The Greatest of Miracles

We all love miracles, be they natural or supernatural; but what in the whole world could be the greatest of miracles? Indian Epics say that it is the phenomenon of death. We all know that death is inevitable; none of the comforts and pleasures we enjoyed on earth can be taken along with us when we pass from this world to the next. And yet man is occupied day and night thinking of how to accumulate wealth in whatever ways and means and he works hard to amass and hoard it as much as he can. What else could be a greater paradox in this world?

According to a story, a man began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him. One day an angel appeared and informed the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathered his largest suitcase and filled it with pure gold bars and placed it beside his bed.  He died and showed up at the gates of heaven with his precious collection. St Peter, at the gates, seeing the suitcase, said, "Hold on, you cannot bring that in here!" The man explained that he had permission and asked him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St Peter checked it out, came back and said, "You're right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through." St Peter opened the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man had found too precious to leave behind and exclaimed, "You brought pavement?" To the astonishment of the man, he found that all the streets of the heavenly city were paved with pure gold.

Real or imaginary be the stories on death, they all point to the one truth that heavenly joy is not the physical pleasure we are accustomed to here on earth and we have to be a little more cautious about what we are chasing after here.  We mistakenly think that what makes us successful and rich is the amount of cash and transitory wealth we have in hand and bank.  But our greatest wealth is the good that we wish and do for others. This will bring us true happiness and heavenly joy even on this earth.

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Copy Pasted from  Life's Lessons Joseph Mattappally - Indian Thoughts

BE SPECIFIC

A man got 2 wishes from GOD.

He was very happy and kept on thinking as to what he should ask for.

Finally, he decided and told God to give him "Best wine and Best Woman".

Next moment, he had the Best Wine and Mother Teresa next to him.
 

Moral : BE SPECIFIC

Stress management

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and 

asked,  "How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied,

“The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance.”

“In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” He continued,

“And that’s the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”

“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.”

“So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.”

“Whatever burdens you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later after you’ve rested.”

Breaking News!

Mr. Bill Gates has resigned from his job as the chairman of Microsoft!
[after recieving a letter from Santa the great]
Santa's letter to Bill Gates:-
Sir, I have some questions to ask....
1] The keyboard alphabets are not in order, when will you release the corrected version?
2]There is START button but nothing called STOP
3]We learnt MS word. When will you release MS sentence?
4] There is recycle bin, no rescooter bin. Why?
5]Finally 1 personal question. Why is your name gates, though you sell windows?

Man Smart Woman Smarter

Barbara Walters, an American Journalist, did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan, several years before the Afghan conflict. 

 

She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands. She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands.

Despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to, and are happy to, maintain the old custom.

Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, ‘Why do you now seem happy with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?’

The woman looked Ms. Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation said, ‘Land Mines.’

Ha Ha Ha !!!

Santa:-Which is the oldest animal in the world?
Banta:- Zebra
Bant:- How?
Santa:-Because it is still black and white.

Friendship

Friendship is like relation between hand and eyes. When hand is injured, eyes cry and when eyes cry, hand is always there to wipe the tears.

Trust

What is trust?
Trust should be like the feelings of a one year old baby. When you throw her in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her!

Laugh 4 a minute!

Santa surgeon to his patient Banta:- I am sorry. It seems rubber glove was left inside your stomach during operation. I have to operate you again.
Banta:- Itni see baat! Ye le bees rupayya. Ek naya kharidlena

Life's Lessons

A very touching story of a distinct range of sharing.
This story was forwarded by Sri. Jacob Mathew, Kuwait.


Food Court University

The temperature was below zero, when I ducked into Union Station hoping to get warm. Warmth was slowly being restored to my hands and feet as I settled onto one of the public benches with a gleaming cup of coffee. Heavenly aromas from gourmet treats were tempting me to consider an early dinner. It was then that I noticed a poor man seated next to me and several tables of diners spilling out into the great hall from the upscale America Restaurant. From the longing look in my neighbor's eye, it was obvious that he might approach me for a handout. I would have welcomed such a plea on his part. He never did. The more I took in this scene, the crueler his plight seemed. My head and heart were battling it out: the former telling me to mind my own business, and the latter urging me to make an immediate trip to the food court on his behalf.

While this internal debate was raging, a well-dressed young couple suddenly approached the man. "Excuse me, sir," began the husband. "My wife and I just finished eating and our appetite wasn't as big as we thought. We hate to waste good food. Can you help us out and put this to good use?" They handed over to him a large Styrofoam container overflowing with goodies. "God bless you both," came the grateful reply. Feeling good about what I had seen, but dismayed by my own lack of action, I observed my neighbor's response to his sudden good fortune. First he scrutinized his newfound bounty, arranging the soup crackers, inspecting the club sandwich and stirring the salad dressing. Then he slowly lifted the lid off the soup, inhaling the aroma and cupping his hands around the steaming bowl. It was obvious that he was going to prolong the enjoyment of this miracle meal. Finally, he appeared ready for that long-dreamed-of first taste. Meticulously unwrapping the plastic spoon, he filled it to overflowing, lifted it towards his mouth and — with a suddenness that stunned me - stopped dead in his tracks.

The reason for this unexpected behavior soon became clear. Entering the hall and shuffling in our direction was a new arrival. In his seventies (or so he appeared), hatless and gloveless, he was clad in lightweight pants, a threadbare jacket and open shoes. His hands were raw and his face had a bluish tint. I wasn't alone in gasping aloud at this sad sight, but my neighbor was the only one doing anything about it. Quickly pulling aside his treasure, he leaped up and guided the elderly man to an adjacent seat. He took the old man's hands and rubbed them in his own. He tenderly draped his down jacket over the older man's shoulders. Finally, he spoke. "Pop, my name's Jack, and one of God's angels brought me this meal. I just finished eating, and I hate to waste good food. Can you help me out?" Placing the steaming cup of soup in the stranger's hands, he didn't wait for an answer. But he got one. "Sure, Son, but only if you go halfway with me on that sandwich. It's too much for a man of my age." It wasn't easy making my way to the food court with tears blurring my vision, but I soon returned with the largest containers of coffee and the biggest assortment of pastries possible. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but..."

My parents, like yours, taught me to share, but it wasn't until that day in Union Station that I truly learned the meaning of that word. I left the hall feeling warmer than I had ever thought possible.

Eat Fruits The Right Way

Lakshmi,
Once you asked why fruits should be taken in an empty stomach. I got some information about this in one of the magazines. It is like this........
First and foremost, avoid eating fruits after meals, but always take them on an empty stomach. If consumed after meals, the fruit mixes with the food in the stomach and leads to gas. If taken on an empty stomach, fruits play a major role in detoxifying your system,supplying energy for weight loss and other life activities. They can also help in prolonging greying of hair, balding and prevent nervous outburst, dark circles under the eyes.
Drink only fresh fruit juice, not canned. Dont take cooked fruits either, because the nutrients are lost in cooking. Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.
You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just have fruit juice throughout the 3 days, it will cleanse your system making you look radiant.

Be A Leader-Not a Boss

The boss drives his men--The leader inspires them.
The boss shows who is wrong--The leader shows what is wrong.
The boss says "i"--The leader says "WE"
The boss abuses men--The leader uses them.
The boss demands respect--The leader commands respect

Sardar jokes : a paradigm shift ?

 Received this by email :-

We all love Sardar jokes. ... right ?

But do you know that Sikhs are one of the hardest working prosperous and diversified communities in the world.

My friend told me about the following incident which I wish to share with you.
It has had a deep impact on my thinking.  

During last vacation, his few friends came to Delhi . They rented a taxi for local sight-seeing. The driver was an old Sardar and boys being boys,  these pals began cracking Sardarji jokes, just to tease the old man.. But to their surprise, the fellow remained unperturbed.

At the end of the sight-seeing, they paid the cab hire-charges. The Sardar returned the change, but he gave each one of them one rupee extra and said, ''Son, since morning you have been telling Sardarji jokes.. I listened to them all and let me tell you, some of them were in bad taste. Still, I don't mind coz I know that you are young blood and are yet to see the world..

But I have one request. I am giving you one rupee each. Give it to the first Sardar beggar that you come across in this or any other city.'

My friend continued,* ' That one rupee coin is still with me. I couldn't find a single Sardar begging anywhere.'

MORAL:
The secret behind their universal success, is their willingness to do any job with utmost dedication and pride. A Sardar will drive a truck or set up a roadside garage or a dhaba, put a fruit juice stall, take up small time carpentry, ... but he will never beg on the streets

Basic Food Guidelines

Replace white sugar with organic jaggery.
Replace refined oil with cold-pressed/ ghani oil of any seed.
Replace refined salt with rock salt [sindhav] and sea salt.
Replace white rice and refined flour with brown unpolished rice and whole flour.
Replace junk foods with whole natural organic foods.
Add millets,spirulina[powder only],flax seed, alfalfa seeds, walnuts, almonds to your diet.
Drink milk only if you like it and organic if possible.
Eat fresh seasonal fruits but never after meals.
Vegetables are safest and best foods for health, demand organic ones.
Get morning/evening sunshine.
Be active and be involved with life.
Remember all illness first originates in the mind.
Meditate and have faith in the Devine plan.
[collection]

Choose Your Destiny

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Choose your words, for they become actions.

Understand your actions, for they become habits.

Study your habits, for they become your character. 

Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.

~ Tryon Edwards

Youngest Headmaster

Sixteen-year-old Babar Ali at Mushirabad, West Bengal, is perhaps the youngest head master in the world, teaching hundreds of students in his family's backyard, where he runs classes for poor children from his village.

Salt Stories

The Myth:It is unlucky to spill salt as it brings bad luck but throwing a pinch of salt over your left shoulder can rid you of the Devil's hold.
The Fact: Salt was once a rare and costly commodity and hence, spilling it would be a loss and therefore unlucky for the person who has spilled it. Also, the negetive association of spilling salt being unlucky may have originated from the painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo da vinci, in which the betrayer Judas has accidentally spilled salt. However, salt is a purifier {can kill germs}, a preservative, and symbolises the good and lasting qualities of life. It was also mixed into the foods used in the religious ceremonies of both the Greeks and Romans. Hence, throwing salt is is also a method of pueification and that of keeping out the negetive[ symbolised as the Devil].

Einstein on knowledge and intelligence

* Information is not knowledge.

* The only source of knowledge is experience.

* Imagination is more important than knowledge.

* The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.

Husband divorced, not books--Take a leaf out of Bula's book

A clipping from The Telegraph

Husband divorced, not books - Barred from going to school, 16-year-old walks out of marriage

ALAMGIR HOSSAIN

Moregram (Murshidabad), Dec. 28: A Muslim girl in Murshidabad has divorced her husband because he would not let her go to school. Sixteen-year-old Bula Khatoon had agreed to get married on the condition that her father would persuade the 24-year-old groom to let her study. He was not so persuaded and she walked out on him. The Class X girl is back at Moregram High School again, dumping a life only of cooking and chores. “When I found that my husband was only interested in letting me cook for the family and do the household chores, I revolted. I told him I always wanted to study and would not stop now because of marriage. I was under the impression that my husband had agreed. But he refused to allow me to study. So, I returned home,” said Bula. In his eagerness to get her married, her father had not even raised her terms with her prospective in-laws. Nizam Sheikh, a mason who had never been to school, said: “I had assured her that she could continue with her studies in the hope that I would be able to persuade my son-in-law about it.” “I had also thought that maybe my daughter would give up her wish to study after marriage,” he added. After her wedding before a qazi — a Muslim marriage registrar — on April 21, Bula had left for her in-laws’ at Nalhati in Birbhum, 20km away. According to Muslim personal law, a girl can get married after 15. The man Bula had married, Ejajul Sheikh, ran a mobile repairing shop. He had taken it for granted that she would busy herself in household work after the wedding. “When I came home with my husband a week after our marriage, I told him I will not return before my Madhyamik exams (in February 2010). My husband wanted to take me back to his house. But I refused. My parents, my elder brother, sister and all our neighbours insisted that I return. But it was my determination to study that kept me back,” the teenager said. As her husband and in-laws would not relent, Bula went through a mutual divorce in September. The girl cleared her selection tests for the secondary exams earlier this month. Bula is Nizam’s third child and already the most educated in the family. Her elder brother Taherul has studied up to Class V and elder sister Rezina till Class VIII. Her younger brothers Zahirul and Jaman are in Class IX and Class V. Moregram High School headmaster, Ujjal Chowdhury, said Bula was a sincere student. “When she got married, we thought her fate would be the same as many of our students’. But we had a pleasant surprise when she started attending school again after about 10 days,” he said. “We are trying to encourage her in her studies,” the teacher added. Bula admitted it had not been easy for her. Ejajul conceded that he had got married primarily because the family needed someone to cook and do the chores. “I needed a homemaker, someone who would cook and look after the family as my mother had died about a year ago. But when I saw how resolute she was about her studies, I agreed to a mutual divorce,” he said. The two of them went for divorce to the same qazi who had got them married five months before. Maulana Qazi Haibotullah said he had conducted at least 60 divorce cases over the years, but not one of them had been because the woman wanted to study. Nizam said that when he got his daughter married, he had half a wish that her son-in-law would agree to let her study. Now that the marriage has been annulled, he promised he would encourage his daughter to keep studying.

Hi Anita,

Welcome to our All Bank Ladies Circle.I am very happy that u joined this circle. At least fruit started coming for our effort. now it is your turn. convince your friends and make thm to joion. and also start contributing.Once again welcome.

Be Good To You

Be Yourself ~ Truthfully
Accept Yourself ~ Gracefully
Value Yourself ~ Joyfully
Forgive Yourself ~ Completely
Treat Yourself ~ Generously
Balance Yourself ~ Harmoniously
Bless Yourself ~ Abundantly
Trust Yourself ~ Confidently
Love Yourself ~ Wholeheartedly
Empower Yourself ~ Prayerfully
Give Of Yourself ~ Enthusiastically
Express Yourself ~ Radiantly

Author Unknown

Happy New Year

WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY BRIGHT,HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR