Be balanced in all things

 

Often in our desire to be loved, we try so hard to be everything to everyone. We compromise our true selves in an expectation to please someone else. If we continue to live for the approval of others, we will find ourselves unhappy about life and unfulfilled in our own dreams. We can never be truly happy until we live our own lives.

 

Think of how it feels to stand on one leg for any length of time. After a few moments, you are leaning one way or another, feeling as if you're to fall. It is easy to get out of balance in your life------- emotionally, mentally, and spiritually-------especially if you try to do too much or live according to other people's standards.

 

With your eyes closed, see or sense yourself in a garden. Look around. Is there orderliness in your garden, or do you see a lots of weeds or vine overtaking the flowers in your garden? Are the flowers in bloom, or have some of them died? Do you see overgrown bushes or plants? The weeds, vines dead flowers, and overgrown bushes represent people and situations that are either taking over your life or draining your energy. They are causing you to be out of balance.

 

Observe your garden once again. Is there anything missing?  Are there dirt piles where nothing is growning? As you sit in the silence of your meditation, ask yourself: "What can I do to make things different?" Is there someone you need to let go of in your life? Is there a situation that you have been ignoring that needs handling? The answers are in side you. You don't have to ask anyone else.
 

Take a moment and begin to see your garden in a new light. What a difference! The flowers are blooming, the weeds have been cleared away, and the plants are nicely trimmed, Your new garden is beautiful, lush, and green. Know that like your garden, your life is taking shape and coming into balance. You can return here any time to trim away the excess or clear out the unwanted.

 

If a black cat crosses the road...................??????

If a black cat crosses the road, many an Indian will wait for someone else to walk down the path first, thinking bad luck will befall him otherwise. This is a classic example of superstition in an insecure person, say experts.

 

Sanjay Chugh, a leading psychiatrist and the founder chairman of the Delhi-based International Institute of Mental Health, said: "When we are insecure, we do anything to make ourselves feel more secure."

 

He said an insecure mind tries to make an association between randomly occurring events without having any evidence or basis for it. "This association is superstition."

 

Many Indians refuse to step out of the house immediately after someone sneezes. Another common superstition is to carry a "lucky" pen to an examination.

 

"If a person wears any specific colour (say blue) while taking an examination and he or she performs well, then the mind tends to make an association between the colour of the dress and the performance level," he explained.

Chugh said people who have a superstitious habit could be divided into two categories - those who feel more secure because of it and those who practise it mindlessly just because everybody they know does it too.

 

 

"On the face of it we will see no difference between the two. But I think that a lot of business families would fall in the first category while a lot of middle class people would fall in the latter," he said.

 

 

Samir Parikh, chief of the department of Mental Health & Behavioural Sciences, Max Healthcare, says ignorance is another root cause of superstitions.

 

Never tend to be egoistic

Once a young boy found a job in a barn. Everyday he
had to remove all the cow dung, clean the whole place,
feed, milk and bathe the cows, let them graze for
sometime and tie them back in the shed. His employer
was a very strict person. He would not tolerate even a
minor slip-up and would punish anyone who failed at
his duty.

A new Ganesh temple was being built in the town. It
was decided that the Ganesh idol should be taken in
procession along the streets of the town before
consecration in the temple. This boy was chosen for
the job. He was bathed and clothed in new silk robes.
Fragrant sandal paste was applied all over his body
and he was adorned with garlands. The Ganesh idol was
then placed over his head and he was taken in
procession with the accompaniment of traditional
music, bursting of firecrackers and chanting of the
Vedas.

Everybody prostrated to him. They lighted camphor and
took ‘Arati’ reverently. They also offered him milk,
tender coconut water and the like to quench his
thirst. They held an umbrella over his head. They even
washed his feet and applied sandal paste and
vermilion. His joy knew no bounds! He thought that his
life had changed forever. After the procession, he
returned to the barn with a fattened ego and felt no
inclination to work. He went to his master’s room and
ate the food that was kept aside for his master. He
also lay down on his master’s cot and slept.

The master on his return saw the whole thing and was
infuriated. He shook the boy awake and gave him a
sound thrashing. The boy was shocked and could not
understand anything. He thought, “Every body treated
me with such reverence just a few moments back! Even
my master prostrated to me! Now why does he behave
indifferently? Why is he beating me so cruelly?”
Thinking thus, he cried inconsolably. His colleague
told him, “You are such a fool! The respect that was
shown right from the morning was not for you but for
the idol of Ganesh on your head. You nurtured a
misconception that it was for you and that is the
cause for your suffering.” Realizing the truth, the
boy came back to his senses and behaved normally as
before.

Moral: Children! People respect us only for our social
status, wealth, education or skills. If these are
taken away, they might not even look at us. If this
fact is understood properly, we will never tend to be
egoistic in our lives.

Value of parents...

 An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along
with his 45 year’s old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow
perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time,
"What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,

“What is this?"
At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's
tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a
crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time,
"What is this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep
asking me the same question again and again, although I have
told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to
understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an
 old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was
born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page.
When the son read it, the following words were written in the
diary: -
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa,
when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23
times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a
Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same
question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel
irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the
Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all
23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same
question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

So...
If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at
them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool,
obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your
parents. From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents
happy forever”. They have cared for me ever since I was a little
child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.

They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm
and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".
Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST
way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no
matter how they behave.

Happy Weekend~no laughing matter

True Happiness: No Laughing Matter

 

“I laughed so hard, I cried.”

When was the last time you made that statement and really meant it; when you laughed so hard tears welled in your eyes? Hopefully, recently enough that you remember.

Laughter is a characteristic of a happy person and the pursuit of happiness has many benefits:

1.         Higher income and superior work outcomes; better quality work

2.         Larger social rewards such as longer marriages, more friends

3.         More activity and energy

4.         Better physical health; lower stress and less pain

5.         Longer life

The benefits of happiness describe what most of us feel is an ideal life…more fun at work, many friends, successful relationships, lots of energy, and long life with less pain. And that’s not all!

Happy individuals are more creative, helpful, charitable, and self-confident, have better self-control, and show greater self-regulatory and coping abilities

 

Our forefathers knew what they were doing when they include “the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence.

 

If happiness is so beneficial, and we all seem to be obsessed with the notion, why aren’t more of us happy?

 The research suggests our focus may be misplaced:

“Pleasure-seeking, quick fixes, and self-gratification are proven to have limited long-term effects on true happiness.”

Forget about buying the new outfit, the fancy car, or the latest gadget as ways to achieve happiness. Purchases simply satisfy the short-term need for self-gratification. Things do not produce a happy life…you do.

What does it take to be a truly happy person?

Being happy and reaping the rewards of happiness does not mean adopting a “Pollyanna” attitude. It is not smiling on the outside when you are really churning on the inside. Real happiness has more to do with effort than attitude.

 

 The secret to happiness is hard work not “quick-fixes,” and compulsive self-gratification.

Effort and hard work offer the most promising route to happiness….engagement in activities that promote one’s highest potential…enterprise, exploration of one’s interests and overcoming obstacles are the secret to happiness.

Be happier by working harder? It sounds like an oxymoron!

Most of us believe the opposite…work less and we’ll be happier,

but that isn’t what the research suggests.

The key to true happiness is to work at what you do best;

do the work you are meant to do.

Remember the book, “Do what you love, the money will follow: Discovering your right livelihoodError! Filename not specified.?” It advances the idea that we should follow our heart to make a living. Dedicating your life to work that does not enhance your unique gifts it generates dissatisfaction and stress, not happiness. Work at what you do best, devote yourself to that effort, and happiness will be the logical result; not doing less of what you dislike, but doing more of what you love.

Doing what you dislike also thwarts creativity and hinders helpfulness. If you are unhappy doing what your doing, it is improbable that you will want to share your work or feel energized to apply creative effort.  Confidence builds when we work creatively at what we are meant to do, and then selflessly share our work with others.

The pattern emerges: do what you love and creativity, confidence and helpfulness follows.

 

You will be happier.

 A Good Life as sharing what is unique about you:

“Kindly, generously, share your opinions and ideas. Be truthful, honest and willing. Smile and be optimistic about your gifts. Give of yourself so others can gain. Do it everyday, with every encounter….Enriching another’s life with your unique gift is living A Good Life…however and wherever that manifests itself.”

Experiencing true happiness and living A Good Life are synonymous; the steps to each are the same:

1.        Be yourself

2.        Identify your unique gifts

3.        Engage in activities that promote your gifts—your highest potential

4.        Share your gifts with others

5.        Confront obstacles, don’t shun them

Pursuit of happiness is an inalienable right. You are meant to be happy…to do what you love not what you hate; using your unique gifts to enrich your life and the lives of others. When you do that, you will experience true happiness and all its wonderful benefits.

That is no laughing matter!

I'll Be Happy When. . .

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids are not old enough and we will be more content when they are. After that, we are frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire. The truth is there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.

 

It is best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with...and remember that time waits for no one.

 

So, stop waiting... Until your car or home is paid off.
Until you get a new car or home.
Until your kids leave the house.
Until you go back to school.
Until you finish school.
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married.
Until you get a divorce.
Until you have kids.
Until you retire.
Until summer.
Until spring.
Until winter.
Until fall.
Until you die.

 

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

4.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 And under the age of Six.

5.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants And eat less foods that are manufactured in Plants.

6.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

7.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

8.) Clear your clutter from your house, car, desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

9.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead, Invest your energy in the positive present moment.

10.) Realize that life is a school and you are here To learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum
That appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

11.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a  layman And dinner like a  begger .

12.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

13.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

14.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

16.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

17.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no Idea what their journey is all about.

18.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented Candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good
China and wear fancy  clothes now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Every day is special.

19.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

20.) Frame every so-called disaster with these Words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

21.) Forgive everyone for everything.

22.) What other people think of you is none of your Business.

23.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

24.) However good or bad a situation is, it will Change.

25.) Your job won't take care of you when you are Sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

26.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

27.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all You need. God provides, remember?!

28.) The best is yet to come.

29.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

30.) Do the right thing!

31.) Call your family often.

32.) Each night before you go to bed complete the Following statements: 'I am thankful for __________.'
Today I accomplished _________.

33.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

34.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast
Pass. You only have one ride through life so make The most of it and enjoy the ride.

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A  gift. that's why it's called  PRESENT ... UNWRAP IT! Have a Blessed day. Please share with friends! 

 

 

The Power of Focus

Two major roadblocks that prevent most people from taking action are procrastination and fear, say the book’s authors Les Hewitt, Andrew Hewitt and Luc d’Abadie.

“Procrastination is doing things that bring you immediate pleasure instead of focusing on your priorities,” the authors explain. “By rationalising and justifying reasons to do pleasurable activities first, the important things don’t get done. Stress soars and the quality of your work goes down. In the end,  procrastination prevents you from reaching your goals and leads you into a world of ‘if only.’”

Playing ‘the woulda, coulda, shoulda game’ will destroy golden opportunities that life brings your way, caution the authors. It’s very easy to let the ‘years of procrastination fly by and end up with deep regrets, remorse and guilt, knowing you could have done more.’

To fight procrastination, the book prescribes four ways. One, become mechanical with the task you usually procrastinate. That way, you will take action before thinking about whether you like the task. For example: “Get up at the FIRST sound of your alarm EVERY morning; study at the SAME time every day; and if you think of a question to ask, ask IMMEDIATELY or forever hold your peace.”

Two, try the sausage method. “Imagine trying to wolf down a foot-long sausage in one bit. It would be hard to swallow, wouldn’t it?” the authors tease. Ditto with assignments, they analogise. “Sitting down to start a 40-page paper is a daunting, hard-to-swallow task. The solution is to break the large task into smaller pieces, or subtasks.”

The third method is the to-do-today list, with prioritisation. “Begin your day with the most important task on the list and do not start the next task until the first is completed.” The authors advise you against succumbing to the many things that may come up during the day appearing to be urgent.

“When you review your list at the end of the day, you’ll be amazed at how much you completed. Sleep soundly, guilt-free, and snore all you want as a reward for your accomplishments.”

And the final method to fight procrastination is to reason why, by considering the bigger picture and visualising the consequences of inaction. “Make the negative consequences of your inaction a vivid picture in your mind,” the authors counsel.

For example, “If I put off studying another hour (your procrastination) I will score a lower grade on my chemistry final, which will reduce my GPA (grade point average) along with my chances of getting into medical school (the big-picture consequence – your reason why).”

Different types of procrastination will require a different fighting style, the authors guide. “Keep yourself armed by remembering the four fighting styles… and choose the method that stands the best chance against the procrastination villain you are fighting.”

The Miracle of Disciplined Questions

How Our Mind Works.

 

Human being are creatures of selective focus, we don't consciously register everything that exists and occurs in our environment but rather we register only that which we focus on.

 

Try this simple experiment that demonstrates this principle.

 

Start by looking around the room you are currently in, and remember everything in the room which is blue.....

 

Don't cheat! Stop and look around..... (and only after you have done that, continue reading)

 

Now that you have looked around and remembered all the things in your room which are blue....

 

Without looking around the room again.... List everything in the room which is yellow.......

 

Did you notice anything yellow while you were looking for blue?

 

The yellow things are there all along, but because we selectively focusing on the blue, we don't notice the yellow.

 

Our mind works like this in all things. If we look for the reasons why something is bad, we see lots of reasons why it is bad, and not see all the reasons it is good.

 

We Choose Our own Reality

 

When we understand how our mind works selectively, we understand how the exactly same set of circumstances can be good for one person and bad for another, as it is not the circumstances, but rather how we choose to look at the circumstances that determines their positive or negative nature.

 

It is not what actually objectively occurs that matters, but rather how we choose to look at that occurrence!

 

The knowledge that we have the direct ability to change the nature of a situation by simply changing how we choose to view the situation is incredibly powerful.

 

Questions - A Practical Application

 

When we look at using this knowledge in a practical way, the question that arises is how can we practically and reliably focus our thinking as a means to changing how we interact with the world.

 

The quality of the answers we find in life is directly dependent on the quality of the questions we ask.

 

Take for an example early astronomers, why could none of these men calculate an accurate calendar? It was not because they were stupid, it was because they were asking a low quality question.

 

The question that the early astronomers were trying to answer was "How do the planets and sun revolve around the earth?" It wasn't until the quality of the question was improved to "How do the earth and other planets revolve around the sun?" that astronomers were able to arrive at a quality answer (ie an accurate calendar).

 

How does this apply to us? We choose the answers we get in our lives by choosing the questions we ask of ourselves. If we ask ourselves how we can get a good job, we won't be starting a business anytime soon... If we ask ourselves how we can create massive value in the marketplace and have fun doing it, we are well on the way to building a fortune!

 

Constant Reminders

 

It is very easy to get all excited by a new idea and practice it for a few days or weeks, and then get distracted by life and let go of the idea which if persisted with could have made a significant change to our life.

 

A good way of combating this tendency is to commence the habit of regular positive input. Set aside some time every day or two to read something inspirational or educational, listen to audio programs daily whilst driving or on the train.

 

By making sure you have some positive input every day to remind you to persist with your resolution to discipline the questions you ask yourself, you can make significant changes in your life by using the power of focus.

SHYNESS - ANOTHER VIEW

We are all born shy, aren't we? When we see little children clinging to their parents, hiding behind Mom or Dad, we are reminded about the shyness of first coming into this World. As this early stage of our life we are not ready to be seen just yet. We want to hide until it feels safe to come out and be visible.

Becoming visible is what Life is all about. Revealing ourselves, showing ourselves and expressing our "inner self" are about becoming visible and declaring ourselves "Ready" to meet the World. Much of the World certainly seems to like the shy person. People want that person to reveal themselves, to display their talents and capabilities. The World can be generous that way. It would seem that "repression" is an aberration to that so-called "Worldy Manner" where we usually invite others to share themselves with us.

This is a good thing, I believe, where we encourage each other to come out and display our wealth of creativity. As a species we are all enriched by these contributions from our shy members. It's like we know at some level that we will benefit from their displays. And perhaps they will teach us something about ourselves, since all of us have some inherent shyness built in.

Here's an interesting fact about shy people, those that still display shyness as - s - they are Creative. Very creative, as a matter of fact. The more shy a person is, the more creative they tend to be. A lot of actors and performers are shy people. Why? Because they are creative. So why do shy, creative people show themselves? Because the joy of giving, of displaying their special abilities far exceeds the limited payoff of staying hidden and allegedly safe. It's a contradiction of course, but it is true nevertheless. Most shy people (not all) are creative, and most creative people would rather give of their talents than hold back.

Are you shy? Are you creative? Then perhaps you are ready to give of yourself too! Wouldn't that be worth pursuing? If you see yourself as a "Shy" person then here's what you can do. You can hold yourself up to the light of day and declare "I am ready to meet the world." And the world will respond. "Welcome" it will say. "Yes indeed, we need you. Please show us your stuff."

And all the shy people of the World will step forward and give of themselves unanimously. Wouldn't that be a big surprise? To see all of us out there, dancing a jig, showing off our stuff, our talents and abilities.

Yes, we can do it, we who are shy. We can show our stuff to the World. Time to come out from behind Mom's skirts, and take a peek around the corner. The World is waiting for you to "Strut Your Stuff." Don't be shy now!

 

FACING THE ENEMIES WITHIN

We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe some of your fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone has told you, by what you’ve read in the papers. Some fears are valid, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o’clock in the morning. But once you learn to avoid that situation, you won’t need to live in fear of it.

Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions. Fear can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left unchecked, can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.

Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from within.

The first enemy that you’ve got to destroy before it destroys you is indifference. What a tragic disease this is. "Ho-hum, let it slide. I’ll just drift along." Here’s one problem with drifting: you can’t drift your way to the top of the mountain.

The second enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity and enterprise. It will steal your chances for a better future. Take a sword to this enemy.

The third enemy inside is doubt. Sure, there’s room for healthy scepticism. You can’t believe everything. But you also can’t let doubt take over. Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worse of all, they doubt themselves. I’m telling you, doubt will destroy your life and your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart. Doubt is an enemy Go after it. Get rid of it.

The fourth enemy within is worry. We’ve all got to worry some. Just don’t let it conquer you. Instead, let it alarm you. Worry can be useful. If you step off the curb in New York City and a taxi is coming, you’ve got to worry. But you can’t let worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small corner. Here’s what you’ve got to do with your worries: drive them into a small corner. Whatever is out to get you, you’ve got to get it. Whatever is pushing on you, you’ve got to push back.

The fifth interior enemy is over-caution. It is the timid approach to life. Timidity is not a virtue; it’s an illness. If you let it go, it’ll conquer you. Timid people don’t get promoted. They don’t advance and grow and become powerful in the marketplace. You’ve got to avoid over-caution.

Do battle with the enemy. Do battle with your fears. Build your courage to fight what’s holding you back, what’s keeping you from your goals and dreams. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.

 

Selection of 100 Shirdi Sai Baba Sayings

Why fear when I am here?

I am formless and everywhere

I am in everything and beyond. I fill all space.

All that you see taken together is Myself.

I do not shake or move.

If one devotes their entire time to me and rests in me, need fear nothing for body and soul.

If one sees me and me alone and listens to my Leelas and is devoted to me alone, they will reach God.

My business is to give blessings.

I get angry with none. Will a mother get angry with her children? Will the ocean send back the waters to the several rivers?

I will take you to the end.

Surrender completely to God.

If you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will gain the supreme goal.

Trust in the Guru fully. That is the only sadhana.

I am the slave of my devotee.

Stay by me and keep quiet. I will do the rest.

What is our duty? To behave properly. That is enough.

My eye is ever on those who love me.

Whatever you do, wherever you may be, always bear this in mind: I am always aware of everything you do.

I will not allow my devotees to come to harm.

If a devotee is about to fall, I stretch out my hands to support him or her.

I think of my people day and night. I say their names over and over.

My treasury is open but no one brings carts to take from it. I say, "Dig!" but no one bothers.

My people do not come to me of their own accord; it is I who seek and bring them to me..

All that is seen is my form: ant, fly, prince, and pauper

However distant my people may be, I draw them to me just as we pull a bird to us with a string tied to its foot.

I love devotion.

This body is just my house. My guru has long ago taken me away from it.

Those who think that Baba is only in Shirdi have totally failed to know me.

Without my grace, not even a leaf can move.

I look on all with an equal eye.

I cannot do anything without God's permission.

God has agents everywhere and their powers are vast.

I have to take care of my children day and night and give an account to God of every paisa.
The wise are cheerful and content with their lot in life.

If you are wealthy, be humble. Plants bend when they bear fruit.

Spend money in charity; be generous and munificent but not extravagant.

Get on with your worldly activities cheerfully, but do not forget God.

Do not kick against the pricks of life.

Whatever creature comes to you, human or otherwise, treat it with consideration.

Do not be obsessed by the importance of wealth.

See the divine in the human being.

Do not bark at people and don't be aggressive, but put up with others' complaints.

There is a wall of separation between oneself and others and between you and me. Destroy this wall!

Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and clothes to the naked. Then God will be pleased.

Saburi (patience) ferries you across to the distant goal.

The four sadhanas and the six Sastras are not necessary. Just has complete trust in your guru: it is enough.

Meditate on me either with form or without form, that is pure bliss.

God is not so far away. He is not in the heavens above, nor in hell below. He is always near you.

If anyone gets angry with another, they wound me to the quick.

If you cannot endure abuse from another, just say a simple word or two, or else leave.

What do we lose by another's good fortune? Let us celebrate with them, or strive to emulate them.

That should be our desire and determination.

I stay by the side of whoever repeats my name.

If formless meditation is difficult, then think of my form just as you see it here. With such meditation, the difference between subject and object is lost and the mind dissolves in unity.

If anyone offends you do not return tit for tat.

I am the slave of those who hunger and thirst after me and treat everything else as unimportant.

Whoever makes me the sole object of their love, merges in me like a river in the ocean.

Look to me and I will look to you.

What God gives is never exhausted, what man gives never lasts.

Be contented and cheerful with what comes.

My devotees see everything as their Guru.

Poverty is the highest of riches and a thousand times superior to a king's wealth.

Put full faith in God's providence.

Whoever withdraws their heart from wife, child, and parents and loves me, is my real lover.

Distinguish right from wrong and be honest, upright and virtuous.

Do not be obsessed by egotism, imagining that you are the cause of action: everything is due to God.

If we see all actions as God's doing, we will be unattached and free from karmic bondage.

Other people's acts will affect just them. It is only your own deeds that will affect you.

Do not be idle: work, utter God's name and read the scriptures.

If you avoid rivalry and dispute, God will protect you.

People abuse their own friends and family, but it is only after performing many meritorious acts that one gets a human birth. Why then come to Shirdi and slander people?

Speak the truth and truth alone.

No one wants to take from me what I give abundantly.

Do not fight with anyone, nor retaliate, nor slander anyone.

Harsh words cannot pierce your body. If anybody speaks ill of you, just continue on unperturbed.

Choose friends who will stick to you till the end, through thick and thin.

Meditate on what you read and think of God.

I give my devotees whatever they ask, until they ask for what I want to give.

You should not stay for even one second at a place where people are speaking disrespectfully of a saint.

If you do not want to part with what you have, do not lie and claim that you have nothing, but decline politely saying that circumstances or your own desires prevent you.

Let us be humble.

Satsang that is associating with the good is good. Dussaya, or associating with evil-minded people, is evil and must be avoided.

What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get.

Recognize the existence of the Moral Law as governing results. Then unswervingly follow this Law.

All gods are one. There is no difference between a Hindu and a Muslim. Mosque and temple are the same.

Fulfill any promises you have made.

Death and life are the manifestations of God's activity. You cannot separate the two. God permeates all.

Mukti is impossible for those addicted to lust.

Gain and loss, birth and death are in the hands of God.

When you see with your inner eye. Then you realize that you are God and not different from Him.

Avoid unnecessary disputationò

The giver gives, but really he is sowing the seed for later: the gift of a rich harvest.

Wealth is really a means to work out dharma. If one uses it merely for personal enjoyment, it is vainly spent.

To God be the praise. I am only the slave of God.

God will show His love. He is kind to all.

Whenever you undertake to do something, do it thoroughly or not at all.

One's sin will not cease till one falls at the feet of Sadhusò

Be ashamed of your hatred. Give up hatred and be quiet.

The Moral Law is inexorable, so follow it, observe it, and you will reach your goal: God is the perfection of the Moral Law.

I am your servants' servant.

Always think of God and you will see what He does.

Have faith and patience. Then I will be always with you wherever you are.

25 Fun & Insightful Quotes About Money

I have gathered some of my favorite quotes about money. Some make you think, some are funny, but they each convey an interesting message in their own way. I am sure you will enjoy them!

 

Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

The rule is not to talk about money with people who have much more or much less than you.
Katherine Whitehorn

 

Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night.
Marian Wright Edelman

You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments, or publicity.
Thomas Wolfe

 

If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can't buy
Unknown source

 

Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.
Jim Rohn

 

Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.
Benjamin Franklin

 

Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.
Ayn Rand

 

You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
Ruth Smeltzer

 

Don't tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I'll tell you what they are.
James W. Frick

If you want to see what God thinks of money, just look at all the people He gave it to.
Dorothy Parker

 

Money is usually attracted, not pursued.
Jim Rohn

 

Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.
Donald Trump

 

Money can't buy friends, but it can get you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

 

I cannot afford to waste my time making money.
Louis Agassiz

 

After a visit to the beach, it's hard to believe that we live in a material world.
Pam Shaw

 

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.
Cree Indian Proverb

Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life.
Michael Leboeuf

 

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it.
Bob Hope

 

Always borrow money from a pessimist, he doesn't expect to be paid back.
Unknown source

 

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
Earl Wilson

 

Budget: a mathematical confirmation of your suspicions.
A.A. Latimer

 

I'm so poor I can't even pay attention.
Ron Kittle

 

A man is usually more careful of his money than of his principles.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

 

A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money.
W.C. Fields

 

Five Great Lessons by Peter Drucker

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.



2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The MN took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached..

It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.



3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a
10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.



4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.



5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it, if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"
`
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

"Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching."