Mrs. Devsi

I don't remember what standard I was studying in when this incident took place. All I remember is it was Mrs. Devsi's class and she was checking notebooks. She came as an substitute for some other teacher who was absent that day. Normally on such occasions substitute teacher wont bother teaching their own subjects. They were just present to make sure class didn't make much noise.

So was Mrs. Devsi present there - and she preferred to utilize that time by checking notebooks. Just to introduce Mrs. Devsi - She was (and is) teacher in strictest sense - she was gentle at heart but strict enough to make sure pupil learnt for what they were in school - she taught us grammar. I wouldn't be wrong if I say almost whole school was scared of her .... actually her "pinches". A single mistake you make, she would put her hand in your half sleeves shirt and "pinch" you until you realize your mistake. She would also use canes at times, but not that often.

Looks like I am going on to tangent, so I'll end the introductions. This was Mrs. Devsi. And I will go back to the story....

So Mrs. Devsi was present in our class as a substitute teacher and she preferred to utilize that time by checking notebooks. All children were busy too - doing something or the other - some chatting, some playing 'tick tack toe', some 'bollywood', some 'sweet 16'. Class was little noisy - you could hear all children, also Mrs. Devsi who once in a while asked for a spare pencil for doing corrections in some notebooks. Everyone seemed to be enjoying this 'free class'. I can't remember what I was doing but I too was busy - perhaps busy in paying ear to what others were gossiping around. It so happened that I again heard that Mrs. Devsi was asking for pencil. I looked in my pencil box and took one spare pencil to her. To my astonishment, Mrs Devsi got up from her seat in anger. To catch everyone's attention she banged the duster on table once or twice and shouted  - 'There's only one student in my class, and that is Sunil. I have been asking for pencil from some time but only he has heard & responded." I then realized no one else in the class had got up to give her a pencil. I was taken aback by her reaction - never expected such a statement from her. But Mrs. Devsi said this in front of whole class -  I too felt nice, not only she.

More than 15 years have passed since this incident happened but I haven't refreshed it more than 15 times since then. However, now feel like reminding myself of it again and again - but more in spiritual context. I seriously wonder if Mrs. Devsi can feel nice when I heard her once, will Guru not feel great if I listen to what He is asking? On similar lines, deep within there is desire to make Guru happy by following what He is teaching.

But there is difference too! At that time, perhaps it was immaturity, I myself felt nice when Mrs. Devsi said I was the only student in class. In spiritual arena, I realize there can be no competition between students. All you can expect is, by grace, that "There's one student, Sunil, in my class". There is no room for 'Only' word in spirituality - and perhaps that's not important too. What's important is following what you hear...

God bless Mrs. Devsi - where ever she is still teaching!

Ya ! Kind of

I wasn’t expecting him to speak, but he did. “Sunil, Can I ask you one question?”
“Of course, Stefan... Shoot!” was my reply.
“Are you a Christian?” Stefan asked. I was sitting with Stefan, the business analyst, to discuss some important project work when he stopped me in between. I smiled. Stefan repeated his question.
“Are you a Christian?” this time question was answered “Ya, kind of”. Now Stefan too smiled.
“What does that mean?” was the next question for me. I knew this is not going to be easy. So I picked up the notes, inverted those and drew the diagram. While Stefan watched what I was doing, I started labeling those concentric circles, and spoke –“Every religion consists of three parts, the outer part being mythology, the central being ritual and the inner most being Spiritual Crux. If you go in depth of every religion, the outer two may be different because of time, region etc but the third inner most part is same for all. Be it Catholic, Protestant etc, all of us are trying to follow teachings of Lord Christ. So where’s the difference? Remove styles of eating, dressing, mode of prayer etc etc what remains? We are praying the same Lord, so aren’t we same? Religion for me is just spiritual crux; rest two will change every moment. So, Yes I am a Christian but in normal day to day terms I was born in a Hindu family.”
I never tried to know whether he understood what I spoke. I was busy, caught up with my own thoughts and thanking Almighty, “Wow!! United Kingdom, Financial Institution, Business Analyst, Project Meeting and Spiritual Crux??” I couldn’t have dreamt of speaking all this in such atmosphere. Mind, body and intellect stand apart when you come in picture.
People walking around the bank, carrying pounds in their pockets, crossing with thoughts of mortgages, tax saving schemes – No one knew what these two different colored gentlemen were discussing. Had they heard, they would have understood that a bridge was under construction.
A bridge which can help two hearts to touch each other despite all differences of color, race, language, culture, diet etc.

Meet John, The Taylor.

John , whom I address as 'Darzi' because his surname happens to be Taylor, is an extra-ordinary colleague. Of all the people I work with, he stands apart. Not because he and I are great friends but because I have failed to understand our relationship which has sometimes been with smiles and sometimes with plain expressions.

Anyways, I am not to comment on relationships or anything else but to thank Almighty for reminding me to continue living stampless. Once in a while, the white board near my desk carries the learnings that I have heard in Sangat. John and I had been struggling today to solve PODCS issues and amidst our conversation he asked pointing towards my white board, ' Sunil, from where do you bring these thoughts?' and I was ' I do attend some spiritual meetings and there I hear these teachings '. John seemed little surprised and then he asked me - 'So you are religious'. As soon as I heard him say that I said -' No, I am spiritual'. I couldnt believe my ears when he gave another plain face and said, " What's the difference !!!! "

For the first time in my life, I had heard spirituality and religion were different. This was when I had landed in UK. People are sensitive towards this topic I was told. However for me, religion has always been a uniting factor, and thats what I understand by Spirituality. Waking at this time, eating this, sleeping in this direction etc cannot change my inner self but thats what people around seem to understand from Religion. However, irony with me was that I too picked up this word 'Spiritual'. Not because I started differentiating between these two words but because I didnt want to hurt anyone's feelings. By God's grace I am happy even if some one says I am religion-less person or not a spiritual guy or anything.. And again His grace that His and mine relation is above any definitions or words. Call it spirituality, religion or nothing - He is what He is and I am what He has made me.

Perhaps it was the same concern for the sensitivity of local souls that I had said 'I am spiritual'. But again a hammer striked on mind when John commented , 'whats the difference !!!' Ofcourse, there's no difference. and even if it is, its NMD ( as John says - Not My Department ).

John you really are Darzi, who is stitching two torn pieces of spiritual world and religious world.

Jack is no judge of Jill's beauty

Jack is no judge of Jill's beauty :)

For a status message at gtalk, I found this line to be very interesting. I asked the friend what it meant in real. And smart fellow mentioned, " When ever I praise my girl friend for her beauty, she always mentions this line that Jack is so deeply in love with Jill that he cannot say anything else. So, Jack in no judge of Jill's beauty. " Well the explanation was more interesting than I had assumed it to be.

Well, to me it sounded more as a spiritual note; Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Jack has no rights to judge any one else, even if it is Jill.

Kudos to the learner !! Learner is no judge of the sentence's real meaning :)

2.57 GBP

My daily routine here in UK includes having breakfast in the restaurant at client location. I prefer not to experiment with the taste buds, hence have a single menu for my daily breakfast. It comprises some bread portions, butter, honey & juice. It amounts to £2.57 as per the rate list. However, call it what so ever I am usually undercharged. Atleast thrice a week I end up paying £2.42 or even lesser. It probably happens because the lady at counter misses charging for one or the other item. I do remind her once that she has missed some item because it should be £2.57 as per my calculation. After that she checks the billed items and the food items I am carrying in the tray. Once she realizes that she had missed one item, she smiles and says “ It’s your lucky day ” or “ Let that be a present from my side “. I also smile and move ahead.
Few days ago, I was again standing at the counter. This time lady at the counter said “£2.90”. “ £2.90 ? It should be £2.57, could you please check again?” was my reply. She said,” Dear its £2.90 “. I again requested her to please check once again. This time she checked and found she had charged for an item that previous customer had bought. She realized her mistake and before preparing a new bill she apologized. This time she said, “£2.42 my love”. I reminded it should be £2.57 but she insisted on that it’s okay even if I paid less. As I was now moving away from the counter, I was thinking “what an idiot I am, every day I am undercharged and I move away happily but one day I was being overcharged and I did not hesitate to complain about it. If I actually add those £0.15 saved daily, it would be itself more than many £2.57.” My concern could have been valid, but I was amazed to see that such feelings still are so alive in me that I am more comfortable if things work in my favor. A little goes other way round, I start talking of my rights etc.
Thoughts also went to Lord Rama’s time, when he was exiled. How whole heartedly he accepted the wish of his mother, no matter how baseless it could have been. Kingdom was his right but some where the responsible son had a bigger role to play.
The other day one friend asked me if there was a difference between an ethical being and a spiritual being. Perhaps at that point I couldn’t put an answer, but now from my own experience can say, being ethical may not always mean spiritual. However underlined text is that a spiritual being will have an ethical element.