Reflections – on living our “some” dreams

 

Contd.....

Reflections – on living our “some” dreams

So, one Sunday, I cleaned ‘that patch’ and made it ‘garden ready’. I declared to all that the dustbin was to be ‘an old broken bucket and it was shifted to the other side. Elders of the house nodded their heads and laughed. They knew this was a passing fare. They amused my ‘rules’. They had decided to not bother as they nodded. Only I didn’t know it then.

There, in that place, I planted my plants – bitter gourd, beans and a couple of other plants that I borrowed from the kitchen.

I would religiously water them. When I saw beans and bitter gourd, I knew no bound of joy. I felt that I was an expert in gardening. I even imagined myself to be a ‘successful farmer’.

No internet, no books, no guidance’ to grow them. They would die after a couple of months. I would again plant something else and still work on it with equal fervor.

My love for gardening was seeded there. Then we shifted to an equally small house but with no ‘open space’ between room and kitchen now. Yet, I didn’t stop, I took to pots and failed again and again. But planting, I never stopped.

Then marriage happened!!!

No house was conducive to gardening or so I thought!

My heart kept desiring to have plants but I kept saying ‘When I have ‘X’ type of house I will have plants’.

Finally, I said enough was enough. The balcony was very small. Yet, I started with just 5-6 pots.

Again we shifted. Now the balcony was much smaller. So, I just managed with these 5-6 pots.

Contd.....

# living your dream, dreams, achievements, living in the moment, 

also revisit old post further : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2009/03/beginners-must-know-tips.html

 

Achchamma - Great character in a simple lady doing menial job!

 

Contd.....

Achchamma - Great character in a simple lady doing menial job!

She is adorable in so many ways.

Her name is Achchamma. But, I will call her Mary. Because, well, you’ll see for yourself.

As already mentioned she cleans toilets. But, as she is cleaning, she is singing ‘hymns praising her Lord Jesus”. She is a true Christian – always living in gratitude. One of her song words translates as “how can I thank you enough for all the abundance you have showered on me, praise be unto your name”

There is always a smile on her face as she does her job – a job people cringe in their own houses too! How many would be happy cleaning others’ toilets? Our toilet is used by us and our family members only and yet we cringe and crib. We need outside help to clean our toilets.

And here, look at her!

So many of us complain about our jobs – the salary, timings, boring, boss or colleagues not being good etc etc. and here, this woman praises her Lord for placing her in such a good situation and for taking care of her – always!

 We all can take a leaf or two on the subject of gratitude from her – can’t it?

Contd.....

# menial job, character, mindfulness, awareness, attitude, life is all about attitude, happiness is all in the character, joyful, gratitude, abundance, validating, 

also read: https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=Me%2C+My+Guru+%E2%80%93+On+broken+pots  

Me, My Guru – On doing good!

 

Me, My Guru – On doing good!

“Guruji, what is the fun of doing good? You’ve been taking classes since decades and still people are where they were. They haven’t changed. Some have left you – though they completed master’s degree with you they are not with you, they are not what I would say ‘good enough to be humans, leave alone masters! 

Many have stopped doing Reiki after practicing for few years. They received abundance from Reiki and yet they choose to stop practicing Reiki. 

Those who come to you are either always complaining or cribbing about one thing or the other. One who is regular in sadhan, grateful and appreciative of Reiki, working regularly on his self and changing towards his ‘better-self’ is hardly there! Those who are with you are not regular in sadhan. Some who are regular in sadhan are very bitter in their nature. What do you get through this work except complaint, hatred, jealousy, anger and taunts thrown at you? Don’t you feel bad about your work and so much of your sadhan energies going to waste? Why don’t you simply stop being Master till ‘a right student’ comes by?” that was Rahul and Aziz sharing their anguish. They couldn’t see our Guru’s hard work going down the drain.

Contd....

# on doing good, making right choices, dharma, playing our part right, being responsible, right and wrong, do your duty and leave the rest

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=on+broken+pots

(The link given above answers so many of your pending questions...the explanation is also given in the above link...take time to go through them once again to be able to walk this path unflinchingly....)

Questions answered :

• People always ask "Why should I be the one doing good to my family members when I don't like them or when they are not good?"
• People ask "Why should I forgive my spouse and do healing to him/her when he/she is wrong? They should seek my forgiveness. Why do you ask me to do reiki to them and for how long?"

Points to be understood :

Remember, whether it is a Guru dealing with students or a person dealing with his family and friends - the rule is same for all! But we consider and want and expect our Guru's to be patient, forgiving and considerate of our selfishness, anger, lies, cheating, greed, lust and what not! Why because it involves us? But when it comes to us dealing with our family members we use different measure giving an excuse "But we are after all humans" or classic one is "Rama, Krishna, Buddha or YOU are great maam, but us tho (तो ) not possible maam..."Why? Because we want to get away with our behaviour. Everyone has right to choose his behaviour. But to expect happiness in return for dislike, peace in return for selfishness stupid. Always remember, I repeat what I have been saying since ever and so have every teacher you know -"Do good and good will come back to you. Do bad and that will come back to you"

The way students are behaving with the student could be the way people are behaving with you. Then you need to behave as the guru does - and only that is the answer for this problem.

Change the perspective lady!

 Contd........ 

Change the perspective lady! 

Sometimes we will fall sick and on other days we are healthy.

Some days we receive people in life and on some days we lose some!

Healing cannot and won’t make a change in ‘change of seasons’!

But it will help us change our perspective for better! Because, it is the perception that decides whether we suffer or enjoy the ‘change of season’ every time!

And that is all we need in our life every time we suffer or are in pain!

So why not put reasoning to good use and change our perspective for better? 

All this time, we have justified our emotions and validated our suffering and pain with reasoning. Today, let's put reasoning and logic to good use - to benefit us. Let us learn to use reasoning the right way. Instead of standing by our desires and our emotions, let's question our desires and emotions. Let's work towards desires if need be, but with the change in our way of working towards their fulfillment. Let’s make this small beginning. Let’s make this small change. 

Let’s see where it leads us. 

Just let’s do it! 

Concluded.........

# change the perspective lady story, perspective, perception, attitude and its effect, good and bad, seasons of life, life and its aspects, celebration of life, reasons to celebrate in life, complaining about life, grateful for life .... 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=broken+pots 

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=seasons 

Have your ever changed your perspective and found difference it brought about in your life? 

Would there be any change in the state of mind because of change in the perspective?

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

Contd......

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

“But, how to water Mil or financial problems?” asked Vinay.

“Work on them through sadhan and healing. Use various techniques as required to heal the situations. Also heal your emotions that rise with these situations. It can be anything like anger, depression, selfishness, fear or any other one. Just keep healing them. Periodically look at the way your emotions vary. Their intensity and frequency become less and less. And with that your confidence, peace of mind and state of well-being also spikes. Not only that your understanding will better. Now you think you understand. Over time your understanding will be right. It’ll happen in bits and pieces. So, healing has to be done again and again. And these flowers – say of peace, contentment, feeling of security, clarity of thought would bloom” she left having said this.

Left to ourselves we expressed our understanding, questions, doubts and clarified it among ourselves.

When the time to go home came, we got up half- heartedly. Sometimes, leaving her place became more painful than ever. We wished to hang around little longer than needed. But our lives and clocks gave us no option but to leave. And leave we did!

Today, we weren’t ashamed of our flaws. We weren’t angry with the ‘cracks’ in our lives. We were leaving with the eagerness to water right seeds with the ‘cracks’ in our lives – for once!

Which flowers bloomed in our paths – well, that was for time to tell. For now, we visualized, our paths laid with ‘beautiful flowers’.

Rahul said “I liked her answer to Vaishnav’s question “but, why does Reiki/God give these cracks at all in our lives? He can just make it easy for us by making our lives smoother. He must be a sadist to do so!”

“Yes” and she had replied “May be, these cracks are part of God’s divine play to let us work out our lives purpose. Maybe, that’s the way it was meant to be to make our ‘purpose of life’ so beautiful and purposeful in such an effortless way” replied someone.

And that stuck with each one of us as we closed ‘the gate’ behind us!

Concluded.....

# cracked pot, leaking pot, flaws and painful situations in life, challenges of life, life, break down situations, you attract situations in life, 

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=look+at+the+leaf+on+that+banyan+tree

For those who want to know how the 'giver' makes a difference : Read the above given without fail 

Time to ponder :

• Are you making a ‘flaw in your life’ ‘centre of your existence’ or ‘are you making it an inspiration’ to bring purpose in your life? That decision decides which seeds you are watering.
• क्या तुम अपने कमियों को अपने ज़िन्दगी का आधार बना रहे हो या फिर प्रेरणा स्तोत्र ? इस के जवाब पे तुम्हारा सुख-दुःख निर्भर करता है। 

• Is your faith strengthened or questioned? Look at the seeds you are watering.

Question time : 

• What are the cracks in your life?
• Which seeds are you watering daily?
• Watering the seeds happens by way of emotions, feelings, words and thoughts. So where are your thoughts today giving energy?
• Was there a pain in your life that you turned into your strength?
• Was there a strength in  your life that you converted into pain?

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

Contd......

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

Mohandas was pushed from a train carriage in South Africa. It was an act of racism. If it has been based on hatred, it would’ve become vengeance. And that can turn him hating whites. This also becomes the cause for one to turn into a terrorist or an anti-social element. But, he made it a wakeup call to fight against ‘racism’. He did not make it personal. He worked on changing the mindset that made whites behave so. He did not kill or hurt whites for their behaviour. He said we should make a noise so that they realize that their thought process is oppressive. Just a change of ‘intent’ made new colour to that incident. The ‘intent’ made it ‘dharma’. It was based on ‘equality of men’. It wasn’t against anyone. It was just to stand up for self.

          
When a person uses his failure, pain, suffering, insult to uplift his fellow sufferers it becomes a noble act. It gives purpose to his life. It becomes ‘dharma’. it would let seeds of joy sprout on his and others path.

Corona is a ‘crack’. We have increased our immunity by eating right and exercising right. This way of watering our crack not only benefits us for and against this ‘crack’ but also has put us on better shape, good health, away from other life-style diseases. And that well-being feeling is the flower that’s bloomed because we used this crack to water the right seed.

If we had watered stress, anger, fear in ‘it’s’ face, we could’ve outlived corona but would be suffering with B/P, sugar, heart problems and what not.

So, you see how and where you water and which seeds you water matters” our Guru stopped for her.

We enjoyed our tea. Crack or no crack tea was one thing that we watered ourselves with regularly.

“But, how to water Mil or financial problems?” asked Vinay.

Contd......

# problems and challenges of life, life, issues of life, break down situations, blessing and curse,

Also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=pen+and+eraser

Points to take home :

• Don't look for cracks in your life. See the light that is coming through that crack in  your life!
• 
  

In reply to comment : hope the kid likes stories in these posts........

posts which kids may like : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=interconnection+between+

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=apple+and+the+girl

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=uninhabited+island

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=old+woman+in+her+dingy+hut

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=is+luck+by+chance%3F

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=donkey%2C+father+and+his+son

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

Contd......

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

“That, we need to look beyond our flaws whatever they are in our lives. Am I right Guruji?” asked Kshama.

Yes. We all carry little flaws in ourselves and in our lives. It can be a boring, unrewarding and a menial job. It may be a painful relationship. For some that could be a disease. To another it could be an attitude like anger, hatred or so. These are the ‘cracks’ in our lives. That is the fact!

Now, the big question is what are we doing with this cracks? Seeds of which plants we are watering daily, every hour with these cracks in our lives. Because whatever seeds we plant we are going to reap those fruits and flowers tomorrow. Will they be beautiful and good enough to decorate our houses or will they be thorns that are going to prick and hurt us? Think about it!” saying this, our Guru stopped.

“But our flaw like spouse, Mil or financial tension is a crack. How can we water with them? You don’t know our spouses or Mils. They are useless. They can’t water anything” replied Vijaya.

We all laughed. How can our relationship or tensions be used to water something good for us – we all wondered!

“Simple! Any flaw if you make it ‘centre of your life’ it sucks you into negativity of fear, restlessness, anger or depression. But if you make it your inspiration, it can be used to not only make your path laid with flowers but other too! 

Contd......

# let go, inspiration, problems and challenges, opportunities and luck, happiness, flaw, 

pain and suffering, situations of life, challenges of life, life, 

also read previous post : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=on+love-bhagavatam 

Questions : 

• What is the centre of your life?
• Which seeds are you watering daily with your thoughts, emotions and character?
• Can a anger and hatred filled heart love? 

Points to understand :

• If today is result of what you planted yesterday, if today you are reaping what you have sown yesterday, then you know what you'll receive tomorrow with what you are sowing today..........
• Are you sure you'll be comfortable with what  you receive tomorrow?
• Be aware of what you are watering every day!

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

Contd.......

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

The cracked pot looked at the lovely flowers along the path way! It looked at all the flowers used to decorate Monk’s hut! It beamed with joy.

So, now you tell me, ‘what’ is the ‘crack’ in your pot?” asked our Guru.

“Oh! Certainly my useless spouse!” said one.

“My MIL for sure” said another.

“Take SIL for mine” shouted the other.

“My EMIs” said a voice from behind.

“Corona for me” said someone. We all laughed at the volley of these answers. Most of us had most of these cracks in our lives. When someone told his ‘crack’ that was when we realized even we had it in our life. And that resulted in ‘understanding laughter’.

‘So what did you learn from this story?’ asked our Guru.

“That we are not full ‘because’ of ‘cracks’ in our lives! No doubt there is so much of dissatisfaction, depression and frustration in us!” replied one among us. Few of us nodded in agreement.  

“This again is the classic case of getting wrong understanding and moral from right example and story” said Kshama.

“Isn’t our answer obvious through and in the story?” we asked.

“There is more to it than this. What you say is the fact of life. But what Guruji is asking is way different from that” replied Kshama.

“Then you explain” enquired one.

Contd.......

# life and its imperfections, situations that are irritating to us, life and its challenges, soul agenda, life purpose, 

also read suggested to understand how sometimes things have to go down completely to set them right : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=shipwreck 

Question time : 

• What did you get from this story?
• How does it relate to your life problems?
• Was it useful to address any of the issues you are facing?
• When was the last time you felt problem was actually a blessing in disguise in your life?

Points worth noting down : 

• Every life - be it saint or prophets was laid with challenges, problems and sufferings. 
• What they made out of those made them who they were!
• Situations don't make or break us. We are given situations to help us express ourselves better.

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

Contd.......

Me, My Guru – On broken pots

Over the years, one of the pots developed a crack. It started to leak. But, as she was poor and couldn’t afford to buy a new one, she continued with the job as usual. The leaking pot would be half empty by the time she reached the top. But, since even that water was enough for the monk, she continued with her work.

The leaking pot saw that it was only half-full when it was being emptied into the earthen urn.  The other pot would be full and it looked proudly at the leaking pot. After sometime, the leaking pot asked the old woman “don’t you think I am useless? I am half empty by the time you reach the top of the hill. All your work goes waste. Are you not angry with me? Why don’t you change me?”

The old woman smiled lovingly and said “Tomorrow as I carry you up the hill notice the path we are walking on. We’ll talk later”.

The leaking pot agreed to this!

Next day leaking pot saw beautiful flowers on the path. It was so till the mountain cliff. When the old lady finally filled the earthen urn at the monk’s place, she sat down for a chat with the cracked pot. She asked “Did you see all the flowers along your path?”

The cracked pot replied “Yes, I did!”

“Well” continued the old woman lovingly “I knew about your flaw and so held you in a way that the plants and seeds on your path get watered. And now I pick those lovely flowers to place it at my master’s place.  You see without your flaw all those flowers wouldn’t have bloomed. Your flaw is a flaw only if you stop at that. You can turn it to benefit so many as you make your life journey. Then your flaw becomes your strength” so saying she turned towards cracked pot smiling.

Contd....... 

# life and its challenges, problems of life, life, expectations, karma, dharma, 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=is+luck+by+chance%3F

What did you take so far from this story?