JLT

Thank you Babaji!
I got up from bed to write a small observation at airport but before I could complete writing the experience, I realised it might not be worth sharing on a public forum. Although intention wouldnt be to comment on culture but still didnt want to sound as if laughing on the culture where I come from. Above that dont want to comment on anyone's personal likes/dislikes. So left the experience aside :)
But Babaji, thank you for these small small experiences where I am reminded of what difference you have brought into our lives.

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 :)

Mistaken Identity

Three of us were travelling in the car and somehow D touched one of the hot topic these days. D started informing all of us what had happened to few spiritual guides in India in recent past. How few guides were caught for being involved in one or the other unacceptable activities. I tried paying less ears to the conversation but got into an attentive listening mode when name of the Mission came into their discussions. D felt that one of the guides caught was actually the lead for the SNM. Not realising that I too was one of the followers of SNM, he kept on keeping his concerns about the condition that few spiritual leaders were not acting according to social norms. I thought of interfering in discussion by clarifying that D was mistaking the held guide with some other mission. However I kept quiet. Dont know why but I kept listening to the discussions without reacting much, although understanding that more than D I have had chance to observe SNM philosophy and the leader. I did think that I will go and perhaps separately clarify D's misunderstanding. D would meet so many people in his life hereon, It would be unjust if he continues giving wrong information to the people he meets. And people as they are would pick up wrong information about a mission that is making human out of me.
But as day progressed, I still kept quiet. I dont know if I should have had some anger or concerns for held guides like D had. I somehow feel, its tough to judge the situations these guides would have gone through. Without knowing them as a person, I am no authority to form any opinion, be it good or bad, for the held guides. My thoughts dont hold any grudges for these guides, because I dont know what they have gone through.
And on correcting D, I dont know what should be my reaction. Should I go and inform D that he is carrying wrong information? or should I keep silent because if D is giving wrong information, so am I? D hasnt known the mission, but I have! Despite knowing mission for so long, I have not been successful in portraying the correct ideology of mission. In a way, I too am giving wrong information to people about SNM. Hence, there's not much difference between D and myself. I kept quiet because of this confusion, which let to a conclusion that before correcting D, I should be correcting myself.

LOVE is spelt as T.I.M.E.

I remember this article where a father reads through his personal diary to find out how he had wasted one complete day from his busy schedule on his lost son's useless and fruitless fishing campaign. To man's surprise, his lost son also had made an entry in his personal diary. However, the son had described same day as the most beautiful day of his life, when his father took him out on a fishing campaign. Towards the end, author made a point "To a child, Love is spelled as T.I.M.E".
It strikes to mind, that same statement holds good for any individual, why speak only of a child? Friends need time from each other, Parents from children, Boy friend from Girl friend, Wife from husband...all of us seem to ask for time in one way or the other. Most of the time, we ourselves dont have time to ask for anyone's time..but the fact is there are silent moments, when one asks for time...and it is this time when the relationships are built stronger. Not only worldly, but the spiritual too.
This is one of the formulae I have seen working for making relationships stronger! Giving T.I.M.E. aka Love genuinly to someone without asking anything in return!

These days with Morrie!

My old professor, meanwhile, was stunned by the normalcy of the day around him. Shouldn’t the world stop? Don’t they know what has happened to me? But the world did not stop, it took no notice at all, and as Morrie pulled weakly on the car door, he felt as if he were dropping into a hole. Now what? he thought.

Tuesday’s with Morrie …hmm…

While watching Morrie's videos, my ears did hear this line without any extra attention. As soon as Morrie came to know about his illness and approaching death, this was the first reaction he had.

And story at this end

Travelling back to India for wedding…Shouldn’t England come to a halt? Don’t they know what is going to happen to me? But seems everything is same around…Earth rotating at same speed... Sun rays approaching at same speed… The world hasn’t stopped.

It appears that in last few days, I have been too demanding for people around. I need to remind myself often that its “I” who is getting married or shifting places, not everyone… while I gear up for a change in my life, the life around will not stop. It has to run with same speed!

But then why did the lyricist write – lagta hai saare sansar ki shaadi hai :-) ?

Questions and Jokes apart, I have been wondering about His setup. In one sense world doesn’t change with changes in your life, but at the same time, world and you are undergoing same experience – kya Jhakkas setup hai !!

इक नुक्ता यार पढाया ऐ !!

Two days ago I was sitting in the project update meeting and all of a sudden something happened. My thoughts shook me - where am I sitting? White skin, blonde hair, different tongue, strange dresses ... where am I? My eyes went around in all directions - I am surrounded by people who are so different. Who are these? Natasha, Matt, Mike, Bob ... each face seems so different from mine. Skin texture, Hair style, Dialogue delivery...nothing is common between the people I see here and myself. Oh my God !!
I wasnt seeing those faces for the first time. For past 600-700 days, I have been seeing the same faces again and again but never ever realised these are so different from mine. Oh my God ...

It took a moment to return back to my senses - thank you Babaji. For all these days I have lived with these people, and never ever felt out of place. Natasha, Matt...all of these have been members of my family. I still can't digest when Natasha tied Rakhi to me. Natasha, my reporting manager from client side, has been sharing love of a sister. Friday only we were sitting together where she mentioned - Sunil, you never have been a contractor for us. We have worked with you as a permanent member of staff.

Babaji - thank you ! You and your strange ways are beyond my intellect and thoughts. People fight for colors of the skin, but with your eyes there is no different color only color that matters is red. People fight for every second difference, but with your understanding there is no difference big enough to create a wall between human and another human. I don't know what have you done to my life and thoughts but still thanks. The love that you share is often taken for granted but still its your grace that you continue pouring same love on me. Thank you Babaji !

Rightly do they say, Ek nukta yaar padhaaya ae, Ek nukte wich gal mukdi ae....

Anna Lake - Meet at 9:10 AM

I had this last minute meeting request from Anna L today morning. Anna L is on senior management side and is often talked when there are discussions being held on key stake holders of the project. Almost a year on this project but I never came across her in person. Not until today – but today I did.

As soon as I entered the meeting room, I could see both familiar and not yet familiar faces – Matt, Sam, Natasha, Brian, lady with whom I have shared smiles and jokes, gentleman with white beard, another lady with curly hair, elderly gentleman and others. As meeting started I was introduced to Anna L, and here she was – a person whose name I had been hearing for past one year was in front of me. Thank you Matt for introducing me to her! We shook hands and smiled – You are Anna! Sunil this is you! No one could understand what was going on. This lady I have known for past two years now- we have exchanged smiles, culture talks, sweets, PJs. Never did I dream that she would be Anna – I have met her so many times before this meeting happened but never realized who she was. After today’s meeting too, we met again but honestly this time meeting her was more pleasure – pleasure beyond words!

Aaha ! Bulleh Shah –

“Bulleya Rabb Da Ki Paunna, Aedheron Puttanna Tae Oudarr Launna.”
“O Bulleh Shah, what’s the big deal to Attain God, simple as plucking from here and planting there.”

I quoted Bulleh Shah’s lines to Naveen other day. Naveen was asking do souls who don’t believe in God achieve salvation. As usual I began – “This depends on the giver of salvation, I am no one to comment. It’s the decision that lies in hands of the giver but if you ask me I don’t think that the non-believers are any different.” Our discussions went further thereon, “Whether we realize this is God or not, God is God and He is what He is. People might use one name or the other, accept or reject religion, may believe in God, or don’t believe in God, call Him consciousness, call Him unknown, call Him energy, call Him supreme, or do whatever – nothing is changing. He meets and governs me every moment irrespective of whether I acknowledge His presence. It’s the same journey we all make – you may see me different from yourself but who knows you would experience today what I’d do tomorrow. As I understand, paths are not parallel- they are very much serial. Things are so simple, complexities are just because we haven’t known the Entity we are worshipping or hearing about. Knowledge of God is the answer to all delusions and its not that tough at all. If attaining God was so tough why would saints like Bulleh Shah speak like this? Probably one hasnt come across this simple solution or is not ready to pick it up, probably because its human nature not to accept Simple things.”

Not sure if Naveen understood what I meant but now I have something to speak with him tomorrow taking Anna’s example. Being non-believer doesn’t mean one hasn’t dealt with Anna….oops I mean God. To me a non-believer interacts with God equal number of times as does a believer - it’s just that one might not have realised who and where God is. Once someone like Matt becomes the way, Anna would no longer remain just a name and then soul will definitely sing – “ Bulleya Rabb Da Ki Paunna, Aedheron Puttanna Tae Oudarr Launna”.