Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with Rs 86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day; allows you to keep no cash balance; every night deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do with such an account Draw out every penny, of course!!!
Every one of us has such a 'bank'. Its name is TIME. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow. You must live in the present -on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today!! And make it a great week ahead!!
Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Paradox of our Time!
We spend more but have less.
We buy more but enjoy it less.
We watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We love too seldom and hate too often.
We've bigger houses and smaller families.
We've more conveniences, but less time.
We've more knowledge, but less judgment.
We've more experts, but more problems.
We've more medicine, but less wellness.
We've more degrees, but less sense.
We've multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We've taller buildings but shorter tempers.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
We've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait;
We've higher incomes, but lower morals;
These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce;
These are the times of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is the paradox of time........
We buy more but enjoy it less.
We watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We love too seldom and hate too often.
We've bigger houses and smaller families.
We've more conveniences, but less time.
We've more knowledge, but less judgment.
We've more experts, but more problems.
We've more medicine, but less wellness.
We've more degrees, but less sense.
We've multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We've taller buildings but shorter tempers.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
We've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait;
We've higher incomes, but lower morals;
These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce;
These are the times of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is the paradox of time........
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Choices and Dilemma: Yudhishtira and The Dog
After some time, Dhritharashtra and Vidura, Gandhari and Kunthi all retired to the forest for prayer and meditation.
Yudhishtira grew tired of ruling the kingdom and lost interest in worldly affairs. By this time, Krishna, Dhritharashtra and Vidura had all passed away. Yudhishtira gave Duryodhana's share of the kingdom to Yuyuthsu, son of Vidura, and his own share to Parikshith, son of Abhimanyu, and installed them on their thrones. Afterwards, he proceeded on the Great Journey, or 'Mahaprasthana' ' along with his brothers, to obtain spiritual peace. The Pandavas gave up all the worldly possessions, dressed themselves in fiber-cloth and bade farewell to the citizens. Though all the citizens returned, a dog followed them throughout their journey.
The Pandavas finally reached Mount Meru. As they climbed it, the dog faithfully followed them. On the way, all except Yudhishtira fell down and gave up their mortal bodies.
Though sorrowful and - alone, Yudhishtira went on with determination. The dog still followed him.
Devendra came in a heavenly chariot. He invited Yudhishtira to enter the chariot and go with him to Paradise.
Yudhishtira: My brothers lie dead here. I do not want Paradise without them.
Indira: Dharmaputhra, your brothers and Draupadi are not dead. They have given up their mortal bodies here. They have assumed divine bodies and are already there in Heaven. All the Kauravas and other heroes have reached Heaven. Do not be unhappy. Because you have earned very much more merit than all others, you have the privilege of entering Heaven just as you are, in your human body. Come now get into the chariot.
Yudhishtira: I cannot come. This dog you see has been following me from Hasthinavathi. And he has been so faithful to me. I do not want to leave him behind and come alone.
Indra: What are you saying? A dog's place in Hell, not Heaven.
Yudhishtira: Lord Devendra, I can never desert those who have trusted me and those who follow me. I do not want that Heaven which has no place for the dog that has trusted and followed me.
The dog was not other than Yamadharma himself, Yudhishtira's father. He appeared before Yudhishtira and said, "You are indeed a great man, a righteous man; your compassion for all living beings is exemplary. A dog has been as dear to you as your own brothers. Your conduct will remain a shining example to all men for all times. Now, you can mount the chariot without any hesitation."
Yudhishtira was now satisfied; he bowed down to Yamadharma and Indra, and mounted the chariot. He reached Heaven with Indra. He was glad to find his kith and kin in Heaven. He felt happy to join them in divine life.
Our Hindu Vedic Literature are complete guide to practical life. It provides "all that is needed to raise the consciousness of man to the highest possible level." Lets not forget them, let learn
Yudhishtira grew tired of ruling the kingdom and lost interest in worldly affairs. By this time, Krishna, Dhritharashtra and Vidura had all passed away. Yudhishtira gave Duryodhana's share of the kingdom to Yuyuthsu, son of Vidura, and his own share to Parikshith, son of Abhimanyu, and installed them on their thrones. Afterwards, he proceeded on the Great Journey, or 'Mahaprasthana' ' along with his brothers, to obtain spiritual peace. The Pandavas gave up all the worldly possessions, dressed themselves in fiber-cloth and bade farewell to the citizens. Though all the citizens returned, a dog followed them throughout their journey.
The Pandavas finally reached Mount Meru. As they climbed it, the dog faithfully followed them. On the way, all except Yudhishtira fell down and gave up their mortal bodies.
Though sorrowful and - alone, Yudhishtira went on with determination. The dog still followed him.
Devendra came in a heavenly chariot. He invited Yudhishtira to enter the chariot and go with him to Paradise.
Yudhishtira: My brothers lie dead here. I do not want Paradise without them.
Indira: Dharmaputhra, your brothers and Draupadi are not dead. They have given up their mortal bodies here. They have assumed divine bodies and are already there in Heaven. All the Kauravas and other heroes have reached Heaven. Do not be unhappy. Because you have earned very much more merit than all others, you have the privilege of entering Heaven just as you are, in your human body. Come now get into the chariot.
Yudhishtira: I cannot come. This dog you see has been following me from Hasthinavathi. And he has been so faithful to me. I do not want to leave him behind and come alone.
Indra: What are you saying? A dog's place in Hell, not Heaven.
Yudhishtira: Lord Devendra, I can never desert those who have trusted me and those who follow me. I do not want that Heaven which has no place for the dog that has trusted and followed me.
The dog was not other than Yamadharma himself, Yudhishtira's father. He appeared before Yudhishtira and said, "You are indeed a great man, a righteous man; your compassion for all living beings is exemplary. A dog has been as dear to you as your own brothers. Your conduct will remain a shining example to all men for all times. Now, you can mount the chariot without any hesitation."
Yudhishtira was now satisfied; he bowed down to Yamadharma and Indra, and mounted the chariot. He reached Heaven with Indra. He was glad to find his kith and kin in Heaven. He felt happy to join them in divine life.
Our Hindu Vedic Literature are complete guide to practical life. It provides "all that is needed to raise the consciousness of man to the highest possible level." Lets not forget them, let learn
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Mother of All Riddles - Part 3
As I mentioned earlier, these answers have guided the lives of Hindus for a thousand and more years. Let us study some of them. Let each of us become a Yudhishthira and face the questions exercising the best in us. Let these questions and the answers to these questions be the torchlights that lead us from darkness, give us peace and comfort at times of stress. Let these questions and answers be talked about, meditated and debated until each of us has had our fill, has satisfied our thirst for this ancient, eternal philosophy of the Hindus. May these questions and answers inspire our children to stand firm and stand tall as they begin to shape their lives in a new land.
Excerpts from The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Section CCCXI
Continued from Part 2....
So the dialogue between Yaksha and Yudhishthira continued and he asked about hundred question. Yudhishthira answered all of the correctly and wisely, so at the end Yaksha asked:
"What is the greatest suprise?"
"People die everyday making us aware that men are mortal, yet we live, work, play, plan etc as if assuming we are immortal. Kimashcharyam Atahh Parahh? What is more surprising than that?"
To this Yaksha said: You have, O repressor of foes, truly answered all my questions. Tell us now who is truly a man, and what man truly possesses every kind of wealth?
Yudhishthira answered: The report of one’s good action reaches heaven and spreads over the earth. As long as that report lasts, so long is a person to whom the agreeable and the disagreeable, weal and woe, the past and the future, are the same, is said to possess every kind of wealth.
The Yaksha said: You have, O king, answered who is a man and what man possesses every kind of wealth. Therefore, let one only amongst your brothers, whom you may wish, get up with life!
Yuthishthira answered: Let this one that is of darkish hue, whose eyes are red, who is tall like a Sala tree, whose chest is broad and arms long, let this Nakula, O Yaksha, get up with life!
The Yaksha rejoined: This Bhimsena is dear unto you, and this Arjuna also is one upon whom all of you depend! Why, then, O king do you, wish a stepbrother to get up with his life! How can you, forsaking Bhima whose strength is equal to that of ten thousand elephants, wish Nkula to live? People said that this Bhima was dear to you. From what motive then do you wish a stepbrother to revive? Forsaking Arjuna, the might of whose arm is worshipped by all the sons of Pandu, why do you wish Nakula to revive?
Yudhishthira said: If virtue is sacrificed, he that sacrifices it is himself lost. So virtue also cherishes the cherisher. Therefore, taking care that virtue by being sacrificed may not sacrifice us, I never forsake virtue. Abstention from injury is the highest virtue, and is, I think, even higher than the highest object of attainment. I endeavour to practice that virtue. Therefore, let Nakula, O Yaksha, revive! Let men know that the king is always virtuous! I will never depart from my duty. Let Nakula, therefore, revive! My father had two wives, Kunti and Madri. Let both of them have children. This is what I wish. As Kunti is to me, so also is Madri. There is no difference between them in my eye. I desire to act equally towards my mothers. Therefore, let Nakula live.
The Yaksha said: Since abstention from injury is regarded by you as higher than both profit and pleasure, therefore, let all your brothers live!
Excerpts from The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Section CCCXI
Continued from Part 2....
So the dialogue between Yaksha and Yudhishthira continued and he asked about hundred question. Yudhishthira answered all of the correctly and wisely, so at the end Yaksha asked:
"What is the greatest suprise?"
"People die everyday making us aware that men are mortal, yet we live, work, play, plan etc as if assuming we are immortal. Kimashcharyam Atahh Parahh? What is more surprising than that?"
To this Yaksha said: You have, O repressor of foes, truly answered all my questions. Tell us now who is truly a man, and what man truly possesses every kind of wealth?
Yudhishthira answered: The report of one’s good action reaches heaven and spreads over the earth. As long as that report lasts, so long is a person to whom the agreeable and the disagreeable, weal and woe, the past and the future, are the same, is said to possess every kind of wealth.
The Yaksha said: You have, O king, answered who is a man and what man possesses every kind of wealth. Therefore, let one only amongst your brothers, whom you may wish, get up with life!
Yuthishthira answered: Let this one that is of darkish hue, whose eyes are red, who is tall like a Sala tree, whose chest is broad and arms long, let this Nakula, O Yaksha, get up with life!
The Yaksha rejoined: This Bhimsena is dear unto you, and this Arjuna also is one upon whom all of you depend! Why, then, O king do you, wish a stepbrother to get up with his life! How can you, forsaking Bhima whose strength is equal to that of ten thousand elephants, wish Nkula to live? People said that this Bhima was dear to you. From what motive then do you wish a stepbrother to revive? Forsaking Arjuna, the might of whose arm is worshipped by all the sons of Pandu, why do you wish Nakula to revive?
Yudhishthira said: If virtue is sacrificed, he that sacrifices it is himself lost. So virtue also cherishes the cherisher. Therefore, taking care that virtue by being sacrificed may not sacrifice us, I never forsake virtue. Abstention from injury is the highest virtue, and is, I think, even higher than the highest object of attainment. I endeavour to practice that virtue. Therefore, let Nakula, O Yaksha, revive! Let men know that the king is always virtuous! I will never depart from my duty. Let Nakula, therefore, revive! My father had two wives, Kunti and Madri. Let both of them have children. This is what I wish. As Kunti is to me, so also is Madri. There is no difference between them in my eye. I desire to act equally towards my mothers. Therefore, let Nakula live.
The Yaksha said: Since abstention from injury is regarded by you as higher than both profit and pleasure, therefore, let all your brothers live!
The Mother of All Riddles - Part 2
Excerpts from The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Section CCCXI
Continued from Part 1....
Explanation:
This group of questions stresses the need for and the role of friends and the need to be involved with others in a mutual, healthy, giving and receiving of support. The first three friendships referred to in this stanza are with other persons but the last category, the friend at the end of one's life, is one's own lifetime of giving.
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Explanation:
Summary:
Explanation:
The sun in all its phases, rising, setting or fixed in space, recalls the rising within us of the atma jyoti. The natural laws governing time and the heavenly bodies and the moral law, dharma, are equated here.
to be continued...
Continued from Part 1....
- What is weightier than earth? Mother
- What is taller than the sky? Father
- What is faster than the wind? Mind
- What is more numerous than grass? Thoughts
- We call this earth Mother Earth - Bhumi Mata We worship her as a mother. What can be more important? The mother who gave birth to us is more important. Our mother is verily our God.
- For us humans our parents who gave us life in this world are like gods, the highest, the most important beings. This is consistent with the Upanishadic pronouncement "Matr devo bhava, pitr devo bhava" (Mother and Father are like God).
- In an instant the mind can travel anywhere, everywhere and back again.
- What grows faster than grass? Thoughts grow faster. Waves and waves of thoughts arise in our minds constantly and move away. There is no end to it. They grow and grow and continue to grow with newer and newer layers of thoughts - faster than grass.
- We should respect our parents.
- We should keep our mind under control.
- We should trim our thoughts, weeding out unnecessary worries.
- Who is the friend of a traveler? Companion
- Who is the friend of a householder? Spouse
- Who is the friend of the sick? Doctor
- Who is the friend of the dying person? His charity
Explanation:
- A traveler's best friend is the companion traveler.
- A householder's true friend is his wife. A Hindu man takes a woman by the hand at the wedding ceremony and walks seven steps (sapta padi) with her around the fire as both pledge their eternal friendship to each other. He says: "With these seven steps you have become my life's companion. We are both friends. I shall never fail to be your friend. May you also never fail to be my friend . . . ." " This is the understanding, the promise, the commitment that binds a Hindu couple.
- For a sick person the most desirable friend is a doctor.
- For the dying person the charity done during a lifetime serves as a friend by providing a sense of fulfillment and preparation for the life to come.
This group of questions stresses the need for and the role of friends and the need to be involved with others in a mutual, healthy, giving and receiving of support. The first three friendships referred to in this stanza are with other persons but the last category, the friend at the end of one's life, is one's own lifetime of giving.
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- By renouncing what does one become loved? Pride
- By renouncing what is one free of sorrow? Anger
- By renouncing what does one become wealthy? Desire
- By renouncing what does one become happy? Greed
Explanation:
- The question focuses on the need to be loved, to be free of sorrow, and on happiness and wealth.
- The answers revolve around controlling the mind in such a way that we gradually rid ourselves of our enemies within: pride, anger, desire and greed.
- and 4. When one succeeds in giving up desire, there is little need for material possessions and one's sense of well-being (original meaning of wealth) increases. Wealth is viewed here in the context of what one may have in relation to one's desire.
- Every action/inaction is controlled by the mind. Therefore we should practice control of our minds.
- Renunciation is not mindless self-denial but a method of exerting control over ourselves.
- What treasure is the best? Skill
- What wealth is the best? Education
- What is the greatest gain? Health
- And the greatest happiness? Contentment
- To be skillful is to be fortunate and worthy of recognition.
- To be an educated person is to be a wealthy person.
- To be healthy is to possess the greatest gift.
- To be contented is to be happy
Summary:
- We should develop skills in areas which interest us most and continue to maintain those skills in order to excel.
- The emphasis in our studies should be acquisition of knowledge, especially the higher knowledge.
- A person who is not contented and is a slave to greed is a slave to everyone. A person who makes desire a slave rules the world.
- These questions and answers provide a practical guide to mental, social and physical well-being.
- What is a man's self? His progeny
- Who is his God-given friend? His wife
- What supports his life? Rain
- What is his principal duty? Charity
Explanation:
- A man's progeny represents the reflection and extension of his own self.
- His wife is his best friend, as discussed in an earlier.
- Man's most basic need for food can be met only by adequate rainfall for crops.
- Giving and sharing serve as the foundation upon which a person should base his or her life.
- These questions and answers focus attention on those areas immediate to the individual self: children, spouse, the element essential to sustain life and the concept of sharing.
- Is there a person who enjoys all pleasures of the senses, who is intelligent, is respected by all creatures and worshiped by the world, who breathes and yet is not alive?
- The person who fails to satisfy Gods, guests, servants, pitrs and his Atman, may breathe but is not alive.
- What makes the sun rise? Brahma
- Who moves around him? Gods
- What causes the sun to set? Dharma
- How is he held firm? Truth
- One sees the sun (aditya) as the natural wonder, the life-giving center of this world system and a principal creation of Brahma.
- Gods keep the Atman company, just as the planets, named after the Gods, circle the sun. When the self is realized through knowledge, that inner illumination leads to the man-God relationship which is the quest of Hinduism.
- The sun and the atma j yoti are firmly fixed in truth. The sun is held in space by physical laws of gravitation, energy and motion - by evident truths. The atma jyoti is sustained by eternal Truth, which exists beyond time.
- The end result of this knowledge is dharma or right conduct. Dharmic action performed under the guidelines of one's own faith is interpreted as the cause for the brilliance of the atma jyoti.
The sun in all its phases, rising, setting or fixed in space, recalls the rising within us of the atma jyoti. The natural laws governing time and the heavenly bodies and the moral law, dharma, are equated here.
to be continued...
The Mother of All Riddles - Part 1
I have never read anything so beautiful, so subtle, so deep with layers of significance as these questions and answers. Through Yudhishthira, Bhagawan Vyasa has distilled the entire philosophy of the Hindus into an enquiry comprising some one hundred questions. The questions cover a lot of ground and a wide range, jumping from one topic to another. This question and answer session lays a firm framework for the gems of wisdom that are to come later in the teachings of the Srimadbhagavadgita. These questions and their answers are as important, as relevant and as significant today as they were when Yudhishthira stood with palms folded, by the side of his dead brothers, and attempted to do his best in meeting the Yaksha's challenge.
Excerpts from The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Section CCCXI
The sons of Pandu along with their wife Draupadi are nearing the end of their twelve-year exile in forests. They are due to begin the thirteenth and final year, which they are required to spend undiscovered.
One day wandering in forests, pandavs were very hungry, thirsty, tired, angry and frustrated. Yudhishthira instructed Nakula to climb a tree nearby to locate any sources of water in the vicinity so that they could quench their thirst. Nakula did so and informed Yudhishthira that there was indeed a cluster of trees not too far off and that he could hear the cries of water cranes. Yudhishthira suggested that Nakula go to the pond and fetch some water in a quiver.
Nakula, after walking a short distance, located a beautiful spot, a crystal clear lake, surrounded by trees, flowers and birds. Nakula was overjoyed. His first instinct was to enjoy a cool drink himself, as long as he was already there. So he descended to the waters edge and prepared to scoop up some refreshing water. As he was about to do so he heard a strong and clear voice of warning:
"Do not dare to touch that water, my dear child. You must first answer my questions. . ."
Nakula thought that he must be hearing things due to sheer fatigue and so he ignored the warning, drank the water and immediately fell dead.
When Nakula did not return within a reasonable time, Yudhishthira suggested that Sahadeva go and take a look at what was delaying him. Sahadeva arrived on the scene and was shocked to see Nakula lying as though asleep. Before doing anything, he thought he could quench his thirst. He heard the same warning, ignored it and, upon attempting to drink, also fell dead.
Now it was Arjuna's turn to determine what had happened. He proceeded with his Gandiva (bow) in his hand, suspecting some trouble. Upon arriving at the lake he was stunned to see his brothers lying as though dead. Again, he tried to quench his thirst and heard the same warning. But Arjuna did not ignore the warning. Instead he challenged the being to show himself and shot several arrows in the direction from which the voice came. He only received further and more stern warning. Arjuna challenged the voice by saying, "Stop me if you can," proceeded to drink the water and fell down dead. Some short time later, Bhima arrived and had the same fate.
Now Yudhishthira was clearly worried. Wondering about the possibilities of harm befalling his dear and powerful brothers, he decided to go in search of them. When he arrived at the lake, he could not believe the dreadful sight before him. All four brothers dead on the ground! He grieved for a while and then began to look around to determine the reason for these deaths. He said to himself:
There are no signs of violence on their bodies, no foot-prints anywhere. The killer must be a supernatural being.
He wondered if Duryodhana had had the pool poisoned. He ruled it out because the faces of the dead brothers looked calm and serene. Convincing himself that it must have been some supernatural being, he approached the water's edge to fetch some water to begin the last rites for his brothers. Then he heard a sudden voice: "I am the cause of your brothers' death. . . . You shall be the fifth victim if you do not answer my questions. . . ."
Yudhishthira asked, "Who are you? You must be strong to be able to put to death these powerful brothers of mine. Your feat is remarkable because neither gods, antigods, gandharvas nor rakshasas could stand up to my brothers. But What do you want? Noble one! Why are you here? Who are you?"
The voice replied: "I am a Yaksha, Yudhishthira. May you prosper." As he heard these words, Yudhishthira saw before his eyes a form developing. A massive tall body with grotesque eyes, burning like the fire of the sun, and a voice like thunder: "I warned your brothers. But they would not listen to me. So now they are dead. This pool belongs to me and unless you answer my questions you shall not even touch this water."
Yudhishthira replied, "Ask me and I will answer as best as I can..."
Thus begins Dharmaraja's attempt to answer the Yaksha's questions.
to be continued....
Excerpts from The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Section CCCXI
The sons of Pandu along with their wife Draupadi are nearing the end of their twelve-year exile in forests. They are due to begin the thirteenth and final year, which they are required to spend undiscovered.
One day wandering in forests, pandavs were very hungry, thirsty, tired, angry and frustrated. Yudhishthira instructed Nakula to climb a tree nearby to locate any sources of water in the vicinity so that they could quench their thirst. Nakula did so and informed Yudhishthira that there was indeed a cluster of trees not too far off and that he could hear the cries of water cranes. Yudhishthira suggested that Nakula go to the pond and fetch some water in a quiver.
Nakula, after walking a short distance, located a beautiful spot, a crystal clear lake, surrounded by trees, flowers and birds. Nakula was overjoyed. His first instinct was to enjoy a cool drink himself, as long as he was already there. So he descended to the waters edge and prepared to scoop up some refreshing water. As he was about to do so he heard a strong and clear voice of warning:
"Do not dare to touch that water, my dear child. You must first answer my questions. . ."
Nakula thought that he must be hearing things due to sheer fatigue and so he ignored the warning, drank the water and immediately fell dead.
When Nakula did not return within a reasonable time, Yudhishthira suggested that Sahadeva go and take a look at what was delaying him. Sahadeva arrived on the scene and was shocked to see Nakula lying as though asleep. Before doing anything, he thought he could quench his thirst. He heard the same warning, ignored it and, upon attempting to drink, also fell dead.
Now it was Arjuna's turn to determine what had happened. He proceeded with his Gandiva (bow) in his hand, suspecting some trouble. Upon arriving at the lake he was stunned to see his brothers lying as though dead. Again, he tried to quench his thirst and heard the same warning. But Arjuna did not ignore the warning. Instead he challenged the being to show himself and shot several arrows in the direction from which the voice came. He only received further and more stern warning. Arjuna challenged the voice by saying, "Stop me if you can," proceeded to drink the water and fell down dead. Some short time later, Bhima arrived and had the same fate.
Now Yudhishthira was clearly worried. Wondering about the possibilities of harm befalling his dear and powerful brothers, he decided to go in search of them. When he arrived at the lake, he could not believe the dreadful sight before him. All four brothers dead on the ground! He grieved for a while and then began to look around to determine the reason for these deaths. He said to himself:
There are no signs of violence on their bodies, no foot-prints anywhere. The killer must be a supernatural being.
He wondered if Duryodhana had had the pool poisoned. He ruled it out because the faces of the dead brothers looked calm and serene. Convincing himself that it must have been some supernatural being, he approached the water's edge to fetch some water to begin the last rites for his brothers. Then he heard a sudden voice: "I am the cause of your brothers' death. . . . You shall be the fifth victim if you do not answer my questions. . . ."
Yudhishthira asked, "Who are you? You must be strong to be able to put to death these powerful brothers of mine. Your feat is remarkable because neither gods, antigods, gandharvas nor rakshasas could stand up to my brothers. But What do you want? Noble one! Why are you here? Who are you?"
The voice replied: "I am a Yaksha, Yudhishthira. May you prosper." As he heard these words, Yudhishthira saw before his eyes a form developing. A massive tall body with grotesque eyes, burning like the fire of the sun, and a voice like thunder: "I warned your brothers. But they would not listen to me. So now they are dead. This pool belongs to me and unless you answer my questions you shall not even touch this water."
Yudhishthira replied, "Ask me and I will answer as best as I can..."
Thus begins Dharmaraja's attempt to answer the Yaksha's questions.
to be continued....
Thursday, January 24, 2008
What will matter
Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no days, no hours or minutes. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
Your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will all expire too. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Your gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.
Remember:
** Everything that has a beginning has an end.. **
** The most important things in life are not "things". **
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bhagavad-Gita Saar (भगवद गीता सार) ...the ultimate essence of life
Whatever happened, it happened for good.
Whatever is happening, is happening for good.
Whatever that will happen, it will be for good.
What have you lost for which you cry?
What did you bring with you, which you have lost?
What did you produce, which has destroyed?
You did not bring anything when you were born.
Whatever you have, you have received from Him.
Whatever you will give, you will give to Him.
You came empty handed and you will go the same way.
Whatever is yours today was somebody else’s yesterday and will be somebody else’s tomorrow.
Change is the law of the universe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.”
Albert Einstein
(1879 -1955)
To myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble, or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
Isaac Newton
(1642-1727)
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
Your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will all expire too. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Your gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.
Remember:
** Everything that has a beginning has an end.. **
** The most important things in life are not "things". **
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bhagavad-Gita Saar (भगवद गीता सार) ...the ultimate essence of lifeWhatever happened, it happened for good.
Whatever is happening, is happening for good.
Whatever that will happen, it will be for good.
What have you lost for which you cry?
What did you bring with you, which you have lost?
What did you produce, which has destroyed?
You did not bring anything when you were born.
Whatever you have, you have received from Him.
Whatever you will give, you will give to Him.
You came empty handed and you will go the same way.
Whatever is yours today was somebody else’s yesterday and will be somebody else’s tomorrow.
Change is the law of the universe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.”
Albert Einstein
(1879 -1955)
To myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble, or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
Isaac Newton
(1642-1727)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Time Wasters
A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. Turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place and in the second year of their journey found it. For six months they cleaned up the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat till he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.
Three years passed- the little turtle had not returned. Five years... six years.. then in the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and began to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, "SEE I knew you wouldn't wait. Now am not going to get the salt."
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