Promise Yourself

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

~Christian D. Larson~

ओ पालनहारे, निर्गुण और न्यारे... तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं...

ओ पालनहारे, निर्गुण और न्यारे
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं
हमरी उलझन सुलझाओ भगवन
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं

तुम्हीं हमका हो संभाले
तुम्हीं हमरे रखवाले
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं

चन्दा में तुम्हीं तो भरे हो चांदनी
सूरज में उजाला तुम्हीं से
ये गगन है मगन
तुम्हीं तो दिए हो इसे तारे
भगवन ये जीवन
तुम्हीं ना संवारोगे
तो क्या कोई सँवारे
ओ पालनहारे
निर्गुण और न्यारे
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं

जो सुनो तो कहे
प्रभुजी हमरी है बिनती
दुखी जन को, धीरज दो
हारे नहीं वो कभी दुख से
तुम निर्बल को रक्षा दो
रह पाएं निर्बल सुख से

भक्ति को, शक्ति दो
जग के जो स्वामी हो,
इतनी तो अरज सुनो
हैं पथ में अंधियारे
दे दो वरदान में उजियारे

ओ पालनहारे, निर्गुण और न्यारे
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं
हमरी उलझन सुलझाओ भगवन
तुमरे बिन हमरा कौनो नाहीं

Where is your furniture?

A tourist visited a Sufi.

He was astonished to see that the Sufi’s home was a simple room.

The only furniture was a mat and a kerosene lamp.

Tourist :”Sufi, where’s your furniture?”

Sufi : “Where is yours?”

Tourist : “Mine? But I’m only a visitor here.”

Sufi : “So am I !!”

A little love can make all the difference...

Imagine eating bland food all your life. Then a stranger comes and introduces you to the salt. The same daal chawal becomes tasty. After a while, the stranger moves away and you go back to eating bland food. It becomes a habit once more. You survive. But something is missing... Kuch toh kami hai... That absence is love... A little love can make all the difference in your life but sometimes it takes a lifetime to realize the difference...


~Irshad Kamil, Lyricist and Poet~

Joy...

I don't know about happiness but the moment I stopped looking for permanence in this temporary world, I found joy... Unchained, Unlocked...

दवा बंनने से पहले लाज़िम है दर्द का तूफान होना

नसीब-ए-जन्नत के लिए ज़रूरी है फ़ना होना,
दवा बंनने से पहले लाज़िम है दर्द का तूफान होना

[naseeb-e-jannat ke liye zaroori hai fanaa hona,
dawaa bann ne se pehle laazim hai dard ka toofan hona]

The heartache of love must breach the threshold of pain before it can become the path to salvation.

The Wise Woman's Stone

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream.

The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.

The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

~The Wise Woman's Stone - Author Unknown~

I am doing what I want...

A turtle was crossing a swamp, covered in mud, when it passed a temple.

There it saw the shell of another turtle – all adorned with gold and precious stones.

"I don't envy you, ancient friend," thought the turtle.

"You're covered in jewels, but I’m doing what I want."

If you make yourself into a doormat...

If you make yourself into a doormat, people will wipe their feet on you. 

~American Proverb~

If you make yourself into a doormat, people will wipe their feet on you.

~American Proverb~

गोलमाल है, सब गोलमाल है

बच्चों के बढ़ते होमवर्क
माँ-बाप का जंजाल है
सभी स्कूलों का यही हाल है
गोलमाल है, सब गोलमाल है

फोटो शेयर करते ही
१००० लाइक्स का सवाल है
फेसबुक पर होता बवाल है
गोलमाल है, सब गोलमाल है

ऑनलाइन मंगाई थी चादर
डब्बे में निकला रुमाल है
आजकल यही धमाल है
गोलमाल है, सब गोलमाल है

महंगाई आसमां छू रही
रूपये का भी बुरा हाल है
यह अच्छे दिनों का कमाल है
गोलमाल है, सब गोलमाल है

It is all about you...

Reach out your hands 
Let a joy keep you
Say goodbye to sorrows
Bid them farewell adieu

Get out of the shell
Stay willing to start anew
Be joyful, Be strong
Let the happiness find you

Walk beyond the gloom
Let the sun rays pass thru
The darkness is now history
Each moment bright and new

Believe and live your life
A dream, a passion you pursue
Don't worry about the pitfalls
Courage will help you pull through

The best way to please the Lord...

A novice went to Abbot Macarius seeking advice about the best way to please the Lord.
- Go to the cemetery and insult the dead – said Macarius.
The brother did as he was told. The following day, he returned to Macarius.

- Did they respond? – asked the abbot.
The novice said no, they didn’t.
- Then go to them and praise them.
The novice obeyed. That same afternoon, he returned to the abbot, who again wished to know whether the dead had responded.
- No – said the novice.
- In order to please the Lord, behave as they do – said Macarius.
“Pay no heed to the insults of men, nor to their praise; in this way, you shall forge your own path.”

my address forever...

I thrive, and I perish, but I never say never
I dream 'n hope, that's my address forever...

ग़म में मुस्कुराता हूँ और मसर्रत में आह निकलती है

बिखरा इक शाम तो फिर ज़र्रों को इस तरह बेहिस मिलाया मैंने
अब ग़म में मुस्कुराता हूँ और मसर्रत में आह निकलती है

bikhra ek shaam toh phir zarron ko iss tarah behis milaya maine
ab gham mein muskurata hoon aur masarrat mein aah nikalti hai

कभी मैंने भी...

लबालब भर जाने के बाद
जाम से छलकी शराब
तो आया मुझे याद
कभी मैंने भी इक अजनबी पर
उसकी इंतेहा से ज़्यादा ऐतबार था किया
labalab bhar jaane ke baad
jaam se chalki sharaab
toh aaya mujhe yaad
kabhi main bhi ek ajnabi par
uski intehaa se zyada aitbaar tha kiiya

The Musk Deer

The musk deer story is an invaluable lesson that can set each one of us free.

Once upon a time there lived a magnificent musk deer who was intrigued by a powerful fragrance emitting from somewhere nearby. This scent stirred the inner depths of its soul so profoundly that he was determined to find its source. And his resolute was so intense that the deer carried on this search by day as well as by night, notwithstanding the severity of cold or the intensity of blazing heat. This continued until one day the deer finally lost his foothold and fell from on a cliff resulting in a fatal injury. While breathing its last, the deer found out that the fragrance was coming from a gland that was hidden within his lower abdomen.

To search for joy is an accepted tendency for us all but this chase is certain to become maddening if we constantly look outside, and never within.

The Five Steps of a Breast Self-Exam

It is estimated that 1 in 22 women is prone to develop breast cancer during her lifetime.

Here's how to examine yourself [Breast Self-Exam] in 5 steps...

Trees and towns... ~Paulo Coelho~

In the Mojave desert, one often comes across those famous ghost towns that were built around the gold mines. They were abandoned when all the gold had been mined out. They had served their purpose and there was no reason for anyone to go on living there.

When we walk through a forest, we see trees which, once they have served their purpose, have fallen. However, unlike ghost towns, their fall has opened up space for light to penetrate, they have enriched the soil and their trunks are covered in new vegetation.

Our old age will depend on the way we have lived. We can either end up like a ghost town or like a generous tree, which continues to be important even after its fall.

~Paulo Coelho~

Never cut what you can untie.

Never cut what you can untie.

~Joseph Joubert~
[French Author 1754-1824]

Never cut what you can untie.

'Success' By Bessie Anderson Stanley [1905]

He has achieved success
who has lived well,
laughed often, and loved much;
who has gained the respect of intelligent men and
the love of little children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
who has left the world better than he found it
whether by an improved poppy,
a perfect poem or a rescued soul;
who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty
or failed to express it;
who has always looked for the best in others and
given them the best he had;
whose life was an inspiration;
whose memory a benediction.

~'Success' By Bessie Anderson Stanley [1905]~

For a seed to achieve its greatest expression...

For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn't understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.
~Cynthia Occelli~

हिम्मत करने वालों की हार नहीं होती... ~हरिवंश राय बच्चन~

लहरों से डरकर नौका पार नहीं होती
हिम्मत करने वालों की हार नहीं होती।

नन्ही चींटी जब दाना लेकर चलती है,
चढ़ती दीवारों पर सौ बार फिसलती है,
मन का विश्वास रगों में साहस भरता है,
चढ़कर गिरना, गिरकर चढ़ना न अखरता है,
आखिर उसकी मेहनत बेकार नहीं होती ,
कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती।

डुबकियां सिंधु में गोताखोर लगाता है,
जा-जाकर खाली हाथ लौट आता है,
मिलते न सहेज के मोती पानी में,
बहता दूना उत्साह इसी हैरानी में,
मुठ्ठी उसकी खाली हर बार नहीं होती,
हिम्मत करने वालों की हार नहीं होती।

असफलता एक चुनौती है स्वीकार करो,
क्या कमी रह गयी, देखो और सुधार करो,
जब तक न सफल हो नींद चैन को त्यागो तुम,
संघर्षों का मैदान छोड़ मत भागो तुम,
कुछ किये बिना ही जय-जयकार नहीं होती,
हिम्मत करने वालों की हार नहीं होती।

~हरिवंश राय बच्चन~

महफूज़ हर कदम करना ऐ ख़ुदा, ऐ ख़ुदा

आनी जानी है कहानी
बुलबुले सी ज़िंदगानी
बनती कभी बिगड़ती
तेज़ हवा से लड़ती, भिड़ती

हा रहम, हा रहम, फ़रमाए ख़ुदा
हा रहम, हा रहम, फ़रमाए ख़ुदा
महफूज़ हर कदम करना ऐ ख़ुदा, ऐ ख़ुदा
महफूज़ हर कदम करना ऐ ख़ुदा, ऐ ख़ुदा

साँसों की सूती डोर अनूठी
जल जाएगी, जल जाएगी
बंद जो लाए थे हाथ की मुट्ठी
खुल जाएगी, खुल जाएगी

क्या गुमान करे काया ये उजली
मिट्टी में मिल जाएगी
चाहे जितनी शमाएँ रोशन कर ले
धूप तो ढल जाएगी, जाएगी

सोने चमक में, सिक्कों खनक में
मिलता नहीं, मिलता नहीं
धूल के ज़र्रों में ढूंढे कोई तू
मिलता वहीँ, मिलता वहीँ

क्या मजाल तेरी मर्ज़ी के आगे
बन्दों की चल जाएगी
थामे ऊँगली जो तू, कठपुतली भी
चाल बदल जाएगी, जाएगी


फिल्म : आमिर
गायक : मुर्तज़ा कादिर, अमिताभ और अमित त्रिवेदी
संगीतकार : अमित त्रिवेदी
गीतकार : अमिताभ भट्टाचार्य

The Star Thrower Story; Loren Eiseley

A man was walking on the beach one day and noticed a boy who was reaching down, picking up a starfish and throwing it in the ocean.

As he approached, he called out, “Hello! What are you doing?”

The boy looked up and said, “I’m throwing starfish into the ocean”.

“Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the man.

“The tide stranded them. If I don’t throw them in the water before the sun comes up, they’ll die” came the answer.

“Surely you realize that there are miles of beach, and thousands of starfish. You’ll never throw them all back, there are too many. You can’t possibly make a difference.”

The boy listened politely, then picked up another starfish. As he threw it back into the sea, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”

~The Star Thrower Story; Loren Eiseley~

My Child

My Child


My child isn't my trophy to flaunt,
Nor my dummy to taunt!
My child isn't my badge or my honour,
Nor my respect that he/she must protect!
My child isn't an idea or a fantasy,
Nor my reflection or legacy!
My child isn't my puppet or my project,
Nor my pawn or my cadet!


My child is here to fumble & stumble
To get in & out of trouble!
My child is here to try,
To fall & to cry!
My child is here to unravel the mysteries,
To educate oneself & rewrite histories!
My child is here to make his/her own choices,
To exercise his/her free will & experience the consequences!


As a Parent,
My task is to make my child able & capable,
To keep aside my ego & be by his/her side!
My task is to guide & educate,
To let be & not frustrate!
My task is allow him/her to ponder,
And see my child grow into a Wonder!


~Author Unknown~


This is for all the parents... Kindly introspect...

In each of us, the good and the evil are at war. One of them must conquer, and in our own hands lies the power to choose.

A native elder told his grandson that inside of him he has two wolves that are fighting with each other.
One wolf is angry and mean and the other is gentle and loving.
The grandson looked up and asked, “Grandfather, which one will win?”
And the grandfather answered, “Which ever one I feed the most.”

The wisdom behind this native folklore – to defeat the demon inside oneself – is apt as we burn Ravana's effigy. In each of us, the good and the evil are at war. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. And in our own hands lies the power to choose.

Happy Dussehra to one and all. May the spirit of goodness prevail over the evil and may it bring blessings of joy, love and peace. Both within and without.

Amen.

The best way...

A novice went to Abbot Macarius seeking advice about the best way to please the Lord.

- Go to the cemetery and insult the dead – said Macarius.

The brother did as he was told. The following day, he returned to Macarius.

- Did they respond? – asked the abbot.

The novice said no, they didn’t.

- Then go to them and praise them.

The novice obeyed. That same afternoon, he returned to the abbot, who again wished to know whether the dead had responded.

- No – said the novice.

- In order to please the Lord, behave as they do – said Macarius.

“Pay no heed to the insults of men, nor to their praise; in this way, you shall forge your own path.”

Two wolves...

A native elder told his grandson that inside of him he has two wolves that are fighting with each other.

One wolf is angry and mean and the other is gentle and loving.

The grandson looked up and asked, “Grandfather, which one will win?”

And the grandfather answered, “Which ever one I feed the most.”

इक असर रखता हूँ

जीने मरने की जुस्तजू, पर इक असर रखता हूँ

ख़्वाबों में आशियां मेरा, मैं वहां बसर करता हूँ

I thrive, and I perish, but I never say never

I dream 'n hope, that's my address forever

महामृत्युंजय मंत्र Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat

OM, we worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O Shiva. YOU are the fragrance of life, nourishing us, restoring our health. YOUR will enables us to thrive. We surrender to YOU, O Divine Being (Shiva), YOU who embodies the power of will, the power of knowledge, and the power of action. We pray to YOU, the Absolute Divine Being, who nourishes, strengthens, causes to increase (in health, wealth, well-being); who gladdens, exhilarates, and restores our health, manifesting as the eternal nourisher of (the plant of) life. And like the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine in due course of time, similarly please disentangle us, liberate us from the bondage of attachment and death, from all physical, psychological, and spiritual foes, O Lord of Life.

भगवान् की प्राप्ति...

एक मल्लाह था।

मन में बड़ी अशांति, बहुत दुःखी था।

उसके मन में विचार आया कि अब भगवान् की तरफ चलना चाहिए, शान्ति प्राप्ति करनी चाहिए। तीर्थयात्रा जाए और भगवान् के दर्शन प्राप्त करे।

उसकी पत्नी ने कहा कि तीर्थयात्रा जाने से शान्ति नहीं मिलेगी। शान्ति भीतर है। जब तक हम अपने अंतरंग नहीं जायेंगे तब तक शान्ति नहीं मिलेगी।

मल्लाह नहीं माना, कहने लगा कि मैं तो तीर्थयात्रा के लिए जाऊँगा और वहाँ से शान्ति ले करके आऊँगा।

वह तीर्थयात्रा की तैयारियाँ करने लगा।

उसकी पत्नी भी साथ जाने के लिए तैयार हो गयी। उसने एक रूमाल में चार बैंगन बाँधकर रख दिए और जहाँ- जहाँ पतिदेव ने तीर्थयात्रा की, वहाँ- वहाँ वह स्वयं भी नहायी और पानी में बैंगनों को भी स्नान कराया। जहाँ- जहाँ दर्शन के लिए पतिदेव गये, वहाँ स्वयं भी दर्शन किया और उन चार बैंगनों को भी दर्शन कराया।

यात्रा करने के बाद जब घर वापिस आये तब पत्नी ने सारे तीर्थों की दर्शन कर चुके, सब नदियों में स्नान कर चुके बैंगनों की उसने सब्जी बनाई।

मल्लाह की थाली में परोसा तो उसे बड़ी दुर्गन्ध आयी।

कहने लगा, "अरे यह क्या है? बदबू के मारे मेरी नाक सड़ी जा रही है।"

पत्नी ने कहा कि ये वह बैंगन हैं, जो चारों धाम की यात्रा करके आये हैं। ये वह बैगन हैं, जो भगवान् के सारे तीर्थ के दर्शन करके आये हैं। इनमें तो सुगंध होनी चाहिए थी, स्वाद होना चाहिए था। परन्तु जब ये बैंगन सुगंध, खुशबू और स्वाद न प्राप्त कर सके, तो फिर तीर्थयात्रा और कर्मकाण्ड आपको क्या शान्ति दे पायेंगे?

मल्लाह के हृदय कपाट खुल गये और उसने अपने भीतर भगवान् को तलाश करना शुरू कर दिया।

कच्चा घड़ा

एक व्यक्ति सुकरात के पास गया और कहने लगा कि मुझे ऐसा उपाय बताइये, जिससे मैं भगवान् का साक्षात्कार कर सकूँ। भगवान् तक पहुँच सकूँ। 

सुकरात ने कहा- ‘अच्छा तुम कल आना, फिर मैं तुम्हें उसका मार्गदर्शन करूँगा।’ 

दूसरे दिन वह व्यक्ति सुकरात के पास पहुँचा। 

सुकरात ने मिट्टी का एक घड़ा मँगाकर रखा था। वह पकाया नहीं गया था, वरन् मिट्टी का बना हुआ कच्चा घड़ा था। 

सुकरात ने कहा- ‘जाओ, मेरे लिए एक घड़ा पानी लाओ। मैं पानी पी लूँ, उसके उपरांत मैं तुम्हारा मार्गदर्शन करूँगा।’

कच्चा घड़ा लेकर वह व्यक्ति कुएँ पर गया। रस्सी बाँधी और रस्सी बाँधकर के उसको कुएँ में डुबोया। खींचते- खींचते घड़े का बहुत सारा हिस्सा, कोना टूट- फूट गया। किसी तरीके से थोड़ा- बहुत पानी लेकर वह घड़ा ऊपर आया। घड़े को उसने सिर पर रखा, हाथ पर रखा। सुकरात के पास उसे लेकर जब तक वह पहुँचा, मिट्टी का वह घड़ा बिखर गया।

उसने सुकरात से कहा कि- जो घड़ा आपने मुझे पानी भरने के लिए दिया था वह रास्ते में ही बिखर गया।

सुकरात ने कहा- ‘ठीक यही फिलॉसफी भगवान् का प्यार प्राप्त करने और भगवान् का अनुग्रह प्राप्त करने की है। कच्चा घड़ा अपने भीतर पानी को धारण नहीं कर सका। उसके लिए जरूरत इस बात की पड़ती है कि घड़ा पक्का हो। अगर हमारे पास पक्का घड़ा है, तो पानी भर जायेगा, ठंडा रहेगा, बेतकल्लुफ खड़ा रहेगा और पानी हमको मिल जायेगा। अगर घड़ा कच्चा है, तो पानी बिखर जायेगा।’

Day of Reckoning...

There was a wildfire in the jungle.

All the animals were terrified and running for their lives.

In this chaos, an ant was repeatedly filling her mouth with water, carrying it to the edge of the fire, and splashing it in hope of dousing the fire.

But her mouth was too small to carry any large amount of water, and thus this exercise was appearing too futile to the other animals who were watching the ant in astonishment.

Someone asked the ant, “What are you doing? Don’t you know you are ill equipped to bring down this fire?”

The ant replied, “On the day of reckoning, God will segregate us in three groups.”

“The first group will comprise of those who lit the fire. The second group will comprise of those who saw the fire and did nothing. And last but not the least, would be a group which will comprise of those who tried to douse it.”

“I am doing my bit to find a spot in that third group”

Yeh naa thi humari qismat, ke visaal-e-yaar hota...

The sheer poetic genius of Mirza Ghalb...

The hauntingly beautiful voice of Farida Khanum...
_________________________________________

Yeh naa thi humari qismat, ke visaal-e-yaar hota...
Agar aur jeete rehte, yahi intezaar hota...

Tere vaade par jiye hum, toh yeh jaan jhooth jaana...
Ke khushii se marr na jaate, agar aitbaar hota...

Kahun kis se main ke kya hai, shab-e-gham buri balaa hai...
Yeh khalish kahaan se hoti, joh jigar ke paar hota...

Hue hum joh marr ke rusavaa, hue kyun na gharq-e-dariyaa...
Na kahin janaazaa uthataa, na kahin mazaar hota...

Kahun kis se main ke kiyaa hai, shab-e-gham buri balaa hai...
Mujhe kya buraa tha marna, agar ek baar hota...

Ye masaail-e-tasavvuf, yeh tera bayaan Ghalib...
Tujhe ham vaalii samajhate, jo na baada-khwaar hota...

विद्या लक्ष्मी

एक नौजवान हार्वर्ड युनिवेर्सिटी की मार्केटिंग डिग्री लेकर हिंदुस्तान
लौटा और उसने एक बड़ा सा स्टोर खोला…

कम दाम - ज्यादा सामान…

परन्तु उसका स्टोर चला नहीं...

उसके स्टोर के सामने एक छोटी किराने की दूकान थी जो ऐसे चलती थी जैसे
लाला सामान मुफ्त में बाँट रहा हो…

6 महीने बाद तंग आ कर नौजवान ने अपना स्टोर बेचने के लिए बाहर बोर्ड लगा दिया…

सामने की दूकान का लाला आया, और नगद पैसे दे कर उसकी जगह खरीद ली…

नौजवान हैरान हुआ और उसने लाला से उसके व्यापार के बारे में पुछा…

लाला बोला, "भईया, बेचते तो हम भी वो ही सामान है जो तुम बेचते हो,
परन्तु हम कम मुनाफे पर काम करते हैं… सीधी बात है, सिर्फ 1% मुनाफे पर
काम करो, माल ज्यादा बिकेगा और तभी काम चलेगा…"

नौजवान हैरान हुआ, "सिर्फ 1%?"

लाला ने जवाब दिया, "हाँ, जैसे की कोई चीज़ 1 रुपये की आई तो मैं उस को 2
रूपये में बेच देता हूँ, यानी की सिर्फ 1% मुनाफा…"

नौजवान को लाला के गणित पर तरस आया और बोला, "लाला जी, अगर आप 1 रूपये की
चीज़ 2 रूपये में बेचते हो तो यह 1% नहीं, 100% मुनाफा हुआ…"

लाला बोला, "हिसाब तो मुझे आता नहीं भईया, अपनी अपनी किस्मत की बात है …
तुम्हारे पास विद्या है, मेरे पास लक्ष्मी है…"

यह कह के लाला ने स्टोर को ताला लगाया और अपनी दूकान की तरफ लौट गया जहाँ
सामान खरीदने के लिए व्याकुल भीड़ उसका इंतज़ार कर रही थी …

6 महीने और बीते…

हार्वर्ड से लौटा हुआ वह नौजवान रेस कोर्स में घोड़ो पर दांव पे दांव
लगाये जा रहा था और अपने सारे पैसे हारे जा रहा था… सुबह से शाम होने को
आई परन्तु उसके लगाये हुए एक भी घोड़े के हिस्से में जीत नहीं आई…

हताश हो कर वह लौटने लगा की तभी उसने देखा की किराने की दूकान वाला लाला
रेस कोर्स में आया और आते ही 21 नंबर के घोड़े पर पैसा लगाया…

रेस चालू हुई और 21 नंबर का घोडा जीत गया…

नौजवान हैरान परेशान...

लाला के पास गया और बोला, लाला जी मुझे पहचाना, 6 महीने पहले आपने मेरा
स्टोर खरीदा था… एक बात पूछनी थी… क्या आपको पहले से ही मालुम था की आज
21 नंबर का घोडा जीतेगा और इसी जानकारी के चलते आपने अंदर आते ही उस घोड़े
पे दांव खेला…

लाला बोला, "नहीं भईया, मैं यहाँ से जा रहा था की मैंने सोचा चलो, आज 7वे
महीने का 4था रविवार है, और 7x4=21, बस यह ही सोच कर मैंने 21 नंबर पर
दांव लगा दिया.. …

नौजवान को लाला के गणित पर तरस आया और बोला, "लाला जी, आपका हिसाब गलत
है, 7 को अगर 4 से गुणा करो तो नतीजा 21 नहीं 28 होता है…"

लाला बोला, "हिसाब तो मुझे आता नहीं भईया, अपनी अपनी किस्मत की बात है …
तुम्हारे पास विद्या है, मेरे पास लक्ष्मी है …"

खिचड़ी...

बचपन में एक कहानी पढ़ी थी... कहानी याद है, लेकिन यह भूल गया की कहाँ पढ़ी थी... शायद नंदन या पराग में प्रकाशित हुई थी...

रामू गाँव से शहर जाने लगा तो उसकी माँ बोली, "अगर कभी पेट ख़राब हो जाए तो खिचड़ी खा लेना"... 

यह सोच की कहीं नाम भूल न जाये, रामू "खिचड़ी... खिचड़ी..." जपने लगा...

रास्ते में पत्थर से ठोकर लगी तो "खिचड़ी" की जगह उसके मुहं से "खा चिड़ि" निकलना शुरू हो गया... 

"खा चिड़ि" बोलते हुए एक खेत से निकला तो वहां के किसानो ने उसकी जम के पिटाई करी... बोले की चिड़ि कहीं फसल न खा जाए, इस लिए हम सारे यहाँ चिड़ि को उड़ा रहे है की और तू उन्हें बुला के कह रहा है की "खा चिड़ि" ... अब से तू सिर्फ बोलेगा "उड़ चिड़ि"...

मार खा के रामू अब "उड़ चिड़ि" जपने लगा... तभी एक बहिलये ने उसको पकड़ लिया और करी उसकी खूब धुनाई... बोला की मैं यहाँ पक्षियों को फांसने के लिए जाल बिछा के छुपा हुआ हूँ और तू गा रहा है "उड़ चिड़ि"... अब से तू सिर्फ बोलेगा "आते जाओ फसते जाओ"... 

रामू ने "आते जाओ फसते जाओ" जपना शुरू किया... तभी वहां से निकल रही एक डाकुओं की टोली ने उसे पकड़ लिया और उस की खूब पिटाई करी... पिटाई करने के बाद जब डाकू जाने लगे तो उनके सरदार ने रामू को ख़बरदार किया, "आइन्दा कभी "आते जाओ फसते जाओ" बोला तो मार-मार के उसकी खिचड़ी बना देंगे... 

रामू यह सुन के ख़ुशी से चिलाने लगा, "खिचड़ी... खिचड़ी... यह ही तो कहा था माँ ने... "

Aval alah nūr upā▫i▫ā kuḏraṯ ke sabẖ banḏe...

First, Allah created the Light;
then, by His Creative Power, He made all mortal beings.
From the One Light, the entire universe welled up.
So who is good, and who is bad? ||1||
O people, O Siblings of Destiny, do not wander deluded by doubt.
The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. ||1||Pause||
The clay is the same, but the Fashioner has fashioned it in various ways.
There is nothing wrong with the pot of clay - there is nothing wrong with the Potter. ||2||
The One True Lord abides in all; by His making, everything is made.
Whoever realizes the Hukam of His Command, knows the One Lord. He alone is said to be the Lord's slave. ||3||
The Lord Allah is Unseen; He cannot be seen. The Guru has blessed me with this sweet molasses.
Says Kabeer, my anxiety and fear have been taken away; I see the Immaculate Lord pervading everywhere. ||4||3||

अवलि अलह नूरु उपाइआ कुदरति के सभ बंदे ॥
एक नूर ते सभु जगु उपजिआ कउन भले को मंदे ॥१॥
लोगा भरमि न भूलहु भाई ॥
खालिकु खलक खलक महि खालिकु पूरि रहिओ स्रब ठांई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
माटी एक अनेक भांति करि साजी साजनहारै ॥
ना कछु पोच माटी के भांडे ना कछु पोच कु्मभारै ॥२॥
सभ महि सचा एको सोई तिस का कीआ सभु कछु होई ॥
हुकमु पछानै सु एको जानै बंदा कहीऐ सोई ॥३॥
अलहु अलखु न जाई लखिआ गुरि गुड़ु दीना मीठा ॥
कहि कबीर मेरी संका नासी सरब निरंजनु डीठा ॥४॥३॥

Aval alah nūr upā▫i▫ā kuḏraṯ ke sabẖ banḏe.
Ėk nūr ṯe sabẖ jag upji▫ā ka▫un bẖale ko manḏe. ||1||
Logā bẖaram na bẖūlahu bẖā▫ī.
Kẖālik kẖalak kẖalak mėh kẖālik pūr rahi▫o sarab ṯẖāʼn▫ī. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Mātī ek anek bẖāʼnṯ kar sājī sājanhārai.
Nā kacẖẖ pocẖ mātī ke bẖāʼnde nā kacẖẖ pocẖ kumbẖārai. ||2||
Sabẖ mėh sacẖā eko so▫ī ṯis kā kī▫ā sabẖ kacẖẖ ho▫ī.
Hukam pacẖẖānai so eko jānai banḏā kahī▫ai so▫ī. ||3||
Alhu alakẖ na jā▫ī lakẖi▫ā gur guṛ ḏīnā mīṯẖā.
Kahi Kabīr merī sankā nāsī sarab niranjan dīṯẖā. ||4||3||

ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥
ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥
ਲੋਗਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥
ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥੧॥
ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਮਾਟੀ ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਜੀ ਸਾਜਨਹਾਰੈ ॥
ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਮਾਟੀ ਕੇ ਭਾਂਡੇ ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਕੁੰਭਾਰੈ ॥੨॥
ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਸਚਾ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕਛੁ ਹੋਈ ॥
ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ਸੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ਬੰਦਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਈ ॥੩॥
ਅਲਹੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਲਖਿਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਗੁੜੁ ਦੀਨਾ ਮੀਠਾ ॥
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਸੰਕਾ ਨਾਸੀ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਡੀਠਾ ॥੪॥੩॥

~This Shabad is composed by Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Prabhaatee and it is on Page 1349 - 1350 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji~

At the end of the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.~Italian Proverb~

Umar bhar Ghalib yeh hi bhool karta raha…
Dhool chehre pe thi, aur aaina saaf karta raha...

I understand that every individual, with whom I have ever interacted, every life situation that I witnessed, is a part of the bigger picture, unknown and unseen as yet by me, but a part of God’s immaculate planning. Be it friends or foes, everyone has been a teacher and has played their part to perfection in bringing me closer to God. Both affection and affliction play an equally important role in life’s journey, like the two sides of the same coin.

To all those who abhor me, maybe I have given you a reason, and for which I hereby apologise, or if you aren’t sure of the reasons even then I extend my apology, because in either scenario by voluntarily or involuntarily enticing the feeling of animosity within you, your soul is collecting negative karma because of me. Let go. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

My gratitude to those who have bequeathed their blessings and love upon me, I pray that God always and forever bless you all with much love, luck and happiness. My apologies for the times when I may have caused anguish, with either my impatience or by my unpredictability, but understand that is how the Creator has created me.

Only that colour which YOU impart, Lord, exists;
O Nanak, what can the poor wretched being do? ||8||3||

Jaisā rang ḏėh so hovai ki▫ā Nānak janṯ vicẖāre. ||8||3||

ਜੈਸਾ ਰੰਗੁ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੋ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੰਤ ਵਿਚਾਰੇ ॥੮॥੩॥

जैसा रंगु देहि सो होवै किआ नानक जंत विचारे ॥८॥३॥

Alike a river I flow, making gushing sounds on encountering obstacles, and running serenely in the plains.

Only God decides the course for the river until it merges in the ocean.

Moksha...

A elephant named Gajendra, was the king of a herd of elephants, including many queen elephants with whom he used to bathe and play in a lake. Gajendra was proud to be the king elephant. One hot day while he was arrogantly bathing in the lake with its herd, suddenly a crocodile from below caught him by the foot, tried to pull the elephant to the bottom of the lake, and would not let go of it.

Gajendra fought hard to free himself from the crocodile. But it was unable get rid of the crocodile. When other members of its herd (friends, queen elephants, the family members, and relatives) saw Gajendra fighting futilely to release himself from the jaws of death, fled. In other words, realizing that death was coming close, they all ran away and left Gajendra alone.

At that stage of utter helplessness, realizing the futility of its efforts, Gajendra called out to the Lord. Gajendra was instantly released from the grip of the crocodile.

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This story is a part of the Shrimad Bhagavad Purana, an ancient Holy Hindu Scripture, and also finds mention several times in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji... 

On page number 632 http://goo.gl/znAXN

As soon as the elephant took to the protective Sanctuary of the Lord, the ocean of mercy, he escaped from the crocodile.
How much can I describe the Glorious Praises of the Naam? Whoever chants the Lord's Name, his bonds are broken. ||2||

Jab hī saran gahī kirpā niḏẖ gaj garāh ṯe cẖẖūtā. 
Mahmā nām kahā la▫o barna▫o rām kahaṯ banḏẖan ṯih ṯūtā. ||2|| 

जब ही सरनि गही किरपा निधि गज गराह ते छूटा ॥ 
महमा नाम कहा लउ बरनउ राम कहत बंधन तिह तूटा ॥२॥ 

ਜਬ ਹੀ ਸਰਨਿ ਗਹੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਿਧਿ ਗਜ ਗਰਾਹ ਤੇ ਛੂਟਾ ॥ 
ਮਹਮਾ ਨਾਮ ਕਹਾ ਲਉ ਬਰਨਉ ਰਾਮ ਕਹਤ ਬੰਧਨ ਤਿਹ ਤੂਟਾ ॥੨॥ 

On page number 830 http://goo.gl/VF1zl

The elephant's fear was taken away in an instant, as soon as he chanted the Lord's Name.

Gaj kī ṯarās mitī cẖẖinhū mėh jab hī rām bakẖāno. 

गज की त्रास मिटी छिनहू महि जब ही रामु बखानो ॥ 

ਗਜ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਮਿਟੀ ਛਿਨਹੂ ਮਹਿ ਜਬ ਹੀ ਰਾਮੁ ਬਖਾਨੋ ॥ 

On page number 976 http://goo.gl/O6F7L 

The mortals are bound by the many bonds of Maya's noose. Meditating on the Lord, the knot is untied, like the elephant, which was caught in the water by the crocodile; it remembered the Lord, and chanted the Lord's Name, and was released. ||3||

Mā▫i▫ā fās banḏẖ baho banḏẖe har japi▫o kẖul kẖulne. 
Ji▫o jal kuncẖar ṯaḏū▫ai bāʼnḏẖi▫o har cẖeṯi▫o mokẖ mukẖne. ||3|| 

माइआ फास बंध बहु बंधे हरि जपिओ खुल खुलने ॥ 
जिउ जल कुंचरु तदूऐ बांधिओ हरि चेतिओ मोख मुखने ॥३॥ 

ਮਾਇਆ ਫਾਸ ਬੰਧ ਬਹੁ ਬੰਧੇ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਓ ਖੁਲ ਖੁਲਨੇ ॥ 
ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਕੁੰਚਰੁ ਤਦੂਐ ਬਾਂਧਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਚੇਤਿਓ ਮੋਖ ਮੁਖਨੇ ॥੩॥ 

On page number 982 http://goo.gl/9LukV 

In the Sanctuary of the Guru, the Lord God saves and protects us,
as He protected the elephant, when the crocodile seized it and pulled it into the water; He lifted him up and pulled him out. ||1||Pause||

Rām gur saran parabẖū rakẖvāre. 
Ji▫o kuncẖar ṯaḏū▫ai pakar cẖalā▫i▫o kar ūpar kadẖ nisṯāre. ||1|| rahā▫o. 

राम गुर सरनि प्रभू रखवारे ॥ 
जिउ कुंचरु तदूऐ पकरि चलाइओ करि ऊपरु कढि निसतारे ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥ 

ਰਾਮ ਗੁਰ ਸਰਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਰਖਵਾਰੇ ॥ 
ਜਿਉ ਕੁੰਚਰੁ ਤਦੂਐ ਪਕਰਿ ਚਲਾਇਓ ਕਰਿ ਊਪਰੁ ਕਢਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰੇ ॥੧॥ 
ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 

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The symbolism of this story is that an egoistic mind of an individual is alike Gajendra, an elephant. The crocodile represents the fear of death, difficulties and sufferings that constantly hover over our life.

We falter by thinking that another individual, be it friend, family, lover or spouse, can be our savior. In lure of Maya, we become egoistic. Truth is that when it is the time to die, or the moment we run into difficulty, everyone except for God will forsake us.

In the clutches of death, no one can protect us - friends disappear, relatives flee, and even our own body fails us. And alike the elephant unable to free itself from the jaws of the crocodile, a man cannot become free until the onus of releasing is put on the God. Like the elephant in the story, in the moment of utter surrender, God rushes to our aid, and liberates us. 

Mukti or Moksha is attainable only by the Grace of Eternal God.

The last loneliness standing…

Eons ago I had written a poem - Main Akela Hoon - for our school magazine Vidya.

Neither do I remember the year it was published nor do I recall the exact verses of the poem, but since the title is self-explanatory, and given the fact that as an only child living with a Dad who wasn’t keeping good health, and a Mom who was busy attending to him, I can say it with a fair bit of certainty that thepenning was about being lonely.

Much water flowed under the bridge since then. Over the past three decades, I made thousands of acquaintances, few hundred enemies and a handful of friends.

Yet that feeling of loneliness somehow lingered on all along these years,

On. And on.

Over the years, as the volume of loneliness went up and down, sometimes the crack shrank, sometimes the crater went greater, yet it remained, just like my insanity.

I was running away from myself. Or more aptly, I was running away from God. (God is within, remember!)

And the more I ran, the more I got caught.

Once in sheer anguish I penned…

Hoon hujoom mein akela, jaise mayyat pe laga ho koi jamghat
Shor-gul hai tanhaai, laash pe deemak ne lagaya hai majma

Like a termite infested corpse, am shouting a deafening silent cry
Final futile try to escape the loneliness inside the coffin of a sly

Alas! The cries found no escape. Nah sire, Zilch! But the blame lies only on me and no-one else since I myself was unwilling to hear my own screams.

Yeh Duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai
Yeh duniya agar lutt bhi jaaye to kya hai

सहस सिआणपा लख होहि त इक न चलै नालि ॥
Sahas siāṇpā lakẖ hohi ṯa ik na cẖalai nāl
Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.

Be it friends, family, or foes, no-one will die with me when it is time for me to die, yet "all" must have their say in the way I must live… Without even realizing the futility of this demand when even they all know that the moment I die, no-one is going to keep the dead body of a forty year old/young for an extra forty hours...

I found out that although if I were to die now, “sympathetic” people would say I died a young death, and yet the same worldly wise voices will vilify me if I wanted to live and not merely exist.

In numbness, I was turning indifferent to my own plight. The disenchantment was almost complete.

And then the threshold collapsed and I snapped.

Or maybe the threshold snapped and I collapsed.

Whatever!

It is then that I sought refuge in an eternally dependable and forever unchangeable support system.

I turned to God.

किउ छूटउ कैसे तरउ भवजल निधि भारी ॥
राखु राखु मेरे बीठुला जनु सरनि तुम्हारी ॥
Kio cẖẖūtao kaise ṯarao bẖavjal niḏẖ bẖārī.
Rākẖ rākẖ mere bīṯẖulā jan saran ṯumĥārī.
How can anyone be saved? How can anyone cross over the terrifying world-ocean?
Save me, save me, O my Lord! Your humble servant seeks Your Sanctuary.

And I found my senses.

All six of them. Including the common sense.

I realized that I had to listen to the inner voice rather than aimlessly attempting to forever gratify the insatiable worldly voices.

I realized that my captivity was an illusion, the cage was inexistent. I realized that the moment you believe you are free, you become free.

I realized that I wasn't duty bound to respond to every instance of negativity hurled towards me, neither with further negativity to even it out, nor with positivity in a futile hope to change others.

I realized that all I had to do was change me instead of trying to change the world.

I realized that there was no need for me to play the victim when I wasn’t even remotely interested in victimizing anyone else.

I realized that it is always better to trust an unknown future to An All Knowing God than to allow another human to judge me and decide my fate.

I realized that one always runs an inherent risk of being sold in the slave market the moment he/she calls another human being as lord, and thus only God Almighty, The Sovereign Lord of The Universe, must be my only lord.

धनवंता अरु निरधन मनई ता की कछू न कानी रे
राजा परजा सम करि मारै ऐसो कालु बडानी रे
Ḏẖanvanṯā ar nirḏẖan man▫ī ṯā kī kacẖẖū na kānī re.
Rājā parjā sam kar mārai aiso kāl badānī re.
It gives no special consideration to either the rich or the poor.
The king and his subjects are equally killed; such is the power of Death.

I realized that be it a king or a pauper, rich or poor; everyone will die, but the responsibility that when death comes, it finds me alive rests solely on me and not on any other human. I realized that I might as well as live my life in happiness since no-one is actually bothered if I am miserable. I realized that no matter what games people play, I must not play any games with them or myself.

I realized that neither may I ever try to be a messiah for anyone else (That’s God’s job, not mine), nor look outwards for a messiah to resuscitate me because the only viable messiah available for me is me.

As I undertook the most important journey of my life, the journey within, I realized that the transition from “Main Akela Hoon” to “Main Azaad Hoon” always had to be within and never without.

I realized that when loneliness became solitude, it became a blessing,

I realized that when Divine fills the vacuum, nothing remains amiss.

I realized that awakening in itself is nirvana, courage in itself is resuscitation, and faith in itself is salvation.

I learned few simple but effective lessons.

I don’t have to control thoughts. I only have to stop the thoughts from controlling me.

I don’t have to control people. I only have to stop people from controlling me.

Yes, admittedly it is just the start, it still is a long journey and it will end only when the river will merge into the ocean.

Am I the Pied Piper of Hamelin playing pipe? Will the wise doomsayers be proved right that I’d fall off the cliff listening to my own music?

Who knows?

I believe in myself and I believe in my God.

I’d just do my bit and then whatever will be, will be. Que Sera, Sera.

So please help me God. Amen.