Live and Work

                                            by Stephen on September 14, 2008

Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paying job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best money could buy.

Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.

Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation abroad.

However, the family still did not get to see father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he enrolled for another course in the open university.

Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Jubilantly, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough, it would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium. Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients. Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.

As expected, Father’s hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take anymore courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to his family.

Father did not wake up the next day.

 

Bhagavad gita

 

Weakness or Strength?

by Stephen on May 12, 2013

 

Sometimes our biggest weakness can become our biggest strength. Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese Judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.
“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”
“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know.” – the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.
“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”
“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grap your left arm.”
The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength

The Mind

Adi Sankara was walking through the market place with his disciples.
They saw a man dragging a cow by a rope.

Sankara told the man to wait and asked his disciples to surround them.
 “I am going to teach you something” and continued...
“Tell me who is bound to whom?
Is the cow bound to this man or the man is bound to the cow?

The disciples said without hesitation,
“Of course the cow is bound to the man!
The man is the master. He is holding the rope. The cow has to follow him wherever he goes.
The man is the master and the cow is the slave.”

“Now watch this”, said Sankara and took a pair of scissors from his bag and cut the rope.
The cow ran away from the master and the man ran after his cow.
“Look, what is happening”, said Sankara
“Do you see who the Master is?
The cow is not at all interested in this man.The cow in fact, is trying to escape from this man.”

This is the case with our MIND.
Like the cow, all the non-sense that we carry inside is not interested in us.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN IT, we are keeping it together somehow or the other.
We are going crazy trying to keep it all together under our control.
The moment we lose interest in all the garbage filled in our head, and the moment we understand the futility of it, it will start to disappear.

Like the cow, it will escape and disappear.”
We can allow disappearing of all the unwanted things from our mind and feel relaxed

Happy Birthday dear sir!
You celebrated your birthday yesterday, 13th January 2014
Your gentle guidance and words of wisdom guided us through all along.

Birthday wish for a great leader
(tribute to our dear principal Mr. Somabandhu Kodikara)

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings,
Those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness
May the heart's wishes be soon fulfilled
as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness
May all dangers be averted and all diseases be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.
 
for all in whose heart dwells respect,
who follow the wisdom and compassion of the way
May your life prosper in the future blessings
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength

 

 

 

                          Life...who can argue with this philosophy ?

The best kind of friends,

Is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with,

Never say a word,

And then walk away feeling, like it was the best

conversation you've ever had.

It's true that we don't know

what we've got until it's gone,

But it's also true that we don't know

what we've been missing until it arrives.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll

love you back!

Don't expect love in return;

Just wait for it to grow in their heart,

But if it doesn't , be content it grew in yours.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive,

Don't go for wealth; even that fades away,

Go for someone who makes you smile

because it takes only a smile

to make a dark day seem bright.

Find a friend that makes your heart smile!

Always put yourself in other's shoes

If you feel that it hurts you,

It probably hurts the other person, too.

 

 

Philosophy of life

 

 

                                         We never get what we want,
                                 We never want what we get,
                                 We never have what we like,
                                 We never like what we have,
                                 And still we live & love.
                                            That's life...

                ALWAYS ASK, NEVER ASSUME !!

His request approved, the CNN News photographer quickly used a cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight.

He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport.

Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger.

He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, 'Let's go'.

The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off.


Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, 'Fly over the
valley and make low passes so that I can take pictures of the fires on
the hillsides.'

'Why?' asked the pilot.

'Because I'm a photographer for CNN' , he responded, 'and I need to get some close up shots.'


The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, 'So,
what you're telling me, is . . . You're NOT my flight instructor?'

Life is short.......When you ASSUME - you make an ASS out of U and ME..."

 

Life is a Gift

Today before you think of saying an unkind word–
think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food–
think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Today before you complain about life–
think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children–
think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep–
think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive–
think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job–
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another–
remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down–
put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

Life is a gift – Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, and Fulfill it.