Story

My mom only had one eye

My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family.

There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed.

How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, “EEEE, your mom only has one eye!”

I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, “If you’re only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don’t you just die?”

My mom did not respond… I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.

I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.

Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn’t seen me in years and she didn’t even meet her grandchildren.

When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, “How dare you come to my house and scare my children! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!”

And to this, my mother quietly answered, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address.” – and she disappeared out of sight.

One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.

My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

“My dearest son,

I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.

I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.

You see……..when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.

I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,

Your mother.”

Song

पूछो ना कै सी हैमेरी माँ

पूछो ना कै सी हैमेरी माँएक सच्चेदोस्त जैसी माँपूछो ना कै सी हैसाई माँ—–
मेरेबदन मेजान जैसी माँमिलेमुझेकिस्मत सेऐसी मा
मैअपना लक्ष्य छोड दँ
हर इक रिश्ता तोड दँ
तूजो कहे माँदनुिया क्या हैमैतो जान भी छोड द
गीता और कुरान जैसी माँ एक सच्चेदोस्त जैसी माँ
मेरेबदन मेजान जैसी माँ मिलेमुझेकिस्मत सेऐसी माँ
पूछो ना कै सी हैसाई माँ—-.

Story

The Hammer & the Nail

There was a little boy with a very bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it 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. 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. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

If our foot slips while walking, we may end with an injured leg, but if our tongue slips, the wound caused to a person’s heart may take a very long time to heal.

A saint asked his disciples, “Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?”

Disciples thought for a while, Then one of them said, “Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.” “But why to shout when the other person is just next to you?” asked the saint.

“Isn’t it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you’re angry?”

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint. Finally he explained, “When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.”

Then the saint asked, “What happens when we love each other? We don’t shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because our hearts are very close. The distance between us is very small.” The saint continued, “When we love each other, sometimes it is not necessary to speak.”

SONG ON ANGER MANAGEMENT

Why this Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Di
Why this Anger Anger Anger Child?
Anger Makes you waste your time
And wastes your Breath
Anger raises your Blood Pressure
And Ruins your Health !
Why this kolaveri—–
When you’re angry Drink Cold Water
You will feel Good
When you’re angry Look In the Mirror
You will look Bad
Why this kolaveri—-
If you’re angry count one to ten
Count nice and slow
If you’re angry Go Lie down
Your Anger will Go
Why this kolaveri——
Anger is your Worst Enemy-
You go mad and Wild
So our Swami Always Says-
Give up Anger My Child
Why This kolaveri —-

Song in Hindi

क्यों येगुस्

क्यों येगुस्सा येक्रोध मेरेभाई?
क्रोध सेअपना समय गँवायेऔर साँस फुलाय
क्रोध सेअपनी ब्लड प्रेशर बढाकेस्वासथ्य तूअपना गँवाय
क्यों य
क्रोध आयेतो पीलो पानी पानी मीठा ठंडा
क्रोधमेंअपना आईना देखो चेहेरा लगेगा गंदा
क्यों य
क्रोध आयेतो दस तक गिनना गिनना हौलेहौल
क्रोध आयेतो लेटो नीचेक्रोध रह गया पीछ
क्यों य
क्रोधसेहोती सबकी हानी होतेवारेन्यार
ईसीलिए हैस्वामी कहतेक्रोध को त्यजलेप्यार
क्यों येगुस्सा येक्रोध मेरेभाई ?

Story

The green fluorescent insect

Aditya returned home happily after coloured Harsh uncle‘s scooter who was their neighbour with cowdung. Within 5 to 10 minutes harsh came to Aditya’s house and angrily said to Aditya’s father, “Look what your son has done. He has put cowdung all over my scooter.” Aditya’s father felt ashamed, he asked Aditya to clean up the scooter. He made Aditya carry a bucket of water, a cloth and made him clean the scooter. He asked Aditya to apologise to Harsh uncle. But this was not the first time that such incident took place. Once he tied a tin can in the tail of Vijaya aunty’s cat, and as the cat started running the noise it made was so loud that the cat ran faster. He stole the mangoes from Damle uncle’s garden. He enjoyed playing such pranks. If he was asked to keep quiet he got bored. His parents did not know how to deal with him because no amount of punishment or scolding brought any changes in him.

Once as Aditya went out to play in the garden, he saw a fluorescent green insect. He caught the insect and kept it in a match box. He showed it to all his friends very proudly. That night he stuck chewing gum on his sister’s hair and enjoyed his prank. When he reached his room to sleep, he found the room was filled with a green fluorescent colour and there was humming sound in the room. His head started aching with the sound. He closed his ears with the pillow. Someone took the pillow away from him. He saw a huge fluorescent green insect in front of him. It had round black huge eyes. The legs of the insect were very long. Aditya was a very brave child but looking at the gigantic insect he was speechless. The insect lifted him and took him to the road and dipped him in muddy water. The insect lifted him out of the water and told him, “Now I shall tie tin cans all over your body and you go to school with those tins tied round you. As you walk or run it will make lot of noise.” Aditya wiped the mud from his eyes and started crying. He said to the insect, “Please forgive me. I will never play pranks again.” The insect disappeared. As soon as he got up in the morning he opened the match box. He said to the insect “Sorry my dear friend. Please forgive me for capturing you. “He took the insect out in the garden and put it down in the grass.

Song

न सुन सुन सुन बुरा न देख देख देख बुरा न बोल बोल बोल बुरा
न सुन बुरा देख बुरा बोल बुरा
कान्फुसी सुननेमेंहैबड़ा मज़ा आता
कोई भी रंगीन हो किस्सा दिल को हैभाता
अपना क्या जाता ?
बुरी बात सुननेका होता बुरा सदा अंजाम सुननेमेंअमतृ हैलेकिन हैवो ज़हर का जामहैवो ज़हर का जामइसी लिए मैंकहता हूँकेसुनलो मेरी बात
न सुन सुन सुन बुरा न एख देख देख बुरा न बोल बोल बोलबुरा
न सुन बुरा देख बुरा बोल बुरा

प्यार सेसबको देखो येसमझातेरहतेह
फिर भी न सुननेपर देखो क्या क्या होता ह
बुरी नज़र सेरावण नेजब सीता को देखा
एक घडी मेंख़ाक हो गयी सोनेकी लंका
सोनेकी लंका
और इसी लिए मैंकहता हूँकेसुनलो मेरेयार
न सुन सुन सुन बुरा न एख देख देख बुरा न बोल बोल बोल बुरा
न सुन बुरा देख बुरा बोल बुरा

Story

The secret of happiness

A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for 40 days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man, though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world. The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man’s attention.

The wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.

“Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something”, said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. “As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill”.

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.

“Well”, asked the wise man, “Did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“Then go back and observe the marvels of my world”, said the wise man. “You cannot trust a man if you don’t know his house”.

Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

“But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?” asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

“Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you”, said the wisest of wise men. “The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon”.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

• Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
• Free your mind from worries – Most never happens.
• Live simply and appreciate what you have.
• Give more.
• Expect less from people but more from God.

Story

Power Of Love

A mighty king was marching home after being victorious in a gruesome battle. He had captured the crown prince of the neighbouring kingdom and killed the king. The king was crossing through a jungle. He wanted to rest. The army halted there for the evening. Nearby was a hermitage. The king decided to pay his respects to the sage there. He sent his Minister and some soldiers to seek audience. They told the disciples here, “Maharaj wants to meet the sage.” The disciples said “Guruji has retired for the day, you can come tomorrow.”

The next morning the King came to the hermitage dressed in his royal finery, accompanied by his ministers and attendants. The sage was sitting under a tree and scattering bajra seeds all round. Hundreds of birds of different kinds were eating and the sound of their twittering filled the air.

The king walked up to the sage. The sage did not look up.

The king said, “Pranam Guruji !”

No answer.

He spoke louder, “Pranam Guruji !”

Still no answer.

“Guruji, I said Pranam!” He said in an angry voice.

The sage looked up and said, “Stop shouting, you are scaring the birds.”

That made the king even more furious. “Do you know who I am?” he shouted. The sage said calmly, “Yes, I do. You are the one who kills for love of power. You are the one who knows not that this power is temporary. One day another King will kill you in the same way. The love of power will bring your downfall.”

The king was beside himself with rage. He said, “Your impertinence is intolerable. I shall behead you just now!” He drew out his sword and raised it to strike the sage. In an instant, hundreds of birds flew up and attacked the king. They poked their beaks into his face, his eyes and his arms and all over. The king moved his arms up and around to ward off the birds. But the birds wouldn’t leave him. The sage said, “Leave him! Leave him! Come to me my dears!” All at once, the birds quieted down and sat meekly at the feet of the sage.

The sage said, “All I ever gave these birds is love. Oh! King! Realize the power of love. The love of power has blinded you and brought you to the level of a killer. These birds would have killed you, but that’s because they love me. I rule over them like a king too, but the only power I exercise over them is the power of love and it is the greatest power on this Earth.”

It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!

Story

Contentment and Peace

Gautam Buddha was going through a forest towards a town. On the way he saw a cool stream where he washed his hands and feet and then, he sat under a tree in meditation.

The king of the town was going on horse back by the same way. As he was at war with other kings to enlarge his own kingdom, his heart was full of hatred, fear and jealousy. Seeing that a Sanyasi was sitting idle with closed eyes under a tree, he got down from the saddle and started shouting angrily at Buddha, “Oh Sanyasi, open your eyes and see who stands in front of you. Even a king like me do not sit idle. You Sanyasis feed yourselves on others labour and preach idleness to others as well.” Speaking in this tone, he went on pouring hot words of anger and abuse on Gautama till he himself felt tired and exhausted.

Gautama who was calm all the time slowly opened his eyes and with a smile, said to the King, “Sit down, my son. Surely you are tired and thirsty. May I fetch you cool water from that stream?”

The king was stunned by these soft and sweet words of love. He immediately felt that this Sanyasi must be the great Prince Siddhartha who had left the pleasures of the palace in search of peace and then become the Buddha or the Enlightened One. So, he fell at the Sanyasi’s feet and said, “Please forgive my great mistake. Tell me, how in spite of all your anger and abuse, you are so quiet and calm and even so loving towards me?”

“My son,” said Buddha, “Suppose you offer a plateful of sweets to another and he does not accept it, where does it go then?” Prompt came the answer from the king,

“Of course, it goes back to the giver.” “Then, don’t you see that I have not accepted a single word of all that you said. How then can those words affect me?”

The king now felt sure that this Sanyasi was none other than the Buddha himself. Bowing down, he said again, “Oh Enlightened One, please show me the way to real happiness.” The Buddha’s eyes gleamed with the light of the divine wisdom.

“My son,” he said, “anger, greed, jealousy, fear and all such passions rob man of all his happiness. Contentment, peace and love are the basis of true happiness in life. He who has no contentment and peace is a beggar. He who does not help and serve others with love an idler. He who always wears the crown of contentment, peace and love for all is the king of kings because he alone has found true happiness in life.”

The king gratefully prostrated before the Buddha and said, “ Accept me, Oh Buddha , as your disciple. From today, you are my master. Lead and I will follow.”

Song

Happiness

Happiness is something if you give it away,
You give it away, you give it away
Happiness is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you.
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it spend it, Give it away
Then it comes right back to you.
A hug is something if you give it away
You give it away, you give it away
A hug is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it spend it, Give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Love is something if you give it away
You give it away, you give it away
Love is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it spend it, Give it away
Then it comes right back to you
A smile is something if you give it away
You give it away, you give it away
A smile is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it, spend it give it away
Then it comes right back to you

Gita sloka on food

Story

We Think What We Eat

Once upon a time, there was a pious Brahmin who lived in Karnataka. He was a great scholar. He had a very good wife. This noble man was known for his good character.

One day a monk came to his house and asked for alms. This made the Brahmin very happy. After giving him the alms, the Brahmin invited the monk to come again to have dinner at his house.

Next day morning, the Brahmin decorated his house beautifully for the monk. But, that day his wife became sick and could not prepare food for the monk.

They had a good neighbour. She said she will help them cook the food. She cooked the food for the monk in the kitchen. The monk came and had the food. All were very happy. However, the monk was not happy about one thing. When he was having the food, he felt like stealing the silver cup which was there near his plate. He tried very hard not to steal. But he took the silver cup and hid it when no one was looking. After, having dinner, the monk went back home with the silver cup.

When the monk reached home, the monk could not sleep at all. He felt very bad and felt sorry that he did wrong act by stealing. He ran back to the Brahmin’s house next day morning. Once there, he fell at the feet of the Brahmin and gave back the silver cup. He cried and said sorry for doing such a bad act.

The monk asked the Brahmin that first time he had food, he did not get such a bad thought. But when second time he had food, he had a thought of stealing. The Brahmin said that first time his wife had cooked the food and chanted food prayer. The second time the neighbour had cooked the food. Then the Brahmin found out that the neighbour was a thief and never prayed and had stolen many times. So the monk got the thought of stealing because he had eaten the food the neighbour had prepared. So we should always eat satvik food and chant food prayer always while preparing food and before eating.

 What is politeness? Politeness is being well-mannered in speech and action towards all, especially elders.

Who is a polite child? A polite child says everything in a pleasing manner and is cheerful and helpful. Politeness in action is being considerate towards others, being helpful, doing things in a pleasing manner. A polite child has fun like all children, but never shouts or gets upset over little things.

Why should you be polite? Do to others as you want them to do to you. Would you like someone to be rude to you? No. It is the same others for others too. Never shout at anyone. Words once spoken can never be taken back.

Remember the words “Please”, “Thank you” and “Sorry”. They are magic words that will help you in any situation.

Story – Words reveal the breeding of the speaker

Once a blind farmer was harvesting and working hard in the field.

Being blind, he did not realize someone approaching him. Suddenly, he was jolted by a loud and rude voice,“ Hey, you clout! Did you hear soldiers march this way?”

He replied,” No soldier, my harvesting machine makes too much noise.”

A second man walked by, “Blind man, open your mouth! Tell me if soldiers marched by” he said.

Without even looking up the farmer replied politely,” No captain, I concentrate on my work”.

Soon after that he heard another voice. “Sir did you hear some soldiers marching along the path?”

By the tone of the voice and words, the farmer could identify the person. “Sorry minister. Sir, my mind is on my work,” he replied.

At last, another person came near, placed his hand upon his shoulder, spoke gently and with authority.” My dear man, please tell me; did you hear soldiers march by?

Words reveal one’s upbringing. The blind man could identify the king. He said, “No, your Royal Highness. I didn’t hear marching men at all.

The tongue is the index of true breeding. Words reveal your upbringing, your character. Be careful with what you say

Song

Two little magic words

There are two little magic words
That can open any door with ease
One little word is “thanks”
And the other little word is “Please”
Oh you’ll be surprised
What these two little words can do
They work like a charm for me
And they work like a charm for you
Now when you ask for butter
Say, “Please pass the butter.”
Good manners are never out of time.
And when you get the butter
The next thing you ought to
Say, “Thanks”, with a great big sunny smile. (there ..)
A lot of folks forget
To remember to be polite
They don’t realise how good
They would feel if only they did what’s right.
No matter what you ask for,
You get what you ask for
By showing good manners from the start.
Say, “Please” when you ask it
Say, “Thanks” when you get it
And say it from the bottom of your heart. (there …)

Story

Beware of the Company You Keep

Once a hunter captured two beautiful parrots. He sold one to the butcher and the other to a Haridasa, that is to say one who gathers devotees around him and glorifies his Lord Hari through song and story. After six months the hunter happened to pass by the side of the butcher’s stall. He remembered the parrot. He stepped into the stall. Immediately he heard the parrot’s shrill voice, “Catch, kill, carve, slice.”

He left the stall ruminating over the words uttered by the parrot. He was curious to know about the other parrot. He walked into the ashram of the Haridas. The parrot in the cage fluttered its wings with joy and cried out, “welcome ! welcome! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!” . He was delighted at the sight of the parrot and the sound of its words. As he was walking towards his hut, he marveled at the words uttered by the two parrots which were poles apart in their tone, temperament and content.

The words of one were outrageous and repulsive. Those of the other parrot were sweet, soothing and sublime. It is the environment and the constant company in which they had grown up that made all this difference. Rightly has it been said,.

“Tell me who your friends are, I shall tell you what you are”.

Story

When Adi Shankara was on a pilgrimage, he came across a pond where fishes were struggling due to lack of water. He requested the villagers nearby, “Please give me some water. I want to pour it into the pond.” The villagers laughed. “ We are ourselves suffering due to scarcity of water, Swami. And you are asking us water for fishes in the pond! We get water for ourselves only at a place of 10 miles from here.” “Ok, is someone willing to guide me to the place that is 10 miles away?” asked Adi Shankara and taking a villager with him, brought water in his Kamandala and poured it into the pond. The fishes jumped and danced in joy. Immediately there was flashes of lightning and thunder followed by a heavy downpour of rain. Then Adi Shankara said to the people, “ You said you were suffering from water scarcity for 12 years but this is the secret of bringing in rain in just 1 second.”