The Angry Man

                

Getting angry is not bad. But if we get angry, we really don't know how to show our anger. Many of us mostly show our anger on the things around us. We show our anger on the remote or sometimes on the footwear we wear or many times on the door of a room. I have seen many people getting angry and showing it on the receiver of the phone or mobile. Here is a story of such a man who got very angry.

There was a young man named Raghu in a village. He used to get angry and irritated very easily. Young blood- may be the reason. When people become matured they really realise what they are doing. He used lose his temper and abuse the people and things around him. He sometimes even used to lose his self-control. He understood what he was doing was wrong but couldn't control.

There was another old and wise man in the next village. He was calm and poised guided everyone. Many people used to visit him for advice. Even Raghu heard about him and thought that the old man can help him solve his issues. So, he planned to visit him the next day.

The next day he left his home and on the way he met his very close friend. His close friend didn't know where Raghu was going and stopped and started chatting with him. Though, Raghu tried to explain that he was in a hurry, his friend didn't allow him to go. he continued chatting for half-an-hour before Raghu could move. Raghu got wild and angry. He walked very fast and reached the old man's house in the next village. The old man was sitting outside. Raghu didn't even wish him. He just threw his footwear aside and went inside the house and banged the door.

The old man noticed that Raghu was angry from his face and his behaviour and kept quite. After about 15 minutes Raghu came out and fell on the feet of the old man and asked his forgiveness and his help.

The old man said, " Sorry I can neither forgive you nor help you."

Raghu was shocked and looked at the old man. The old man continued, " My dear young man you first go and ask your forgiveness from the footwear and the door on which you showed your anger."

Raghu asked, " But sir, Why? They are just things."

The old man said, "But until and unless you ask forgiveness from them, I can't help you."

So, Raghu went to his footwear, arranged it neatly and asked forgiveness saying, "My dear footwear I am sorry that I showed my anger on you." In the same way he asked forgiveness from the door. But, as soon as he asked forgiveness from his footwear and the door, he felt relieved and light.

He went to the old man and said, " Thank you sir now I am relieved and feeling light."

The old man said, " Now everything is fine. You can really understand what I tell you now."

And continued saying, " See, my dear young man, when we are angry we start thinking that even footwear and door that are actually lifeless has life. Sometimes we even start fighting with the things that are around us. We actually forget that the problem is with us and show on things or people around us. We should think with a calm mind before we show throw our temper tantrums on someone or something."

Minimalism

I have heard a lot about 'Minimalism' and 'Minimalist lifestyle'. Though, all of us know about it, we very rarely follow it and make it our lifestyle.

I recently attended a workshop and we spoke about minimalism. I heard my trainer say " Minimalism is actually not having less, but making room for more of what matters."

Its really true and in this line I would like to share a beautiful story which is going to be short and crisp.

Here it goes....

Once a man lived who very much believed that he can buy anything and everything he wants with money. He was a spendthrift you can say, as he used to buy whatever he wanted. He never worried whether he really wanted it or whether there would be space in his house or not. He just spent money. For him, money was everything and he felt that spending on costly and branded things was a status symbol. 

Once he went to meet his friend. His friend had bought a beautiful car. When he saw the car he really wanted to buy one. But he also wanted a test drive. So, he requested his friend to lend the car for a drive. His friend was really happy and lent the car. He drove the car and took the car to the highway road. He was so enthused that he started driving at top speed. Another car crossed him and the driver of that car came so close by that the door along the driver side got stuck to that car and broke.

The other car didn't wait, it just took the broken door along. He stopped the car and started shouting "Door....Door..." The traffic inspector standing along the sides of the road, came running and asked him why he was shouting for the door. He should be more worried as his hands were amputated by the other car. He again started shouting.

The policeman said, " Don't worry. Come let's go to the hospital."

He said, " I am not shouting for my hand. I had recently bought a gold watch with diamonds, I am shouting for that. It is stuck to my broken hand."

Though, the story may seem funny and illogical, its just a story. But, what we have to learn from it is that, many of us are not worried about what is very much essential for us. We are very much worried about money and the things that we buy with it. If we really want to live a life with peace, we need to start thinking about minimalism and making room for what we really want. 

The man in the story was not worried about his lost hand which would have been essential for his living. He was very much worried about the car door and his gold watch. 

Peace of Mind!

In this fast paced world, I hear many say that they are not peaceful , though they have everything. Here is a beautiful story for such people.

Once there was a king, who had everything. His people were good, his treasury was always filled, he had a beautiful family, good ministers, and his people were satisfied with his rule. But he lacked on thing- mental peace. He was restless all the time and realised that he has lost his peace of mind. He searched everywhere but couldn't find. He consulted his ministers and many scholars. None of their suggested ways or answers satisfied him. He called all sages and hermits in his kingdom and consulted them. But, lo! Again. Their answers couldn't solve his issues.

One day, while he was loitering in his garden and thinking about his issue. He heard a beggar singing happily on the roads. He could say that the beggar was really happy and peaceful. The king immediately sent for him as he wanted to ask him how he was so happy.

The beggar sent word back that he won't step into the palace and if the king really wants to meet him, then the king has to come out. The soldiers informed the king the beggar's message. Instead of getting angry, the king felt even more inquisitive to know how the beggar was so free and happy. So, he went to the streets to meet the beggar.

"How are you so happy? I saw you singing so happily. How can you be so happy even though you don't have anything?", said the King.

"Why are you asking me this?" asked the beggar.

The king replied, "No...I have everything a person could ask for in this world inside the palace. Still, I cannot find peace of mind. I am not able to find the real reason. I have asked many from ministers to spiritual leaders. But none could give me a reason. I thought you could solve my problem, so asked you."

The beggar started laughing. The king couldn't understand why he was laughing. Still he waited for an answer. 

The beggar said, "Leave the palace."

The king asked," How can I leave the palace? I have so many duties to complete as a king."

The beggar again said, " You cannot have two birds in one hand. If you want  to be a king and still want peace, it is never going to happen. You can have only one at a time. Look at me. I neither have the riches nor the responsibilities of a king. I am a free man. I don't need to worry that something will go away from me. I am not worried about my power. That's the real reason for my happiness."

The king became really happy with the answer. He gave the gold chain that he was wearing to the beggar. But, the beggar denied it and said "If I get that from you I will lose my peace of mind as I will be thinking various ways to protect and save it. I don't need it."

Then, the king really understood that he wouldn't get real peace of mind and he also understood that he would never get it. 

We are running behind riches and power, that we have really forgotten what is real peace of mind and we really can achieve it if we forego all our attachments and greed to earn more. We are running behind money thinking that we want it for spending our final stages of life. But, we have forgotten that we are losing the present thinking about the future. 

" 

Doubtful Man

" Our doubts are traitors,
   and make us lose the good we oft might win,
   by fearing to attempt."
- William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.


Doubting is not totally wrong. But some people lose everything by simply not believing on anything and everything around them. It is a kind of disease I should say.

Here is a beautiful story I am going to tell you today!

Once a man had this disease of "Doubting". He just couldn't believe anything and he always needed a proof or assurance to believe on something or someone. Once, he and his wife went on a trip. They had booked a beautiful suite to stay in a hotel along the beach side. They checked into the hotel and his wife was pretty excited. They went to the beach and enjoyed. It became dark, they had dinner and came back to their room to retire for the night.

But, the man seemed worried. He was restless and was not able to sleep.
Seeing him in such a condition, his wife became restless and asked him, "Honey, you seemed very much worried. We've come to a beautiful place and we had a great evening at the beach. But, I feel you are very restless. What happened?"

He replied, " Dear, I know these hotel people have some hidden cameras in this room. That is making me really restless."

She said, " But how are you so sure about it? It's a good hotel and they won't do anything like that to spoil their reputation."

"Haven't you heard about America's Watergate fraud? All these things happen everywhere. You can't rely on anyone", he said.

She was not satisfied. Yet, he started searching the whole room. He moved all the furniture, opened the cupboards, checked even under the bed. Finally, he opened the carpet and found a copper plate with four screws in each corner. He opened his suitcase, took out the screwdriver he had and removed the screws, and put the carpet back, and went back to sleep.

He slept peacefully that night.

The next morning, they heard a knock on the door. They opened the door and found the hotel manager and the employees standing there.

They were shocked to see them so early in the morning.
The manager asked, " Did you have a peaceful sleep yesterday night sir?"

"Yes of course."
" No problems right?"
"Not at all. Why are you asking me so, sir?", the man asked.

The manager replied, " Good sir. But, there was an accident in the first floor yesterday night in the room below yours. A newly married couple have come to spend their lovely time here. The beautiful hanging lamp had fallen on them yesterday night and they got stuck under it."

It is always good to be cautious and protective. But, the same cautiousness should not lead you to over-cautiousness and trouble to others. As Shakespeare has said our doubts becomes our traitors at times and it leads to a lot of complications not only to us but also to people who are related to us.

Alexander the Great, and His Hope

This is a beautiful story that I read recently and thought I should share with you all today.

Hope and belief are two beautiful words which I should say, runs the human life like the axis of this earth. Without axis the whole world will turn topsy-turvy. If you have to live a peaceful life you have to have the hope that this life is going to be beautiful and peaceful. Whether we achieve want we aim for is different, but we first need to have the hope that we would achieve.
There is a beautiful quote which all of us have come across " Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness." If we don't have hope it is very difficult to live in this world. For example, an athlete takes part in any athletic event with a hope that he would win the first place. In the same way when we go to a coffee shop to have coffee, we go with a hope that the coffee there would really taste out-of-the-world. If we even get the slightest of doubt that the coffee would not be good or it would be poisoned, we can never relish the coffee there.

A man needs hope to survive and win in this world. Alexander's story is a fine example for that.

We all know how Alexander went around the world with a hope that he would conquer around the world. When they reached the banks of River Cydnus (now known as River Berdan) which is to the south of Turkey, Alexander fell sick with a disease which affects only the people living in that area. That time that part of the country belonged to the Persian empire. The doctors in Alexander's troop were not well versed in treating the disease. They have to rely on the doctor's in the Persian empire's court. The Persian emperor was Alexander's enemy. Now, everyone in Alexander's army were worried. But, Alexander told them to call the doctors from the Persian court. They sent for the doctor and the doctor arrived. He checked Alexander and told that he would bring medicine in two days time.

Everyone in Alexander's army did not believe the doctor. They felt that the doctor would poison Alexander and kill him. But, Alexander didn't worry. He waited for the doctor to come. Before the doctor arrived one of the captains in Alexander's army wrote a letter to him stating that he may be poisoned by the doctor. Alexander read the letter but didn't care much about the letter.

The doctor came with the medicine in two days time as promised. Alexander did not question him anything about the medicine, but had it. Then, he spoke about the poison that was mentioned in the letter. The doctor was really moved by the belief and hope that Alexander had on him.

After this Alexander said to the doctor, " Doctor, the whole world rotates based only the axis called "HOPE". If we don't have hope and belief we wouldn't have remained humans. Though, the Persian emperor is my enemy, he is still much older and experienced than me. He will never employ a person who doesn't have professional integrity. I believed that Persian emperor would never employ a doctor in his court who doesn't have any integrity. The same hope and belief has saved me today."

Hope is very important for a person to be happy! We always set alarm for the next day only with a hope that we would get up to see a new day!

Tame Your Monkey Mind- A Food for Thought!

Maayur was a small village. There was a small school in Maayur. But, many a parents weren't much interested in sending their kids to  school. The school had a master.

Once, as usual, the master was taking his classes. He noticed a boy day- dreaming. The boy wasn't much interested in attending the class the master was taking. The master called the boy and asked him what the matter was and why he wasn't paying much attention to the class. 

The boy told the master, " Sir, my father bought a pet monkey for me yesterday. I have left the monkey in the attic. But, I am very much worried about my monkey. I am thinking about him."

The master said, " Do not worry. I will give you a week holiday. There is a cave in the mountain. You can go to the cave and keep thinking about the monkey. Next week you come back to school."

The boy left the class. The master had thought that once the boy's enthusiasm about the new pet comes down, he may concentrate in the class. 

The master called him and asked " Hey, have you finished thinking about your monkey?"

"Yes master. I won't think about my monkey anymore."

The master was pretty excited and asked, "Then, why don't you sit down?"

The boy replied, " I can't sit anymore. My tail is disturbing me if I sit on the bench."

The master was really amused. As the boy was thinking about the monkey, he had acquired the characteristics of a monkey.

One who thinks good attracts good. 

We can look at this story in a different angle too! 

We realize that the boy wants to forget about his monkey, but, finally he acquires the characteristics of a monkey as he isn't able to forget about it. Similarly, in today's world, we, human beings are stuck up in a vicious circle. The more we want to come out of it, the deeper we get stuck. Our mind wants to forget certain incidents that happen to us,but, instead, it gets deeper into our mind and heart as we keep thinking about it day in and day out. 

We have to try to tame our monkey mind, to come out of the complexities of life. 

Life is simple! Try to keep it simple! 

Known Devil is Better than Unknown Angel-Food for Thought!

Amanbir was a rich and wealthy man. He had everything that would keep him happy. But, so to his name, he was fighting for peace of mind. He was always worried about the things happening around him. He wanted to know what was running in his wife's mind or what his son was doing with the business. 

He went to meet a sage. He met him and put forth his thoughts. He wanted to know the answers for the questions that were troubling him day and night. The sage asked him to stay back that night. 
He gave him good food. Amanbir ate to his fill and the sage gave him a comfortable mattress to sleep. He lied down and the sage sat next to him. The sage started telling him a story.

" Once there was a man. He was travelling to another village. He was carrying a bundle of cloth on his head. He came to the railway station and got into a train. The train started. He found a comfortable place and sat down, but, he didn't keep the bundle down, that he was carrying. 

The man sitting next to him recommended to keep the bundle down. He said, " Poor train already it is carrying so many passengers, why to put my burden on it. I will carry my own burden.""

Amanbir started laughing after hearing to the story. The sage asked him why was he laughing. Amanbir said, " He is a fool. Can't he carry the bundle once he gets down from the train?". He continued asking, " By the way, Swamiji, who is he?"

The Sage said " It is you." 

He continued." This life is like the train journey. If you are carrying your burden for life long, you'll never be able to lead a peaceful life. Whatever you need, only that you carry. The rest you leave behind."

After hearing to the story, Amanbir slept off peacefully. When he woke up next morning, he found the sage standing next to him. The sage asked him to get up and lift the pillow. When he lifted the pillow he found a snake sleeping underneath.  He was shocked to see the snake.

He asked the sage " What is this Swamiji?"

The sage said, " You had a snake sleeping right next to you, yet, you slept very well. How is it possible?"

Amanbir was unable to answer. The Sage continued, " Your heart doesn't know the secret of a snake sleeping next to you, so you slept very well." 

Amanbir understood that it is better to be happy with known devil than the unknown angel. Certain things are better unknown if it keeps us at peace.