HAPPINESS COMES FROM GIVING

This story is about a beautiful, expensively dressed lady who complained to her psychiatrist that she felt that her whole life was empty, it had no meaning. So, the lady went to visit a counselor to seek out happiness. The counselor called over the old lady who cleaned the office floors.0 The counselor then said to the rich lady “I’m going to ask Mary here to tell you how she found happiness. All I want you to do is listen to her.”


So the old lady put down her broom and sat on a chair and told her story: “Well, my husband died of malaria and three months later my only son was killed by a car. I had nobody… I had nothing left. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, I never smiled at anyone, I even thought of taking my own life.

Then one evening a little kitten followed me home from work. Somehow I felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to let the kitten in. I got it some milk, and the kitten licked the plate clean. Then it purred and rubbed against my leg and for the first time in months, I smiled. Then I stopped to think, if helping a little kitten could make me smile, maybe doing something for people could make me happy. So the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbor who was sick in bed.

Every day I tried to do something nice for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy. Today, I don’t know of anybody who sleeps and eats better than I do. I’ve found happiness, by giving it to others.” When she heard that the rich lady cried. She had everything that money could buy, but she had lost the things which money cannot buy.

God Bless You

THE WHITE ELEPHANT

Once upon a time, there lived a herd of eighty thousand elephants at the bottom of the majestic Himalayas. Their leader was a magnificent and rare white elephant who was an extremely kind-hearted soul. He greatly loved his mother who had grown blind and feeble and could not look out for herself.

Each day this white elephant would go deep into the forest in search of food. He would look for the best of wild fruit to send to his mother. But alas… his mother never received any. This was because his messengers would always eat them up themselves. Each night, when he returned home he would be surprised to hear that his mother had been starving all day. He was absolutely disgusted with his herd.

Then one day, he decided to leave them all behind and disappeared in the middle of the night along with his dear mother. He took her to Mount Candorana to live in a cave beside a beautiful lake that was covered by gorgeous pink lotuses.

It so happened that one day, when the white elephant was feeding he heard loud cries. A forester from Benaras had lost his way in the forest and was absolutely terrified. He had come to the area to visit relatives and could not find his way out.

On seeing this big white elephant he was even more terrified and ran as fast as he could. The elephant followed him and told him not to be afraid, as all he wanted to do was to help him. He asked the forester why he was crying so bitterly. The forester replied that he was crying because he had been roaming the forest for the past seven days and could not find his way out.

The elephant told him not to worry as he knew every inch of this forest and could take him to safety. He then lifted him on to his back and carried him to the edge of the forest from where the forester went on his merry way back to Benaras.

On reaching the city, he heard that King Brahmadutta’s personal elephant had just died and the King was looking for a new elephant. His heralds were roaming the city, announcing that any man who had seen or heard of an elephant fit for a King should come forward with the information.

The forester was very excited and immediately went up to the King and told him about the white elephant that he had seen on Mount Candorana. He told him that he had marked the way and would require the help of the elephant trainers in order to catch this fantastic elephant.

The King was quite pleased with the information and immediately despatched a number of soldiers and elephant trainers along with the forester. After travelling for many days, the group reached the lake besides which the elephants resided. They slowly creeped down to the edge of the lake and hid behind the bushes. The white elephant was collecting lotus shoots for his mother’s meal and could sense the presence of humans. When he looked up, he spotted the forester and realised that it was he who had led the King’s men to him. He was very upset at the ingratitude but decided that if he put up a struggle many of the men would be killed. And he was just too kind to hurt anyone. So he decided to go along with them to Benaras and then request the benevolent King to be set free.

That night when the white elephant did not return home, his mother was very worried. She had heard all the commotion outside and had guessed that the King’s men had taken away her son. She was scared that the King would ride him in to battle and her son would definitely be killed. She was also worried that there would be no one to look after her or even feed her, as she could not see. She just lay down and cried bitterly.

Meanwhile her son was led in to the beautiful city of Benaras where he was given a grand reception. The whole city was decorated and his own stable was gaily painted and covered with garlands of fragrant flowers. The trainers laid out a feast for their new state elephant who refused to touch a morsel. He did not respond to any kind of stimuli, be it the fragrant flowers or the beautiful and comfortable stable. He just sat there looking completely despondent.

The worried trainers went straight to report the situation to their King, as they were scared that the elephant would just waste away without any food or water. The King was extremely concerned when he heard what they had to say and went to the stable himself. He offered the elephant food from the royal table and asked him why he grieved in this manner. He thought that the elephant should be proud and honoured that he was chosen as the state elephant and would get the opportunity to serve his King.

But the white elephant replied that he would not eat a thing until he met his mother. So the King asked him where his mother was. The elephant replied that she was back home on Mount Candorana and must be worried and hungry as she was blind and had no one to feed her and take care of her. He was afraid that she would die.

The compassionate King was touched by the elephant’s story and asked him to return to his blind, old mother and take care of her as he had been doing all along. He set him free in love and kindness.

The happy elephant went running home as fast as he could. And he was relieved to find that his mother was still alive. He filled his trunk with water and poured it over his sick mother who thought that it was raining. Then she cried out as she thought that some evil spirit had come to harm her and wished and prayed that her son was there to save her.

The white elephant gently bent over his blind mother and stroked her lovingly. She immediately recognised his touch and was overjoyed. Her son lifted her up and told her that the kind and compassionate King of Benaras had set him free and he was here to love and look after his mother forever.

His mother was absolutely thrilled and blessed the kind King with peace, prosperity and joy till the end of his days. She was so thankful to him for sending her son back home.

The white elephant was able to take good care of his mother till the day she died. And when he died himself, the King erected a statue of him by the side of the lake and held an annual elephant festival there in memory of such a caring and noble soul.

THE SECRET OF PEACE AND BLISS!

Living in temples, under trees, sleeping on the naked ground, wearing deer skin, renouncing all possessions and enjoyments, to whom will not dispassion bring happiness?

The formula for peace is the attitude of detachment, spirit of dispossession in your possessions, a sense of mental resignation to a higher power even while you are enjoying the world.

What is the difference between a happy man and an unhappy man? Can you say that a happy man has fewer problems?

The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the most of everything that comes their way. Everyone has problems and difficulties to make them unhappy. What makes a person happy despite his problems and challenges, however, is his attitude, approach and mental disposition.

Having enunciated in detail the wrong approach to the spiritual journey, and condemning the external paraphernalia of religious practices, a true sanyasi (man of renunciation) is described. Renunciation is a state of mind of a developed human being. It is a state when your sentiments and emotions gain maturity, desires are controlled and your intellect gains clarity.

The result of true renunciation is happiness. Richness and accomplishments that you desire cannot make you any happier than your present state unless you develop renunciation.

The true key to peace and happiness is dispassion, relinquishing the hunger and thirst for enjoyment.

The only way to enjoy anything is to realize that you can do without it.

The attitudes and intrinsic being of such a great soul help overcome the pressures of desires and passions......


Courtesy: “Value Systems for Success” By M K Angajan

INCREDIBLE JAPAN -10 LESSONS TO LEARN FROM A GRIEVING BUT GREAT NATION!

INCREDIBLE JAPAN - 10 LESSONS TO LEARN FROM A GRIEVING BUT GREAT NATION!

1. THE CALM!

Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. THE DIGNITY!

Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. THE ABILITY!

The incredible architects, for instance. Many Buildings swayed but didn't fall.

4. THE GRACE!

People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

5. THE ORDER!

No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

6. THE SACRIFICE!

Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

7. THE TENDERNESS!

Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

8. THE TRAINING!

The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

9. THE MEDIA!

They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

10. THE CONSCIENCE!

When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

LET'S ALL SALUTE THE SPIRIT OF JAPAN AND HER PEOPLE! THEY ARE IN OUR PRAYERS!





Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)
"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

POWER OF LOVE

You can transform your world in an instant by the way you
Choose to see it. You can change problems into
Opportunities, anxiety into enthusiasm, and despair into
Determination.

The quality of what you see depends on the perspective from
Which you see it. And that perspective is entirely up to
You.

Instead of reacting again and again to the chaotic ups and
Downs of circumstance, you have a more powerful choice. You
Can choose to live from a constant and unassailable
Perspective of love.


Instead of fighting against most of what happens, you can
Choose to be lifted higher by all that happens. From a
Perspective of love you'll see the positive possibilities in
Every situation.

The way to live from love is to be completely and wholly
Honest with yourself. In the pure truth of who you are and
What you sincerely value, is the limitless power of that
Love.

Allow you to be truly you. And let the power of love color
Your world.

THREE WORDS

Three-Word Phrases, can be tools to help develop every relationship.
There are many things that you can do to strengthen your relationships.
Often the most effective thing you can do involves saying just three words.
When spoken sincerely, these statements often have the power to develop
new friendships, deepen old ones and even bring healing to relationships
that have soured.

The following three-word phrases can be tools to help develop every relationship.

Let me help:
Good friends see a need and then try to fill it.When they see a hurt they do what they can to heal it.Without being asked, they jump in and help out.

I understand you:

People become closer and enjoy each other more when the other person
accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know - in so many little ways
that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship.And this can apply to any relationship.

I respect you:
Respect is another way of showing love. Respect demonstrates that
another person is a true equal.If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become closer friends.This applies to all interpersonal relationships.

~I miss you:


Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply
and sincerely said to each other “I miss you.”
This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved.
Consider how important you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call
from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say “I miss you.”

~Maybe you’re right:


This phrase is very effective in diffusing an argument.
The implication when you say “maybe you’re right” is the humility
of admitting, “maybe I’m wrong”. Let’s face it.
When you have an argument with someone,
all you normally do is solidify the other person’s point of view.
They, or you, will not likely change their position and you run the
risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you.
Saying “maybe you’re right” can open the door to explore the subject more.
You may then have the opportunity to express your view in a way
that is understandable to the other person.

~ Please forgive me:


Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would
admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults,
foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been
in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today
than he was yesterday.


~ I thank you:


Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy.
People who enjoy the companionship of good,
close friends are those who don’t take daily courtesies for granted.
They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness.
On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted
often do not have the attitude of gratitude.


~ Count on me:


A friend is one who walks in when others walk out.
Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship.
It is the emotional glue that bonds people.
Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends.
When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating “you can count on me.”


~ I’ll be there:


If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night,
to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down
some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase
“I’ll be there.”
Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give.
When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us.
We are renewed in love and friendship.
We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.


~ Go for it:


We are all unique individuals. Don’t try to get your friends to conform to your ideals.
Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how far out they seem to you.
God has given everyone dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only.
Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams. Tell them to “go for it.”

~ I love you:


Perhaps the most important three words that you can say.
Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person’s deepest emotional needs.
The need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your spouse, your children,
your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words: “I love you.”
Love is a choice. You can love even when the feeling is gone.

GOD'S TIMING IS RIGHT

What ever that happens in life, happens for good.So stop worryingabout the future and forget the past. After Sept. 11th, one company invited the remaining members of other companies who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin Towers to share their available office space. At a morning meeting, the head of security told stories of why these people were alive and all the stories were just the 'L I T LE' things.


As you might know, the head of the company survived that day because his son started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One of them missed his bus. One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.One's car wouldn't start.One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.


Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated.


God is at work watching over you.


Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like.
There is NO LUCK attached. If you delete this, it's okay:
"God's Love Is Not Dependent On E-Mail."


The message above reminded me of a hindi song i used to sing in school as a little child.


This is how it went-

The beautiful life that god gave us is to enjoy as much as you can by doing good and
noble deeds.

Every one will have up's and downs in life.Because of these up's and down's one should not feel that he or she is useless.There should be motivators in our life.
so whenever you need motivation, just be happy with what you have
The motivation given to others can be very powerful indeed we should give good meaning to our life.


so keep thinking about this and think before while doing any rash things.

"Count your blessings, see them one by one & it will remind you, what the lord has done". So, true isn't it??