Monday, January 25, 2010
'99 club'
Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content. One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy. The King asked the servant, 'Why are you so happy?' The man replied, 'Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies.' The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King's woes and the servant's' story, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, I believe that the servant Has not been made part of The 99 Club.' 'The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?' the King inquired. The advisor replied, 'Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep.' When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins! He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, 'What could've happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!' He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection. From that day, the servant's life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked. Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club.' He continued, 'The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they're always yearning and Striving for that extra 1, saying to themselves: 'Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life.' We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires. That's the "99 club". ------------
Monday, January 11, 2010
Life--a view
We have no choice of where we're born or who our parents are or whether we're rich or poor. What we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we're here.
We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them. Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, comedy for the rich, tragedy for the poor.
We don't get to choose how we're going to die, or when. We can decide how we're going to live now. We live in deeds, not years: In thoughts not breaths; in feelings, not in figures.
We don't accomplish anything in this world alone... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.
We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them. Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, comedy for the rich, tragedy for the poor.
We don't get to choose how we're going to die, or when. We can decide how we're going to live now. We live in deeds, not years: In thoughts not breaths; in feelings, not in figures.
We don't accomplish anything in this world alone... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Socrates Triple Filter Test:
The Socrates Triple Filter Test:
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you
know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything, I'd
like you to pass a little test. It's called
the Triple Filter Test."
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my
friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what
you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test."
"The first filter is TRUTH. Have you made absolutely sure that what
you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
'All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or
not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of GOODNESS. Is what
you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about
him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test
though, because there's one filter left: the filter of USEFULNESS. Is
what you want to
tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither
true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"
--------------
We should use this triple filter each time we hear loose talk about
any of our near & dear friends.
-------------------
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you
know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything, I'd
like you to pass a little test. It's called
the Triple Filter Test."
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my
friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what
you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test."
"The first filter is TRUTH. Have you made absolutely sure that what
you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
'All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or
not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of GOODNESS. Is what
you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about
him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test
though, because there's one filter left: the filter of USEFULNESS. Is
what you want to
tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither
true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"
--------------
We should use this triple filter each time we hear loose talk about
any of our near & dear friends.
-------------------
Friday, June 19, 2009
Mirza Ghalib [ 1796---1869]
Mirza Ghalib is undoubtedly the most famous shayar of Urdu who has been read for more than three centuries -- and still charms the poetry lovers with his deep philosophy and insights, as traced in his poetry.
In the beginning Ghalib used to write under the takhallus of 'Asad'.His full name was Mirza Assadullah Khan . Later he changed his pen name to Ghalib.Fond of his drinks he often bought drinks on credit.When his creditors filed police complaint against him, he was arrested & put behind the bars where he wrote:
' karz ki pite the meiy aur hame malum thaa,
rang layegi ye apni faka masti ek din'.
Ghalib was quite egoisic----sometimes a bitter man; bitter coz Ibrahim Zauq ,whom Ghalib considered less gifted than him, was the official court poet,an important position in the durbar of Delhi.This was the time when India was ruled, or rather misruled, by Bahadur Shah Zafar[ the last Moghul], who was himself a gifted poet. In fact, Zauq was the Ustaad of Bahadur Shah zafar, another fact which antagonised Ghalib. Ghalib was so egoistic that when he applied for the post of a persian teacher in Delhi Colege[ now known as Zakir Hussain College] he did not appear before the Selection Board coz when he went to the college for interview no body had come to receive him at the gate; so much inflated ego he carried.But despite his weaknesses he was a lovable character and a genius as a poet. Incidentally, he had a v unhappy married life & had no children.He was a carefree & liberated man; also had an affair, on the sly, with a courtesan.
Some of his creations coming randomly to my mind are given below:
aashiqee sabr talab aur tamanna betaab...........dil ka kya rang karroon KHoon-e-jigar hone tak............
-----------
dil hii to hai na sang-o-Khisht dard se bhar na aaye kyuu.N
roe.nge ham hazaar baar koii hame.n sataaye kyuu.N
[sang=stone, Khisht=brick]
dair nahii.n haram nahii.n dar nahii.n aastaa.N nahii.n
baiThe hai.n rahaguzar pe ham Gair hame.n uThaaye kyuu.N
------------
aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiitaa hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak
daam har mauj me.n hai halqaa-e-sad_kaam-e-nahang
dekhe.n kyaa guzare hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak
[daam = net/trap; mauj = wave; halqaa = ring/circle]
[sad = hundred; nahang = crocodile; gauhar = pearl]
aashiqii sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab
dil kaa kyaa rang karuu.N Khuun-e-jigar hone tak
[sabr-talab=patient]
ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Khaak ho jaaye.nge ham tum ko Khabar hone tak
[taGaaful=neglect/ignore]
-------------
hazaaro.n Khvaahishe.n aisii ki har Khvaaish pe dam nikale
bahut nikale mere armaa.N lekin phir bhii kam nikale
Dare kyuu.N meraa qaatil kyaa rahegaa usakii gardan par
vo Khuu.N jo chashm-e-tar se umr bhar yuu.N dam-ba-dam nikale
[chashm=eye; tar=wet; dam_ba_dam=continously]
nikalanaa Khuld se aadam kaa sunate aaye hai.n lekin
bahut be-aabaruu hokar tere kuuche se ham nikale
[Khuld=Paradise; be-aabaruu=disgrace; kuuchaa=street]
Lovers of urdu poetry would cherish his creaions for ever.Long live Ghalib.
In the beginning Ghalib used to write under the takhallus of 'Asad'.His full name was Mirza Assadullah Khan . Later he changed his pen name to Ghalib.Fond of his drinks he often bought drinks on credit.When his creditors filed police complaint against him, he was arrested & put behind the bars where he wrote:
' karz ki pite the meiy aur hame malum thaa,
rang layegi ye apni faka masti ek din'.
Ghalib was quite egoisic----sometimes a bitter man; bitter coz Ibrahim Zauq ,whom Ghalib considered less gifted than him, was the official court poet,an important position in the durbar of Delhi.This was the time when India was ruled, or rather misruled, by Bahadur Shah Zafar[ the last Moghul], who was himself a gifted poet. In fact, Zauq was the Ustaad of Bahadur Shah zafar, another fact which antagonised Ghalib. Ghalib was so egoistic that when he applied for the post of a persian teacher in Delhi Colege[ now known as Zakir Hussain College] he did not appear before the Selection Board coz when he went to the college for interview no body had come to receive him at the gate; so much inflated ego he carried.But despite his weaknesses he was a lovable character and a genius as a poet. Incidentally, he had a v unhappy married life & had no children.He was a carefree & liberated man; also had an affair, on the sly, with a courtesan.
Some of his creations coming randomly to my mind are given below:
aashiqee sabr talab aur tamanna betaab...........dil ka kya rang karroon KHoon-e-jigar hone tak............
-----------
dil hii to hai na sang-o-Khisht dard se bhar na aaye kyuu.N
roe.nge ham hazaar baar koii hame.n sataaye kyuu.N
[sang=stone, Khisht=brick]
dair nahii.n haram nahii.n dar nahii.n aastaa.N nahii.n
baiThe hai.n rahaguzar pe ham Gair hame.n uThaaye kyuu.N
------------
aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiitaa hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak
daam har mauj me.n hai halqaa-e-sad_kaam-e-nahang
dekhe.n kyaa guzare hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak
[daam = net/trap; mauj = wave; halqaa = ring/circle]
[sad = hundred; nahang = crocodile; gauhar = pearl]
aashiqii sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab
dil kaa kyaa rang karuu.N Khuun-e-jigar hone tak
[sabr-talab=patient]
ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Khaak ho jaaye.nge ham tum ko Khabar hone tak
[taGaaful=neglect/ignore]
-------------
hazaaro.n Khvaahishe.n aisii ki har Khvaaish pe dam nikale
bahut nikale mere armaa.N lekin phir bhii kam nikale
Dare kyuu.N meraa qaatil kyaa rahegaa usakii gardan par
vo Khuu.N jo chashm-e-tar se umr bhar yuu.N dam-ba-dam nikale
[chashm=eye; tar=wet; dam_ba_dam=continously]
nikalanaa Khuld se aadam kaa sunate aaye hai.n lekin
bahut be-aabaruu hokar tere kuuche se ham nikale
[Khuld=Paradise; be-aabaruu=disgrace; kuuchaa=street]
Lovers of urdu poetry would cherish his creaions for ever.Long live Ghalib.
Monday, June 15, 2009
A short story------ Traveling Angels
Traveling Angels:
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied... "Things aren't always what they seem".
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.
After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "how could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die."
"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."
*********
Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later----Amen-NARESH
-------------------
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied... "Things aren't always what they seem".
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.
After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "how could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die."
"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."
*********
Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later----Amen-NARESH
-------------------
A SHORT STORY--THE PEARLS
The Pearls:
Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl.One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?" Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her Grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls.How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, bed, and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower - her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green. Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?""Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said."Well, then, give me your pearls.""Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?""Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?""Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.""Well, then, give me your pearls.""Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father."No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. "Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls.He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure. Isn't God good?Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of?Are you holding onto harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing.................God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. -------------------------
Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl.One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?" Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her Grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls.How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, bed, and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower - her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green. Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?""Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said."Well, then, give me your pearls.""Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?""Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?""Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.""Well, then, give me your pearls.""Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father."No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. "Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls.He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure. Isn't God good?Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of?Are you holding onto harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing.................God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. -------------------------
Friday, June 12, 2009
Story -GOD DOES NOT EXIST
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists.""Why do you say that?"asked the customer."Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists,would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things."The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist.""How can you say that?"asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber.And I just worked on you!""No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.""Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me.""Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.-----------------------------
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