Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh.
During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters.
The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. "I must see him," she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet.
Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj.
He asked Gandhiji for the coin but Gandhiji refused. "I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly "yet you won't trust me with a copper coin."
"This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands," Gandhiji said. "If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn't mean much. But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees."
Monday, May 26, 2008
Mercy Of God
A man woke up early in order to pray the prayer in the Temple. He got dressed, made his ablution and was on his way to the Temple.
On his way to the Temple, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home. At home, he changed his clothes, made his ablution, and was, again, on his way to the Temple.
2nd time, On his way to the Temple, he fell again and at the same spot! He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he, once again, changed his clothes, made his ablution and was on his way to the Temple.
On his way 3rd time to the Temple, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the man of his identity and the man replied I saw you fall twice on your way to the Temple, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way. The first man thanked him profusely and the two where on their way to the Temple.
Once at the Temple, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray with him. The second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same. The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.
The man replied I am Satan.
The man was shocked at this reply. Satan went on to explain, I saw you on your way to the Temple and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the Temple, God forgave all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to the Temple. Because of that, God forgave all the sins of the people of your household. I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, then God will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the Temple safely.
So do not let Satan benefit from his actions.
Do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good.
On his way to the Temple, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home. At home, he changed his clothes, made his ablution, and was, again, on his way to the Temple.
2nd time, On his way to the Temple, he fell again and at the same spot! He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he, once again, changed his clothes, made his ablution and was on his way to the Temple.
On his way 3rd time to the Temple, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the man of his identity and the man replied I saw you fall twice on your way to the Temple, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way. The first man thanked him profusely and the two where on their way to the Temple.
Once at the Temple, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray with him. The second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same. The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.
The man replied I am Satan.
The man was shocked at this reply. Satan went on to explain, I saw you on your way to the Temple and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the Temple, God forgave all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to the Temple. Because of that, God forgave all the sins of the people of your household. I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, then God will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the Temple safely.
So do not let Satan benefit from his actions.
Do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good.
Eclectic Thoughts
Clouds
When the day is cloudy, the blue sky is limited. When it is clear, the beauty is all around. Harmful thoughts act as grey clouds to your positive perception. So create a wind of hopefulness and blow away those clouds and be captivated by the beauty of freedom.
Boundaries
We start in this world with a fence closely encircling us. As we gain knowledge and wisdom, on how to overcome pressures thrown our way, we increase the limits of those boundaries. Hence, freedom is gained not by having no restriction but rather having a clear understanding of our freedom within those boundaries. The plight of mankind has taught me that when human boundaries are pushed too far, human suffering is bound to take place and ultimately the polluting of our glorious planet.
Zero and Infinity
What mankind wants is proportional to his happiness. Simply put, a man who wants everything will never be satisfied.
Ice and Boiling Water
Man, in general, has always been ice or boiling water, but never water. I say this because man is either frozen in his ability to show compassion or boiling water in the sense that they have never stopped burning people by causing so much suffering. If only man could be like water and adjust and adapt to one another so as to create unity and genuine peace.
Waterfall
A spectacular waterfall, a beautiful sunset, a lovely starry night, a rushing stream, a mighty bolt of lightning, a vast forest and myriads of wildlife and underwater marvels. All this nature has given us free of charge. Pollution, hatred, deforestation, destruction, and great disrespect are what we have given in return.
Edge of a Cliff
The edge of a cliff may be a dangerous place to stand but it is there we see over all of this magnificent creation. The higher you climb in any area of your life does come with the risk of a fall, but how else would you see the beauty of success?
Horizon
To me the most beautiful sight is that of a summer sunset on the beach. It offers an array of colors that have to be seen to be appreciated. Do you see beautiful colors and hope when you look to your horizon? The more positive goals you have and achieve, the brighter your sunset will be.
When the day is cloudy, the blue sky is limited. When it is clear, the beauty is all around. Harmful thoughts act as grey clouds to your positive perception. So create a wind of hopefulness and blow away those clouds and be captivated by the beauty of freedom.
Boundaries
We start in this world with a fence closely encircling us. As we gain knowledge and wisdom, on how to overcome pressures thrown our way, we increase the limits of those boundaries. Hence, freedom is gained not by having no restriction but rather having a clear understanding of our freedom within those boundaries. The plight of mankind has taught me that when human boundaries are pushed too far, human suffering is bound to take place and ultimately the polluting of our glorious planet.
Zero and Infinity
What mankind wants is proportional to his happiness. Simply put, a man who wants everything will never be satisfied.
Ice and Boiling Water
Man, in general, has always been ice or boiling water, but never water. I say this because man is either frozen in his ability to show compassion or boiling water in the sense that they have never stopped burning people by causing so much suffering. If only man could be like water and adjust and adapt to one another so as to create unity and genuine peace.
Waterfall
A spectacular waterfall, a beautiful sunset, a lovely starry night, a rushing stream, a mighty bolt of lightning, a vast forest and myriads of wildlife and underwater marvels. All this nature has given us free of charge. Pollution, hatred, deforestation, destruction, and great disrespect are what we have given in return.
Edge of a Cliff
The edge of a cliff may be a dangerous place to stand but it is there we see over all of this magnificent creation. The higher you climb in any area of your life does come with the risk of a fall, but how else would you see the beauty of success?
Horizon
To me the most beautiful sight is that of a summer sunset on the beach. It offers an array of colors that have to be seen to be appreciated. Do you see beautiful colors and hope when you look to your horizon? The more positive goals you have and achieve, the brighter your sunset will be.
Failure
Failure does not mean I'm a failure;
It does mean I have not yet succeeded.
Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing;
It does mean I have learned something.
Failure does not mean I have been a fool;
It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.
Failure does not mean I have disgraced;
It does mean I have dared to try.
Failure does not mean I don't have it;
It does mean I have something to do in a different way.
Failure does not mean I am inferior;
It does mean I am not perfect.
Failure does not mean I have wasted my life;
It does mean that I have an excuse to start over.
Failure does not mean that I should give up;
It does mean that I should try harder.
Failure does not mean that I will never make it;
It does mean that I need more practice.
Failure does not mean that you have abandoned me;
It does mean that you must have a better idea.
It does mean I have not yet succeeded.
Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing;
It does mean I have learned something.
Failure does not mean I have been a fool;
It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.
Failure does not mean I have disgraced;
It does mean I have dared to try.
Failure does not mean I don't have it;
It does mean I have something to do in a different way.
Failure does not mean I am inferior;
It does mean I am not perfect.
Failure does not mean I have wasted my life;
It does mean that I have an excuse to start over.
Failure does not mean that I should give up;
It does mean that I should try harder.
Failure does not mean that I will never make it;
It does mean that I need more practice.
Failure does not mean that you have abandoned me;
It does mean that you must have a better idea.
Do Not...
Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.Only you know what is best for you..
Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future.By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.
Do not give up when you still have something to give.Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other....
Do not be afraid to encounter risks.It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.The quickest way to receive love is to give love; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.
Do not dismiss your dreams.To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Do not run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.Only you know what is best for you..
Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future.By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.
Do not give up when you still have something to give.Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other....
Do not be afraid to encounter risks.It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.The quickest way to receive love is to give love; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.
Do not dismiss your dreams.To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Do not run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Thoughts
Be careful of your thoughts,
for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words,
for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions,
for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits,
for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character,
for your character becomes your destiny.
for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words,
for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions,
for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits,
for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character,
for your character becomes your destiny.
What Matters Most
I'd watched this old man for many months, with tattered clothes most worn
I'd seen the look on many a face, as each looked at him with scorn
He did not hold a sign up, on the corner where he stood
Begging for food or money, like others like him would
And each day that I'd see him, I'd glimpse into his eyes
He'd catch my gaze and look away, and I'd often wonder why...
I began to think to myself, what life he'd lived before A beggar not was this man I saw, was he rich or feigned be poor?
One day I noticed he wasn't there, that corner, his familiar place And I vowed that if I saw him again, I'd speak to him face to face
As days went by I forgot this man, this man who'd seen much hate He must have been just another bum, another corner would be his fate
One day I walked past his spot, on my way to meet a friend And saw him right in front of me, my vow this day I'd spend
"Sir, I vowed I'd talk to you, if ever I saw you here. And ask you what your life had been, throughout your many years."
"Son", he said, "I know you, I've seen your face before I'm not a bum as you probably think, I'm rich and not poor."
"If rich why do you dress this way, can you explain this to me? The rich own cars and have big homes, they stand not on the street."
He reached into his pocket, and showed me a picture of His wife who'd died one year ago, the one he dearly loved
"It matters not how big the home, I have everything I need What matters most in life my son, is that which we can't see."
I'd seen the look on many a face, as each looked at him with scorn
He did not hold a sign up, on the corner where he stood
Begging for food or money, like others like him would
And each day that I'd see him, I'd glimpse into his eyes
He'd catch my gaze and look away, and I'd often wonder why...
I began to think to myself, what life he'd lived before A beggar not was this man I saw, was he rich or feigned be poor?
One day I noticed he wasn't there, that corner, his familiar place And I vowed that if I saw him again, I'd speak to him face to face
As days went by I forgot this man, this man who'd seen much hate He must have been just another bum, another corner would be his fate
One day I walked past his spot, on my way to meet a friend And saw him right in front of me, my vow this day I'd spend
"Sir, I vowed I'd talk to you, if ever I saw you here. And ask you what your life had been, throughout your many years."
"Son", he said, "I know you, I've seen your face before I'm not a bum as you probably think, I'm rich and not poor."
"If rich why do you dress this way, can you explain this to me? The rich own cars and have big homes, they stand not on the street."
He reached into his pocket, and showed me a picture of His wife who'd died one year ago, the one he dearly loved
"It matters not how big the home, I have everything I need What matters most in life my son, is that which we can't see."
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