It is said that soon after his enlightenment the Buddha passed a man on the road who was struck by the
Buddha's extraordinary radiance and peaceful presence.
The man stopped and asked, "My friend, what are you? Are you a celestial being or a god?"
"No," said the Buddha.
"Well, then, are you some kind of magician or wizard?"
Again the Buddha answered, "No."
"Are you a man?"
"No."
"Well, my friend, what then are you?" The Buddha replied, "I am awake."
http://zenpsychiatry.com/
A 70 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house adjacent to his 40-year old highly educated son.
The son was reading his e-mails on his Laptop.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied, "It's my email inbox".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "Can you teach me about email account?"
The Son said, "Dad, "I have no spare time to teach you all about email account, it is of no use for you".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, "Son, teach me something about email".
At this time, with some expression of irritation in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff,
"No dad, don't disturb me, I can't teach you".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son 4th time, "You know, I know to work on computer but am not aware much about email".
This time the Son got irritated and shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since the time his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary: -
"Today my little son aged three sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window."
My Son asked me 14 times what it was and many more questions related to the crow, and I replied to him all 14 times that it was a Crow and all his innocent questions about the crow.
I hugged him lovingly, each time he asked me the apparantly same question again and again so as to satisfy his child like curiosity.
I did not at all feel a bit irritated. I felt great affection for my innocent child".
While today the Father asked his Son some question about 'email account', just 4 times, the son felt irritated and got annoyed.
Message: - So... gentlemen, If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them politely with grace, be cool, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to the age of your parents, they cared for you and now it's your turn to care for them in their old age.
http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/take-care-of-your-old-parents
Twenty monks and one nun, who was named Eshun, were practicing meditation with a certain Zen master.
Eshun was very pretty even though her head was shaved and her dress plain. Several monks secretly fell in love with her.
One of them wrote her a love letter, insisting upon a private meeting. Eshun did not reply. The following day the master gave a lecture to the group, and when it was over, Eshun arose.Addressing the one who had written her, she said: 'If you really love me so much, come and embrace me now.’
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zen-Stories/158810947570755
Someone asked a Zen Master, "How do you practice Zen?"
The master said, "When you are hungry, eat; when you are tired, sleep."
"Isn't that what everyone does anyway?"
The master replied, "No, No. Most people entertain a thousand desires when they eat and scheme over a thousand plans when they sleep."
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/studie/zenstories.pdf
Once lord shiva and his consort, Parvati, were travelling with their vehicle - the Bull. The Lord had taken the form of an old man, while, Parvatiji remained young and beautiful. On the road all passers-by looked on with amazement at this odd couple of an old man and a young woman.
On the way, Shiva said, ''Parvatiji, my dear, please sit and ride on the bull during this journey.'' She obeyed and mounted the bull while Shiva walked alongside. The village folk and other strangers bitterly criticised, ''What a selfish woman! She is young and healthy and yet she chooses to comfortably ride while forcing the old man to walk.'' Shiva changed his mind. ''Parvatidevi, the people are mocking you. It is wiser that I sit and you walk.'' So saying, Shiva sat on the bull's back. Further along, other strangers came with sharper comments, ''O look at this mean, bully of a man. He's fat and robust, and evil too. He enjoys the ride while forcing this young and gentle lady to walk on foot.''
Hearing this both of them climbed the bull. At least, this would ward off the criticisms. But they were gravely mistaken and no sooner had they come to the next village, people sneered and jeered. ''Look at this nasty couple. Both of them have mercilessly climbed upon the bull. They'll kill the poor creature!''
Now there was only one option left. They dismounted and allowed the bull to walk freely. They accompanied it on either side. While they walked, they met new people with new bitterness. They laughed at them, shouting ''What foolishness! They have taken a bull as a vehicle and neither of them is using it.'' Straight away Shiva told Parvati, ''Come let us do what we think is right, and live the way we want to. The world will never appreciate or see what we do as correct.''
Don’t bother what others say, because there are millions of others and they have their own minds and everybody will say something; everybody has his opinions and if you listen to opinions this will be your end.” Don’t listen to anybody, you remain yourself. Just bypass them, be indifferent. If you go on listening to everybody, everybody will be prodding you to this way or that. You will never be able to reach your innermost center.
http://www.swaminarayan.org/yogijimaharaj/talesofwisdom/17.htm
A lot of times we hear people saying that one exposure to a positive or a negative material does not have any impact. That is not true. The difference may not be visible but something is happening.
In China there is a bamboo tree which is planted, watered and fertilized for the first four years and nothing happens. There is no visible sign of growth. But sometime during the fifth year, the bamboo tree grows about 90 feet in six weeks. The question is: Did the bamboo tree grow in six weeks or did it take five years to grow even though there was no visible sign it was taking root in the ground? When there was no visible sign, if someone had stopped watering and fertilizing it, would this have happened? Certainly not. The bamboo tree would have died. We need to learn from nature and the lesson is pretty clear. Have patience and faith and keep doing the right thing. Even though the results may not be visible, something is happening.
We all know the story of the shepherd boy who cried wolf. The boy decided to have some fun at the expense of the villagers. He shouted, "Help, help, the wolf is here." The villagers heard him and came to his rescue. But when they got there, they saw no wolf and the boy laughed at them. They went away. The next day, the boy played the same trick and the same thing happened. Then one day, while the boy was taking care of his sheep he actually saw a wolf and shouted for help. The people in the village heard him but this time nobody came to his rescue. They thought it was another trick and didn't trust him anymore. He lost his sheep to the wolf.
The moral of the story is -
When people tell lies, they lose credibility. Once they have lost credibility, even when they tell the truth, no one believes them.
Make yourself an honest man and then you may be sure there is one rascal less in the world. --Thomas Carlyle
http://great-motivational-stories.blogspot.in/2008/06/credibility.html
An ancient Indian sage was teaching his disciples the art of archery. He put a wooden bird as the target and asked them to aim at the eye of the bird. The first disciple was asked to describe what he saw. He said, "I see the trees, the branches, the leaves, the sky, the bird and its eye.." The sage asked this disciple to wait. Then he asked the second disciple the same question and he replied, "I only see the eye of the bird." The sage said, "Very good, then shoot." The arrow went straight and hit the eye of the bird.
What is the moral of the story?
Unless we focus, we cannot achieve our goal. It is hard to focus and concentrate, but it is a skill that can be learned.
http://great-motivational-stories.blogspot.in/2008/07/focus-and-concentrate.html
We all know the story of the greedy king named Midas. He had a lot of gold and the more he had the more he wanted. He stored all the gold in his vaults and used to spend time every day counting it.
One day while he was counting a stranger came from nowhere and said he would grant him a wish. The king was delighted and said, "I would like everything I touch to turn to gold." The stranger asked the king, Are you sure?" The king replied, "Yes." So the stranger said, "Starting tomorrow morning with the sun rays you will get the golden touch."
The king thought he must be dreaming, this couldn't be true. But the next day when he woke up, he touched the bed, his clothes, and everything turned to gold. He looked out of the window and saw his daughter playing in the garden. He decided to give her a surprise and thought she would be happy. But before he went to the garden he decided to read a book. The moment he touched it, it turned into gold and he couldn't read it. Then he sat to have breakfast and the moment he touched the fruit and the glass of water, they turned to gold. He was getting hungry and he said to himself,"I can't eat and drink gold." Just about that time his daughter came running and he hugged her and she turned into a gold statue. There were no more smiles left. The king bowed his head and started crying.
The stranger who gave the wish came again and asked the king if he was happy with his golden touch. The king said he was the most miserable man. The stranger asked, "What would you rather have, your food and loving daughter or lumps of gold and her golden statue?" The king cried and asked for forgiveness. He said, "I will give up all my gold. Please give me my daughter back because without her I have lost everything worth having." The stranger said to the king, "You have become wiser than before" and he reversed the spell. He got his daughter back in his arms and the king learned a lesson that he never forget for the rest of his life.
What is the moral of the story?
1. Distorted values lead to tragedy.
2. Sometimes getting what you want may be a bigger tragedy than not getting what you want.
3. Unlike the game of soccer where players can be substituted, the game of life allows no substitutions or replays. We may not get a second chance to reverse our tragedies, as the king did.
About a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column. The newspapers had reported the death of the wrong person by mistake. His first response was shock. Am I here or there? When he regained his composure, his second thought was to find out what people had said about him. The obituary read, "Dynamite King Dies." And also "He was the merchant of death." This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words "merchant of death," he asked himself a question, "Is this how I am going to be remembered?" He got in touch with his feelings and decided that this was not the way he wanted to be remembered. From that day on, he started working toward peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize.
Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his values, we should step back and do the same.
What is your legacy?
How would you like to be remembered?
Will you be spoken well of?
Will you be remembered with love and respect?
Will you be missed?
http://sharadpokhrel.com.np/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/You-Can-Win-by-Shiv-Khera.pdf
In 1952, on the island of Koshima, scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkey liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.
An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem by washing the potatoes in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers too.
This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists. Between 1952 and 1958 all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes -- the exact number is not known. Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes. Let's further suppose that later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.
THEN IT HAPPENED!
By that evening almost everyone in the tribe was washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!
But notice: A most surprising thing observed by these scientists was that the habit of washing sweet potatoes then jumped over the sea...Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama began washing their sweet potatoes.
Thus, when a certain critical number achieves an awareness, this new awareness may be communicated from mind to mind.
Although the exact number may vary, this Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of people know of a new way, it may remain the conscious property of these people.
But there is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to a new awareness, a field is strengthened so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone!
http://www.lightshift.com/Inspiration/monkey.html
A man went out for a walk with his lovely dog. He was very proud of the dog. It always went before him. This man had an umbrella in his hand. To show the people around him that his pet-dog would do anything for him, he made the dog carry the umbrella between its teeth. And it proudly walked before him, with the middle of the umbrella firmly caught in its teeth. Suddenly it began to rain. The man wanted to make use of the umbrella. But the dog was a hundred yards ahead of him. He ran towards it. The dog, not knowing why the master ran after it unusually, was frightened and ran towards the house at top-speed. The proud man was drenched to the skin, before be could reach the house and recover the umbrella.
The Jiva, blinded by pride and ignorance, entrusts its spiritual consciousness to the mind. For some time the mind seems to walk before and lead the Jiva; and the consciousness is there firmly held by the mind and the Jiva feels that it is safe. There is a heavy shower of miseries of mundane life and temptations of sense-objects. The dog-mind with the umbrella of spiritual consciousness had parted from the Jiva and is separated by great distance.
If the umbrella of spiritual consciousness had not been entrusted to the mind (which incidentally, could not make real use of it), the Jiva could have protected itself from the rain of miseries and temptations. Now, the faster he runs forward to get relief from miseries and temptations, the farther this relief seems to recede.
Thus, O Man, commit not the folly of entrusting thy spiritual wealth and welfare to the defective mind. It is most undependable. It will desert you in the time of trials. Learn to trust in the Lord alone. Make Him thy sole support.
http://www.dlshq.org/download/parables.pdf
Narad and Tumbaru went before God to Vaikunth. Tumbaru was a very good singer. He sang so well before the Lord that even the Lord felt joy and peace in his heart. As a gift the Lord gave him some fine clothes and ornaments. Even though Naradji is considered the 'mind of God,' as he is a great devotee, he felt jealous of Tumbaru. He decided to learn to sing and please the Lord.
His voice wasn't very good but he learnt how to sing anyway. Naradji then went before God and sang. The Lord said, ''You've come to get fine clothes and ornaments but you can't sing as well as Tumbaru.'' The Lord was very clear! He as good as insulted Naradji! Naradji then performed austerities to please Shivji. He did dharna parna, and asked a boon that he become an expert singer. But when he next sang before the Lord it was to no avail. God was not pleased. Naradji again began to practice.
He worked very hard for thousands of years. But as he was doing this out of jealousy, God was not pleased. In the end he went to Tumbaru. Naradji became humble and asked Tumbaru to teach him how to sing. Tumbaru taught him. Naradji then sang before the Lord in Dwarka. The Lord was extremely pleased and rewarded Naradji with clothes and ornaments. Never be jealous.
Strive to learn from those who are better than us.
http://www.swaminarayan.org/yogijimaharaj/talesofwisdom/50.htm
One day, if someone gets up on the right side of the bed and calls me and says, "You are the greatest person on earth. You are doing a great job and I want you to know I am honored to call you a friend," I know he is sincere. How does it make me feel? Great. But the next day, he gets up on the wrong side of the bed, picks up the phone and says, "You rascal, you cheat, you crook! You are the biggest fraud in town." How does it make me feel? Terrible.
So the first day when he says "you are the greatest guy," I feel great and the next day when he says "you rascal," I feel terrible. Who is controlling my life? Obviously, he is. Is that the way I want to go through life? Not at all. That is being externally driven.
I want to be internally driven. When he calls me and says I am the greatest guy, it is good to hear those words. But even if he doesn't say those words, in my own estimation, I am still a good human being. And the next day when he rips me apart, he can't really, because in my own estimation, I am still a good human being. When people make statements like, "You make me angry," the focus of control is external. But if I say I am angry or I choose to be angry, the focus of control is internal.
No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. --Eleanor Roosevelt
There is a story about an ancient Indian sage who was called ugly names by a passerby. The sage listened unperturbed till the man ran out of words. He asked the man, "If an offering is not accepted, who does it belong to?" The man replied, "It belongs to the person who offered it." The sage said, "I refuse to accept your offering," and walked away, leaving the man dazed. The sage was internally driven.
So long as we blame outside sources, our miseries will continue and we will feel helpless. Unless we accept responsibility for our feelings and behaviour, we cannot change. The first step is to ask:
- Why did I get upset?
- Why am I angry?
- Why am I depressed?
Then we start getting clues to overcome them.
Develop a Mindset that Brings Happiness
Bitterness is a sign of emotional failure. It paralyzes our capacity to do good. Set your own standards. Be honest to yourself. Compete against yourself.
Do the following:
- Look for the positive in every person and in every situation.
- Resolve to be happy.
- Set your own standards judiciously.
- Develop an immunity to negative criticism.
- Learn to find pleasure in every little thing.
- Remember all times are not the same. Ups and downs are part of life.
- Make the best of every situation.
- Keep yourself constructively occupied.
- Help others less fortunate than yourself.
- Learn to get over things. Don't brood.
- Forgive yourself and others. Don't hold guilt or bear grudges.
Give Yourself Positive Auto-Suggestions
Develop the habit of giving yourself positive self-talk. Auto-suggestions alter our belief system by influencing the subconscious mind. Our behaviour reflects our belief system. Hence auto-suggestions affect our behaviour by influencing our belief system. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Examples:
- I can handle it.
- I can do it.
- I am good at math.
- I have a good memory . . . . and so on
So, as you can see, Happiness is a result of positive self-esteem. If you ask people what makes them happy, you will get all kinds of answers. Most of them would include material things but that is not really true. Happiness comes from being and not having. One can have everything in life and yet not be happy. The reverse is also true.
Happiness is internal. Happiness is like a butterfly. You run after it, it keeps flying away. If you stand still, it comes and sits on your shoulder.
http://forum.yogananda.net/index.php?/topic/17801-become-internally-driven-and-not-externally-driven/
A flood was threatening a small town and everyone was leaving for safety except one man who said, "God will save me. I have faith." As the water level rose a jeep came to rescue him, the man refused, saying "God will save me. I have faith." As the water level rose further, he went up to the second storey, and a boat came to help him. Again he refused to go, Belying, "God will save me. I have faith." The water kept rising and the man climbed on to the roof. A helicopter came to rescue him, but he said, "God will save me. I have faith." Well, finally he drowned. When he reached his Maker he angrily questioned, "I had complete faith in you. Why did you ignore my prayers and let me drown?" The Lord replied, "Who do you think sent you the jeep, the boat, and the helicopter?"
The only way to overcome the fatalistic attitude is to accept responsibility and believe in the law of cause and effect rather than luck.
It takes action, preparation and planning rather than waiting, wondering or wishing, to accomplish anything in life.
http://debaonline4u.blogspot.in/2013/05/luck-favors-those-who-help-themselves.html
http://sharadpokhrel.com.np/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/You-Can-Win-by-Shiv-Khera.pdf
An eagle's egg was placed in the nest of a prairie chicken. The egg hatched and the little eagle grew up thinking it was a prairie chicken. The eagle did what the prairie chickens did. It scratched in the dirt for seeds. It clucked and cackled. It never flew more than a few feet because that is what the prairie chickens did. One day he saw an eagle flying gracefully and majestically in the open sky. He asked the prairie chickens: "What is that beautiful bird?" The chickens replied, "That is an eagle. He is an outstanding bird, but you cannot fly like him because you are just a prairie chicken." So the eagle never gave it a second thought, believing that to be the truth. He lived the life of and died a prairie chicken, depriving himself of his heritage because of his lack of vision. What a waste! He was born to win, but was conditioned to lose.
The same thing is true of most people. The unfortunate part of life is as Oliver Wendall Holmes said, "Most people go to their graves, with music still in them." We don't achieve excellence because of our own lack of vision.
http://sharadpokhrel.com.np/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/You-Can-Win-by-Shiv-Khera.pdf
A saint gave one of his disciples a magic item which could fulfill all his desires. The only snag was that his neighbour would automatically get double the amount. That man got all that he wanted-money, elephants, horses, cows, buffaloes etc. but his neighbours got all that too, doubled. He was jealous of his neighbours on that account. He was always thinking of desiring something that would harm his neighbours. At long last, an idea struck him and he wished that he might lose one of his eyes. Then he got one arm and leg broken, and the neighbours lost both their arms and legs. He at this stage happened to have an attack of paralysis which completely immobilized him. Even his normal eye, the leg and the hand were rendered unless. He requested the magic article to restore his normalcy but this was rejected, because the neighbours had to get the double the amount and they couldn't possibly get four eyes, legs, arms etc. In desperation he asked for just one eye, leg and arm and this time his request was granted. And lo! The neighbours were also as hale and hearty as ever. He remained deformed for the whole of his life, while his neighbours enjoyed normal health. This is what happens if you wish others ill.
Note: Selfishness must be purged in practical life in order to obtain peace and bliss
http://hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/ParablesOfRamaBySwamiRamaTirthaEng.pdf
There was a woman, who lost her needle in the house. She was too poor to afford a light in her house, so she went out of the house and was searching in the streets. Somebody asked her what she was searching for in the streets. She said that she was searching for her needle. The gentleman asked, "Where did you lose the needle?" She said, "In the house." He said," "How unreasonable it is to search in the street for a thing which was lost in the house!" She said that she could riot afford a light in the house and there was a lantern in the street. She could not hunt in the house; she had to do something, so she must hunt in the street. This is exactly the way with people. You have the Heaven within you, the paradise; the home of bliss within you; and yet you are searching for pleasure in the objects, in the streets, searching for that thing outside, outside, in the objects of the senses. How strange!
MORAL: Searching for pleasure in the worldly objects is vain. The Home of Bliss is within you.
http://hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/ParablesOfRamaBySwamiRamaTirthaEng.pdf
They say that Bhishma Pitamaha had conquered his death, which was said to be under his control. Why?
Because of the purity of his heart, due to his disciplined mind. He could not be tempted or attracted by the alluring charms of this world. It may be assured again that a man cannot have real peace and pleasure in the external sense objects. These can only deceive you but can never give you lasting comfort, peace or happiness which is within you and which can be enjoyed only with a pure heart i.e«, unattached heart and disciplined mind.
http://hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/ParablesOfRamaBySwamiRamaTirthaEng.pdf
There was a man who walked on the waters. A real saint laughed and asked him how long it took him to acquire this power. He replied that it took him seventeen years. The saint replied, "In seventeen years you have acquired a power worth two annas, we give two annas to a boatman and he ferries us across the river."
All personal power is limited, it binds you just as much as any possession or property binds you. Chains are chains whether of iron or gold; they enslave you all the same.
If these powers make a man so very holy, then dogs must be holy. Dogs smell out where the stag is. The dogs have the power of smell that man has not; hence they must be holy.
MORAL: Levitation or any other personal power does not make a man happy, holy or free; on the other hand, it limits and binds him, just as any other possession does.
http://hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/ParablesOfRamaBySwamiRamaTirthaEng.pdf
It is said in the Hindu Puranas that king Harankasyap wanted to turn his son Prahlad away from religious life. He desired him to remain a worldling like himself, but the remonstrances and admonitions of the parent did not prevail upon the child - they were all lost on him. In order to prevent the child from, his intention, the father cast him into fire but it burnt him not. The king then threw his child into running water but it bore the child up. To him the fire, the water, and other elements had ceased to be harmful - they were realized in their true state. The boy had dehypnotized himself into this real state. Everything unto him was God, all Love. The threats, frowns, and brow beating, sword and flame were nothing else than sweet Heaven. How could he be injured?
MORAL: Nothing can harm him who realizes everything as God, as all Love.
http://hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/ParablesOfRamaBySwamiRamaTirthaEng.pdf
A monkey is caught in India in a very queer manner. A narrow-necked basin is fixed in the ground, and in that basin are put some nuts and other eatables which the monkeys like. The monkeys come up and thrust their hands into the narrow-necked basin and fill their hands with the nuts. The fist becomes thick and it cannot be taken out, There the monkey is caught; he cannot come out. Queerly, strangely is the monkey caught.
We ask what it is that binds you first. You yourself have brought under thralldom and bondage. Here is the whole wide world; a grand magnificent forest; and in this grand magnificent wood of the whole universe, there is a narrow necked vessel found. What is that narrow-necked vessel? It is your brain, this little brain, narrow-necked. Herein are some nuts, and people have got hold of these nuts, and all that is done through the agency of the brain or through the medium of this intellect, is owned as one's own, "I am the mind," is that everybody says; everybody has practically identified himself with the mind, "I am the mind," "I am the intellect," and he takes a strong grip of these nuts of the narrow-necked vessel. That is what makes you slaves, that is what makes you slaves to anxieties, slaves to fear, slaves to temptations, slaves to all sorts of troubles. That is what binds you; that is the cause of all the suffering in this world.
If you want salvation, if you want freedom, only let go the hold, free your hand. The whole forest is yours, you can jump from tree to tree and eat all the nuts and eat all the walnuts and all the fruits in the woods, all being yours. The whole world is yours; just rid of this selfish ignorance, and you are free, you are your own savior.
MORAL: Identification with the mind is the cause of bondage. Get rid of it and your are free.
http://hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/ParablesOfRamaBySwamiRamaTirthaEng.pdf
In an allegorical story, it is said that once Lord Indra, became a pig in his dream and he miserably suffered from itch and other troublesome diseases. Other gods were deeply concerned at this condition of their king. They entered his dreaming state and reminded him, "How is it Sir! Have you forgotten the nymphs of the heaven? Do not you remember the taste of nectar? Have you no idea of your own golden throne studded with precious stones?" But Indra in his piggish tone said, 'No, no, no. Your nymphs, nectar and golden throne are no match to my she-pig, excreta and cushion like mud in the ditch. I enjoy greater pleasure in rolling in this mud than in sleeping in the bed of roses.
You might be laughing at the foolish reply of Indra. But please reflect what are you at present? Are you any better than Indra in his dream? You, also in this worldly dream, are taking death as a physician and the disease as its remedy, i. e., you take everything in a perverted way. Is it the correct state of affairs? No, never. You will continue to suffer, unless you know your Self. You are the Lord Indra of Indras.
Take, for example, the case of two servants of a King. One of them only flatters the King and does not work, while the other discharges his duties faithfully, but has nothing to do by way of flattery. Whom will the king like more? It is clear that he will be pleased with the one who discharges his duties faithfully, because work is of primary importance.
Similarly, an atheist may not be using the beads of rosary to repeat the name of God or rubbing his forehead on the ground to flatter God, but, inspite of this, God will be pleased with him, if he has a charitable disposition and does good deeds. Their continued devotion to good deeds is their rosary and their repeated unselfish actions for the good of all are, so to say, the beads. They may not be making a show of worshipping God in temples, churches or mosques, but in practice they do worship God by their good deeds in life.
http://hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/ParablesOfRamaBySwamiRamaTirthaEng.pdf
IT is on account of the ego that one is not able to see God.
There was once a man who had acquired the power to tame ghosts. One day, at his summons, a ghost appeared. The ghost said, "Now tell me what you want me to do. The moment you cannot give me any work I shall break your neck." The man had many things to accomplish and he had the ghost to do them all, one by one. At last he could find nothing more for the ghost to do. "Now", said the ghost, "I am going to break our neck." "Wait a minute", said the man. "I shall return presently." He ran to his teacher and said, "Revered sir, I am in great danger. This is my trouble." And he told his teacher his trouble and asked, "What shall I do now?" The teacher said, "Do this. Tell the ghost to straighten this kinky hair." The ghost devoted itself day and night to straightening the hair. But how could it make a kinky hair straight? The hair remained kinky.
Likewise, the ego seems to vanish this moment, but it reappears the next. Unless one renounces the ego, one does not receive the grace of God.
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
A FROG lived in a well. It had lived there for a long time. It was born and brought up there. And it was a small little frog. One day another frog that had lived in the sea came and fell into that well. The frog of the well asked the new-comer, "Whence are you?" The frog of the sea replied, "I am from the sea." The frog of the well questioned: "The sea! How big is that?" The frog of the sea said, "It is very big." The frog of the well stretched its legs and questioned, "Ah! Is your sea so big?" The frog of the sea said, "It is much bigger." The frog of the well then took a leap from one side of the well to the other, and asked, "Is it as big as this, my well?" "My friend”, said the frog of the sea, "how can you compare the sea with your well?" The frog of the well asserted: "No, there can never be anything bigger than my well. Indeed, nothing can be bigger than this! This fellow is a liar, he must be turned out."
Such is the case with every narrow-minded man. Sitting in his own little well, he thinks that the whole world is no bigger than his well.
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
A GURU said to his disciple: "The world is illusory. Come away with me." "But revered sir," said the disciple, "my people at home—my father, my mother, my wife—love me so much. How can I give them up?" The guru said: "No doubt you now have this feeling of T and 'mine' and say that they love you; but this is all an illusion of your mind, I shall teach you a trick, and you will know whether they love you truly or not." Saying this, the teacher gave the disciple a pill and said to him: "Swallow this at home. You will appear to be a corpse, but you will not lose consciousness. You will see everything and hear everything. Then I shall come to your house and gradually you will regain your normal state."
The disciple followed the teacher's instructions and lay on his bed like a dead person. The house was filled with loud wailing. His mother, his wife, and the others lay on the ground weeping bitterly. Just then a brahmana entered the house and said to them, "What is the matter with you?" "This boy is dead", they replied. The brahmana felt the pulse and said: "How is that? No, he is not dead. I have a medicine that will cure him completely." The joy of the relatives was unbounded; it seemed to them that heaven itself had come down into their house. "But", said the brahmana, "I must tell you something else. Another person must take some of this medicine first, and then the boy must swallow the rest. But the other person will die. I see he has so many dear relatives here; one of them will certainly agree to take the medicine. I see his wife and mother crying bitterly. Surely they will not hesitate to take it."
At once the weeping stopped and all sat quiet. The mother said: ''Well, this is a big family: Suppose I die; then who will look after the family?" She fell into a reflective mood. The wife, who had been crying a minute before and bemoaning her ill luck, said: "Well he has gone the way of mortals. I have these two or three young children. Who will look after them if I die?"
The disciple saw everything and heard everything. He stood up at once and said to the teacher: "Let us go, revered sir. 1 will follow you."
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.. Hospital window.
Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene. One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days, weeks and months passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.
‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’
http://www.themindawakened.com/2014/04/it-will-take-just-1-minute-to-read-this.html
ONCE, three friends were going through a forest, when a tiger suddenly appeared before them. "Brothers," one of them exclaimed, "we are lost!" "Why should you say that?" said the second friend, "Why should we be lost? Come, let us pray to God." The third friend said: "No. Why should we trouble God about it? Come, let us climb this tree."
The friend who said 'We are lost!' did not know that there is a God who is our Protector. The friend who asked the others to pray to God was a jnani. He was aware that God is the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of the world. The third friend, who didn't want to trouble God with prayers and suggested climbing the tree, had ecstatic love of God. It is the very nature of such love that it makes a man think himself stronger than his Beloved. He is always alert lest his Beloved should suffer. The one desire of his is to keep his Beloved from even being pricked in the foot by a thorn.
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
A DISCIPLE asked his teacher, "Sir, please tell me how I can see God." "Come with me," said the Guru, "and I shall show you." He took, the disciple to a lake, and both of them got into the water. Suddenly the teacher pressed the disciple's head under the water. After a few moments he released him and the disciple raised his head and stood up. The Guru asked him, "How did you feel?" The disciple said, “Oh! I thought I should die; I was panting for breath”. The teacher said, "When you feel like that for God, then you will know you
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
ONCE Narada besought the Lord of the universe, "Lord, show me that Maya of Thine which can make the impossible possible." The Lord nodded assent. Subsequently the Lord one day set out on a travel with Narada. After going some distance, He felt very thirsty and fatigued. So He sat down and told Narada, "Narada, I feel much thirsty; please get me a little water from somewhere." Narada at once ran in search of water.
Finding no water nearby, he went far from the place and saw a river at a great distance. When he approached the river, he saw a most charming young lady sitting there, and was at once captivated by her beauty. As soon as Narada went near her, she began to address him in sweet words, and ere long, both fell in love with each other. Narada then married her, and settled down as a householder. In course of time he had a number of children by her. And while he was thus living happily with his wife and children, there came a pestilence in the country. Death began to collect its toll from every place. Then Narada proposed to abandon the place and go somewhere else. His wife acceded to it, and they both came out of their house leading their children by the hand. But no sooner did they come to the bridge to cross the river than there came a terrible flood, and in the rush of water, all their children were swept away one after another, and at last the wife too was drowned.
Overwhelmed with grief at his bereavement, Narada sat down on the bank and began to weep piteously. Just then the Lord appeared before him, saying, "O Narada, where is the water? And why are you weeping?" The sight of the Lord startled the sage, and then he understood everything. He exclaimed, "Lord, my obeisance to Thee, and my obeisance also to Thy wonderful Maya!"
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
A disciple, who had firm faith in the infinite power of his Guru, walked over the river by simply uttering his Guru's name. Seeing this, the Guru thought, “Well, is there such a power in my mere name? Then how great and powerful must I be!”
The next day, the Guru also tried to walk over the river uttering "I", "I", "I", but no sooner did he step into the water than he sank down and was soon drowned; for the poor man did not know how to swim even.
Faith can achieve miracles while vanity or egotism brings about the destruction of man.
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
VISHNU incarnated Himself as a sow in order to kill the demon Hiranynksha. After killing the demon, sow remained quite happy with her young ones. Forgetting her real nature, she was suckling them very contentedly.
The gods in heaven could not persuade Vishnu to relinquish His sow's body and return to the celestial regions. He was absorbed in the happiness of His beast form. After consulting among themselves, the gods sent Siva to the sow. Siva asked the sow "Why have you forgotten yourself?" Vishnu replied through the sow's body, "Why, I am quite happy here." Thereupon with a stroke of his trident Siva destroyed the sow's body and Vishnu went back to heaven.
Everyone is under the authority of the Divine Mother, Mahamaya, the Primal Energy. Even the Incarnations of God accept the help of Maya to fulfil their mission on earth. Therefore they worship the Primal Energy.
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
THERE was a farmer who lived in the countryside. He was a real jnani. He earned his living by farming, He was married, and after many years a son was born to him, whom he named Haru. The parents loved the boy dearly. This was natural, since he was the one precious gem of the family. On account of his religious nature the farmer was loved by the villagers.
One day he was working in the field when a neighbour came and told him that Haru had an attack of cholera. The farmer at once returned home and arranged for treatment for the boy. But Haru died. The other members of the family were grief-stricken, but the farmer acted as if nothing had happened. He consoled his family and told them that grieving was futile. Then he went back to his field.
On returning home he found his wife weeping even more bitterly. She said to him: "How heartless you are! You haven't shed one tear for the child." The farmer replied quietly: "Shall I tell you why I haven't wept? I had a very vivid dream last night. I dreamt I had become a king; I was the father of eight sons and was very happy with them. Then I woke up. Now I am greatly perplexed. Should I weep for those eight sons or for this one Hani?"
The farmer was a jnani; therefore he realized that the waking state is as unreal as the dream state. There is only one eternal substance, and that is the Atman.
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
A SADHU under the instruction of his Guru built for himself a small shed, thatched with leaves at a distance from the haunts of men. He began his devotional exercises in this hut. Now, every morning after ablution he would hang his wet cloth and the kaupina (loin-cloth) on a tree close to the hut, to dry them.
One day on his return from the neighbouring village, which he would visit to beg for his daily food, he found that the rats had cut holes in his kaupina. So the next day he was obliged to go to the village for a fresh one.
A few days later, the sadhu spread his loin-cloth on the roof of his hut to dry it and then went to the village to beg as usual. On his return he found that the rats had torn it into shreds. He felt much annoyed and thought within himself "Where shall I go again to beg for a rag? Whom shall I ask for one?" All the same he saw the villagers the next day and re-presented to them the mischief done by the rats. Having heard all he had to say, the villagers said, "Who will keep you supplied with cloth every day? Just do one thing—keep a cat; it will keep away the rats." The sadhu forthwith secured a kitten in the village and carried it to his hut. From that day the rats ceased to trouble him and there was no end to his joy. The sadhu now began to tend the useful little creature with great care and feed it on the milk begged from the village.
After some days, a villager said to him: "Sadhuji, you require milk every day; you can supply your want for a few days at most by begging; who will supply you with milk all the year round? Just do one thing—keep a cow. You can satisfy your own creature comforts by drinking its milk and you can also give some to your cat." In a few days the sadhu procured a milch cow and had no occasion to beg for milk any more. By and by, the sadhu found it necessary to beg for straw for his cow. He had to visit the neighbouring villages for the purpose, but the villagers said, "There are lots of uncultivated lands close to your hut; just cultivate the land and you shall not have to beg for straw for your cow." Guided by their advice, the sadhu took to tilling the land. Gradually he had to engage some labourers and later on found it necessary to build barns to store the crop in. Thus he became, in course of time, a sort of landlord.
And, at last he had to take a wife to look after his big household. He now passed his days just like a busy householder. After some time, his Guru came to see him. Finding himself surrounded by goods and chattles, the Guru felt puzzled and enquired of a servant, "An ascetic used to live here in a hut; can you tell me where he has removed himself?" The servant did not know what to say in reply. So the Guru ventured to enter into the house, where he met his disciple. The Guru said to him, "My son, what is all this?" The disciple, in great shame fell at the feet of his Guru and said, "My Lord, all for a single piece of loin-cloth!"
http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf
Remember the story (on one of Master’s Paramahansa Yogananda audio tapes) of the Hindu writer that always fought with others, making accusations, and one time he tried to pick a fight with Master?
“How much money you are making?!” he yelled at Master. But Master did not get angry or try to defend himself. He just listened and let the man blow off steam, and simply responded, “Maybe you are right …… Maybe you are right ……” Finally after an hour the man admitted, “I am beaten”, - just by Master listening and not criticizing. Then Master told him, “Don’t think I’m not going to give it to you now!” With his “bag of air” deflated, the man was now ready to receive wise advice from the guru who told him, “Why be like a vulture, flying high above everyone else, thinking you are above the world, when really your mind is on the carrion in the dirt left by others. Whenever you feel like you want to fight, leave. Don’t fight back because in time that slap will burn in your hand.”
If someone wrongs you, don’t dwell on the wrong. Instead, make a mental list all the good things about that person and of all the good you have in your life. Communication is a key here. Learn to listen. When communication breaks down, the relationship breaks down, especially in close relationships, and particularly in marriage. Strive to have open, honest, frank communication every day. Just listen and understand.
A man asked his wife what she would like for her birthday. “I’d love to be six again!” she answered. So off to the theme park he took her, and she rode the “Wall of Fear” and the “Screaming Wolf”. After five hours she wobbled out of the park and he took her to McDonalds for a Big Mac, french fries, and a milkshake. Then it was on to the movie theater and he stuffed her full of peanuts, popcorn, and coca-cola. Finally they went home and the wife collapsed on the couch, exhausted. “So, what does it feel like to be six again?” her husband asked. “You idiot”, she answered, “I meant my dress size!” (Laughter). This is misguided, unused intuition. Until we develop intuition, better ask more questions! (Laughter)
Give your full attention to what you are doing to develop spiritual magnetism. When you are with someone, be a good listener and accept them for who and what they are.
http://devotee2devotee.com/devoteeforums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=402
http://zenpsychiatry.com/
