Contributions

Lately it unfolds to me that the biggest contribution you can make in anyone's life is by making him/her feel good about himself/ herself, and similarly worst you can do to some one is by hurting his/her self respect.

And when I think of relationships, I feel this is one of the keys.

I haven't left this habit yet but looking forward to a living where I can contribute positively in lives of those around. And that needs your Magical Touch !!

Always remember – He’s.....

Once, a saint and his son were on way to seek Babaji’s darshan. As they crossed a market on their way, the father thought of carrying some mangoes for Babaji. He stopped at a mango shop and started checking the mangoes. The fruit seller showed varieties of mangoes, and also started mentioning about the prices. However the saint wasn’t satisfied with the quality being offered, so before moving to the next shop this saint finally asked fruit seller if he had anything better to offer. Fruit seller mentioned that there was another quality too, which was priced almost double the cost of highest priced quality saint had already seen. Saint expressed his wish to see this quality as well. This quality seemed to be the best, so saint with out a second thought bought One Kilo.

Before saint could pay the price, his son checked if they could buy some mangoes for home too. Saint happily agreed to this request. Saint asked fruit seller to pack one more kilo of mangoes but this time the ones with lowest price. Both son and the fruit seller were surprised to hear. Son however managed to ask another question – Father, if you have seen all qualities and found that one with the highest price is the best among all, the one you also are buying for Babaji, shouldn’t we be taking the same best quality for everyone at home? Or are you short of money?

Father smiled and explained – Son, I have enough money for us to buy another Kilo of the highest priced mangoes but I don’t want to give myself a feel that I am at par with Satguru. Tomorrow, we can come and buy mangoes with better quality and double this price I wouldn’t mind but at this time, when we are buying mangoes for Babaji and also ourselves, we cannot compare with what we are offering Babaji.

When I was hearing this incident from my elder bro, the very first thing I felt was why this saint differentiated? Did he miss seeing Nirankar’s form in his family members? Perhaps not, his expression there was just to give his son a message. A message that my brother gives me often, do not think even in your dreams that you and Guru stand at same level.
Always remember – He’s higher.

All rounder wish

Dated : 12 April 2007.

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Dear Manik,

We wish in the holy feet of Almighty God that He keeps you in His feet throughout your life and showers all His blessings on you.

May you receive all comforts of life more than you deserve and desire. May your body remain healthy, mind at peace and there should be morethan enough money to serve yourself, your family and all the saints.

May God bless you with 'His darshan', the most precious gift anyone canget in one's life from God!!

Many many happy returns of the day,

With love,

All of us.

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Atleast One

Days ago, I sat opposite to Dimple bhabhi discussing about Amrit Auntie and her contribution in lives of souls around. Amrit Auntie - all I recall is her friendly support.
Ijazat hai? - I asked Dimple bhabhi.
Dimple bhabhi smilingly said - Abhi nahin. Pehle koi baat sunao.
I was in a hurry to leave for home but she insisted that we talk for some more minutes. Amidst our regular talks, she started speaking - bhaiya meri life ka ek nicchod hai jo aapse share karna chahti hoon. If I think of Mummy, I recall her as a mother more than a mother in law. I really enjoyed my relation with her. In our lives, we are daughters to some one, wife to some one, husband to some one, and similary so many relations we have. Bhaiya, waise to sab hi relations enjoy karne chahiye par kam se kam ek rishta aise ho jo aap thoroughly enjoy karo. Life ke end mein agar peeche dekho to ek relation aisa zarur ho jismein aap aap ho.
Don't know why but I understood what she meant.

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.

Any Regrets?

"I wish I could have come to this point in my life without hurting so many people..especially the people I have loved."
Years ago, I was holding a copy of the original book 'Conversations with God' but never came across this line. But today I did...
...and If I still can correct myself, I will be a true learner.

Humane Touch

“Sunil, you know Matt is really happy with the progress. And I have some surprise for you but I won’t tell you now.When I come down to see Matt, I will speak to you“.
Natasha, my Manager here at client site mentioned this to me couple of days ago. Often as it happens in corporate world, whenever a person receives an appreciation from someone, there follows a chain of appreciation emails. Here at my work place, there’s an appreciation certificate that is given to people for their extraordinary accomplishments. I guess Natasha was looking for Matt, her Manager, to accompany her when she would present this appreciation certificate to me.
Natasha turned at my desk couple of hours later. However she came alone – possibly Matt wasn’t around. And she started – “Sunil, It’s been wonderful working with you. Matt and I both are happy with the commitment you have shown for the project. And to appreciate that I have brought this for you ...”
I smiled but I couldn’t carry that smile for long when I heard ‘...Coffee vouchers” from her. She handed over those coffee vouchers to me and I thanked her with a fake smile. I was taken aback as this was something I hadn’t expected. Natasha sensed that something had gone wrong but then she asked me again – “Is everything alright? Aren’t you excited?” Just to make sure that I don’t disappoint her, I added – “Of course I am and thanks for the coffee vouchers, we’ll use them when complete team joins for coffee “Perhaps by this dialogue I was trying to give an impression that I am a team player but deep inside I knew I had missed this moment’s enjoyment by some self centered thoughts.
Natasha went away and left me in thoughts, I should have enjoyed that compliment but it was her who enjoyed that more. She did appreciate the work and in her own special way also acknowledged my efforts. It took a while before I forgave myself; for not valuing her humane touch that she gave by offering me something that I am fond of.
Also a reminder from Babaji reached my eyes yesterday; “the most important things in our lives are not things.” However it seems that it’s a life time’s effort to understand and live this reminder. But nevertheless, I was happy today after talking to Patrick.
Patrick, another colleague at client site, said a similar thing today – “Sunil, you are doing a good job”. And I smiled as I remembered the incident that I had had with Natasha. “Are you serious Patrick?” I asked with a smile. Patrick nodded his head in Yes. And I smiled again and said – “Thank you”.
Reason for my smile wasn’t that someone had appreciated my work but was that through this smile I was rewarding myself for not missing the beauty of present moment and also for acknowledging this humane touch.