Once a man got lost in a desert. The water in his flask had run out two days ago, and he was on his last legs. He knew that if he didn’t get some water soon, he would surely die.
The man saw a small hut ahead of him. He thought it would be a mirage or maybe a hallucination, but having no other option, he moved toward it. As he got closer, he realized it was quite real. So he dragged his tired body to the door with the last of his strength.
The hut was not occupied and seemed like it had been abandoned for quite some time. The man entered into it, hoping against hope that he might find water inside.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw what was in the hut – a water hand pump…… It had a pipe going down through the floor, perhaps tapping a source of water deep under-ground.
He began working the hand pump, but no water came out. He kept at it and still nothing happened. Finally he gave up from exhaustion and frustration. He threw up his hands in despair. It looked as if he was going to die after all.
Then the man noticed a bottle in one corner of the hut. It was filled with water and corked up to prevent evaporation.
He uncorked the bottle and was about to gulp down the sweet life-giving water, when he noticed a piece of paper attached to it. Handwriting on the paper read : “Use this water to start the pump. Don’t forget to fill the bottle when you’re done.”
He had a dilemma. He could follow the instruction and pour the water into the pump, or he could ignore it and just drink the water.
What to do? If he let the water go into the pump, what assurance did he have that it would work?
What if the pump malfunctioned? What if the pipe had a leak?
What if the underground reservoir had long dried up?
But then… maybe the instruction was correct. Should he risk it? If it turned out to be false, he would be throwing away the last water he would ever see.
Hands trembling, he poured the water into the pump. Then he closed his eyes, said a prayer, and started working the pump.
He heard a gurgling sound, and then water came gushing out, more than he could possibly use. He luxuriated in the cool and refreshing stream. He was going to live!
After drinking his fill and feeling much better, he looked around the hut. He found a pencil and a map of the region. The map showed that he was still far away from civilization, but at least now he knew where he was and which direction to go.
He filled his flask for the journey ahead. He also filled the bottle and put the cork back in. Before leaving the hut, he added his own writing below the instruction: “Believe me, it works!”
This story is all about life. It teaches us that We must GIVE before We can RECEIVE Abundantly.
More importantly, it also teaches that FAITH plays an important role in GIVING.
The man did not know if his action would be rewarded, but he proceeded regardless.
Without knowing what to expect, he made a Leap of Faith.
Water in this story represents the Good things in Life
Give life some “Water” to Work with, and it will RETURN far more than you put in………!!!
There was once a businessman who was sitting by the beach in a small Brazilian village.
As he sat, he saw a Brazilian fisherman rowing a small boat towards the shore having caught quite few big fish.
The businessman was impressed and asked the fisherman, “How long does it take you to catch so many fish?”
The fisherman replied, “Oh, just a short while.”
“Then why don’t you stay longer at sea and catch even more?” The businessman was astonished.
“This is enough to feed my whole family,” the fisherman said.
The businessman then asked, “So, what do you do for the rest of the day?”
The fisherman replied, “Well, I usually wake up early in the morning, go out to sea and catch a few fish, then go back and play with my kids. In the afternoon, I take a nap with my wife, and evening comes, I join my buddies in the village for a drink — we play guitar, sing and dance throughout the night.”
The businessman offered a suggestion to the fisherman.
“I am a PhD in business management. I could help you to become a more successful person. From now on, you should spend more time at sea and try to catch as many fish as possible. When you have saved enough money, you could buy a bigger boat and catch even more fish. Soon you will be able to afford to buy more boats, set up your own company, your own production plant for canned food and distribution network. By then, you will have moved out of this village and to Sao Paulo, where you can set up HQ to manage your other branches.”
The fisherman continues, “And after that?”
The businessman laughs heartily, “After that, you can live like a king in your own house, and when the time is right, you can go public and float your shares in the Stock Exchange, and you will be rich.”
The fisherman asks, “And after that?”
The businessman says, “After that, you can finally retire, you can move to a house by the fishing village, wake up early in the morning, catch a few fish, then return home to play with kids, have a nice afternoon nap with your wife, and when evening comes, you can join your buddies for a drink, play the guitar, sing and dance throughout the night!”
The fisherman was puzzled, “Isn’t that what I am doing now?”
classic Brazilian story, probably also present in other cultures. Someone found the English version, but I could not identify the translator.
Days slip into weeks, weeks turn into months and months transform into years. Calendars are changing and so am I.
Yes, I am changing. In certain things age has mellowed me down, in others I have become more aggressive. Sometimes I find myself acting very wisely and sometimes I just go crazy. Certain issues will have me speaking vociferously whereas at other issues I just shrug and remain silent.
Yes, I am changing! After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.
Yes, I am changing. I just realised that I am not ‘Atlas’ and the world does not rest on my shoulders.
Yes, I am changing. I have now stopped bargaining with the poor vegetable and fruit vendors. After all, a few bucks more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
Yes, I am changing. I pay the Cabby and walk away without waiting for the change. The extra money might bring a smile on his face. After all he is toiling much harder for a living than me.
Yes, I am changing. I have learnt not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. After all, the onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
Yes, I am changing. I give compliments freely and generously now . After all its a mood enhancer not only for the recipient but also for me.
Yes, I am changing. I am learning not to let others make me feel incompetent. After all I am not only what they see in me. I might not be good at certain things but I am excellent at others.
Yes, I am changing. I walk away from people who don’t value me. After all, they might not know my worth, but I do.
Yes, I am changing. I remain cool when someone plays dirty politics to outrun me in the rat race. After all I am not a rat and neither am I in any race.
Yes, I am changing. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. After all it’s my emotions that make me human.
Yes, I am changing. I now tell people if I like them. After all, there is nothing wrong in liking someone.
Yes, I am changing. I demand for whatever is due to me. After all, accepting injustice is almost as bad as doing injustice.
Yes, I am changing. I have learnt to live each day as it were the last. After all, it might be the last.
Yes, I am changing. I am doing what makes me happy. After all, I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to me.
A cobbler lived in a large village and he was the only cobbler in town, so he was responsible for repairing the boots of everybody else.
However, he didn’t have time to repair his own boots.
This wasn’t a problem at first, but over time, his boots began to deteriorate and fall apart.
While he worked feverishly on the boots of everyone else, his feet got blisters and he started to limp.
His customers started to worry about him, but he reassured them that everything was ok.
However, after a few years, the cobbler’s feet were so injured that he could no longer work and no-one’s boots got repaired.
As a consequence, soon the entire town started to limp in pain, all because the cobbler never took the time to repair his own boots.
This simple principle is so often disregarded.
If you are in a responsible position and are one of the important links in the groups survival chain and if You do not look after yourself, after a while you’ll be no good to anyone else either.
Your best intentions will mean nothing and you’ll be unable to do what you’re meant to do.
This goes for leaders, social workers, teachers even parents, breadwinners, homemakers and daughters-in-law!
If you don’t take the time to care for yourself, no-one else will.
When Valmiki completed his Ramayana, Narada wasn’t impressed. ‘It is good, but Hanuman’s is better’, he said.
‘Hanuman has written the Ramayana too!’, Valmiki didn’t like this at all, and wondered whose Ramayana was better. So he set out to find Hanuman.
In Kadali-vana, grove of plantains, he found Ramayana inscribed on seven broad leaves of a banana tree.
He read it and found it to be perfect. The most exquisite choice of grammar and vocabulary, metre and melody. He couldn’t help himself. He started to cry.
‘Is it so bad?’ asked Hanuman
‘No, it is so good’, said Valmiki
‘Then why are you crying?’ asked Hanuman.
‘Because after reading your Ramayana no one will read my Ramayana,’ replied Valmiki.
Hearing this Hanuman simply tore up the seven banana leaves stating ” Now no one will ever read Hanuman’s Ramayana.'”
Hanuman said, ‘You need your Ramayana more than I need mine. You wrote your Ramayana so that the world remembers Valmiki; I wrote my Ramayana so that I remember Ram.’
At that moment he realized how he had been consumed by the desire for validation through his work.
He had not used the work to liberate himself from the fear of invalidation. He had not appreciated the essence of Ram’s tale to unknot his mind.
His Ramayana was a product of ambition; but Hanuman’s Ramayana was a product of affection.
That’s why Hanuman’s Ramayana sounded so much better. Valmiki realized that “Greater than Ram…is the name of Ram!” (राम से बड़ा राम का नाम).
There are people like Hanuman who don’t want to be famous. They just do their jobs and fulfill their purpose.
So let us not be like Valmiki, thinking our ”Ramayana” is the best.
There are many unsung “Hanumans” too…in our life…your spouse, mother, father, friends….let’s remember them and be grateful to all….
Points to ponder:
1. Which area of your life are you seeking validation?
2. Who are you seeking validation from?
3. Know that you are complete and perfect with all your imperfections!
From his childhood, Uddhava had been with Krishna, charioting him and serving him in many ways. He never asked for any wish or boon from Sri Krishna. When Krishna was at the verge of completing His Avatar, he called Uddhava and said, ‘Dear Uddhava, in this avatar of mine, many people have asked and received boons from me; but you never asked me anything. Why don’t you ask something now? I will give you. Let me complete this avatar with the satisfaction of doing something good for you also’.
Even though Uddhava did not ask anything for himself, he had been observing Krishna from his childhood, he had always wondered about the apparent disconnect between Krishna’s teachings and actions, and wanted to understand the reasons for the same. He asked Krishna, ‘Lord, you taught us to live in one way, but you lived in a different way. In the drama of Mahabharat I did not understand many things, the role played by you and your actions. I am curious to understand the reasons for your actions. Would you fulfil my desire to know?’
Krishna said, ‘Uddhava, what I told Arjuna during the war of Kurukshetra was Bhagavad Gita. Today, my responses to you would be known as ‘Uddhava Gita’. That is why I gave this opportunity to you. Please ask without hesitation.’
Uddhava starts asking – ‘Krishna, first tell me who is a real friend?’
Krishna says, ‘The real friend is one who comes to the help of his friend in need even without being called’.
Uddhava: ‘Krishna, you were a dear friend of the Pandavas. They trusted you fully as Apadhbhandava (protector from all difficulties). Krishna, you not only know what is happening, but you know what is going to happen. You are a great Gyani. Just now you gave the definition of a true friend, then why did you not act as per that definition.
Why did you not stop Dharmaraj (Yudhishtra) from playing the gambling game? And if you did not stop him then why did you not turn the luck in favour of Dharmaraj, by which you would have ensured that dharma wins. You did not do that also. You could have at least saved Dharmaraj by stopping the game after he lost his wealth, country and himself. You could have released him from the punishment for gambling. Or, you could have entered the hall when he started betting his brothers. You did not do that either. At least when Duryodhana tempted Dharmaraj by offering to return everything lost if he betted Draupadi (who always brought good fortune to Pandavas), you could have intervened and with your divine power you could have made the dices roll in a way that is favorable to Dharmaraj. Instead, you intervened only when Draupadi almost lost her modesty and now you claim that you gave clothes and saved Draupadi’s modesty. How can you even claim this – after her being dragged into the hall by a man and disrobed in front of so many people, what modesty is left for a woman? What have you saved? Only when you help a person at the time of crisis, can you be called ‘Apadhbandhava’. If you did not help in the time of crisis, what is the use? Is it Dharma?’ As Uddhava posed these questions, tears started rolling from his eyes.
These are not the questions of Uddhava alone. All of us who have read Mahabharata have these questions. On behalf of us, Uddhava had already asked Krishna.
Bhagavan Krishna laughed. ‘Dear Uddhava, the law of this world is: ‘only the one who has Viveka (intelligence through discrimination), wins’. While Duryodhana had viveka, Dharmaraj lacked it. That is why Dharmaraj lost’.
Uddhava was lost and confused. Krishna continues ‘While Duryodhana had lots of money and wealth to gamble, he did not know how to play the game of dice. That is why he used his Uncle Shakuni to play the game while he betted. That is viveka. Dharmaraj also could have thought similarly and offered that I, being his cousin, would play on his behalf. If Shakuni and I had played the game of dice, who do you think would have won? Can he roll the numbers I am calling or would I roll the numbers he is asking. I can forgive the fact that he forgot to include me in the game. But, without viveka, he did another blunder. He prayed that I should not come to the hall as he did not want me to know that through ill-fate he was compelled to play this game. He tied me with his prayers and did not allow me to get into the hall; I was just outside the hall waiting for someone to call me through their prayers. Even when Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva were lost, they were only cursing Duryodhana and brooding over their fate; they forgot to call me. Even Draupadi did not call me when Dusshasan held her hair and dragged her to fulfil his brother’s order. She was also arguing in the hall, based on her own abilities. She never called me. When Dusshasan started disrobing her, then good sense prevailed and she gave up depending on her own strength, and started shouting ‘Hari, Hari, Abhayam Krishna, Abhayam’ and shouted for me. Only then I got an opportunity to save her modesty. I reached as soon as I was called. I saved her modesty. What is my mistake in this situation?
‘Wonderful explanation, Kanha, I am impressed. However, I am not deceived. Can I ask you another question’, says Uddhava. Krishna gives him the permission to proceed.
‘Does it mean that you will come only when you are called! Will you not come on your own to help people in crisis, to establish justice?’, asks Uddhava.
Krishna smiles. ‘Uddhava, in this life everyone’s life proceeds based on their own karma. I don’t run it; I don’t interfere in it. I am only a ‘witness’. I stand close to you and keep observing whatever is happening. This is God’s Dharma’.
‘Wow, very good Krishna. In that case, you will stand close to us, observe all our evil acts; as we keep committing more and more sins, you will keep watching us. You want us to commit more blunders, accumulate sins and suffer’, says Uddhava.
Krishna says.’Uddhava, please realise the deeper meaning of your statements. When you understand & realise that I am standing as witness next to you, how can you do anything wrong or bad. You definitely cannot do anything bad. You forget this and think that you can do things without my knowledge, that is when you get into trouble. Dharmaraj’s ignorance was that he thought he can play the game of gambling without my knowledge. If Dharmaraj had realized that I am always present with everyone in the form of ‘Sakshi’ (witness), then wouldn’t the game have finished differently?’
Uddhava was spellbound and got overwhelmed by Bhakti. He said, ‘What a deep philosophy. What a great truth! Even praying and doing pooja to God and calling Him for help are nothing but our feeling / belief. When we start believing that nothing moves without Him, how can we not feel his presence as Witness? How can we forget this and act? Throughout Bhagavad Gita, this is the philosophy Krishna imparted to Arjuna. He was the charioteer as well as guide for Arjuna, but he did not fight on his own.’- Realize that Ultimate Sakshi/ Witnesser within & without you! And Merge in that God-Consciousness!
Discover Thy Higher Self- The Pure Loveful & Blissful Supreme Consciousness! – Tat Tvam Asi!
