Thursday, June 30, 2005

ONE CLEVER AND TEN NAIVE

11 People On A Rope
Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one has to leave, because otherwise they are all going to fall.

They were not able to name that person, until the woman held a very touching speech. She said that she will voluntarily let go of the rope, because as a woman she is used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, or for men in general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return.

As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping their hands.......

Come expectant, go happy!

Today's Quote

Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier.

-Mother Teresa

Naam ki mahima


As clouds are blown away by the wind, the thirst for material pleasures will be driven away by the utterance of the Lord's name.

-Sri Sarada Devi


Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Opening of new universities in India

Posted By : SHER SINGH AGRAWAL on Jun 24, 2005 * Comments : (Published on the website of the Prime Minister of India Sh. Manmohansingh)
Sir,

Can you please include in your agenda for discussion with President Bush during your forthcoming visit, to open at least ten new universities in various states of India in collabroation with the Indian authorities. Perhaps US can provide funding through various oil companies, multi-nationals or from its own treasury. The cost for such univerisities compared to that in US will be minimal, the fees will also be very reasonable for such univerisities but the turnout will be of educated people with the highest calibre.

Establishment of such new universities will boost India's brainpower in the world and will make India an invincible powerhouse..

Thank you, Sir,

Yours respectfully,


SHER SINGH AGRAWAL
SEATTLE, WA STATE, USA

TEL/FAX: 425 688 1155

What are good qualities



A man asked the Prophet, "What sort of deeds or (what qualities of) Islam are good?" The Prophet replied, "To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know."

-Hadith narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, as related by Al-Bukhari

For fast acting relief:

Today's Quote

For fast acting relief, try slowing down.

-Lily Tomlin

A snack if you can't sleep

A Little Bite Before Bed If you have trouble drifting off, the right bedtime snack may help promote a more restful night's sleep.

In a study, a tryptophan-enriched snack before bed helped study participants sleep better and promoted morning alertness. Foods that provide a dose of tryptophan include bananas, dairy, nuts, eggs, soybeans, tuna, and chicken. Keep the serving size small and have your snack about an hour before bed.


RealAge Benefit: Getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night can make your RealAge as much as 3 years younger.

Anger and Conceit - our fetters


Abandon anger,
Be done with conceit,
Get beyond every fetter.
When for name & form
You have no attachment
--have nothing at all--
no sufferings, no stresses, invade.


-Dhammapada 17, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

MAN'S GOOD POSSESSIONS



Among a man's many good possessions,
A good command of speech has no equal.

Prosperity and ruin issue from the power of the tongue.
Therefore, guard yourself against thoughtless speech.


-Tirukkural 65: 641-642

kAM kHA gAM kHA sACH bOL. Eat Less, Be tolerant and speak the Truth.

Awat Hi Harshai nahin paas leya bethaay;

Rahiman tehen naa Jaaiye, kanchan barse Maahi.

(If he is not happy when you go there, and ask you to sit near you, Rahimji says, do not go there, even though Diamonds are raining there!)

Excerpted from the Tirukkura

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

APNE MAN SE POONCHHIYO MERE MAN KI BAAT

Some old Indian sayings from UP from my childhood memories:

When the beloved husband is away and he sends a msg to the wife, somehow(what to say of cell phone, not only there were no phones, even such messages could only be sent surreptitiously in those days), that how she was doing and if she missed him, the wife replies: APNE man SE POONCHHIYO MERE man KI BAAT, i.e. ask your own heart and it will tell you what is in my heart, that means, what is in your heart so is in my heart.

Or, AAG dono taraf hai baraabar lagi hui.

Another one, Gadha ko diyo non aur gadha kahe ki meri aankh fodi, i.e. you give salt to the donkey to eat, and the donkey says oh you are going to bust my eye. In English, you try to help someone and he says oh you are going to harm me.

Kauwon ke kose kaa dhore marein, if the crows curse them, will the animals die, (self-explanatory)

AUTO DASHBOARD PAD FOR HOLDING CELL PHONE, GLASSES ETC.

The above item is available at BED BATH AND BEYOND for about 5 to 7 dollars depending on the size you want and can be very useful.

Monday, June 27, 2005

RAM NAM OR DHAN

RAM NAAM KE KAARNE SAB DHAN DALA KHOY;

MURAKH JANE GIR PADA DIN DIN DOONA HOY.


Please give your view on the above.

2. My memories of the childhood, some are hazy and others are vivid. When I was four years old, mother sent me to Aligarh to my nani's house. They lived in Mamu Bhanja. The house was big but very old and in a dilapidated condition. Parts of the house were not unable, and some rooms had caved in. In those rooms lived snakes and rats.

3. In the street, just in the outside part of the house, was a halwai shop, but most of the time this one was closed. There was another halwai shop, khyali Ram's, almost opposite the house.
To go in the house, first you enter the door, then there was a covered area, under the roof above, after that a courtyard, on the right of which were two broken down rooms, on the left was a latrine, stairs to go to the roof, and a ghoora where all the kuda was thrown. Then a few stairs, to go in a covered passage, on both sides of which were rooms, then you come into the courtyard, or aangan, where at night a small tin lamp with kerosene and batti inside it, burned, giving the' floodlight' to the house. There was a handpipe supplying all the water for all the residents.

4. To enter the house at night was an ordeal for me. As we used to hear lots of ghost stories in those dayswhich we enjoyed very much but which made us more afraid of ghosts. I still believe that there were not only snakes in that house, some of whom we spotted from time to time, but there were ghosts too. Since there was no light in the outside area, we had to pass through a big aangan in the dark to go into the inside part of the house. So, if the halwai shop outside that house was open, then there was an electric bulb lighting up some part of the passage and it was a great help. But his shop, as I said before, was rarely open. So I waited until someone came and then I could enter the house with him.

5. Inside area had at least four large rooms,. two kitchens and a few kothris. My nanaji had four brothers, and all five of the brothers and their families lived in that large house. There were also two rooms upstairs and a large open roof where we slept during hot summer months. There were plenty of monkeys around who stole the laundry drying on the roof, and then did their khon khon to attract attention to be able to exchange their loot with a piece of bread.

to be continued.....

Limits of Anger and Kindness


Anger that has no limit, causes terror. Kindness that is inappropriate, does away with respect. So do not be so severe with others, as to terrify them; and do not be so lenient with others, as to make them take advantage of you.

-Sadi: Gulistan 8

Make more schools/univerisities for future generations



Our first priority should be to prepare a long-term strategy for improving the state of the world that focuses on the coming generations.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, "Imagine All the People"

This means that push the authorities, including rich Indians, in India and abroad, foundations in India and abroad and the Government of India and State governments to make new schools and univerisities all over India. Write them emails to translate the above into reality.

Lord of Love


Imperishable is the Lord of Love.
As from a blazing fire thousands of sparks
Leap forth, so millions of beings arise
From the Lord of Love and return to him.


-Mundaka Upanishad

From The Upanishads, translated by Eknath Easwaran, copyright 1987. Reprinted with permission from Nilgiri Press, www.nilgiri.org. To order t

Sunday, June 26, 2005

CHAND PURANE SHER

1. YEH BAAT HAMNE MOHABBAT KI AAG MEIN DEKHI;
BHADAKTI JAATI HAI, JITNI BUJHAEE JATEE HAI.

2. EK TASALLI THI SITARON SE;
WOH BHI AB JHILMILAAYE JAATE HAIN.

3. YUN TO SAB KUCHH HAI UNKI NAJRON MEIN;
EK MOHABBAT NAJAR NAHIN AATI.

4. DIWAANAWAAR DAUD KE KOI LIPAT NA JAYE;
AANKHON MEIN ANKHEIN DAALKAR DEKHA NA KEEJIYE.

irshaad

CHAND DOHE

1. DEKH TUMHEIN AISA LAGA, DEKH LIYA MADHUMAAS;
PAG-PAG PAR KALIYAN KHILEEN, MAHEK UTHAA PAATAAS.

2. MAN MEIN ATHAK UMANG HAI, THAKAN BANDHI HAI PAON;
JAANE KITNI DOOR HAI , WOH SAPNON KAA GAON.

3. TAN CHANDAN SAA HO GAYA SAANSEIN HARSINGAAR;
ROME ROME BHEEGAA SAKHEE, ITNAA BARSAA PYAAR.

4. DHANI CHOONAR PAR KHILE, JAB TESU KE PHOOL;
DHARTI TAB GAANE LAGI, APNEE SUKH BUDH BHOOL.

Comments please. Can you understand it; or do you want tarjuma?

Confucius

The more a man knows the more he forgives. Confucius

Saturday, June 25, 2005

GLOBALIZATION

Question: What is the truest definition of
> > Globalization?
> >
> >
> >
> > Answer: Princess Diana's death.
> >
> >
> >
> > Question: How come?
> >
> >
> >
> > Answer: An English princess
> >
> >
> >
> > with an Egyptian boyfriend
> >
> >
> >
> > crashes in a French tunnel,
> >
> >
> >
> > driving a German car
> >
> >
> >
> > with a Dutch engine,
> >
> >
> >
> > driven by a Belgian who was drunk
> >
> >
> >
> > on Scottish whisky,
> >
> >
> >
> > followed closely by Italian Paparazzi,
> >
> >
> >
> > on Japanese motorcycles;
> >
> >
> >
> > treated by an American doctor,
> >
> >
> >
> > using Brazilian medicines.
> >
> >
> >
> > This is sent to you by Indian,
> >
> >
> >
> > using Bill Gates's technology,
> >
> >
> >
> > and you're probably reading this on your computer,
> >
> >
> >
> > that use Taiwanese chips,
> >
> >
> >
> > and a Korean monitor,
> >
> >
> >
> > assembled by Bangladeshi workers
> >
> >
> >
> > in a Singapore plant,
> >
> >
> >
> > transported by Pakistan lorry-drivers,
> >
> >
> >
> > hijacked by Indonesians,
> >
> >
> >
> > unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen,
> >
> >
> >
> > and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.....
> >
> >
> >
> > That, my friend, is Globalization
>
>

IT'S TIME YOU SHARPEN YOUR AXE

Sharpen Your Axe..!

His name was Cyril. I enjoyed the rare occasions when we met because he seemed to know a lot. "He's a bore!" said a friend of mine. "He's not!" I said, "he seems to know plenty!"

Then one fine day Cyril and I were thrown into each other's company. I found out he had spent a good portion of his life studying to be a priest, then he suddenly left the seminary and got into business. Cyril spent the greater part of that evening with me and it was with great difficulty I finally managed to get him out of my house. He was one of the biggest bores I had ever met. "Didn't I tell you he was a bore," said my friend the next day as I recounted the disastrous evening. "Yes," I said, "and I know why. Cyril is a very intelligent man, but he stopped learning many years ago"

"What d'you mean?" asked my friend curiously.

"Cyril stopped reading books, stopped listening to the news, stopped widening his knowledge after he left seminary. All he talks off is based on what he knew in his formative years; after that he stopped feeding his mind. All that he blabbers about is stuff that was known during the Second World War and he thinks its gospel truth!"

"And things have changed a lot since then!" laughed my friend.

I smiled as I remembered the story of John.

John, a woodcutter worked for a company for five years, but never got a raise. The company hired Bill and within a year Bill got a raise. John was furious. He resented the fact that Bill had got a raise within just a year. He decided to go and talk to his boss about it.

The boss said, "You are still cutting the same number of trees five years ago. We are a result oriented company and would be happy to give you a raise if your productivity goes up."

John went back, started hitting harder and putting in longer hours, but he still wasn't able to cut more trees. He went back to his boss and told him his dilemma.

"Go and talk to Bill about it."

"Talk to Bill?"

"Yeah! Maybe there's something he knows, that you don't."

So John went to where Bill was doing his cutting. "Hey Bill," he said, "tell me how you go about cutting more trees than me?"

Bill stopped for a moment and beckoned John to him, "John," he said, "after every tree I cut, I take a two minute break and sharpen my axe! When was the last time you sharpened your axe?"

Yes my dear friends, when was the last time you took time to sharpen your axe? I know doctors who are still steeped in old theories and methods; businessmen who run their businesses the old fashioned way; presidents of companies who use ancient, out dated theories of management; men and women who won't go near a computer: They wonder why their colleagues are doing better despite toiling hard.

If they would only take time off to sharpen their axe; to feed their minds with the latest in technology, study the newest methods. If only they would read newspapers and journals. If only Cyril would read this piece and be less of a bore..!

It's time to sharpen your axe..!

Friday, June 24, 2005

DENE KO TUKDA BHALA LENE KO HARI NAAM

Sort of autobiography, some truth some fiction created to aggrandize myself as most of the autobiographers do.

Born in Delhi in 1938; my memories prior to four year old: A three storey house in a gali pahari wali; there were two pahari wali gali in that area, one chhoti pahari wali and the other badi. The pahari was a small pahari sort of thing at the side of the temple where I used to play. It was just beside the wall of the temple, not too high, maybe four five yards.

I remember when my father's nana died and they took him on a fully decorated arthi; he used to sport big mustaches, white colour.

I visited this gali a few years ago during one of my visits to India and the little pahari was still intact. There was a subzi wallah who had his vegetables on a thela there.

Then we moved to Lal Haveli in Gali Arya Samaj, in Bazar Sitaram, Delhi. Lal haveli was a real haveli I think in at least 400 yards square three or four storey building with many families living in it.

RAM NAAM KE KARNE SAB DHAN DAALA KHOY;

MURAKH JANE GIR PADA DIN DIN DOON A HOY.


More in the next one.

a bigger loss than death itself

Today's Quote

Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies within us while we live.

-Norman Cousins

TO GOD FROM THE DOG


Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the "Chrysler Eagle" the " Chrysler Beagle"?

Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember - to be a good dog.

1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

3. The sofa is not a 'face towel'.. neither are laps.

4. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

5. My head does not belong in the refrigerator.

6. I will not bite the officer's hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license and registration.

7. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet

8. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.

9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.


A blessing



A blessing in the world:
reverence to your mother.
A blessing: reverence to your father as well.
A blessing in the world:
reverence to a contemplative.
A blessing: reverence for a brahmin, too.

A blessing into old age is virtue.
A blessing: conviction established.
A blessing: discernment attained.
The non-doing of evil things is
a blessing.


-Dhammapada, 23, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

tHE CAVE YOU ARE AFRAID TO ENTER

Today's Quote

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.

-Joseph Campbell

MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING

MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING;

THERE IS ALSO MASTER CARD

AND VISA.

HE IS HE IS NOT



He is awake,
Fulfilled,
Free from desire.

He neither is nor is not.

He looks busy,
But he does nothing.

Striving or still,
He is never troubled.

He does whatever comes his way,
And he is happy.


-Ashtavakra Gita 18:19-20

From "The Heart of Awareness: A Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita," by Thomas Byrom, 1990. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston. www.shambhala.com.

A POEM

This is the poem:

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.


Remember to always say what you mean. If you love
someone, tell them. Don't be afraid to express
yourself. Reach out and tell someone what they
mean to you. Because when you decide that it is the
right time it might be too late. Seize the day.
Never have regrets. And most importantly, stay
close to your friends and family, for they have
helped make you the person that you are today.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

ART OF FORGIVENESS

Prayer for Forgiveness

Today, Creator, grant me the courage and the will to forgive the people I love the most. Help me to forgive every injustice I feel in my mind, and to love other people unconditionally. I know the only way to heal all the pain in my heart is through forgiveness.

Today, Creator, strengthen my will to forgive anyone who has hurt me, even if I believe the offense is unforgivable. I know that forgiveness is an act of self-love. Help me to love myself so much that I forgive every offense. Let me choose forgiveness because I don�t want to suffer every time I remember the offense.

Today, Creator, help me to heal all the guilt in my heart by accepting the forgiveness of everyone I have hurt in my life. Help me to sincerely recognize the mistakes I have made out of ignorance, and give me the wisdom and determination to refrain from making the same mistakes. I know that love and forgiveness will transform every relationship in the most positive way.

Thank you, Creator, for giving me the capacity to love and forgive. Today I open my heart to love and forgiveness, so that I can share my love without fear. Today I will enjoy a reunion with the people I love most. Amen.


- don Miguel Ruiz

OLDEST HUMAN NEED

Today's Quote

One of the oldest human needs is having someone wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night.

-Margaret Me

TRUE SECLUSION



Living in forests far away from other people is not true seclusion. True seclusion is to be free from the power of likes and dislikes. It is also to be free from the mental attitude that one must be special because one is treading the path.

Those who remove themselves to far forests often feel superior to others. They think that because they are solitary they are being guided in a special way and that those who live an ordinary life can never have that experience. But that is conceit and is not help to others. The true recluse is one who is available to others, helping them with affectionate speech and personal example.