Ever-rest!

Swan is ever a restless bird
Busy seeking haven and food
Finds its rest in its tiny abode
Every dawn with its own herd
My mind is also such one bird
Strayed for lives…weary and tired
Let it now enter the nest
Thy holy feet for its rest
Having Thou in my little heart
Before the soul is set to depart
Today itself, nay this very moment
No time to wait, life is evanescent
How can I remember Thou in my thought
When death is near, choking my throat?

=========================Quote
Pray for what you want, work for what you need
=========================Humor
Answering the phone, the priest was surprised to hear the caller introduce herself as an IRS auditor.

“But we do not pay taxes,” the priest said. “It isn't you, Father, it’s one of your parishioner, Sean McCullough. He indicates on his tax return that he gave a donation of $15,000 to the church last year. Is this, in fact, the truth?”

The priest smiled broadly. “The check hasn't arrived yet, but I’m sure I’ll have it when you call me next time!”
=======================================

Spirit of Teaching

Quality of a teacher is not determined by

how well he teaches

how many he teaches, and

how long he teaches , but

how many lives he changed by his teaching

=================================Quot

One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. - Carl Jung

=================================Humor

Some boy scouts from the city were on a camping trip. The mosquitoes were so fierce, the boys had to hide under their blankets to avoid being bitten. Then one of them saw some lightning bugs and said to his friend, "We might as well give up. They're coming after us with flashlights."

Love Exclusive!

I worship not Thee, Oh dweller of all hearts

To free myself from pairs of contrasts

Neither to escape the tortures of hell

Nor even for company of heavenly damsel

Make me seat Thou in my heart’s throne

I seek not virtue, much less any fortune

Not any pleasure that excite my senses

Make me strong to face anything that happens

As outcome of my own past action

This indeed to Thee my sole supplication

To Thy holy pairs of feet my Intense love

For lives to come, forever, ever to grow…

(Inspiration from Mukunda Mala)

=================================Quote

Richness is not earning more, spending more or saving more; it is only when you need No More! -  Swami Vivekananda

=================================Humor

Teacher: "George Washington not only chopped down his father's Cherry tree, but also admitted doing it.
Now do you know why his father didn't punish him?"
One Student: "Because George still had the axe in is hand."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Winner Takes It All

Eternal Truth is ever the winner
unopposed, for other is never
Thou art every soul’s most dear
to the wise near, otherwise far
O Mukunda, Thou art
winner of Devaki’s heart to excite
your fraternity’s conquering light
victorious soft-skinned dark delight
successful slayer of world’s plight
(inspiration from Mukunda Mala)
===================================Quote
 It moves, it moves not; it is far, it is near; within everyone, all-pervading as well - Ishavasyopanishad
====================================Humor
Mad men are given a test to check their mental state. The instructor draws a door on the wall and orders them to go out.

They start rushing to the door but one remains sitting. The instructor goes to him and asks; “why didn’t you join the others?” He replies, "let them fight they forgot I have the keys"
===============================================================

Gift of Living

Life is a gift, given to us as ‘present’
To live for others is divine
To live, and letting others live is human
To live, but not letting others live is evil
Neither living nor letting others live is devil
======================================Quote
Three gateways to hell are desire, anger and greed – Bhagavad-Gita
======================================Humor
“I’ve never flown before” said the nervous old lady to the pilot. “You will bring me down safely, won’t you?”
“All I can say ma’am,” said the pilot, “is that I’ve never left anyone up there yet!”
======================================

A Joyous Cry!

O, giver of the everlasting joy
I pray  you make me ever cry
Loudly, as darling of god of affluence
Fondly, as giver of all blessings
Tenderly, as the most kindhearted
Kindly, as the beloved of the devoted
Proudly, as expert slayer of limitation
Politely, as great leader of reputation
Pleasantly, as one reclining on mighty serpent
Ardently, as the abode of the whole universe….
(Inspiration from Mukunda Mala)
==========================================Quote
Let your tears water the soul!
==========================================Humor
A deer was trying to cross a busy road but the traffic was very heavy. After waiting unsuccessfully for a few minutes, a bear walked past and said: “Excuse me, there’s a zebra crossing a bit further along the road.” The deer said, “Well, I hope he’s having better luck than I am!

Behold His Beauty

O, the giver of eternal liberation
Thy beauty evokes divine veneration
Conch, moon, jasmine like lively teeth
Lotus petal eyes take away my breath
Fashioning Thyself as protector of cows
Thy own are the holy feet, Indra bows
O, happy dweller in the basil forest
Son of Vasudev, in Thou I rest!
(Inspiration from Mukundamala)
============================Quote
The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.
- Helen Keller 
========================Humor
A kindergarten teacher handed out a coloring page to her class. On it was a picture of a duck holding an umbrella. The teacher told her class to color the duck in yellow and the umbrella green, however, Ravi, the class rebel, colored the duck in a bright fire truck red. After seeing this, the teacher asked him: "Ravi, how many times have you seen a red duck?" Young Ravi replied with "The same number of times I've seen a duck holding an umbrella."
============================================================

Divinity in Diversity

When thinking is minimal,

    soul is imprisoned animal

gratifying mere instincts

    regressing below even insects…

When you allow God in your life

   soul ends all struggles and strife

crossing boundaries of ephemeral, 

    it soars beyond the phenomenal

Hail Ganesha, the symbol of wisdom

    install Him in your heart’s kingdom

HE represents the transcendental 

    whose nature is highly mystical

meeting of the contradictions:   

    the beast and the best

    beauty and mighty

    art and valor

    emotion and acumen

    diversity and divinity!

With daily prayers and ardent devotion

    seek Him, to expedite soul’s evolution

surrender unto Him, Oh my dear 

    where is then, death and fear?

=================================Quote

Diversity: the art of thinking independently together. - Malcolm Forbes 

=================================Humor

A man walks into the psychiatrist’s office with a zucchini up his nose, a cucumber in his left ear, and a bread-stick in his right ear. He says, “What is wrong with me?

The psychiatrist replies, “You are not eating properly.”

=======================================================================

Divisionless Devotion

‘Unto Him’ is the beginning of devotion
‘Thy will be done’ is drawing closer to His presence
‘Me, Thy own Self’ is dawn of wisdom of Oneness!
===========================Quote
Work, apart from devotion or love of God, is helpless and cannot stand alone. – Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
===========================Humor
One friend to another, “My new horse is very well-mannered.”
“That’s nice.”
“Yes, isn’t it? Every time we come to a jump he stops and lets me go first!”
================================

Bhagavad-Gita Part 2

Oh, Sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, What  fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna
Sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, What fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna

This world is mighty tree
The root is God above
His light is in the sun
As fire of digestion
Values that are fine
They make me so divine
I surely reach Him, dance with Him forever in my heart…

Oh, Sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, What  fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna
Sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, What  fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna

Eating what is right
Not killing anything live
Serving god I live
With Krishna as my guide
Working hard I win
All success will be mine
I surely reach Him, dance with Him forever in my heart…

Oh, Sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, What  fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna
Sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, What  fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna
===================================================Quote
Have an altar in life to alter your life - Swami Tejomayananda
===================================================Humor
Little Johnny is in art class. The art teacher asks, “what are you drawing?" Johnny answers, “a cow eating grass," "where's the grass?" "The cow ate it!" "Oh... what about the cow?" "She ran away!!!'
================================

Bhagavad-Gita - Part 1

(To be sung like Jingle Bells…)

Driving through the heart
Four horses pulling cart
Over the field ego
Laughing all the way
Rid us all suffering
They make our spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing, Making life so light

Oh, sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, what fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna
Oh, sing along sing along
Krishna’s divine song
Oh, what fun it is to learn Gita from Krishna

Serving all with love
Mind thinking always right
Daily I meditate
With Krishna by my side
Seeing Him in all
Misfortune never at all
I surely reach Him, dance with Him forever in my heart… (Oh, sing along sing along)

I am what I think
It changes by the mood
Sattva Rajas Tamas
I can make it right
Praying everyday
Chanting Krishna’s name
I surely reach Him, dance with Him forever in my heart…(Oh, sing along sing along)
=================================Quote
“One can become whatever one wants to be if one constantly contemplates on the object of desire with faith.” – Bhagavad-Gita
===================================Humor
One day, a cat dies of natural causes and goes to heaven, where he meets the Lord Himself. The Lord says to the cat, "You lived a good life, and if there is any way I can make your stay in heaven more comfortable, please let me know."

The cat thinks for a moment and says, "Lord, all my life I have lived with a poor family and had to sleep on a hard wooden floor." The Lord stops the cat and says, "Say no more," and a wonderful, fluffy pillow appears.

A few days later, six mice are killed in a tragic farming accident, and all of them go to heaven. Again, the Lord is there to greet them with the same offer.

The mice answer, "All our lives we have been chased. We have had to run from cats, dogs, and even women with brooms. Running, running, running; we're tired of running.  Do you think we could have roller skates so that we don't have to run anymore?"

The Lord says, "Say no more" and fits each mouse with beautiful new roller skates.

Week later, the Lord stops by to see the cat and finds him snoozing on the pillow. The Lord gently wakes the cat and asks him, "How are things since you got here?"

The cat stretches and yawns, then replies, "It is wonderful here. Better than I could have ever expected. And those 'Meals On Wheels' you've been sending by are the best!"
===============================================

Needle Over Scissors

A king wanted to honor a Sufi saint with fervor
Invited him to his court with respect and honor
He offered gift of golden scissors, in his praise
Saint respectfully denied the gift with dignified poise
He asked for a simple steel needle instead
When given, he took it with joy, bowing his head
Curious king, asked him the reason for his choice
‘I made a choice between that, which separates
And that which surely connects and unites.
O King! In life, choose your friends likewise’
Long sermons  are not the ways of the wise
When simple acts and words of wisdom will suffice
=====================================Quote
Happiness is sure when you don’t take pride to your head and failure to your heart!
=====================================Humor
Two drunken friends were driving home. The first started screaming: - Jim, watch out for the wall, watch out for the waaaaall! Baaaaam! They hit the wall. The next day in the hospital the first man asked his friend: - You good for nothing, I've been screaming for you to watch out, why didn't you? Jim answered him: - IT WAS YOU DRIVING!!!
===========================

Nature's Culture

Nature’s nature is to symbolize God’s divine culture
     So learned the seers who abided in its motherly nurture
Fire that grows upward is symbol of divine energy
     Leaned seers daily invoked it to create social synergy
Water that flows down is symbol of holy amenability
     Visionaries of culture offered it for peace and serenity
Earth that is firm is symbol of firmness and solidity
     Great seers worshiped it for graceful life of stability
Air that forever in motion is symbol of constant activity
     Deep thinkers summoned it for vigilance and creativity
Space spreads and houses all is symbol of divine vision
     Creation of vast abodes of God is for life of holy revelation
Know that nature is above, around, beyond and within us
     Treasure it, cherish it, and protect it, conforming to its laws
What it offers is far beyond anyone’s comprehension
     Live with humility, we are only guests in Lord’s sacred mansion
===================================Quote
Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
- Khalil Gibran
-==================================Humor
There were two guys working for the city. One would dig a hole -- he would dig, dig, dig.

The other would come behind him and fill the hole -- fill, fill, fill. These two men worked furiously; one digging a hole, the other filling it up again.

A man was watching from the sidewalk and couldn't believe how hard these men were working, but couldn't understand what they were doing. Finally he had to ask them.

He said to the hole digger, "I appreciate how hard you work, but what are you doing? You dig a hole and your partner comes behind you and fills it up again!"

The hole digger replied, "Oh yeah, must look funny, but the guy who plants the trees is sick today."
================================

Egonomics

Ego dies when
    pain is accepted like pleasure
    failure is welcomed like success
    rejection is received like reception
    losing is acknowledged like gaining
When there is no more
    appeasing of the mind, it is lost
    arguments with ego, it is silent
    fighting with self,  you are your Self!
=========================================Quote
When you realize yourself as less than a point in space and time, something too small to be cut and too short-lived to be killed, then and then only, all fear goes. When you are smaller than the point of the needle, then the needle cannot pierce you – you pierce the needle! – Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
=========================================Humor
An absentminded professor and two of his colleagues were driving down the highway at a very slow speed. A policeman pulled them over and explained that driving so slowly on the highway could be hazardous. The driver pointed out the sign that read "20." He explained that he was going 20 mph because of the sign. The policeman pointed out that the sign indicated they were driving on Highway 20.

Somewhat embarrassed the professor apologized and promised to be more observant.

As the policeman turn to walk back to his car, he noticed the other two professors in the back looking scared to death! He asked the driver, "What's wrong with them?"

The driver replied, "We just turned off Highway 105."

Eyes of the Wise

Before bidding final goodbye to Master

      asked the student, ‘how to make life better?’

Placing four glasses filled with water

     ‘Watch it now, and learn’ said the Master

Dropped a small stone into the first one

      it sunk in the water all the way down

A cotton ball he dropped in to second

      it sucked the water within a second

A portion of mud mixed in the third

      changed the water into slushy dirt

Spoonful of sugar into the last

      made water sweet, and vanished fast

‘Not like the first’, said the student

      ‘living dead, useless, not prudent

Like the cotton, just taking from all

      is not the life, you taught me after all

Living in sin, and polluting the world

      is the way of one arrogant and proud

Let me live a life that brings sweetness

      working hard, keeping God as witness’

Smiled the Master, ‘You know the way of the wise.

       ‘Seeing the world not just with the eyes!’

========================================= Quote

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

=========================================Humor

One day a man is walking down the street when he sees an old man with a nice looking dog, he goes over to the man and asks: 'does your dog bite?'

The old man replies 'No never'. When the man bends down to stroke the dog, it immediately takes a snap at his hand. The man yells, 'I thought you said your dog does not bite!’

 'I did' replies the old man, ‘but this isn't my dog!'

==========================================

Eat to Live!

Favorable food to your body is the medicine for health
Fitness comes to those who take food like medicine
Only eat when hungry, not when dishes are delicious
Obesity is caused by blowing-off the digestive fire
Over-eating is primary cause of imbalance of wind, bile and phlegm
Optimum food is decided by the mind not the tongue
Digest the food eaten, before going for the next meal
Delightful eating decreases the reasons for disease!
(Inspired by the couplets on ‘medicine’ in Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar  (2nd Century BC))
==========================Quote
Beware the hobby that eats. - Benjamin Franklin 
==========================Humor
“Doctor, you told me I have a month to live and then you sent me a bill for $1,000! I can’t pay that before the end of the month!”

“Okay, then you have six months to live.”
======================

Be Rich with No Wealth!

Though lack of wealth, rich are those –
Hands that help knowing when and how
Heads bow to the wise to serve and know
Mouths that speak nothing but the truth
Broad shoulders with valor and strength
Hearts that remains still in rapture
Ears that engage to listen to scripture -
Nature of great men, all should covet
Sings Barthrihari, the royal poet
(inspiration from Neeti Shatakam – 65 )
=====================================Quote
Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
=====================================Humor
A man moved to a mountain top to get rid of the hustle and be alone. One day he heard a knock at the door and no one was there but then he looked down and there sat a snail and it said "it is quite cold out here can I come in?" the man shouted "NO why don’t you all understand I want to be alone!" and he kicked the snail down the mountain. One year later there was a knock at the door and no one was there and then he looked down and there again sat a snail and it said, "What did you do that for?"
===========================================

LIFE - Live It Fully Everyday!

A day in our life that we live
demonstrate what whole life can be.
At the dawn if we begin early enough to
workout, pray, study and meditate
with useful work to contribute to the world
then evening can be to relax and rejoice
restful closings with a good night sleep!
Watch your day, as it unfolds the life
stage of youth is the dawn of life
mid-day is stage of obligations and duties
when fulfilled, dusk is pleasant and relaxing
night of life is peaceful with no fear or anxiety!
After all, life is all about -
Living It Fully Every-day!
====================Quote
"May you life every day of your life." ― Jonathan Swift 
====================Humor

“How did school go today?" a mother asked her little boy. 
“Fine”, the little fellow replied. “We had a new teacher and she wanted to know if I had any brothers and I told her I was an only child”. 
"What did she say?” his mother asked. 
“The teacher said, “Thank goodness” 
==================================

Ego, Here You Go...

Ego is like water-
More cups you fill, you own less and less…
Share your life, with more to care
Share your time, with more to listen
Share your joy, with more to laugh
Share your love, with more to serve
Share your knowledge, with more to learn
Share your wealth, with more to support
Share your concerns, with more to forgive…
Then, look for the ego…if you find time!!!
==============================Quote
Vision is the art of seeing things that are invisible
==============================Humor
Teacher: ‘Amit, why do you always get so dirty?’
Kid: ‘Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.’
=======================

Pave Your Own Path

A fruit is a matured flower

A butterfly is a metamorphosed larva

A sculpture is a finely cut, patient stone

A sword is a severely cast iron

An artist is a trained performer

A leader is an empowered worker

A teacher is an advanced student

A devotee is a fervent lover of God

A visionary is a passionate dreamer

A wise saint is a keen observer of life

What you will be is decided by

how zealously you pursue what you want to be…

=====================================Quote

Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow - Khalil Gibran

=====================================Humor

Judge: Haven’t I seen you before?

Convict: Yes, Your Honor. I taught your daughter how to play the drums.

Judge: Twenty years!!!

==========================