Tuesday, September 25, 2018

2018-39 - Label Makers...

Buddha once pointed to a flower and asked each of his disciples to say something about it.

One disciple stood up and began describing the flower, the stem, the colour of the petals, the way the stamen shook in the slight breeze.

Another disciple stood up and sang a sonnet about the beauty of the flower.

Each of the disciples tried to outdo one another in depth and erudition.

After all the disciples had spent their energy deciphering labels for the flower, it was Mahakashyap's turn.

Mahakashyap, smiled, and held his tongue... Only he had seen the flower!!

Buddha smiled benevolently, and said, "The one who knows, does not say. The one who says, does not know."

~ Author Unknown



Knowing it and seeing it are two different things.

~ Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

2018-38 - Attitude of Generosity...

Someone asked Bill Gates, "Is there any person richer than you?"

He said, yes, only one. Many years ago, I had gone to New York airport. I read a newspapers and wanted to buy it. But I didn't have change. So I abandoned the idea, but suddenly, a young boy called me and told me, "This newspaper for you." I said, "I don't have change." He said, "No problem, I give you free."

After 3 months, I returned there. Coincidentally, the same thing happened again and that same boy gave me another free newspaper. I said, I can't accept it. This time he said, "I give you from my profit."

After 19 years, I had been rich and I decided to find that boy. I found him after one and half month's search. I asked him, do you know me? He said, "Yes, you're famous Bill Gates."

I said, "You gave me free newspaper 2 times many years ago. Now, I want to compensate for it. I am going to give you everything that you want." The young man replied, "You can't compensate for it!"

I said, why? He said, "Because I gave you when I was poor. You want to give me when you are rich. So, how do you compensate?"

Bill Gates said, "I think that young man is richer than me."

~ Author Unknown



The real attitude of giving is when you lack...

~ Author Unknown

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

2018-37 - Love in Action…

One night a man came to our house and told me, "There is a family with eight children. They have not eaten for days." I took some food and I went.

When I finally came to the family, I saw the faces of those little children disfigured by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger. I gave the rice to the mother.

She divided it in two, and went out, carrying half the rice with her. When she came back, I asked her, "Where did you go?" She gave me this simple answer, "To my neighbours - they are hungry also."

I was not surprised that she gave – because poor people are generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are suffering, we are so focused on ourselves we have no time for others.

~ Mother Teresa



Your ability to see will never broaden when you only see yourself.

~ Shannon L Alder

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

2018-36 - A Lesson in Heart...

My little 10-year-old daughter, Sarah was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home one beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in 'field day' - that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events.

Because of her leg support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down - but before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I won two of the races!"

I couldn't believe it! And then Sarah said, "I had an advantage." I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start... some kind of physical advantage.

But again, before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I didn't get a head start... my advantage was I had to try harder!"

~ Author Unknown



The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph. Self-realization demands very great struggle.

~ Swami Sivananda