on wealth..

It all depends on what money means to us.
How do I bring both Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana into my life and home? Simple. By making the right shift in my priorities. Our assets may increase but we end up being poor rich people if we are in the category of persons who are “loving things of life and using people”. We would end up being wealthy and successful not to forget satisfied if we are “using things and loving people.” Think about it!

A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year old son waiting for her at the door.
SON: 'Mummy, may I ask you a question?'
MUM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman.
SON: 'Mummy, how much do you make an hour?'
MUM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the womansaid angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'
MUM: 'If you must know, I make $20 an hour.'
SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: "Mummy, may I please borrow $5?"
The mother was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door..
The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down , and started to think:Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $5 and he really didn't ask for money very often.The woman went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.
'Are you asleep, son?' She asked.
'No Mummy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.
'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $5 you asked for.'
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you Mummy!' he yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.
The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his mother.
'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the mother grumbled. 'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied. 'Mummy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'
The mother was crushed. She put his arms around her little son, and she begged for his forgiveness.
It's just a short reminder to all who are working so hard in life. We must not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $20 worth of your time with someone you love.

Always remember comforts and riches are for the people in our life. Our life is not to accumulate the riches at the cost of losing out on people in our lives. Let us be little more AWARE and sensible as we are amassing riches of life…

Need for pain

 

Need for pain

There was a small boy named “Abhas” who loved singing so much that he would be singing to his parents, family and friends all through the day. But the most painful and sad fact was that his voice would break into coarse, grating noise while singing. His family would tease saying it sounded like bamboo being split into two. Yet, he continued singing. People would shut their ears when he opened his mouth to sing.

One day he smelt something good coming from the kitchen and expecting his mother to cook his favourite dish he ran into the kitchen. And lo! He ran straight into the chopper and he cut one of his toe and the knife dug deep into his feet. He bled excessively and his family took him to the Dr. who somehow could save the toe but the pain remained unattended as there was no painkiller those days.

The little boy kept crying out of pain for several hours every single day for weeks and a month later his throat cleared and voice became melodious.

The little boy “Abhas kumar Ganguly” went on to become one of the musical trio of Indian film Industry – Kishore kumar!

We in our innocence ask for wishes way beyond our capabilities, abilities and worthiness. Sometimes time is also not right. But the heart wants what it wants!

The result – the wish comes true but with the price of a pain that needs to be borne before its fulfillment. Pain is not the ‘sadistic pleasure’ God / Universe derives from us against our desire! No it becomes the way to fulfill our desire.

Only crying at that level and for so long could have cleared his throat that way that he could without even formal musical training be considered one of the best voices and singers of all times to come!

Greater the fight, bigger is the medal!

Bigger the war, greater the reward!

# pain and suffering, fate, wish fulfilled, rewards of pain, 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=everything+happens+for+a+reason 

Questions answered : 

• Why is there a pain?
• What is the purpose of suffering?
• Why do things fall apart?

points to understand :

• There is a purpose for every event in our life. Some understand,few know and majority just keep finding fault with it.
• Purpose of an event can only be understood by the majority of people in retrospect. Have patience, you'll understand what is happening with you today - somewhere in future.
• Every pain brings with it some benefit hidden within it. Only time reveals it at the appropriate time. Wait for it and as you wait, develop right attitude, be in sadhan and be prepared for what is in store for you in future.
• Things when in chaos have to fall apart to bring order in them. 

Share any other insight you have in this regard. 

meditate on  your pain and suffering to understand it correctly.

go back in your past to understand this correctly. 

Never try to understand or gauge what benefit you are to get from today's pain and suffering. You never can understand that! You will only end up being angry and start accusing Reiki/Guru/God unnecessarily. 

Just FYI : completed 1/3 of MM target of 25,000 chanting.....i.e., 8000 times. That means 80 malas completed. 

Hope you are doing as per your target set. 

I had given few HWs and works to do for few of you for next 3 months to come. Hope you are following up the work allotted to you!!!

Stories and all! - Village boy and the city boy

Stories and all! - Village boy and the city boy

There once was a village boy happy playing with his friends in the fields. They would run through the fields, up the hill, climb trees and never tire. They laughed and played all through the day. They tied strings to the tail of dragonflies and shoo the rabbits from their holes. They sat on buffaloes as they swam in the village pond and ran with fans made of leaves and shoots of trees. Climbing on a tree they never were bored and always had some fruit or the other to eat.

One day his father was going to city on an errand and asked him to come along. Reluctantly he left. He slept en route. When he woke up he was in the city. He saw buses, autos and cars in large numbers. The clothes that people wore here made him ashamed of his clothing. There were huge malls and buildings with multicoloured lights. He was floored. He couldn’t take in all with his two little eyes. The smell of food on the street was so good. His father purchased him ‘pav’ (Indian burger made with Indian bread) and it was so delicious. At night they completed their work and took a bus towards their village.

continued......

Reflections – on living our “some” dreams

 

Contd.....

Reflections – on living our “some” dreams

One day, I went to buy plants to donate to a temple. I was tempted to buy it for myself. That boy there recognized my look and asked me to buy a plant. I said, “Now, I don’t have space. Will come back when I shift and have space”.

He mocked me saying “How much does this plant need? It is so small. This plant doesn’t need any extra space.”

The way he said it hit me. True, that plant could fit in my palm.  

I came home and looked at the TV stand. I felt I could keep it there. Next, I noticed a computer table and I realized if I cleaned it a little, I could place a couple of those plants there. Then, there was no stopping me. I started seeing places where I could rearrange and accommodate those tiny plants in tiny pots.

I set about cleaning and rearranging things in the house. It was a huge task. I rearranged everything 10 times till I could place one or two plants at every place. A month later I went to that shop and bought 6 of those plants. I felt so rich that day!

Next, I looked at my balcony. I already had 5-6 pots. I couldn’t get more space but I was on fire. I was determined to get bigger pots now. I kept thinking and looking at gardening sites. I had a stand which I emptied and pushed onto the balcony. Now, I could get a few more pots.

That’s how my desire found its expression – little by little.

Contd.....

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

also revisit old post further : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2016/03/il-dolce-far-niente_18.html

On Diwali!

On Diwali

Let’s light up ‘a favour’ this Diwali – in our lives....

As kids most of you must of read ‘Munshi Premchand’s’ short story ‘Idhgah’. It is a very touching story where a poor boy waits all through the year to buy himself something in the village fair that is called ‘Idgah’ because it is set during ‘Id’ – the festive time and instead buys his mother ‘chimta’ (tongs to hold utensils) for he remembers that she is ever burning her fingers while cooking. If you haven’t read it then read that story – a must read for everyone....

Now coming to our story, can we light up someone’s life too during this Diwali? Fine, those who are already vexed with that expression of ‘oh one more lectures on donating /charity’ don’t bother to read further. Relax! This is not for you! You go ahead and enjoy your festival your way...just be happy the way it pleases you......

And for those you want to make it more than just a festival to ‘enjoy with family and friends’....well, here is the suggestion...you need not even take out huge amounts of money...just take few crackers from the pile that you have purchased (already) – say couple of flowerpots, few sparkles, couple of bombs maybe – just about a handful of this and that and make a pile of those things. Next ask your neighbours to do the same and pool all these things (crackers) in a place. Don’t force anyone to give specific cracker – even a small coloured match box will do.  Put all flowerpots in a box or a packet and likewise put each of specific cracker in a single box or cover and take these to the nearest old age home or an orphanage and give it to them to enjoy...you can also give couple of simple diyas with little bottle of oil (each one giving a little of each) could light up their entire place for couple of days...

If you don’t talk to your neighbours then this is the time to talk and with a good cause....

If you find making friends with them painful and labourious then each of you has a ‘whatsapp group’ into which you can put this suggestion and pool the resources and do the needful.....each group can end up giving to the nearest orphanage and there by may be you can light up more than one place.....

and for those who say 'we don't burn crackers because we are environmental friendly' well to them - just as you spend it with loads of sweats and new dresses make it possible for the less priviledged to celebrate this festival the same way - share sweats and fruits with the orphanage (and yes even this you can pool up with your various gangs/groups)

This ‘Diwali’ as you light up your homes make an effort to light up your hearts too......light up a favour and receive ‘blessings’ your way.....Dhanteras and Diwali is the time when Mother Lakshmi gives abundance to each according to his ‘karma’ and eligibility....and this is the best way to increase your eligibility........

But as I heard someone tell  “to me it doesn’t matter if it gets converted into ‘blessing’ or not...just a look of joy on those kids faces lights up my entire year...”

and yes for every little bit of your 'sharing' with those kids, trust me you have wished me 'Happy Diwali' the right way - not just in paper but in true spirit....and you can see 'my smile' in every smile that you have lighted up.......thankyou for lighting up my world this way........

Concluded..........

R.E.C : Remember the Lakshmi Devi and miser story told usually in II degree class..

Need for pain

Contd....

 

Need for pain

Our belief should not be a cause of pain, suffering or trouble to others. Remember that always!

Trust, but also be alert and cautious.

I trust REIKI but that doesn’t mean I would keep pushing Reiki to prove its existence by lighting a lamp and placing it at crossroads with a condition ‘if Reiki IS, the lamp will light come what may’. Know the difference between ‘belief’ and ‘Stupidity’. Stupidity can also be based on arrogance - beware of that!

Our belief and trust should make us calm during such tough times. They should make us pillar of strengths for the people in our lives. Belief means I play my trust but don’t condition the outcome of my prayer!

Now, this post is not only for this pandemic situation. It also applies to every ‘tough’ or ‘testing situation’ in our life.

We may be going through some testing situation in our –

a.physical level – meaning we may fall sick or be living with some ailment, disturbance in our health, experiencing some sort of pain or discomfort in our daily routine.

b.Relationship level – our personal relationships may be on the verge of sinking maybe. Maybe, we are going through some tough differences of opinion or tough fights. Maybe, we are not on talking terms with our near and dear ones.

c. Financial level – This pandemic is throwing surprises of all sorts on all levels. Finance could be the most common one of them!

d. Emotional level – Fear, fights, depression, anger, frustration and what on could be our emotional state due to various reasons now. You may feel you are going crazy. You feel being torn apart. The good news is so it is for many. When there is storm in the ocean, people in even big ships are thrown and tossed around quite often than not! No one is comfortable during ‘storms’ in ship – be it even as I Class passengers!

So instead of crying about it, complaining about it, use it to your advantage. Your emotions are your thermometer. It indicates your state of mind and where the problem is! Just sit to heal that problem area and you’ll come out of this ‘tough times’ a better, stronger, calmer person than you can imagine today! DO NOT LET GO OFF THIS PERIOD OF HEALING YOURSELF! Trust me on this!

Contd....

# pain and suffering, desire and its fulfillment, destiny, twists and turns of life, life - a miracle, unfolding of life events, everything happens for a reason, everything happens for good, 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=little+boy 

Questions addressed : 

• My emotions are killing me. How do I tackle them?
• How can tough times be beneficial for anyone for that matter?
• 
  

Points to be understood : 

• When life throws a googly at you, how do you bat that? (googly is a term used in game cricket )
• "But I don't want to do anything. I just want this 'bad time' to vanish through some magic. I don't want to learn anything. I don't want to heal it. I am fed up of being forced to change for my good" - Good for you! But there is nothing much anybody - even God can do for such a mindset!
• Heal and transform. Those who transform transcend.
• Those who are stuck with their mindset are eventually wiped out. 
• How come 'logical mind' like yours not get it. You believe and propogate 'Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest' - right? 

Aarthi - this is not about you...........

On Wow moments!

 

Contd…

On Wow moments!

The common in all these moments is that all these moments are free of cost. They are available to one and all! We need not go out ‘do’ or ‘achieve’ something for it. We need not work for these moments. These priceless moments are ever present for all of us to relish and live. We need not ‘go’ anywhere to experience them. We need not ask others to help us get these moments. We don’t need to depend on others for these moments. 

And these moments are spread all through the day! They are available 24/7 for one and all! All we need to do is ‘be available’ for them. We need to be ‘aware’ of them! We need to appreciate them. We need to just be on look out for them. They are there – spread throughout the day! And yet, we go by without noticing them. And when we notice we realize how priceless they are! We realize how rich we are! We realize how much happiness is within our reach!

Isn’t it? Did you realize this? Did you notice this? Were you not surprised with this knowledge?

Just by being aware of these little joys of life, your state of mind had been more calmer, happier and livelier than before - isn't it?

Contd… 

# simple joys of life, facts of life, abundance, secret of happiness, peace of mind, simplicity and abundance, miracles of life, echo of life, mindfulness, il dolce far niente, 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=a+boy+with+a+fractured+hand

Read the above link to understand how situations don't decide our state of mind. Read to understand how we can be happy inspite of situations in life....

Points to understand :

• More or less everyone is going through the same stuff. The stuff is full of job and its demands and complications, relationships and their downside, financial insecurity, pandemic and other heath and social conditions. 
• Yet some people come across as more joyful, healthier and peaceful than most of the people we come across in our life. What is the secret?
• We usually assume these people have all that we desire and hence are more content.
• The fact is one who is content has seen more ups and downs in life than the average ones. Their life is more of a mess than most people around them. And yet they choose to look at little joys and wonders of life. 
• 
  
  

  
  
  
• They haven't forgotten the 'art of wonderment' that we had as a kid. They still kept it alive in themselves. They laugh not because their life is a bed of roses. But because they don't some problem can come any second. So they don't want to miss out on this minute of joy.
• They are grateful for little 'normal routine' things of life. Because they have found that what is normal is also very rare in their life.
• think about it!
• You are not loosing to circumstances and people in your life. You are losing to your mind. Beware! Read the given link below to remind yourself of the same - https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=hell+and+heaven

Me, My Guru – On where there is a will, there is a way!

 

Me, My Guru – On where there is a will, there is a way!

“Guruji, you are always asking us to do so many techniques. But, where is the time? Other masters don’t even emphasize doing ‘hands-on’ on 24 points. In fact, it is not even mentioned in their classes. Yet, you are always asking us to complete doing ‘hands-on’ on a daily basis. We have jobs and personal lives too. Where is the time to do the sadhan?” asked one among us in a dejected tone.

Our Guru just smiled and waited for tea to arrive.

As tea was served everyone relaxed and the air was filled with our laughter. After our tea and chit-chatting were over, our Guru started to say “SRK is one of the top stars of Bollywood. He also owns a production company. He owns a cricket team too. He is into lots of other businesses along with his movies and shows. Imagine how much physical strain would it be to be a performer for 10-12 hours daily – be it in a movie, show or a private function! And over and above that to run such huge businesses! Still, he takes time to attend and be with his friends for all their good and tough times. He is there for his family too! He teaches cricket to his son!

Understand this better with this anecdote. He had a spot boy named Subhash. This boy lived in the slum. SRK would visit the slum silently at night after 1 pm and would stay for 15-20 minutes and leave silently. He would go to this slum once every 6-7 months to attend a birthday party of a kid or if a family member of Subhash was sick. He would attend any small function in Subhash’s house.

Contd...

# Me My Guru series, where there is a way there is a way, on choices, decisions, attitudes, 

Read suggested https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2015/09/after-long-silence.html  read the link given to know how the wise listen to the suggestion/ advice from the other and immediately apply it in their lives and are benefitted because of the same...

also see how the intelligent - sometimes out of ego may take a little longer to accept other's advice - but they too get saved though delayed because of their ego

the foolish full of arrogance, stupidity and ego face the consequences of their own nature - these are the ones who blame the others for their calamity.....

On feedback

…contd….

What does all this mean?

1.      In every situation of your life – be it personal, financial, professional or spiritual you’ll get such feedbacks. It’s up to you to decide which type of reaction you want to choose to face that situation. Your choice decides your state of mind.  Not the feedback. So learn this art earlier than later!

2.      Act only on such of feedback which help you to grow as a better person – be it physically, mentally, financially, emotionally or spiritually. Other feedbacks – just put them in “delete” mode.

3.      Don’t – I repeat NEVER EVER  try to understand why a person is being vicious when he/she gives a feedback/comment. There’s only one thing to understand in such situations. They are ‘garbage trucks’ carrying and throwing garbage around. A little fell on you to. Dust it and move on. They are not worth a second thought! And ever ever try to win them over too hard!

How come most of the comments are only about thank-yous and having only good in them except this boy who writes from black to white covering grey areas of topic too in between?

People who are cautious would always play safe and hence play less. They also receive less! People who are not ready to take ‘RISKS’ can never expect to reach the goal of ‘SUCCESS’.

And here is a boy who says it all. It could be so only he is either stupid or innocent not to weigh his words and reaction of the other person before saying it all!

...contd.....