4 ON 10 - Life in all humility

I first heard this incident some 3 years ago, since then it has been one of my favorites. This is about Tuslidas Ji and Rahim Ji. 

Story goes that Rahim Ji was well known for his strange manner of giving alms to the poor. He never looked at the person he was giving alms to, keeping his gaze downwards in all humility. When Tulsidas Ji heard about Rahim Ji's strange method of giving alms, he promptly wrote a couplet and sent it to Rahim Ji:

Aisi deni den jyu, kit seekhe ho sain
Jyon jyon kar oonchyo karo, tyon tyon niche nain

"Sir, Why give gifts like this? Where'd you learn that?
Your hands are as high as your eyes are low"

Realizing that Tulsidas Ji was well 'Aware' of the 'Truth' behind creation, and was merely giving him an opportunity to say a few lines in reply, he wrote to Tulsidas Ji  in all humility:

Denhar koi aur hai, bhejat jo din rain
Log bharam hum par kare, taaso niche nain

"The Giver is someone else, bestowing, day and night.
The world gives me credit: so, down are my eyes."

I am amazed and honestly humbled every time I come across Rahim Ji's name and this incident. I just imagine, how he would have actually recited these words with eyes down in humility...just amazing!!

Perhaps this is the 4th item to be kept on my To Do list - Humility. Wish when I breath my last, I would have inculcated this important teaching in my life.

As Ravi Ji other day reminded that "Mitha bolo te niv chalo, Murshid ehiyo seekhaanda hai"...humility is such an important aspect. I have seen so many living examples of humility in my life, that I sometimes just feel jealous :)

With jealously, I recall Upashak Ji's example where he says that beauty in a garden is guaranteed because rose is not complaining why I couldn't be as tall as coconut tree and coconut tree is not complaining that why I couldn't have beautiful flowers like rose. Everyone is happy the way they are.

Obviously Jealously shouldn't be there :) That's another thing I need to learn. 

If you are wondering like me, how does jealousy, humility fit in same post...and if you have known me in person and wondering how does humility even relate to a person like me....just chill!!!

I don't have any humility I know but that's why I am keeping it in my To Do. I pray, and you too join me in prayers, that may Nirankar bless me with a life that's lived in all humility. 

Amen!

2 ON 10 - Air travel

My reply is still pending. I'm talking of the discussions that Manik and I were having few months rather years ago. I asked Manik to give me a list of 10 things which he would want to do before he dies. It takes some time to answer that, and so took Manik. But finally he handed me 10 things on his to-do list. Quite obvious, he asked me to do same. However, I didnt reply and till date my reply is pending.
Today was the last day for Mumbai Samagam. Last year same time we children along with parents were present there to seek blessings. It wasnt only the samagam I was excited about but also the journey. Eversince I remember, I had thought about travelling in airplanes and as time passed, I had opportunities to make airtravels 2-3 times a day. During one of such journeys clicked a thought, 'why not arrange air travel for parents? all of us have had opportunities to travel in plane but what about parents?'. Once in a while I did share this thought with them. As expected, parents were not so keen about spending unnecessarily especially when an alternative was available. Somehow last year, convinced Dad and Mom that they accompany us for Mumbai Samagam and that too in airplane. The journey and stay was quite pleasant. Thanks Babaji.
Today while watching Mumbai Samagam, thoughts connected back to our visit last year, the airtravel where parents too flew with me. It was like a dream come true to make a journey with them on plane. Thanks Babaji.
Coming back to the point where I started, this air travel with parents was my 2 ON 10, one of the things I would have wanted to do before I die. Thanks Babaji for making it possible and timely, no one amongst us would have thought that it was the only opportunity to do that travel with Dad. Few months later, Dad went back to Nirankar. Today when I think of this 2 ON 10, I am satisfied that this was achieved as desired. Now 9 remain.
Unlike Manik, I dont have the list handy. As the time passes I am unfolding what could be on this list. 1 is already known, 1 is achieved, 8 still to unfold. Perhaps that was the reason why reply is still pending.

3 ON 10 - ART OF BALANCING SPEECH

As drafted on 08/10/10...

Moments ago, I was thinking how wonderful it is to be silent in relationships. To hear and not to react, just be a listener...quite opposite to what I learnt few years ago..

At that time for some reasons, I had opted 'just listen'. Quite new to such relationship and a new person on my side; it wasn't something that I was used to.
Around 2 or more than 2 years ago, we had just got committed. I wasn't used to to this relationship structure (lol !)...I think even till date I know nothing...anyways, I was quite new to this side of the world. I believe it happens during initial period of relationships, that you get to impress one another by being something you aren't but slowly and slowly you have to come back to being yourself and then it is accepted in mixed sense at times. I believe I was going through same period, so I had thought that in order to keep peace, I would try keeping quiet; its just another 50-60 years, somehow I will manage by silence. So I started just to play a part of listener in the conversations. One day, one more day, one more and so on it went for couple of days...slowly and slowly, I started getting frustrated by playing a listener.

I think it was divine intervention when I was called for this client orientation session. The session was kept by my company for motivating employees to speak when they are in meetings with clients. I could not understand much out of the session, as was more bothered by internal combat of some sort. But somewhere came the divine spark, when the presenter talked of benefits of speaking up. I do not know why and how, when I returned back I took it as a point to discuss with her the concerns I had in mind. Quite amazingly, those were so easily handled and I wondered what magic these two words had in the relation - "Speak Up". Ever since, anyone who has asked for a friendly advice in matters pertaining to relationships, this is what I have suggested "Speak Up". Speak Up because other end may not have a clue of what you are trying to say or ask...so Speak Up!! Quite surprisingly, this Mantra has worked...

Now coming to the thoughts I was having moments ago, being a married man I am ought to think that way :), I think the learning was half when I learnt "Speak Up", the second part is "To understand when not to Speak Up" . Wise is one who knows where to put a pause, often I realize that whatever I spoke was in no way a value add or a remark which was required.

There's still so much to learn, especially what was taught to me on the wedding day!! Hopefully this is something I would learn some day!

Another thing on the To-Do list - Art of balancing speech.