Thursday, April 29, 2010

Peace or pieces (of mind)

I read this piece somewhere and thought I should pen this down.

Once when Buddha was walking from one town to another with a few of his followers, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and Buddha said to one of his disciples, "I am thirsty. Go and get me some water from that lake there."

The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water, and right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake.

As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, "How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!" So he came back and told Buddha, "The water in the lake is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink."

After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake.
This time he found that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, "See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be, and the mud settled down on its own and then you got clear water. Your mind is also like that! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless."

Friday, April 23, 2010

I owe it to you, Guddu

I wonder many a time as to how I am happy, cheerful and full of mirth and joy. I am quintessentially someone who goes with the flow of life and never stuck too much with either pain or enjoy. I also have experienced that nothing seems to affect me too much and I have risen like a phoenix despite the downs, some sorrows, certain disappointments et al. Neither have I gotten anything too much to my head when I had small victories, appreciation, and pats on the back.

Looking back as years have gone by, I certainly feel the way I am, I owe it to those great human beings who brought me up - my parents. Several others have made their own contributions in lighting up my life. One important person who has walked with me hand in hand, loved me too deeply without any expectations, looked after me and my children every single day, and gone beyond what I can dream of is my 'loving wife - my partner through thick and thin.'

An extremely loving , caring and simple individual who has everyone before herself. I am unable to say more since words cannot describe my feelings. I have written this piece on our Silver Wedding Anniversary today to thank her for everything that she has been to me for the last twenty five years.

Thank you, Guddu!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Mummy Dear

I went to a party Mom,
I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom,
So I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom,
The way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom,
Even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom,
I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
As everyone is driving out of sight.

As I got into my car, Mom,
I knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me,
So responsible and sweet.

I started to drive away, Mom,
But as I pulled out into the road,
The other car didn't see me, Mom,
And hit me like a load.

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
I hear the policeman say,
"The other guy is drunk," Mom,
And now I'm the one who will pay.

I'm lying here dying, Mom....
I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon.

There is blood all around me, Mom,
And most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom,
I'll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom.
The others didn't think.

He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank
And I will die.

Why do people drink so much, Mom?
It can ruin anyone's whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now.
Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
And I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying
And all he can do is stare.

Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.
Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom,
Put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.

Someone should have told him, Mom,
Not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom,
I would still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter, Mom.
I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom.
When I needed you, you were always there.

I have one last question, Mom.
Before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive,
So why am I the one to die?

Monday, April 5, 2010

Ask it the right way

It’s not just the choice of words but also the sequence of words that could make a huge difference towards your interests if used tactfully. Read on …

Jack and Max are walking for religious service. Jack wonders whether it would be all right to smoke while praying.
Max replies, "Why don't you ask the Priest?"
So Jack goes up to the Priest and asks, "Father, may I smoke while I pray?"
The Priest replies, "No, my son, you may not! That's utter disrespect to our religion."
Jack goes back to his friend and tells him what the good Priest told him.
Max says, "I'm not surprised. You asked the wrong question. Let me try."
And so Max goes up to the Priest and asks, "Father, may I pray while I smoke?"
To which the Priest eagerly replies, "By all means, my son, by all means. You can pray whenever you want to."

Moral of the story:
The reply you get depends on the questions you ask.