And the award goes to...

Just finished watching Film fare award distributions. As usual, there were awards for categories - best debut actor male, best debut actor female critics, best film, best director and lots more. There was a round of applause for every award winner, nothing unusual about it but there were also occasions in between when someone walked onto stage and complete audience stood up to listen & clap in respect. It is "these occasions" that kept me thinking and brought me to look back at one of the experiences I had shared few years ago.

I recalled the quote that was recently and earlier heard, "Some demand respect but some command respect". It felt nice to see how everyone stood up for these living (with or without body) legends. I wondered how much effort and time they would have put to make people stand for them. Remarkable!

As it usually happen, a thought follows by another and by another...

One more similar incident happened when we were signing a send-off greeting for Stefan. After we came back to our desks after signing cards, Nav and I started to discuss his card which was full of wishes from colleagues. Literally there was no space left for more people to put their wishes. Nav very rightfully at that moment commented, " When you have it in you, people would like to put words for you..". I understood what he meant by that. Stefan's work - Remarkable and more remarkable was his conduct full of sweetness and kindness. Years have passed since we last worked together but it is always pleasure to look back and remember those projects.

Since we are talking of projects, Stefan and awards - I recall at end of some project together, there were nominations opened for few categories (mostly comic but one). This category was called "Most popular person by virtue of need award". Needless to say Stefan was one of the winners for this award.

On one side it seems little odd to live for appreciation - rather one should focus on improvisation without worrying about how others appreciate it. But for the moment, when it comes to making a contribution, making an impact, giving efforts - one cannot rest until efforts are that will make others stand. There needs to be effort for excellence. Equally important is also to realize and accept what field is for you to excel. 

Excellence should drive you (and me)!!

One Nirankari

Just back from Sangat where I heard the story of the One Nirankari.

Someone mentioned the name of Nirankari Mission in a discussion between group of people. Listening name Nirankari, one of the attendees (say Rob) took special attention and he mentioned that he too knows One Nirankari.

This Nirankari is milkman who comes and delivers milk everyday at Rob's place. The milk that he delivers is very thick and rich. Rob wondered how come this milk is thick, compared to all other milks that Rob had tried. Is there something mixed in milk? Or are the cows of different breed? These thoughts bothered Rob so much that one day he went to test the milk at milkman's residence. 

On reaching there Rob first of all checked the containers, was there something sticking to the walls of container. But he didnt find anything. Then he let milkman milk the cows. Cows also looked of normal breed. All of a sudden Rob sees that milkman is stirring something in the container. Feeling milkman was caught red handed, Rob asked milkman what was he doing?

Milkman replied that he was stirring the milk to let the froth settle down. Else he would have sold froth along with milk to the customers. He mentioned that God Almighty is watching over him, and he would be cheating customers by selling them froth on the cost of milk. So he was settling the froth in milk to be fair in his business.

Rob concluded that this is how he knows about Nirankaris.

Discourses concluded as scheduled but kept me thinking of this One Nirankari, who was so conscious of Almighty's presence that he didn't want to do something unfair which has now become sort of normal practice.

I personally don't know this One Nirankari Milkman but have come across many Nirankaris in my life. Wish I too someday become a True Nirankari....who lives in constant realization of the Nirankar, whose acts are fair as per Nirankar.

How to loose one's Ego?

Other day I was talking to Lakshmi about the "Most wanted person by virtue of need" award which I had received for work in my previous project. Since I was the only contractor working in that project, I myself informed my Line Manager in parent company about it. Although I don't like doing this but somehow wanted it to be recorded with my parent company, that I had received some award for my work. However, after sending that email I had no replies or congrats from my Line Manager. I was surprised as generally what I have observed is, any email appreciation from client is followed by appreciation emails from all managers in parent company. Nothing happened basically after my sending that email to Line Manager. I kept quiet.

Days followed, and then other team mates received some appreciation from client. Surprisingly, this time same Line Manager sent that email to higher management which resulted in number of emails floating for appreciation. Luckily, I wasnt able to digest that, it was just an email for other team mates but an award for me. An email was heavily acknowledged but an award went unnoticed ? Perhaps I wouldnt have bothered but because it was "I" who had received the award, I was disturbed. I couldnt sit properly for some time, as this was disturbing me. I wasnt sure how I should react, but nevertheless I thought of discussing this with Lakshmi.

As I shared with her my problem, the usual happened. As predictable she is, "Sunil Ji, isko dekha hai aapne. Yeh to creator hai fir bhi kabhi nahin jataata". Lol...that was the simple tonic for the huge problem I was facing. Often I have noticed how easily she relates to the Almighty than I can do. A simple thought but with great depth, that look at the Almighty, despite being creator He never boosts about His deeds, why winning an award is making you disturbed...just because others failed to acknowledge it. It was a matter of seconds, that I was back to normal state..laughing at my ownself.

Quite truely, I still havent learnt how to be humble. Something I desire to learn, because its so soothing. I remember Babaji citing example of Lord Rama, and how humble He was when Parshuram Ji was shouting at Him. Definately, Looking at Rama's life there is so much to be learnt, the simplicity, divinity, kindness,...a whole lot of chapters in syllabus of spirituality. But again the first step as mentioned, "Pratham Bhakti Santan Kar Sanga.." Thankyou Babaji that you have sent Lakshmi in life who has guided and reminded me of your teachings where ever I was going aside.

No surprises why I always answer in same way to this question," how to loose one's ego?".."By seeing someone who is greater than you"...You'll stop worrying about not getting credit, if you understand how this Creator is silent even if His deeds are not acknowledged :)