Shrine of Heart

Not all holy shrines are
meant for same purpose –
there are those meant
to pray for wealth and pleasure – bhukti
some for skill and knowledge – yukti
some for forbearance and power –shakti 
few for liberation – mukti
and rare ones  for devotion – bhakti
whereas, the wise ones seek
the shrine within in meditation
with yukti of Self-knowledge
to gain mukti from thoughts,
unconditional bhakti for the Lord and
Shakti to abide in the Self!
All in one holy shrine – the heart!
===========================================Quote
“The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own, and he has to wonder through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.” -  Rabindranath Tagore
===========================================Humor
Smart Alex went to an interview.
Interviewer: Imagine that you are in the fifteenth floor.  Suddenly fire bursts out, and there are many people who are struggling to survive.  In that situation, what will you do ?
Smart Alex: Oye! I will stop imagining!!!!
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Idea

A creative thought leads to idea
given life it is ideal,
When  exemplified, it is idol,
without life it remains idle!
====================================Quote
First, have a definite, clear practical ideal: a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends: wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end. -  Aristotle
=============================Humor
Two men were in a forest, when a lion came roaring towards them. One of them throws sand into its eyes, and runs. Second one stays unmoved. When asked why he is not running,  he  said: "Why should I be running? It is you who has thrown the sand!"
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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!!
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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!!!
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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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