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."
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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!
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