Baby Birds and the Sea

There is a very old but quite interesting story.

It is said that once the sea swallowed the children of a bird.
The bird pleaded to the sea to return his children -
But the sea refused.
The bird flapped its wings in anger, saying that if the sea did not return its children, he would dry it out.
Hearing this, the sea laughed.
While flying on the surface of the sea, the bird fluttered its wings and tried to dry it.

Another bird saw this - and asked what he was doing.
The first bird said - the sea has swallowed my children - I will dry it by blowing wind with my wings.
The second bird said - how can that be possible?
This sea is so vast and you are so small.

The first bird replied -
'If you want to help me, then do it - otherwise do not waste time talking nonsense.
Hearing this, the other bird also started to flap its wings with him to dry out the sea.

Seeing them, many more birds gathered there to enquire what they were doing.
The two birds told them that the sea has swallowed the children - now we are going to dry it to retrieve the baby birds.
The flock of those birds also said the same thing - that it is impossible.
"Even if you keep trying all your lives, you will not be able to dry the sea' They said.

The two birds replied - 'If you want to help, then do it - otherwise do not waste time talking nonsense.
Hearing this, all those birds also joined them.

Slowly more birds kept on coming and saying the same thing that it's not possible - and they kept getting the same answer -
'If you want to help, then do it - otherwise do not waste time talking nonsense.

Within a few hours, millions of birds gathered there and after going through the same conversation, all of them started flapping their wings to dry the sea.

Eventually, the news reached the Pakshiraj Garuda - the king of birds.
Garuda sent a message that even billions of birds will not be able to dry the sea. Therefore, it is useless to try.
And he also got the same response - 'If you want to help, then do it - otherwise do not waste time talking nonsense.
On hearing this, Garuda also decided to join them.

Seeing Garuda leaving, Lord Vishnu asked "Where are you going?"
Garuda told the whole story and said he was going to help the birds.
Lord Vishnu said - Do you think that it would be possible for the birds to dry the sea?
Garuda said - 'Maharaj, If you want to help, then do it - otherwise do not waste time talking nonsense.

Lord Vishnu laughed and said - 'Alright - in that case, I will also come with you.

When the sea saw Lord Vishnu coming along with Garuda to help the birds, he got scared.
He promptly returned the birds to their parents, and with folded hands, prayed for forgiveness.

The story is undoubtedly unique - interesting but unbelievable and questionable of course.

However, it delivers a very deep and conclusive message.
Today, India is facing a deep crisis, but it seems that the entire domestic and international social media is busy playing some blame games and spreading rumors -instead of helping and bringing people together, they are creating divisions among people.
This is not the time to blame and accuse each other.
This is time to work and do something together.
Even today, the talk of those birds seems timely and appropriate that if you can do something, then do it otherwise do not waste time talking nonsense.

Humanity is not based on any religion or society - a particular political party, race, or culture.
Some people even appear to be engaged simply in propagating such contributions to prove their so-called own religion and society higher and better than others.
They forget that the basis of true religion is not any particular caste or community - but humanity.

           Na Hindu na Sikh Isaayi, na hum Musalman hain 

          Manvata hai dharm hamaara hum keval insaan hain 

         Neither Hindu - nor Sikh, Muslim or Christian
         Humanity is the true religion - we are all human

समंदर और पक्षी के बच्चे

एक बहुत ही पुरानी मगर दिलचस्प कहानी है। 

कहते हैं कि एक बार समंदर ने एक पक्षी के बच्चों को निगल लिया। 

पक्षी ने समंदर से अपने बच्चों को लौटाने के लिए प्रार्थना की - 

लेकिन समंदर ने इंकार कर दिया। 

पक्षी ने क्रोध से अपने पंख फड़फड़ाते हुए कहा कि अगर समंदर ने उसके बच्चे वापिस नहीं किए तो वो उसे सुखा देगा। 

उसकी बात सुन कर समंदर हंसा। 

पक्षी समंदर की सतह पर उड़ते हुए जोर जोर से पंख फड़फड़ा कर उसे सुखाने का प्रयत्न करने लगा। 

 

एक दूसरे पक्षी ने ये देखा - तो उससे पूछा कि वो क्या कर रहा है ?

उसने कहा कि समंदर ने मेरे बच्चे निगल लिए हैं - मैं इसे सुखा दूँगा। 

दूसरा पक्षी कहने लगा कि ये तो संभव ही नहीं है। 

ये समंदर इतना विशाल है और तुम इतने छोटे। 

पहले पक्षी ने जवाब दिया - 

'अगर तुम कुछ सहायता करना चाहते हो तो करो वरना ख़ामख़ाह की बातें मत करो।  

ये सुनकर दूसरा पक्षी भी उसके साथ अपने पंख फड़फड़ा कर समंदर को सुखाने लग गया।  

उन्हें देखकर बहुत से और पक्षी  इकठ्ठे हो गए 

उनके पूछने पर दूसरे पक्षी ने कहा कि समंदर ने इसके बच्चे निगल लिए हैं - अब हम इसे सुखा देंगे। 

उन पक्षियों के झुण्ड ने भी वही बात कही कि ये तो असंभव है - तुम सारी उमर भी लगे रहो तो समंदर को सुखा नहीं पाओगे। 

उन दोनों पक्षियों ने कहा कि अगर तुम कुछ सहायता कर सकते हो तो करो वरना ख़ामख़ाह की बातें मत करो।   

ये सुन कर वो सब पक्षी भी उन का साथ देने के लिए तैयार हो गए। 

धीरे धीरे और पक्षी आते रहे और वही बात कहते रहे - और उन्हें वही जवाब मिलता रहा  - 

'अगर तुम कुछ सहायता कर सकते हो तो करो वरना ख़ामख़ाह की बातें मत करो। 

देखते ही देखते वहां करोड़ों पक्षी इकठ्ठे मिल कर समंदर को सुखाने के लिए पंख फड़फड़ाने लगे। 

आखिर ये बात पक्षीराज गरुड़ तक पहुँच गई। 

गरुड़ ने भी कहा कि करोड़ों पक्षी मिल कर भी समंदर को नहीं सुखा सकेंगे। इसलिए प्रयत्न करना बेकार है। 

और उन्हें भी वही जवाब मिला - अगर तुम कुछ सहायता कर सकते हो तो करो वरना ख़ामख़ाह की बातें मत करो। 

ये सुनते ही गरुड़ भी उनकी सहायता के लिए चलने को तैयार हो गए। 

उसे जाते देख कर भगवान विष्णु ने पूछा " कहाँ जा रहे हो?

गरुड़ ने सारी बात बताई तो भगवान विष्णु ने कहा - क्या तुम समझते हो कि पक्षियों के लिए समंदर को सुखाना सम्भव है ?

गरुड़ ने कहा - महाराज अगर आप कुछ सहायता कर सकते हो तो करो वरना ख़ामख़ाह की बातें मत करो। 

ये सुन कर भगवान हँस कर बोले - 'तो ठीक है - चलो मैं भी तुम्हारे साथ चलता हूँ। 

गरुड़ पर बैठे हुए भगवान विष्णु को आते देख कर समंदर डर गया। 

उसने झट से पक्षी के बच्चे वापिस किए और हाथ जोड़ कर क्षमा प्रार्थना करने लगा।  

कहानी बेशक़ दिलचस्प और अमाननीय है लेकिन अंततः एक गहरा संदेश देती है। 

आज भारत पर एक गहरे संकट के बादल मंडरा रहे हैं लेकिन ऐसा लगता है कि पूरा देशी एवं अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सोशल मीडिया कुछ सहायता करने की बजाए केवल दोषारोपण और अफवाहें फैलाने में व्यस्त है। 

यह समय दोषारोपण का नहीं बल्कि मिलजुल कर - एकजुट हो कर कुछ करने का है। आज भी उन पक्षियों की बात समयोचित - समय के अनुकूल और उचित लगती है कि अगर कुछ कर सकते हो तो करो वरना ख़ामख़ाह की बातें मत करो।

 

मानवता किसी धर्म, समाज, पॉलिटिकल पार्टी अथवा संस्कृति पर आधारित नहीं होती। कुछ लोग ऐसे योगदान के कार्यों को भी केवल अपने तथाकथित धर्म और समाज को दूसरों से ऊँचा और बेहतर दिखाने के प्रचार प्रसार में ही लगे हुए दिखाई देते हैं। 

वो भूल जाते हैं कि असली धर्म का आधार कोई विशेष जाति अथवा समुदाय नहीं - बल्कि मानवता है।  

             न हिंदू न सिख ईसाई न हम मुसलमान हैं 

            मानवता है धर्म हमारा हम केवल इंसान हैं 

Keep your head in the right direction मन और बुद्धि को सही दिशा में रखें

Keep your head and heart in the right direction 

and you will never have to worry about your feet going in the wrong direction 

                                             (unknown)

                   

यदि मन और बुद्धि को सही दिशा में रखें

तो पैरों के ग़लत दिशा में जाने की चिंता नहीं रहेगी ।

दो ही सूरतों में होती है क़दर Things have more value when ...

दो  ही  सूरतों में  होती  है  क़दर  हर  चीज़  की
इक उसके मिलने से पहले इक उसके खोने के बाद

बुज़ुर्गों की सेवा उनके जीते जी कर लो  'राजन '
वरना पछताओगे उनकी आँखें बंद होने के बाद

Do hee soorton may hoti hai qadar har cheez ki

Ik uskay milnay say pehlay - ik uskay khonay kay baad

Buzurgon ki sevaa un kay jeeaty jee kar lo 'Rajan'

Warna pachhtaaogay unki aankh band honay kay baad 

                Meaning:
In two situations, everything becomes more valuable -

First before getting it - and second after losing it.
(In between, we don’t realize the value of anything)

Respect - help and serve the elders while they are alive.

Otherwise, when they are gone - once their eyes are closed - 

only regret and sorrow will remain with us.

                             ' Rajan Sachdeva '

Peace of mind

Peace of mind is a beautiful thing - 

which no one else can sell or deliver to us.
Only we can provide it to ourselves -
By not expecting anything from anyone.

When the desired expectations are not met, the mind becomes agitated - upset, and angry.

Whereas, the expectations that are fulfilled, not only give us a sense of pride and ego but also create the desire to expect more.
We start expecting more and more - until it reaches a point where they can not be fulfilled anymore.
And again - when all expectations are not met, pain is inevitable.

Either way, the expectations - fulfilled or unfulfilled - disturb the equanimity of mind.
Hence, Bhagavad Geeta and the Vedas proclaim:
Unfulfilled desires and expectations are the cause of pain. anxiety, distress, and grief.

Stay happy and content - by not expecting too much from anyone - including yourself.
                                                        ' Rajan Sachdeva '

Happy Buddha Jayanti

Zoom the image and you will see intricate carvings of Buddha's life history 

Zoom the lower lip also

Kudos and salutations to whoever created this amazing and complex image.

Just incredible

(Note:  Images found on the internet)

Three ways of learning

There are three ways of learning. 

One, trying to learn everything on our own - by trial and error - and see what works for us.

However, it may take many trials and a lot of time to learn each important life lesson. 

Alternatively, we can learn many things by observing and asking others about their experiences.

We can try to find out what they did to achieve their goals, and we do the same.

Or - We try to learn what they did wrong and we choose not to do it.

We can save a lot of time and effort by learning from history - the life-long experiences of the wise people of the past and at the same time, from the contemporary wise elders as well.

The world around us - and the lifestyles are changing fast.  

We all want and hope to live a better life - therefore we all need to learn and adapt to the new and better ways to achieve that goal. 

                                                    ' Rajan Sachdeva '

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः Sarvay Bhavantu Sukhinah

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः - सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु - मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
              ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om  - Sarvay Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarvay Santu NirAamayaah 
Sarvay Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcit-Duhkh-Bhaag-Bhavait 
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih 

                               Meaning:

Om -

May All be Happy

May All be Free from Illness.

May we see good in everyone (see everyone as our own)

        Or

May all see what is good and Auspicious 

May no one has even a small part of suffering

May there be Peace, Peace, and Peace!

    (Brihadāraṇyaka Upanishad verse 1.4.14)

Trying to secure the things पकड़ रखने की कोशिश

 

Trying to secure the things that come and go

आने-जाने वाली अस्थिर चीजों को पकड़ कर रखने की कोशिश

Never take someone for granted

Never take someone for granted.
Hold your loved ones close to your heart.
If you start ignoring and neglecting them for some small mistakes, flaws, or petty differences, then - as someone rightly said - you might wake up one day and realize that you have lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.

Always remember - that no one in this world is perfect - absolutely no one - who is without any weaknesses or shortcomings.

Therefore, instead of counting their faults - focus on their love, affection, sincere intentions - good & generous noble deeds.

Instead of constantly thinking about differences and conflicts - about disagreements and arguments, embrace the happy memories - cherish the happy & joyous moments spent with them.

Do not let a diamond slip away - even if it is covered with dirt and mud.
                                                     ' Rajan Sachdeva '