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Showing posts with label Inspirational Story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspirational Story. Show all posts
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The Boiled Frog...
The Boiled Frog...
They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger.
But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes.
This is a story that is used to illustrate how people might get themselves into terrible trouble.
This parable is often used to illustrate how humans have to be careful to watch slowly changing trends in the environment, not just the sudden changes. Its a warning to keep us paying attention not just to obvious threats but to more slowly developing ones.
An example:
Let's say that every year, the local well had an inch less of water in it. A person might realize there's a problem if there's suddenly NO water, but a slowly dropping level might not be an obvious crisis until it's too late!
Can you think of other examples?
They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger.
But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes.
This is a story that is used to illustrate how people might get themselves into terrible trouble.
This parable is often used to illustrate how humans have to be careful to watch slowly changing trends in the environment, not just the sudden changes. Its a warning to keep us paying attention not just to obvious threats but to more slowly developing ones.
An example:
Let's say that every year, the local well had an inch less of water in it. A person might realize there's a problem if there's suddenly NO water, but a slowly dropping level might not be an obvious crisis until it's too late!
Can you think of other examples?
Sunday, November 18, 2012
No Regrets
At
the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, the sport of canoe racing was added to
the list of international competitions. The favorite team in the
four-man canoe race was the United States team. One member of that team
was a young man by the name of Bill Havens.
As the time for the Olympics neared, it became clear that Bill's wife would give birth to their first child about the time that the U.S. team would be competing in the Paris games. In 1924 there were no jet airliners from Paris to the United States, only slow ocean going ships. And so Bill found himself in a dilemma. Should he go to Paris and risk not being at his wife's side when their baby was born? Or should he withdraw from the team and remain with his family?
Bill's
wife insisted that he go to Paris. After all, competing in the Olympics
was the culmination of a life long dream. But Bill felt conflicted and,
after much soul searching, decided to withdraw from the competition and
remain home, where he could support his wife when the child arrived. He
considered being at her side his highest priority, even higher than
going to Paris to fulfill his dream.
As it turned out, the United States four-man canoe team won the gold medal in Paris. And Bill's wife was late in giving birth to their child. She was so late, in fact, that Bill could have competed in the event and returned home in time to be with her when she gave birth.
People said, "What a shame." But Bill said he had no regrets. For the rest of his life, he believed he had made the better decision.
Bill Havens knew what was most important to him. Not everybody figures that out. And he acted on what he believed was best. Not everybody has the strength of character to say no to something he or she truly wants in order to say yes to something that truly matters. But for Bill, it was the only way to peace; the only way to no regrets.
There is an interesting sequel to the story of Bill Havens...
The child eventually born to Bill and his wife was a boy, whom they named Frank. Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a cablegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The cablegram read: "Dad, I won. I'm bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born."
Frank Havens had just won the gold medal for the United States in the canoe-racing event, a medal his father had dreamed of winning but never did. Like I said, no regrets.
Thomas Kinkade eloquently said, "When we learn to say a deep, passionate yes to the things that really matter, then peace begins to settle onto our lives like golden sunlight sifting to a forest floor."
As the time for the Olympics neared, it became clear that Bill's wife would give birth to their first child about the time that the U.S. team would be competing in the Paris games. In 1924 there were no jet airliners from Paris to the United States, only slow ocean going ships. And so Bill found himself in a dilemma. Should he go to Paris and risk not being at his wife's side when their baby was born? Or should he withdraw from the team and remain with his family?
Bill's
wife insisted that he go to Paris. After all, competing in the Olympics
was the culmination of a life long dream. But Bill felt conflicted and,
after much soul searching, decided to withdraw from the competition and
remain home, where he could support his wife when the child arrived. He
considered being at her side his highest priority, even higher than
going to Paris to fulfill his dream.As it turned out, the United States four-man canoe team won the gold medal in Paris. And Bill's wife was late in giving birth to their child. She was so late, in fact, that Bill could have competed in the event and returned home in time to be with her when she gave birth.
People said, "What a shame." But Bill said he had no regrets. For the rest of his life, he believed he had made the better decision.
Bill Havens knew what was most important to him. Not everybody figures that out. And he acted on what he believed was best. Not everybody has the strength of character to say no to something he or she truly wants in order to say yes to something that truly matters. But for Bill, it was the only way to peace; the only way to no regrets.
There is an interesting sequel to the story of Bill Havens...
The child eventually born to Bill and his wife was a boy, whom they named Frank. Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a cablegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The cablegram read: "Dad, I won. I'm bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born."
Frank Havens had just won the gold medal for the United States in the canoe-racing event, a medal his father had dreamed of winning but never did. Like I said, no regrets.
Thomas Kinkade eloquently said, "When we learn to say a deep, passionate yes to the things that really matter, then peace begins to settle onto our lives like golden sunlight sifting to a forest floor."
Friday, March 2, 2012
The Art of Giving...
"Rivers do not drink their own water, nor do tree eat their own fruit, nor do rain clouds eat the grains reared by them. The wealth of the noble is used solely for the benefit of others!
Even after accepting that giving is good and that one must learn to give, several questions need to be answered.
The first question is:
When should one give?
We all know the famous incident from Mahabharat.
Yudhisthir asks a beggar seeking alms to come the next day. On this, Bhim rejoices that Yudhisthir his brother, has conquered death! For he is sure that he will be around the next day to give. Yudhisthir gets the message.
One does not know really whether one will be there tomorrow to give!
The time to give, therefore, is now.
The next question is:
'How much to give?'
One recalls the famous incident from history.
Rana Pratap was reeling after defeat from the Moghals. He had lost his army, he had lost his wealth, and most important, he had lost hope, his will to fight. At that time, in his darkest hour, his erstwhile minister, Bhamasha, came seeking him and placed his entire fortune at the disposal of Rana Pratap. With this, Rana Pratap raised an army and lived to fight another day.
The answer to this question how much to give is:
"Give as much as one can!
The next question is:
'What to give?'
It is not only money that can be given away. It could be a flower or even a smile.
It is not how much one gives but how one gives that really matters. When you give a smile to a stranger that may be the only good thing received by him in days and weeks!
It is not how much one gives but how one gives that really matters. When you give a smile to a stranger that may be the only good thing received by him in days and weeks!
"You can give anything but you must give with all your heart!"
One also needs answer to this question
Whom to give?
Many times we avoid giving by finding fault with the person who is seeking. However, being judgmental and rejecting a person on the presumption that he may not be the most deserving, is not justified.
“Give without being judgmental!"
Next we have to answer:
'How to give?'
Coming to the manner of giving, one has to ensure that the receiver does not feel humiliated, nor the giver feels proud by giving.
In giving, follow the advice 'Let not your left hand know what your right hand gives? Charity without publicity and fanfare is the highest form of charity.'
In giving, follow the advice 'Let not your left hand know what your right hand gives? Charity without publicity and fanfare is the highest form of charity.'
'Give quietly!'
While giving, let not the recipient feel small or humiliated. After all, what we give never really belonged to us. We come to this world with nothing and will go with nothing. The thing gifted was only with us for a temporary period. Why then take pride in giving away something which really did not belong to us?
Give with grace and with a feeling of gratitude.
"What should one feel after giving?"
We all know the story of Eklavya. When Dronacharya asked him for his right thumb as "Guru Dakshina, he unhesitatingly cut off the thumb and gave it to Dronacharya.
There is a little known sequel to this story.
Eklavya was asked whether he ever regretted the act of giving away his thumb. He replied, and the reply has to be believed to be true, as it was asked to him when he was dying.
His reply was "Yes! I regretted this only once in my life. It was when Pandavas were coming in to kill Dronacharya who was broken hearted on the false news of death of his son, Ashwathama, and had stopped fighting. It was then that I regretted the loss of my thumb. If the thumb was there, no one could have dared hurt my Guru?
The message to us is clear.
His reply was "Yes! I regretted this only once in my life. It was when Pandavas were coming in to kill Dronacharya who was broken hearted on the false news of death of his son, Ashwathama, and had stopped fighting. It was then that I regretted the loss of my thumb. If the thumb was there, no one could have dared hurt my Guru?
The message to us is clear.
Give and never regret giving!
And the last question is:
‘How much should we provide for our heirs?'
‘How much should we provide for our heirs?'
Ask yourself 'are we taking away from them the gift of work? - A source of happiness?
The answer is given by Warren Buffett:
"Leave your kids enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing!"
I would conclude by saying:
Let us learn the Art of Giving,
and quoting the Saint Kabir:
"When the wealth in the house increases, when water fills a boat, throw them out (for good causes) with both hands!"
This is the wise thing to do!
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Friday, February 3, 2012
Beyond our Expectations
Beyond our Expectations
Once a boy went to a shop with his mother. The shop keeper looked at the small cute child and showed him a bottle with sweets and said 'Dear Child..u can take the sweets...
But the child didn't take. The shop keeper was surprised.. such a small child he is and why is he not taking the sweets from the bottle. Again he said take the sweets....
Now the mother also heard that and said.. take the sweets dear.. Yet he didnt take... The shopkeeper seeing the child not taking the sweets... he himself took the sweets and gave to the child. The child was happy to get two hands full of sweets.
While returning home the Mother asked the child... Why didnt you take the sweets, when the shop keeper told you to take?..
Can you guess the response: Child replies... Mom! my hands are very small and if I take the sweets I can only take few.. but now you see when uncle gave with his big hands.... how many more sweets I got!
Moral: When we take we may get little but when God gives... HE gives us more beyond our expectations. .. more than what we can hold..!!!
While returning home the Mother asked the child... Why didnt you take the sweets, when the shop keeper told you to take?..
Can you guess the response: Child replies... Mom! my hands are very small and if I take the sweets I can only take few.. but now you see when uncle gave with his big hands.... how many more sweets I got!
Moral: When we take we may get little but when God gives... HE gives us more beyond our expectations. .. more than what we can hold..!!!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Compassion by Zig Ziglar
One incident can change us forever. In the last century a rich boy
and a poor boy lived in the same neighborhood. The rich boy wore nice
clothes, lived in a nice house and had plenty of good, nutritious food to eat. The
poor boy lived in a cheap house, wore ragged clothes and did not have much of
anything to eat.
One day the boys got into a scuffle. In the struggle the rich boy won. The poor boy got up, dusted himself off and told the rich kid that if he had the proper food to eat like the rich boy did, he would have won. Then the poor boy turned and walked away. The rich kid just stood there. He was numbed by what the poor boy had said. His heart was broken because he knew that it was true.
One day the boys got into a scuffle. In the struggle the rich boy won. The poor boy got up, dusted himself off and told the rich kid that if he had the proper food to eat like the rich boy did, he would have won. Then the poor boy turned and walked away. The rich kid just stood there. He was numbed by what the poor boy had said. His heart was broken because he knew that it was true.
The rich boy never forgot that experience. From that day on he revolted
against any favored treatment because he was rich. He made it a point to wear
cheap clothing; he intentionally endured the hardships faced by the poor. His
family was often embarrassed by the way he dressed, but despite family
pressure, that young boy never again took advantage of his wealth.
History omits the name of the poor boy, but the rich boy who developed
such a compassion for the poor made them his life’s work. His name is recorded
in history. He dedicated his life to service and became a world-class
physician, serving in Africa. His name was Albert Schweitzer.
I’m not suggesting that we all be as selfless as Albert Schweitzer, but I
do believe that we need to be more in tune with the thinking and feelings of others.
Very few people have had as much impact on the world as Albert Schweitzer. Even fewer people have
gotten as much satisfaction out of life as he did. Think about it and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Circle of Life...
"My grandfather took me to the fish pond
on the farm when I was about seven, and he told me to throw a stone into the
water. He told me to watch the circles created by the stone. Then he asked me
to think of myself as that stone person.
"You may create lots of splashes in your life
but the waves that come from those splashes will disturb the peace of all your
fellow creatures," he said.
"Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles. You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for both."
That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.
"Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles. You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for both."
That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.
Lesson in Heart
Lesson in Heart
A lesson in “heart” is my little 10 year old daughter, Sarah, who was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time.
She came home on beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in “field day” – that’s where they have lots of races and other competitive events.
Because of her leg support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down – but before I could get a word out, she said,
“Daddy, I won two of the races!”
I couldn’t believe it! And then Sarah said,
“I had an advantage.”
Ah. I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start…some kind of physical advantage. But again, before I could say anything, she said,
“Daddy, I didn’t get a head start…
My advantage was I had to try harder!”
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Mind in your Mind...
A Mystic was walking
through the market-place with his disciples. They saw a man dragging a cow by a
rope. The mystic told the man to wait and asked his disciples to surround them.
“I am going to teach you something” and continued “Tell me who is bound to
whom? Is the cow bound to this man or the man is bound to the cow?”
The disciples said without hesitation “Of course, the cow is bound to the
man. The man is the master. He is holding the rope. The cow has to follow him
wherever he goes. The man is the master and the cow is the slave.”
“Now watch this” said the mystic and took scissors from his bag and cut
the rope. The cow ran away from the master. The man ran after his cow!
“Look, what is happening.” said the mystic. “Do you see who the Master is?
The cow is not at all interested in this man. The cow in fact, is escaping from
this man. This is the case with our MIND.
All the unnecessary things that we carry inside are not interested in us.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN IT, we are keeping it together somehow or the other. We
are going mad trying to keep it all together under our control. The moment we
lose interest in all the unnecessary things filled in our head, the moment we
understand the futility of it, it will start to disappear. Like the cow, it
will escape and disappear."
There is no need to stop the mind from thinking non-essential things. All
one needs to do, is to become disinterested in its mumbo jumbo. Then the 'rope'
will be cut.
That is the real meaning of SANYAS (RENUNCIATION OF DESIRES) - To become
disinterested in the mind. That is the real meaning of VAIRAGYA (DETACHMENT).
It has nothing to do with renouncing the world but everything to do with the
cutting of the 'rope' to the mind.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Think Higher...
A man saw a poor boy looking at his beautiful and expensive car; he offered the boy a drive….
After the drive the boy said: “Your car is so marvelous, it might be so expensive?! How much does it cost?”
Man: “I don't know; my brother has gifted it to me!”
Boy: “Wow so nice of him….”
Man: “I know what you are thinking. You also want to have a brother like him!”
Boy: NO; I WANT TO BE A BROTHER LIKE HIM!!!
Moral: Always Think Act higher than the people's expectations.
After the drive the boy said: “Your car is so marvelous, it might be so expensive?! How much does it cost?”
Man: “I don't know; my brother has gifted it to me!”
Boy: “Wow so nice of him….”
Man: “I know what you are thinking. You also want to have a brother like him!”
Boy: NO; I WANT TO BE A BROTHER LIKE HIM!!!
Moral: Always Think Act higher than the people's expectations.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Father and Son-A Real Life Love Story
Father and Son
A Real-Life Love Story
Every once in awhile someone sends us a story that's so beautiful we are forever changed by it. This is one of those stories.
It started in Winchester, Massachusetts, 43 years ago, when Rick Hoyt was born.
Somehow his umbilical cord became wrapped around his neck, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
The doctors told Rick's parents that he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. But Dick Hoyt, Rick's father, didn't believe it. He noticed the way Rick's eyes followed him around the room.
When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. "No way,'' Dick says he was told. "There's nothing going on in his brain.''
"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed.
Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? "Go Bruins!''
And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, "Dad, I want to do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described "porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. "Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. "I was sore for two weeks.''
That day changed Rick's life. "Dad,'' he typed, "when we were
running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''
And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
"No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyt's weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. So, for the first few years, Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway.
Later, they would find a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, "Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''
How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon?
Still, Dick tried.
Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironman Competitions in Hawaii.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 - only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
But to really appreciate the greatness of this love story, you have to watch the following video... presented here...
(And be prepared to be inspired! ;-)
A Real-Life Love Story
Every once in awhile someone sends us a story that's so beautiful we are forever changed by it. This is one of those stories.
It started in Winchester, Massachusetts, 43 years ago, when Rick Hoyt was born.
Somehow his umbilical cord became wrapped around his neck, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
The doctors told Rick's parents that he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. But Dick Hoyt, Rick's father, didn't believe it. He noticed the way Rick's eyes followed him around the room.
When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. "No way,'' Dick says he was told. "There's nothing going on in his brain.''
"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed.
Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? "Go Bruins!''
And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, "Dad, I want to do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described "porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. "Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. "I was sore for two weeks.''
That day changed Rick's life. "Dad,'' he typed, "when we were
running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''
And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
"No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyt's weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. So, for the first few years, Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway.
Later, they would find a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, "Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''
How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon?
Still, Dick tried.
Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironman Competitions in Hawaii.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 - only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
But to really appreciate the greatness of this love story, you have to watch the following video... presented here...
(And be prepared to be inspired! ;-)
Willpower Or Sankalapa
Thursday, February 5, 2009
How Old Are You?
Feelings lead to attitudes, attitudes become beliefs, and beliefs become the basis for actions.
It is how you feel, how you think,
And what you do that is important.
To quote Satchel Paige, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you was."
Adjust Sails
Aseem Kaistha
It's your attitude and not your aptitude that determines your altitude.
Friday, December 26, 2008
The Pickle Jar...
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