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Another article that i read and wish to share with all. Om sai ram. :)
Once upon a time...
There was a rich King who had 4 wives.
He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated
her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to
neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day
she would leave him for another.
He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidante and was always kind,
considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he
could confide in her to help him get through the difficult times.
The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great
contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not
love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice
of her.
One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short.
He thought of his luxurious life and pondered, "I now have 4 wives with me,
but when I die, I'll be all alone.
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with
the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying,
will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.
The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now
that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good!
When you die, I'm going to remarry!"
His heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've
always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me
and keep me company?"
"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the
very most, I can only send you to your grave."
Her answer came like a bolt of thunder and the King was devastated.
Then a voice called out:
"I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked
up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny,
she suffered from malnutrition.
Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you
when I had the chance!"
In Truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives ...
Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in
making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth.
When we die, it will all go to others.
Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been
there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
And our 1st wife is our Soul,
often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the ego.
However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.
So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now!
It is your greatest gift to offer the world.
Let it Shine!
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Neelu789, your article is very nice, but what I understand with the term "our" or "we" is the SOUL. you are talking about soul so the first wife should be termed as "deeds".
The center of the Article seems to be "SOUL" and the first wife is "DEEDS". Apnay karama hi apnay saath jaathay hai, aur apnay ko swarg ya naraq detay hai.
Allah Malik
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Agree with you moosa ji, respect your opinion but what i felt reading the article is that, as it is the Soul that is the Truth and the body decays, the deeds we do in the human(or anyother creature) form are carried forward by our Soul. Hum(the 'hum' here also indicates the Soul) agar swarg mein jaaye ya narak mein, it is the Soul, is what the article wants to convey, according to me :)
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Neelu ji I would like to highlight about following statement in your article "However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go."
We cannot say soul will follow us, i.e. soul will follow human body. Human body is not doing anything on its own. Soul is doing all activities by using human body gifted to soul by god due to karma.
When soul leaves the body, body becomes motionless, so it is soul who does the activity. Body is a medium created by god for soul to funtion, and give pleasure or pain to soul as per its deeds. Thats why I said we cannot say soul follow us.
And hence for the above reasons, the appropriate word for first wife should be DEEDS instead of SOUL. The concept of story is marvellous.
Well its just spiritual conversation and exchange of views, hope I have not annoyed you. My lord SHREE SAI BABA, shows me things in different way.
Allah Malik
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moosa ji,
thank you for pointing that out to me. yes, you are also right in saying that it should be deeds as the first wife. And no! you have not annoyed me even to the slightest, please dont say like that moosa ji, none of us annoy each other and nothing annoys us :) we are all here as family members in Sai's family. I learnt from the discussion, thank you :)
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neelu ji,
We should not term it as pointing out, but state it as discussing the topic. Very rightly said by you, that we are members of SHREE SAI Darbar. I am SHREE SAI Devotee from sufi sect, so we like spiritual discussion. We discuss topics, we do not argue. Here is one short story which I read today………
An Inspirational Story, Motivational Story -
The Wise Woman
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 this 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 this stone."
Sometimes it's not the wealth you have but what's inside you (attitude) that others need
Allah Malik
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moosa ji,
beautiful story :) selflessness and humility is the best way to be :)
and in the previous post, by 'pointing out' i meant it like thank you for making me learn that, because it is from discussions that we learn different views and opinions and we put our views forward, i did not mean it like 'pointing out' as in 'pointing out a mistake'(because you said we should not term it like that, im just saying that i didnt mean it any negative way), sorry if the meaning came out that way.
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neelu ji,
Thanks for understanding my view, yeah it is from discussion we learn many things, and in spirituality it is important to discuss and learn. By grace of SHREE SAI BABA understanding power was developed in me while I use to sit for SHREE SAI naam jap at night for one hour.
Once a discussion was going on to determine who is preferable from the two mentioned below:
1. Man who always pray and a devotee.
or
2. Man who do not pray but he is good person.
All agreed on Man who always pray and a good devotee, but my view was Man who do not pray but he is a good person. I was asked explanation, and I said, Ravan and Kans and many demons prayed a lot and were devotee of LORD SHIVA, but they were harmful for good people.
My idea was accepted. Religion, prayers are not bad it is the followers representating religion are good or bad.
Allah Malik
there is another short story "That's Not My Problem" which is as follows:
A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain?
He was aghast to discover that it was a mouse trap!
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a mouse trap in the house, there is a mouse trap in the house."
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mouse trap in the house."
"I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "Like wow, Mr. Mouse, a mouse trap; am I in grave danger, Duh?"
So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer's mouse trap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.
In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.
The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital.
She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.
So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
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Jai Jai Sai Ram
V Good Story neeluji, waiting for ur next post..
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Religion, prayers are not bad it is the followers representating religion are good or bad.
Very well said Moosa ji ... that has been my point of view too ... its very important that a person is essentially a good human being first ...
Om Sai Ram ...
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very nice article moosa ji. so true - "when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk. so we must always help each other in difficult times, just like we share happiness when all's well :)
here's an article on faith that i read today -
"FAITH "
ONCE A ZEN MASTER WAS SAILING IN A SHIP WITH HIS DAUGHTER. MID-WAY A THUNDEROUS STORM BROKE OUT, LASHING HUGE WAVES AT THE SHIP.
AS THE SHIP WAS ABOUT TO SINK THE EMERGENCY SIGNALS WENT ON. ALL WERE IN A PANIC EXCEPT THE ZEN MASTER WHO SEEMED VERY CALM.
SEEING HIM QUITE RELAXED,HIS DAUGHTER QUESTIONED HIM.. "OH,FATHER ! ARENT YOU SCARED AS THE SHIP MIGHT SINK & WE ALL MIGHT PERISH"
HEARING THIS,IMMEDIATELY THE ZEN MASTER, PICKED UP HIS SHARP SWORD & DARTED IT ON HIS DAUGHTER'S NECK.
BUT HIS DAUGHTER WAS NOT MOVED A BIT IN FEAR.
HE ASKED- "ARENT YOU SCARED, THAT JUST AN INCH MORE & THIS SWORD COULD CUT ACROSS YOUR THROAT!"
HIS DAUGHTER REPLIED- "OH FATHER, YOU ARE MY MASTER & I`M YOUR CHILD SO WHY SHOULD I GET SCARED AS I KNOW YOU LOVE ME & I HAVE FULL FAITH THAT YOU WILL NEVER HURT ME!"
THE ZEN MASTER REPLIED -
"EXACTLY MY CHILD! THIS IS WHAT I WANTED YOU TO REALISE. LIKE YOU, I HAVE FULL FAITH IN MY MASTER WHO IS THE UNIVERSAL POWER CALLED GOD & NO MATTER HOW GRAVE THE SITUATION MIGHT BECOME HE CAN NEVER HARM ME AS HE LOVES ME LIKE HIS OWN CHILD. SO THAT'S WHY THIS STORM HAS`NT BEEN ABLE TO AFFECT ME A BIT!!!"
MORAL -
ALL UPS & DOWNS IN LIFE ARE JUST SIMPLE WAYS OF GOD, TO NOT ONLY CHECK HOW MUCH FAITH WE HAVE IN HIM BUT ALSO TO MAKE US STRONGER."
om sai ram
bow to Shri Sai - peace be to all
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Faith, very nice article neelu ji, in fact this is what I want to achieve, and I am trying for. The firmness of Zen Master inspite of dangerous situation in front of him. I have experienced it many time under the shade of SHREE SAI BABA I just kept on remembering him and he changed the scene gradually from worst to the best situation.
Once a taxi driver dropped me in lonely place at night, far away from main city and left, I was tired and helpless I said to SHREE SAI BABA I cannot pick up all the luguage and enter the city I will sit here, and started remembering the incidents in which he use to send help for his devotees. After 15 minutes or so, one taxi came towards me and asked me if I need a taxi, I said yes and asked him, how did he think that there is a person in the dark. He said one old Fakir came and told me there is one man waiting for taxi............
rr_sai_bhakt, thanks for appreciating my views. and we as SAI devotees know that Sabka Malik Ek. I feel how fortunate were those people who could see SHREE SAI BABA, and what a Paradise feelings for those who see SHREE SAI BABA after maha samadhi.
here is one Spiritual Story by Massud Farzan on GIVE & TAKE
One day Mulla Nasrudin saw a crowd gathered around a pond. A Moslem priest with a huge turban on his head had fallen in the water and was calling for help.
People were leaning over and saying, "Give me your hand Reverend! Give me your hand!" But the priest didn't pay attention to their offer to rescue him; he kept wrestling with the water and shouting for help.
Finally Mulla Nasrudin stepped forward: "Let me handle this." He stretched out his hand toward the priest and shouted at him, "Take my hand!"
The priest grabbed Mulla's hand and was hoisted out of the pond. People, very surprised, asked Mulla for the secret of his strategy.
"It is very simple," he replied. "I know this miser wouldn't give anything to anyone. So instead of saying 'Give me your hand,' I said, 'take my hand,' and sure enough he took it."
Allah Malik
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moosa ji, that was a very wonderful experience u had :) thanks for sharing.. and the story also imparts the fact that Guru only know the best and how each different individual is.. :)
here is another article i read today -
Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go
to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of
walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked
down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a
dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who
would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to
catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and
the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was
reaching down to the shore, picking up something and
very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got
closer he called out,"Good morning! What are you
doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing
starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing
starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I
don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that there are
miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listned politely. Then bent down, picked
another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the
breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for
that one."
This reminds us of the words of Baba:
"Unless there is some relationship or connection,
nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to
you, do not discourteously drive them away, but
receive them well and treat them, with due respect.
Sri Hari will be certainly pleased, if you give water
to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the
naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and
resting. If anybody wants any money from you, and you
are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark
at him, like a dog. Let anybody speak hundreds of
things against you, do not resent by giving any bitter
reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will
certainly be happy. Let the world go topsy-turvy, you
remain where you are. Standing or staying in your own
place, look on calmly at the show of all things
passing before you. Demolish the wall of difference
that separates you from Me; and then the road for our
meeting will be clear and open. The sense of
differentiation, as I and thou, is the barrier that
keeps away the disciple from his Master, and unless
that is destroyed the state of union or atonement is
not possible, "Allah Malik" i.e. God is the sole
Proprietor, nobody else is our Protector. His method
of work is extra-ordinary, invaluable, and
inscrutable. His will will be done and He will show us
the way, and satisfy our heart's desires. It is on
account of Rinaubandh (former relationship) that we
have come together, let us love and serve each other
and be happy. He, who attain the supreme goal of life,
is immortal and happy; all others merely exist, i.e.,
live so long as they breathe".
These words of Sadguru Sai are priceless and very
important to remember.
Om Sai Ram
Baba bless us all
Bow to Shri Sai - peace be to all :)
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neelu ji, words of SHREE SAI BABA which you have mentioned from Shree SAI SATCHARITRA, I try to read them at least once in a month, or whenever I find opportunity to read it. That para changes individual’s thinking and makes him gentleman.
Whenever I give money to beggars I say in my heart SHREE SAI BABA I am giving money from what you have given to me………
The article posted by you, on throwing of star fish in the ocean tells us that we should not look at the quantum of task, and stay back, but carry out as much as we can. Today I read on short story by Paulo Coelho which is as follows:
A wise man arrived at the village of Akbar and the people lent no importance to him. Except for a small group of young people, the wise man was of no interest to anyone; on the contrary, he became a object of irony for the inhabitants of the city.
One day he was walking down the main street with some of his disciples when a group of men and women began to insult him. The wise man went up to them and blessed them.
When they left, one of the disciples remarked: “They say terrible things, and you answer them with nice words.”
And the wise man replied: “Each one of us can only offer what he has.”
Allah Malik
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moosa ji, excellent post. thank you. an example as to how we should conduct ourselves. om sairam.
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moosa ji, excellent post. thank you. an example as to how we should conduct ourselves. om sairam.
Thank you Ganeshji. Your appreciation, keeps members on high morale. Your appreciation boost up members participation in this forum. Let SHREE SAI BABA protect you from all evils.
Allah Malik
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Thank you sir. may your words come true. om shri sainathaya namaha.
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One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed that he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of Footprints in the sand,
one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the Footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of Footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times of his life.
This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it,
"Lord, you said that once you decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed
that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of Footprints.
I don't undestand why,
when I needed you most,
you would leave me."
The Lord replied:
"My son, My precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you have seen only one set of Footprints,
it was Then that I carried you."
i generally tend to think a lot and start feeling bad when i feel that Baba is not listening, and i came across this lovely story which shows how we shouldn't think that Baba is not with us..
everytime we feel that we are suffering and Baba isnt listening to us, if we remember this story, it'll make us peaceful :)
Baba bless us all,
om sai ram
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neelu ji very nice story, yes we normally think that during bad situation we are alone, but it is not true. Our Lord is always with us, we just concentrate on our problems and forget to see him.
I would like to mention here that, being a human being sometimes we ask for what is not good for us, or we are not eligible for it. But SHREE SAI BABA being vidhata has to see before giving us our request:
1. Is my devotee strong enough to handle his requested thing.
2. Is the requested thing good for my requesting devotee.
If option 1. then SHREE SAI BABA first starts making his devotee eligible for what he has asked, and that takes time. The period depends on the developing quality and characteristics of requesting devotee. Hence we feel that our prayers are not listened, we dont see the process of our development for requested thing as it is invisible to our eyes. Once we are developed we get the requested thing, but few think that it was their ability. Most of them thanks their Lord.
If option 2. then SHREE SAI BABA makes the requesting devotee to forget his request. The devotee must start thinking that on my request if SHREE SAI BABA did not give me what I wanted means that thing is not good for me.
Most of the time we think we are doing right or requesting a right thing but it may not be so. It would become an bearable burden. On this point I remember a short story which is as follows:
Once an aged poor person, collected vegetables and remains of grocery from weekly market in a bag, which was too heavy for him to lift. He was thinking what to do now, he has enough food for a week or so, but he cannot lift it up. A passerby strong man from well to do family saw this poor man and at once understood the situation. He thought that if I pick up the weight and place it on his head he can carry it home to his family, what a great thing I will do at no extra cost. He walked towards that old man and said I will help you to lift up the load and place it on your head. Old man was happy, so the load was lifted and placed over the head of old man. The Old man might have walked few steps and crumbled on ground due to the weight of load and injured himself. The young man had walked away and was not aware of the result of the helping hand extended by him.
But our Lord SHREE SAI BABA is aware when we will crumble down, so he keeps that thing away from us.
Allah Malik
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omsairam...
neelu ji & moosa ji..... wonderful articles.....
thank you so much for sharing it........ every article is a gem and has a good message...
Faith and dream (two footprints) articles are awesome.. really hearttouching :)
Baba bless you :)
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omsairam...
neelu ji & moosa ji..... wonderful articles.....
thank you so much for sharing it........ every article is a gem and has a good message...
Faith and dream (two footprints) articles are awesome.. really hearttouching :)
Baba bless you :)
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Sagarika Ji thanks for appreciation and Blessings.
It is our Lord SHREE SAI BABA inspires us through short stories here. As it is said in SHREE SAI SATCHARITRA
"Though Baba never left Shirdi, He sent some to Machhindragad, some to Kolhapur or Sholapur for practising sadhanas. To some He appeared in His usual form, to some He appeared in waking or dreaming state, day or night and satisfied their desires. It is impossible to describe all the methods, that Baba used in imparting instructions to His Bhaktas. In this particular case, He sent Das Ganu to Vile Parle, where he got his problem solved, through the maid-servant."
here is another short story on "In the Hands of God"
One day, the caliph Omar met a group of people who were sitting around doing nothing. He asked them who they were. "We are of those who put their affairs in the hands of God, and we trust in God," they replied.
"Indeed you do not!" he retorted. "You are nothing but freeloaders, parasites upon other people's efforts! Someone who truly trusts in God first plants seed in the belly of this earth, then puts his affairs in the hand of God, the Sustainer."
Allah Malik
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Here's another beautiful article i read today..
Just the perfect article to ease my thoughts regarding the same kind of worrying that im doing..
Baba, You know what is worrying me the most right now, so many negative thoughts, please clear them all Baba, ive left everything to You, please take care of it... Please Baba please..
The Article -
When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a
great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from
the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me
that she was embroidering. I told her that it looked
like a mess from where I was. As from the underside I
watched her work within the boundaries of the little
round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to
her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.
She would smile at me, look down and gently say, "My
son, you go about your playing for a while and when I
am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my
knee and let you see it from my side."
I would wonder why she was using some dark threads
along with the bright ones and why they seemed so
jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and
then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Son, come and
sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and
thrilled to see a beautiful flower or a sunset. I
could not believe it, because from underneath it
looked so messy.
Then Mother would say to me, "My son, from underneath
it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize
that there was a pre-drawn plan on the top. It was a
design. I was only following it. Now look at it from
my side and you will see what I was doing."
om sai ram
allah mallik
:)
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neeluji nice to see this page active again, its a nice story. I too read two short stories which are worth reading:
Being a toy maker, children use to bring their broken toys, with tears, for me to mend. Once I took my broken dreams to God so that he could mend it, because he is my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone on my broken dreams, I hung around and tried to help . . . with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched my dreams back and cried, How can You be so slow? And I added to my cry, God don’t you see how I repair children toys and they become happy. God replied "My child, What could I do? You never let me do it as I should. Didn’t you see, that children never interrupt in your mending work. How can I make you happy if you interfere in my job."
The second short story is heart touching:
Touching life story.....
A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For
many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's
showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told
him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited
signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the
morning of his graduation his father called him into his private
study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine
son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son
a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man
opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily,
he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you
give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy
book.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in
business.
He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his
father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He
had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had
passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He
needed to come home immediately and take care things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and
regret filled his heart.
He began to search his father's important papers and
saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With
tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he
read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope
taped behind the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the
sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation,
and the words...PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not
packaged as we expected?
Its Wise to accept then expect
LET SHREE SAI BABA HELP US IN UNDERSTANDING TWO PAISE "SHRADHA & SABURI"
Allah Malik
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Mere pyare sai pariwaar,
Ek maa ki taraf se aap sabhi ka manaspurvak dhanyawaad.
Neelu ji, Moosaji, aapne, inn kaahaniyonse jeevan ka arth bataakar use safal banaaneka raastaa bhi dikhaneki koshish ki hai.
Bahut hi badiya aur margdarshak kahaaniya hai.
Likhate rehana. padkar bahut achha lagata hai.
Saibaba aap sabhi ka kalyaan kare.
om shree saibabaya namaha.
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Thank you moosa ji, yes after almost half a year, i could finally come. Feels so very great to be within Sai's online dwarakamai again.
As your articles say it too, we have to leave everything to Baba and he'll see that the best happens :D
om sai ram
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dear sainetras ji,
bahut dhanyawad. please hamesha aisa hi aapka dua hum par sada rehna dee jiye.
om sai ram :)
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Here's another beautiful story i read today :)
A warrior died in war and went to heaven. He said to the gatekeeper, "Before I enter heaven, I would like to have a tour of hell." The gatekeeper agreed.
When they got to hell, the warrior was astonished to see a great table piled high with every tasty food he could imagine - anything one could possibly want to eat or drink. The warrior then looked at the people. They all looked lean, pale and suffering. "How could this be?" he asked the guide. "Are they not allowed to eat?"
"Oh yes, they can eat," said the guide "but they must use the chopsticks they are given. Chopsticks are five feet long and they must hold them at the end. Just look at them. They miss their mouths every time!"
"Enough," said the warrior, "This is hell, indeed! Please take me back to heaven."
In heaven, to his surprise, he saw a similar room, with a similar table loaded with all the same food. But, the people were in radiant health, happy and well-nourished. The guide said "These people have to use the same 5-foot long chopsticks."
The warrior turned to the guide and said, "How then are these people doing so good?" The guide replied: "The difference is people in heaven know how to feed each other. People sit 5 feet apart and feed each other with chopsticks."
Helping each other out, living in harmony is the main teaching of Sri Shirdi Sai
om sai ram :)
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Thanks Moosa Ji,
Very Touching Lines and absolute Truth!
neelu ji very nice story, yes we normally think that during bad situation we are alone, but it is not true. Our Lord is always with us, we just concentrate on our problems and forget to see him.
I would like to mention here that, being a human being sometimes we ask for what is not good for us, or we are not eligible for it. But SHREE SAI BABA being vidhata has to see before giving us our request:
1. Is my devotee strong enough to handle his requested thing.
2. Is the requested thing good for my requesting devotee.
If option 1. then SHREE SAI BABA first starts making his devotee eligible for what he has asked, and that takes time. The period depends on the developing quality and characteristics of requesting devotee. Hence we feel that our prayers are not listened, we dont see the process of our development for requested thing as it is invisible to our eyes. Once we are developed we get the requested thing, but few think that it was their ability. Most of them thanks their Lord.
If option 2. then SHREE SAI BABA makes the requesting devotee to forget his request. The devotee must start thinking that on my request if SHREE SAI BABA did not give me what I wanted means that thing is not good for me.
Most of the time we think we are doing right or requesting a right thing but it may not be so. It would become an bearable burden. On this point I remember a short story which is as follows:
Once an aged poor person, collected vegetables and remains of grocery from weekly market in a bag, which was too heavy for him to lift. He was thinking what to do now, he has enough food for a week or so, but he cannot lift it up. A passerby strong man from well to do family saw this poor man and at once understood the situation. He thought that if I pick up the weight and place it on his head he can carry it home to his family, what a great thing I will do at no extra cost. He walked towards that old man and said I will help you to lift up the load and place it on your head. Old man was happy, so the load was lifted and placed over the head of old man. The Old man might have walked few steps and crumbled on ground due to the weight of load and injured himself. The young man had walked away and was not aware of the result of the helping hand extended by him.
But our Lord SHREE SAI BABA is aware when we will crumble down, so he keeps that thing away from us.
Allah Malik
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Here's another very nice article i read today..
Rules for happiness -
This 92-years old lady was dropped off at a nursing home by her family to live on her own. When the nursing home staff described that only a small room is available in the nursing home, she said "I love it!" as if she is an eight-year-old receiving a wonderful toy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room yet; just wait till you see the room," said the attendant.
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it."
"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do."
"Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. So, my advice to you would be to remember the five rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less."
om sai ram :)
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Mere pyare sai pariwaar,
Ek maa ki taraf se aap sabhi ka manaspurvak dhanyawaad.
Neelu ji, Moosaji, aapne, inn kaahaniyonse jeevan ka arth bataakar use safal banaaneka raastaa bhi dikhaneki koshish ki hai.
Bahut hi badiya aur margdarshak kahaaniya hai.
Likhate rehana. padkar bahut achha lagata hai.
Saibaba aap sabhi ka kalyaan kare.
om shree saibabaya namaha.
Maa Kay Dhanyawaad say badkar koi cheej nahin. Aap ka ashirwad paa kar meri Eid Dhanya huyee. Mano meray malik SHREE SAI BABA nay khud ashirwad diya ho. I was out of office and town for EID by grace of SHREE SAI BABA.
Meri Maa bhi SAI bhakt hai, Umar ki vajah say ab thak gayee hai, lekin SHREE SAI BABA usay badi achi tarah say sambhaltay hai.
Mata ka ashirwad jivan may ouncha sthal praapt kar deyta hai. Mata PARVATIJI ki chinta aur pareshani dekh kar bhagwan SHIV SHANKARJI nay SHREE GANESHJI kov ashirwad diya, ki har kaam shuru karnay kay pahelay SHREE GANESHJI ka naam liya jaayega. Is say saaf pata chalta hai ki ma ki chinta, betay ko kitna mahan banati hai.
SAI bhakt ka aapko pranam
Allah Malik
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Here are two very nice and meaningful articles i read today :)
1)
Once, an young daughter had gone to her village home for the first time from her city-dwelling. At night before retiring to bed, her mother opened a pot in which there was good cow's milk and poured a little buttermilk. The girl asked her mother: "Mother, that was butter milk; and why have you mixed it with milk? The milk may get spoiled!"
"Child!", answered the mother, "that is the way to prepare the milk in order that we might get butter out of it."
"But where is butter in it, mother?"
"It is in every drop of the milk, dear; but you can't see it now. I will show you in the morning."
In the morning the daughter saw that what was liquid the night before had become solid overnight. Mother put a churning rod into it and started churning the curd vigorously.
Butter began to float on the surface of the curd. Then she gathered it all up and presented it to the astonishment of the daughter. The mother explained: "The addition of the buttermilk curdles the milk. Milk is transformed into curd. Then you have to churn it. By this process the butter which was all-pervasively hidden in the milk is obtained. At first you were not able to see it; it was hidden. From where has it come now? Only from the milk. Therefore, you understand now that it was there all the time. It awaited the process of churning to reveal itself to your great joy." The daughter, too, followed the same process and got the butter, for herself.
Similarly, a worldly man approaches a Mahatma and asks him: "O Sadhu, why have you renounced the world, and poured this new element of 'Vairagya' and 'Tyaga' into your life? Why don't you let the life take its natural course?"
The Sadhu replies: "Brother, I do so in order to realise God?", "Where is God?", "He is all-pervading." The worldly man does not see and is not convinced. The Sadhu then explains how the inner personality, which is fickle and outflowing should be made solid and firm. Then the churning rod of one-pointed concentration and meditation should be taken hold of, and this solid 'Antahkarana' should be very well churned. Then God is realised. He is all-pervading, in every atom of creation. But He is not visible to the naked eye nor is He realisable by a man except through this process called 'Sadhana'.
Just as a mother was necessary for her daughter to learn that butter exists in milk and that churning will bring it out, even so a Guru is necessary for a man to know that God is, that He is all-pervading, and that He is attained through Sadhana. If the aspirant follows the Guru's instructions, he too, can realise God.
(Story from the Tales of Guru Sivananda)
2)
A teacher once told each of her students to bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes to school. For every person they refuse to forgive in their life's experience, they chose a potato, wrote on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of their bags were quite heavy. They were then told to carry this bag with them everywhere for one week, putting it beside their bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to their desk at work.
The hassle of lugging this around with them made it clear what a weight they were carrying spiritually, and how they had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget and keep leaving it in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty smelly slime. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity!
Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, but it clearly is for ourselves!
Om Sai Ram
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Thanks Moosa Ji,
Very Touching Lines and absolute Truth!
But our Lord SHREE SAI BABA is aware when we will crumble down, so he keeps that thing away from us.
Allah Malik
saibji thanks for appreciation, I am sure such valuable appreciations keeps neeluji and me posting articles.
Neeluji your post on residents of Haven and Hell is a nice example, for people who hide themselves at time of need. Rules of Happiness is need of the current situation. I would like to post another short story which tells that some situations make us forget our anger and makes us happy to remember the loss, which caused us to do a good thing.
THE BRICK
About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.
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 child darted out, but a brick sailed out and - WHUMP! - it smashed Into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH..!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, 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, mister," 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? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, 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 OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE -a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. . . Some bricks are softer than others. Feel for the bricks of life coming at to you. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answers.
Let SHREE SAI BABA keep us soft and humble in all situations
Allah Malik
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Beautiful beautiful beautiful story Moosa ji!!!! So true.. Everyone's in their own rush, going about doing their own jobs, that seldom do we look around us.. The lines "Please, mister, 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, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.", almost had me in tears.. Beautiful article.. Thank you, please keep posting more of such stories :)
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Another good one - :)
There once was a farmer who didn't have a lot of money and, instead of a tractor, he used an old horse to plow his field.
One afternoon, while working in the field, the horse dropped dead. Everyone in the village said, "Oh, what a horrible thing to happen." The farmer said simply, "We'll see." He was so at peace and so calm, that everyone in the village got together and, admiring his attitude, gave him a new horse as a gift.
Everyone's reaction now was, "What a lucky man." And the farmer said, "We'll see."
A couple days later, the new horse jumped a fence and ran away. Everyone in the village shook their heads and said, "What a poor fellow!" The farmer smiled and said, "We'll see."
Eventually, the horse found his way home, and everyone again said, "What a fortunate man." The farmer said, "We'll see."
Later in the year, the farmer's young boy went out riding on the horse and fell and broke his leg. Everyone in the village said, "What a shame for the poor boy." The farmer said, "We'll see."
Two days later, the army came into the village to draft new recruits. When they saw that the farmer's son had a broken leg, they decided not to recruit him. Everyone said, "What a fortunate young man." The farmer smiled again - and said "We'll see."
Moral : There's no use in overreacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. When our hearts are in the right place, all events and circumstances are gifts given by our Baba..
Om Sai Ram
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There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest... perfect peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize?
The King chose the second picture. "Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Om Sai Ram :)
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Neeluji thank you for keeping my morale high, the lines which made you feel cry, did make me feel cry too. Two short stories which you posted are really nice. Even our SHREE SAI BABA had given example of butter milk from milk to understand Lord. We have to undergo a process to feel and enjoy lord in self.
The sack of potatoes carried by students makes them feel disgusting, but this situation was due to their own actions. Those potatoes sacks made them feel that, forgiving others would have not put them in this situation. The moral of this story is magnificent that Too Often We Think Of Forgiveness As A Gift To The Other Person, But It Clearly Is For Ourselves!
While going through some articles I found one interesting article which shows that sometimes while helping others without understanding their situation may put them in real trouble. Going through below story will make my point more clear.
BUTTERFLY
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.
I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!
Trust in God. Always !
We should not forget that Shree Das Ganuji was engulfed in problems beyond his capacity to solve them, which made him surrender to our lord SHREE SAI BABA. How famous he became thereafter.
Allah Malik
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Pyare bachhe moosa ji, Neelu ji,
Phir ek baar aap dono ko dilo-jaan se, khushi aur kaamiyaabi ki shubh-kaamnaaye dete huve, yahi asha karati hu ki, aap iss kadi ko barkaraar rakhte huve yuhi hameshya likhte rehana.
Mere saibaba aapki har mano kaamana puri karenge.
Jab aap kisiko sahi raah ki pehachan karaate ho toh aap ki raah ke rukaavate apne aap khulane lagate hai. Sai deva ki sikh yahiii hai KAR BHALA TOH HO BHALA.
Bachho. Maa ke prati aapka aadar dekh kar ji khush huva.
Aapne toh hame devi ka samman diya ye aapka baddpann hai.
Pata nahi hum iss kaabil hai bhi ya nahi.
SHUKRIYA MERE LADALO.
Baba bless all and guide us.
om shree saibabaya namaha.
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Sainetras ji,
Aapke aashirwaad hum par aisa hi sada rehne dee jiye. Blessings always help in achieveing everything. Baba ka, parents ka, aur aap sab ka blessings ho toh bas, everything will be great. Sincere thank you for blessings!!:) Dua karte hai ki aap hamesha aise hi aashirwaad dete rahiye :)
Om Sai Ram
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Neeluji it’s a million dollar moral that There's no use in overreacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. When our hearts are in the right place, all events and circumstances are gifts given by our Baba..
Your story reminds me of an example from SHREE SAI SATCHARITRA where in SHREE SAI BABA sent Shri Das Ganu to Vile parle for his answer and then the concluding paras is as follows:
The Day following, she kept the new Sari in her box at home and came with the old and torn rags, but she looked as merry as she did the previous day. On seeing this, Das Ganu's pity was transferred into admiration. He thought that the girl being poor had to wear a torn rag, but now she had a new Sari which she kept in reserve and putting on the old rag, strutted herself, showing no trace of sorrow or dejection.
Thus he realized that all our feelings of pain and pleasure depend upon the attitude of our mind. On thinking deeply over this incident, he realized that a man ought to enjoy whatever God has bestowed on him in the firm conviction that He besets everything, from behind and before, and on all sides and that whatever is bestowed on him by God must be for his good. In this particular case, the impoverished condition of the poor girl, her torn rag and the new Sari, the donor, the dance and the acceptance were all parts of the Lord and pervaded by Him.
Hence, Das Ganu got a practical demonstration of the lesson of the Upanishad - the lesson of contentment with one's own lot in the belief that whatever happens, is ordained by God, and is ultimately good for us.
Allah Malik
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Ma Sainetras ji, Shukriya, you read our posting, that makes us feel great, please bestow your blessings on SAI PARIVAR.
When parents watch their children's activity, it becomes easy to achieve success. We all know that our Lord SHREE SAI BABA always watch our activities, and guides us, so we achieve success.
Allah Malik
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Here is another good story I read and would like to share the same with you all
The Little Grass Hut
by Author Unknown
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for GOD to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood and long grass to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. "GOD, how could you do this to me?" he cried.
Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.
It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because GOD is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering.
Remember that, the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of GOD.
Allah Malik
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Beautiful story moosa ji, so very true. Everything that comes our way is sent by Baba for our good, infact, He keeps our best interests in mind and silently does eevrything for us. When we feel something is wrong and all is lost, we must realise that its a blessing in disguise which we will know of, later. :) beautiful story..
Here's an article i read today..
Keep Your Fork
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from there on out, I have always done so. I have also, always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. 'In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?". Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork ... the best is yet to come."
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.
During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.
So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.
And keep your fork.
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Thanks Moosa Ji and Neelu for sharing such a wonderful stories with great lessons!
Death does not mean end. Best is Yet to come! Excellent positive state of Mind!
om sri sai ram!
The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from there on out, I have always done so. I have also, always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. 'In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?". Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork ... the best is yet to come."
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Thanks Saibji for appreciating postings of Neeluji and mine. Neeluji I too will never forget about that Fork. I will always wait for the best to be received from my LORD SHREE SAI BABA.
Let SHREE SAI BABA keep us at his feet always.
Here I would like to post one story I read which does tells us how love can make life beautiful. Let us remember how our LORD SHREE SAI BABA loves good and bad equally.
Wealth, Success, and Love
A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."
"We do not go into a house together," they replied. "Why is that?" she asked.
One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now which one of us you want in your home."
She first thought, "Since that is the case, let me invite in Wealth. Let him come and fill my home with wealth!" Then she thought Success, might be better. Then she thought, "Wouldn't it be better to invite Love as then my home would be filled with Love!"
So she chose Love to be her guest.
The woman asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be my guest."
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"
The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"
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Read this article today on never giving up..
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and begin to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that fell on his back, the donkey was doing some thing amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and totted off!
Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick is too not to get bogged down by it. We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping. And by never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
Om sai ram
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Neeluji what a life saving moral, “Never give up, we can get out of any problems” and we have a great savior, SHREE SAI BABA with us.
Today I read a nice article which I want to share with all, which shows that apart from prayers, our daily activity is a kind of worship too. All good deeds, hard work and helping others is a kind of worship for which god has created us.
This is the story of a young man who was interested to know about god and talk about god:
Work in the Field
A young man crossed the desert and finally came to the monastery of Scete. There, he asked to hear one of the abbot’s lectures - and was granted permission.
That afternoon, the abbot’s discourse was about the importance of work in the field.
After the lecture, the young man said to one of the monks:
"That was amazing. I thought I would hear a fine sermon about virtues and sins, and the abbot spoke only of tomatoes, irrigation and so forth. Where I come from, all believe that God is merciful: all one must do is pray."
The monk smiled and replied: "Here we believe that God has already done His part; now it is up to us to continue the process."
We often come across while reading SHREE SAI BABA’s teachings; he gave more importance on teaching, importance of justice in daily activities. He always said that we should be careful that we do not cheat others knowingly or unknowingly even in small deals.
Allah Malik
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Sai Ram Moosa Ji
thanx for referring this page..very nice,touching & inspiring stories.asap where god tells his devotee abt footmarks on sand...this story has always been my inspiration .I tell same story to my son whenver he is restless and recall it when i become restless or low..may Baba showers his blessings on all
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Concentration is the most difficult excerice in our daily activities. We always read, how in ancient times sages conqured critical situations through concentration. Concentration in Bhakti is the best achievment in life. below is a stoy of appropriate action of a teacher and his student during critical situation. We all have to act like the clever student in below story, who controlled his excitement and surrendered himself to his teachers actions.
The story is..........
A teacher and his student were walking from one village to another, when they suddenly heard a roar behind them. Turning their gaze in the direction of the roar they saw a big tiger following them. The first thing the student wanted to do was to run away, but as he has been studying and practicing self-discipline, he was able to halt himself, waiting to see what his teacher was going to do.
"What shall we do Master?" Asked the student.
The teacher looked at the student and answered in a calm voice:
"There are several options. We can fill our minds with paralyzing fear so that we cannot move, and let the tiger do with us whatever pleases it. We can faint. We can run away, but then it will run after us. We can fight with it, but physically it is stronger than us."
"We can pray to god to save us. We can choose to influence the tiger with the power of our mind, if our concentration is strong enough. We can send it love. We can also concentrate and meditate on our inner power, and on the fact that we are one with the entire universe, including the tiger, and in this way influence its soul."
"Which option do you choose?"
"You are the Master. You tell me what to do. We haven't much time", responded the student.
The master turned his gaze fearlessly towards the tiger, emptied his mind from all thoughts, and entered samadhi. In his consciousness he embraced everything in the universe including the tiger. In this deep meditation the consciousness of the teacher became one with consciousness of the tiger.
Meanwhile the student started to shiver with fear, as the tiger was already quite close, ready to make a leap at them. He was amazed at how his teacher could stay so calm and detached in the face of danger.
Meanwhile the teacher continued to meditate without fear. After a little while, the tiger gradually lowered its head and tail and went away.
The student asked his teacher in astonishment, "What did you do?"
"Nothing. I just cleared all thoughts from my mind and united myself in spirit with the tiger. We became united in peace on the spiritual level. The tiger sensed the inner calmness, peace, and unity and felt no threat or need to express violence, and so walked away."
"When the mind is silent and calm, its peace is automatically transmitted to everything and everyone around, influencing them deeply", concluded the teacher.
Can we be like the student mentioned in above story and wait for our LORD'S SHREE SAI BABA'S ACTIONS.
ALLAH MALIK
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Here I would like to share with you a nice article I read, which says how to maintain your calmness.
Buddha seemed quite unruffled by the insults hurled at him by a visitor. When his disciples later asked him what the secret of his serenity was.
he said: "Imagine what would happen if someone placed an offering before you and you did not pick it up. Or someone sent you a letter that you refused to open; you would be unaffected by its contents, would you not?
Do this each time you are abused and you will not lose your serenity."
It is teaching of our LORD SAI BABA that; do not respond to anyone in harsh tone. If possible do good or keep quite.
ALLAH MALIK
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Here is another nice article which teaches us, something we always forget to do:
Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and
one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying
anything, wrote in the sand: TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been
slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand
and now, you write on a stone, why?" The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write
it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us,
we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it." LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND
TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but
then an entire life to forget them. Do not value the THINGS you have in your life. But value WHO you have
in your life! "God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if
we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability!"
LET US PRAY TO OUR LORD SHREE SAI BABA TO ALWAYS KEEP US AT HIS FEET
ALLAH MAILK
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I just read a story which shows how troubles and disliked situations when put together turn up to be a good condition for us, which was very dramatically designed by our lord.
Piece of Cake
Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."
Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
Dear all SAI devotees, let us try to develop in us Shradha and Saburi to understand the long run plans of our SHREE SAI BABA drawn for us.
ALLAH MALIK
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Beautiful stories moosaji, thanks for keeping this thread alive.. was very sad the past few days.. the precise words that i needed for reassurance were :
"God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"
thank u so much :)
would like to share what i read today,
Lessons from an Oyster
There once was an oyster
Whose story I tell,
Who found that some sand
Had got into his shell.
It was only a grain,
but it gave him great pain.
For oysters have feelings
Although they're so plain.
Now, did he berate
the harsh workings of fate
That had brought him
To such a deplorable state?
Did he curse at the government,
Cry for election,
And claim that the sea should
Have given him protection?
'No,' he said to himself
As he lay on a shell,
Since I cannot remove it,
I shall try to improve it.
Now the years have rolled around,
As the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate
Destiny stew.
And the small grain of sand
That had bothered him so
Was a beautiful pearl
All richly aglow.
Now the tale has a moral,
for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do
With a morsel of sand?
What couldn't we do
If we'd only begin
With some of the things
That get under our skin.
Let us all also learn from the oyster to persevere and turn something which is bothering us, into something positive and precious, with the blessings of Baba..
Om Sai Ram :)
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Niluji what a nice story posted, showing how to convert ones pain into a shinning situation, like that oyster. I pray to lord SHREE SAI BABA to comfort you with peace and tranquil. In fact I too was going to adopt the style of adwaitaji and was about to post “Niluji where are you?”
On second thought, I remembered that you get busy with your semesters as you said last year.
Whenever I feel that I am sad I immediately start saying in my heart to SHREE SAI BABA, BABA I am not feeling well, my sadness is troubling me, I need your support. In my language I say, BABA mujhay bohot taqlif ho rahi hai, mera dukh mujhay satah raha hai, mujhay aap kay saharay ki zaroorat hai.
On continuous repeating the above mentioned sentence by concentrating SAI BABA’s image in mind and heart, after 5 / 10 minutes my atmosphere changes in such a way that I forget my sad feelings. I enter in different situation and scene changes. I repeat this procedure whenever I feel sad.
I read one sentence which I would like to share here. “When God decides of your birth he gives you a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's the only thing you are sure to keep for the rest of your life. “
It is our deeds of past life that gives us happiness and sadness, we cannot escape from it, but we are just lucky that we have SHREE SAI BABA to comfort us during our sad feelings.
There is one incident written in Shree SAI Satcharitra on past life effects resulting in pain, sickness which was taken out by BABA whereas the bearer of the pain wanted to die because he could not bear the pain.
Dr. Pillay
One Dr. Pillay was an intimate Bhakta of Baba. He was much liked by Baba, Who always called him Bhau (brother). Baba talked with him off and on and consulted him in all matters and wanted him always at His side. This Pillay suffered once very badly from guinea-worms. He said to Kakasaheb Dixit, "The pain is most excruciating and unbearable. I prefer death to it. This pain, I know, is for repaying past Karma, but go to Baba and tell Him to stop the pain and transfer the working of my past Karma to ten future births of mine." Mr. Dixit went to Baba and told Him his request. Then Baba, being moved by his request, said to Dixit,"Tell him to be fearless. Why should he suffer for ten births? In ten days he can work out the sufferings and consequences of his past Karma. While I am here to give him temporal and spiritual welfare, why should he pray for death? Bring him here on somebody's back and let us work and finish his sufferings once for all".
The doctor was brought in that condition and was seated on Baba's right side,where Fakir Baba always sat. Baba gave him His bolster and said,"Lie calmly here and be at ease. The true remedy is, that the result of past actions has to be suffered and got over. Our Karma is the cause of our happiness and sorrow; therefore put up with whatever comes to you. Allah (God) is the sole Dispenser and Protector, always think of Him. He will take care of you. Surrender to His feet with body, mind, wealth and speech, i.e. completely and then see what He does." Dr. Pillay said in return that Nanasaheb had put a bandage over the leg, but he found no relief. "Nana is a fool" replied Baba. "Take off that bandage or else you will die. Now a crow will come and peck you, and then you will recover."
While this conversation was going on, one Abdul, who always cleaned the Masjid and trimmed the lamps, turned up. While he was attending to his work of training, his foot accidentally fell upon the stretched leg of Dr. Pillay. The leg was already swollen and when Abdul's foot fell upon it and pressed it, all the seven guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. The pain was unbearable and Dr. Pillay bawled out loudly. After some time, he calmed down and began to sing and cry alternately. Then Pillay enquired when the crow was coming and peeking. Baba said, "Did you not see the crow? He won't come again. Abdul was the crow. Now go and rest yourself in the Wada and you will be soon allright."
Allah Malik
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Shree SAI BABA please bestow happiness on Neeluji, your devotee who started this page.
I read a nice article on webpage of OneIndia, which I would like to share here.
Duty Dedicated To Him
Those were the days when the supply of electric power for lighting the streets was available only in a few big cities in India. In one of the big towns every street had three or four oil lamps each with a glass chimney set on a pole, the municipal authorities employed some labourers to light the lamps at about 6:00 p.m. in the evening. The expenses incurred towards oil, wick and chimney were met by the municipalities.
There was one lamplighter who did his job cheerfully and scrupulously. He had great faith in God and always recited the name of his dear God, Rama. He was very punctual and systematic in his work. He used to come to his ward exactly at 5:00 p.m., clean the chimneys, pour oil into the container, set the wick right and light the lamp. While doing all these he would be singing, "Janaki Jeevana Ram, Karoonga Tumhara Kam," meaning thereby, "Oh Lord of Janaki, I am doing only your work. I am only serving you."
Reports reached the municipal authorities that the lamps lit by this devotee shone brighter all through the night while the lamps lit by others in the town were dim and many of them burnt only for a part of the night. The matter was taken for investigation. The reporting officer submitted to the authorities the fact that all the lamplighters in the town were given the same oil and other materials and were also paid the same remuneration. As for the street where the lamps shone brightly all through the night unlike those in other streets, it was a unique case where the lamplighter was known to be a very pious man doing his duty as service to God.
Any work done sincerely as service to God is bound to reflect His love and glory.
This reminds us text from Shree SAI Satcharitra
Mrs. Newaskar was in a fix. She thought that the food would not suffice for the people assembled and that if it fell short, the honour of the family would be at stake. Her mother-in-law comforted her by saying, "Don't be afraid, it is not ours, but Sai's food; cover every vessel with cloth, putting some Udi in it, and serve from the same without opening it : Sai will save us from ignominy." She did as she was advised and it was found to their surprise and joy that not only did the food suffice for all, but plenty of it remained after serving.
Allah Malik
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Moosa ji, nice story.. so true, when any task is undertaken in God's name or by completely surrendering it to Him, it will always be successful.. :)
Here's a story i read today and would like to share -
water man in India had two big water pots, each of the pot hanging on either end of his yoke, which he carried across his shoulder. One of the pot was cracked, but the other pot was not. While the good water pot could bring back home a full pot of water from the far natural water spring, the cracked water pot could only bring back half a pot of water.
For two years, this happened everyday, the water man had always been able to bring only one and half pot of water to his master's residence. Of course, the good water pot felt proud of it's achievement as it was able to fulfill its duty perfectly. But the poor cracked water pot felt very embarrassed and sad of its imperfection, for it could only store half of the portion it was supposed to.
For after two years being thus stressed, the cracked water pot said to the water man, "I am so embarrassed with myself, and i want to apologize you." "Why?" asked the water man. "Why are you embarrassed of yourself?" "For these two years, i could only bring half portion of a full pot, as i have a crack on my side that made the water i carried drip little by little along the way to master's house. For my defect, i have brought you disadvantages", said the water pot. The water man felt sorry for how the cracked water pot felt, and he told the water pot, "Tomorrow when we return back to our master's house, i'd like you to take notice of the beautiful flowers along the way."
The next day, when they climbed up the hill, the cracked water pot looked around and realized that there are many beautiful flowers along the way, and seeing them, did console him a bit. But at the end of the journey, it returned, feeling sad again as it had lost half of the water it carried, and again it apologized to the water man.
The water man said to the water pot, "Did you realize that there were flowers along the way of your side but there was none along the other pot's side? It was because i have always been aware of your flaw and i made good use of it. I had planted flower seeds along the way on your side, and everyday when we walked home from the spring, you water them. For these two years i have been able to pick up those beautiful flowers to decorate our master's table. Without you as who you are, our master's house would'nt be as beautiful as it is now."
Each of us has our own shortages and weaknesses. We are all cracked pots. But if we are willing to, by Sai Baba's grace and blessings, we can change it to something useful.
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Moosa ji, kaha ho aap, where are all the inspiring stories??
Here's a very short, simple and nice article i read today:
:)
Seven Wonders Of The World
A group of students was asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noticed that one quiet student hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:
1. to see
2. to hear
3. to touch
4. to taste
5. to feel
6. to laugh and,
7. to love."
The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous.
May Baba give us all the ability to perceive and appreciate the seven wonders..
OM SAI RAM
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A really nice article i read today:
When you see geese flying along in "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone - and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.
When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.
It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
What messages do we give when we honk from behind?
Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.
Baba bless us all and be with us always :)
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Moosa patel ji and Neelu ji, I wonder if I could have ever learnt so much from your beautiful narrations.Thank you..
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Here's another really nice story i read today :
Sand and Stone:
The story tells, that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but his friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"
The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."
MAY BABA GIVE US ALL THE ABILITY TO WRITE OUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE OUR HAPPINESS IN STONE. OM SAI RAM :)
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Neeluji I pray to my lord SHREE SAI BABA to bestow all happiness in the world upon you. I was praying to SHREE SAI BABA about my upset and I was feeling weak though not scared and SHREE SAI BABA made you appear on screen and post three articles in short period.
At the same time I thanks Doctor for appreciating posts on this page, I would like to state here that all credit goes to Neeluji the originator of this topic.
Neeluji the seven wonders mentioned by one quiet student in that article, makes one feel to think, what a great creator is GOD. The cracked pot story teaches us on, how to make best utilization of our week points.
“When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone - and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.”
How wonderful is my lord SHREE SAI BABA who made you post an article which taught me a lesson (If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.)
I read one interesting short story which I want to share:
Once a group of Rhishis was passing through a jungle and had to cross a river in order to continue their journey. The Guru of that group suggested that one of his disciple look around the river bank to find some means for crossing the river. The disciple soon came back with information that there was a small settlement nearby and one of the boatman from that village agreed to help them in crossing the river. Guru and his disciples went to the boatman who greeted them warmly. As the group was getting on the boat, Guru saw a man sitting under a tree shade talking all alone. He asked the boatman about him, and boatman said he is known as madman who keeps on talking to god and leads his life in loneliness without troubling others. Guru looked carefully at that madman and found out that, he does not seems to be mad, but concentrating on something and decided to go and see him. On talking with him Guru decided to give him a mantra so that he could be enlightened. After giving him mantra Guru went and joined his group and boatman started paddling the boat. When the boat had crossed half of the river that madman came running at the bank and started calling the group, when the Guru turned around to see who it was, by that time this madman was running towards them on river water. He came near their boat, stood besides the boat and said Guruji I forgot the mantra which you told me, can you please repeat the same, I will try to keep it in my memory.
The Guru humbly said to him, never mind about my mantra please carry on your practice which could make you walk on water.
ALLAH MALIK
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Moosa ji, thank you so much for your prayers. I pray to our Baba to give you all the strength you need and all the happiness in the world :) and no credits moosa ji, equal credits to all, you kept the thread alive by posting beautiful stoires..
Beautiful story, tells us that true form of devotion is when we are sincere and devoted on our part, and that can make us achieve what we want.. very nice..
Moosa ji, the following article is thanking you and everyone for all the kind words you've always had to say :)
A Pebble:
Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.
OM SAI RAM
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OM SAI RAM
Dear Moosa Patel ji,
I am truly happy that you and neelu ji together are giving us such delightful and lovely narrations.Each post carries such deep and true meaning.I only wish I had the intellect to participate rather contribute. However your and neelu ji's narrations are truly mesmerizing.I ardently pray to my guru Sainath, that I can imbibe and put into practice a fraction of your posts. You and Neelu ji are truly blessed. Baba always be with you...
My warmest regards,
SABKA MALLIK EK :) :)
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Vishwanath ji, thanks for your encouragement and prayers.. really means a lot to me.. yes, moosa ji is a great human, truly inspirational, Baba bless him and be with him always.. viswanathji, you also please do participate.. any story or incident or experience which inspires you, you can post it here.. :)
here's a beautiful story i read today:
This Is Good
An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."
"No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean,'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."
this tells us that whatever happens, happens for a reason and for the best. Baba knows whats the best for us and gives it to us accordingly.. we just need to have faith and patience..
shraddha saburi :)
om sai ram
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OM SAI RAM
Dear sister neelu ji,
What I had posted about your and moosa ji's narrations were truly meant from my heart, my inner being.There are very few people in this human race that are endowed with the articulate and sincerity manner in which you both narrate such beautiful stories. I thank you for your kind words in asking me to join in the contributions.I still have a long way to go to reach the level of devotion and faith that you are blessed with.As I had written earlier that I was mesmerized by these posts.Please allow me to read your and Sri moosa ji's narrations.With every post you both increase my faith and love towards Sainatha.You are indeed spreading his teachings in a very similar manner in which Baba himself made his devotees and those who came to him understand and fathom our real purpose.Thank you so so very much.Baba bless you sister.
Warmest regards,
SABKA MALLIK EK
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Viswanath ji, you are very kind. Baba bless you and all of us, always. :)
Here's a nice article i read today, tells us that the little things in life are the ones that make a big difference..
The Thirty Seconds Quiz:
Don't bother getting a pen and paper... just read... if you can't
answer them, just keep going.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss Universe contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last five Academy Award winners for Best Actor and Actress.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remembers the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They're the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Now here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. Name three teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worth while.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson?
The people who make a difference in your life aren't the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They're the ones who care.
Baba bless us all and be with us always..
om sai ram :)
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OM SAI RAM
I had come across this paragraph in a book on Baba by Acharya Bharadwaj.It may be of some interest to my sisters and brothers on this forum.Let me start by how it affected me; I am an allopathic doctor, a Consultant Cardiologist and Intensive Care Specialist; that is my profession..however when I come across Baba's unique ways of healing and the mannerisms adopted by him in his teachings..it shows what 'doctoring' is done by me, and it is he who actually cares and cures..my title means nothing...
The paragraph I mentioned is as follows:
Devotees of a Sadguru like Baba are easily tempted to commit one error i.e to think that he would do, by his omnipotence, all that the devotee wishes him to do. It is necessary to remember, especially for a devotee, that Baba's superior wisdom knows how to judge a situation better.
In 1915, a rich old man of Harda who was suffering from Tuberculosis came to Shirdi with a lady.During the first month there was gradual improvement in his condition, but thereafter it showed a sharp decline. His end seemed near and Prof.Narke was sent to Baba for udi. Baba told the professor that the man would be better for quitting the earth and said "What can the udi do? Any how take the udi and give it as it is wanted. Shama was then sent to intercede with Baba, but Baba said the same thing as he had done to Prof.Narke, but in a cryptic manner which outwardly seem to mean the opposite!"How can he die ? In the morning he will come to life."
This was taken to mean that the old man would survive and nobody noticed the warning implied in the wording of the second sentence.The man died and the devotees felt that Baba had given false hope.A little later, one of the relations of the old man saw Baba in a dream with the deceased man's head over his own.Baba disclosed the lungs of the old man.They were in a rotten state and Baba said , "From the torture of all this I have saved him" Therafter the relations of the old man renewed their visits to Shirdi;for they knew that many were the cures Baba effected if he considered them worthwhile and beneficial to the affected soul.That and not the attachment of the the sick persons kinsfolk wer his criteron in deciding whether to heal or not.Baba knew the past of a person even to hundreds of his previous lives and so he knew minutely the causesthat underlay his joys or sorrows; he knew the potentialitities of each and he used his superknowledge in getting the best for his devotee without violating God's justice. Many were the instances in which Baba deemed it wiser for a creature to die.
Baba is the one and only supreme judge..whether our wishes are granted or not they are done by his infinite wisdom.As his devotees we should pray to Baba that in his infinite wisdom he would do what is right. Let us pray and bow to Baba..may be peace be to all.
SABKA MALLIK EK
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OM SAI RAM
I had come across this note written by Acharya Bharadwaj(a memberof the IAS who resigned and went around in his extensive service,love and devotion to SaiNath.He attained Maha Samadhi - 12,April,1989)
In the book that he had written he had mentioned some of the more contemporary devotees. However he recieved many letters from readers who averred that most of the guru's and devotees do not deserve to be mentioned, caught as they are in the coils of certain moral lapses.
He gave his viewpoint as follows " Moral lapses are a consequence of incomplete spiritual perception of the nature of worldly things and of the spirit.Increased insight into the worthlessness of matters grossly worldly is a product of gradual evolution of consciousness through sadhana.In the path of devotion to Baba this devolopment is entirely a matter concerning the devotee in question.We have nothing to bother about it.Sai Baba himself had furnished the true picture of the matter. When one of his devotees wondered how many of those who flock to Baba would realize life'sgoal, he gave an apt parallel.When the mango tree blossoms, how many of these blossoms, buds, tender fruits and half-ripe ones fall off owing to wind,pests,monkeys..etc? And how few reach the state of ripe fruition? A verse in the Bhagavadagita too says that of thousands of individuals, only a few turn Godward; of these only very few will realize Him. "Many are called but but very few are chosen" says Christ and illustrates it with the parable of the sower.The devotees zeal in the pursuit of his goal is of prime importance to him and it is a matter concerning his enlightenment.Why should we bother about it? A true devotee of Baba never does. For Baba himself demonstrated what our attitude to such should be.When Jawahar Ali, the pseudo-saint pretended to be the Guru of Sai Baba, the latter kept quiet.He never bothered to expatiate the former's unworthiness to other devotees.
He was very explicit in asking us to shed the sense of difference and to see the one in all if we wish to attain the ultimate object of life (parmartha).Then should we bother about any moral lapses in these devotees.
Baba is willing to bless his devotees even long after his mahasamadhi.How well they utilize the grace thus showered is their headache and not ours.It is enough if if we too could strive to win his grace and take care not to fall victims to such lapses.If any of these devotees have any lapses, it only futher vindicates how far Baba is willing to grace us inspite of such lapses and how we can fare better if we could rid ourselves of such lapses.It is all the greater incentive to our zeal in self culture.
color]To be obssessed with the lapses we see in some is to totally divert our attention from what Baba taught both by his practice and precept and then we do not deserve to be called his devotees. Instead of meditating on the divine in all, we thereby do the reverse of it and the fruits of doing so could be contrary to what we hope to get(enlightenment) by following Baba. Do we not see that Baba did something alike in the case of the Ramadasi, when he had snatched the book Vishnu Sahasranama and presented it to Shama?
May Baba inspire in us the wisdom to take what is positive in the accounts of these devotees, and if we notice any of their failings as per our perceptions, may these help us to be careful against falling into similar errors ourselves.
Peace be to all.
SABKA MALLIK EK
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OM SAI RAM
Dear Neelu ji and Moosa patel ji,
I am sorry for having put up posts on this chain of narrations.Both of you were writing such prolific and lovely stories.However since the day I put my posts up, neither of you have continued and the beautiful thread remains at it's previous length. Your posts have stopped.I apologise for my intrusion. Please do write,I promise only to read and not post any of my thoughts.
Warmest regards to you both,
SABKA MALLIK EK
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Very nice articles vishwanath ji, true, Baba knows what is the best for us and will do that.. Baba always takes care of everything, even the littlest of details of our welfare, when we surrender to Him completely.. If we make mistakes, Baba helps us realise and learn from it and sets us on the right path.. :)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do post such nice articles.. please post your thoughts.. there is nothing like "intrusion" vishwanathji, we are all part of Sai's big family.. Had been a little busy with college project work so couldn't reply all these days.. Sorry that u felt that way.. Even im waiting for moosa ji to come back and post beautiful stories for all of us again.. Baba bless us all.. OM SAI RAM
Here's a nice article i read today..
Nails In The Fence:
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.
The next time you get angry with someone and are about to speak, ask yourself if there was a way to say what you want to say with neutral words. Often the habit of reacting angrily is just that - a habit you learned when you were young and haven´t questioned since. You might have become blind to the effect it has on your life.
It is really so that the world reflects back your own attitude. Listen to the words and tone of voice you use. And try, really try to speak neutrally to someone who you are angry with. If you know it will be difficult, write the words down first. Rehearse it in your mind. Decide on a prize you will give to yourself if you succeed.
Teach your mind intentionally to use respectful words. And you just might find that life begins to feel a lot nicer - because people aren't angry at you anymore. Life is but a mirror, it reflects all you do and say. Stay calm and peaceful always, the world will be the same to you.
Even our Baba told us never to hurt anyone, but to endure the harsh words against us, if any, with tranquility and His grace will definitely save us always..
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all :)
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Moosa ji, where are you?? Where are the inspiring stories? Anyone who has a nice thought-provoking article to share, please please do so here. Here is a nice article I read today -
SHINING LIGHT
One evening a man took a small candle from a box and began to climb a long winding stairway. "Where are we going?" asked the candle. "We're going up higher than a house to show the ships the way to the harbor." "But no ship in the harbor could ever see my light," the candle said. "It is so very small." "If your light is small," the man said "just keep on burning brightly and leave the rest to me." When they reached the top of the long stairs, they came to a large lamp. Then he took the little candle and lit the lamp. Soon the large polished mirrors behind the lamp sent beams of light out across miles of the sea.
We are God's candle. Our job is to keep on shining. The success of our work is in His hands. A tiny candle or match can start a forest fire. The little flame of your good example can actually change the lives of others without you knowing it. Be a light to them like the beacon light in the story which guided the ships to safe harbor.
May we continue to take up small deeds toward the larger purpose!
OM SAI RAM