Half A Pomegranate - Brian Conroy

Early one morning, the Buddha and his disciples set off on alms round. He announced that on that day all of the offerings they received would be given to the poor. 

The community sat beneath the red blossoms of a sala tree and waited. Soon all of the most important dignitaries from the surrounding area came to make offerings. 

First to arrive was King Bimbisara. He offered lavish gifts of gold coins, gilded lanterns, and necklaces sparkling with precious gemstones. The Buddha accepted these offerings with one hand. 

Next to arrive was Prince Ajatashatru. He extended offerings of intricate carvings, mouthwatering foods, and sticks of fragrant ox-head sandalwood incense. Again, the Buddha accepted these offerings with one hand. 

These were followed by offerings from minor kings, brahmins, elders and lay people. The Buddha accepted all of their offerings with a single hand. Late in the day, a dishevelled old woman appeared before the Buddha. She bowed respectfully and said, "World Honoured One, by the time I heard you were accepting offerings, I had already eaten half of this pomegranate. I am just a poor old woman. The only thing I have to offer is the other half of this pomegranate. I hope you will accept it." Those gathered looked on in embarrassment at the old woman' meagre offering. But the Buddha extended both of his hands and gratefully accepted the half a pomegranate. 

When the old woman was gone, the Buddha's disciple Aniruddha asked, "Why did you accept the old woman's offering with both hands, but all of the others with only one hand?" The Buddha replied, "This woman gave all she had without expecting any reward. I needed both hands to accept such an abundant offering."

YOU are unbreakable 🏔️

When everything falls apart, if you can stand up and laugh, then you’ve lived a life. Otherwise, you have simply existed like a machine. Laughter is most needed when the world is caving in. Stand up and laugh. Then you have seen life in its vastness.

Imagine a big river is flowing, and at one particular point, there’s a stone. The water splashes against the stone, trying to pass over it. When the water hits the stone, does anything happen to the water? Does it break?

Similarly, all the events cannot break the spirit in you. Even events that appear to be insurmountable cannot break the spirit because life moves on. Just like the water flows on, in the same way the current of life is a continuum. It may appear blocked here or stagnant there, it is just an appearance. It's not the reality. 

- Gurudev

Hear it !!

 

When My Life Is in Danger - Christina Feldman

A few years ago, an elderly monk arrived in India after fleeing from prison in Tibet. Meeting with the Dalai Lama, he recounted the years he had been imprisoned, the hardship and beatings he had endured, the hunger and loneliness he had lived with, and the torture he had faced.

At one point the Dalai Lama asked him, “Was there ever a time you felt your life was truly in danger?” The old monk answered, “In truth, the only time I truly felt at risk was when I felt in danger of losing compassion for my jailers.”

Hearing stories like this, we are often left feeling skeptical and bewildered. We maybe tempted to idealize both those who are compassionate and the quality of compassion itself. We imagine these people as saints, possessed of powers inaccessible to us. Yet stories of great suffering are often stories of ordinary people

who have found greatness of heart. To discover an awakened heart within ourselves, it is crucial not to idealize or romanticize compassion. Our compassion simply grows out of our willingness to meet pain rather than to flee from it.

We may never find ourselves in situations of such peril that our lives are endangered; yet anguish and pain are undeniable aspects of our lives. None of us can build walls around our hearts that are invulnerable to being breached by life.

Facing the sorrow we meet in this life, we have a choice: Our hearts can close, our minds recoil, our bodies contract, and we can experience the heart that lives in a state of painful refusal. We can also dive deeply within ourselves to nurture the courage, balance, patience, and wisdom that enable us to care.

If we do so, we will find that compassion is not a state. It is a way of engaging with the fragile and unpredictable world. Its domain is not only the world of those you love and care for, but equally the world of those who threaten us, disturb us, and cause us harm. It is the world of the countless beings we never meet who are facing an unendurable life.

The ultimate journey of a human being is to discover how much our hearts can encompass. Our capacity to cause suffering as well as to heal suffering live side by side within us. If we choose to develop the capacity to heal, which is the challenge of every human life, we will find our hearts can encompass a great deal, and we can learn to heal—rather than increase—the schisms that divide us from one another.

For the welfare of ALL :)

There was once a farmer who grew excellent quality corn. Every year he won the award for the best corn. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seeds with his neighbors.

“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Don’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

So it is with our lives. Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. The quality of response and joy depends on the quality of thoughts and love we share and spread.

And those who choose to be joyful must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

Motivation of the day :)

Forgive yourself soon

She never knew!

She never knew..
He never told..
She needed warmth..
He turned cold..
He never loved..
Her broken soul..
Built by lies..
So it goes..
He never knew..
She never told..
Destroyed by truth..
Consumed with woes.

The wolf and the flame

The people who consider you weak have not yet noticed the wolf hiding behind your eyes, nor the flames inside your soul. Let them think you are weak and do what wolves and fire do best. Surprise them when they least expect it. - Nikita Gill

How Is Your Heart Doing? - by Omid Safi

In many Muslim cultures, when you want to ask them how they’re doing, you ask: in Arabic, Kayf haal-ik? or, in Persian, Haal-e shomaa chetoreh? How is yourhaal?

What is this haal that you inquire about? It is the transient state of one’s heart. In reality, we ask, “How is your heart doing at this very moment, at this breath?” When I ask, “How are you?” that is really what I want to know.

I am not asking how many items are on your to-do list, nor asking how many items are in your inbox. I want to know how your heart is doing, at this very moment. Tell me. Tell me your heart is joyous, tell me your heart is aching, tell me your heart is sad, tell me your heart craves a human touch. Examine your own heart, explore your soul, and then tell me something about your heart and your soul.

Tell me you remember you are still a human being, not just a human doing. Tell me you’re more than just a machine, checking off items from your to-do list. Have that conversation, that glance, that touch. Be a healing conversation, one filled with grace and presence.

Put your hand on my arm, look me in the eye, and connect with me for one second. Tell me something about your heart, and awaken my heart. Help me remember that I too am a full and complete human being, a human being who also craves a human touch. I teach at a university where many students pride themselves on the “study hard, party hard” lifestyle. This might be a reflection of many of our lifestyles and our busy-ness — that even our means of relaxation is itself a reflection of that same world of overstimulation. Our relaxation often takes the form of action-filled (yet mindless) films, or violent and fast-paced sports.

I don’t have any magical solutions. All I know is that we are losing the ability to live a truly human life.

We need a different relationship to work, to technology. We know what we want: a meaningful life, a sense of community, a balanced existence. It’s not just about “leaning in” or faster iPhones. We want to be truly human.

W. B. Yeats once wrote, "It takes more courage to examine the dark corners of your own soul than it does for a solider to fight on a battlefield. "How exactly are we supposed to examine the dark corners of our soul when we are so busy? How are we supposed to live the examined life?

I want us to have a kind of existence where we can pause, look each other in the eye and inquire together: Here is how my heart is doing...How is the state of your heart today?
Let us insist on a type of human-to-human connection where when one of us responds by saying, “I am just so busy,” we can follow up by saying, “I know, love. We all are. But I want to know how your heart is doing.”

Back With a Bang - Certified Scrum Master

I have been in hibernation mode from last few months.Many of you may have thought I am busy and won't retrieve back to writing. But but but - I have a great news - I have been working hard and I am pleased to share with you all that I have passed my CSM - (Certified Scrum Master) certification from Scrum Alliance.

I am a Certified Scrum Master now. This was a professional goal which I set for my own self. In my upcoming posts I will be posting about details of Scrum and how to get certified. So stay tuned!!

Conversation between him and her

 

 

They say what you can’t do in action and you seem to have no other way of expressing your ownself take to writing. From last 2 years - I had wished to be part of your celebrations but unfortunately, it never works. So I decided this time to fulfill my long cherished dream of conversing with you on your big day by writing a monologue. I might sound insane but I think there is no better way of getting my wish fulfilled. So here is a monologue, an imaginary conversation between you and me.

 

A conversation of a different realm. Between you and me - beyond time and space.

 

N: We met at a wrong time. This is what I keep telling myself anyway. May be one day years from now, we will meet in a coffee shop in a far away city somewhere and we could give it another shot. What do you say?

 

A : That sounds really funny because you and I were destined to meet and I am happy we met. I would want to meet you like I did years ago again and again.

 

N: Sigh! I seem to be deserted at times. The entire world seems to turn cold. I feel like thrusting myself into a void. I want to escape this wretchedness.

 

A: What wretchedness are you suffering, dear! Who has caused you pain?

 

N: I have no idea. I feel cheated and left alone. I feel there are only moments of fleeting happiness in life. Sometimes I feel life is utterly absurd and sometimes I feel I am truly blessed. I am in confusion. Do you feel the same ? Do you have a solution?

 

A: I wish I knew. But I know - these are the pangs of intellectual birth. Don’t you worry about all this – I am sure will soon be able to get the answers to all these questions and that time the divine nakedness of the moment will be in front of you. It would be highly liberating.

 

N: Divine nakedness of the moment - I will wait for that moment.

 

N: Why do you think its imperative to live with reverence?

 

A : I don't know what you mean? I don't think I can answer your question.

 

N: Is there any one who can answer my question?

 

A: Hmmmmm

 

(...to be continued)

 

PS : Wish you a very happy birthday A :-)

Just as you need

Jottings

She has a strange dream in her eyes,
She has a strange feeling in her heart,
She has a strange wish to accomplish,
She has a strange courage to feel full,

 

I discovered very early, within you, the same wheel of restlessness which I had years back which I seem to have even now. There is this madness, vastness, serenity which I want to feel. There is this mystery which I try to solve whenever I look at your innocent face. Unfortunately, we are all wearing a mask - because of which the inner self remains untouchable till we end up in grave.

 

To all those who don't open up fast - life is sweet and short. Make it a celebration who knows what next day will cast.

Gautam Buddha - Short story

When I heard the story of Gautam Buddha, my question was always about his wife and son that he left behind.This write-up by Vikram Bhattacharya touches that part of the story.

 

He left her in the middle of the night, the night their son was born. When she heard the news she was devastated. Yet, she did not complain but her life lost all meaning. The only reason for her to live now was her son. She wanted him to grow up to be a man that the world would look up to.

 

Her friends and relatives came around and asked her to forget about the man who had left her and start life again. They asked her to marry again but she refused. She was young, beautiful and suitors queued up outside her door but she refused each one of them.

 

Then one fine day he came back !

 

He stood in front of her and she could hardly remember him as the man who had left her.

“They call you the Buddha now?” she asked him gently. “I hear they do,” he answered in a calm fashion. “What does it mean?” she further inquired. “I think it means the enlightened one, a knower,” he informed. She smiled and then a silence. “I suppose we have both learned something. Your lessons O Buddha, will make the world richer in spirit, but my lesson will unfortunately remain largely unknown.” she reflected deeply.“ And what lesson is that ? ” The Buddha probed.

 

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears, “That a courageous woman does not need anyone to complete her.. SHE IS COMPLETE ON HER OWN ”

A year gone by

 

In the year gone by
have you let life bypass you
Have you let the joy of your being
find expression or have you
found reasons to excuse yourself
Have you let the love in your heart
warm this world or have you found
reasonable excuse to languish in frown
Did you find something wonderful
to say of all around you or have you
become the judgment day damnation
Have you loved, laughed and teared up
or have you remained untouched by life
Years shall go by.  ---Extract from Isha Blog

Thoughts

I am perplexed, I am petrified, I am confused but at the same time I feel a sense of achievement, a strange happiness and a sense of belonging. The flow of these opposite thoughts keeps going until I reach a state of slumber where there is none but me and my consciousness. How I wish this state could be reached often and how I wish - one of the subjects taught in school was - how to perfectly balance your thoughts!

Moment to moment, the flows of thoughts and feelings, sensations and desires, conscious and unconscious processes sculpts my nervous system like water gradually carving furrows and eventually gullies on a hillside. My brain is continually changing its structure. The only question is: Is it for better or worse? It must be better because that what my inner voice shouts loud. One more year is going to pass, time is flying and I know I am wiser than yesterday. I know I have learnt my lesson this year and I know I am going to work on my weak points.

A Guru can never die!

Swami Dayananda Saraswati

 

I do not know how to express or how to react - I seem to be normal because its the same morning , same day , same days work which I am carrying out from last 2 days. Nothing has changed.

 

But yes something seems to be missing! Each time I look at a Facebook post which has a picture of yours a tear comes rolling down my eyes. May be I don't want to show this me to anyone but today let me confess the biggest truth of my life. Your teachings have changed me and you have helped me in what I am today.

 

They say a guru can never die. He is always there with you , in the form of his teaching and guiding you. You continue to be there, personifying the teacher, if you follow his teaching. I promise to do little bit from my side. May you show everyone the right path.

 

Hari OM.

 

OM Sri Gurubhyo Namaha!

Cut the crap - You see!

We are told to love people unconditionally, but sometimes we must get rid of people unconditionally. Some toxic people just keep slithering and oozing in through the cracks in your resolve; they refuse to respect your boundaries. No more mixed messages. You must learn how to close a door permanently. Cut and cauterize. Monstrous sociopath-like disengagement is your right. Your life is worth more. Don’t waste another minute. Let them say you are awful. Block, ban, delete and disconnect. Compassion? Have some for yourself! Do what you must do to take care of yourself and don’t you dare ever feel guilty. ― Bryant McGill

 

Bemoan

Here I am back into my space after a gap.....and this was an effortless visit.

Sometimes you reach at such a stage in life where nothing matters - relations, friendships - you just want to hibernate and be in solace of your own thoughts! You want to detach from useless conversations, from unhealthy relationships - you yarn for peace, for freedom, for being what you are. You loath to admit your mistake and you feel a strange peace in it.

You want to be understood, you want to understand but unfortunately or fortunately nothing works. Nothing at all!!