IN EVERY EXPERIENCE

Every choice is an opportunity to make the best choice. Every difficult decision serves as an occasion to firmly reinforce, with your actions, your most deeply held values.

From every mistake, there is much you can learn. In every setback, there are seeds of a more determined, purposeful and effective life.

Every disagreement is an opportunity to more fully understand. Every disappointment helps to shine a light on what you truly value most.

Whatever this day holds, somewhere in it there is positive value. Each moment is filled with possibilities for adding to the richness of life.

If you're determined to make negative judgments and criticisms, you'll find plenty of ways to do so. But what will that accomplish?

Instead, let your life and your awareness resonate with the magnificent abundance that is present in each moment. And you'll find real, useful, enriching value in every experience.

-- Ralph Marston

TRULY CARE

Sincerely care about what you do. Give your full attention and respect to the task at hand.

There are those who depend on the work you are doing. Put yourself in their shoes, and look at the world from their perspective.

You have within you the potential for excellence. That excellence will be realized in your work when you truly care about each thing you do.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking that some particular task is somehow beneath you. Instead, seek to raise up the significance of that task by giving your very best to it.

Each effort is an opportunity to express your highest, most treasured values. Each job is a chance to transform your vision of what life can be into something real and concrete.

The greatest, most valuable achievements are those built with genuine passion. Put passion and sincere care into the work you do, and the results can be astounding.

FEEL GOOD ABOUT LIFE

When you can change things for the better, do it. When you're unable to make any changes in the way things are, you still can change the way you feel.

And your feelings will end up changing your world. Because your feelings have an effect on what you do from moment to moment.

The person you feel like being is the person you will become. The life you most feel like living is the life you will find yourself experiencing.

Feel good about your life, and almost immediately your life will begin to align with that feeling. In each area, on every level, you'll start creating the results that validate and fulfill the feelings.

It may at first seem ridiculous or impossible to feel good when things are not going well. Actually, though, feeling good is really quite pleasant and something you can easily do whenever you choose.

So decide to feel good about life, right here, right now, and as often as possible. Put your feelings to positive use, and they'll help you build a more positive life.

-- Ralph Marston

EXPRESSIONS

An expression of love can be beautiful and moving, yet an expression of love is not love itself. Expressing your intentions, your goals, your hopes and dreams can be powerful and inspiring. Yet the expression alone is not enough. The fulfillment of those intentions, or those hopes and dreams, requires commitment, sacrifice and persistent effort.

Love is more than saying "I love you." Accomplishment is more than saying "I'm going to." Caring is more than saying "I care." No matter how profound the expression, it must be backed up, and followed up, with real and effective action if it is to truly be meaningful.

The best way to make a statement is to make a difference. The best way to show your intention is by doing what you intend to do. If you really want to express your hopes, then work to make them a reality.

The most meaningful expressions are not what you say or how you appear. True expressions are in what you take the time and effort to do.

RALPH MARSTON

REDUCING YOUR NEEDS

One day, a friend of Mahadev Govind Ranade sent a basket of mangoes to their home. Ranade's wife Ramabai washed the mangoes and kept them before Ranade to eat. Having two three slices of mangoes Ranade praised its taste and said to his wife, "You also eat this and give it to the servants also." Ramabai was surprised to see that her husband only had the two three slices of the mango. So she asked her asked husband if his health was all right. Ranade said, "You must be thinking if these mangoes are so delicious then why didn't I eat much? These mangoes are indeed very delicious therefore I am not taking much." Ramabai didn't understand her husband's strange reply.

Then Ranade said, "During my childhood there was a woman in our neighborhood who was extremely rich, but unfortunately lost all her wealth and riches. With great difficulty she used to earn two meals a day for her son and herself. Many a times sitting alone she used to say to herself, "I have been an epicure throughout my life but now I explain my tongue that the days of getting four-six dishes a meal have gone. Many kinds of sweets are now rare and there is no use missing those dishes, still my tongue doesn't understand this, while my son feels contented even after eating this dry meal." Hearing that woman I made a rule to eat only a little of the food that my tongue likes."

Moral: Reducing your needs not only let you enjoy the comfortable days of life but also not let you suffer in the days of pain.

MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

Make something meaningful

The results you get don't come from the situation. The results you achieve are determined by what you choose to focus upon and what you choose to do.

From the very same set of circumstances, two different people can achieve two vastly different results. The outcome is not based on what they're given, but on what they do with it.

If the results you're getting are not the results you desire, stop looking for someone or something to blame. Start looking for the possibilities that you have not yet considered.

Make your most positive and compelling purpose the filter through which you view everything that happens. That will cause outstanding, powerful possibilities to pop into view.

The world around you is constantly changing. There is always a way to harness the energy of the ever-changing landscape to suit your purpose.

Look calmly and confidently at the situation in which you find yourself. Then step gratefully forward, and make something beautiful, valuable and meaningful out of it all.

-- Ralph Marston

TO BE STRONG

If you want to be strong, be patient, thoughtful and understanding. Anyone can be rude, but it takes real strength to be kind and polite.

If you want to be strong, be persistent. Enduring strength does not come in an instant, but is steadily built over time.

If you want to be strong, get in the habit of taking action. The strongest people are those who act while others only talk or wish.

If you want to be strong, be humble. Put your focus on doing, rather than worrying about getting credit.

If you want to be strong, be joyful. When you enjoy what you're doing, you are far more effective.

If you want to be strong, be yourself. The real strength you have is in the authentic person you are.

-- Ralph Marston

KNOWLEDGE

Once upon a time, lived an erudite but impecunious Brahman, in the town of Maharaja Bhoj. One day, been perturbed by his impoverishment, he decided to rob the palace. At night when everyone was soundly sleeping, he covertly entered the palace. He saw precious gems, jewellery, gold and priceless pots been scattered everywhere around, but whenever he thought of picking up any object his religious knowledge always restrained him from doing so. Finally, with a determined mind, he extended his hand to pick up the gold. Only then, he recollected a line from the Holy Scripture which said, "One who steals the gold goes to hell". Likewise, whenever he thought about stealing anything, his memory recollected the lines from the scriptures which considered theft a sin and he stopped. He spent the whole night in the palace, but he could not steal anything.

At daybreak when the servants began waking up, the Brahman hid under the king's bed from the fear of being caught. When the king woke up, his queens and ladies in waiting respectfully greeted the king. Decorated elephants and horses were also standing outside the palace. Seeing this, the king's heart filled with joy, and he recited the three lines of a sloka. Then he suddenly stopped because he forgot the last line. The Brahman could not stop himself and completed the fourth line. The king startled, and asked the Brahmin to come out from under the bed. When the king asked the Brahmin that in spite of spending the whole night in the palace why he did not steal. The Brahmin said, "King, my religious knowledge guided me and stopped me from committing theft." Been happy with his honesty, the king gave him ample money and ended his poverty forever.

Moral: Knowledge helps us to sense the difference between appropriate, inappropriate and just, unjust. Using this knowledge at the time of various ethical dilemmas we can acquire the right path.

DESTINED TO ACHIEVE

you are a natural-born achiever. That's why focused effort feels so good and so right.

Trees grow toward the sky because that's what trees are meant to do. Storm clouds drop rain across the land because that's what clouds do.

You create new value and solve problems because that is what you are born to do. You make valuable use of opportunities to achieve because achievement is part of who you are.

Whatever else you may possess, you also have a diverse and powerful set of tools for achievement. You can observe, interpret, adjust, respond, prioritize, and imagine.

You can learn valuable lessons in one situation and put them to effective use in another, completely different arena. You can build and teach and cooperate and integrate the best of what has been into a vision of what can be.

In short, you are destined to achieve. Get your excuses, fears and doubts out of the way and allow that destiny to fully unfold.

-- Ralph Marston

STEPS TO SUCCESS

An American businessman was in great trouble due to the labour strike in his factory. Every now and then due to labourer's strike the working of the factory was affected and he had to bear great losses. The businessman thought to take Mr Ford's guidance for the solution of this problem because he was very much impressed by the success of Mr Ford's motor company. When he reached Ford's factory he found that Ford was not in his office. Someone told him that Ford was working with the labourers so the businessman waited for him.

When Ford came back in the office the businessman said, 'You are the boss of this big factory if you will work with the labourers how will they respect you and how will you maintain the discipline?' Ford smiled and said, 'Neither I consider myself as the boss nor I take them as labourers rather we solve the problems together working in a healthy atmosphere. Due to this closeness and harmony the discipline is always maintained and I know that the labourers have great affection and love for me.' Then Ford asked the businessman the reason for his visit. The businessman said, 'I came here to take your opinion on my factory's problems but your behaviour gave me an appropriate guidance.'

Moral: Modesty, closeness, equality, labour and determination are the compulsory elements for the smooth working of any business. Any businessman who possess these qualities in his character and behaviour, his institution will not only be successful but will also prosper.


Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

NO ONE ACCEPTED HUMAN HEAD

One day King Ashoka and one of his minister was going somewhere on a chariot. After travelling for a while, they came across a beggar, and the king asked the charioteer to stop. The king dismounted the chariot to meet the beggar, but before leaving, he bowed his head before the beggar and then he moved ahead. The minister did not appreciate this gesture by the king and asked him why had he bowed his head before that beggar. King Ashoka told to him that he would reply to that question the next day. The next day, he gave one bag to his minister in which there was a human head, a goat head and a cow head and told his minister to sell it out.

On hearing this the minister got confused thinking who would buy this, but following king's order he went to sell them, and as he had thought no one bought it. He came back to the king and told him everything. This time the king asked him to offer it for free of cost and the minister managed to gave out the cow and goat head, but no one agreed to take the human head. On hearing this the king smiled and said, "This is the reply for your question, which you asked me yesterday. Human head, which is worthless for mankind, does not loose anything, if it is bowed before any humble and polite person. The fame of being a king is transitory, but love and respect are forever."

Moral: The pride for a position bring in disrespect

CHARACTER

This is a really good story from ancient Hindu Mythology.

Long long ago, there were was a biggest and powerful empire on earth. The king of this empire was a great person, a great warrior, great wise man and great king the same time. He was revered by all. He was King Prahladh. He was so honored and revered that the king of kingdom of gods became jealous of him.

One day the god-king disguised as an old beggar and traveled to the earth. He stood at the doors of the palace on the morning of one very auspicious day of the year. Kings were expected to give generous donations to the needy people on that day. So when the king Prahladh came out of the palace he saw a big line of people waiting for donation. The disguised king of gods was the last one in the line.

When everyone else in the line got pretty much what they wanted and left, the king of gods was the only one left.“O King, Will you give me what I want?” He asked King Pralhad.“Yes.” Said Pralhad.
“I want a promise that you will forfeit all the good things you have.” Demanded the king of Gods.King Pralhad realized that he was tricked. But he had given his word on auspicious day. So he could not back off now.
“So be it.” He said.The king of gods smiled and walked away.
That night king Prahladh went to bed wondering what would happen to him now that he had given away all his good things. Thinking, he fell asleep.

He woke up with a sight of brilliant light. That light was coming out of his body. Slowly that light left his body and took a shape of a woman. She started going away.
“Wait. Who are you? And why are you leaving my body?” Asked Prahladh.
The beautiful and radiant woman turned around and looked at him.
“I am the goddess of wealth. Today you gave away all good things you have. Now I have to leave you.”

King Pralhad nodded and waved goodbye. Slowly going away, she disappeared.
Next morning King Prahladh found that a big fraud had occured and he had to give up all his wealth. He had to leave palace and gardens and move to a simple hut.

That night he saw another radiant woman leaving his body. Upon asking, she said she was goddess of power and she was leaving now. Prahladh thanked he for being with him so far and waved her goodbye. The next day King Prahladh was stripped off of his throne. Then later that night he dreamed the goddess of fame leaving him and then suddenly people forgot who he was and kicked him away from the city. He had to take refuge in the jungle. In the forthcoming days, the goddesses of health, the goddess of luck and the goddess of knowledge left him. He asked those goddesses to be merciful to his kingdom and he let them all go.

A strong, wise and just king of a large emperor, within matter of days was left a destitute person , old and shaky, not able to recognize himself in the mirror. It was like all the worst possible calamities joined hands and attacked him.
Then one night, while Prahladh was sleeping under a tree in remote jungle, alone and hungry. He again he saw a brilliant glow coming out of his body and it morphed into the most beautiful goddess he had seen so far. Barely able to speak, he asked her who she was.

“I am the goddess of character. I am leaving you now, as you promised to give everything away.”With much efforts, Pralhad got up.

“If you are the goddess of character, I don’t want you to go. Please stay with me.” He pleaded.“But how can that be? You gave promise.”

“I was tricked. And if by keeping you I am breaking the promise, so be it. I will burn in hell for some time. But if I have you, if I have my character, I will know how to get out of the darkest hell.” Prahladh argued.
The goddess was adamant on leaving. But Prahladh pleaded and prayed. He argued with her for seven days and nights. At last she agreed. She smiled and entered again in Prahladh's heart on the dawn of eighth day.

Wary and tired he slept through the day. And when night came, he was awakened by a strong brilliant light again. He saw that it was goddess of knowledge.
“I am the daughter of goddesss of character. I always like to stay with my mother.” She said and smiled and entered his body.Then came the goddess of power. She said she was daughter of goddess of character too and wants to stay with her mother.
And then came the goddess of health. She said she was the daughter of goddess of knowledge and always likes to live by her mother. Then came the goddess of fame and glory.One by one they all came, explained their relation to the goddess of character and entered the body of Prahladh.

Soon he got back his kingdom, his wealth, his power and he was emperor Pralhad again.

Moral of the story:

The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do.” Those who will manage to retain their character in the bad times, will eventually get everything back.”If you have character, it’s only a matter of time.

Have no regrets in life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. The hard times that you go through build character, making you a much stronger person.”

“Most people say that is it is the intellect which makes a great person . They are wrong: it is character.”

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.Last but not least.........................

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

ETERNAL FRUIT

Once there was a father-son. The father often used to assign some market works to his little son so that he could acquire mundaneness. The son also used to do those works gleefully. One day, the father saw that the fruits were finished in the house. He called his son and giving him some money asked him to buy fresh fruits. When the son was on his way to the market he came across some extremely impoverished people. He felt rueful seeing their condition. There were no clothes on their body and they were dying of starvation. Having pity on them, he gave them all the money which he had kept to buy fruits. The poor people gave him a lot of blessings and bought food for themselves with that money. The boy felt exceedingly delighted and with a joyful heart he returned home empty-handed.

Seeing him empty-handed his father asked him, "Son, why didn't you bring the fruits?" Smiling happily the boy replied, "Father, I have got an eternal fruit for you." Father asked him in surprise which fruit was that. With innocence and pride the boy said, "Father, today I saw some impecunious and famished people on the way. I couldn’t see their hunger and gave them all the money I had. The food bought with that money must have satisfied their today's hunger. Father, if we would have eaten fruits with that money our mouth would have turned sweet for a few minutes, but isn’t the taste of this fruit going to last forever?" Hearing this his father happily patted his back on his instinct of compassion.

Moral: Helping needy people is our moral duty. This not only earns us virtue but also we obtain eternal and infinite delight and contentment. So, whenever and however we are in a position to help, we must help wholeheartedly.

Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

OSHCHEV THE REAL FIGHTER

Oshchev was a famous Stunt Pilot of Roose. He mesmerized everyone, his officials and friends with his fighting skills. Oshchev had full faith and trust in God and believed he could accomplish great tasks with this faith. Once while fighting with the enemies the engine of his fighter plane failed and crash into a small mountain nearby. Oshchev got terribly hurt and lost both his legs. All his friends who came to visit him had tears in their eyes and one of them said to him in choked voice, 'We will never be able to see you fly again'.

Oshchev smiled and said, 'Lord has saved me to live and remain as a fighter otherwise I would have died then and there'. Everyone took it as a false consolation but soon after recovering from hospital Oshchev got artificial limbs fitted and practised walking day and night. His friends tried to explain him that this could worse his wounds but he ignored them all. Friends asked him on what basis is he talking about being a Stunt Pilot again? He simply replied, 'My trust and faith is with me'. Soon he started walking without sticks and seeing his progress and confidence he was taken back in army. His faith and confidence won and handicapped Oshchev once again became a Stunt Pilot.

Moral: Any work done with complete faith in God and trust in oneself leads to success.
--
Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

EXISTENCE OF HEAVEN

There was a king who used to hear mythological sagas from his courtiers everyday. One day a minister recited him the story of Indra and his Heaven. But the king did not believe in the existence of heaven. The minister tried hard to make the king believe that the heaven does exist. To this the king said, 'If the heaven does exist then we all would like to witness Indra Riding His Carriage.' Hearing this the minister came in great hassle due to this insistence of the king. The days began to pass. During this time the king began the construction of a dam on the river in the town. The minister was appointed as the supervisor for this work. When the dam got ready the minister rose a wall next to it and got small-small lakes constructed there. With the beautiful carvings the walls and the peep-holes appeared graceful.

On the full moon night the minister took the king and the other courtiers to the river and after making them sit in the skylights he said, 'Now you all will see Indra with his carriage coming here. Then the minister started saying aloud, 'Oh King see! Indra with his carriage is coming here, Indra with his beautiful Nymphs is coming here. Wow! This is all so beautiful but only pure people will be able to see this and not the sinners.' Nobody could see any thing but still everyone kept quiet. The next day the king asked the minister about the reality and the minister said, 'Dear King! You got a dam constructed over here and it is greatly benefiting the people and has brought them great happiness and in their happiness lies your heaven'. The king understood the gist of the whole incident and learnt that with good deeds we can see the heaven on the earth itself.

Moral: If we can bring even a little happiness on other's faces, if we can fill only a corner of their life with joy, there only we receive our heaven.

--
Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

A TALE OF RADHA KRISHNA

Uddhava, the apprentice of Krishna, one day expressed his dis-satisfaction to Krishna that in-spite of studying all Vedas ,Upnishadas and Sutras, he still was not recipient of the title “Maha-Rishi”, meaning the great sage. He indirectly suggested that Krishna should use his weight in the council of wise men to honor him with the title.

Krishna sensed the ego and pride of Uddhava. He smiled and asked Uddhava if he thought his study was complete. Uddhava answered a confident yes. Krishna did not say anything. He just told Uddhava to come and see him the next day.

The next day Krishna asked him a for a favor. He asked Uddhava to visit Vrindavan, where Krishna’s soul mate Radha resided, and to give her a message. Uddhava gladly agreed. After all, getting to do a special assignment for no one else but Krishna, the divine one, was an honor. When he was ready to leave, Krishna smiled and waved him goodbye. Uddhava asked about the message and Krishna said he had none.

Uddhava was surprised. He sat in chariot and started on his way, but he could not help wonder what would be Radha’s reaction. He was sure Radha would be very angry at this. He did not want to see a problem in Radha and Krishna’s relationship. So just before he entered Vrindavan, he got a parch-paper and wrote a hi-hello message to Radha and forged to look like it came from Krishna.

On reaching Vrindavan, he did not have problem finding Radha’s house. She gave him a warm welcome. After he settled, he handed over the message, hoping she would not examine the message in too much detail.

For a moment Radha stared at the parch-paper and then she started laughing hysterically. Uddhava was confused. He asked Radha what was the matter. She said the message Krishna wrote was funny. Uddhava pretended surprise and asked what was the message.

“The message says Uddhava’s study is still not complete.” replied Radha.
On listening this, Uddava was stunned.‘How could she have known this?’ he wondered.
Radha calmed him down.

“I love Krishna and trust Krishna in ways beyond you can imagine.” She said “We are two bodies but same soul. There is nothing to be said in between us. We have walked the path of trust, love, devotion and sacrifices for so long that there are no boundaries in my being and his. He does not need to send me messages. He is my message. He is my love letter from the universe.”

“But Uddhava, you have not learned to trust Krishna. You have not learned to give up your self, your ego, and stop your manipulating mind. You ego stands between you and the truth. Between you and the supreme awakening.”

“Erasing the sense of duality and being one with the universe, being one with the one who beholds universe, is this not the jist of the sacred ancient texts, Uddhava?”
Uddhava was speechless. Within a minute, Radha had explained the the deepest mysteries of life. He just wanted to stand there and listen.

He spent the whole day at her house. She talked about life in layman’s terms of love and truth. But Uddhava found answers to his most profound questions in philosophies he learned all this life.

“How did you get so much knowledge staying in this village and living life doing chores?” He asked.“Each moment makes you take sides. If you always take side of truth and love, you will gain insights. Each insight awakens you from the illusion and takes you a step closer to the supreme awakening.”

“How can you be in Love with Krishna and still remain free from bonds of life ?”
“There is distinction between the love that results from insecurity and the love that results from faith. The former results in bonds. The later results in freedom. The former gets lost, the later transcends. The former leads to fear of death and abandonment. The later leads to Nirvana, to enlightenment that is death of death, to realization that Radha and Krishna are just ripples and love is like the water, eternal and infinite.”

“How can you get awakened without leaving the society and becoming a monk?”
“Where a man reaches by renouncing the world, a woman reaches by embracing the world in its wholeness.” Said Radha.

“Is there no point in pursuit of knowledge? Then what is the meaning of life?”
“Your ability to give it any meaning, is the meaning of life. ” Answered Radha. “And about the pursuits, pursuit of currency is not the same as pursuit of wealth, pursuit of sensation is not pursuit of happiness, pursuit of titles is not pursuit of knowledge. These pursuits are in synergy for some time, and they are at conflict later. You must wake up, and open your eyes.”

Radha’s answers turned all of Uddhavas learning upside down and inside out and presented to him as a paradox, a paradox his doubting mind could never grasp. Uddhava’s ego surrendered. The constant chatter of thoughts at the back of his mind stopped and he saw a totally new world at the same place. An eternal, peaceful world where everything seemed OK.

On his way back to Dwaraka, Uddhava sensed a big change within him. He sang to himself. He offered lift to a sick man. He appreciated the sunset in the Western sky. He did not feel rush to get home and work on getting his title.
Next day he met Krishna. Krishna sensed the change too.
Krishna smiled and said “So let’s talk about your title Maha-rishi.”
“I am not that interested in the title anymore. ” replied Uddhava and bent to touch Krishna’s feet.

Krishna rose from his throne. He hold on to Uddhava’s shoulders and smiled at him.
” Your journey is complete. You have arrived. Uddhava, I bestow you the responsibility of writing down my teaching in simple language for all those who do not have luxury of spending their life trying to be Maha-rishi. You will share the gems of knowledge that do not belong to any title such as Maha-rishi. “
“And for this great contribution to humanity, hereafter you shall be known as Maha-rishi.”

GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT - DISPLAY OF TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP BY THE SRILANKANS!

THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP!

GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT!

WHILE GIVING COMPLIMENTS TO THE WINNERS (NOT ABUSING THEM) LOOKING TO THE FUTURE WITH GREATER CONFIDENCE!

SALUTES TO THE SRILANKAN CRICKET TEAM AND SRI LANKA'S SPORTIVE PEOPLE!


Courtesy: Hasini Wickramasingha

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF

Some years ago, I sat at this wedding and met a younger woman who had gone to two Ivy League schools and had a masters and a doctorate and had run marathons and traveled in countries like Cambodia and Vietnam. Not only that, but she was strikingly pretty, could belt out Hip Hop at the karaoke bar, had a disarming sense of humor and a sweet husband with buckets of money. Clearly, she’d gotten quite the package deal from the Big Cosmic Travel Agent in the sky. The encounter made me want to run home and win a Nobel Peace prize or at least clean up my basement.Where had my time gone? Why hadn’t I achieved more with my life?

“Let’s keep in touch,” she said breezily, as the evening ended. And I thought to myself that could get expensive for me, what with the therapy bills and all.

Comparison is such a nasty business. A complete stranger could stir up a hornet’s nest in me, just by being impertinently flawless and sitting next to me with good perfume. In the wisdom tradition of A Course in Miracles, it says, “Love makes no comparisons.” It says this, not because that’s a nice thing to do, but because comparison is impossible. We don’t know the journey someone else is on. We don’t know the journey we’re on. We don’t know the miracles that are right in front of us, when we choose to enter our current lives with no regrets and no holding back.

“I should have done more with my life by now,” is a comment I often hear from clients. They are filled with comparisons, regrets and wisps of dreams that tempt and sting them. They come home from work barren and restless. They have survived on autopilot and “survival” costs them peace of mind. They want sweeter days. They yearn for accomplishments that reverberate in their soul. But here’s the real secret. They don’t regret their past. They regret their present.

You only regret the past when you’re not in love with the moment before you. Change this moment, and you change how you feel about everything. You can’t be in the wrong life…if you’re in an enchanted moment.

Comparison will cost you enchantment. When I strain to see my neighbor’s garden, I’ve taken my eyes off my own. “My God, look at the size of those roses,” I despair, while my patch of land withers with neglect. Nothing grows without attention and love. Likewise, nothing remains the same when offered love and attention.

Want to live a life of no regrets, no matter what choices you’ve made in the past? Make these choices right now. Keep your eyes on your own roses and tend them with every thing you have. Plunge into accepting and blessing your own unique circumstances. Take a small step, a big step, a holy step in the direction that calls you right now. Trust that you are not alone and that you will have what you absolutely need. Diving into this moment with integrity answers everything. There is no past or future. There are no other choices. It doesn’t matter what anyone else has. You have this unbelievable moment.

Author:Tama J. Kieves

About the Author:

Tama J. Kieves is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School who left her practice with a large corporate law firm to write and to embolden others to live their most fulfilling lives.

SREE RAMA NAVAMI 12TH APRIL, 2011.

12TH APRIL 2011, Ram Navami.The festival of Ram Navami is dedicated to Lord Ram. The festival of Ram Navami marks the birthday celebrations of the Hindu Lord Rama, who is considered to be one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
story behind Navami and Sri Rama:

Generally, we will not perform (or) start any new issues (or) work during Ashtami (the day Sri Krishnar is born) nor in Navami. And during this Navami thithi only, Sri Ramar was born.

There is a small and beautiful story behind this. Each and every thithi has karthaas (Head or Chief). Once, these two thithis - Ashtami and Navami went towards Sriman Narayanan and questioned that these two thithis are not being accepted by any of the person in the earth and thinks that these two were not used for any of the new business not new things being started during these days. But, on hearing this, Sriman Narayanan answered them that to explain the greatness of these thithis, he will be born in the earth, during these thithis. And as a result of this only, Sri Rama was born in Navami and Sri Krishna in Ashtami and the entire world is celebrating these two days as a great festival.

Origin:-

When the evil forces reign supreme, the Lord will come to the rescue and set things right. Sri Rama Navami marks the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Sri Rama Navami the birthday of Lord Sri Ram, is observed on Chaitra Shukla Navami, the ninth day in Shukla Paksha during Chaitra month. Sri Ram Navami date is April 12, 2011. Rama Navratras, the nine-day worship dedicated to Lord Sri Ram, starts on Chaitra Shukla Padyami and ends on Chaitra Shukla Navami (Ram Navami). Sri Rama Navami marks the culmination of Sri Rama Navratri. Different procedures will be followed, in north and south.

How to celebrate:-
During this day, performing pooja for photo of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam and after that you can chant some of the slokams from Sri Ramayanam.The offering Prasad are Vadai, Payasam, butter milk (diluted water) etc. and along with this, the great Sri Rama Nama it is 100% evident that wherever the great Sri Rama Nama is expressed, Hanuman will enjoy that Nama and along with Sri Rama, and he will also bless us with his grace. More to this, by chanting the Sri Rama Nama, it is said that bhaktas will get the favour equivalent to that of the favour got by fasting. Not even on this day, even daily we should atleast say the Sri Rama Japa for 108 times (or atleast for 28 times) and we can a lot of positive changes on our life.

While performing Puja at home, you can always be flexible. The strict rituals are meant for Vedic priests. All you need be careful is to perform the puja with a clean body and clean mind. What is more important is your devotion and faith. It is said that lord Sri Rama showers all his blessings on people, who remember him with an honest and true heart. So anybody who worships the Lord sincerely could get blessed with Its Grace irrespective of the caste, creed, race, power, status and qualities.
The birth of Rama (Ram Navami), explains guidelines that need to be followed by each ad every person in this world. Rama occupies a very reverential place in the religious life of India and in the religious history of the world. He is the embodiment of righteousness and is believed to be the incarnation of the solar aspect of Vishnu. Numerous temples are scattered all over India for Rama, Lakshmana & Sita. In all images, Rama is depicted to be having two arms which emphasizes the character of Rama as a human being because God Vishnu preferred to adopt this form to re-establish the golden age of justice & happiness. The expression “Rama Rajya”, even today, means the reign in which peace and prosperity prevail.

Rama: An Ideal son
Lord Rama was the ideal son, who always obeyed His parents;
At times even advised the elders.

The Ideal brother:
Rama-Lakshman's love is cited as the ideal of brotherly love.

The Ideal friend:
He helped Sugreev, Vibhishan and many others during their difficult times.

The Ideal Enemy:
Vibhishan refused to perform the last rites of Ravan, his brother. Lord Rama said to him, ''If you do not do it, I will. He was my brother too!'' He was also the true embodiment of humanity.

The Ideal King:
A righteous King who followed all codes of conduct for Kings as laid down in our scriptures. A king has to be like Rama, representing your will, your goodwill, your sense of proper judgement, fair play and righteousness. Shri Rama not only propounded what was good but he followed that. He sacrificed for that and he established his own symbol as a pure symbol of that righteous will which is within the people, which is the collective righteous will“.
An Ideal of True patriot:

A Patriotism for One's Own Country at all times.

Lord Rama had tremendous patriotism for his own kingdom Ayodhya! After the death of Ravana, Vibhisana fell at the feet of Rama and said, "Swami, I never aspired to be the King of Lanka. I only wanted my brother to give up his bad qualities. I pray to you to take over the Kingdom of Lanka."All the rakshasas also came and prayed to Rama that he should become King of Lanka.Lakshmana also supported them saying, "O brother, Bharatha is already ruling over Ayodhya. Even if you return to Ayodhya, you may not be crowned as the King. So, I request you to take over this kingdom and transform all the rakshasas.Lanka is full of golden mansions. Where else can you find such a beautiful place? I will be very happy if you rule over this Kingdom."Rama lovingly took Lakshmana close to him and said."Lakshmana, how could you get such a silly desire? Just because one's mother is ugly, can he call any other beautiful woman as his mother? Even though my country is poor compared to Lanka, I still consider it as my mother. Lanka may be full of gold, but I don't want it"!!
An Ideal husband:
An Incident in Ramayana is an example to this:

After killing Ravana, Lord Rama is resting on a rock. He notices a shadow approaching him. He realises that the shadow is that of a woman. He does not lift His eyes to see who it is, for, Lord Rama never looks at any woman other than Sita. As the shadow nears Him, Lord Rama pulls His feet up, and sits with His legs folded. This is to avoid even the shadow of the unknown woman touching His feet. So careful is He that none other than His wife should touch Him. Lord Rama is particular that even the shadow of another woman should not touch Him. The shadow is then seen to recede. Lord Rama wonders who it is; who had come so close to Him and had yet retreated. So He enquires who the person is. The shadow is that of Mandodari, and she discloses who she is. Lord Rama asks her why she is there. She says she heard that Ravana was killed in battle. Ravana had been a king who had struck fear in the hearts of his enemies. Everyone believed him to be invincible. And yet, he had been killed by someone. She had come to the battlefield to look at the man who killed her husband. She wanted to know what quality He had that her husband did not have. Lord Rama then asks her whether she found what that quality was. Mandodari says she has found that quality. Lord Rama is particular that even the shadow of a woman other than his wife should not touch Him. Ravana, on the other hand, was willing to sacrifice so many lives in his attempt at making another man's wife his. Therein lies the difference. That one quality of Lord Rama has led to His victory. Lord Rama was the one whose thoughts and words never went astray.

Message:-

The Lord incarnated as Rama and led a human life just to show all of humankind and how we should lead our lives. Ram Navami is a therefore a special reminder of the noble ideals for which Lord Rama stood. Lord Rama is portrayed as carrying his bows and arrows all the time. This symbolizes his alertness and readiness to fight against unfairness and thus establish justice and peace. Wickedness or injustice will always be existent. By his example, Rama gives mankind the strength and conviction to fight it. Man ought not to be weak and accept passively what is unrighteous. He must rise actively against inconsistency and unrighteous or immoral actions. This is called aggressive goodness.

Valmiki has symbolized Rama as an ideal of perfection. The human personality consists of different facets functioning in different aspects of life. Only in the life of Rama, each facet of human personality is seen projected to absolute perfection. He underwent many problems in his life just to show us how we should handle difficulties without getting frustrated. Through all the hurdles in His life, he remained as the perfect son, an ideal king, a true husband, a real friend, a devoted brother, a perfect student, and above all a noble enemy! Each and every one of His actions is a lesson to us and thus He is the perfect teacher of humankind to this day. This exemplary incarnation of perfection is the ideal every human should look up to. Lord Rama was a star amongst humans and His name is a star amongst mantras.

Live like him, think like him and act like him and you will become one with him.

Sakrudaeva prapanaaya thavaasmithi cha yaachathae
Abhayam sarvabhoothaebhyO dadaami aethath vratham mama

The meaning is: Rama says -
Whoever utters to me "I belong to you", it is my vow to protect them. This manthra will shield you against all sins if chanted regularly and will give prosperity to all who recite or write this great Mantra!

TOO LATE SOMETIMES

It is too late to undo a damage done in a relationship, sometimes. Most people, after perpetrating unfairness or hurt, actually expect the other party to forgive. They expect that they will sweet-talk their way back into the relationship. The person who has been hurt is often emotionally blackmailed into accepting the perpetrator back. She is lectured about forgiveness being divine and so she should forgive and forget the pain caused to her. The pain-causer and his back-up support system are excellent in this act. However, very conveniently, there are quiet about the fact that unfairly hurting someone (their part) is anything but divine. They seriously expect the other party to be emotionally weak and accept all sorts of abuse or indifference because he makes her believe she is dependent on her ‘love’ for him.

What should the hurt person do in such a case? In my opinion, she should move on. The individual is too precious to live a life of pain and hurt. If she can afford to, she ought to let go and now make herself her number one priority.

Never be good to an abuse and never love someone who does not respect you as a person.

(Both the “he” and the “she” pronouns have been used in this article in order to avoid confusion like, ‘He said to him’. No gender-issue has been intended.)

COURTESY:SOUL TALK

--
Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

THE HERMIT'S MIND

As understood from the hermit’s diary:

“There are times when I have an overpowering desire to leave behind all and become a hermit. Nothing but solitude appeals to me then; my ‘friends’ say that I am turning away from the challenges of life but I know that is not so. The core of the matter is that I find not much of what I understand by life, in my day-to-day interactions with people. Most of the people I come across love to hurt others deliberately. If I protest, I am called ultra-sensitive. When I speak my mind out, I am called a rebel; as I choose to stay chaste, I am labeled ‘unnatural’. To be honest, there is nothing having any semblance to freedom and respect in the world dominated by the human race.

Friends’ put up acts; spouses cheat: since this is the bottom-line of relationships, I am happier alone. Moreover, there is no guarantee that a friendship or a marriage will be happy for life, and almost no one believes in love surviving death. The talents I express give me no satisfaction for often the less-talented are more applauded. The funnier part is, having understood the ephemeral nature of human-praise, I don’t hunger for it any more. My happiest moments are when I am with myself for then I feel God as I understand Him. There is His presence as I watch the sunset; He is there when I walk in the woods. I feel torn away from Him when I am under some lustful gaze in ‘civilized’ society.

The people I leave behind will perhaps call me an escapist. Let them do so. The ones who envied me secretly will wonder how I could break all the bonds, give up all the privileges. They may react the way they want to. I have made my choice; so I am happy: at last I am free. This, the last page of my diary, is my last communication, albeit indirect, with the ‘civilized’, ‘social’ world. May God’s mercy be upon anyone who reads it by chance.”

COURTESY:SOULTALK.

--
Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

RAMA NAMA(AKBAR BIRBAL STORY)

Birbal was a minister in the court of Akbar. Birbal, apart from his sharp intellect, was also a devotee of Sri Rama. Akbar had a special regard for Birbal. Akbar used to openly ask Birbal to clarify his impulsive - and very often strange doubts. Birbal never failed to give an immediate and a fitting reply to such questions. Wherever Akbar went, he used to take Birbal along with him. During one such instance, when they travelled for some official purpose, they had to take a route through a dense forest. In the course of the journey, both were totally exhausted and famished. So they decided to rest under the shade of a tree for a while before continuing their journey. Since Akbar was very hungry, he wanted to look around the place to see if he can find a house to get some food. He induced Birbal to follow suit. But Birbal who was in the midst of Rama Nama Japam (Repetition of Rama Nama), turned down Akbar's request.

Akbar looked at Birbal. 'Mere chanting of the names of the Lord would not fetch you food. You have to put in your efforts.... You cannot achieve anything without self effort...'

Akbar left Birbal in the pursuit of pacifying his belly. In a little while he spotted a house. The inmates of the house were overjoyed to see their King coming to their very doorstep for food. They treated him to the best of their capacity. Akbar finished his meal and took a little food for Birbal too and left the house to meet Birbal. He met Birbal and gave him the food.

'See Birbal, I told you... I took some efforts for the food and I got it. You were just sitting and chanting Rama Nama , and you did not get any food.'
Birbal ignored his scoffing and partook the food given by Akbar. After he finished the meal, he looked up at Akbar and said, 'I have just now experienced the power of Rama nama, like never before.You are the ruler of the land. But today even the King had to beg for food. But you look at me. I was just chanting Rama Nama here and the Rama Nama made the king himself to get me food, that too by begging. So I got the food, just by sitting here and chanting Rama nama without any other special efforts. Such is the power of Rama Nama!!'

--
Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

MAKE SPACE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL

Often we are afraid to let go of dysfunctional relationships or painful situations. One of the reasons is that usually, a person is afraid that there would be a big void in his or her life after the relationship is over. This makes a person continue to be in that miserable, unhealthy situation.

If we can be strong and brave enough to let go of false-friends and false-loves, temporarily there might be an emotional vacuum, but in the long run, we are giving ourselves a chance to fill it up with positive energy. Focus on the creativity in you and reach out to those who appreciate you genuinely. This time, if love or friendship comes, you will be better able to evaluate it because you are not dependent on it.

But, first and foremost, when needed, weed out all that chokes the garden of your beautiful feelings. This is necessary in order to preserve your best asset: self-respect.

Make space for the beautiful, be it solitude or true love or a dear friend or a burst of creativity.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson has said, “When the half-gods go, the gods arrive.” (the word ‘gods’ here signify beautiful, positive experiences and does not convey any concept of divinity.)

COURTESY:SOUL TALK.

Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

VALUE OF LOVE

A better place to live?

She Always Loved Him But...
See what daddy got me,
A magic gun to shoot Tony at School
and turn his shirt red.
Aren't you happy!?
She smiled with a nod, but he thought
She was looking for something else!

Guess what, I won the football cup for my college and now
I can play for the best league in the town
Aren't you happy!?
She smiled with a nod, but he knew
She was looking for something else!

Look, I bought a mansion in the best city
With all Best interiors and a pool
By the side of a private golf course.
Aren't you happy!?
She smiled with a nod, but he was sure
She was looking for something else!

Oh! I am counting days on this lonely bed,
Wont you at least now tell me what
You've always been looking for?

It was love from various sources
you got through out your life,
That I was looking for;
but you never brought It up to me
She smiled with a nod, told
I'm Still happy for you because I have always loved you!

(Here SHE = SOUL and
HE = EVERY PERSON WHO FORGETS TO VALUE LOVE)

COURTESY:SNITU.

BEAUTY OF YOUR SELF

One can see one's own reflection in the mirror only when a particular chemical is coated on the other side. Likewise, coat the chemical of love on your heart in order to have the vision of God. Fill your heart with love. Then there will be no place for evil qualities like jealousy, anger and hatred. Just as wax melts when it comes in contact with heat, the heart melts when the rays of love fall on it

Keep the faith in the Lord undiminished; you can then safely move about in the world. No harm can come to you! Be like the village women with pots over their heads, one over the other, keeping balance even while talking and walking along the winding lane. They do not forget or ignore the burden or the goal. They are vigilant, conscious of the hardships on the way, the stones and the pits; it is the inner concentration that pays dividends.

Where the six qualities of zeal, determination, courage, intelligence, ability and heroism are present, there divinity becomes manifest. Success and prosperity comes to the one with these six virtues. However, these qualities are put to test from time to time. Just as a student has to face various tests, these qualities are also subject to trials. Such trials should be regarded as stepping stones to higher achievements. These trials are in the form of losses, troubles, pains, sufferings and calumny. One has to overcome these troubles with courage and self-confidence and forge ahead. Without self-confidence, these six qualities cannot be acquired.

There is no greater friend for anyone than God. He is beyond the reach of praise or censure. He does not give up man on the ground of the latter's failure to come up to His expectations. That is why God has been given the appellation, Suhrid (a good friend). God desires no offerings from any devotee. God is the only one friend who confers benefits on devotees without expecting any return. Nevertheless man does not readily accept such a friend. Only the man who accepts God as such a friend and is guided by His advice can understand the full meaning of Divine friendship. Faith of this nature alone constitutes true Jnana (wisdom).

It is only purity that attracts Divinity. If the iron filings are rusted,
even the most powerful magnet will not attract them

Do not worry about the ups and downs of life, loss or pain, joy or grief. You are yourself the maker of the ups and downs. If you so wish, everything can be on one smooth level. You label one thing as bad and something else as gain. You crave for a thing and, when you get it, you call it joy; if you don’t get it, you call it grief. Cut out the craving, and there will be no more swinging from joy to grief.

There can be no sacredness in service, if good thoughts and good feelings are absent.

What should be the qualities of the actions we offer at the Lotus Feet of the Lord?... For example, if we want to offer a rose to the Lord, we first select a beautiful, fragrant bloom. Then we remove the insects from the flower. Next we remove the thorns or any imperfect leaves from the stem and in a number of other ways we make our offering as beautiful and pure as possible. Every action we perform should be like this. Our actions must be saturated with the fragrance of love and sacredness and must be good and pure. This is the true: Yoga of Action as laid down in the Gita.

It is only during rainy season that the clouds come in the way of sun rays. Similarly, it is only when our mind is wavering and disturbed we suffer from sorrows and difficulties. When our mind is steady and firm, no ‘clouds’ can disturb us. Hence, keep your mind pure and steady. Develop courage and fortitude.

Master The Mind, Be a Mastermind.

There is a Tibetan saying, that a hundred persons start to seek the truth, and perhaps only one reaches it. Ninety-nine get lost somewhere on the way. They either become involved in some other business or they go astray. There are thousands of ways of going astray and there is only one way of going into yourself. And thats the beauty of yourself.

Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

FAITH STORY BY RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA

Sri Rama Krishna Paramamhsa often used to describe a story to highlight the importance of faith
A farmer's daughter duty was to carry fresh milk to customers in various villages had, one of whom was a priest. To reach his house, the milkmaid had to cross a good-sized stream. People crossed it by a sort of ferry raft, for a small fee.

One day the priest, who performed worship daily with the offering to God of fresh milk, finding it arrived very late, scolded the poor woman. "What can I do?" she said, "I start out early from my house, but I have to wait a long time for the boatman to come."

Then the priest said (pretending to be serious), "What! People have even walked across the ocean by repeating the name of God, and you can't cross this little river?" This milkmaid took him very seriously. From then on she brought the priest's milk punctually every morning. He became curious about it and asked her how it was that she was never late anymore.

"I cross the river repeating the name of the Lord," she replied, "just as you told me to do, without waiting for the ferry." The priest didn't believe her, and asked, "Can you show me this, how you cross the river on foot?" So they went together to the water and the milkmaid began to walk over it. Looking back, the woman saw that the priest had started to follow her and was floundering in the water.


"Sir!" she cried, "You are uttering the name of God, yet all the while you are holding up your clothes from getting wet.

That is not trusting in God!"

If you lose faith you lose everything. Faith in our selves, faith in god this is the secret, greatness. If you have faith in all the three hundred and thirty million gods... still have no faith in yourselves, there is no salvation for you,


Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

REGARDS
Miss.Shaija Vallikatri Bhaskaran

LIFE LESSONS - AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY-BY FATIMAH MUSA

Jushi was physically abused as a child. She lived with a mother who was diagnosed with post depression and a father who was a wife abuser.

Her parent divorced and left six of them with her mother. She left school at 15 and went to work waiting tables to help her mother feed them all.

At 18 she met and fell in love and was married soon after. Then she found out that her husband drank too much, slept around with other women, a wife abuser and took drugs. She was divorced at age 20 with two children. Her husband took their son away and handed him to his friend. He was sent to jail for an offence with the law.

Her husband's friend did not want to hand the boy over to her and demanded money in exchange. The child had scars on his chest due to burnt from cigarette butts. That was what he got for crying out for food.

She finally managed to get her son back. She left her children in her mother's care while she left to find a job.
At 28 she had an accident. Her dress caught fire and she suffered 2nd degree burns.

With that her self-esteem and self-confidence went down the pit. She was depressed. She attempted suicides several times and was given psychiatric treatments.

After a major surgery and lots of counseling and support from relatives and friends, she started her life all over again even with one partly deformed hand and fingers.

Her anxiety was all the time still present. It was tougher to find a job. She felt like a disabled person.

The one thing that kept her going in spite of her misfortune was her will to be able to feed herself and sent money for her children. She did not want to ask for financial support.
At 38 she was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix. That was a big blow to her. She went through another depression episode.

"Why me?" was the question she repeatedly asked. Of course when she asked that question, she got all the wrong answers. She felt more depressed. She blamed her father, her mother and everyone for what brought her sufferings. Worst, she blamed herself.

She agreed to go for the treatments, chemotherapy and cesium, because she did not want to go through the pains.

This was when she took the time to look within her. She thought that she might not live long enough so she decided to reconnect with her children. It was not easy especially with her son who had gone through his own childhood trauma.

She turned to her family for moral support and she turned to God.

Now eight years later, she is still alive. Waking up and able to breathe for another day is a gift for her.

She has two grandchildren whom she adores and that give her much joy. She takes some jobs every now and then when her health permits and rests when she needs it.

Her question has changed. She now asks what is it she could do to get more out of what is left?

FROM THIS STORY ALL CAN LEARN:-

Things happen and happen to us all. Life does not play favorites. Everyone has a story to tell. It is how we handle it that matters. We do not have to wait until a major catastrophe interrupts us to think of what we should do with our lives.

It is up to us to make or break us. No one can tell our brain and mind what to do. No one can tell us what to think of and what to put inside our head. We have the power to think what we want to think. To forget past hurts or to linger with them.

We can decide, plan and take action on what we want to have, do or be.
At least when the universe intervenes, we know that we have done our best.

HELP FOR BETTERMENT OF OTHERS

Exams were going on in the examination hall. All the students were busy solving the question paper. Ishwar chandra vidya sagar who was a brilliant student was also calmly solving his paper but his friend Manish who was sitting behind him was very dull in studies and was trying to catch Ishwar's attention for some help. After finishing the paper Ishwar was revising his paper, grabbing the opportunity Manish again indicated Ishwar for some help. Initially Ishwar was scared at the idea of helping him but when he looked at his friends sad face he placed his answer sheet in such a way so that Manish could copy easily but nothing skipped from the sharp eye of the teacher. He beated Ishwar for this, Ishwar got really hurt with this insult.

After the exam got over the teacher called Ishwar in the staff room and said, 'I am feeling really bad for beating you today'. Ishwar said, 'Sir, I was not cheating I was only helping Manish'. Sir then explained him, 'One who does wrong is certainly a sinner but one who helps the wrong doer is also a sinner. You were not helping Manish rather you were supporting his laziness and dulness. In future he will not be able to do anything without support'.

Moral: The result of every work is a mixture of good and bad. We must indulge ourselves in such works which result in betterment of others.

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

The Catalina Island is twenty-one miles away from the coast of California, and many people have taken the challenge to swim across it. On July 4th 1952, Florence
Chadwick stepped into the water off Catalina Island to swim across to the California coast. She started well and on course, but later fatigue set in, and the
weather became cold. She persisted, but fifteen hours later, numb and cold, she asked to be taken out of the water.

After she recovered, she was told that she had been pulled out only half a mile away from the coast. She commented that she could have made it, if the fog had
not affected her vision and she would have just seen the land. She promised that this would be the only time that she would ever quit.

She went back to her rigorous training. And two months later she swam that same channel. The same thing happened. The fatigue set in, and the fog obscured her
view, but this time she swam with faith and vision of the land in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind the fog was land. She succeeded and became the first
woman to swim the Catalina Channel. She even broke the men’s record by two hours.

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

When you set your goal, keep pressing on even when you are tired, physically and mentally, and even though there are many challenges ahead. Keep the vision of
your goal crystal clear before you and never, never, never… give up! See the reaching, commit to it, and you will surely see your goal realized.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

"I can't do everything, but I can do something. If we all did something, we could conquer anything."

LORD RAMA AND AYODHYA

Asusual first post.....

[Tale to Understand the Importance of Having a sense of Patriotism for One's Own Country at all times!]

In Ramayana, after the death of Ravana, Vibhisbana fell at the feet of Rama and said, "Swami, I never aspired to be the King of Lanka. I only wanted my brother to give up his bad qualities. I pray to you to take over the Kingdom of Lanka."

All the rakshasas also came and prayed to Rama that he should become King of Lanka.

Lakshmana also supported them saying, "O brother, Bharatha is already ruling over Ayodhya. Even if you return to Ayodhya, you may not be crowned as the King.

So, I request you to take over this kingdom and transform all the rakshasas.Lanka is full of golden mansions. Where else can you find such a beautiful place? I will be very happy if you rule over this Kingdom."

Rama lovingly took Lakshmana close to him and said,

"Lakshmana, how could you get such a silly desire? Just because one's mother is ugly, can he call any other beautiful woman as his mother? Even though my country is poor compared to Lanka, I still consider it as my mother. Lanka may be full of gold, but I don't want it"!!

*********

SPIRITUAL COMMENTARY

What a tremendous patriotism Lord Rama had for his own kingdom Ayodhya! He respected and adored his kingdom like his own "mother" as, any country we belong to becomes our "motherland" since we have been nurtured and brought up in that country, like how a mother nurtures her child.

We should develop this kind of love and faith towards our country. Parents and teachers should inculcate such spirit of patriotism in their children and students. We should declare wholeheartedly with a sense of pride that this is my country, this is my mother tongue.

A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle;and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.Unless our conception of patriotism is progressive, it cannot hope to embody the real affection and the real interest of the nation.

We should love and serve our homeland; at the same time not hate or hurt the homeland of others. We should not indulge in criticizing other countries or people belonging to other nations. Having trust and faith in our own country, we won't try to put down any other country. We should never bring grief or sorrow to our country. To have pride in our own motherland is important.

There are millions of educated men and women all over the world, but how many really benefit or contribute to the society's progress? We are utilising our education for our own selfishness and self-interest alone.We have to eschew selfishness and self-interest and make our education useful by resolving to serve the society and our country,for its progress and development.That way we should make the best use of our education we have recieved.

Let us respect and revere our elders and our country and set an ideal to humanity.Let our conduct befit the degrees we have acquired.Education is meant to broaden the mind.Education and discrimination should go hand in hand. The prosperity of the nation depends on the progress we make in the field of education.The future of the nation rests on the students and the dynamic youths a nation produces and nurtures.

Every Nation has stocked plenty of wealth for us. What is this wealth? It is the spirit of sacrifice, which can be acquired through service to society.

"Karmanu bandheeni Manushyaloke",
human society is bound by action.

"Sareeramadhyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam",
the body is gifted in order to undertake righteous
actions, not to eat, drink and make merry.

We must render service to others till our last breath.

The essence of 18 Puranas can be summed up in one phrase: "Paropakarah Punyaya Papaya Parapeedanam.
" HELP EVER; HURT NEVER.

Set an ideal, which is helpful and delightful to one and all!!

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. --Nathan Hale

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." - John.F.Kennedy.

Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"