“Once one has given up attachment to actions as a means of obtaining rewards as well as giving up the desire for the rewards of actions one becomes tranquil and content without any need for acquisition or accumulation. Such persons although sometimes appearing to be engaged in actions naturally or prescribed, factually do nothing as all their activities are actually inaction.”
-B.G. Ch. 4, Verse 20
So true, so content, May be thats y wise people say that Shri Bhagavad Gita is the way of life.
Worth read, Here is a story I recently received as fwd…
Once upon a time, there was a water bearer, who had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said. The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
Three words ‘I Love You’ have changed lives miraculously while the three dreaded words ’I Hate You’ have often triggered off violence. ‘Sorry’, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’ have worked wonders. Some words can give you depression, stroke or bruised egos.
Be cautious in speaking. when you injure another with your words the bond of friendship breaks forever. Even if the relationship is mended there will always remain a knot.
“Blind man’s son is blind too,” laughed Draupadi, when Duryodhana slipped and fell in the palace of the Pandavas, mistaking the glass floor for water. Draupadi’s words of mockery set the stage for battle in Mahabharta.
However, “Harsh words cannot cause trouble if we refuse to react in a negative fashion”. Says Sant Shri Aasaramji Bapu, “Do not let any one’s harsh words govern your mood. Why should envy, fear, anger, lust, attachment and greed cause a storm in you? Be calm and you will always be happy. Only in a happy heart can spirituality unfold itself. To achieve self realisation you must be happy and successful. Lust and anger destroy tranquillity and prompt us to run after illusory objects to gain a temporary feeling of satisfaction and a delusory feeling of fulfilment. ”
Many times it has happened to me that I get upset when someone says something to me and sometimes i reciprocate the same…
People are same; they give back what they receive from you. Yet, day in and day out people inflict poisonous darts on each other. Please ignore what Kabir once said :
ऎसी वाणी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोये,
अपना तन शीतल करे, औरो को सुख होए |
(in English)
Speak such words, sans ego’s ploy
Body remains composed, giving the listener joy
Lust, greed, attachment, pride and anger are the inner enemies that rob you of the treasure of Self-bliss. Among all, anger is the most dangerous.
If a thief enters a house, some items (furniture etc.) still remain un-stolen. But if a house catches fire, everything is reduced to ashes. If the fire of anger overtakes our mind, our entire treasures of Japas, Tapas and virtues are destroyed.
Therefore, beware of anger. It is all right to act out anger, but be alert not to allow it to possess you.
An action is meaningful only if it brings good to others. That action will result in peace of mind. If action ismotivated by selfish interests it will lead to entanglement in sense-pleasures, diseases and increase indesires. On the other hand, if action is for the benefit of others, it yields peace of mind, enhanced capabilities and fearlessness.
There is peace before and after an action.
Then what is the motive behind an action? If your actions are meant for worldly gains, motivated by selfish interests, they are futile. On the other hand, if they are aimed at realizing God, attaining spiritual peace, you will be freed from miseries and experience perennial bliss. Don’t for sake the immutable bliss and power of the Self by identifying yourself with the body that is subject to change.
There is the story of a thief who went on a pilgrimage to a holy town, and on route he and the other pilgrims stopped to rest overnight at an inn. Being addicted to stealing, the thief began making plans to steal the other pilgrims’ baggage, but he thought, “I’m going on a pilgrimage, so it doesn’t seem appropriate that I should steal this baggage. No, I shall not do it.” Nonetheless, due to his habit, he could not keep his hands off the baggage.
So he picked up one person’s bag and placed it in another place, and then another person’s bag and placed it elsewhere. He spent all night placing different bags in different places, but his conscience bothered him so that he could not take anything from them. In the morning, when the other pilgrims awoke, they looked around for their bags and couldn’t find them. There was a great row, and eventually, one by one, they began to find the bags in various places.
After they were all found, the thief explained: “Gentlemen, I am a thief by occupation. Being that I am habituated to stealing at night, I wanted to steal something from your bags, but I thought that since I am going to this holy place, it is not possible to steal. So I may have rearranged the baggage, but please excuse me.” This is the characteristic of a bad habit. He does not want
to commit theft anymore, but because he is habituated, sometimes he does.
Thus, one who has decided to refrain from his immoral habits and make progress in Lord Krishna consciousness is considered a sadhu. Lord Krishna mentions in Bhagwat Gita:
“Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.”
~Source: B.G. (Ch.9, XXX)
You are our daughter-in-law, you should get up early and do pooja in the morning/evening,
You are my son, you should sweep my ashes in Holy river Ganga,
You are my friend, you should come with me to Mosque,
You are my father and mother, it is your duty to feed me.
We all want something or the other from everyone around us, and mention it is duty / dharma.. What is dharma…:
Once upon a time, Lord Shiva was engaged in penance in the Himalayas. Maa Parvati went to Him and asked, “What is the nature of Religion or Duty? How indeed do men, not aware of the details of Religion or Duty succeed in observing them?”
Lord Shiva said, “Abstention from inflicting injury on others, truthfulness of speech, mercy towards all beings tranquility of soul restrain over the mind and the senses, and a propensity of donating to the best of one’s ablility, form the foremost duties of a householder. Abstention from sexual union with any woman other than one’s own wife, safeguarding the wealth and women committed to his care, reluctance to appropriate what does not belong to him, and abstaining from meat and liquor, are the five chief duties. Indeed, Dharma has many branches, all of which yield happy results. These are the duties for those embodied creatures who consider dharma as superior. These are the sources of merit.
~ Source: Mahabharata, Anushasanaparva, 23 to 27 verses of chapter 141
It explains all, i think…Where do i stand on the scale ?? Do my actions lead me towards it ?? well i am vegetarian, does that count… no jokes, i think i will do an assessment of my actions and share with you all…
Till then, you too watch your actions/dharma 
As i said earlier, actions make you happy. Here again, I emphasis on the same concept, i have experienced it myself, it works…and i share with you, as you all are dear to me.
They rightly say ‘Give what you want in return’. If you suffer the pains of others, if you pay respect to others, seeking none for yourself; you will always be happy. One who doesn’t do good to others, who does not even think for the good of others; can never maintain his well-being for long, whether he is a recluse, householder or officer; whether he is rich or poor.
The law is that you get only what you give. Verily your words and deeds do come back to you in due course. All your utterances return to your own region, similarly what you give does come back to you. A cheater is cheated by a smarter cheat. Those who torment others find somebody to cause agony to them. Those who are happy seeing others healthy and happy, developing others’ intellect and bringing good to others are always full of bliss and beatitude.
Do you know why does a rose appear pink? Those who have studied science know that it is because out of the seven colours of the sun, the rose has reflected the pink back and absorbed the others. By reflecting pink, it is left with pink. Why does a flower appear white? It has reflected white and therefore has become white.
Why is somebody respected? Because he has been giving due respect to others, he has become respectable. Why is another insulted? Because he has insulted others. Why is somebody worried and miserable? Because he is transmitting thoughts of worry and misery to others, he is beset with such feelings. ‘I am miserable… I am worried… I have nobody to call my own…’ root out such negative thoughts from your mind. Replace them with thoughts like, ‘I belong to God; God belongs to me. The world is but a dream. O Lord! You are mine! Aren’t you?’
I request you with folded hands; please change your way of thinking and…
…Throw away These Six Sharp Swords:
1. speaking haughtily,
2. harbouring malice,
3. attachment or lack of renunciation,
4. watch your speech,
5. anger,
6. selfishness,
So, be kind enough and start giving to others what you want for yourself.
Sometimes quotes are so content, you just want to throw it on the table, for someone to pick and get inspired…
We are not powerless specks of dust
drifting around in the wind, blown by random destiny.
We are, each of us, like beautiful snowflakes unique,
and born for a specific reason and purpose.
~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
What you are is God’ gift to you,
what you become is your gift to GOD.
~Source : Bible
Oh ! there is so much to learn. I mentioned earlier, we should watch our actions. Here again, i read this beautiful story in Mahabharata which goes like this:
After the war of Mahabharata, a distressed Dhritarashtra once asked Vedavyasji, ‘O Lord! How is it that all my hundred sons have been killed and I, the blind old father, remained alive’ I have not committed so grave sins in this life as to face such an irony of fate, and I must have earned some virtues in my earlier lives to be born as a king. Then what is the cause of my terrible suffering”
Vedavyasji sat in meditation to see Dhritarashtra’s past lives and found that in his earlier lives he had been a deer, an elephant and then a king. Thereafter he came out of his samadhi and told Dhritarashtra, ‘124 years back, you were a king and had gone hunting in the jungle. You saw a deer and chased it but could not hunt it as it disappeared in the woods. Seething with rage and with a hurt ego, you set fire to the jungle which burnt down the grass and dried leaves. But in the fire some offsprings of a snake were also burnt alive and the mother was blinded. You are suffering the consequences of that action in this life. You were born blind and all your children have been killed.’
Wherever you may live, whichever job you are engaged in, first of all realize your Supreme Self. Then whatever you do will be without a sense of doership (karta) and hence will not bind you.
The Lord has made the world action-bound. Hence what one gets is only the reactions of one’s own actions.
Wherever you live, whatever actions you perform, do them without a sense of doership (karta) and they will not bind you. Otherwise, with the sense of doership (karta) prevailing in your mind, even insects killed while strolling around would constitute your actions worthy to be stored up. Whether you offer a glass of water to someone or usurp something belonging to another, all these actions are stored up. But the same actions performed without the sense of being a doer create no bondage at all.
Although it was saturday, a lazy morning, but not for me… i culd not sleep properly, so thought to arrange the books … and came across the Holy book : Shri Bhagwat Gita.
Just randomly opened the book, and found this beautiful shloka, (with English translation):
It describes beautifully who is loved by God, what we should be doing to have His Love.
While reading again n again to grasp it, i questionned myself, do i do any of it to have His Love ?? I think i am just friendly and compassionate with people around me… seems like i am progressing God bless me so that I can have Your Love.
During my lifespan, thought its not that long, but whatever it is. .. I came across many good people and bad people. and i have seen this trend, yeah u can say The Trend, the people who are bad , they are happier than good people. i questionned the same to my aunt, she is very patient, kind and pious lady.
She said, the bad people are happy as they have done good deeds in their last birth and could not utilize their Punya and hence they are given the same in this birth… and good people are not happy because of their deeds in their last birth….
But, if you ask both of them, u will find that Good people may not be happy with their materialistic world around them, but there are satisfied at their heart. whereas bad people pretend they are happy, actually they are not at heart.
Before coming to US, i visited one of my friend, he is good friend, but never spoke to her mom face to face.
so this was the first visit to his house and speak to family members, He introduced to his mom, before i cud say something, his mom ordered him to water the plants immediately.. i could not understand the hurry but ….
His mom and i had little general intro talk… She looked very upset, i asked her politely what happened, u look tensed, can i help ? lets talk. she started, her son is not geting married, uncle (her husband) is not getting time to look for girls for her son, another son’s is not becoming father, the age is right, relatives are making fun at them…. blah blah all household problems, she had… in b/w the talks she was abusing the maid for not cleaning properly…
a bell rang, she went to see …… the maid came to me and asked whether i need something… i said nothing and asked her how is she and suggested she should not mind whatever auntie says as she is upset.
to my shock she said, ‘ hum to badiya hein didi, thoda bukhar hai bus, yeh to inka roz ka kamm hai, tension mein rehti hein bina matlab, sab kuch hai fir bhi roti rehti hein, achcha hai humare pass itna kuch nahi hai.,..’
Speechless me pat on the maid’s back and left the place.
i thought, thought and thought, may be its their good deeds in last birth that they get all the wealth in this birth but it is primarily one’s actions that makes one happier at heart…
“Do not do unto others what you would not want them do unto you.”
Source: ‘The Golden Rule’ from Holy Bible
May be because she is not good at others, she is not getting good in return… Or May be that maid was not good in last birth, but in current birth, she is satisfied, forgetful and that is what makes her happier at heart…
NOT TODAY, it will take more time than expected, may be day after tomorrow ? (In Office, when asked for deliverable)
NOT TODAY, i cudnt get the time, I will do it tomorrow positively ? (At Home, when asked for ironning of clothes)
Oh man, i forgot the rent this month, oh know there is a 25$ late fee 
…
Oh Lord, i missed the pooja this morning. it was tuesday.
i am not talking about time management here but over all Lazy behaviour of a person. We tend to postpone things to later date/time.
we are not sure what we might be facing in the coming moments yet we plan for whole life and keep on slipping.
I read this very interesting story, which describes there is no tomorrow, whatever it is, is Today. if we know there is tomorrow then we would have taken pledge over Time.. which not different than God..can we really do that ??? i dont think so..
Once upon a time, a beggar came to Yudhistar for help, Yudistar mentioned that he is busy at the moment so beggar should come next day.
In those days, ppl used to blow bigul for announcements/events. when Bhima listen to this converasation, he started blowing Bigul. People gathered and asked what is the news.
Bhima told all that Brother Yudishtar has today taken ictory on Time. Yudistar was understood all and embarrased, called that beggar and helped him with money and clothes.
Are we so ahead of Maharaj Yudistar (who was known as DharmRaj) that we can take victory over Time..???
Sant Kabir ji has also said:
काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब
पल में परलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगा कब
The word Satya (Truth) is derived from Sat, which means ‘being’. Nothing is or exists in reality except Truth. That is why Sat or Truth is perhaps the most important name of God. In fact it is more correct to say that Truth is God, than to say that God is Truth. But as we cannot do without a ruler or a general, such names of God as ‘King of Kings’ or ‘The Almighty’ are and will remain generally current. On deeper thinking, however, it will be realized, that Sat or Satya is the only correct and fully significant name for God.
And where there is Truth, there also is knowledge which is true. Where there is no Truth, there can be no true knowledge. That is why the word Chit or knowledge is associated with the name of God. And where there is true knowledge, there is always bliss (Ananda). There sorrow has no place. And even as Truth is eternal, so is the bliss derived from it. Hence we know God as Sat-chit-ananda, One who combines in Himself Truth, Knowledge and Bliss.
Devotion to this Truth is the sole justification for our existence. All our activities should be centered in Truth. Truth should be the very breath of our life.
Source: From Yeravda Mandir (Ashram Observances), by M. K. Gandhi
After school days, this is my second glance on Gandhi’s Talisman ::
“I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test.
Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away.”
- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhiji in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.
Source: Mahatma Gandhi [Last Phase, Vol. II (1958), P. 65].
When i read, even now while writing, i am in tears and questioning, am i doing something for those who are struggling to survive ? am i helping my motherland in any ways ? No. I am like one of those, who just sit, watch, laugh on my motherland… from far off ….in US.
Sant Eknaathji was married to a girl who was kindhearted, patient, and religious. Eknathji was very thankful to GOD that he got married to a girl who has similar thoughtprocess as sant eknathji maharaj had. He mentioned to God that “sthri ka sang nahin, satsang diya hai”
another saint, sant Tukaramji was married to a girl who was very rude, selfish, and impious. Tukaramji was very thankful to GOD that he got married to such a girl who motivates him to Vairagya and he can listen to his eternal voice. he mentioned to God that “mujhe karkasha patni de hai mera bahut bhala hua”
They both are so satisfied in their situations and very happy.
Sant Narsingh Mehta’s wife got expired and he was happy and mentioned:
भलुं थयुं भागी जंजाल सुखे भजीशुं श्री गोपाल
(mean: it was good that she died as i can now do Shri Gopal’s bhajans whole heartedly)
What a thought… one saint has favourable wife, another has unfavourable, third one just lost her wife. still they all are very very happy in their situations.
Human being should always thanks God in what he gets and stay calm and satisfied.
So, Whatever you have, thanks God for giving that, and satisy yourself.
I have to finish work 1, work 2 , work 3 blah blah.. time is running by, we have no time for God, whenever we need Him, we visit temples. we have to go on world tour, tonite is a party in disc… list goes on…..
Time for God doesnt mean you have to block your day to temples/keep fasts/leave families and go to himalayas… sit for hours in Jap dhyan.
Time for God means just remember God whenever and whatever you do. Offer it to God every second.
The same way Gopiyan used to do, they used to say yeh makhan to kanha ke liye hai, yeh upale to kanhe ke hein, hum to kanhe ke liye pani la rahi hein ….
i still wonder how beautiful the place would have been… may be that y the Kalyug is here so that we take inspiration from Gopis and make our lives worthwhile.