The Parachute

Air Commodore Vishal was a Jet Pilot. In a combat mission his fighter plane was destroyed by a missile. He however ejected himself and parachuted safely. He won acclaims and appreciations from many.

After five years one day he was sitting with his wife in a restaurant. A man from another table came to him and said "You're Captain Vishal ! You flew jet fighters. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Vishal.

"I packed your parachute," the man smiled and replied.
Vishal gasped in surprise and gratitude and thought if parachute hadn't worked, I wouldn’t be here today.

Vishal couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. He wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, he was a fighter pilot and that person was just a safety worker"

So friends, who is packing your parachute?
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day.

We need many kinds of parachutes when our plane is shot down – we need the physical parachute, the mental parachute, the emotional parachute, and the spiritual parachute.
We call on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important.

We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize the people who pack your parachute.

I just want to thank everyone who packed my parachute this year one way or the other - through your words, deeds, prayers etc!!

Contributed by
Sh Bharat ji

एहसास

पढ़ाई पूरी करने के बाद एक छात्र किसी बड़ी कंपनी में नौकरी पाने की चाह में इंटरव्यू देने के लिए पहुंचा....

छात्र ने बड़ी आसानी से पहला इंटरव्यू पास कर लिया...

अब फाइनल इंटरव्यू
कंपनी के डायरेक्टर को लेना था...

और डायरेक्टर को ही तय
करना था कि उस छात्र को नौकरी पर रखा जाए या नहीं...

डायरेक्टर ने छात्र का सीवी (curricular vitae)  देखा और पाया  कि पढ़ाई के साथ- साथ यह  छात्र ईसी (extra curricular activities)  में भी हमेशा अव्वल रहा...

डायरेक्टर- "क्या तुम्हें  पढ़ाई के दौरान
कभी छात्रवृत्ति (scholarship)  मिली...?"

छात्र- "जी नहीं..."

डायरेक्टर- "इसका मतलब स्कूल-कॉलेज  की फीस तुम्हारे पिता अदा करते थे.."

छात्र- "जी हाँ , श्रीमान ।"

डायरेक्टर- "तुम्हारे पिताजी  क्या काम  करते  है?"

छात्र- "जी वो लोगों के कपड़े धोते हैं..."

यह सुनकर कंपनी के डायरेक्टर ने कहा- "ज़रा अपने हाथ तो दिखाना..."

छात्र के हाथ रेशम की तरह मुलायम और नाज़ुक थे...

डायरेक्टर- "क्या तुमने कभी  कपड़े धोने में अपने  पिताजी की मदद की...?"

छात्र- "जी नहीं, मेरे  पिता हमेशा यही चाहते थे
कि मैं पढ़ाई  करूं और ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा किताबें
पढ़ूं...

हां , एक बात और, मेरे पिता बड़ी तेजी  से कपड़े धोते हैं..."

डायरेक्टर- "क्या मैं तुम्हें  एक काम कह सकता हूं...?"

छात्र- "जी, आदेश कीजिए..."

डायरेक्टर- "आज घर वापस जाने के बाद अपने पिताजी के हाथ धोना...
फिर कल सुबह मुझसे आकर मिलना..."

छात्र यह सुनकर प्रसन्न हो गया...
उसे लगा कि अब नौकरी  मिलना तो पक्का है,

तभी तो  डायरेक्टर ने कल फिर बुलाया है...

छात्र ने घर आकर खुशी-खुशी अपने पिता को ये सारी बातें बताईं और अपने हाथ दिखाने को कहा...

पिता को थोड़ी हैरानी हुई...
लेकिन फिर भी उसने बेटे
की इच्छा का मान करते हुए अपने दोनों हाथ उसके
हाथों में दे दिए...

छात्र ने पिता के हाथों को धीरे-धीरे धोना शुरू किया। कुछ देर में ही हाथ धोने के साथ ही उसकी आंखों से आंसू भी झर-झर बहने लगे...

पिता के हाथ रेगमाल (emery paper) की तरह सख्त और जगह-जगह से कटे हुए थे...

यहां तक कि जब भी वह  कटे के निशानों पर  पानी डालता, चुभन का अहसास
पिता के चेहरे पर साफ़ झलक जाता था...।

छात्र को ज़िंदगी में पहली बार एहसास हुआ कि ये
वही हाथ हैं जो रोज़ लोगों के कपड़े धो-धोकर उसके
लिए अच्छे खाने, कपड़ों और स्कूल की फीस का इंतज़ाम करते थे...

पिता के हाथ का हर छाला सबूत था उसके एकेडैमिक कैरियर की एक-एक
कामयाबी का...

पिता के हाथ धोने के बाद छात्र को पता ही नहीं चला कि उसने  उस दिन के बचे हुए सारे कपड़े भी एक-एक कर धो डाले...

उसके पिता रोकते ही रह गए , लेकिन छात्र अपनी धुन में कपड़े धोता चला गया...

उस रात बाप- बेटे ने काफ़ी देर तक बातें कीं ...

अगली सुबह छात्र फिर नौकरी  के लिए कंपनी के  डायरेक्टर के ऑफिस में था...

डायरेक्टर का सामना करते हुए छात्र की आंखें गीली थीं...

डायरेक्टर- "हूं , तो फिर कैसा रहा कल घर पर ?
क्या तुम अपना अनुभव मेरे साथ शेयर करना पसंद करोगे....?"

छात्र- " जी हाँ , श्रीमान कल मैंने जिंदगी का एक वास्तविक अनुभव सीखा...

नंबर एक... मैंने सीखा कि सराहना क्या होती है...
मेरे पिता न होते तो मैं पढ़ाई में इतनी आगे नहीं आ सकता था...

नंबर दो... पिता की मदद करने से मुझे पता चला कि किसी काम को करना कितना सख्त और मुश्किल होता है...

नंबर तीन.. . मैंने रिश्तों की अहमियत पहली बार
इतनी शिद्दत के साथ महसूस की..."

डायरेक्टर- "यही सब है जो मैं अपने मैनेजर में देखना चाहता हूं...

मैं यह नौकरी केवल उसे  देना चाहता हूं जो दूसरों की मदद की कद्र करे,
ऐसा व्यक्ति जो काम किए जाने के दौरान दूसरों की तकलीफ भी महसूस करे...

ऐसा शख्स जिसने
सिर्फ पैसे को ही जीवन का ध्येय न बना रखा हो...

मुबारक हो, तुम इस नौकरी  के पूरे हक़दार हो..."

आप अपने बच्चों को बड़ा मकान दें, बढ़िया खाना दें,
बड़ा टीवी, मोबाइल, कंप्यूटर सब कुछ दें...

लेकिन साथ ही  अपने बच्चों को यह अनुभव भी हासिल करने दें कि उन्हें पता चले कि घास काटते हुए कैसा लगता है ?

उन्हें  भी अपने हाथों से ये  काम करने दें...

खाने के बाद कभी बर्तनों को धोने का अनुभव भी अपने साथ घर के सब बच्चों को मिलकर करने दें...

ऐसा इसलिए
नहीं कि आप मेड पर पैसा खर्च नहीं कर सकते,
बल्कि इसलिए कि आप अपने बच्चों से सही प्यार करते हैं...

आप उन्हें समझाते हैं कि पिता कितने भी अमीर
क्यों न हो, एक दिन उनके बाल सफेद होने ही हैं...

सबसे अहम हैं आप के बच्चे  किसी काम को करने
की कोशिश की कद्र करना सीखें...

एक दूसरे का हाथ
बंटाते हुए काम करने का जज्ब़ा अपने अंदर
लाएं...

Contributed by
SH Gothi ji

Play Wise Play Fool

There once lived a great mathematician in a village. He was often called by the local king to advice on matters related to the economy. His reputation had spread as far as Taxila in the North and Kanchi in the South. So it hurt him very much when the village headman told him, "You may be a great mathematician who advises the king on economic matters but your son does not know the value of gold or silver."

The mathematician called his son and asked, "What is more valuable - gold or silver?" "Gold," said the son. "That is correct. Why is it then that the village headman makes fun of you, claims you do not know the value of gold or silver? He teases me every day. He mocks me before other village elders as a father who neglects his son. This hurts me. I feel everyone in the village is laughing behind my back because you do not know what is more valuable, gold or silver. Explain this to me, son."

So the son of the mathematician told his father the reason why the village headman carried this impression. "Every day on my way to school, the village headman calls me to his house. There, in front of all village elders, he holds out a silver coin in one hand and a gold coin in other. He asks me to pick up the more valuable coin. I pick the silver coin. He laughs, the elders jeer, everyone makes fun of me. And then I go to school. This happens every day. That is why they tell you I do not know the value of gold or silver."

The father was confused. His son knew the value of gold and silver, and yet when asked to choose between a gold coin and silver coin always picked the silver coin. "Why don't you pick up the gold coin?" he asked. In response, the son took the father to his room and showed him a box. In the box were at least a hundred silver coins. Turning to his father, the mathematician's son said, "The day I pick up the gold coin the game will stop. They will stop having fun and I will stop making money."

Point: Sometimes in life, we have to play the fool because our seniors and our peers, and sometimes even our juniors like it. That does not mean we lose in the game of life. It just means allowing others to win in one arena of the game, while we win in the other arena of the game. We have to choose which arena matters to us and which arenas do not.

Specially Contributed by
Mrs Shruti Chhabra

The Bamboo

ONE DAY I DECIDED TO QUIT
I quit my job,
my relationship,
my spirituality…
I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with god

“God”, I asked, “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”.

His answer surprised me… “Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo ?

“Yes”, I replied.

“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

He said, “In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit.” He said.

“Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant…But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”

He asked me. “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots”.

“I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.”

“Don’t compare yourself to others.” He said.

”The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.”

"Your time will come”, God said to me. “You will rise high”.

“How high should I rise?” I asked.

“How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.

“As high as it can?” I questioned.

”Yes.” He said, “Give Me glory by rising as high as you can.”

I left the forest and brought back this story.

Never, Never, Never, Give up!! "In life, each  relationship will have feelings and differences. ....it's Always better to be melted in feelings than to be frozen with differences"

Just enjoy Life & Believe in God, For his Plan never fails.

Contributed by
Sh Sanjeev ji

What to teach ?

In childhood, I remember my father used to get me chocolates... n ask me to share with all family members before I eat... Today I forgot the taste n name of that chocolate... but learnt n experienced the "joy of giving"

Today we as parents give equal chocolates... same toys to both our kids... n tell them..."tum apna khao... tum apna khelo... jhagda mat karo"....

Here we are not teaching peace... but teaching them how to think "only for self"... n kids start using words like "my chocolate ...my toys....my life... my choice"....

"My" is nothing but ego... n once ego comes, wisdom leaves... only knowledge is left behind !!!

Teach your children to never walk alone in life n on the path to prosperity... Teach them to bring others with them too... Love others n make them prosperous too... Spread love n happiness

Contributed by
Mrs Padma ji

Worries

As humans, our brains are much more advanced than other mammals'. The human mind has infinite potential. There are still large parts of the human brain we don't use - imagine what we would be capable of if we used our minds to its full potential.

The human mind with its infinite potential has its negative sides as well that affect most of us.Our minds like to wonder and oftentimes it's not easy to recognize that the reality we're living in is not real, but created by our minds.

Most people don't live in the now. Because it's very easy to stay stuck in the past or worry about the future, creating "what if" scenarios that quickly become our reality.

When we are not in the best financial situation and live month to month, losing our home or anything equally horrible can become something that is on our mind a lot - and if something is on our mind a lot, it will become our reality, something that is no longer an event that has a very slight chance of happening in the future, but something real. Even though it is not happening right now and it will probably never happen, we still feel as horrible as we would feel if it was happening right now.

Anxiety is based on this feeling. We fear that something will happen to us - health problems, financial problems, relationship problems, basically anything - that has no reality in the present moment. We fear something, because it has not happened yet. Fear is always of something in the future.

Anxiety and fear is what we feel when we believe that the problems we think about are actually real in this moment.

We all do this. Some people more, some people less, but we all do it, it's part of modern human behavior. It is very important to recognize when we are worrying about the future. When we feel like we can't see clearly, most likely we are not living our real reality. So ask yourself if what you're worried about is real right now. No? Well then, why are you living like it's your reality? When you recognize this, a burden so huge will be lifted off you that you will feel like you're able to fly.

When recognizing that you have been living in the fake reality of your worries, you should also ask yourself what your reality really is, because living like this makes us forget what our reality is. It makes us blind to our real world and when we realize how we've been seeing the world, we will see how blinded we were. So just go over what you really have in your life, you can even write it down to help it stick in your mind. You are healthy, have a loving family, partner or friend, have a nice home, have food on the table etc.

When you do this all the troubles of the world will be lifted off you and you will feel how easy life really is. We create most of our problems in our minds, we never really have them. And we create all of our suffering in our minds. Always remember that suffering is optional and when you feel overwhelmed with worries and anxiety, sit down and discover your real reality. See the world how it really is. There is so much beauty around each of us and life can be so easy, our minds simply insist on making it complicated.

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral. It is as it is.” - Eckhart Tolle

"If your eyes are blinded with your worries, you cannot see the beauty of the sunset." - Jiddu Krishnamurti

"It is always the false that makes you suffer. Abandon the false and you are free of pain; truth makes happy, truth liberates." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Contributed  by
Sh Girish ji

Sacrifice

A cruise ship met with an incident at sea, on the ship was a pair of couple, after having made their way to the lifeboat, they realized that there was only space for one person left.

At this moment, the man pushed the woman behind him and jumped onto the lifeboat himself.

The lady stood on the sinking ship and shouted one sentence to her husband.

The teacher stopped and asked, "What do you think she shouted?"

Most of the students excitedly answered, "I hate you! I was blind!"

Now, the teacher noticed a boy who was silent throughout, she got him to answer and he replied, "Teacher, I believe she would have shouted - Take care of our child!"

The teacher was surprised, asking "Have you heard this story before?"

The boy shook his head, "Nope, but that was what my mum told my dad before she died to disease".

The teacher lamented, "The answer is right".

The cruise sunk, the man went home and brought up their daughter single-handedly.

Many years later after the death of the man, their daughter found his diary while tidying his belongings.

It turns out that when parents went onto the cruise ship, the mother was already diagnosed with a terminal illness.
At the critical moment, the father rushed to the only chance of survival.

He wrote in his diary, "How I wished to sink to the bottom of the ocean with you, but for the sake of our daughter, I can only let you lie forever below the sea alone".

The story is finished, the class was silent.

The teacher knows that the student has understood the moral of the story, that of the good and the evil in the world, there are many complications behind them which are hard to understand.

Which is why we should never only focus on the surface and judge others without understanding them first.

Those who like to pay the bill, do so not because they are loaded but because they value friendship above money.

Those who take the initiative at work, do so not because they are stupid but because they understand the concept of responsibility.

Those who apologizes first after a fight, do so not because they are wrong but because they value the people around them.

Those who are willing to help you, do so not because they owe you any thing but because they see you as a true friend.

Those who often text you, do so not because they have nothing better to do but because you are in their heart.
One day, all of us will get  separated  from each other; we will miss our conversations of everything & nothing; the dreams that we had. Days will pass by, months, years, until this contact becomes rare... One day our children will see our pictures and ask 'Who are these people?' And we will smile with invisible tears  because a heart is touched with a strong word and you will say: 'IT WAS THEM THAT I HAD THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE WITH'.

Contributed by
Mrs Ojasvita ji

कर्मयोगी

बहुत  समय  पहले  की  बात  है , आइस्लैंड के उत्तरी छोर पर  एक  किसान  रहता  था . उसे  अपने  खेत  में  काम  करने  वालों  की  बड़ी  ज़रुरत  रहती  थी  लेकिन  ऐसी  खतरनाक  जगह , जहाँ  आये  दिन  आंधी  –तूफ़ान  आते  रहते हों , कोई  काम  करने  को  तैयार  नहीं  होता  था .

किसान  ने  एक  दिन  शहर  के  अखबार  में  इश्तहार  दिया  कि  उसे   खेत  में   काम  करने  वाले एक मजदूर की  ज़रुरत  है . किसान से मिलने कई  लोग  आये  लेकिन  जो भी  उस  जगह  के  बारे  में  सुनता  , वो काम  करने  से  मन  कर  देता . अंततः  एक  सामान्य  कद  का  पतला -दुबला  अधेड़  व्यक्ति  किसान  के  पास  पहुंचा .

किसान  ने  उससे  पूछा  , “ क्या  तुम  इन  परिस्थितयों  में   काम  कर  सकते  हो ?”

“ ह्म्म्म , बस जब  हवा चलती  है  तब  मैं  सोता  हूँ .” व्यक्ति  ने  उत्तर  दिया .

किसान  को  उसका  उत्तर  थोडा अजीब  लगा  लेकिन  चूँकि  उसे  कोई  और  काम  करने  वाला  नहीं  मिल  रहा  था इसलिए  उसने  व्यक्ति  को  काम  पर  रख  लिया.

मजदूर मेहनती  निकला  ,  वह  सुबह  से  शाम  तक  खेतों  में  म्हणत  करता , किसान  भी  उससे   काफी  संतुष्ट  था .कुछ ही दिन बीते थे कि  एक   रात  अचानक  ही जोर-जोर से हवा बहने  लगी  , किसान  अपने  अनुभव  से  समझ  गया  कि  अब  तूफ़ान  आने  वाला  है . वह   तेजी  से  उठा  , हाथ  में  लालटेन  ली   और  मजदूर  के  झोपड़े  की  तरफ  दौड़ा .

“ जल्दी  उठो , देखते  नहीं  तूफ़ान  आने वाला  है , इससे  पहले  की  सबकुछ  तबाह  हो जाए कटी फसलों  को  बाँध  कर  ढक दो और बाड़े के गेट को भी रस्सियों से कास दो .” किसान  चीखा .

मजदूर बड़े आराम से पलटा  और  बोला , “ नहीं  जनाब , मैंने  आपसे  पहले  ही कहा था  कि  जब  हवा  चलती  है  तो  मैं  सोता  हूँ !!!.”

यह  सुन  किसान  का  गुस्सा  सातवें  आसमान  पर  पहुँच  गया ,  जी  में आया  कि  उस  मजदूर  को   गोली  मार  दे , पर  अभी  वो आने  वाले  तूफ़ान  से चीजों को बचाने  के  लिए  भागा  .

किसान खेत में पहुंचा और उसकी आँखें आश्चर्य से खुली रह गयी , फसल  की गांठें  अच्छे  से  बंधी  हुई   थीं  और  तिरपाल  से  ढकी  भी  थी , उसके  गाय -बैल  सुरक्षित बंधे  हुए  थे  और  मुर्गियां  भी  अपने  दडबों  में  थीं … बाड़े  का  दरवाज़ा  भी  मजबूती  से  बंधा  हुआ  था . साड़ी  चीजें  बिलकुल  व्यवस्थित  थी …नुक्सान होने की कोई संभावना नहीं बची थी.किसान  अब   मजदूर की ये  बात  कि  “ जब  हवा चलती है  तब  मैं  सोता  हूँ ”…समझ  चुका  था , और  अब  वो  भी  चैन  से   सो  सकता  था .

मित्रों ,  हमारी  ज़िन्दगी  में भी कुछ ऐसे तूफ़ान आने तय हैं , ज़रुरत इस बात की है कि हम  उस  मजदूर की  तरह पहले से तैयारी कर के रखें ताकि  मुसीबत  आने  पर  हम भी चैन  से  सो सकें.  जैसे कि यदि कोई विद्यार्थी शुरू से पढ़ाई करे तो परीक्षा के समय वह आराम से रह सकता है, हर महीने बचत करने वाला व्यक्ति पैसे की ज़रुरत पड़ने पर निश्चिंत रह सकता है, इत्यादि.

तो चलिए हम भी कुछ ऐसा करें कि कह सकें – ” जब हवा चलती है तो मैं सोता हूँ.”

Contributed by
Mrs Rashmi ji

ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्ति

ओम शांती शांती शांती.....तीन बार शांती क्याे बाेलते हैं,क्याेंकी हमारे जिंदगी में
३ प्रकार कि अशांती हाेती हैं

१) भाैतिक अशांती
२) मानिसक अशांती
३) अध्यामिक अशांती..

१) भाैतिक अशांती.....
जीवन में भाैतिक अशांती.... सुख सुविधा से हम परेशान रहते हैं..... हमेशा भागते रहते हैं,किसी भी चींज पीछे.  जाे हमें कभी मिलने वाली नहीं हैं.ना टिकने वाली हैं..... मायाजाल में उलझतें रहते हैं.तुलना करना,मुझे यह नहीं हैं.उसके पास ताे वह हैं
अटक जाना छाेटी छाेटी चीजाें में,यह भाैतिक अशांती हुई...
२) मानसिक अशांती.....
मन में ही उलझतें रहना
मेरा क्या हाेगा, मेरी आने वाली पीढी का क्या हाेगा...
मेरा काेई नहीं हैं, अपने ही बाैंध्दिक हाेते हुए बारे में साेचना...
मैं बीमार पड़ गया ताे, मुझे ये राेग हुआ ताे,मेरा क्या हाेगा..अरे भाई,हाेगा क्या बीमार हाेगे ताे एक दिन मर जावाेगे..बीमार भी मरता हैं,और डॉक्टर भी मरते हैं....
दुनिया का रीत ही हैं
जाे मर गये हैं, मर रहें हैं... और मरने वाले हैं, तीनाें हैं.ना मर गये,मर रहें,मरने वाले हैं...ये चल रहा हैं..बडी बड़ी बातें करना और छाेटी छाेटी बाताें में अटक जाना, उलझतें रहना.यह मानसिक अशांती सुख सुविधा का कारण हैं,
३) अध्यामिक अशांती,.कारण हैं  मैं काैन हूँ
मेरा जीवन क्या हैं.... यह दुनिया क्या हैं...... यह जाननें कि तडप..... अध्यामिक अशांती..... गुरू ना मिलने कि तडप...... ग्यान न मिलने कि तडप....... कुछ सीखने कि तडप..... अच्छे लाेंगाे का साथ मिलने कि तडप....... अपने आप काे ना मिलने कि तडप...
यह अध्यामिक अशांती... कि कारण हैं... इसलिए हम मंञाे में कहते हैं.... कि... ओम शांती शांती शांती........ तीन बार कहते....हैं.... कि हे ईश्वर..... मेरे जीवन में ये तीनाें शांती रहें....... मेरा जीवन शांती मय रहें.... आंनदमय रहें.....

ओम शांती शांती शांती.......

Contributed by
Sh Deep ji

Time Management

A very special bank account

Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with £86,400, carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every pound, of course!
Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". Therefore, there is never not enough time or too much time. Time management is decided by us alone and nobody else. It is never the case of us not having enough time to do things, but the case of whether we want to do it.

Contributed by
Mrs Shruti Chhabra

The barrier

During a research experiment a marine biologist placed a shark into a large holding tank and then released several small bait fish into the tank.

As you would expect, the shark quickly swam around the tank, attacked and ate the smaller fish.

The marine biologist then inserted a strong piece of clear fiberglass into the tank, creating two separate partitions. She then put the shark on one side of the fiberglass and a new set of bait fish on the other.

Again, the shark quickly attacked.  This time, however, the shark slammed into the fiberglass divider and bounced off.  Undeterred, the shark kept repeating this behavior every few minutes to no avail.  Meanwhile, the bait fish swam around unharmed in the second partition.  Eventually, about an hour into the experiment, the shark gave up.

This experiment was repeated several dozen times over the next few weeks.  Each time, the shark got less aggressive and made fewer attempts to attack the bait fish, until eventually the shark got tired of hitting the fiberglass divider and simply stopped attacking altogether.

The marine biologist then removed the fiberglass divider, but the shark didn’t attack.  The shark was trained to believe a barrier existed between it and the bait fish, so the bait fish swam wherever they wished, free from harm.

The moral:  Many of us, after experiencing setbacks and failures, emotionally give up and stop trying. Like the shark in the story, we believe that because we were unsuccessful in the past, we will always be unsuccessful. In other words, we continue to see a barrier in our heads, even when no ‘real’ barrier exists between where we are and where we want to go.

Contributed by
Mrs Shruti Chhabra ji

The barrier

During a research experiment a marine biologist placed a shark into a large holding tank and then released several small bait fish into the tank.

As you would expect, the shark quickly swam around the tank, attacked and ate the smaller fish.

The marine biologist then inserted a strong piece of clear fiberglass into the tank, creating two separate partitions. She then put the shark on one side of the fiberglass and a new set of bait fish on the other.

Again, the shark quickly attacked.  This time, however, the shark slammed into the fiberglass divider and bounced off.  Undeterred, the shark kept repeating this behavior every few minutes to no avail.  Meanwhile, the bait fish swam around unharmed in the second partition.  Eventually, about an hour into the experiment, the shark gave up.

This experiment was repeated several dozen times over the next few weeks.  Each time, the shark got less aggressive and made fewer attempts to attack the bait fish, until eventually the shark got tired of hitting the fiberglass divider and simply stopped attacking altogether.

The marine biologist then removed the fiberglass divider, but the shark didn’t attack.  The shark was trained to believe a barrier existed between it and the bait fish, so the bait fish swam wherever they wished, free from harm.

The moral:  Many of us, after experiencing setbacks and failures, emotionally give up and stop trying. Like the shark in the story, we believe that because we were unsuccessful in the past, we will always be unsuccessful. In other words, we continue to see a barrier in our heads, even when no ‘real’ barrier exists between where we are and where we want to go.

Contributed by
Mrs Shruti Chhabra ji

The missing Goat

It all started one lazy Sunday afternoon in a small town near Toronto in Canada.  Two school-going friends had a crazy idea.  They rounded up three goats from the neighborhood and painted the number 1, 2 and 4 on their sides.  That night they let the goats loose inside their school building. 

                The next morning, when the authorities entered the school, they could smell something was wrong.  They soon saw goat droppings on the stairs and near the entrance and realized that some goats had entered the building.  A search was immediately launched and very soon, the three goats were found.  But the authorities were worried, where was goat No. 3?  They spent the rest of the day looking for goat No.3. There was panic and frustration. The school declared a holiday for the students.  The teachers, helpers and the canteen boy were all busy looking for the goat No. 3, which, of course, was never found.   Simply because it did not exist. 

                We are all like those folks in the school – we may have our own goats, but are obviously looking for the elusive, missing, non-existent goat No.3.  So instead of making the most of what we have and focusing on our strengths, we worry about the missing piece – our shortcomings. 

                Do the best you can with what you have and be grateful for what you get. Success and happiness will come your way.  Stop worrying about goat No. 3!

contributed by
SH Girish ji

Ticket to Heaven

There once was a sick child named John. He had a rare and serious illness, and all the doctors confirmed that he would not live long, though they couldn't say exactly how long it would be. John spent long days in the hospital, saddened by not knowing what would happen, until one day a clown who was passing by saw how sad John was and came over to say: -"How come you're standing there like that? Haven't they told you about the Heaven for sick children? John shook his head, but continued listening intently.- "Well, it's the best place you could ever imagine, much better than heaven for parents or anyone else. They say it's like that to compensate children for having being sick. But to enter it there is one condition."
-"What is it?"
asked John, concerned.
-"You cannot die without having filled the bag."
-"The bag?"
-"Yes, yes. The bag. A large grey bag like this," said the clown as he pulled one out from under his jacket and gave it to John.
-"You were lucky I had one on me. You have to fill it with notes so you can buy your ticket."
-"Notes? It's no use then. I haven't any money."
-"No, not ordinary notes, my boy. Special notes: notes for good deeds, pieces of paper on which you write every good thing you do. At night an angel comes and checks all this paperwork, and exchanges the good ones for tickets to heaven."
-" Really?"
-" Of course! But be sure to hurry up and fill your bag. You've been sick a long time and we don't know if you have enough time left to fill the bag. This is a unique opportunity and you cannot die before completing it; that would be a terrible shame!"
The clown was in a hurry, and when he left the room John was pensive, staring at the bag. What his new friend had told him seemed wonderful, and he had nothing to lose by trying. That same day, when John's mother arrived to see him, he gave her the best of smiles, and made an effort to be more cheerful than usual, since he knew this made her happy. Then, when he was alone, he wrote on a piece of paper:
-"Mum smiled today." And he put the piece of paper in the bag. The next morning, as soon as he woke up, John ran to see the bag. And there it was! A real ticket to heaven! The ticket looked so magical and wonderful that it filled John with excitement, and he spent the rest of that day doing everything he knew to cheer up the doctors and nurses, and he was company to the children who felt most lonely. He even told jokes to his little brother and took some books to study a little. And for every one of those things he put a piece of paper in his bag. And so it continued, every day John woke up with the excitement of counting his new tickets to heaven, and working on getting a lot more. He did as much as he could, because he realised it was no good just to accumulate tickets in the bag in any way he could: every night the angel arranged them in the tidiest way, taking up the least space. And John was forced to continue doing good works at top speed, with the hope of filling the bag before getting too sick ...And although he spent many days on this, he never filled the bag. John had become the most beloved child at the hospital, and he had done so in the most cheerful and helpful way,… and this ended up completely healing him. Nobody knew how it happened: some said that his joy and his attitude must have cured him, others were convinced that the hospital staff loved him so much that they spent extra hours to try to find a cure and provide the best care, and some told how a couple of elderly millionaires who John had cheered up lot during their illness had paid for him to have expensive experimental treatment. The fact is that all these were true because, as the clown had seen so many times, you only have to put a bit of heaven in your old grey bag each night to transform what seems like a dying existence into the very best days of your life, however long they should last.

Contributed by
Mrs Shruti Chhabra ji

Stay Connected

Father is flying a kite. His son is watching him carefully. After some time son says "Dad. Because of the string the kite is not able to go any further higher."Hearing this, the father smiles and breaks the string.The kite goes higher and then shortly after that, it comes and falls on the ground. The child is very dejected and sad. The father sits next to him and calmly explains: "Son, in life we reach a certain level and then we feel that there are certain things that are not letting us grow any further like Home, Family, Culture etc. We feel we want to be free from those strings which we believe are stopping us from going higher. But, remember son."That our home , family and culture are the things that will help us stay stable at the high heights . If we try to break away from those strings our condition will be similar to the kite."we'll fall down soon..
Moral: "Never go away from home culture, family, and relationships as they help keep us stable while we are flying high."
Life is Beautiful Stay connected

Contributed by
Mrs Shruti Chhabra

Childhood

When I was small....

• I'd put my arms in my shirt and told people I lost my arms
 
• Would restart the video
game whenever I knew I was going to lose

• Had that one pen with
four colors, and tried to push all the buttons at once

• Waited behind a door to
scare someone, then leaving because they're taking too long to come out.

• Faked being asleep,so I
could be carried to bed.

• Used to think that the moon followed our car

• Tried to balance the switch between On/Off

• Watching two drops of
rain roll down window and pretending it was a race

• The only thing i had to
take care of was a school bag.

• Swallowed a fruit seed I
was scared to death that a tree was going to grow in my tummy.

• Closed the fridge
extremely slowly to see
when the lights went off.

• Walked into a room,. forgot what you needed, Walked out, and then remember.

Remember when we were
kids and couldn't wait to grow up? and now we think why did we even grow up?

Childhood Was The Best Part Of our Life

Contributed by Mrs Rashmi  ji

No matter

1. No matter how beautiful and handsome you are, just remember Baboon and Gorillas also
attract tourists.
***Stop Boasting!

2. No matter how big and strong you are, you will not carry yourself to your Grave.
***Be Humble!

3. No matter how tall you are, you can never see tomorrow.
***Be Patient!

4. No matter how Light Skinned you are, you will always need light in Darkness.
***Take Caution!

5. No matter how Rich and how many Cars you have,
you will always walk to Bed.
***Be Contented!

Yesterday was Experience.
Today is Experiment.
Tomorrow is Expectation.

So, use your Experience in your Experiment to achieve your Expectations.
GOD BLESS US ALL

Contributed by Dr Mala Sharma ji

Negative Thought

To recognize what is negative and waste is to have the ability to overcome
them.

Thought to Ponder: When something negative or waste comes up, I need to
recognize it immediately. If I am not able to do that, I actually invite
it into my life, make it my guest, give it attention and encourage it
further. So, it is important to recognize immediately and change anything
negative or waste that comes my way.

Point to Practice: Today I will keep a check on my thoughts from time to
time. As soon as I find something waste or negative coming up, I will not
encourage it further. I will immediately either create another thought or
move away from the situation temporarily till I change my thoughts. Such
attention over a period of time, will help me recognize quickly and
overcome what is negative and waste...

compiled and edited by
Sh Deep ji

Too Late

All of life's problems are only due to two words "early" and "late".

We dream too early and act too late.

We trust too early and forgive too late.

We get angry too early and apologise too late.

We give up too early and restart too late.

We cry too early  and smile too late.

Change "early" or it will be too late...

Compiled and edited by
Mrs. Shruti Chabra

मैं पैसा हूँ।

मैं पैसा हूँ....
सबसे पहले मैं आपको अपना परिचय दूँ - मैं हूँ पैसा...
मेरा साधारण रूप है, दुर्बल सी काया है, लेकिन मै दुनियाँ को पूनर्व्यवस्थित करने की क्षमता रखता हूँ. मैं इन्सान का व्यवहार और प्रकृति बदलने की क्षमता  रखता हूँ क्योंकि इन्सान मुझे आदर्श मानता हैं.कई लोग अपने व्यवहार को बदल देते है,अपने दोस्तों को धोखा देते है,अपना शरीर बेच देते है यहाँ तक की अपना धर्म छोड़ देते है,सिर्फ मेरे लिए.  मैं नेक भ्रष्ट मे फर्क नही करता, लोग मुझे प्रतिष्ठा के मानक के तौर पर इस्तेमाल करते है कि आदमी अमीर है या गरीब,इज्जतदार है या नही.मै शैतान नहीं हूँ, लेकीन लोग अक्सर मेरी वजह से गुनाह करते है.  मैं तीसरा व्यक्ति नहीं हूँ, लेकिन मेरी वजह से पति पत्नी आपस मे झगड़ते है. ये सही है की मैं भगवान नहीं हूँ लेकिन लोग मुझे भगवान की तरह पूजते है यहाँ तक की भगवान को पूजने वाले भी मेरी भक्ति करते है भले ही वो आपको इससे दूर रहने की सलाह देते हैं. वैसे तो मुझे लोगों की सेवा करनी चाहिये लेकीन लोग मेरे गुलाम बनना चाहते हैं. मैने कभी किसी के लिए बलिदान नहीं दिया लेकीन कई लोग मेरे लिए अपनी जान दे रहे हैं. मै याद दिलाना चाहता हूँ कि मैं आपके लिए सब कुछ खरीद सकता हूँ,आपके लिए दवाईयाँ ला सकता हूँ लेकीन आपकी उम्र नहीं बढा सकता.  एक दिन जब भगवान का बुलावा आयेगा तो मै आपके साथ नहीं जाऊँगा बल्कि आपको अपने पाप भुगतने के लिए अकेला छोड दूँगा.और यह स्थिती कभी भी आ सकती है आपको अपने बनाने वाले को खुद ही जवाब देना पडेगा और उसका निर्णय स्वीकारना होगा.  उस समय सर्व शक्तिमान आपका फैसला करेगा और मेरे बारे मे पूछेगा, लेकीन मै आपसे अभी पूछता हूँ "क्या आपने जीवनभर मेरा सही इस्तेमाल किया या  आपने मुझे ही भगवान बना दिया ?"

एक अंतिम जानकारी मेरी तरफ से....

मैं " उपर " आपके साथ नहीं जाऊँगा बल्कि आपकी सत्कर्मों की पूंजी ही आपके साथ चलेगी.
मुझे वहाँ मत ढूँढ़ना |

compiled and edited by
Smt Kachan ji
मैं पैसा हूँ.....।।।।