Desires and Peace

                                                       
It seems, when ‘Alexander The Great’ died and reached heaven, he was carrying all the psychological weight of his entire kingdom, wealth, gold, diamonds, etc. In fact, he was burdened too much by being ‘Alexander The Great’.

                                                     

The gatekeeper at heaven looked at him, started laughing and asked him, 'Why are you carrying so much of a burden?'

Alexander said, 'What burden?' because physically he was carrying nothing, but his psyche was very heavy.

To prove his point, the gatekeeper brought a weighing balance and put a human eye in one of the two pans of the balance. 
                                                              

Then he asked Alexander to put all the weight of his greatness, treasures, kingdom, victories, etc. in the other pan of the balance. 

Alexander did so. However, to his surprise, the pan containing the human eye still remained heavier than all his greatness, wealth and his kingdom. Finally, finding no other way, Alexander himself jumped onto the pan, but still the one human eye remained heavier.

Perplexed Alexander asked the gatekeeper, 'How can such a small eye be so heavy? Are you playing some trick or magic with me?'

The gatekeeper replied, 'This ‘human eye’ represents human desires, which cannot be balanced out or fulfilled with any of your great efforts!'
                                       

So, Alexander enquired, 'Then what is the way to fulfil it?'

The gatekeeper threw a tiny particle of dust into that human eye in the pan. 

The eye immediately blinked, became light and weightless....!

Moral of the Story ...

                                        

Friends, quite a meaningful story! Our desires are plenty, but our needs are few. Needs can be fulfilled, but not human desires. 

A desire is a need gone crazy. The more you try to fulfil, the more it goes on demanding. 

Desires are ugly and they turn most of us in to crazy monsters.

A little dust of understanding has to be thrown into the eye full of desires, so that, the desires disappear and only the needs remain, which are quite light.

Friends, one always needs to choose that which is more peaceful....!

Have a Great Day Friends!

The Holstee Manifesto. (Click on image to enlarge).

Facts are Facts!

Zen monk Bokuju was once passing through a village. A person came across and struck him with a stick. Bokuju fell down and with him,  the stick also fell on the ground. He got up, picked up the stick and ran after the man who was running away. Bokuju called the man saying, “Please wait, at least take your stick!”

Finally Bokuju reached the man and gave him the stick. A large crowd witnessed this happening, so someone asked Bokuju, ”That man hit you, hurt you, but why did you not say anything to him!”

Bokuju replied, “That man has hit me, that’s all.  It is a fact. He was the hitter and I was the hit. It is just as if I am  passing under a tree and a branch falls on me. What can I do about it?”

The surprised crowd said, “....A branch is a branch, but this is a man who hit you. We cannot punish a branch, it has no mind...!”

Bokuju said, “This man is also like a branch to me, so why should I bother to say anything to this man? I am not going to interpret what has happened. And since it has already happened, why get worried about it? It is finished and over.”

Moral of the Story ....

Friends, this is a spiritual mind ....not choosing and not asking for anything. Whatsoever happens, it accepts in its totality. This acceptance gives freedom and the capacity to see. Shoulds & should nots, division & judgment, condemnation & appreciation, etc. are the diseases, which make us see wrongly and thus we go on dividing and this division is our disease.

Friends, one must understand that, facts are just facts, there is no way to judge them....!

Have Great Day Friends!

The Dance of Mind and Spirit - By Jeff Keller

I've discovered that an essential part of our spiritual growth is the interplay between mind and spirit.  This relationship is shifting and evolving all the time.

Some spiritual traditions speak in very hostile terms about the mind, as if the mind must be annihilated so that spirit can blossom.  I don't see it that way.  As long as we are in   
human form, we need our mind to live and function in the world.  There is no point in trying to kill the mind or to treat it as an enemy.

On the other hand, we do need to keep the mind on a short leash - or else it can cause quite a bit of mischief.  In today's world, most people are overly enamored with the mind.   
It is the mind that judges, compares and criticizes. Spirit does none of those things.

When the mind is very active and full of judgment, spirit is pushed into the background.

How can we know the right mix for us between mind and spirit? I sense that the key is to let spirit lead the dance.  

How do we know whether mind or spirit is leading?  Here are a few of my observations, which may or may not resonate with you.

Mind is leading the dance when we are thinking of past and future.   
Spirit is leading the dance when we are present.

Mind is leading the dance when thoughts are raging.   
Spirit is leading the dance when mind is quiet (although not necessarily silent).

Mind is leading the dance whenever you feel troubled.   
Spirit is leading the dance when you feel calm...even in the midst of turmoil.

Mind is leading when we're judging and feeling any constriction in the body, emotionally and physically.   
Spirit is leading when we are open, non-judgmental and loving.

Mind is leading when we're searching and obsessing about something or someone.   
Spirit is leading when we are quiet enough to allow wisdom to speak to us and guide us.

Mind is leading when our prayers amount to begging for conditions WE want.   
Spirit is leading when our prayer is to surrender to God's Will and when we have gratitude for whatever unfolds.

Mind is leading when we resist.   
Spirit is leading when we allow.

Mind is leading when we are afraid of change.   
Spirit is leading when we are willing to flow with change and embrace whatever comes.

Mind is leading when we think we know what is best for the world and everyone in it.   
Spirit is leading when we put our arrogance aside and acknowledge that God is in control.

Mind is leading when we think we know all about God or how this mysterious universe operates.   
Spirit is leading when we realize how little we know and how limited our human understanding is.

Mind is leading when the majority of our focus is on the physical body and our material objectives.   
Spirit is leading when we are in touch with our eternal divine essence and see that essence in everything and everyone.

Mind is leading when we feel love for a reason - such as being in the presence of a person we find pleasing, or when  circumstances are to our liking.   
Spirit is leading when we feel love for no reason at all, when we need no stimulation to experience love because we ARE love.

Mind is leading when we want to be right.   
Spirit is leading when we are content to just BE.

I recognize that each of you may have a different idea of what Mind or Spirit means. Regardless of your definitions, I invite you to take a moment to observe how the dance of mind and spirit is operating in YOUR life.  Each person's experience of mind and spirit will vary, and I welcome your insights.

Story of Bhamati

Friends, there is a book in Sanskrit called,‘BHAMATI.

                             

This books is in fact, a commentary on one of the most philosophical treatises ever written, the ‘BRAHMASUTRAS’ of Badarayan, who was perhaps the greatest philosopher the world has ever seen. 

                                                       

Although there are many other commentaries on the BRAHMASUTRAS, it is said that one of the best commentaries is ‘BHAMATI’, which is the name of a certain woman.

                                                                 

This commentary was written by a great philosopher, Vachaspati Misra whose wife's name was BHAMATI. It took him almost fifteen years to write this commentary and he had decided that the day the commentary was complete; he would renounce the world and go to the Himalayas.

One fine night his book of commentaries was completed, so Vachaspati was about to get up from his seat and suddenly in the candle light, he found a woman quietly serving him his dinner plate.  He asked her, "Who are you and what are you doing here at this time?"

She replied, "My lord, you were so immersed in writing the commentaries that you have completely forgotten that many years ago you had married me. I am Bhamati, your wife!"

                       

Vachaspati said, "Yes, I remember now. Show me your hands and I will recognize them. These hands have been putting the candle by my side and serving me my dinner every day after sunset. I know these hands.... But now it is too late, as I have taken a vow that the day my commentaries are complete I will take 'sanyas' and leave the house!"

Bhamati said, "It would have been very unloving to disturb you, so I was waiting... but don't be worried. I will never come in your way. It is enough for me that, I got to serve you and I know that you love me. This is enough for my entire life".

Vachaspati was spell-bound, he said, "...The world can find many commentators like I, but it is difficult to find a woman of your quality, with such unconditional love, patience and such greatness of heart! I will name this book of commentaries ‘BHAMATI’, so that, whoever reads this book is bound to remember you"

                                

...Then Vachaspati left for the Himalayas, but he could not forget Bhamati and her qualities, her grace, and her divine beauty... something beyond human qualities. Vachaspati remains a great scholar, but Bhamati proves to be a far more divine being.

Friends, this story is unbelievable! Once in a while there have been such angels, although it is extremely rare, accidental and exceptional....

Have a Great Day Friends!

Mrs. Sangeeta Hegde

Kahlil Gibran: Marriage & Relationship

                                                       
On the attachment to one's near and dear ones, Gibran has some eloquent words of advice in his 'The Prophet'. 

On being asked about marriage, he says:
   
                             

'You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together, for the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Regarding Children Kahlil Gibran says :

                                                      

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you, for life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

Friends, how simply and beautifully expressed, but so difficult to cultivate such a detached attitude!

Mrs. Sangeeta Hegde

Celebration of Life!

Once a great politician lost his way while he was on his pleasure drive. On his way he saw an old man sitting under a tree and asked him, “Where is the way to the capital?”

The old man responded, “I don’t know.”

Then the politician again asked the old man, “Fine! Where does this way lead to?”

And the old man responded again, “I don’t know.”

Of course, the politician was very angry and said, “You don’t seem to know anything at all. Are you some kind of an idiot?”

The old man laughed and said, “But Sir, I am not lost and I perfectly know where I am. You don’t even know that! So who is an idiot ….?”

Moral of the Story ….

Friends, probably it is very rare to find a man who knows where he is. Most of us are certainly somewhere, but are absolutely in a state of sleep and go on moving.

Do we make any deliberate effort to become conscious? Once we become aware, we are centered, rooted and then suddenly we know where we are, who we are. Friends, that is the greatest moment in a man’s life. Then the doors of the ultimate mystery open up and God becomes available in all his splendor and beauty. Life no longer remains a drag, it becomes a dance! Then life is no longer momentary, it becomes eternity and  then there is no death….

….Then one starts living beyond time and space. That is life in its true sense, full of abundance, overflowing, in a state of continuous celebration….!

Have a Blissful Life Friends !

Monday Motivator (Why me ...)

From an email.

Once there was a small  child who, one fine day came to know that God is distributing apples to humans in Heaven.  The child was happy to receive that news and went with lot of excitement to heaven to get the apple from God.  There was a big queue waiting to get apples from God and this  child  also joined that queue. His turn came and the  child  put out both his hands to receive.  God gave him the apple but unfortunately the tiny hands couldn't hold that big apple; it fell down and the child lost it.  The child got very disappointed. The ministers near God told him that if he wants to have another apple from God then he has to follow the queue  again.  Having waited for so long the child didn't want to return to earth empty handed so he decided to re join the queue.  This time the queue had become even longer.  The  child  was very disappointed and thought Why me alone? Why I didn't get the apple in my hands hand when all others were easily able to get it? What wrong/sin have I committed that I alone should suffer like this?  Now the  child was so scared that it should not miss the apple again. His turn came and God gave the apple into the kid's hands and then spoke to him, "My dear child, last time after giving you the apple only I noticed that the apple I gave you was a rotten one and that's why I made it fall down from your hands. Having given you a rotten apple, I felt bad for you and wanted to give you the best apple in the farm which at that time was growing and that's why I made you wait such a long time in the queue. Here it is. Now the apple that you have in your hand is 'The Best' apple in the farm. Enjoy."  Sometimes it so happens that even after we have put  in our 100% dedication, commitment and efforts. things get delayed or go wrong.  The hardest arithmetic for us is to count our blessings while the easiest is to count our miseries. Believe that Almighty has something great for us and that's why this has happened. Always say, 'Gratitude is absolutely the best way to bring more in one's life'.  It is the best attitude and is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. As someone said, "Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that you have, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”  There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude.  It is accompanied with such an inward  satisfaction that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance. - Joseph Addison