Life is what we focus on…a glass half full or glass half empty

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

The Elephant and the Fly!


A disciple and his teacher were walking through the forest. The disciple was disturbed
by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest.

He asked his teacher: "Why most people's minds are restless, and only a few possess
a calm mind? What can one do to still the mind?"

The teacher looked at the disciple, smiled and said:

"I will tell you a story. An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree.
A small fly came, flying and buzzing near his ear. The elephant waved it away
with his long ears. Then the fly came again, and the elephant waved it away
once more."

This was repeated several times. Then the elephant asked the fly:
"Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can't you stay for a while
in one place?"

The fly answered: "I am attracted to whatever I see, hear or smell. My five
senses, and everything that happens around me, pull me constantly in all directions,
and I cannot resist them. What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still?"

The elephant stopped eating and said:

"My five senses do not rule my attention. I am in control of my attention, and
I can direct it wherever I want. This helps me to get immersed in whatever I do,
and therefore, keep my mind focused and calm. Now that I am eating, I am
completely immersed in eating. In this way, I can enjoy my food and chew it better.
I control my attention, and not the other way around, and this helps me stay peaceful."

Upon hearing these words, the disciple's eyes opened wide, and a smile appeared
on his face. He looked at his teacher and said:

"I understand! My mind will be in constant unrest, if my five senses, and whatever
is happening in the world around me are in control of it. On the other hand, if I am
in command of my five senses, able to disregard sense impressions, my mind would
become calm, and I will be able to disregard its restlessness."

"Yes, that's right," answered the teacher," The mind is restless and goes wherever
the attention is. Control your attention, and you control your mind."

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI J AI SAI RAM!!!


Sharing What is Shared with me..................

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

The missing watch!

There once was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the barn.
It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching
 high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help
of a group of children playing outside the barn.

He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded.

Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around
the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer
was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and
asked to be given another chance.

The farmer looked at him and thought, "Why not? After all, this kid looks
sincere enough."

So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy
came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised
and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed.

The boy replied, "I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence,
I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction."


Moral: A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind.

Allow a few minutes of silence to your mind every day, and see,
how sharply it helps you to set your life the way you expect it to be...!

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM!!!

[SS91]

OM SAI RAM


Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.


Martin Luther King, Jr.


JaiSaiRam

[SS91]

The Swamis and the Mysterious Light

By Remez Sasson
A long time ago, there were two swamis who lived in two neighboring caves. They spent most of their time in deep meditation, except the time they ate or were visited by devotees. The people who came to visit them revered the two swamis, and enjoyed listening to them and being in their proximity. They sought their company, since they always felt more peaceful and happy when near them, and also for a long time after they went away.

One cave was dark, as caves usually are, but in the other one there was sometimes a peculiar golden light illuminating the cave. It was not strong, but enough to be noticed and to mildly illuminate the cave. The phenomenon of the light bewildered the visitors, but they could not come to an agreement about the causes of the light. Both swamis were rather silent most of the time, and did not want to discuss the phenomenon of the light.

The company of the swamis aroused calmness and peace in the visitors. Their minds slowed their incessant chatter, and they experienced a pleasant inner peace and inner happiness. The visitors admired both swamis, but believed that the one living in the illuminated cave possessed supernatural powers and was more advanced. He certainly appeared to them as a mysterious person.

One day a great sage was passing by a near village, and being recognized by the villagers, one of them approached him and said:
"Great master, we have a question to ask. There is a mystery which you might solve for us."
"I will be glad to help you, if I can", answered the sage.

"There are two swamis living here on the hill...", the villager started to recount.
"Yes, I know", answered the sage, "and you inquire about the light in the cave."

"Yes, great master, that is true. It is something that has been a riddle for us. Can you please tell us also, if the swami in the lighted cave is more advanced, and if he really possess supernatural powers?"

"Pay attention to your inner self and not to outer phenomena. The outside world always changes, but inner self is constant. When in the presence of a teacher, listen to what he says and be aware of the influence of his words on you. Watch yourself, and see whether under his influence you become calmer and more peaceful, and your thoughts, at least for a while, slow down their mad race."

"Yes most revered master", said one of the devotees, "but please enlightens us on the mysterious light."

The sage sat down, and started to explain: "Sometimes, when one works intensively on the spiritual path, and concentrates and meditates a lot, various phenomena may occur around him, such as lights, sounds or visions. This is not supernatural. The mind has a creative power, and when concentrated, can produce various phenomena even unintentionally."

"It does not mean that one is more advanced than the other. Not all minds produce these things. Some do, and some don't."

"Some of the people who produce these lights may be aware of the light, and some may not. It depends on their psychic sensitivity. So it is also with the people who watch them. Not all see this light. In any case, it has nothing to do with whether one swami is more advanced or less advanced than the other one."

"Thank you great master, you have solved for us this great mystery", exclaimed the devotees of the swamis, who were standing by, deeply relieved and happy to understand the mystery that has been troubling them for a long time.


JaiSaiRam

[SS91]

The Villager and the Happy Man

By Remez Sasson


In a small village in the valley, lived a man who was always happy, kind, and well disposed to everyone he met. He always smiled, and had a kind and encouraging word to say whenever necessary. Everyone who met him left feeling better, happier and elated. People knew they could count on him, and regarded him as a great friend.

One of the village dwellers was curious to know what his secret was, and how he could always be so kind and helpful. He wondered, how is it that he held no grudge toward anyone, and why he was always happy.

Once, upon meeting him in the street he asked him: "Most people are selfish and unsatisfied. They do not smile as often as you do; neither are they as helpful or kind as you are. How do you explain it?"

"When you make peace with yourself, you can be in peace with the rest of the world. If you can recognize the spirit in yourself, you can recognize the spirit in everyone, and then you find it natural to be kind and well disposed to all. If your thoughts are under your control, you become strong and firm. The personality is like a robot programmed to do certain tasks. Your habits and thoughts are the tools and programs that control your personality. Become free from being programmed, and then the inner good and happiness that reside within you will be revealed."

"But a lot of work is necessary. Good habits have to be developed. The ability to concentrate and to control the thoughts has to be strengthened. The work is difficult and endless. There are many walls that need to be to climbed. It is not an easy task." Lamented the villager.

"Do not think about the difficulties, otherwise this is what you will see and experience. Just quieten your feelings and thoughts, and try to stay in this peace. Just try to be calm, and do not let yourself be carried away by your thoughts."

"Is that all?" Asked the villager.

"Try to watch your thoughts and see how they come and go. Stay in the quietness that arises. The moments of peace will be brief at first, but in time they will get longer. This peace is also strength, power, kindness, and love. You will then realize that you are one with the Universal Power, and this will cause you to act from a different dimension, not from the selfish, small, limited ego."

"I will try to remember your words," said the villager and continued, "there is another thing that I am curious about. You do not seem to be influenced by the environment. You have a kind word to everyone, and are helpful. However, people treat you well, and do not exploit your goodness."

"Being good and being kind do not necessarily point to weakness. When you are good, you can also be strong. People sense your inner strength, and therefore do not impose on you. When you are strong and calm inside, you help people, because you can, and you want to. You then act from strength and not from weakness. Goodness can also go with power and strength, it is not a sign of weakness, as some people erroneously think."

"Thank you very much for your advice and explanation", said the villager, and went away happy and satisfied.


JaiSaiRam