Reflection...

Only –
when you think like a student
you can guide like a teacher 
when you feel like the child
you can feed like a mother
when you admire like a fan
you can perform like an artist
when you can love like God
you can seek Him like a devotee!
==============================Quote
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. -  William Arthur Ward
==============================Humor
Teacher: What is a skeleton?
Student: Sir, skeleton is a person who started dieting, but forgot to stop it!!
===============================================================================================

Being and Doing

Thinking with time is to live with ego,
like watching endless sky through a narrow window
what you see is confined by the limited frame
so too ego’s vision defined by form and name
Its demands you to satiate the hunger of senses
that propels you to live with images and pretenses
Knowledge of the Self transforms you in a blink
the way you think and also why you think!
It makes self-inquiry as effortless way of life
Inquiring ‘who am I?’ is no more a strife
It stops you looking for meanings among matter
it beckons you to grow for a goal that is greater
you start making a choice between ‘doing’ and ‘being’
thinking precedes doing and beyond thoughts is ‘being’
relentlessly inquire to find the inner source of thought
no more among thoughts you will be ever caught
the window breaks and vision of your life expands
you see  beginning less past and endless presence
Scriptures roar, ‘Stop not till you reach this goal’
It is the only supreme goal for you, me, one and all
============================================Quote
If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects – Albert Einstein
============================================Humor
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience!!!
===================================================================

Spiritual Nurture

On approaching the Guru for first time in his life,
disciple implored, ‘teach me to go beyond death and grief’
Smiled the Guru, ‘if you qualify, surely you will know…
First go ahead, fetch water from the river below
with a bamboo basket that is filthy and dirty
and help me water the plants, really thirsty.’
Ran the disciple intending to make him happy…
to the river below the hill that is narrow and sloppy.
He filled the basket with water up to the brim
alas, it leaked all the way as he began to climb.
Reaching the Guru with the basket empty, no water.
‘Go back again’ said the Guru, ‘and do this time better’
Again and again he attempted with no success ever.
Frustrated and exhausted he gave up the endeavor
‘I came here to learn’ said he, ‘not to wear out in work’
Guru said, ‘you have just begun…to qualify, to learn, to be awake.
Dirty basket that is clean now, no water in it stays.
So clean your mind first by service then ask, as Gita says…
no guru can save a mind that remains restless    
attached to the world that is empty and pith-less
in every action selflessly that is offered
from the ageless sins you will be delivered
neglect never the teaching of your loving teacher
with him alone you slowly gain the spiritual nurture
In the mind that is pure, knowledge stays for sure
inquire more to know that death has no cure
grief is not even brief for the wise who knows truth,
he is abode of peace, beyond knowledge is his path…’
=======================================Quote
We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. - Buddha
=======================================Humor
Jatin had just received his brand new drivers license. The family troops out to the driveway, and climbs in the car, where he is going to take them for a ride for the first time. Dad immediately heads for the back seat, directly behind the newly minted driver.

"I'll bet you're back there to get a change of scenery after all those months of sitting in the front passenger seat teaching me how to drive," says the beaming boy to his father.

"Nope," comes dad's reply, "I'm going to sit here and kick the back of your seat as you drive, just like you've been doing to me all these years."
==================================================

Nature is Neutral

Two are the birds perched on the same tree
one enjoys the fruits, not-eating other free…
sweet if the fruits are, it looks at other with pity
when they are bitter, alas! only self-pity…
so are the natures of ego and the Self
remaining identical in our body they dwell
Knowing not how to enjoy one’s own being
ego seeks to gratify with the world of things
Self, remaining in its own company
neither rejoices nor suffers any agony
like the tongue that has no flavor
yet,  tastes that is bitter, sweet and sour
so say the seers who are here but free
for, they know that which we fail to see
Be thy own Self, able but neutral
by sheer practice, it becomes natural
==========================================Quote
Your body must become familiar with its death - in all its possible forms and degrees - as a self-evident, imminent, and emotionally neutral step on the way towards the goal you have found worthy of your life.
-  Dag Hammarskjold
=========================================Humor
Little boy queried the parish priest a question, Little Boy: "Father I heard you once say that we all came from dust"
Parish priest, "That's right I did say that".
Little boy: And Father I heard you say that when we die we go back to dust."
Parish Priest: "That's right I did say that, I am glad you were listening so very well".
Little Boy: "Well Father I think you should come to my place and look under my bed because someone is either coming or going"!
============================================================================

Discard the Role

Every role that you will play
has a purpose and a way, 
when it is done discard the role,
yours is a role, and you are a soul
Teacher you are, ends the day
when student has learned teaching his way
Parent you are, for daughter and son
ends when  they start rearing one 
Life partnership will also end
when you and your partner find
Lord as the only true soul-mate!
neither He loves nor does hate
Living as human ends through wisdom
when you realize heart as divine kingdom
Slow down my dear, pay attention
to every action and intention
As a seeking ardent soul
there is only one single goal
to set yourself worry-less and free
and go beyond  caste and creed
else, the life is vain and waste,
living a life in supreme haste 
you cannot afford lose even a day
when do curtains close? none can say!
=======================================Quote
“There comes a point in many people's lives when they can no longer play the role they have chosen for themselves. When that happens, we are like actors finding that someone has changed the play.” -  Brian Moore 
=======================================Humor
A big game hunter went on a safari with his wife and mother-in-law. One morning, while still deep in the jungle, the hunter's wife awakened to find her mother gone.
She woke her husband, and they both set off in search of the old woman. In a clearing not far from the camp, they came upon a chilling sight.
The mother-in-law was standing face to face with a ferocious lion.
"What are we going to do?" his horrified wife asked.
"Nothing," her husband replied, "The lion got himself into this mess, let him get himself out of it."
=============================

Discovery is Victory

Ten boys were ecstatic
for they could go for outing from their school…
after crossing a river by swimming,
the head boy started to count
to find if all reached safe…
he counted all except oneself…..
‘nine are there and  where is the tenth one?’
All boys did the same, failing to count oneself…
confused and frightened they were…
a wise one reached and smiled at their predicament…
instructed them in simple words, ‘count yourself buddies!’
If one fails count oneself, one feels lost…
True victory is in the discovery of the  tenth  ‘dashamo’smi’
who is never lost, just forgot by habit!!!
In Navaratri, nine days of fasting and feasting…
where three gunas are conquered through
invoking the three powers that govern them
conclude in discovering oneself on the tenth….
that is true ‘vijaya-dashami!’  - victory is discovery of the Tenth!
=============================Quote
He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger. – Confucius
=============================Humor
Taking his seat in his chambers, the smart but ‘honest’ Judge faced the opposing lawyers.
"So," the Judge said, "I have been presented, by both of you, with a bribe."  Both lawyers became uncomfortable.
"You, attorney Mohanty, gave me $500,000, and you, attorney Venkat, gave me $600,000."
The judge now reached into his pocket and pulled out $100,000.  He handed it to attorney Venkat and said...
"Now that I've returned $100,000, we're going to decide this case solely on its merits...!!!
================================

Know Me, No Me!

Does God exist? - a futile inquiry
so long you see the diverse creation.
‘God does exist in all forms and varieties!
If God is not,
world is your incredible imagination…
for, you can’t ever claim
as creator of real vast, infinite galaxies!’
claims one that has ardent faith in Him

Does the World exist? – ask the nihilists…
‘Empty your mind, there is only emptiness!
If it is all emptiness need there be God?
No creation and no creator!’

Who sees them both?  - asks a vedantin…
‘I’ is the answer with no faltering
When ‘I’ is not in slothful sleep
where is World and who is God?
When you are awake,
One supreme that alone is ‘I’
Itself as variety is the World.
Call It as ‘God’ when you see the world
know It as ‘I’ when you don’t see any!

Leave them both and just ‘Be’
says the enlightened one!
===============================Quote
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss 
===============================Humor
An education inspector went to a Math class in the school. He gave a stern look at the students and asked: ‘Listen students, if a room’s length is 5’ and width is 10’, what will be my age?’
Bewildered students were clueless.
One student got up and said, ‘Fifty, sir!’
Amused and curious inspector asked, ‘how did you know that?’
He said, ‘My cousin brother is twenty five years old and he is only half mad!’
=======================

Labor of Love

Ancient great Aryan seers
in their lofty vision of life on earth
visualized the way of human race
as cosmic form of the mighty Lord…
men of vision as His brilliant mind
that visualize, educate and guide,
men of strength as His strong shoulders
that take responsibilities
to bear, protect, and secure,
men of wealth as His trunk and thighs
that strengthen, stabilize and provide for,
men of labor as His swift feet
that move and escalate the human race
in creative and productive path!
No one is low and no one is high,
as every limb of a healthy bosom is
together to engage, and enrich life,
so are we the limbs of Him
work in a field that is close and ease
to our nature and skill to express and excel

Mahabali, noble king in Kerala land
who gave his head as final offering
beyond heaven and the whole earth,
was blessed by the mighty Lord,
keeping His foot upon the offered head
the smiling Lord proclaimed to all:
forsaking your ego and pride,
labor yourself as love for Me –
I shall be thy servant forever,
nay, Brahma and Shiva as well…
they stand guard to the valiant king
for, Lord protects who labors in love
forever and ever till earth is live!

Loving Action, Bearing
One’s Responsibilities is
true sprit of a healthy LABOR!
=====================================Quote
 “It is because Humanity has never known where it was going that it has been able to find its way.” -  Oscar Wilde
=====================================Humor
A barber tells his client: ‘We have a kid around here that is really stupid. Would you like to see him?’
Client agrees and the barber finds this kid playing in the street and brings him in. He makes the client to place a quarter and a dollar on the table.
Client: ‘Choose one’. The kid takes a quarter and runs away. Barber laughs and says, ‘See, I told you…this kid is a real stupid.’
Client goes in search of the kid, finds him and asks: ‘Hey kid, a dollar is four times a quarter. Don’t you know?’
Kid: ‘I know. But if I choose the dollar, then the game is over!’
==================================================================

Illusion of Distance

The distance between
me and you is space,
absence of which
you and I are one
Yesterday, today and tomorrow
are distances in the mind,
absence of which
time  finds its death.
Illusion is this distance
created outside as space
inside as time.
Sleep, silence and stillness are
three states of mind when
distances are erased in
gradation of subtlety...
In the stillness of meditation
collapse time within and
erase space without....
When illusion is no more
there is no Me and You and
when was I not? when will I not be?
=================================Quote
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift! – Albert Einstein
=================================Humor
Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish!
=====================================

Purposeful Freedom

Freedom without purpose is
annoying boredom;
purpose without freedom is
restless frustration.
Seeking freedom is
the fuel of youth
finding a purpose for
freedom is true  maturity.
Only a ripe fruit
detaches from the tree…
for, it had found
the purpose of its
birth, growth and death!.
So is the way of
purposeful detachment
that bestows true freedom
where there is no
annoying boredom
nor restless loneliness!
===============================Quote
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. Viktor E. Frankl
===============================Humor
If you love something, set it free.
If it comes back, it was and always will be yours.
If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with.
If it just sits in your living room and messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place -- you either married it or gave birth to it!
=======================================================

Journeying Soul

Yatra is a spiritual journey–
an avenue for soul to move forward
release from its slumber
within the boundaries of flesh,
confines of emotions and
limits of thoughts…
it is no vacation or leisure
for, it is a means to vacate the mind
from mere pursuits of pleasure
Merit of pilgrimage is
not for another holiday in heaven,
for heaven’ sake!
it is for heaven that you contrive,
whenever wherever you arrive
Dip in holy rivers is
no different than lying in a tub for bath,
should  you lack the depth of faith…
wearing holy ashes on the forehead is
just embellishment to your appearance,
should you lack holy reverence…
wearing beads and chanting names,
fasting for days, incenses and lights are
mere games of ego seeking to be noticed,
should you lack consistent fever
to expedite the soul its eternal journey…
=======================================Quote
“Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see” - William Newton Clarke
=======================================Humor
A tourist was being led through the jungles of Brazil.
"Is it true," he asked, "that a crocodile won't attack you if you carry a flashlight?"
"That depends," replied the guide, "on how fast you carry the flashlight."
======================================

Still Movement

Surging river moves ahead
all the way the river along
both banks equally strong…
guiding the course and its flow…
so should be thoughts you allow
discrimination and true dispassion
as the banks to govern the flow
mind pure that keep soul secure…
practice these till you observe
thoughts slow with focus within
concentration turns to contemplation
As the water when remains still
are the banks to direct still?
When no more thoughts to further flow
is there further there to know,
hold something dear, give up ego?
nothing more to see as different
nor to practice to be indifferent
Awareness  same in every direction
every situation in all dimension
say the wise as supreme essence,
realize through in Its still presence!
=============================Quote
The stillness in stillness is not the real stillness; only when there is stillness in movement does the universal rhythm manifest. - Bruce Lee
=============================Humor
Arthur is 90 years old.  He's played golf every day since his retirement 25 years ago. One day he arrives home looking downcast.
"That's it," he tells his wife.  "I'm giving up golf.  My eyesight has got so bad, once I've hit the ball, I can't see where it went."
His wife sympathizes.  As they sit down, she has a suggestion:
"Why don't you take my brother with you, and give it one more try."
"That's no good," sighs Arthur.  "Your brother is a hundred and three.  He can't help."
“He may be a hundred and three," says the wife, "but his eyesight is perfect."
So the next day, Arthur heads off to the golf course with his brother-in-law.
He tees up, takes an almighty swing, and squints down the fairway.   He turns to the brother-in-law.
"Did you see the ball?"
"Of course I did!" says the brother-in-law.  "I have perfect eyesight."
"Where did it go?" asks Arthur.
"Can't remember!!!!!!"
==========================================

Does God know You?

On the pursuit to be free
begin by observing what is not
worth pursuing in life…
then reaching a Guru
you develop a strong mind
to discard fascination
for the ephemeral…
‘Mind your senses’
Guru would instruct first
‘sanitize your mind’ is next and
‘engage in the inner quietude…
to stabilize and bear all
sorrows in rise and fall.
Only on developing infinite patience
with faults of you and others
Guru would introduce
God within to you... 
faith in Him grows  proportional
to your trust on Guru
whose every word is for
your contemplation deep
with composed mind,
you develop intense love
for God within while
you seek Him alone.
Final adventure is when
Guru introduces you to God…
for,
without the familiar face of Guru,
would God ever know you?
=================================Quote
Whatever there is of God and goodness in the universe, it must work itself out and express itself through us. We cannot stand aside and let God do it. – Albert Einstein
=================================Humor
The phone bill was exceptionally high and the man of the house called a family meeting... on a Saturday morning... after breakfast...
Dad: People this is unacceptable. OK I do not use this phone, I use the one at the office but you too have to limit the use of the phone.
Mom: Same here, I hardly use this home telephone as I use my work telephone.
Son: Me too, I never use the home phone. I always use my company mobile.
All of them now in a state of shock and together they look at their maid who until now is patiently listening to them.
Maid (unruffled) : So - what is the problem? We all use our work telephones!
======================================

Fulfilling Life

Rain brings in water
that fills up earth’s cavities
sun that follows the rain
with it scorching heat
can dry up little cavities
not the ocean, the ever full.
It is the depth, my dear
that keeps it cool and full.
So is the depth of wisdom
of the wise ever complete and full,
even scorching heat of sorrows
do not ever dry him up!

Fill up yourself with
showers of satsang,
clouds are the saints,
follow them as they move about
for they shower only
His grace upon you
receive it with faith
create infinite depth
by diving within
in deep contemplation,
like scorching heat of the sun.
ignore not the life situations
that bring in sorrows and setbacks,
face them squarely
as they attempt to dry your knowledge
fill in again, again and again
dive deeper and deeper
until you reach the depth of peace
that passeth all understanding!

==============================Quote
To know and not to do is not yet to know!
==============================Humor
A man dies and mets St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. Peter says to the man, "Here's how it works. You need to have one hundred points to get into heaven. You tell me about all the good things you've done. They are all worth a certain number of points. If your total is one hundred or more, you can come in."
"Well," says the man. "I was happily married to the same woman for 52 years. I never looked at another woman. I was attentive and loved her dearly."
"That's great," says St. Peter. "That'll be two points."
"Hmmm," says the man. "This is going to be harder than I thought. Well, I attended church regularly, volunteered my time and tithed faithfully."
"Wonderful," says St. Peter, "That's worth another point."
"One point!" says the man. "Okay, okay. I was involved with a prison ministry for twenty-five years. I went into the prison, at least monthly, and shared Jesus with them."
"Wow!" says St. Peter. "That's another two points!"
"Only two points!" says the man. "At this rate, it'll be only by the grace of God that'll I'll ever get into this place."
"Bingo!" says St. Peter. "That's one hundred points! Come on in.
======================================

See All As One Soul

‘My son asks many questions
to find out about our religion to follow
and me,  I never asked questions
to my parents ever at all”
said a desperate, anxious mother,
‘Even if you answer all his questions
don’t be sure that he will follow..’
I said ‘..and you followed even when
your questions left unanswered!
Following a path is not all
result of the genuine answers,
it is a matter of faith at heart
ardently ever to be sought

Intellect seeks right answers,
soul seeks innocent faith.
Study is for the questioning intellect,
sadhana is for the evolving soul.
Intellect strengthens curious individual,
soul strives to envelope the whole
‘See all as a single mighty soul, 
none is small, none knows all,
hate none, see Me in all,
all are in Me, I pervade all,
befriend your mind, never fall
I am same in all, so serve all’
are proclamations of the evolved soul,
not impressive statements at all
of a narrow intellect that talks tall!

===============================Quote
"When you are in the light, everything follows you, but when you enter into the dark, even your own shadow doesn't follow you."
===============================Humor
This old man visits his doctor and after a thorough examination, the doctor tells him,
"I have good news and bad news, what would you like to hear first?"
Patient: Well, give me the bad news first.
Doctor: You have cancer; I estimate that you have about two years left.
Patient: That's terrible! In two years, my life will be over! What kind of good news could you probably tell me, after this?
Doctor: You also have Alzheimer's. In about three months you are going to forget everything I told you.
====================================================

Science of Fact

A fact is not someone’s opinion
as it does not change per views of anyone
if you know a fact it is information
when you pursue it, it is science!
Objective view of fact is science
subjective view of fact is spirituality.
Life exists says science;
eternal life is one’s own existence
say spiritual giants.
Awareness is by experience
conclude objective scientists
experience of Awareness is
quest of sacred sages.
Happiness forever is
purposeful pursuit
per objective thinkers;
unlimited inner nature is
true happiness
per subjective seekers!

Internalize the facts of science
immortalize it as soulful experience!
==========================================Quote
There is something fascinating about science.  One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact - Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, 1883
==========================================Humor
Miss Jones had been giving her second-grade students a lesson on science. She had explained about magnets and showed how they would pick up nails and other bits of iron.
Now it was question time, and she asked,
"My name begins with the letter 'M' and I pick up things. What am I?"
A little boy on the front row proudly said, "You're a mother!"
==========================================================

Breath Day Greetings!

Light up candles on birthday my dear,
to kindle many lights in every heart
don’t blow them off in a single breath!
and invite just sheer darkness!
Cut that delicious cake with care
for others with whom you lovingly share
Joyfully release colorful balloons away
they are surely your thoughts that sway
not letting go, you’re controlled and caught
release, liberate and be light-hearted
Receive your gifts as gesture of love
letting others to be part of your life
in receiving be ever thankful and simple
in giving be ever grateful and humble

Every breath is a birthday of life
what goes out never comes back
what comes in never stays back
count not the years of your life
count life you put in every stride
it is He who brought you on earth,
remember Him in every breath, every breath…

====================Quote
Strange is our situation here on Earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose…There is one thing we do know: that man is here for the sake of other men. – Albert Einstein
=================Humor
Death came to a guy and said “my friend, today is your day” and the guy said, “but I am not ready”
“Well, you are next on my list.”
“Ok, why don't you take a seat and I will get you something to eat before we go!”
“Alright”
The guy gave death some food with sleeping pills in it. Death finished eating and fell asleep and the guy removed his name from top of the list to the bottom of the list.

When death woke up he said,
“I will start from the bottom of the list cause you have been so nice to me!!!!!”
=========================

What's in a Name?

When you wake up from sleep
you call  yourself with name?
can you ever be away from yourself?
then why do you need a name?
Name is reference to a form –
to differentiate one from another,
it also distances away from each other…
It is for the world and ego, my dear
that lives on in differences and distances…

Animals don’t have names
nor the birds and trees…
Violent religious wars are
for the holy names and forms…
Oh, the dull-witted ones
never looked at themselves
well enough to know
when they were born,
they had forms without names!

The Real One within you is same, 
dwelling within as infinite bliss
call Him by any name…
When you call Him ‘Rama’
He lived up to His name…
for He has proved it true
for us to know, for us to grow!
Awake and Arise…live up to your name
for, then it is worth to have a name

===========================Quote
What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. - William Shakespeare
===========================Humor
A concerned husband went to a doctor to talk about his wife. "Doctor, I think my wife is deaf because she never hears me the first time and always asks me to repeat things."
"Well," the doctor replied, "go home and tonight stand about 15 feet from her and say something to her. If she doesn't reply move about 5 feet closer and say it again. Keep doing this so that we'll get an idea about the severity of her deafness."
Sure enough, the husband goes home and does exactly as instructed. He starts off about 15 feet from his wife in the kitchen as she is chopping some vegetables and says, "Honey, what's for dinner?" He hears no response. He moves about 5 feet closer and asks again. No reply. He moves 5 feet closer. Still no reply. He gets fed up and moves right behind her, about an inch away, and asks again, "Honey, what's for dinner?"
She replies, "For the fourth time, vegetable stew!"
================================================

Destiny or Destination?

My destiny is not
my destination
nor can my destination be
just a destiny!

My body is not alive
without me
my nose does not breath
without me...
nor the mind can think
not mouth can utter
next syllable...
they are my destiny
not destination!

I AM the destination
I can reach That
when I use my destiny for it...
this is true self-effort - purushartha!
Only the awakened purusha
knows its real artha!
=================================Quote
Everyone is aware of the experiences; no one sees the Experiencer - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
=================================Humor
At the end of the day, a policeman parked his van in front of the station. As he was gathering his equipment, his dog started barking. The policeman looked up to see a puzzled looking little boy. "Is that a dog you have back there?"
"Yes, it is," said the policeman.
"What did he do?"
=============================================================

Mind Mirror

Mind is a glass mirror
standing in front you see
yourself and the world around
while seeing a flower you only see
surface of the mirror in which
flower is reflected...
so is in the mirror of mind
lie all that you perceive
through the senses...
mirror reflects because
it is coated with silver - rasa!
Should there be no rasa,
mirror will become a glass...
then you see no more yourself or the world...
you see what is beyond through it
So is with the mind...
when rasa, the lingering taste of
worldliness is no more..
end all perceptions and
the transparent mind becomes
the window to see what lies behind and beyond...

Meditation is when
the mind mirror becomes
glass window of the Self!
================================Quote
The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them - Thomas Merton
================================Humor
This little girl comes home from her first day at Kindergarten school. And she goes to daddy and says "I am never going to school again."
"Why??"
"Because my teacher said, 5+5=10; 6+4=10;7+3=10;8+2=10; and that 9+1=10!"
"And your point is???"
"SO SHE NEEDS TO MAKE UP HER MIND!!!"
================================================

Matter of Awareness

I see the sun's brilliant rays
entering through a tiny little hole,
falling over the soft and smooth
petals of a beautiful flower...
of brilliant colors and vivid shades...
of healthy leaves - lavish green and pretty...
am I seeing the flower or reflected light?
are the colors real or shades of light?
can my eyes see objects ever?
or capture merely the reflected lights?

Is it not same with Awareness?
Is IT ever conditioned by matter
that I ever experience IT through?
or is IT just conditioned AS matter
that It subtly expresses through?
and when there is nothing really matters
to that Awareness, is it conditioned ever?
who can cover IT, when you are ITS lover?
Think about it over and over...
if you do, IT is dear and near...
here, there, everywhere!!

==================Quote
There is no TIME when there is no I and ME!

==================Humor
Early morning a travel agent gets a call: 'How much time it takes to fly from Detroit to LA?'
Wishing to give exact details by checking the web, she replied: 'Just a minute'
The caller responded: 'Thanks' and hung up!
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Karma

Karma is impotent without the presence of relevant guna, mood of the mind. A violent past will have not effect unless there is the presence of egoistically active mood (Rajas), so also a virtuous past without intelligently calm mood (Sattva) and passionate urge without secretly sensuous mood (Tamas).

Another factor that can activate karma is the influence of vishaya, contact with matter. While one would like to let go of a passionate past by maintaining sattva mood, he can be smothered by sight of a sensuous object or watching a passionate movie which may influence both guna and karma

No one can rectify the past karma nor can deny contact with matter. The options we have are: slow and steady cultivation of right values and cautious contact with matter.

Values such as humility, non-violence, forgiveness, compassion are the conscious choices we can make to weaken the effects of karma!
=======================================Quote
There are the waves and there is the wind, seen and unseen forces. Everyone has these same elements in their lives, the seen and unseen, karma and freewill - Kuan Yin
=======================================Humor
At the Saturday night tent revival, the preacher announced: "Anyone with 'needs' to be prayed over, come forward to the front at the altar."
Leroy got in line, and when it was his turn, the preacher asked: "Leroy, what do you want me to pray about for you?"
'Preacher, I need you to pray for help with my hearing."
The preacher placed one finger in Leroy's ear and placed the other hand on top of Leroy's head and prayed and prayed and prayed. He prayed a blue streak for Leroy.

After a few minutes, the preacher removed his hands, stood back and asked: "Leroy, how is your hearing now?"
Leroy said: 'I don't know, Reverend, it's on next Wednesday!"
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Ocean Waves

Ocean as waters gathering momentum by
wild winds rising up to reign
as waves of diverse forms
origin is just some indistinct stir
within or without, emerging as destructive forces
shattering all that come on their way
only to subside on the dry, vast shores...
so is Awareness as thoughts gathering momentum by
impressions galore, rising up as diverse moods...
Waves big and small never lay beyond
wide shores of the Sea
so are thoughts by the boundaries of the Self

Are you the Ocean or the waves?
Waves if you are, wild momentum won't stop
until you reach the calms shores on death...
Ocean if you are, allow the waves to
dance on and about you, unperturbed by them
peace will prevail forever in your subtle depth...
==================================Quote
The Ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far reaching - Swami Sivananda
==================================Humor
The bidding was proceeding furiously and strong when the Chief Auctioneer suddenly announced:
"A gentleman in this room has lost a wallet containing ten thousand dollars. If returned, he will pay a reward of two thousand dollars."
There was a moment's silence in the auction house and from the back of the room came a cry:
"Two thousand five hundred!"
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Change and Challenge

Change brings in constant challenge,
every challenge demands
distinct change within.
To an infant, walking is a challenge.
To a student, learning is a challenge.
To a lazy labor, working is a challenge.
Allow the change, it is easy
to meet the challenge.

It is hard to be soft,
yet it is consistent soft winds
that have shaped the rocky mountains!
To be non-violent is to be ever ready
to face violence from mind's negative habits.
To be compassionate is
to rise above the habitual passions
that are hard to let go!
To be loving is the readiness
to include the unloving and the unwilling!

Nobility is the dexterity
built with bricks of change
that were thrown by the challenges of life
- one may choose to create
a robust fort or
pile them up for a tombstone!

Choose to change, face the challenge!

======================Quote
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing is so gentle as real strength - St. Francis de Sales
======================Humor
A man's wife was complaining to their friends about her husband who was spending all his free time in the bar. So one night he decided to invite her along to the bar with him.
"What will you have?" he asked.
"Oh, I don't know. The same as you I suppose" she replied.
Husband ordered a couple of beer and threw his down in one shot. His wife watched in amazement, then took a sip from her glass. She immediately spat it out.
"Yuck, that is TERRIBLE!" she spluttered. "How can you drink this stuff!"
"Well, there you go" said the husband. "And you think I am out here enjoying myself every night!"