CRI n°15  2013

 part 2 

LIFE IS A GIFT

From “Sunrays for Thursday” by Priya & Sanjay Tandon.

 

Today before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife -

Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children -
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep -
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another -
Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.
And before you think of signing out, Please think of sending this message.
God Bless You.

   TRUE LOVE

A little boy was told by the doctor that he could save his sister's life by giving her some blood.

The six-year-old girl was near death, a victim of a disease from which the boy had made a marvelous recovery two years earlier. Her only chance for restoration was a blood transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the illness. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.

"Johnny, would you like to give your blood for Mary?" the doctor asked. The boy hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled, and said, "Sure, Doc. I'll give my blood for my sister."

Soon the two children were wheeled into the operating room Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and the picture of health. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. As his blood siphoned into Mary's veins, one could almost see new life come into her tired body.

The ordeal was almost over when Johnny's brave little voice broke the silence, "Say Doc, when do I die?"

It was only then that the doctor realized what the moment of hesitation, the trembling of the lip, had meant earlier. Little Johnny actually thought that in giving his blood to his sister he was giving up his life!

And in that brief moment, the final decision that he had made was the greatest love of all... the unconditional sacrificing love...

Sacrificing PART of what you have is human nature, but sacrificing all of what you have needs a lot of LOVE. Nowadays people always think of what they can get in return before giving, if the return is less than their givings, then they will be reluctant to give.
    

WHEAT GRAINS

From “Sunrays for Thursday” by Priya & Sanjay Tandon.

Dewan had stored a large number of wheat bags in his house. One day he found that ten bags were missing. He accused his neighbour Karanbir of theft.

The matter was reported to the police and Karanbir was arrested and put in police lock up.

A few days later the matter was heard by a judge in a court of law. The judge heard the case and pronounced Karanbir ‘not guilty.’ The judge told Dewan that Karanbir’s lawyers had asked for payment of damages, in the sense of ‘mental trauma’, ‘loss of reputation’, ‘loss at work for being unable to attend to his job’ etc.’

Dewan said to the Judge, “My Lord, I apologize for accusing him, but I don’t think I should be asked to pay  damages of any kind since there is no physical or financial loss to him.”

The judge said, “Alright, I shall surely think about this. I shall write the judgement tomorrow. Meanwhile can I get a handful of wheat from your stocks? I would like to see the quality of wheat that you harvest.”

Dewan got a handful of wheat and showed it to the judge. The judge said, “Now you may go home. Come tomorrow and I shall pronounce the judgement. Here, take this wheat in your palm and while you walk home, drop the grains one by one, all along your way.”

Dewan was baffled by the judge’s order, but nonetheless he dropped the grains of wheat all through his way home.
 
The next day Dewan was in court and so was Karanbir.

The judge said to Dewan, “Now my friend, I shall pronounce the judgment in your favour, if you can go back and collect all the grains of wheat that you dropped on your way home yesterday.”

Dewan retorted, “How can I possibly find them now? Most of them would have been scattered here or there. Some would have blown away. Some would have been eaten by birds or may be taken root. Some may have been picked up by someone .”

The judge raised his hand to silence Dewan and said, “The tag of ‘thief’ that you have accorded on your neighbour here has also been scattered in many directions.
Can you undo all the unpleasant things that have been said about him? The number
of people who think him to be a thief is something that nobody can count, for the word would have spread near and far. Can you restore his peace of mind and loss of goodwill? Can you give him back the time that he has lost, while in jail? Can you give him back his sanity?”
 
It is said that a spoken word is like an arrow that has left the bow. It can never be brought back. Think before you speak. Do not wound another’s heart by your words, or a word sometimes pierces harder than a sword!

 
ADDING PURPOSE TO LIFE

This is a story of an elementary school teacher named Mrs. Thompson. As she stood in front of her fifth grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie.

Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed, how pretty the bracelet was. She put it on and dabbed some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.

The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.

She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Never underestimate the Power of Purpose. Unconditional and unselfish love, we know, can do even greater miracles.

Before we hit the sack every night, let us for a moment ponder if we could inject a little love into someone’s life, if we could lend our shoulder to one who can never return the favour.

OPPORTUNITIES TO LOVE

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood steet, going a bit too  fast in his new Jaguar.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid who was standing there and pushed him against a parked car shouting, "What do you think you are doing, boy?".

Building up a head of steam he went on, "That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?".

"Please sir, please. I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do," pleaded the youngster.
"I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."
Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car.
"It's my brother, sir," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.
" Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair, sir? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you, sir," the grateful child said to him.
The man then watched the little boy push his brother toward their home.

It was a long walk back to his Jaguar...a long slow walk. He never did repair the side door.
He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

VIKRAM, THE STABLE BOY AND THE WILD PASTURE

There once was a stable boy named Vikram who took care of five fine horses. His daily chores included scrubbing the horses and feeding them their oats and hay. He also had to keep the stables clean and occasionally let the horses out for a healthy run. Vikram was a good boy, but his mind would wander and he became careless from time to time.

There were two pastures on the farm. One was well kept, pleasant and quiet, while the other was unkempt and left to grow wild, with plants and grasses abounding everywhere.

Vikram’s father warned him that he should never let the horses get out into the wild pasture as the scents in the air from the grasses would act like a potent drug and stir their senses and cause them to go into a frenzy and run amuck. Vikram solemnly  swore to his father that he would never let the five fine horses loose in this pasture.          

For a long time the boy was careful and kept his word. On one particular Sunday, however, momentarily forgetting his father’s warning, Vikram was careless and unthinkingly opened the wrong stable  doors which led directly to the wild pasture.

The result was swift. The horses reared up on their hind legs, snorted like bulls and bolted out. With their eyes rolled back, ears flat, and mouths foaming, they knocked Vikram aside and tore the doors off their hinges and broke free.

The horses raced into the pasture where they immediately began to challenge and fight each other.
Vikram watched in despair as they went wild and lost all control. He could do nothing but stay out of their way. In desperation, he prayed fervently.

Finally, when they were utterly exhausted, the horses returned to the stable. They were covered with bruises and suffered injuries from their mad dashing about and fighting each other. It took many months for their various wounds to heal. During this time, they refused the healthy food Vikram offered them and were uncooperative and difficult to handle.
        
Eventually, the horses recovered from their physical wounds and became calm and well behaved once more. As for Vikram, did he learn his lesson and never make the same blunder again?

We wish we could say he did, but that is not what happened, unfortunately.
Three months later, on another hot and lazy Sunday when his father was away, Vikram found himself bored and restless. He decided to let the horses out for just a few minutes so they could have a little taste of freedom. He promised himself he would be more careful this time and keep a close watch on them and not let things get out of hand like the last time. He thought he could keep them under control and so opened the doors for them.

However, once again, the horses broke free, knocked Vikram fla+t, pushed the doors right off their hinges and headed for the wild pasture. They turned on each other, became wild without any control and fought each other for dominance.

Vikram prayed even harder than he did before, but by the time he managed to get them all back in the stable, they were in even worse shape than the previous incident! It took longer for the horses to return to a peaceful state and heal from their wounds. Vikram’s father was very disappointed in him, but not as disappointed as Vikram was with himself.          

Dear reader, doesn’t our mind act like this? When we feed it healthy thoughts and positive ideas and maintain a clean environment and keep control over it, then it will behave and not cause us any problems or embarrassment. However, the moment we let it run amuck in the pasture of unhealthy ideas and activities, it can develop a taste for this dangerous “freedom” which is not really freedom at all but just rowdiness.

Such unruliness can even become a habit or an addiction, which becomes harder to rein in every time we yield to it. When we slip into such a state, it can be very difficult to regain control of our “horses,” meaning to tame the mind once we have allowed it to run wild. Only through intense prayer and association with good company and keeping a pious environment can we then return them to the soothing, pleasing green pastures where we can experience peace and happiness.

So you see, it is therefore worth the trouble and effort to keep our horses under control rather than let them loose to run wild.

“The man of faith, earnestness, perseverance, determination and steadfastness, the man of supreme devotion, the man of sense control will obtain this wisdom. Having obtained this wisdom, he will soon enjoy supreme peace.”

 
INDY, THE WONDER CAT, MEETING LORD BUDDHA

A long time ago in Northern India, I had an unusual adventure. I met a prince who didn't live in a palace, didn't have big feasts and didn't have fancy clothes. In fact, when I met him, he was sitting under a tree dressed in rags.

When I saw the prince sitting very still under a tree, I sat down and watched him for a while, but he didn't do anything but sat. When the wind blew, he sat. When it rained, he sat. When the sun beat down on him, he sat.

Days went by and although I rarely ever left the area, (I only took a little time off to eat, drink, sleep and occasionally chase my tail — it is fun!!!), I never, ever saw him move.

After many days, some really strange things started to happen. Strange sounds started coming out of nowhere. These sounds were so loud I had to cover my ears, but still the prince just sat. The earth moved as if someone had grabbed and shook it, but he just sat. Weird beings that looked like demons and beautiful female humans appeared out of nowhere and seemed to be talking to him or yelling at him.

Honestly, although I am a very brave cat, I was getting a little scared. But he just sat. Mounds of gold and jewels appeared and then disappeared. The man just sat. Nothing could make him budge an inch. Then something really weird happened.

A strange, soft, gentle glow seemed to come from him. Still he sat. The glow grew brighter and brighter until it completely covered him. He just sat and sat. The light became brighter than the sun itself and he just sat. What was going on here??!! I didn't move either — even chasing my tail wasn't as interesting as whatever this was.

When the glow couldn't get any brighter, a beautiful smile spread across his face. He slowly opened his eyes (which also had a glow in them) and said, "Hello, Indy cat. I am Buddha."

What???????!!!!! I was pretty sure that the entire time I was watching him, nobody had said hello to me and we'd never been properly introduced, so how did he know my name? But... being a polite cat, I said "Hello, Mr. Buddha, pleased to meet you."

"Indy, you can simply call me Buddha, not Mr. Buddha," laughed Buddha. "Of course I know your name. I have awakened from the dream we call life to the deeper truth that we are all one. How can I not know you? We are all God, all one."

Now, two things were bothering me. First, what did he mean, "we are all one, all God?" I Truthfully, I was thinking that this guy had sat in the sun for a bit too long. Secondly, since I knew that I hadn't said anything except hello, how did he know what I was thinking?
Again, he seemed to respond to my thoughts.

"Indy," he chuckled, "I haven't lost my mind, just the part of my ego that kept me separate from God, from everything. You are God, I am God, everything is God. I know this and you know this but you've forgotten your true identity. As to the second thing that is bothering you, your thoughts are as clear to me as your words would be."

Wow!!! This Buddha guy could read my mind. (I had better be careful of my thoughts!) If this guy can really read my mind, which seemed to be true, maybe he wasn't nuts. Perhaps he knows something I don't know.

"Not exactly, Indy," Buddha responded before I could say anything. "Like I said, you've forgotten your true Self, while I have just now awakened to truly knowing my Self. This experience gives me a deep sense of peace and tranquility. I feel God in me and around me. Everywhere I look I see nothing but God. By the way Indy cat, you are right, that is why I seem to be glowing."

It was weird to have him answer a question before I even knew I had thought it. Quickly I said, "Buddha, this sounds like a truly wonderful experience. Is it possible that I, I mean could I...."

With a twinkle in his eyes, Buddha said, "Of course you can have this experience, Indy. All are destined to have it sooner or later. All it takes is right practice, perseverance and patience as well as the grace of God."

Practice, practice what??? I had practiced things like chasing my tail and sneaking up on my brother and sister cats and stuff like that, but I had a feeling he meant something quite different. I quickly asked, "Lord Buddha, what is this practice? Will you teach me? Can I learn it? How long will it take?"

"Indy, Indy," Buddha chuckled, "Relax, relax. I will teach you and you will learn. It is the simplest of things yet the most difficult. It can take a moment or it can take lifetimes. It is all up to God's grace and your practice, perseverance and patience."

I couldn't think of anything that seemed as neat as this!!!! And certainly, I had nothing more important to do — not even chasing my tail or playing with the other cats. So….
"When can I start, Lord?" I asked.

"There is no time like the now," Buddha replied. "Sit here next to me, Indy cat. There are many ways to do this. I will teach you one that is very ancient and very easy to learn. It has been taught since the beginning of time and will be taught by many great ones yet to come. First, sit comfortably. Now gently close your eyes and listen to the sound your breath makes as it goes in and out."

I did as he said and closed my eyes. I started listening to the sound of my breath.

"Now Indy cat," continued Buddha, "Imagine that your breath makes the sound SO on the inhale and HAM on the exhale. Gently allow your attention to rest on the SO HAM. If thoughts come, fine. Don't try and force them away. Gently bring your attention back to SO HAM."

Doing as Buddha suggested (after all I am quite good at following directions when I want to), I began. SO...HAM......SO......HAM...............SO................HAM. My breath started slowing down and a feeling of peace started to fill me. Suddenly, my nose started itching. No matter how I tried to ignore it, I couldn't. All I could think about was my itchy nose. SO HAM... my nose itches...SO HAM.-.my nose itches. It really ITCHED!!!!!!

"Indy," laughed Buddha, "You don't need to struggle so. Scratch your nose. This can be done easily and without effort. Patience, perseverance and practice will win the goal. Do what you need to do, then gently and effortlessly bring your attention back to the SO HAM."

"Wow, that feels better," I thought after scratching that pesky itch. SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM. That warm peaceful feeling came back.

"Allow yourself to go deeper and deeper," suggested Buddha.
"SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM." I felt like I was floating. This was neat!!!! As good as cat treats. Cat treats...hmmmmmm. Suddenly all I could think of was cat treats - how they looked, where they were hidden, and most importantly, how they tasted. Oh, how I wanted one even though I wasn't hungry.

SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT. No matter what I did, I couldn't shake the thought of a cat treat.

Gently Buddha said, "Notice the thoughts and feelings. Don't try and push them away. Allow them to be there but don't hang on to them. Notice them but don't focus on them. Almost effortlessly drift back to the sound of your breath. Do this by just gently leaning into it with your mind.

SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT TREAT SO HAM CAT SO HAM TREAT SO HAM CAT SO HAM

"Stay with it," encouraged Buddha. I could barely hear him.

SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM a light started shining from somewhere SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM it got brighter and brighter SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM SO HAM and then...nothingness - a velvety darkness that was soooo peaceful, no sound, no thoughts, nothing.

After some time, I slowly opened my eyes. I noticed that everything — the trees, the flowers, the rocks, the bugs, the earth itself— seemed to shimmer and glow. It was all alive and sparkling. Everything appeared to be almost transparent yet unique. Everything seemed to merge and separate, merge and separate as if it were really all one and the same - as if it were the bearing of one heart. There were no words to describe the sensation or the feelings that were arising in me. All I can say is that it felt GREAT!!

All too soon, this experience came to an end and things returned to the way they were before I sat down. Yet somehow everything was different. I knew that everything was one, yet I no longer had the direct perception of it. I was both happy and sad. I still felt wonderful but missed what seemed to be lost.

"Indy cat," Buddha explained, "In your past lives you have been blessed by being with many wonderful teachers like Jesus. In your future lives you will be with many other divine teachers. You and I will have further adventures together in this life. Now as a result of all your past deeds and by the grace of God, you have been granted a taste of the true reality of existence. You have directly experienced oneness; you know now absolutely that we are all God, all are divine."

I thought to ask if I would ever have the experience again, but before I could even get the thought clear in my head I got the answer from within myself— "practice, perseverance and patience will take you to the goal." I knew I would eventually be able to live in that state of oneness once I was ready. I knew that all are destined to experience this, sooner or later.

I smiled at Buddha. Buddha smiled at me. Then with a little fur rub, a couple of pats and a laugh, he turned and started walking away slowly while I sat under the tree.

"Oh Indy, one last thing," Buddha said. With a wave of his hand he tossed something to me. I caught it and....it was a golden, glowing cat treat.

"Thanks Buddha," I said. "I look forward to seeing you soon."

With that, I looked again at the cat treat. Time to become one with it, I thought, as I gently munched it. It was delicious, almost as delicious as my time with Buddha, the Awakened One.