Pray to God everyday, Not for Last days?

This is a true story. There used to be a Mahatma in Haridwar who would visit his disciple's house once in six months. He would stay in their house for 10-15 days. The disciple's family members would respect him and would be at his service with due respect. The Mahatma had few books and told the family members to keep these books with them as he would come to their house after two months and collect it from them.

Two months passed by, one year went, there was no news of the Mahatma. Then after sometime another Mahatma, who was the friend of that Mahatma visited their house. They told him everything about him and asked him to when he will come to collect his books. The other Mahatma was surprised. He said that he passed away during kumbh mela, he is no more. The family then sympathized for his death and showed him the envelope covered with a cloth in which the books were kept. They requested him to keep the books with him. He then removed the cover and was shocked to see a small pale colour snake. The Mahatma kept the books down and told them to get something like chimta to hold the snake. He captured the snake in the chimta and opened the books. He saw inside one of books there were five golden coins in it. He took five coins in his hand and added one more to it. He promised in front of the snake that tomorrow with these coin we will offer lunch to Brahmins and family members. He sprinkled some holy water on the snake and within seconds the snake died.

Never make promises which you cannot fulfill. We leave everything for future and nobody knows what future holds for us. We normally say that I will do puja, attend satsang when I grow old. This is all old people job. Do your daily routine work but inside always think of him. There is no need to make show of it. Inside only you and your lord know everything. Let me enjoy now, but we don't know our life span. How can we make tall claims. Do not live for last days, live for present.

God decides and gives us the Best

This is a story from Budha Granth. It is a story from Tibet.
There was once a Mahatma, he went for pilgrimage and toured around the world. After returning from his trip, he went back to Tibet, he stayed in his friends house. His friend and his wife welcomed him. He told his friend that while on his trip, he found a Taveez from one place. There is one specialty of this taveez that if you demand any three things from it, you will definitely get it. This trick I and friends tried, we demanded three things, we got them but later on we landed up in grave trouble and it was difficult to overcome that problem. I am going to finish this taveez, destroy it. His friend instantly said "You have gone crazy, such a miraculous thing and you want to destroy it. He immediately snatched it from Mahatma's hand and kept it with him. The Mahatma warned him that be careful otherwise you will land up in trouble. Leave it to God and don't use this taveez. He also told him that early morning, close the door, then hold this taveez and ask for whatever you want. The taveez will flick from your hand and fall on the floor and ten minutes after that your demand will be fulfilled. But be cautious.

Next morning the friend of Mahatma and his wife woke up, closed the door of his house and demanded from the taveez that "please give us one lakh rupees." In those days one lakh was never heard of, very few people could afford that much money. The taveez flickered from his hand and fell on the floor. Within ten minutes somebody knocked at their door. When they opened the door they saw that Kings' soldier had come to their house. The soldier then told them that King has called you to his palace to give you one lakh rupees. They asked why? The soldier said that your son, who was in front has been killed in the war, so the king is offering this money in compensation.
They had only one child, they started screaming and crying bitterly that what would they do with the money, we want our son back. His wife immediately reminded him about taveez and said "why not ask from taveez our son back.' The man said that the Mahatma had warned us that it will lead us in trouble, we still have two demands. They flickered the taveez and demanded that they get back their son. The son had died sometime back, he could not be made alive as his body had decayed, his soul(pretatma) came. They could not see him, only hear him calling them "Oh!mother ,Oh!father. Twenty four hours they had to bear his soul which could not do anything for them and made their life miserable. Finally they got fed up and requested the taveez to take back the soul of their son, let it live in peace.

This story indicates that we should not demand or pressurize God to give us things which we need. Leave it to Him, He knows what is best for us. You pray to him and beg him to keep you away from sin.

Help others but do not put a stamp on it

One day a Mahatma went to take bath in a river. The river was quite deep, so while taking bath he slipped and could not come out as he did not know to swim. He was about to drown, a young boy, who knew to swim was passing by, he immediately rushed towards him and rescued him from drowning. The Mahatma then thanked him and said that today you saved my life and I bless you for the same. You have given me new lease of life and I will never forget this in my life. After saying this Mahatma went to a small village.

It was evening time and Mahatma was giving spiritual discourses to his disciples in the village. Many people had gathered there. It was was very crowded. Amidst the crowd the youth who saved the Mahatma's life came in front of him and told him to tell all the people here that I saved your life. The Mahatma smiled and said " Oh! How can I forget you? He called him near him and told all the people gathered over there that this boy has saved my life and I am highly obliged to him for the favour he has done to me. After that the Mahatma went to another village to give lecture, the young boy reached there also and told him to tell everybody the incidence and the favour he has done to you. Now whereever the Mahatma would go the boy would follow him and make him aware of the help he gave him so that the Mahatma would tell his disciples that how important the boy is in his life.

The Mahatma once caught hold of his hand and in front of everybody he said"come with me to the river where you saved me from drowing. I will go in the deep river,either I die or I come out of waves, you please don't help me. You are making a big show of the favours you have done to me. You saved my lives once and how many I had to repeat the same incidence. Please go I don't need any help from you, My Lord will decide to save me or drown me in the river. Who are you to put a stamp on the favours. Had you not known to swim, would you help me."

The young boy kept mum and realized his mistake. Aren't we like the young boy, always repeating and making others feel that we are very important in their life.
All the qua;ities we have are bestowed upon us by the Almighty, we should not bring our ego in between. We always wait for appreciation from others for the help or favours done to them. We never realise that sometimes it may be irritating for them to repeat the help we have given them.

Do your karma, leave rest to Almighty

A king once went alone for hunting. While he was returning it became too dark and he was in the midst of a jungle. He could not find his way. He looked around here and there and saw from far a dim light. He went in that direction and met an old tribal couple sitting with a lantern lit inside their hut. He told them his plight that he is the king of this place and while hunting he has lost his way. He requested them to give him shelter for one night as he was very tired. The tribal couple went forward and made place for the king to sleep in their hut. The king thanked them and as he was very tired he immediately went to sleep.

The tribal couple slept outside their hut. It was very dark and cold, they were shivering but still they did not complain and made place for the king to sleep peacefully.

When early morning king got up, he saw the couple were dead due to snowfall. The king felt very sad but that minute his soldiers came and urged him to go back to the palace. The king mind was not agreeing, he was feeling very sorry and ashamed that because of him the couple had to sacrifice their life. How selfish he can be. Then he made arrangement for their cremation with sandal wood.

The king used to always worry about the tribal couple. The king did not have any children for many years. After a year the queen delivered twins, a girl and a boy. But still the king was not happy, he did not make any celebrations for the birth of his children. He was very depressed and all the time the death of tribal couple would haunt him, he used to think that he has committed grave sin. So he decided to meet his Guru, the saint.

He took blessings of his Guru and narrated the entire incidence and said that I am very worried about the sin I committed. The Guru smiled at him and said "You have not committed any sin or crime, come with me." He took the king towards the twins, kept his hand on them and said "look! who has taken birth in your house? The king was surprised and amused to the tribal couple have taken birth as his children in his house.

He felt very happy and thanked his Guru. The Guru said that your good karma has given these children to you. As in your mind you would always feel bad for the death of the couple, that feeling itself has given you good results.

Whatever good jobs we do physically and also mentally if we think good of others, we always get the same result. Do and think good, rest leave it to God. Do not wait or look back for results. Just march ahead and be confident that whatever good you have done will not go waste.

Kunbh Mela - Fruitful Result

Once a Mahatma went to Kumbh Mela. While returning from there, on his way there was Lord Shankar's temple. Since he was tired he decided to spend night over there. There was total silence in the temple and while he was sleeping suddenly he heard some whispering sound. Slowly he got up and could hear Lord Shankar talking to Mata Parvati. Mata Parvati asked God that lakhs of people visit Kumbh Mela, does everybody's prayer are heard over here? Lord answered that those who have true faith and belief in God only their prayers are heard and those who just go for fun and make a show that they have taken a dip in kumbh and have no faith are not benefited from this mela.

Then Parvatiji asked him "Are there any people who cannot visit this pilgrimage get the benefit of this place?" Shankar Bhagwan replied that there are many people who cannot reach this place but have firm faith and belief do get what they want, their prayers are heard. Then Shankar Bhagwan said that there is boy named Ramu in a small village in Kerala and Lord was about to tell her the story of the boy in Kerala, the Mahatma coughed that time and the conversation between Lord Shankar and Parvati stopped.

The Mahatma then decided to visit that small village in Kerala and meet Ramu whose prayers are heard by Lord Shankar without having to visit Kumbh Mela. He searched for him and finally met Ramu. Ramu was a poor farmer and had a big family to look after. He looked very calm and relaxed. Mahatma asked him "Have you visited Kumbh Mela or have you made any donations etc?" Ramu then told Mahatma then once he had desired to go for Kumbh Mela and started collecting money to go for pilgrimage. He said he was about to leave for Mela then his wife got pregnant in those days. She got the smell of methi bhaji from neighbour's house and requested me to get the same from the neighbours. Since she was carrying I did not want to hurt her, so I went to the neighbour's to get Funegreek vegetable(Methi sabzi). When I went to their house and requested them to give me some vegetable, the lady of the house started crying bitterly. She said you take the vegetable, I have no objection but it is impure. We have not had proper food since last week, we have very little money, we have all torn clothes. She said her daughters feel ashamed to go out of house. We were desperately wanting to have something so when my husband went out he saw that sombody has placed raw methi on a dead person. Since it was free he immediately brought it home and told me to cook that vegetable which was put on a dead body.

On hearing the neighbour's sorry plight, he immediately rushed home removed the entire money he had collected to take his family for Kumbh Mela and brought some grocery, some clothes etc. for their family and helped her husband to work with him in the farm so that he will atleast make some money. That minute I got immense relief and peace. I was very happy that the thought of going to kumbh mela has given me such fruitful result. Now I am very happy with my life. I have no regrets.

The Mahatma said "You know Ramu, I have heard in real Lord Shankar and Mata Parvati discussing about you. Lord Shankar is very impressed by you and blessed you for your good deed which very few people will dare to do. You are great and I am also equally blessed after meeting you."

Humanity is to take care of others

Once a sufi saint was walking with his disciples towards a jungle. They saw some tribal people were coming behind to kill them. The sufi saint told his disciples not to panic, calm down, let us hide inside the cave which was nearby. Then he saw a big spider's web at the entrance of the cave. He requested his discipline to enter the cave by not disturbing the spider's web. He said "we should not break or spoil somebody's house to save our lives. Take care of his home, he will take care of us. Enter the cave slowly and carefully. Let spider's web which is made with great effort remain intact, do not spoil it"

The saint and his disciples entered carefully and hid inside the cave. The junglee tribals looked here and there but could not trace them. Then one of then said "Look there is a cave there, they must be hiding inside it." The other colleagues did not agree. They said "How can they enter the cave? look at the spider's web it is intact, without breaking the web it is not possible to enter the cave.

They then went back. After sometime the saint and his disciples peacefully and carefully came out of the web. Their life was saved. The disciples learnt a lesson that we should find our way without disturbing others. They took care spider's web, in return spider saved their lives.

Bad Habits

A man once went to Shri Vinoba Bhave, he sat near his feet, bowed in front of him and said that he has a bad habit of drinking alcohol and wants to get rid of. He requested him to show him the way to eradicate this bad habit as it has ruined his life, his family also is disturbed. He wanted to change and begged swamiji to show him the right path and guide him to come out of this bad habit.

Shree Vinoba Bhave looked at him and told him that why don't you give up drinking wine and liquor. He said he cannot leave it, this habit has badly gheraod me,entangled me, it is not leaving me, can you show me the way. Swamiji said " Come tomorrow to my ashram, then I will tell you the right path."

Next day the man obediently went to swami Vinoba Bhave's ashram. He saw the door was closed. He called up from outside and requested swamiji to open the door. Swamiji replied that he cannot open the door as the pillar of his room is not leaving him, it has badly embraced me,gheraod me. The man was surprised and asked "how can the pillar not leave you, you have to leave the pillar."

Swamiji saod "O.k. then push the door,come inside and help me to get rid of this pillar." The man then saw swamiji leaving the pillar and came towards him and said "Now you know who has to leave the bad habit. It is you who don't want to leave bad habits, habits cannot leave you. You should have that strong urge and will power to get rid of bad habits that make your life miserable. Everything is in your hand but you do not want to make efforts to improve your life. Circumstance, nature , habits are all excuses to not to change yourself.

Firm determination can make your destiny change, not that destiny will change. Habits are our own creations, we can destroy bad habits if we have the willingness.

Peace and Love

There was a rich businessman. He had a big family and lot of money and was always happy. Once Goddess Laxmi said "I am taking leave from you. You have done enough of my service and now it is time for me depart. Before leaving I want to give you a vardaan. Only one demand I can fulfill of yours."

The businessman replied "let me consult my family members and tomorrow I will come back to you." He called all his family members, they all assembled in the big hall of his house. He told them that we can get one vardaan from Laxmi Mata as she is taking leave from our house. Please let me know what demand should we place in front of her.

Everyone started giving their opinion, they all asked for material things which did not appeal to the businessman. But his youngest daughter-in-law, who was very intelligent and sensible, kept quiet, she did not utter a word. He then requested her to ask for something, why is she keeping quiet, place any demand. Then she politely said "Look father, if Goddess Laxmi is departing from our house then to demand for material things is meaningless because with her whatever we have today will all go. If you really insist and want to have genuine vardaan from Mata Laxmi, then I would suggest you to ask for one simple thing that Peace and Love always abide in your house."

The businessman and his family agreed and then next day he bowed in front of Goddess Laxmi and placed his demand that LET PEACE remain in our house and then you can take farewell or take leave from our house.

Goddess Laxmi smiled at him and said "Oh! how can I leave the house where there is always peace and love, even if I want to I cannot because Lord Vishnu loves peaceful and cool place, I cannot leave him. Lord Vishnu abides in Shirshsagar which is a cool place. When there is peace, there is coolness in the house, there is no anger, no ego, no frustations or tension, all the members love each other, they help each other at the time of crises, then naturally they will take care of material things also and would not divide. So I have decided to stay back with you and would bestow the vardaan of Peace forever and remain with you."

True faith

Once Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was traveling alone from Jagannath Puri to South India. On his way he entered into a small village. He saw one Brahmin, aged 45 to 50 years, was sitting quietly near a river. He was reading religious book, Gita. He observed that the Brahmin was so engrossed in Gita path that he had no knowledge of what is happening around.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu quietly stood behind him. He saw that tears were dripping from the Brahmin's eyes and he was feeling very elated and while reading his throat also sometimes would get choked. He was so impressed by the Brahmin's bakhti, that tears started flowing from Mahaprabhus' eyes.

For two hours the Brahmin was reading Gita and enjoying it. Then Chaitanya Mahabrabhu came in front. The Brahnin was surprised to see such a great personality standing in front of him and then he did namaskar to him. Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told him that I feel you do not know sanskrit because the shlokas that you were reciting were not clear, but what was that feeling, that bhav or the meaning of Gita that made you feel so lost and so dedicated and your eyes were glittering and would get moist. The Brahmin replied that he does not know sanskrit and cannot recite the shlokas also clearly but when I open the Bhagwat Gita then I perceive or imagine a scene - "it is the field of Kurukshetra, one side are Kauravas and another side are pandavas and in between there is a rath of four white horses and reigns of rath are in Lord Krishna's hands. Arjun is sitting in the rath and listening to the updesh of Lord Krishna. Sometimes I look at Arjun and sometimes I look at Bhagwan and that scene makes me feel excited and elated that tears start dripping from my eyes.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu immediated hugged that Brahmin and said " Brahmin devta you have understood the true meaning of Gita, you have full faith and shradha in God".
I appreciate you for that and then Mahaprabhu marched forward for his yatra.

Missed the Opportunity

A story by Ravindranath Tagore

There used to be a huge temple. There were thousands of rooms in it. There were lakhs of visitors and bakhts who would visit that temple everyday. There were minimum thousands of pujaris(priests). The eldest priest of was almost a hundred years old. He once told the juniors priest that last night in his dream he saw God and he was telling me that he is definitely going to visit our temple today. So let us make preparations to greet our God.

Then the old priest had some doubt that may be God is there or no, will he come or no. He told others that he has worked in this temple for eighty years but has never seen God. We believe in God but we can never see him. Being the senior most,praying to God, still having doubts? He was thinking that it was a mere dream, how can God visit our temple? Till now I have not seen him, how can he come now? But other priest said that if there is definitely God on this earth and if comes to our temple, we must make preparations for him. But the old priest was discouraging them by saying that "make preparation, it is your wish but that was my dream only and I just narrated it to you, do not take it seriously.

The juniors cleaned the temple nicely, cooked delicious food and decorated the temple in beautiful way, whole day they were busy with this work. It was sunrise, time was just flying, they were waiting anxiously and with the hope that God will definitely come. It became very late, the old priest told them to eat their dinner and go to sleep, there is no God. Then they all ate,closed the main gate of the temple and went to sleep. Middle of the night one priest woke up and told everybody that somebody is knocking at the door. The old priest said sleep now that is an illusion. After sometime another priest woke saying that God's chariot has come, I can hear the sound and somebody' footsteps also I can hear, it must be God. The old priest said you have gone mad, how can God come now and forced them to sleep. Again another priest got up saying that somebody is tapping at our gate, let us go and open it. Still the old priest did not believe them.

When next day early morning they opened the main door of the temple, they saw the marks of Gods chariot on the sand and footprints on the stairs of the temple and also there were God's palm and finger print which were clearly visible on the temple gate as though God had knocked there. They all felt very disappointed, started weeping and regretting that God had fulfilled his promise to pay a visit to our temple, but we could not greet him. Despite having made so man arrangement, they could not see God. It is because they did not have complete faith in God. Had the old priest been firm in his belief, they would not have missed this golden opportunity.

Aren't we all like the old priest who do not have faith in oneself and discourage others also from taking chance and in the bargain miss good opportunities in life.

Once early morning a saint was standing near a river, enjoying the breeze and viewing beautiful sunrise, a young boy bowed in front of him. He came forward requested him to make him his disciple and said "I have come in search of God, peace and soul. I have come from very far, I wondered many places and finally I came to you as I was told you are the true saint who would help me to find God. I have come with high hope, please do not disappoint me"

The saint observed the boy from top to bottom and then removed a stone from his pocket and handed over to him and said "Go to the market and value this stone, do not sell it. First start from the vegetable market." The boy obediently took the stone and marched towards vegetable market. He went around the whole market showing everyone the stone and asking for the value but nobody offered more than two rupees. He came back and told the saint that people are giving only two rupees for this stone, shall I sell it.
The saint then told him to find out the value from gold and silver market. He went to the market found out that the shopkeepers are willing to give him ten thousand rupees and that to in cash. He narrated the entire thing to him and said "Shall I sell it for this value". The saint replied in negative. He told him to go to diamond merchants and assess the value. When he went there he was shocked to see that people were ready to offer lakhs of rupees. The higher he went, the higher rate was offered. He went running to the saint, palpitating and thinking how a stone's value can go up from two rupees to lakhs of rupees, and said to the saint "What should I do now?. The saint smiled and took that stone from him and said the value of this stone runs into crores and kept it back in his pocket.

He told the boy "I did this drama to make you understand that you are talking of peace, of God and soul, satisfaction, this atma(soul) peace is in my pocket. I can remove it and give it you. But at present your condition or desire to learn about atma is in the vegetable market stage. A crore rupees diamond you were ready to sell in vegetable market. To learn about God, peace and satisfaction you have raise up, you cannot sell it in the hands who have no value or no knowledge about it.

Have patience and judge what a valuable thing is spiritual knowledge

Shri Krishna Arpanamastu - Story by Viboba Bhave

There was an elderly woman who went to a Mahatma. She bowed in front of him and said"since I have become very old, now I cannot do any jap, tap or pooja. I cannot concentrate, nor can I keep fasts. Just tell me a simple way I can please God so that I get relieved from birth-death chakra and I get moksh." The Mahatma looked at her and told her that any job you do just say "Shri krishnaarpanamastu" and there is no need for you to do anything.

That old lady now always after finishing any job would say "Shrikrishnaarpanamastu" When she would stuck cow dung on the wall she would make round balls of mud and cowdung throw it then she would recite that manta. Nearby her hut there was Lord Krishna's temple. The mud and cowdung would get stuck on the face of God's statue. Early morning when the priest would open the door of the temple he would be surprised to see God's face covered with mud. He used to wonder that when he closed the door of the temple God's statue was always clean but how come in the morning it is smeared with mud. He used politely wipe it and start his work. But still he wanted know that how it is happening, who is playing dirty tricks. Then a neighbour of the old lady told him that this lady early morning after completing her work recites "Shri krishnaarpanamastu". He got very angry and in his mind muttered that when this lady will die and how long will I continue to clean God's statue.

Once the old lady fell ill, her entire body was burning with fever still she uttered her regular mantra"Shri krishnaarpnamastu". This fever also I dedicate to you. The statue of Lord Krishna turned red, the face of the statue was shivering as if in fever. The priest could not believe his eyes that the statue also can get fever. When the old lady's death knocked at her door, she said"shri krishnaarpanamastu. My death also dedicated to you, Oh my Lord. The statue of the temple broke into two pieces. After that one plane was sent to bring the old lady to heaven so that she gets(moksh) freedom from birth and death, that too she dedicated to Lord Krishna by saying "Shri Krishnaarpnamastu", the plane dashed against the walls of the temple and broke into pieces.

The story indicates that all your happiness, sorrows, your day to day chores dedicate to Almighty, give it to Shri Krishna, he will take care and do the needful. You will be atleast relieved from tensions and worries. Let him take the burden and relax. The will be no depression. But be sincere in your dedication.

Everfresh Lotus Flower

Once Mahatma Budha visited a state where there was famine and drought and due to acute shortage of water there were no plants, they had all withered.

The head of the state wanted to meet Gautam Budha to apprise him of his state's condition. He wanted to offer him something. On the way he met one very poor mali(gardener). He was holding one beautiful lotus in his hand. He was wondering despite of so much drought how could he get this lotus. The Head asked him how could he get this lotus.. The gardener replied that in his garden after ages this lotus has bloomed with my effort and by saving some water from my house. I used to consume less water and water this plant and in result I got this lotus. The head offered him thousand of rupees and told him to give him this lotus. The gardener being poor was little amused seeing the money and was about to offer him lotus in exchange of money, but that minute the king of the state appeared and he offered him lakhs of rupees for the lotus. The gardener was surprised to see the king and the head of state auctioning the price of lotus.

He politely asked them that why are they paying so much for this simple lotus. Both of them replied that Mahatma Budha has come to our state and we want to offer him something and since there are no flowers in our state due to drought, we thought of buying it from you to offer it to the Mahatma so that by his blessings our state may come out of this suffering and for that we wanted to take the credit. The gardener smiled and said" Oh! Mahatma Budha, for him I will not sell the flower, I don't want money. I will touch his feet and offer this flower if he accepts it.

The king and the head of the state went to Mahatma without offering anything and narrated the incident to him.

After sometime when the gardener came near Gautam Budha, he being poor, was little hesitant and then slowly kept the lotus near his feet. Gautam Budha immediately took him in his arms and with tears in his eyes hugged him. He said you have true faith in me. Being so poor and despite acute shortage of water, you took care of the lotus and offered me, I am very much moved by your unconditional love. You refused lakhs of rupees. You are a great human being. This lotus will remain everfresh, it will never wither. It is said that this lotus remained fresh for ever and it was passed on from generation to generation after Mahatma Budha.

Story by Rabindranath Tagore

Early morning a beggar while leaving his house put a jholi(bag) on his shoulder and told his wife to put few rice in it so that while begging people should feel that there are others also who are giving me. Empty jholi nobody likes to put something. His wife put bits of rice in his jholi and he left to do begging job. On his way he was thinking that today is a special amavasaya day, there will be a fair and I can get lot of alms and my jholi will be full.

As the beggar reached the main rooad he saw the king of his capital coming fast on his golden chariot. He was alone there were no bodyguards. He thought that normally nobody can directly approach the king as he is always surrounded by his men but today he is all alone, What an opportunity to beg from the king? I will stop him and beg for some alms. The chariot stopped in front of the beggar and the king got off his chariot. The king spread his jholi in front of the beggar and requested him to give something. The beggar was stunned to see the king begging. He imagined something else that today his jholi will be full because beggar never give anybody, they can only take and the king will give him more.

The king pleaded him and said "I know you being a beggar have never learnt to give, but today I am in big trouble. The jyotishi of my kingdom has told me that my country is in great trouble and to save my country from any trouble I have to go alone and beg from the first person I meet on the way and you are that first person. Please help me and give me any small thing you have. The beggar was hesitant. The king went on pleading, the beggar then slowly took out a bit of rice and handed over to the king. The king thanked him and returned to his palace.

The beggar was very unhappy that he did not get anything from the king and instead had to shell out a bit of rice. Anyway he marched towards the fair(mela). There he got lot of money and other things that his jholi was full upto the brim but still he was lost in thought of giving something to the king. He rushed home and narrated the incidence to his wife by saying that though I got so much from mela but that one bit of rice I had to give the king is constantly nagging my mind. When his wife spread out all the items from his jholi, she found a small rice shaped/size of a piece of gold. They were surprised and happy to see the gold. The beggar immediately started crying "Oh! if I had given entire rice to king, I would have got more gold.

Same is the case with us. Even if we earn thousands of rupees but if we happen to loose ten rupees, we just crib over the loss and never enjoy the money we get in abundance. So enjoy the gains and be satisfied. Never waste your time and energy over losses, it affects your health as well. Strive hard success is not far.

Vardaan

Once a Mahatama early morning came out of his Ashram to view and feel the pleasant climate. He suddently noticed thousands of Devtas standing in front of his kutiya. Mahatama bowed at them and politely asked for their purpose to give darshan and visit his ashram. The devtas replied we have come to bestow you with vardaan (divine power).

The Mahatma said why now when I have no desires. You should have given me vardaan when I was full of never ending desires. I don't need your vardaan as I have no desires. With great effort I have controlled my mind and surrendered all my desires. Now let me live in peace, please do not tempt me with your vardaan. I am no more myself, I have totally surrendered to my Lord. I have full trust in my God.

Devtaas smiled and said that we don't approach people who are full of lust and desires, we give vardaan to those who are fully surrendered. Devtaas thrust the vardaan on Mahatma and said that with your simple touch a dead person he will become alive, a deaf person will be able to hear,a lame person will be able to walk, a blind will be able to see, all sickness and ailments of a person will disappear with one touch of yours and with one look of yours dry rivers will get water, dry trees will turn green and so on. The devtaas then started leaving. The Mahatma was stunned, he did not know what to do. He immediately rushed behind devtaas and told them if your sincerely want to give vardaan then give me one more vardaan.

The devtaas looked back with surprise that some time back he was flatly refusing to accept this vardaan and now he is demanding more. The Mahatma then begged and said "with great difficulty I have controlled my wishes and desires, I have surrender my EGO, I have immersed that "I" from my life,I have mellowed down and if you thrust this vardaan on me my ego and selfishness will erupt again, if I come to know that my one touch and my one look can give life to so many things and people then I will become egoistic,therefore, please do me a favour you give this vardaan to my shadow. My "I" should not be affected by it. Let people and society benefit with the blessings bestowed upon me by you. I am thankful to you, but do not disturb me. Let me be as I am otherwise I will think I am God, I can cure people of their ailments. The devtaas agreed and gave that vardaan to his shadow and not to Mahatma's EGO.

Me and Mine

Ego is our deadliest enemy. Egoistic people always claim to be doer of jobs that he may have not directly done. Very often people say "I did this or I am the owner of this thing etc, that "I tag will never go. But sometimes this "I" stamp can put in grave trouble.

There is nice and short story connected to this I.
Once a businessman was traveling in a train from Jaipur to Delhi. On the way somebody had kept a big heavy bag in the train's compartment near that businessman. When the train reached Delhi all the passengers alighted from the train but the businessman's eye was on the big bag which nobody came to claim. That minute the T.C entered the train and asked him whether this bag belonged to him. He looked around here and there but none came to claim the bag. He thought that when nobody is the owner why not he take it. He answered the TC by saying Yes. He alighted from the train and called the porter to carry his luggage. When the porter was carrying the bag, the policeman had some doubt. He immediately stopped him and asked for the owner of the bag. The porter pointed out at the businessman. The policeman ordered him to open the bag. When the bag was opened he found a dead body lying inside. The businessman was stunned and started shivering. He did not know what reply to give to the policeman. He apologised and narrated the entire incidence to the policeman and begged for mercy as he was innocent and the bag did not belong to him.
But he policeman was adamant and dragged him to court for murder of the man whose body was lying inside the bag.

Here we should learn a lesson that never ever claim to be the owner of the jobs or things which you have never attempted or those that do not belong to you. Always be cautious before saying or attaching that "I". Whatever jobs you do, surrender it to Almighty and thank him for the strength he has given us to complete a particular task.

Moha(Possessiveness or strong attachment)

Moha(Possessiveness) roots are very strong. All the causes of depression, anxiety, stress, unhappiness is this feeling of Moha(possessiveness). If there is no moha or too much attachment with any person or thing, there is on sad feeling.

Guru Dhronacharaya was a very strong and powerful man. He was a brilliant man with all spritual powers. He favaoured Kauravas and not pandavas. It is written in "Mahabharat" that Guru Dhronachara was blessed with such powers that if he did not fight with weapons and would only sprinke water from his jug he could give shrap and destroy pandava sena. But he was entangled in the moha of his son Ashvathama. He was very possessive of his son. It was this moha towards Ashvathama that he met his end. Lord Krishna knew this weakness of Guru and it became a weapon for Pandava sena.

However intelligent you are and how much ever wealth or powers you possess but this moha towards any person thing makes it all meaningless and this moha can destroy you.

So never let your enemy know your weaknesses. Try to overcome these weakness at time of crises. Be prepared to face all odds and take life in a smooth way without getting too much attached or involved in any person or thing.

It is very easy to make fun of others and to criticize them. But when you face the same situation, you feel hurt.
A very interesting story of a sufi saint.

Once a sufi saint went on his yatra. On his way he passed by a village. The village boys were very mischievous and naughty. They put a garland of shoes on the saint’s neck and waited to see his reaction. They thought he willget angry and shout at them and then they would have a nice fun. But the fakir started laughing and dancing. He looked very happy. All the people from that village were wondering that why is he so happy on wearing a garland of shoes. He should feel insulted. Then one man from the crowd got up and told him “ Maharaj, this is a garland of shoes, why are you so amused.” The saint replied that this is a garland atleast, you have given me something, not taken away anything. When a garland can be of beautiful flowers, it can be shoes as well. You have atleast honoured me with that and I am pleased with it.
The sufi saint then told the village people that on his yatra, he first passed through a village of gardeners. They presented me a beautiful garland of flowers. After that I entered another village of goldsmiths. They offered me a gold chain. Then I passed by the village of diamond cutters, they gave me a diamond chain.
Now I think I have entered the village of shoemakers(cobblers), where all shoemakers stay. I realized that I could get only a garland of shoes from here so I accepted the same with gratitude. I am happy and satisfied with what I get. People are atleast giving me something, they are not away anything from me and in return I thank and bless them and accept their offerings with love.
Hearing this the village people felt very bad, the boys also apologized and begged sorry for their misbehavior.

Dedication and Firm belief in Self

If you dedicate and surrender fully to Almighty and have firm determination in yourself you can achieve the difficult task and others will also join in to fulfill that right goal of yours, if you strongly feel inclined to reach it. There is an ancient story about a bird, called titahari. It has long neck and lives near the sea or a river.
Once when titahari has laid her eggs near the sea, she could not find them. She was sure that the sea waves have swallowed them. She did not cry nor did she raised an alarm or complained to anybody.
She was bent upon getting her eggs back from sea and on her own started collecting water in her beak from the sea and throwing it on the dry sand. She was determined to dry the sea and continued doing this. Some other birds saw her doing this, they also joined her and started taking water in their beak and putting it on the dry sand. Seeing their continued efforts and will power, birds from neighboring and far off lands also joined in. Millions of birds gathered from other countries and joined in to show their strength so that they could help titahari to get her eggs back. They wanted to teach a lesson to the sea.
When this news reached the king of birds, Garuda, he marched ahead to face the wrath of sea. He first politely requested the sea to give back titahari’s eggs. But when the sea did not budge an inch, he showed his might to the sea by blowing up his wings big and long and by using it like a fan to dry sea water. With this the sea water started drying and the sea had to bow to the strength and firm dedication of the birds. The sea then returned the titahari’s eggs.
A small bird has so much will power and strong determination that it can win over sea. Why can’t we human learn a lesson that first you should have faith in yourself and with that your firm decision and will power can help you achieve your goal. Do not give up, go on trying, your task will be achieved.

Offerings to God

God does not need fruits, flowers, money, coconut, gold, silver etc. as offerings. He wants your love, your full dedication towards him. He has an abundance of material goods. Lakshni sits besides him, kalpavraksha is in front of him, kamdhenu is near him, chintamani is his ornament decorated on his neck. He needs surrender, surrender of your ego, I and Mine, You and Yours.