The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With it’s petals all worn – not enough rain or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,”It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too.
That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you.”
The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow, or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower and replied, “Just what I need.”
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it in midair without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun As I thanked him for picking the very best one. “You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see The problem was not with the world, the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that’s mine.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
bollywood blockbuster..
We have all heard of Guru stories. Not just one but many. For all
those who are wondering what is a " Guru story" just read on and it
would be clear by the end of it.
Here is something that comes straight from a typical bollywood
blockbuster. A reel life scene experienced in real life!
One day before the chennai Utsav started something so miraculous
happened that reminded,of what is said," When you spread knowledge
nature will bend to serve (save) you".
One of the active volunteers (Anil…. He is 6ft 6 inches and weighs 90
kgs) was driving his bike on a fly over and a bus dashed him from
behind. He flew from his bike and he collided on the railing. He
toppled over and fell.... on the other side... 8 ft down on the busy
road below. It was amazing to hear the story from Anil himself . all
of u want to know what happened next since it was obvious that a
miracle had saved him.
Here is what happened. As he took off from the bridge and was fast
descending down towards mother earth a fast moving open truck carrying
"HAY" was passing by. He fell exactly inside it.. His fall was
cushioned!!
Jai Gurudev!
those who are wondering what is a " Guru story" just read on and it
would be clear by the end of it.
Here is something that comes straight from a typical bollywood
blockbuster. A reel life scene experienced in real life!
One day before the chennai Utsav started something so miraculous
happened that reminded,of what is said," When you spread knowledge
nature will bend to serve (save) you".
One of the active volunteers (Anil…. He is 6ft 6 inches and weighs 90
kgs) was driving his bike on a fly over and a bus dashed him from
behind. He flew from his bike and he collided on the railing. He
toppled over and fell.... on the other side... 8 ft down on the busy
road below. It was amazing to hear the story from Anil himself . all
of u want to know what happened next since it was obvious that a
miracle had saved him.
Here is what happened. As he took off from the bridge and was fast
descending down towards mother earth a fast moving open truck carrying
"HAY" was passing by. He fell exactly inside it.. His fall was
cushioned!!
Jai Gurudev!
very touching experience shared by a teacher
once she had gone to meet Guruji at a devotees house,She was having some problems.but she kept smile on her face in front of Guruji so that HE would not feel bad.So she was trying to hide her problem.
Later Guruji sat back in HIS car n was about to go,HE was touching everybody's hand who was standing outside the car.
but when she tried to touch HIS hand,Guruji ne unke haatho ko jor se pakad liya.n when she looked inside the car,there was tears in Guruji's eyes.HE was crying at that moment.
Later she thought "ki mera dukh itna bada to nahi tha ki mere Guru ki aakhon me aasu aa gaye."
Guruji aap bhi na BHOLENAATH HAI
Later Guruji sat back in HIS car n was about to go,HE was touching everybody's hand who was standing outside the car.
but when she tried to touch HIS hand,Guruji ne unke haatho ko jor se pakad liya.n when she looked inside the car,there was tears in Guruji's eyes.HE was crying at that moment.
Later she thought "ki mera dukh itna bada to nahi tha ki mere Guru ki aakhon me aasu aa gaye."
Guruji aap bhi na BHOLENAATH HAI
An amazing Experience Shared By A Teacher
Guruji was in tamilnadu . One senior AOL teacher requested Guruji to visit his new constructed bunglow, so Guruji agreed and they both reached to his new bunglow. Guruji and that AOL teacher stepped down from car and were heading towards staircases. Now in front of that bunglow there was main road and on the other side of the road there was small hut and one lady was sitting outside that hut. That lady saw Guruji and that AOL teacher and started thinking that I wish I could have meet Guruji. He is looking so much powerful. Now in days spirituality is only meant for rich people. But as I am very much poor even if HE comes to my hut what I can give HIM so its ok even if HE doesnot come to my hut. Guruji was heading towards staircase he stepped up 2 steps and turned back and straight away went to that hut. No one was able to understand whats happening. Guruji saw that lady and asked her , Mai andar nahi bulayegi. That lady was not getting what to do now, then Guruji asked Mai bhuk lagi hai khana nahi degi. That lady was having hardly half or one roti. She gave that to Guruji and Guruji ate that.
VIP Pass
am sure there are thousands of Guru stories going around and every one has multiple stories to tell. I am sharing a few of my experieces with Gurudev.
This one happened during the recent event at Washington DC. There were a few people from Seattle going to Washington DC and they asked me whether I want to join. However, I was not inclined at all. Also, I did not want or rather did not have much cash on hand, especially since I bought a new home only a couple of weeks back. My house closing was scheduled to be on 3/26/2007. I was also planning to do DSN in bay area. So, in short, I was not really planning to go to Washington DC.
A few days before going to DSN, my wife (reshmi) said to me that she has a feeling that we should go to washington DC. Well, I said let us tell Guruji to make it happen. Then that night, while going to bed, I told Guruji that I want to come to Washington DC and please make it happen. This was on a Sunday. On monday we went to sign our house papers and here comes the surprise - I got $3k cash back from the closing, which I was not expecting to get. (This money was originally supposed to be counted against the loan principal). So that was the first thing. Ok now the money has come, but we have only 2 days to do all the arrangements, since I was travelling to Bay area on thursday morning for my DSN with Anandji.
So on tuesday, our friend informed me that she has arranged for our stay with a family in DC and we dont have to worry about the stay. They also arranged for the pick up from the airport. In short everything happened so fast, by wednesday afternoon, we had our travel planned completely. As per the plan, we will come back from DC on 3/30 and on 3/31 we have to move from the apt to our new home. So just one day for a complete house shift!!
So I wento DSN on thursday morning and came back to Seattle on monday evening. On tuesday early morning, we left for DC. As Anandji said during DSN, occassions were created to ensure that we are living the knowledge.
At DC, we went to see Guruji, at the hotel where he was staying. However, I could not talk to him or personally meet him. I was feeling so heavy in my heart that I was feeling all kinds of emotions. I thought, if it was in my grandfather's ashrmam, I would not have to bother about anything and I will be like a VIP, since I am the grandson of the master.. I was feeling so heavy that I could not talk to Guruji. I sat down on the floor and told myself that I am not going to the silver jubilee event. However, somehow, by 5.30 I got up and said ok, let us go. So Reshmi and myself (we had $ 75 tickets) went to the venue. We went to the couter, to pick up our tickets - and here comes the climax. WE WERE GIVEN VIP TICKETS. First I could not understand as why I got VIP tickets, then I thought, oh may be we got wrong tickets. I looked at the names again. It said Shyam Nair. Then I was talking with a devotee from Seattle and he told us that if I got the VIP pass, I should go for VIP reception. Then suddenly it occurred to me - My guru is telling me that I am a VIP for him and he answered my doubts and questions - I could not control my emotions. I just went to the VIP reception and met Guruji in the middle of all the invited guests...
This one happened during the recent event at Washington DC. There were a few people from Seattle going to Washington DC and they asked me whether I want to join. However, I was not inclined at all. Also, I did not want or rather did not have much cash on hand, especially since I bought a new home only a couple of weeks back. My house closing was scheduled to be on 3/26/2007. I was also planning to do DSN in bay area. So, in short, I was not really planning to go to Washington DC.
A few days before going to DSN, my wife (reshmi) said to me that she has a feeling that we should go to washington DC. Well, I said let us tell Guruji to make it happen. Then that night, while going to bed, I told Guruji that I want to come to Washington DC and please make it happen. This was on a Sunday. On monday we went to sign our house papers and here comes the surprise - I got $3k cash back from the closing, which I was not expecting to get. (This money was originally supposed to be counted against the loan principal). So that was the first thing. Ok now the money has come, but we have only 2 days to do all the arrangements, since I was travelling to Bay area on thursday morning for my DSN with Anandji.
So on tuesday, our friend informed me that she has arranged for our stay with a family in DC and we dont have to worry about the stay. They also arranged for the pick up from the airport. In short everything happened so fast, by wednesday afternoon, we had our travel planned completely. As per the plan, we will come back from DC on 3/30 and on 3/31 we have to move from the apt to our new home. So just one day for a complete house shift!!
So I wento DSN on thursday morning and came back to Seattle on monday evening. On tuesday early morning, we left for DC. As Anandji said during DSN, occassions were created to ensure that we are living the knowledge.
At DC, we went to see Guruji, at the hotel where he was staying. However, I could not talk to him or personally meet him. I was feeling so heavy in my heart that I was feeling all kinds of emotions. I thought, if it was in my grandfather's ashrmam, I would not have to bother about anything and I will be like a VIP, since I am the grandson of the master.. I was feeling so heavy that I could not talk to Guruji. I sat down on the floor and told myself that I am not going to the silver jubilee event. However, somehow, by 5.30 I got up and said ok, let us go. So Reshmi and myself (we had $ 75 tickets) went to the venue. We went to the couter, to pick up our tickets - and here comes the climax. WE WERE GIVEN VIP TICKETS. First I could not understand as why I got VIP tickets, then I thought, oh may be we got wrong tickets. I looked at the names again. It said Shyam Nair. Then I was talking with a devotee from Seattle and he told us that if I got the VIP pass, I should go for VIP reception. Then suddenly it occurred to me - My guru is telling me that I am a VIP for him and he answered my doubts and questions - I could not control my emotions. I just went to the VIP reception and met Guruji in the middle of all the invited guests...
Birthday Party
One day at 9:am, I told Gurudev that I was going to the city. Gurudev said that Kirpal was also going so I could go with him. Then Raghu, too, wanted to go in the same car. Along the way we met Divya and she, too, wanted a lift to the city and Kirpal agreed. I didn't know what was going on.
I had wanted to go to the city to collect some clothes from my tailor. I got out at the tailor shop and asked them to continue, but they said they would wait. The clothes were not ready, so I sugggested that we go to the snack shop opposite, since it was always noon . After eating, Kirpal had work to do, so he said that he would
meet the rest of us shortly at a place on MG road.
While we were walking towards MG road. we met Shekhar, a cousin of mine who was looking after the Ashram gardens. He said that the director of the Agriculture University and his wife were waiting in a car and he wanted us to meet them. I was reluctant and not at all interested in meeting them. The people around began giggling and I could not fathom why. Anyway, I went with shekhar to the car, which
was parked in the front of the Oberoi Hotel. Inside the car were my father and mother. The entire set-up had been arranged as a birthday surprise!
It was such a great experience and I was totally overwhelmed being with people who were most close to me. We were given the centre table in the restaurant. I thought that Gurudev did not know what happened and when we returned to the Ashram, I began to tell Him the story.
But He cut me short, saying, "Ah, so you got the centre table!" So He
was behind all this...
Another year we were in Pune, I had forgotten it was my birthday. That morning in a Satsang of over 1000 people, there was a question-and-answer session in which someone asked, "What happens when you come to a Guru?" Gurudev responded, "When you come to a Guru, fun is born." IN Hindi, the word for 'fun' is my name Vinod. That's when I realised that it was my birthday.
On another Birthday, Gurudev was away in Canada. I recieved a phone call: it was Gurudev. He said, "Everybody is singing Art of Living birthday song!" In the background, I could hear the entire satsang group singing away. I was overwhelmed. He has remembered me!
Life with the Master is not easy to talk about, because it touches me so intimately. All those deep impressions which you cannot share with anybody else, you can share with the Master. He is there to take all those away. He meet each of us at our own level, constantly inviting us to open up to Him. This becomes easier later on, because you realise that He is totally non-judgemental.
---Vinod Menon
I had wanted to go to the city to collect some clothes from my tailor. I got out at the tailor shop and asked them to continue, but they said they would wait. The clothes were not ready, so I sugggested that we go to the snack shop opposite, since it was always noon . After eating, Kirpal had work to do, so he said that he would
meet the rest of us shortly at a place on MG road.
While we were walking towards MG road. we met Shekhar, a cousin of mine who was looking after the Ashram gardens. He said that the director of the Agriculture University and his wife were waiting in a car and he wanted us to meet them. I was reluctant and not at all interested in meeting them. The people around began giggling and I could not fathom why. Anyway, I went with shekhar to the car, which
was parked in the front of the Oberoi Hotel. Inside the car were my father and mother. The entire set-up had been arranged as a birthday surprise!
It was such a great experience and I was totally overwhelmed being with people who were most close to me. We were given the centre table in the restaurant. I thought that Gurudev did not know what happened and when we returned to the Ashram, I began to tell Him the story.
But He cut me short, saying, "Ah, so you got the centre table!" So He
was behind all this...
Another year we were in Pune, I had forgotten it was my birthday. That morning in a Satsang of over 1000 people, there was a question-and-answer session in which someone asked, "What happens when you come to a Guru?" Gurudev responded, "When you come to a Guru, fun is born." IN Hindi, the word for 'fun' is my name Vinod. That's when I realised that it was my birthday.
On another Birthday, Gurudev was away in Canada. I recieved a phone call: it was Gurudev. He said, "Everybody is singing Art of Living birthday song!" In the background, I could hear the entire satsang group singing away. I was overwhelmed. He has remembered me!
Life with the Master is not easy to talk about, because it touches me so intimately. All those deep impressions which you cannot share with anybody else, you can share with the Master. He is there to take all those away. He meet each of us at our own level, constantly inviting us to open up to Him. This becomes easier later on, because you realise that He is totally non-judgemental.
---Vinod Menon
Jail Tale - Grace of Gurudev
Shashi Nowlakha
A graduate from Calcutta university, she is active in arranging cultural
events in Calcutta.
jail Tale
It is impossible to really know the Guru, but one can allow oneself to
be fully in His presence, or feel His true presence deep within oneself.
When I first met Gurudev, on the 2nd of January 1987, in Calcutta , I
was constantly trying to understand Him, who He was, and what He
was trying to teach. After three days I found myself totally
enveloped in such an unconditional love that I had never before
experienced. It was very beautiful and extended into my everyday
existence.
His love made me feel full of gratitude, and I realised that the Divine
could manifest in the form of the Guru.
Once, in August '95, my father, through a bizarre set of circumstances,
found himself in jail, a most ironical situation for the whole
family, since we all knew him to be so strict and morally upright.
Knowing only Gurudev could solve my problem, I called him at the German
Ashram to tell Him all about what had happened. Before I could begin, He
said "Don't worry, I know everything. I am there with you."
When I visited my father, he said that the police had been treating him
very well. After a few days in jail, he began to feel that he was
surrounded by an aura. It was then that he discovered the Guru's
Presence. On his way back home, the only thing he could talk about was
knowledge. It reminded him of Krishna , who according to tradition, was
born in prison, where a tyrant was keeping His parents captive. Now my
father feels the Guru's Presence every moment.
Another instance of Gurudev's loving intervention was when my son,
Harsh, was two years old and suffered a severe epileptic attack. We
rushed him to the hospital. Then my husband suggested we talk with
Gurudev. When I spoke to Him, Gurudev recommended we take Harsh home.
Without a Without a second thought, with complete trust in Him, we took him
back. Today Harsh is six years old, and he has not had another attack.
Such is the grace of our Gurudev!
A graduate from Calcutta university, she is active in arranging cultural
events in Calcutta.
jail Tale
It is impossible to really know the Guru, but one can allow oneself to
be fully in His presence, or feel His true presence deep within oneself.
When I first met Gurudev, on the 2nd of January 1987, in Calcutta , I
was constantly trying to understand Him, who He was, and what He
was trying to teach. After three days I found myself totally
enveloped in such an unconditional love that I had never before
experienced. It was very beautiful and extended into my everyday
existence.
His love made me feel full of gratitude, and I realised that the Divine
could manifest in the form of the Guru.
Once, in August '95, my father, through a bizarre set of circumstances,
found himself in jail, a most ironical situation for the whole
family, since we all knew him to be so strict and morally upright.
Knowing only Gurudev could solve my problem, I called him at the German
Ashram to tell Him all about what had happened. Before I could begin, He
said "Don't worry, I know everything. I am there with you."
When I visited my father, he said that the police had been treating him
very well. After a few days in jail, he began to feel that he was
surrounded by an aura. It was then that he discovered the Guru's
Presence. On his way back home, the only thing he could talk about was
knowledge. It reminded him of Krishna , who according to tradition, was
born in prison, where a tyrant was keeping His parents captive. Now my
father feels the Guru's Presence every moment.
Another instance of Gurudev's loving intervention was when my son,
Harsh, was two years old and suffered a severe epileptic attack. We
rushed him to the hospital. Then my husband suggested we talk with
Gurudev. When I spoke to Him, Gurudev recommended we take Harsh home.
Without a Without a second thought, with complete trust in Him, we took him
back. Today Harsh is six years old, and he has not had another attack.
Such is the grace of our Gurudev!
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