black and white!!

thought provoking

The Journey

One day you finally knewwhat you had to do, and began,though the voices around youkept shoutingtheir bad advice --though the whole housebegan to trembleand you felt the old tugat your ankles."Mend my life!"each voice cried.But you didn't stop.You knew what you had to do,though the wind priedwith its stiff fingersat the very foundations,though their melancholywas terrible.It was already late enough, and a wild night,and the road full of fallenbranches and stones.But little by little,as you left their voices behind,the stars began to burnthrough the sheets of clouds,and there was a new voicewhich you slowlyrecognized as your own,that kept you companyas you strode deeper and deeperinto the world,determined to dothe only thing you could do --determined to savethe only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~
(Dream Work)

A thought provoking story.. highlights, in the Journey of life, change is permenant, and one who understood it could face it stoically...

Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them, " Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstances, in every place and in every time. In every joy, everysorrow, every defeat and every victory? One answer for all questions? Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me? Tell me is there any mantra?"All the wise men were puzzled by the King's question. They thought and thought. After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king andgave him something written on paper, with a condition that the king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way, only then he can see it. The King put the papers under his diamond ring.Some time later, the neighbours attacked the Kingdom. King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The King had to flee on his horse. The enemies were following him. getting closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself standing at the end of the road - that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished...and he could not return because it was a small road...the sound of enemy's horses was approaching fast. The King became restless. There seemed to be no way.Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was - "THIS TOO SHALL PASS"The King read it. Again read it. Suddenly something struck him- Yes! This too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdomand all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. Like those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. Calmness came on his face. He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed andforgot about those following him. After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were near him.The King was very brave. He reorganised his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regained his empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fanfare. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood.Flowers were being showered on King from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself," I am one of the bravest and greatest Kings. It is not easy todefeat me. With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He opened it and read it again: "THIS TOO SHALL PASS". He became silent. His face went through a total change - from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness. If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a watcher. Everything passes by. We arewitnesses of all this. We are the perceivers. Life comes and goes. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.

Now that we have read this story, let us each just sit silently and evaluate our own life. This too will pass. Think of the moments of joy and victory in our life. Think of the moment of sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass away. Life just passes away. There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from our own perspective. We have seen all the changes, we have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. The problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever.

true companion

A TICKET COLLECTOR IN A TRAIN FOUND AN OLD WORN OUT WALLET IN A COMPARTMENT FULL OF PEOPLE. HE LOOKED INSIDE TO FIND THE NAME OF ITS OWNER. THERE WAS NO CLUE.

ALL THAT THERE WAS IN IT WAS SOME MONEY AND A PICTURE OF KRISHNA. HE HELD IT UP AND ASKED, 'WHO DOES THIS WALLET BELONG TO?'

AN OLD MAN SAID, 'THAT'S MY WALLET, SIR, PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME.'

THE TICKET COLLECTOR SAID, 'YOU'LL HAVE TO PROVE THAT IT IS YOURS. ONLY THEN CAN I HAND IT OVER TO YOU.' THE OLD MAN WITH A TOOTHLESS SMILE, SAID, 'IT HAS A PICTURE OF KRISHNA IN IT.'

THE TICKET COLLECTOR SAID, 'THAT IS NO PROOF; ANYONE CAN HAVE A PICTURE OF KRISHNA IN HIS WALLET. WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THAT? WHY IS YOUR PICTURE NOT THERE IN IT LIKE MOST NORMAL PEOPLE?'

THE OLD MAN TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND SAID, 'LET ME TELL YOU WHY MY PICTURE IS NOT THERE IN IT. MY FATHER GAVE THIS WALLET TO ME WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL. I USED TO GET A SMALL SUM AS POCKET MONEY THEN. I HAD KEPT A PICTURE OF MY PARENTS IN IT.' 'WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER I WAS GREATLY ENAMOURED BY MY GOOD LOOKS. I REMOVED MY PARENTS PICTURE AND PUT IN ONE OF MY OWN. I LOVED TO SEE MY OWN FACE AND MY THICK BLACK HAIR.

SOME YEARS LATER, I GOT MARRIED. MY WIFE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVED HER A LOT. I REPLACED MY PICTURE IN THIS WALLET WITH A PICTURE OF HER. I SPENT HOURS GAZING AT PER PRETTY FACE.' 'WHEN MY FIRST CHILD WAS BORN, MY LIFE STARTED A NEW CHAPTER. I SHORTENED MY WORKING HOURS TO PLAY WITH MY BABY. I WENT LATE TO WORK AND RETURNED HOME EARLY TOO.

OBVIOUSLY, MY BABY'S PICTURE OCCUPIED THE PRIZED POSITION IN MY WALLET.' THE OLD MAN'S EYES BRIMMED WITH TEARS AS HE WENT ON. 'MY PARENTS PASSED AWAY MANY YEARS AGO.

LAST YEAR MY WIFE TOO LEFT HER MORTAL COIL.

MY SON, MY ONLY SON, IS TOO BUSY WITH HIS FAMILY. HE HAS NO TIME TO LOOK AFTER ME'.

'ALL THAT I HAD EVER HELD CLOSE TO MY HEART IS NOW FAR, FAR AWAY FROM MY REACH. NOW I HAVE PUT THIS PICTURE OF KRISHNA IN MY WALLET.

IT IS ONLY NOW THAT I HAVE REALISED THAT HE IS THE ETERNAL COMPANION. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME.

ALAS! IF ONLY I HAD REALISED THIS BEFORE. IF ONLY I HAD LOVED THE LORD ALL THESE YEARS, WITH THE SAME INTENSITY AS I LOVED MY FAMILY, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO LONELY TODAY!'

THE TICKET COLLECTOR QUIETLY GAVE THE WALLET TO THE OLD MAN.

WHEN THE TRAIN STOPPED AT THE NEXT STATION, HE WENT TO A BOOKSTALL AT THE PLATFORM AND ASKED THE SALESMAN, 'DO YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OF GOD? I NEED A SMALL ONE TO PUT IN MY WALLET!!'

This beautiful short incident was forwarded to me by one of my friend. Anyhow, this incident shows, nothing is permenant but the love towards God is permenant, which will guide us and which can be the true companion till our end.

same but different

Once upon a time there was a painter who had just completed  his course  under disciple hood of a great painter. This young artist  decided to assess  his skills of skills so he decided to give his best strokes  on the canvass.  He took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery.

 Suddenly an idea flashed in his mind and he decided to  display it on a busy  street-square of that small town he was resident of. He  wanted people's  opinion about his calibre and painting skills.   He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just  down below a board  which read-"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece.  Since I'm new to this  profession I might have committed some mistakes in my  strokes etc.. Please  put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

 While he came back in the evening to collect his painting  he was completely  shattered to see that whole canvass was filled with Xs  (crosses) and some  people had even written their comments on the painting.

 Disheartened and broken completely he ran to his  master's place and burst  into tears. Sobbing and crying inconsolably he told his  master about what  happened and showed the pathetic state of his creation  which was filled with  marks everywhere. Such was the state that colours were not  visible, only  things one could see were crosses and correction remarks.

 This young artist was breathing heavily and master heard him saying "I'm  useless and if this is what I have learnt to paint I'm  not worth becoming a  painter. People have rejected me completely. I feel like  dying"

Master smiled and suggested "My Son, I will prove that  you are a great  artist and have learnt a flawless painting." Young  disciple couldn't believe  it and said "I have lost faith in me and I don't
 think I am good enough.  Don't make false hopes..."  "Do as I say without questioning it. It WILL
 work." Master interrupted him.

 "Just paint exactly similar painting once again for me  and give it to me.  Will you do that for your master?" Master instructed.

 Young artist reluctantly agreed and two days later early  morning he  presented a replica of his earlier painting to his master.  Master took that  gracefully and smiled.  "Come with me." master said.

 They reached the same street-square early morning and  displayed the same  painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out  another board which  read -"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since  I'm new to this  profession I might have committed some mistakes in my
 strokes etc. I have  put a box with colours and brushes just below. Please do a  favour. If you see
 a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."

 Master and disciple  walked back home.

 They both visited the place same evening. Young painter was  surprised to  see that actually there was not a single correction done so  far. But master  wasn't satisfied as yet and he told his disciple "May be one day was too  little a time for people to come up with ideas and take out
 time out of  their busy schedules to correct it so let us keep it here  for one more day. Tomorrow is Sunday, so we can expect some corrections  coming in."

  Next day again they visited and found painting remained  untouched. They say  the painting was kept there for a month for no correction  came in!
 
"It is easier to criticise, but difficult to improve. If  you want to help  people improve their  behaviour it is worth investing your  effort in learning  how help people change their behaviours, attitudes and  skills"

worth watching

Last weekend, ie on 31st Aug 08, saw the tamil translated version of English Movie " LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL", in the STAR VIJAY TV. Truely an unforgettable movie.

The story, the performances, the hero who performs his duties as a husband, as a father is very 'moving' and inspiring. The father affection towards the little son described in touching manner.

Some scenes, particularly handling the little son when he demands food in the concentration camp, making the little kid happy by teasing, joking and acting is touching.

The story 'Life is beautiful' as the name goes is about a Jewish man, who falls in love with a non-Jewish lady, marries her, has a kid and who is then taken as a prisoner in a concentration camp along with his wife and kid. But the way he protects his kid from the horrors of the genocide, how he always tries to find ways to make his wife and kid smile and laugh, is what makes the movie, a MUST SEE.

It is certainly one of the best movies that I have seen.

mother's sacrifice

EIGHT LIES OF A MOTHER

1.The story began when I was a child; I was born as a son of a poor family. Even for eating, we often got lack of food. Whenever the time for eating, mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was removing her rice into my bowl, she would say 'Eat this rice, son. I'm not hungry'. That was Mother's First Lie

2.When I was getting to grow up, the persevering mother gave her spare time for fishing in a river near our house, she hoped that from the fishes she got, she could gave me a little bit nutritious food for my growth. After fishing, she would cook the fishes to be a fresh fish soup, which raised my appetite. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat the rest meat of fish, which was still on the bone of the fish I ate. My heart was touched when I saw it. I then used my chopstick and gave the other fish to her. But she immediately refused it and said 'Eat this fish, son. I don't really like fish.' That was Mother's Second Lie.

3.Then, when I was in Junior High School, to fund my study, mother went to an economic enterprise to bring some used-matches boxes that would be stuck in. It gave her some money for covering our needs. As the winter came, I woke up from my sleep and looked at my mother who was still awoke, supported by a little candlelight and within her perseverance she continued the work of sticking some used-matches box. I said, 'Mother, go to sleep, it's late, tomorrow morning you still have to go for work. ' Mother smiled and said 'Go to sleep, dear. I'm not tired.' That was Mother's Third Lie.

4.At the time of final term, mother asked for a leave from her work in order to accompany me. While the daytime was coming and the heat of the sun was starting to shine, the strong and persevering mother waited for me under the heat of the sun's shine for several hours. As the bell rang, which indicated that the final exam had finished, mother immediately welcomed me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared before in a cold bottle. The very thick tea was not as thick as my mother's love, which was much thicker. Seeing my mother covering with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said 'Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!'. That was Mother's Fourth Lie.

5.After the death of my father because of illness, my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent. By held on her former job, she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. No days without sufferance. Seeing our family's condition that was getting worse, there was a nice uncle who lived near my house came to help us, either in a big problem and a small problem. Our other neighbors who lived next to us saw that our family's life was so unfortunate, they often advised my mother to marry again. But mother, who was stubborn, didn't care to their advice, she said 'I don't need love.' That was Mother's Fifth Lie.

6.After I had finished my study and then got a job, it was the time for my old mother to retire. But she didn't want to; she was sincere to go to the marketplace every morning, just to sell some vegetable for fulfilling her needs. I, who worked in the other city, often sent her some money to help her in fulfilling her needs, but she was stubborn for not accepting the money. She even sent the money back to me. She said 'I have enough money.' That was Mother's Sixth Lie.

7.After graduated from Bachelor Degree, I then continued my study to Master Degree. I took the degree, which was funded by a company through a scholarship program, from a famous University in America . I finally worked in the company. Within a quite high salary, I intended to take my mother to enjoy her life in America . But my lovely mother didn't want to bother her son, she said to me 'I'm not used to.' That was Mother's Seventh Lie.

8.After entering her old age, mother got a flank cancer and had to be hospitalized. I, who lived in miles away and across the ocean, directly went home to visit my dearest mother. She lied down in weakness on her bed after having an operation. Mother, who looked so old, was staring at me in deep yearn. She tried to spread her smile on her face; even it looked so stiff because of the disease she held out. It was clear enough to see how the disease broke my mother's body, thus she looked so weak and thin. I stared at my mother within tears flowing on my face. My heart was hurt, so hurt, seeing my mother on that condition. But mother, with her strength, said 'Don't cry, my dear. I'm not in pain.' That was Mother's Eight Lie.

After saying her eighth lie, She closed her eyes forever!

Touching.. true love and sacrifice of a mother for the welfare of son...

Thanks,I got this fantastic tribute to mother from an email fwd by my friend Mr. Mohan.