because she took all that happened in such a detached spirit that life was to her, nothing short of a dream.

Some years passed. The king, who sent back his queen to the forest, decided upon marrying the daughter of the king of the neighbouring State. The marriage was settled. As there was no female member in the palace for making the necessary preparations, the subjects requested the king to send for the former queen and ask her to arrange everything for the king's wedding. They all knew that the former queen was very wise in managing all affairs. The king sent messengers to the forest to call her. She came willingly and supervised the preparations for her husband's marriage.

Before the function commenced, however, the father of the bride told the king in the presence of the assembly, "I wish to tell you some details of my family before the marriage takes place. These three children of whom you are going to marry the eldest are not really mine. I found them all one by one in the forest. I took them to my kingdom and brought them up."

Now the king - the bridegroom - suspected that the bride was perhaps his own daughter and that the other two were also his children. He sent for the two men who were ordered to kill them. On being questioned they confessed that they did not kill the children and begged to be pardoned. After careful enquiries, he was convinced that they were his own children. Of course, he could not marry his own daughter. So the marriage was cancelled. All were pleased with the result. The people of the kingdom highly appreciated the good and lofty qualities of the queen who calmly passed through the severe trials that befell her. They then prayed that she should not go back to the forest but should remain in the palace as the queen. She agreed to the proposal.

See how detached the queen was while living and moving in the world. That was because she was brought up in her most impressionable age by a saint, in an atmosphere far removed from worldly distractions. So she had developed detachment from worldly pleasures and position.

http://www.anandashram.org/html/ebooks/Stories_as_told_by_SwamiRamdas.pdf

Saints Vs Planets

An itinerant Sadhu came to a certain place along with his young disciple. The routine was that the disciple should go for alms, and after collecting sufficient provisions, come back to the Guru. Both would then cook food from the provisions thus secured and satisfy their hunger.

As usual, the disciple, who was yet a boy, started in the morning on his daily Bhiksha. When he was passing through a lane he was called by an astrologer who sat on the verandah of his house waiting for customers. Having had no customers till then and finding no work to do he asked the boy to sit by his side. Taking that moment as the basis, the astrologer studied the planets governing the life of the boy and found out that the boy, according to his reading, should die the next day. The astrologer told this anticipated event to the boy.

The boy hearing the prediction of the astrologer was thoroughly frightened. He could not collect the Bhiksha for the day, but hurriedly went back to his Guru. With tears in his eyes he told his Master about the dire prediction of the astrologer. Then the Guru calmly replied, "Look here my boy, nothing is going to happen to you tomorrow. You will be all right."

Next day, the Guru, lest the boy should be scared at the thought of the predicted death, kept the boy with him the whole day. The boy was safe and sound. The day passed. On the following day the boy was asked to go for Bhiksha in the usual course. The boy again happened to pass through the same lane in which the astrologer lived. The astrologer was astounded to find him alive, contrary to his prediction. He called the boy, asked him who his Guru was, and expressed a wish to have his Darshan.

Accordingly, led by the boy, the astrologer went to the Sadhu whose disciple the boy was. The boy introduced the astrologer to his Guru. The Sadhu looked at the astrologer and said, "You frightened my disciple unnecessarily. Do you think he will meet with any harm so long as he is under my protection? It was unwise of you to have upset the mind of the boy by saying that he would die yesterday."

Such is the power of saints.

http://www.anandashram.org/html/ebooks/Stories_as_told_by_SwamiRamdas.pdf

Be Good and See Good

Remembrance of God means elevation to higher consciousness. We must keep this light burning within us always. You know, as soon as the light goes out, we fall into darkness. When our vision is pure, we see only God. If impure, we see evil. 

There was a very good king named Yudhishtira who led a righteous life. In his own time, there was another king named Duryodhana who was evilminded and lived an unrighteous life. One day, Lord Krishna, a great incarnation of God, asked Yudhishtira, the virtuous king, to pick out for him a bad man in the world. The king went about in search of a bad man. 

He returned and told Krishna that he could not find such a one. Krishna called Duryodhana, the vicious king, and asked him to find out for him a good man. Duryodhana went in search of one. He could see only bad men everywhere and not a single good man. He came and reported this to Lord Krishna. 

The moral of this story is that if we are good, the whole world is good for us; if we are bad, the whole world is bad for us. Every man has got some good points in him. We should see only the good points. If we are to see the bad points let us see them in ourselves. If we do so, we shall find in course of time that what is bad in us will disappear. If we see evil in others and good in us, what good we have will disappear and the evil in us will grow. We are condemning, criticising, and thinking ill of so many in the world. By so doing, we are only getting our mind more and more impure. So the way to progress on the spiritual path is to see the good points in others and love everybody. To see good in others is to see God in them, because God alone is good. By seeing God in others we shall realise God in our own heart. So long as we criticise others, we shall never see God in them.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/211018986/Stories-as-Told-by-SwamiRamdas

The meaning of Pilgrimage

There was a great saint named Tukaram. He was a votary of God's name. Once some people from his village decided to go on a long pilgrimage and they requested Tukaram also to follow them. Tukaram expressed his inability, but requested them to be kind enough to take with them to all the places they visited a bitter gourd that he would give them. He wished that the bitter gourd should be given a dip in all the holy waters where they took bath and also have it taken to all the temples they visited. Not caring to know the significance of what the saint said, the villagers took the bitter gourd from him and carried it all along the pilgrimage, obeying the instructions of the saint in regard to dipping it in the holy waters and taking it to the temples.

In a few months, the party returned from the pilgrimage and handed the bitter gourd back to Tukaram. Tukaram was happy and invited all the members of the party to a feast the next day to celebrate the successful completion of their pilgrimage. Tukaram made a special dish out of the bitter gourd which he had sent on the pilgrimage. They were served with the various preparations and they started eating. When they tasted the gourd dish, they all remarked it was bitter and asked Tukaram why he had served it. Tukaram, as if greatly surprised, asked them how it could be bitter when it was made out of the gourd that had gone on a pilgrimage. It was no doubt bitter when he handed it over to them before the pilgrimage, but he wondered why it had not lost its bitterness in spite of the pilgrimage. This was a great lesson to all the pilgrims. 

There are so many who go on pilgrimage and return as bitter as before. But, if you go on pilgrimage as urged by God within, and continuously remember Him all through the pilgrimage and see only purity and goodness of God everywhere, you will achieve purity. Such a pilgrimage will surely be beneficial to you.

http://www.anandashram.org/html/ebooks/Stories_as_told_by_SwamiRamdas.pdf

The Great Shibi Chakravarti

Once upon a time there was a King named Shibi. He was very generous and just. If anybody approached the king for any help, he would never return disappointed. King Shibi would always take care of the needs of all his subjects.

Once a pigeon came to King Shibi's court. It was trembling with fear. The king lovingly held it in his hands. Just then, a hawk flew towards King Shibi and said, "O king, return my prey to me." However King Shibi refused and said, "This pigeon has taken refuge with me. If I return it to you, you will eat it and I shall acquire sin."

The hawk said, "I am hungry and this pigeon is my food. If you snatch away my food from me, I shall die of starvation. Won't you acquire sin then?" King Shibi replied, "No, that is not my intention. You ask for any other food and I shall give it to you. The hawk said, "I eat meat. You give me your flesh, equal in weight to that of the pigeon."

To the shock of everyone present King Shibi readily agreed. He ordered his men to get a weighing scale. The pigeon was kept on one side of the weighing scale and Shibi placed a piece of flesh from his thigh on the other. To everyone's surprise, no matter how much flesh was cut from the king's body and kept in the scale, it still could not outweigh the pigeon. Finally, King Shibi himself sat on the scale.

Suddenly, the pigeon and the hawk vanished and in their place stood Agnidevata (The Deity of Fire) and Deity Indra. They both blessed King Shibi and said, "O King. We had come here to test you. You really are very kind and just." They restored his body and left the palace.

Because Shibi did his shariira Daanam to save the life of a sharanaagati, we now also remember him. Whenever people talk about maha-daatas, his name will surely be taken. That is why even the Gods had to descend from the heavens to bless him. We should learn to be kind and helpful to others.

Morals in the story:

The Daana-gunam and Dharma-rakshana of Shibi must be learnt by all of us.
The knowledge of the Dharma-shastras helped Shibi decide what to do in the difficult situation.

http://moralstories.wordpress.com/2006/07/11/the-story-of-the-great-shibi-chakravarti/

The Impermanence of Beauty

Rupananda (Khema Theri) was quite an attractive and graceful woman who was always surrounded by admirers. She never ceased to feel very lonely, however, because all those dear to her—mother, brother, and even husband—had all entered the Order. Missing her family badly, she went to visit them often and heard them speak of the Buddha in such a way that she longed to go and pay him homage too.

But when she learned that the Buddha often talked about the impermanence of the body, she was afraid that he might disparage her for her beauty, and so hesitated to do so. In the end, howe ver, she decided that no matterwhat the Buddha might say to her, she would go and see him anyway.

As soon as the Buddha saw Rupananda, he realized that she was someone very attached to her beauty. To teach her a lesson, he caused a vision of a ravishing young lady to appear before her. When Rupananda saw the young lady, she could not help but remark how extremely beautiful she was and exclaimed to herself, “My goodness, next to her I must look like an old crow!”

Then before Rupananda could realize what was happening, the beautiful young lady started to age and slowly deteriorate before her very eyes until she finally lay sick and helpless on the floor, rolling in her own excrement. Then she died, and Rupananda saw her corpse going through the different stages of decay, oozing pus and other foul liquids, and finally crawling with maggots.

Witnessing this rapid succession of images, Rupananda realized that there was a continuous process of change and decay in the body. “In the same way,” she thought, “like this young girl who has grown old, died, and decayed before my very eyes, I, too, will grow old and decay one day.”

With that realization, the attachment that Rupananda had for her body diminished and she came to perceive its true nature. She then became a nun, and under the guidance of the Buddha, eventually attained arahatship.

This body is built up with bones which are covered with flesh and blood. Within it dwell decay and death, pride and jealousy.

http://www.dhamma.worldofwisdom.asia/2011/12/impermanence-of-beauty.html
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bmDamaStory.pdf

All is Divine

ALL is divine. 

When we are firmly established in the truth of our divinity, we will directly realise that others too are Divine. Compassion for others is felt as long as we do not consider ourselves as separate entities. 

There is a story to illustrate this truth.

A certain lady prepared some sweets for Shirdi Sai Baba. Somehow it so happened that a dog entered the house and ate them. The lady beat the dog with a stick and drove it away. Once again she prepared a plate of sweets and carried them to Baba. Baba refused them saying that He had eaten them and that His hunger had been appeased. 

The lady said that this was not possible because she had brought the sweets for the first time. Baba said, “No, I ate the sweets you prepared. I was beaten with a stick and driven away by you.” 

The lady wondered for a while what Baba meant and then suddenly remembered how the dog had entered her house and eaten the sweets and was beaten by her. In this way Shirdi Baba made His devotees understand that He was not confined only to His physical form but is the indweller of all living beings.

http://srisathyasaiblog.blog.com/2012/04/03/all-is-divine/

Idol & Picture Worship

Thiruppandar was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Once he happened to visit a famous pilgrim center dedicated to his favorite Lord. After the darshan of Siva, he felt that he was too exhausted and weak to walk further, and therefore rested for the night in the temple itself.

Early in the morning, the priest entered the temple with a potful of water to perform abhishek to the Lingam. To his utter consternation, he found an aged man sleeping right in front of the shrine with legs stretched towards the sanctum sanctorum. He got wild at the sight and, in indignation, he sprinkled some water on the face of the old man. But, there was no sign of any movement. So, he bent down and tried to lift the old man's legs. Immediately the old man opened his eyes and said in an appealing tone, "My dear Son! Why are you pulling my legs?" The priest shouted "Oh! For your age, is it not shameful on your part to indulge in such a sacrilegious act of stretching your legs towards God?" The old man said calmly, "My dear son, I feel a cramp in my legs and cannot get up. Will you place my two feet in a direction you like, where God is not? I shall certainly get up after a while." 

The priest did not want to waste time in arguing with the man. So, he held the two feet of the man, lifted them up and placed them in the opposite direction. Suddenly, there sprang out a lingam from underneath the feet! The priest tried to place the old man's feet in another position, but there again sprang up another lingam! In a minute, the place was full of lingams! 

The priest fell at the feet of the old man and said "Oh revered one! You must be a realised soul. Pardon me for my insulting words and actions." The old man got up and said "My dear son, have you not read in the scriptures that God is omnipresent? Can you limit God to a place and to an image or a picture or in a frame? Of course we have temples with idols and pictures of worship; but they only help devotees to direct their faith and devotion to God as embodiments of the various Divine shaktis in this vast boundless universe. The Supreme Creator, the Almighty God is only one, and remember, He is Omnipresent."

http://askbaba.helloyou.ch//stories/s1008.html

Master's eyes

One day a famous government officer met a highly respected edlerly master. Being conceited, he wanted to prove that he was the superior person.

As their conversation drew on, he asked the master, "Old monk, do you know what I think of you and the things you said?"

The master replied, "I don't care what you think of me. You are entitled to have your own opinion."

The officer snorted, "Well, I will tell you what I think anyway. In my eyes, you are just like a pile of dry shit!"

The master simply smiled and stayed quiet.

Seeing that his insult had fallen into deaf ears, he asked curiously, "And what do you think of me?"

The master said, "In my eyes, you are just like the Buddha."

Hearing this remark, the officer left happily and bragged to his wife about the incident.

His wife said to him, "You conceited fool! When a person has a heart like a pile of dry shit, he sees everyone in that light. The elderly master has a heart like that of the Buddha, and that is why in his eyes, everyone, including you, is like the Buddha!"

http://indigosociety.com/showthread.php?54567-Dhamma-Stories

Four kinds of Devotees - Relationship to God

There was once a rich man who had four wives. Each expressed what they wished him to get during a trip abroad. 

The first wife, who was spiritually enlightened prayed for his safe return. 
The second wife wanted him to bring some sacred books. 
The third wife, who was ailing, wanted him to get some medicines. 
The fourth wife, who was a 'modern' asked him to get her sarees and jewelry. 

The merchant on his return, gave the three wives what they wanted and stayed with the first wife because she had no other desire except to have him back. 

God responds to the prayers of his devotees in the same manner. To those who aspire for wealth, He gives wealth. Those who seek knowledge, he will help them acquire it. Those who are ailing and pray to God will get the relief they pray for. Those who pray for oneness with Him, will realise Him. This is the way God responds to the four kinds of devotees.

The devotees should consider God alone as important and not other mundane desires. If you have God with you, all other things are got easily. So God is your real wealth, your real health.

http://divineblossoms.blogspot.in/2014/06/how-god-responds.html

Everything happens for one's own good

A devotee must understand that this world is a Divine plan and every situation in which God places you has a meaning. An interesting story is told to illustrate this point. The story is about King Akbar and his wise minister, Birbal. 

Birbal constantly asserted that everything happens for one's own good. King Akbar, who was young and, unlike his father, the previous king, did not have the same confidence in Birbal and questioned his constant optimistic assertions. 

One day while handling a sword, the King chopped off the tip of his little finger. Birbal immediately told the king not to worry, everything that happens has a purpose behind it and that purpose is for good. The king became exceedingly angry with Birbal and threw him in jail. 

The King bandaged the finger for a few days and then, as a diversion, went into the forest to hunt. He later became separated from his hunting party and was eventually overcome by a tribe of cannibals intending a human sacrifice. The King was bound like a sacrificial animal and taken before the temple. When the priest of the temple examined him, the priest announced that he could not be sacrificed because he was not a perfect specimen, since he was missing part of his finger. Since he was not fit to be sacrificed, the King was released. 

On his return, the King thanked God for taking his finger and sparing his life. He then immediately went to the prison to see Birbal. "Oh Birbal, please accept my apologies for imprisoning you. Now I understand how my injury was for the best. But tell me, why did God allow me to imprison you? How is it for the best that you have been confined here due to my anger? Birbal replied, "Your majesty, if I had not been in prison, you would surely have taken me with you when you went hunting, and when the forest people rejected you for their sacrifice, they would surely have found me an excellent substitute!" 

http://sharepoint.margfoundation.apps4rent.info/Shared%20Documents/The%20Power%20of%20Prayer%20by%20Swami%20Jyotirmayananda%20(MARGV9N5).pdf

Boy and Apple Tree

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow.

He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by, the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.
“Come and play with me”, the tree asked the boy.

“I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more” the boy replied.

“I want toys. I need money to buy them.”

“Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money.”

The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited.

“Come and play with me” the tree said.

“I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?”

“Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.” So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted.

“Come and play with me!” the tree said.

“I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?” said the man.

“Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.”

So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years. “Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you”, the tree said. “No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite” the
man replied.

“No more trunk for you to climb on.” “I am too old for that now” the man said. “I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots,” the tree said with tears.

“I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years,” the man replied.

“Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest.” The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

This is a story of everyone. The tree is like our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad. When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy.

You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents. We take them for granted; we don’t appreciate all they do for us, until it’s too late.

Moral: Treat your parents with loving care…. For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair…We never know the love of our parents  for us; till we have become parents.

https://www.facebook.com/Love.Is.Like.Life/posts/553805047963904

Parent's Love

One day an 11 year old girl asked her daddy, “what are you going to get me for my 15th birthday?”

Her father replied,” Please wait, there is much time left.”

When the girl was 14 years old, she fainted and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor came out and told her dad that she had a bad heart and that she was probably going to die.

When she was lying in the hospital bed, she said softly, “daddy… have they told you that I am going to die?” The father replied; “no, you are going to live” as he left her room weeping.

She asked, “how can you be so sure daddy?” He turned around from the door and said” because…I know.”

A short time later she turned 15. After she was released from the hospital and recovering she came home to find a letter on her bed which read…”My dearest daughter, if you are reading this letter it means that everything went well, just as I told you it would. A little while ago you asked me what I was going to give you for your 15th birthday. I didn’t know then, but my present to you was MY HEART.”

Her father donated his heart.. !

‘BLESSED INDEED IS THE MAN WHO HEARS MANY GENTLE VOICES CALL HIM FATHER’

He makes Many silent Sacrifice for us ~ Love u Daddy;)

Moral:
Love your parents… they sacrifice a lot to make us happy, without letting children realize….Many a times we are so busy growing up that we forget that they are also growing old….Spend Quality time with them, treat your parents with loving care, for you will know their value, when you see their empty chair….

http://www.captiveofthoughts.com/2012/10/lets-redefine-love.html

Don’t be Judgemental - A Heart Touching Story about Doctors

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block. 

He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. 

On seeing him, the dad yelled: “Why did U take all this time to come? Don’t U know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t U have any sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled & said: “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call……

And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??” said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again & replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Book “From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”

“Giving advises when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank goodness!, your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any question, ask the nurse!!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”

MORAL : Never judge anyone….. because you never know how their life is & what they’re going through”

Hit SHARE if this story touched your heart…..Share And Inspire Others.

http://dontgiveupworld.com/dont-be-judgemental-a-heart-touching-story-about-doctors/

Keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

When  I was a kid, my Mom liked to cook food and every now & then I remember she used to cook for us.

One night in particular when she had made dinner after a long hard day at work, Mom placed a plate of bread jam and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I was waiting to see if anyone noticed the burnt toast.

But Dad just ate his toast and asked me how was my day at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember I heard Mom apologizing to dad for burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he said: “Honey, I love burned toast.” Later that night,

I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your mamma put in a long hard day at work today and she was really tired. And besides, A burnt toast never hurts anyone but harsh words do!”

You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I’ve learned over the years, is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

Life is not a Sharp Knife  to Cut all those Bad Memories. But Life is a Needle  to  Weave Golden  Thread of Sweet Memories … Love your Life … Live your Life:-)… It’s the only one you have…. ….ENJOY LIFE NOW.

http://inspirationalquotestory.in/inspirational-life-story-keys-to-creating-a-healthy-growing-and-lasting-relationship/

Valuing Relationships

It was their anniversary, and Aisha was waiting for her husband Rajiv to show up.

Things had changed since their marriage, the once cute couple couldn't-live-without-each-other had turned bitter.Fighting over every little things, both didn't like the way things had changed.

Aisha was waiting to see if Rajiv remembered it was their anniversary!

Just as the door bell rang she ran to find her husband wet and smiling with a bunch of flowers in his hand.

The two started re-living the old days. Making up for fights, then was the plan for champagne, light music and it was raining outside! It was PERFECT....

But the moment paused when the phone in the bedroom rang....Aisha went to pick it up and it was a man.

"Hello ma'am I'm calling from the police station. Is this Mr Rajiv Mehra's number?""Yes it is!"

"I'm sorry ma'am; but there was an accident and a man died. We got this number from his wallet; we need you to come and identify his body."

Aisha's heart sank.!!! She was shocked! But my husband is here with me?"

"Sorry ma'am, but the incident took place at 2pm, when he was boarding the train."Aisha was about to lose her conscience. How could this happen?!

She had heard about the SOUL of the person coming to meet a loved one before it leaves!

She ran into the other room. He was not there. It was true! He had left her for good!!

Oh God she would have died for another chance to mend every little fight! She rolled on the floor in pain.

She lost her chance! Forever!

Suddenly there was a noise from the bathroom,the door opened and Rajiv came out and said "Darling, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU MY WALLET GOT STOLEN TODAY".

LIFE MIGHT NOT GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE.SO NEVER WASTE A MOMENT WHEN YOU CAN STILL MAKE UP FOR YOUR WRONGS!!!

Its the end of the year so let's start making amends.

To PARENTS
To SIBLINGS
To FRIENDS
And many more.!!!!!
No one is PROMISED TOMORROW....
Have a wonderful LIFE with no regrets!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/proud-to-be-an-indian/an-eye-opener/448476105209229

How to improve difficult relationships

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law.

In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law’s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law’s bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it.

Li-Li went to see her father’s good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, “Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.”

Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do.” Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs.

He told Li-Li, “You can’t use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.”

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.

Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn’t had an argument in six months with her mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law’s attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.

Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, “Mr. Huang, please help me to stop the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She’s changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. “Li-Li, there’s nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.”

Moral : Make a conscious choice to see the good qualities of the person in relationships , act it out, if necessary  and gradually and surely let time heal relationships…

Let’s start making amends.

To parents
To siblings
To friends
And many more.

No one has a promised tomorrow. Have a wonderful Life with no regrets!

Please do not forget to share with you loved ones

If you liked this story… please share with friends and family and children… You might spark a thought, inspire and possibly change a life forever !!!!

http://academictips.org/blogs/poisoning-mother-in-law/

Be the change you wish to see in the World

A woman once came to Gandhi ji and asked him to please tell her son to give up eating sugar. 

Gandhi ji asked the woman to bring the boy back in a week. 

Exactly one week later the woman returned, and Gandhi said to the boy, “Please give up eating sugar.” 

The woman thanked the Mahatma, and, as she turned to go, asked him why he had not said those words a week ago.” Gandhi ji replied, “Because a week ago, I had not given up eating sugar.”

"Be the change you wish to see in the World" - Mahatma Gandhi

http://divineblossoms.blogspot.in/2014/03/sweet-change.html

King and his four wives

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another. He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant, and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I ! now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.

“Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No way!”, replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!”, replied the 3rd wife. “Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to remarry!” His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!”, replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” Her answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go.” The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”

In truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives: Our 4th wife is our… body.No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our… possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our… family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our…Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

https://sites.tufts.edu/bhaktiyoga/entry/tag/soul
http://rishikajain.com/tag/inspirational-story/

The Three Questions

The thought came to a certain king that he would never fail if he knew three things. These three things were

1. When is the best time to do each thing?
2. Who are the most important people to work with?
3. What is the most important thing to do at all times?

Many educated men attempted to answer the king's questions, but they all came up with different answers. The king decided that he needed to ask a wise hermit in a nearby village. The hermit would only see common folk, however, so the king disguised himself as a peasant, left his guards behind, and went to see the hermit. The hermit was digging flower beds when the king arrived. The king asked his questions, but the hermit went on digging rather laboriously. The king offered to dig for him for a while. After digging for some time, the king again asked his questions. Before the hermit could answer, a man emerged from the woods. He was bleeding from a terrible stomach wound. The king tended to him, and they stayed the night in the hermit's hut. By the next day the wounded man was doing better, but was incredulous at the help he had received. The man confessed that he knew who the king was, and that the king had executed his brother and seized his property. He had come to kill the king, but the king's guards had wounded him. The man pledged allegiance to the king, and he went on his way. The king asked the hermit again for his answers, and the hermit responded that he had just had his questions answered.

1. The most important time is now. The present is the only time over which we have power.
2. The most important person is whoever you are with.
3. The most important thing is to do good to the person you are with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Questions

Greeting Morals

Juan worked at a meat distribution factory. One day, when he finished with his work schedule, he went into the meat cold room to inspect something, but in a moment of bad luck, the door closed and he was locked inside with no help in sight. 
Although he screamed and knocked with all his might, his cries went unheard as no one could hear him. Most of the workers had already gone, and outside the cold room it’s impossible to hear what was going on inside.

Five hours later, whilst Juan was on the verge of death, the security guard of the factory, eventually opened the door and saved Juan’s life.

Juan then asked the security guard how he got to open the door, as it wasn’t part of his work routine, and he explained thus: "I’ve been working in this factory for 35 years, hundreds of workers come in and out every day, but you’re one of the few who greets me in the morning and says goodbye to me every night when leaving after working hours. Many treat me as if I am invisible.

Today, like every other day, you greeted me in your simple manner ’ Hello ’ at the entrance when resuming for work. But curiously, after working hours today, I observed I’ve not heard your ’ bye! see you tomorrow ’. Hence I decided to check around the factory. I look forward to your ’ Hi ’ and ’ bye ’ every day. To you, I am someone. By not hearing your farewell, I knew something had happened.

Then I Sought and found you!

“Moral Lesson to reflect upon”:
Be humble, love and respect those around you. As life is too short! Try to have an impact on people in ways we can’t even imagine, especially the people that cross our path every day. Someone seemingly so insignificant and irrelevant today could be the only help you can get tomorrow.

http://www.desidime.com/forums/dost-and-dimes/topics/75-relationship-quotes-to-live-by?page=24