YOU ARE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL

 

                   Winston Churchill Biography

            Prime Minister, Journalist (1874–1965)

'We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glow-worm.'

                                                   - Winston Churchill

Since my college days (1989/90) onwards, I am in the habit of taking note of great people's quotes which inspire me. My selection of quotes is such that they not only ignite me when I read them with the strength of thousand elephants and also to whoever read them.

The above quote of Former British Prime Minister is one of my all time favorite quotes. It reflects his personality and confidence on himself. History witnessed that he rallied his people during World War II and led his country from the brink of defeat to victory.

Like Churchill, everyone must have faith in himself/herself which becomes the bedrock of success in any activity they undertake. So work on your goals and show to the world what you could achieve!

ART OF LISTENING

 

Over the years, I have been carefully observing that my listening skills are not up to mark and they need to be fine-tuned to understand more of my Self than the words of other persons.

The awareness goes to next level only if the help comes from a spiritually illumined person who is matured enough to give a sermon on human relations.

I don't find more authoritative than Jiddu Krishnamurti who left nothing unsaid about human life. He says that:

           '' We listen with the various depths of our being, but our listening is always with a preconception or from a particular point of view ” He further stays that “ We do not listen simply; there is always the intervening screen of our own thoughts, conclusions, and prejudices. To listen there must be an inward quietness, a freedom from the strain of acquiring, a relaxed attention. This alert yet passive state is able to hear what is beyond the verbal conclusion. Words confuse; they are only the outward means of communication; but to commune beyond the noise of words, there must be in listening, an alert passivity. Those who love may listen; but it is extremely rare to find a listener. Most of us are after results, achieving goals; we are forever overcoming and conquering and so there is no listening. It is only in listening that one hears the song of the words."

When I read, re-read repeatedly the above lines some years ago, I felt ashamed of my listening skills. Krishnamurti's words ratify the fact that you must be in another dimension in life to simply listen the way it should be. I could vividly remember how I wildly beaten my elder child before fully listening to her version when she poured hot milk on her bare chest when she was hardly 4 years. I still repent for my ghastly act I committed in my 30s.

So, it is not bookish knowledge that bring serenity in our lives but the wisdom to understand the humans for which, we need to master the nuances of ''listening''.

WHAT DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF YOUR INNER LIFE ?

Whatever you do, your intention should always be for the good of people.

As long as the intention is good, you need not worry. The doctor when he uses a knife for the patient's operation , is lauded, whereas the robber when he uses the same knife to torment the householder to steal his wealth, is caught and punished. Here the knife is same, but the person who uses it and the intention are different.

As long as our actions help others to grow in life, we should not think otherwise.

So act with a positive mind-frame!

JESUS - THE MESSENGER OF PEACE

 

All roads lead to Rome. All religions preach the same message, the Message of Peace and Unity.

In fact, religion is purely a personal domain that should not be brought to public debate. We being humans must use the faculties the Creator has endowed. Even those who don't have faith in God or Creator should not make a mess out of it. They can follow their own conviction without violating other's freedom/rights.

But so much violence is inflicted in today’s world in the name of religion & God.

If you read any sacred text of any religion, the message is same. It is to nurture human values and respect the life.

The Holy Book Bible is full of snippets of wisdom.

If you read the Bible, there is no difference in the sayings of Jesus to what Krishna taught in Bhagavad Gita and the sayings of Muhammad Pravakta in Qur'an.

The central message of life of Jesus is the sacrifice for the sake of others; serve the humanity and leave your personal comforts behind.

Swami Vivekananda, the torchbearer of India's Spiritual Wisdom to the West was a great admirer of Jesus Christ. Between 1888- 1893 when he travelled in his own country – India, he accompanied two books, one of which is 'The Imitation of Christ’ written by Thomas a Kempis.

In many of his tours in the West, Vivekananda was often referred as Hindu Monk, but he is a true messenger of all religions and he spoke a lot on Christ, Muhammad, Buddha and other wisdom masters.

Persecution is not a solution nor enmity a way out. To keep the fabric of society united, respecting all religions is the need of the hour and there is no difference of opinion on this count by any religion!