We Can Not See Our Own Ego

Spirituality teaches us to look within ourselves, not others.
We usually think that we do not have any ego - but others see it differently. 
We can not see our own ego because we do not try to see within ourselves objectively. 
We are always busy looking at others, their shortcomings so we don't have any time to 
look inside our own mind. 
Instead we project an image for our-self. A good one ......  
Just like when we look into a mirror, we see our face, hair, clothes and outer body, 
not the inner self. 
Similarly, whenever we try to look into our own mind, we may only see the image 
that we have created for our-self - Not the reality.

                                     'Rajan Sachdeva'

क्या पता किस जगह पे रुक जाए Kya pataa kis jagah pe ruk jaaye

क्या पता किस जगह पे रुक जाए 
साँस  का एतबार मत करना 

देख -तौबा का दर खुला है अभी 
तू कल का इंतज़ार मत करना 
                  ~ एजाज़ ~ 

Kya pataa kis jagah pe ruk jaaye
Saans ka aetbaar mat karnaa

Dekh, Tauba ka dar khulaa hai abhi
Tu kal ka intezaar mat karnaa
                              ~Aejaz~

Debit & Credit Cards

Smile & Passion are the debit cards of life...
                     Pay now and use later.

Anger & Ego are like credit cards of life...
                    Use now and pay later.

Attitudes

When you send good wishes and pure feelings to those who are in deep sorrow, that is an attitude of mercy. 
When you extend your pure love to everyone with selfless motivation, that is an attitude of kindness. 
When you see the virtues rather than the weaknesses in people that is an attitude of compassion. 
When you bless and uplift someone even if they defame you, that is an attitude of forgiveness. 
When you give cooperation even if you are not appreciated, that is an attitude of humility.
When you tolerate a situation and take responsibility, that is an attitude of self-respect. 
Every second, every moment and every breath of your life is nurtured by attitude.

Then What?

I read the following story in a book during my youth - which had a great impact on me:......

On May 31, 1893, Swami Vivekanand went to United States of America on a ship named SS. Peninsular from Bombay. After sailing for about two months through Colombo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nagasaki, Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Kobe and Yokohoma, the ship arrived in Vancouver on July 25. 
From Vancouver, he took a train to Chicago.
During this two months long journey, the dynamic personality of Swami ji in the orange robe and a turban - with the look of a great confidence and a blissful peace on his face - got lot of people attracted towards him. People used to gather around him to listen to his sermons, ask questions or just to be in his serene company. 

There was a young Indian boy also aboard the ship. Somehow, Swami ji got a feeling that the young man was always trying to avoid coming in contact with him. Swami ji watched him quietly for few days. 
One day, while walking through the corridors, the boy took a turn and suddenly found himself facing Swami ji, who was coming from the other side.
Swami ji stopped and started a conversation with him.
“How are you young man? Where are you going?” Swami ji asked.
“Sir! I am going to Chicago.” The young man replied.
“What brings you to Chicago?”
“I am going for studies.”
“Good. When you finish your education, then what?” Swami ji asked.
“I will get a job and try to save some money.” The boy replied.
“Then what?” Swami ji asked.
“If I get enough money saved then I will go for higher studies – post graduation”
“Then what?”
“Then I will get a better job of course.”
“Then what?” 
“Once I am settled and have a good and steady job, I will get married.”
“Then What?”
The young man started to get somewhat irritated by now. 
“Then we both will work, save some money and buy a house.” He said.
“Then What?” 
The boy thought for a moment and said “We will have children.”
“And Then what?”
“What do you mean ‘Then what”. The young man was really irritated by now.
“Please tell me. What will you do after you have children?”
“We will try to raise them with love and care and try to provide them good education.”
Swami ji asked “Then what?”
With a changed tone and a raised voice, the boy said:
“They will grow up and after getting their degrees, they will start working.” 
“Then what?”
“Then we will retire and probably move back to India.” The boy replied in a little harsh tone.
“Then what?” Swami ji repeated the same question.
“What is this?” The boy shouted back. 
“Then someday I will die – what else?” 

Swami ji clapped his hands and laughed.
“Oh… OK. I got it now. You are going to Chicago – doing all these things like studying, getting a job, saving money, getting married and having children and raising them – buying a house and retiring… You are doing 
all these things so that someday you can die? Is that your real purpose?.... Dying?”
The young man had no answer. 
His face turned pale - his hands and feet started to shake a little.
He thought – “Swami ji is right. Is this all there is to life? 
No…. it can’t be.
Then what?
Then what is my real purpose after all?”

After reading this story – I thought:
               Do I know the answer?
                           Do we all know what our real purpose is? 
                                       ‘Rajan Sachdeva’

If There is Beauty in The Person

If there is light in the soul - 
          There will be beauty in the person.

If there is beauty in the person - 
         There will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house - 
         There will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation -
         There will be peace in the world.

Suffering and Happiness are Intertwined

A few words from the book I am reading, "The art of hearing heartbeats" - I thought were worth sharing.

Life is a gift -

Suffering and happiness are inextricably intertwined. Any attempt to have one without the other was simply bound to fail.
Life is interwoven with suffering. That in every life, without exception, illnesses are unavoidable. That we will age and that we cannot elude death. These are the laws and conditions of human existence. Laws that apply to everyone, everywhere in the world regardless of how dramatically times might change. There is no power that can release a person from pain or from sadness one might feel as a result of that insight - unless it be that person himself.
A person's greatest treasure is the wisdom in his own heart.
The true essence of things is invisible to the eye.
Our sensory organs love to lead us astray and eyes are the most deceptive of all. We rely too heavily on them. We believe that we see the world around us, and yet it is only the surface we perceive. We must learn to grasp the true nature of things; their substance and eyes are rather a hindrance than a help in that regard. They distract us. we live to be dazzled.
               “Karuna Sachdeva Chander”

जब किसी से कोई गिला रखना Jab Kisi Say Koi Gilaa Rakhnaa

जब किसी से कोई गिला रखना 
सामने अपने  आईना  रखना 

मस्जिदें हैं नमाज़ियों के लिए 
अपने घर में कहीं ख़ुदा रखना 

घर की तामीर चाहे जैसी हो 
इस में रोने की जगह रखना 

मिलना जुलना जहाँ ज़रूरी हो 
मिलने जुलने का हौसला रखना 
                    ~ निदा फाज़ली ~ 


Jab kisi say koi gilaa rakhnaa 
Saamnay apnay aainaa rakhnaa 

Masjiden hain namaaziyon ke liye 
Apnay ghar men kahin Khudaa rakhnaa 

Ghar ki taameer chaahay jaisi ho 
is men ronay ki jagah rakhnaa 

Milnaa julnaa jahaan zaroori ho 
Milnay-julnay ka hauslaa rakhnaa 
                                 ~ Nida Fazli ~


Gilaa                       Complaints, Resentment, Bitterness 
Aainaa                     Mirror
Namaaziyon          For Ritualistic Prayers
Taameer                 Construction

If you really want to help someone

No matter how much we love someone, we cannot fight their battles.

All we can do is - show them Light. 

We can be patient and loving, offer a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen when they need it most. 

Because our love can inspire more change than giving them advice. 

There will be times when an intervention is necessary; or moments when it is all right to give advice and share the ideas that can help others. 

But even in those moments, it is the light & love that we share, will assist them to rise above the challenges, not our words. 

Scolding, getting angry or putting them down in front of others might have adverse effect and push them further away from you as well as their own challenges. 

Be kind and considerate. 

If you really want to help someone – family, friends or loved ones, or members of your community or organization –

Show them the Light - Show them the path with love and patience - to help them rise above their challenges.

                                                         'Rajan Sachdeva'

We are always trying to....

We are always trying to become someone else - 

Someone which we are not. 

Becoming someone else - copying someone else may please others,

But we cannot be happy by not being ourselves. 

Everyone is different and unique. 

Learn from others. Adopt their good habits and qualities

And apply them in your life –

But don't pretend to be ‘them’. 

Strive to be better - without losing your originality.