"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"
Rocky Balboa
Speaking to his son in Rocky Balboa (2006)
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
A friend who cares.
"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."
- Henry Nouwen in his book 'Out of Solitude'
- Henry Nouwen in his book 'Out of Solitude'
Thursday, January 18, 2007
A beautiful poem- by Russell Kelfer
You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God' plan in mind,
And thy bear the master's seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And, God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You 've been formed by the master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God' plan in mind,
And thy bear the master's seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And, God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You 've been formed by the master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
True Christianity: Wonder what its heart is?
I recently had the chance of reading a book titled,'Meeting Jesus Once again for the First time'- By Marcus.J.Borg, A Jesus scholar. He says, many people have an idea of Jesus that confines itself religious texts, he started to dig in the Jesus outside of the our religious texts and traditions. It's unfortunate for me to leave the book in London for I was devouring its first chapters.Its an amazing read. Some revelations in it are here for your perusal.
When God said, 'Be holy for I am Holy'. The Jews and religious people at that time equated that 'Be pure for I am pure' sensing it as clinical purity in its essence. They turned out to be very meticulous in following the nitty-gritty's of the tradition of sabbath and all other requisites of the religious law loosing the things of heart, God's character etc.. especially the most important ones. They were never able to realise in the centuries till Jesus came in of the error in interpreting the command faultily.
Jesus showed when God said 'Be Holy for I am Holy' as 'Be Compassionate for I am Compassionate'. Never ever they were told that Holiness meant wholeness in heart which is instinctually compassionate. I would encourage anyone who's interested to get and read it.One word for Jesus ministry is compassion- healing sick on sabbath breaking traditional laws, feeding thousands, setting bound set free...
Man, That was quite a revelation for me. I find still so many people who were totally missing out the essence in their religious pursuits and becoming obsessively and dogmatically attached to religious tradition where there is no heart or concern for people.
The word that has to be synonymous with Christianity should be Compassion.
Compassion
1. a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
2. the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
When God said, 'Be holy for I am Holy'. The Jews and religious people at that time equated that 'Be pure for I am pure' sensing it as clinical purity in its essence. They turned out to be very meticulous in following the nitty-gritty's of the tradition of sabbath and all other requisites of the religious law loosing the things of heart, God's character etc.. especially the most important ones. They were never able to realise in the centuries till Jesus came in of the error in interpreting the command faultily.
Jesus showed when God said 'Be Holy for I am Holy' as 'Be Compassionate for I am Compassionate'. Never ever they were told that Holiness meant wholeness in heart which is instinctually compassionate. I would encourage anyone who's interested to get and read it.One word for Jesus ministry is compassion- healing sick on sabbath breaking traditional laws, feeding thousands, setting bound set free...
Man, That was quite a revelation for me. I find still so many people who were totally missing out the essence in their religious pursuits and becoming obsessively and dogmatically attached to religious tradition where there is no heart or concern for people.
The word that has to be synonymous with Christianity should be Compassion.
Compassion
1. a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
2. the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
Monday, January 01, 2007
New year resolution? No. New year Prayer. Yes
Maximus in Gladiator says,'I am a slave,I can die today here in prison or in the arena tomorrow, What difference can I make?'
I think many times like that. Dont you?
Slave to the many imaginary worries,living a prisoner cluttered with unnecessary things,feelings,emotions... What difference can I make?
Pause...
Have you ever seen a dead fish on the waterfalls carried in the direction of a water current? Then a living one,swimming upstream?
As long as your fist sized heart beats, we can......We have the opportunity to change... set sights on new horizons.... Our opportunity stops when our beats stop, till that time.. Lets dance to our heart beats... Lets rock
You never know of the difference you make. Just being the real you, the mere being of you. You though flawed can wipe some tears. touch and inspire some hearts. You never know. Dont allow you to rob you of your better self.
At this year 2007, the first day. My Newyear prayer is 'thank you for 2006,God make me what YOU want me to be...'.
I think many times like that. Dont you?
Slave to the many imaginary worries,living a prisoner cluttered with unnecessary things,feelings,emotions... What difference can I make?
Pause...
Have you ever seen a dead fish on the waterfalls carried in the direction of a water current? Then a living one,swimming upstream?
As long as your fist sized heart beats, we can......We have the opportunity to change... set sights on new horizons.... Our opportunity stops when our beats stop, till that time.. Lets dance to our heart beats... Lets rock
You never know of the difference you make. Just being the real you, the mere being of you. You though flawed can wipe some tears. touch and inspire some hearts. You never know. Dont allow you to rob you of your better self.
At this year 2007, the first day. My Newyear prayer is 'thank you for 2006,God make me what YOU want me to be...'.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
If God is there, Why pain,sorrow....?
A man went to a barbershop to have his
hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to
work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God,
the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you
just have to go out in the street to realize that God
doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be
so many sick people? Would there be abandoned
children? If God existed, there would be neither
suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of
these things." The customer thought for a moment, but
didn't respond because he didn't want to start an
argument. The barber finished his job and the customer
left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he
saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair
and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop
again and he said to the barber: "You know what?
Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on
you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist
because if they did, there would be no people with
dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man
outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when
people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point!
God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people
do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.
That's! why there's so much pain and suffering in the
world."
Source: My friends forward
hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to
work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God,
the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you
just have to go out in the street to realize that God
doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be
so many sick people? Would there be abandoned
children? If God existed, there would be neither
suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of
these things." The customer thought for a moment, but
didn't respond because he didn't want to start an
argument. The barber finished his job and the customer
left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he
saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair
and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop
again and he said to the barber: "You know what?
Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on
you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist
because if they did, there would be no people with
dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man
outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when
people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point!
God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people
do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.
That's! why there's so much pain and suffering in the
world."
Source: My friends forward
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Criteria for your would be.....Here's my say.
I find most of the people, my friends all having the profile of their would be.
I have something to say here because what I feel is different.
My theory as well as my practice about these things can be explained in a few lines.
Everyone mostly girls say they need some one really tall, handsome, very funny etc...
I always find most of the girls saying these.The same with men as well. They say something really different n funny, not like the girls who mostly say the same thing.
I dont think, having a shopping list of characteristics, attributes and skills, and ticking them is a good way to arrive who to be your would be.
Dont you think, there are some things which are more important than these attributes, skills, characteristics of your would be?
Are you willing to slaughter those important ones which are deeper that no eyes can see, and which can only be felt in your heart than in your mind reacting to what attributes come in the external?
My friends, I might be crazy here saying these.
Life is more than these attributes,skills, shots of fame and list of characteristics you look in your would be.
My wish is that you would look intently on the important ones than these shallow ones.
I have something to say here because what I feel is different.
My theory as well as my practice about these things can be explained in a few lines.
Everyone mostly girls say they need some one really tall, handsome, very funny etc...
I always find most of the girls saying these.The same with men as well. They say something really different n funny, not like the girls who mostly say the same thing.
I dont think, having a shopping list of characteristics, attributes and skills, and ticking them is a good way to arrive who to be your would be.
Dont you think, there are some things which are more important than these attributes, skills, characteristics of your would be?
Are you willing to slaughter those important ones which are deeper that no eyes can see, and which can only be felt in your heart than in your mind reacting to what attributes come in the external?
My friends, I might be crazy here saying these.
Life is more than these attributes,skills, shots of fame and list of characteristics you look in your would be.
My wish is that you would look intently on the important ones than these shallow ones.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Where Real Change starts?
The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow our minds to dwell upon. It is in our thoughts that the first movements toward the renovation of the heart occur. Thoughts are the place where we can and must begin to change.
-- Dallas Williard
-- Dallas Williard
I Created You!
One day, as usually was the case, a young waif, a little girl, stood at the street corner begging for food, money or whatever she could get. Now this girl was wearing very tattered clothes; she was dirty and quite disheveled.
As it happens, a well-to-do young man passed that corner without giving the girl a second look. But when he returned to his expensive home, his happy and comfortable family, and his well-laden dinner table, his thoughts returned to the young waif and he became very angry at God for allowing such conditions to exist.
He reproached God, saying, "How can you let this happens? Why don't you do something to help this girl?"
Then he heard God in the depths of his being respond by saying, "I did. I created You!"
By Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R., The Sower's Seeds
As it happens, a well-to-do young man passed that corner without giving the girl a second look. But when he returned to his expensive home, his happy and comfortable family, and his well-laden dinner table, his thoughts returned to the young waif and he became very angry at God for allowing such conditions to exist.
He reproached God, saying, "How can you let this happens? Why don't you do something to help this girl?"
Then he heard God in the depths of his being respond by saying, "I did. I created You!"
By Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R., The Sower's Seeds
Shallowness
A journalist one day asked the Master to name one thing that characterizes the Modern World.
The Master unhesitatingly replied, "People every day know more and more about the Cosmos and less and less about themselves."
And to an astronomer who held him spellbound with the wonders of modern astronomy the Master suddenly said, "Of all the millions of strange objects in the universe the black holes and quasars and pulsars? the strangest, unquestionably, is the self!"
By Anthony de Mello, One Minute Wisdom
The Master unhesitatingly replied, "People every day know more and more about the Cosmos and less and less about themselves."
And to an astronomer who held him spellbound with the wonders of modern astronomy the Master suddenly said, "Of all the millions of strange objects in the universe the black holes and quasars and pulsars? the strangest, unquestionably, is the self!"
By Anthony de Mello, One Minute Wisdom
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Marketing Concepts
You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to herand say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" That's Direct Marketing
One of your friends points at you and says: "He's very rich. Marry him." That's Advertising
You go up to her and get her telephone number. Thenext day, you call and say: "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." That's Telemarketing
You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to herand pour her a drink, you open the door of the car forher, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer herride and then say: "By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?" That's Public Relations
She walks up to you and says: "You are very rich! Can you marry me?" That's Brand Recognition
You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hardslap on your face. That's Customer Feedback
You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you toher husband. That's demand and supply gap.
Before you say anything, another person comes and tells her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?" and she goeswith him That's competition eating into your market share
Before you say: "I'm rich, Marry me!" your wife arrives. That's restriction for entering new markets
Source: My friend's forward
One of your friends points at you and says: "He's very rich. Marry him." That's Advertising
You go up to her and get her telephone number. Thenext day, you call and say: "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." That's Telemarketing
You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to herand pour her a drink, you open the door of the car forher, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer herride and then say: "By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?" That's Public Relations
She walks up to you and says: "You are very rich! Can you marry me?" That's Brand Recognition
You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hardslap on your face. That's Customer Feedback
You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you toher husband. That's demand and supply gap.
Before you say anything, another person comes and tells her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?" and she goeswith him That's competition eating into your market share
Before you say: "I'm rich, Marry me!" your wife arrives. That's restriction for entering new markets
Source: My friend's forward
Friday, October 06, 2006
'Under me lies a great truth'
A man found on the road a large stone bearing the words, “Under me lies a great truth.” The man strained to turn the stone over and finally succeeded. On the bottom was written, “Why do you want a new truth when you do not practice what you already know?”
Sourced by Internet
Sourced by Internet
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
What a beauty?: 2 kinds
Remember the days, when I used to have crushes on every beautiful girl , I see.
Beautiful are they, I wonder sometimes still. Beauty of this kind I think makes me feel somewhat crazy, foolish. Hmm, You know what I say. That mild infatuated heart. Haha, How many castles I ve built in my dreams and the same number of them demolished with quick meditations of reality checks. Is this the only side effect of admiration of beauty all about?
No, I dont believe.
But there is a beauty which is very different of its kind.
Let me say about this beauty...
The fragile baby looking & smiling at you.
The old granny wrinkled face smiling and thanking you.
The hugs of your close friends.
The holding of your hands by your loved ones.
etc...
The rainbow in a clear sky
Beautiful dawn & yellowish dusk
Serene Beach waves & coconut trees
Meadow of grasslands, mountains, valleys
etc..
Beauty. Very Sublime.
When I sense this, I feel happy that I m alive.
My Great Lord, Thank You for creating me alive!
Beautiful are they, I wonder sometimes still. Beauty of this kind I think makes me feel somewhat crazy, foolish. Hmm, You know what I say. That mild infatuated heart. Haha, How many castles I ve built in my dreams and the same number of them demolished with quick meditations of reality checks. Is this the only side effect of admiration of beauty all about?
No, I dont believe.
But there is a beauty which is very different of its kind.
Let me say about this beauty...
The fragile baby looking & smiling at you.
The old granny wrinkled face smiling and thanking you.
The hugs of your close friends.
The holding of your hands by your loved ones.
etc...
The rainbow in a clear sky
Beautiful dawn & yellowish dusk
Serene Beach waves & coconut trees
Meadow of grasslands, mountains, valleys
etc..
Beauty. Very Sublime.
When I sense this, I feel happy that I m alive.
My Great Lord, Thank You for creating me alive!
One Favorite Tagline
Bond's tagline for Reid & Taylor impressed me much, it is:
You pass this way once
Do it in style .
You pass this way once
Do it in style .
Fun in being me.
No two fingerprints are the same.
Each one is unique. Some are happy abt that others are not.
So many friends & people, I admire. I desire to be like them. Yeah, They have what I want and they are how I like myself to be.
Its so good to be them rather than being me. But, If I become them, their imitators, what becomes of me. Who can be me then?
In 'Pontiac Moon', one of my favorite feel good movies, the professor tells his students,' You are already the first prize winners in a running race, You came into this world, after winning that race. You are one in the billions of sperms that fought the race, you won to become you.'
Yeah, Your genes are so genuinely configured so that you can be like you are.
I m unique in someway or other.
I should start accepting me, treating myself with some respect atleast.
I should start having fun in being me.
I should understand myself and my being rather than researching others.
....
Each one is unique. Some are happy abt that others are not.
So many friends & people, I admire. I desire to be like them. Yeah, They have what I want and they are how I like myself to be.
Its so good to be them rather than being me. But, If I become them, their imitators, what becomes of me. Who can be me then?
In 'Pontiac Moon', one of my favorite feel good movies, the professor tells his students,' You are already the first prize winners in a running race, You came into this world, after winning that race. You are one in the billions of sperms that fought the race, you won to become you.'
Yeah, Your genes are so genuinely configured so that you can be like you are.
I m unique in someway or other.
I should start accepting me, treating myself with some respect atleast.
I should start having fun in being me.
I should understand myself and my being rather than researching others.
....
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Missing & Tears
Lilting music in the air... Smooth and gentle mellifluous aura inside the head.
Full volume, Eyes closed.
Music goes on...
Half volume is gone. Eyes open to check why. The right earphones fell due to jerk of the tube stopping. The destination I need to go has come. I walk out carrying my bag, readjusting my earphones.
Full volume, Music gently plays inside...
I walk out and take the escalator, I reach the exit. looks like music orchestrates the People walking around.
I check my time & I look ahead.
I see...
A girl with tears laden eyes leaves her boyfriend in the station, as they part with a kiss. Tears are excessive. She couldnt hold herself, she starts to movefastly from her boyfriend, not to show her superfluous tears.
In my head, the music still plays on, gentle & smooth.
Its like a movie scene where there are no actors. For a movie buff like me, Real life like characters on screen impress me very much.
As my analytic heart wants to analyse, I stopped.
Where is the connection, why do we cry in those circumstances?....
....................................
...................................
Hmm, I know now.
Its because we r humans.
Full volume, Eyes closed.
Music goes on...
Half volume is gone. Eyes open to check why. The right earphones fell due to jerk of the tube stopping. The destination I need to go has come. I walk out carrying my bag, readjusting my earphones.
Full volume, Music gently plays inside...
I walk out and take the escalator, I reach the exit. looks like music orchestrates the People walking around.
I check my time & I look ahead.
I see...
A girl with tears laden eyes leaves her boyfriend in the station, as they part with a kiss. Tears are excessive. She couldnt hold herself, she starts to movefastly from her boyfriend, not to show her superfluous tears.
In my head, the music still plays on, gentle & smooth.
Its like a movie scene where there are no actors. For a movie buff like me, Real life like characters on screen impress me very much.
As my analytic heart wants to analyse, I stopped.
Where is the connection, why do we cry in those circumstances?....
....................................
...................................
Hmm, I know now.
Its because we r humans.
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