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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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"!
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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."
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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...!!!
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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!’
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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!’
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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!
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