Category Archives: causerie

QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY-HALLMARK OF ANY BUSINESS

June 23, 2015article, causerie, column, short article, short article on business, short story, snippet, story, Uncategorizedbusiness, career, company, consistency, corporate, customer, enterprise, food, foot fall, growth, haldiram, integrity, king of chaat, Lucknow, profession, professional, quality, standard, street foodshravancharitymission

By quality we generally mean. Standard of a product, when compared with other brands of the same product; and how good or bad something is. And, when we want to classify it, we call it poor, good or even excellent.

Quality, to my mind is also deliverance of what you promise. For, quality is something that keeps evolving, and anything that evolves cannot become an ‘excellence’ overnight. So quality varies along the process of evolution of a product or service.

Sporadic quality here and there has little meaning, unless it comes along with consistency. As that once-in-a-while approach to quality, appears as an insouciance dabble by any producer or marketer.

Recently, when I was in my hometown. I visited ‘King of chaat’ (a street food joint) a couple of times in Hazratganj—an up market of Lucknow, that I used to visit some thirty years back. Since, then, this food joint has gone through a generation and has even grown exponentially.

But that apart. I was more astonished at the very fact, that each dish tasted just the same as it used to taste some thirty years back. And, in all probabilities many of their employees also by now, must have changed hands. But the food joint has been able to maintain its foot fall only through its dictum of quality with consistency, I’m sure.

And this is not an example in isolation. As in every city you will find similar street food joints that must have commenced with tasty quality. But those that have survived, and saw growth had the element of consistency in them and the rest packed off.

That brings me to the moot point. That each business professional should also be like a street food joint that needs to consistently give quality output to grow in life. I am particularly comparing such professionals with street food joints, because they operate under the most difficult circumstances and are not as resourceful as big enterprises. And, apart from internal pressures they also take on fierce extraneous pressures to which they are often vulnerable.

So, after having a good fill in ‘King of Chaat’ that day. Before leaving the place, I asked the current owner who happened to be the son of the founder. His key to success and this is what he had to say,

‘My father gave me three important business tips. One, never be in a hurry when you get a chance to understand your customers taste. Two, quality without consistency is flippancy. Three, consistency without quality is stagnancy.’

Have a good day.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*****

SHORT STORY: DIVINE ALIGNMENT

June 20, 2015ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, casual causerie, causerie, column, short article, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, Uncategorizedchristian, death, destiny, divine, faridabad, gita, god, Granth sahab, gurudwara, Hindu, holy, jew, life, muslim, parsi, sikh, spiritual, Sukhwinder, tragedies, tragedyshravancharitymission

Today, once again, early in the morning I was woken up by a phone call from Sukhwinder Singh. He is a Granthi in a Gurudwara in Faridabad. But he also happens to be my friend, in the abstract spirits of comrade-in-arms. It appears he has a satellite connect with God and is able to figure out. When, over a period of time my entire self goes into a depression, thinking about my younger son, whom I lost some six years back. And just then he calls up.

He doesn’t understand English and I can’t talk fluent Punjabi and so we make the most of it in Hindi. His occasional calls pep me up but I am not sure if it’s the other way round too. And, unlike most Sardars he is short and stout and often wears a saffron patka. We came together in life because we both share the curse of losing our sons in a space of a week.

It was sometime in mid-February when I had admitted my younger son, when he was towards his last in a hospital in Faridabad for palliative care, where I found Sukhwinder’s son also admitted for liver disorder. He was in serious state, around twenty years of age; and the next day he expired. Our rooms were adjacent and so I had enough opportunities to picture and frame him in my mind. And, upon the sad and untimely death of his son, that afternoon, I walked across to his room and paid my deep sense of condolence. Thereafter, in a ballooning bundle of grief, he along with his wailing wife, family and the body of his son left the hospital.

I was feeling sad for him. But I too wasn’t far behind. As my tragedy too, befell upon me within the next four days. I was thereafter on leave for a couple of weeks. And when I resumed office. Every morning I used to drive past a Gurudwara where one day I spotted Sukhwinder. I stopped my car and went up to him. Just to ask how he was, and quite frankly also to discern, better or worse than me. He was looking the other way when I put my hand on his shoulder. He turned around and without wasting time, I reminded him of the hospital and politely enquired about him, post his son’s death. He could recollect me in seconds and asked about my son. I gave him the tragic news. He sounded hurt. I decided to leave after a brief chat, but he ordered for a cup of tea. And our friendship thus began.

Since that day till the time that Gurudwara was on my way to office, once in a while we used to meet over a cup of tea and he used to narrate quite a few invigorating episodes from ‘Granth Sahab’ and ‘Gita’ that helped me tide away, and soften my tragedy.

It is now more than six years we continue as friends and we make it a point to talk to each other at least once a month just to share happiness and sorrow, and probably one day when we stop receiving calls from each other one of us will know the other has kicked the bucket.

Our world is full of affinity, when it comes to being from the same religion, sect, ethnicity, language and food. But after I lost my son I realised there is also an affinity that takes birth out of unusual tragedies in life. I and Sukhwinder had similar tragedies leading to a very unusual experience in life not known and felt by many, and that brought us together.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*****

SHORT STORY: TEXTILE MERCHANT … know your strengths

June 14, 2015article on career, causerie, column, SATTIRE, short story, snippet, spiritual, story, Uncategorizedassignment, boss, career, efficiency, employee, hrd, information, job, knowledge, kra, manager, merchant, proficiency, short story, skill, strengths, talent, weaknessshravancharitymission

TEXTILE MERCHANT … know your strengths

Once upon a time. There lived a merchant who used to deal in textiles. He used to reside close to a port where ships from foreign countries used to dock with loads of merchandise. And from whom, he used to buy goods to sell in the local market through his shop.

He had five workers who use to work under his manager. And the manager in turn used to report to him. So in all he had six employees. Each time, when a ship moored in the port. The merchant used to send his manager to get the details of the merchandise available, and basis his acumen and the information collected by him. The Merchant used to buy the merchandise, and the same used to get conveniently sold in his shop located in the market.

One day, the employees working under the manager came up to the merchant and started requesting for a higher salary on the plea, that they work harder than the manager. Who only sat there and gave instructions while they did the entire labour. The merchant gave them a patient hearing and promised to look into the matter.

One day when the merchant received a communication from the dock that a ship had arrived loaded with textile. He, instead of sending his manager sent one of the employees working under him to find out about the merchandise that had arrived in the port.

The employee happily left, thinking the merchant this time had given him a chance to prove himself, instead of the manager. And after sometime he returned from the port when the merchant asked,

‘From which country has the merchandise arrived?’

‘I don’t know about the country master, but it is big ship with lots of merchandise.’

‘What kind of fabric do they have?’

‘I don’t know about that master, but there are big bundles, appearing to be thaans’ (bolts of fabric).

‘But are the thaans designed for children, ladies or gents?’

‘Master I didn’t ask about that. You want me to check again?’

‘Then tell me the price range of each thaan? Basis which I will be able to make out whether it is for ladies, gents or children?’

‘Sorry master I missed that too.’

‘And what about the total value of the merchandise?’

‘No idea master.’ Replied the employee, somewhat embarrassed and staring at the floor.

Merchant looked at the employee pensively and said, ‘Few days back you and your fellow colleagues had come asking for an increase in salary. Because you felt you work harder than the manager. This time I gave you an assignment of the manager. Thinking you will be able to at least equal what he does, if not out-perform him. Had I sent the manager he would have got all the details without my asking and perhaps he could have answered ten more queries of mine. Basis which I could have made my purchase decision.

Now to get all the relevant information in one go. I will again have to send someone. So, whom should I send this time?’ asked the merchant.

The employee looked up and politely replied, ‘the manager master.’

Moral of the story: Before we expect a higher salary or consider ourselves appropriate for a higher position. We must analyse how talented, skilled and knowledgeable we are about the assignment we are aspiring for. In this case while the jobs of employees had more of physical work the manger’s job was to gather niche information about the merchandise. But that alone helped in making purchase decisions, leading to sales, generation of revenue and profits.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share it if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US that includes Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada, Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai and Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India)

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; Available for reading in Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be the undying characteristics of Lucknow. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K.)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10^th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

RHYTHM … in poems

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day to day life. The book is available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available in Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

Short stories and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20 2020; Indica, 15.8.20; The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; Happy Days, November 15, 2020; The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15,2020; Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021;

(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

*****

SHORT STORY: KNOW YOUR GURU

June 9, 2015causerie, column, short story, snippet, spiritual, story, Uncategorizedaashram, angiras, bad, coach, disicple, forest, forest tales, good, guru, gurudakshina, gurudev, lessons, pupil, shishya, spiritual, student, tales, teacher, upnishad, valuesshravancharitymission

Once upon a time there lived a Mahatma called Angiras in a forest. In his aashram he had many pupils. And all them had a great respect for him. Especially, about his knowledge and wisdom.

Among them, there were some who had learnt faster than the others and followed the route as suggested by the Guru. These pupils were generally respected by others for their learning prowess. But there were some who were jealous of them. They forgot that because of their own shortcomings they were unable to understand and comprehend the Guru in a wholesome manner. And soon, they started suspecting that the Guru was using some mysterious ways to coach his favourite students, for some special talent.

One day when the Guru was alone. They went up to him and asked, ‘Gurudev, it appears you are teaching something special to your favourite students. Why don’t you give the same knowledge to us, also?

Guru, did not like the query of his pupils. But he peacefully replied. ‘I consider everyone to be the same, and I have imparted the same education and knowledge to everyone. But if some out of you have progressed faster than others it is because of your own efforts. After all, who has stopped you from being proficient?’

Students could not understand what the Guru was trying to say. This made the Guru rethink. After a little while he spoke again, ‘I am ready to give special attention to all the students who want it. But I have one condition. You will have to clear a small test for me. You will have to go to the nearby village. To find a good person for me.’ Finding the test to be simple and easy all the complaining students were very happy. They quickly elected a representative out of them who enthusiastically set out on the mission.

But unfortunately. Wherever he went and whomsoever he met. Were all involved in some form of sin. After searching a lot. He returned to the ashram empty handed and in a remorse tone he said, ‘Gurudev, I’m sorry. I could not find even one person who had not committed a crime.’

Guru, in a morose tone said. ‘Is it so! Let me see. Okay let me send someone, out of those students. About whom you all were complaining.’ Guru then called for a pupil out of them, and ordered him to go to the nearby village to get him a bad person. The obedient pupil said, ‘As the Guru desires. Let me try.’ And, with that he left.

But the complaining students felt as if Gurudev had again committed injustice. Because, the pupil will get plenty of bad people. As the village is full of them.

Guru requested them to keep their cool. After sometime. The deputed pupil returned empty handed and said with folded hands, ‘Please pardon me Guruji. I scanned the nearby village but I did not find a single bad person.’ On hearing this. Rest of the of the pupils started laughing. He further said, ‘every person has done at least one good deed. And I did not find a single person who had not done one good deed. So, kindly excuse me.’ After saying so. He took his Guru’s permission and left.

Guru then told his complaining pupils, ‘My dear students. This is that borderline that differentiates between good and bad, right and wrong and positive and negative.

Your mind blossoms when in everything you see goodness. World is a mixture of happiness and sorrow. It depends on your mindset and what you want to take from the world. People who are positive grow faster than those who are negative.

For a Guru, all his pupils are dear. And if any pupil considers himself distanced from the Guru then it is that student’s stupidity. The more you feel close to me the more you will develop and it will be seen in your actions.’

This story tells how we should face life and its challenges. Complete surrender to your Guru will only lift you from your sorrows. The story is from Upanishad.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

POETRY: YOUR CONSCIENCE WAS MY SIGN ON

June 8, 2015ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, beautiful lines, causerie, poem, POETRY, spiritual, spiritual article, Uncategorizedchurch, conscience, fame, god, gurudwara, masjid, materialism, mind, parmatma, peace, poem, poetry, prayer, riches, sign on, temple, wealthshravancharitymission

YOUR CONSCIENCE WAS MY SIGN ON

In pursuit of you I prayed and prayed,

With you behind I strayed and strayed,

Knowing well you’ll protect me from all disgrace,

As the world looks up at you when in dire straights.

In all my wrongs you were a party,

As I churched and templed to keep you happy,

I divorced my disobedient conscience to be with you,

And in all my endeavours I only saw you.

You got me name fame wealth and riches,

You made me an icon to exemplify the masses,

I was going great guns,

Until one day it all stopped happening,

And God its tiring thereon.

Son you got me all wrong,

I was never in for your wrongs, and I’m deaf to songs,

And no more can see my own churches and temples,

Perhaps, God has now left them and gone,

And mere makeover and materialism is on,

And child when you were born,

I was around,

And I come to each child that is born,

To leave my sign on.

But God I didn’t find you when I was born,

So I kept looking for you in the temples, churches and my bygones,

And later … I discovered you in my prosperity and my riches,

Till one day it was all gone.

Dear son your conscience was my sign on,

Until one day you asked my ‘sign-on’ to carry on,

And since then you were on your own,

For I was long gone.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share it if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

A story of an Indian Salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his way up. The book is now available in Amazon.com

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

SHORT STORY: THE POWER IN GOD’S NAME

June 1, 2015causerie, column, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, Uncategorizedgod, guru, gurudev, king, kingdom, mantra, mukti, name of god, power, pranam, pupil, rajkumar, salvation, shishya, spiritual, student, upnishadshravancharitymission

Once upon a time there happened to be a novice pupil of a learned Guru. He was a simple soul and as tutored by his Guru he always chanted the name of God as his mantra. But one day a rare question came to his mind. When he went up to him and said, ‘Gurudev, why do I need to chant the name of God every now and then? As, by doing so I am neither helping him nor myself.’

Guru smiled at his simplicity. He wanted him to learn something, out of his own experience. So he said to him. ‘If you want to feel the power in God’s name. Go close to that white bird perched on that tree near your house and ask him this question.’

The pupil, in order to comply with his Guru’s orders. Went close to the bird and asked him the question. But was shocked to see that the bird died on the spot. The moment it heard God’s name. Scared and shocked the pupil ran to his Guru and narrated the entire episode to him. Guru heard what the pupil had to say and expressed his sorrow. Uttered some soothing words and then said, ‘Don’t worry about it my son. Now you go to all those animals that stay in the stables, near your house. There you have a cow that has just given birth to a calf. You go an ask this question in the calf’s ears.’

But unlike last time. This time, the pupil was not very keen on going there, because of his previous experience. But still just to obey his Guru he reluctantly went up to the calf and asked the same question. But he was shell-shocked as the calf too, upon hearing the name of God. Died on the spot.

Devastated, the pupil ran to his Guru again, and loudly said, ‘Gurudev! Recitation of God’s name, has made me a murderer of two. What should I do now? Guru looked at him for a moment and then expressed his grief, again. He then followed it up, with some more kind words and consoled him, by saying, ‘I regret both the times you were disappointed. But I would request one last time. You, please go to the nearby kingdom, and to the King’s palace there. And ask the same question to his newly born baby Rajkumar.

Once again, the novice pupil was dejected. But just to keep up with his Guru’s orders. He reluctantly headed towards the kingdom. He was extremely scared and gingerly, he went up to the king. Where, he mentioned his Guru’s name and desired to see the new born baby Rajkumar. Since the King knew the Guru and respected him he allowed him to see the Rajkumar. The novice, without losing any time went up to the baby and asked the same question. But upon hearing God’s name a mishap occurred and the baby died. The king got extremely upset. He ordered his infantry to do away with the novice by putting him to death. Nervous, the pupil started talking to himself. ‘O my God, I didn’t know your name was so harmful for others. I was better off without it.’

But while he was murmuring all this. A piercing-celestial ray of light came out of the baby’s body and formed into a divine shape. It gestured pranam at the novice pupil and said. ‘I am grateful to you and your Guru. I was serving a curse that I will have three births on earth, and that I will suffer profusely. But your Guru to protect me sent you for my help. When I was a bird you got me mukti (salvation). When I was a calf. Then also you liberated me, and when I was born in human form then too, you got me mukti, by just uttering the name of God. There is immense power in God’s name which you can’t see. After saying all this the divine form vanished. The king released the pupil and gave him lots of presents. The pupil went running to his Guru. He was spellbound. Guru smiled and admiringly said, ‘now you know the real power in God’s name. Name of God can do such miracles that we can’t even think of. But the job is extremely precise and highly devotional.

The story is from Upanishad.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

POETRY: WHEN I WENT WRONG

May 31, 2015beautiful lines, casual causerie, causerie, poem, POETRY, Uncategorizedagony, friendship, help, hurt, life, lines, merry, mirror of life, pain, poem, poetry, relationship, relevant, right, spiritual, twilight, versus, wrongshravancharitymission

WHEN I WENT WRONG

In the shimmers of life I never went wrong,

In the merry of life I never went wrong,

In the don’ts of life I never went wrong,

But In the dos of life I often went wrong.

When I helped, I went wrong,

And when I didn’t, I never went wrong,

When I was relevant I never went wrong,

When I was irrelevant I often went wrong.

When I trusted I went wrong,

When I didn’t I never went wrong,

My tragedies reminded me of my wrongs,

Where in the mirror of life I lay upside down.

When I deviated I went wrong,

And when I didn’t I carried on headstrong,

For there will be moments of rights,

That will later appear as wrongs,

And moments of wrongs that will appear as rights.

So one day I asked myself what is right and what is wrong?

And gently it said what calms you is right,

And what doesn’t is wrong.

And with all those who wronged my right,

I remain calm.

As sadly, I know how often I went wrong.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

SHORT STORY- THE GREEDY FARMER

May 30, 2015ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, causerie, column, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, storyattitude, desire, farmer, forest, greedy, habit, jungle, mantra, message, mind, monkey, puran, short story, spiritual, upanishad, upnashidshravancharitymission

Long time ago there lived a lazy farmer in the countryside who wanted to become rich without any efforts. One day he learnt of a Mahatma (noble and learned person) who lived in the jungles and about whom it was famous that by visiting and praying to him one could fulfill his desires. So, he decided to visit him.

The Mahatma after peacefully listening to the farmer agreed to fulfill his wishes. He assured, ‘I will give you a mantra that will make you rich.’ And soon he passed it on to the farmer.

Who was now exuberant about the comforting thought, that without any efforts he will now become rich. But as he was about to leave, the Mahatma called him back and said, ‘Arrey, I forgot to tell you something important. The moment you start getting weary of monkeys this mantra will become ineffective, and then you will not get the fruits of it.’

Upon hearing this, the farmer started laughing and said, ‘Mahatma ji, you just don’t worry, monkeys have never troubled me, neither in the fields nor in my thoughts. And, for a long time I have not even dreamt of a monkey.’ And, after replying to the Mahatma, the farmer quickly rushed to his house and started preparing for a ritualistic recital of the sacred mantra.

But the moment he uttered the mantra he got terrified, because he thought of ‘monkey.’ Thereon, whenever, he uttered the mantra, he thought of monkey. And soon, every moment, the thought of monkey started troubling him. So much so that monkey even started coming in his dreams. And sadly by now, the thought of monkey had truly disturbed him, both while he was awake and also while he was asleep.

After some days the farmer was quite terrified and saddened as the thought of monkey had almost plagued his mind. And, when he was unable to bear this he went running to the Mahatma and fell on his feet and started sobbing, ‘Mahatma ji, I am extremely distressed as I have lost my peace of mind. I have no desire of becoming rich and you please take your mantra back and save me from the thought of monkey.’

This story is from an Indian Upanishad and reveals our mindset which like a monkey is never in our control. This story also conveys, goals are important but equally important is the means to get to your goal.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

Share if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

#VVIPS: IF YOU COULD ONLY SPARE DAINTY FLOWERS- IN YOUR THANKLESS BOUQUETS

May 28, 2015article, causerie, column, political article, politics, short article, short article on agriculture, short article on politics, short article- politics, story#yeswecan, bouquet, bouquets, bureaucrats, chief ministers, florist, flowers, gardens, governors, heads of states, leaders, make in india, managers, ministers, narendra modi, netas, pm, politicians, president, vip, vvip, vvipismshravancharitymission

‘Earth laughs in flowers’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Each flower is the heart throb of the garden where it is grows, and so also the emblem of ‘earth’s laughter’—as Emerson puts it.

But it is sad to see on TV these days. How people in droves, mindlessly present flower bouquets to VVIPs and Heads of States who mechanically pass it on to their personal security staff, standing next to them. And you get a disgusting feeling seeing these lovely flowers being insulted.

Perhaps, callous VVIPS do not have the time and mind to visualise and feel about the labour pains ‘Mother Earth’ undertakes to deliver each flower. And the blood and sweat of the gardener in bringing about this exquisite beauty.

Therefore, won’t it be wonderful to leave them in the garden alone, than to give them premature death in thankless bouquets. So I would plead to our PM Sri Narendra Modi to stop this culture of bouquets.

And, for tokenism one could think of plastic or paper flowers. That too under—‘make in India’ scheme.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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#SHRAVAN #CHARITY #MISSION-MANDATE- #donate to help #poor #children suffering from #cancer

May 1, 2015article, articles, book launch, causerie, column, ngo activity, short article, short article on cancer, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, tributes, Uncategorizedaadab lucknow...fond mempries, apollo, cancer, charity, child, children, donations, donor, gloom behind the smile, hospital, india, One to Tango ... Ria's odyssey, poor, refractions from the prism of god, SHRAVAN, shravan charity missionshravancharitymission

Dear Friends,

Shravan Charity Mission was started in the memory our late son ‘Shravan.’ He was diagnosed of ‘Brain cancer’ when he was only two-an-a-half years old. And after a long and well fought battle he succumbed tragically when he was sweet sixteen in the year 2009. It was a very arduous journey for us and since then we decided to help ‘Poor Children Suffering from Cancer,’ and the NGO was registered for this purpose.

Background: I have served in big corporate companies for over 36 years across India and at senior positions. But, I now pursue the cause of cancer. I am also a writer, author and a freelance journalist. I also run my own blog as detailed below. Through this blog we cover activities of our NGO where we make direct financial interventions for treatment of poor children; and we also write domain articles and also article of general interest. Currently we are working with Apollo Hospitals in their poor children’s ward, with Dr Amita Mahajan, Pediatric oncologist.

My wife is an educationist and works as a Principal in a B-Ed college and my elder son and daughter-in-law are both with corporate companies.

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

I am also giving below some other URLs with a brief introduction of what it stands for as it will help you in understanding our activities even better:

http://goo.gl/uZ26An Shravan remembrance day advertisement in the newspaper on 24^th February.

http://goo.gl/m6AbCF NGO Activity: Distributing toys to poor angels suffering from cancer.

http://goo.gl/4XqeQI Another way to remember #St #Valentine: #NGO activity on 14^th February 2015

http://goo.gl/XmtzoQ NGO activity #Caring for #poor #child #cancer #patients.

Dr Amita Mahajan, Apollo Hospital handing over medical assitance cheque

http://goo.gl/lpjcb1 NGO activity in the hospital on 25.4.15

http://goo.gl/vIGUIY #Nepal #Quake- 25.4.15, 2015. Short article on a lifetime of tragedy.

http://goo.gl/dNl0wZ HOW I DE-STRESSED MYSELF – IN A REAL LIFE SITUATION. the ultimate stress buster is your mind (Spiritual and real life)

http://goo.gl/D1mSOr TRIBUTE TO SUNITA TOMAR- THE #ANTI #TOBACCO #CRUSADER AGAINST CANCER

http://goo.gl/oHCcOz Lucknow Observer- Interview

http://goo.gl/ei8Fpa #Liquid-biopsy being tested in the US may soon be a boon for cancer treatment.

http://goo.gl/zztfto When even your critics come to see you off- Lucknow Boy Tribute to Vinod Mehta

MY PUBLICATIONS (Earnings go for the cause of poor children suffering from cancer)

http://goo.gl/eWuIS0 ‘#Book #review ‘Gloom behind the Smile’- A real life #story of a #child #cancer #patient (story of Shravan that you could purchase from us or an ebook from online stores – read the url) Book is archived in libraries of the US including the biggest library of world- Library of Congress, Washinton DC.

http://goo.gl/a1sUPH ‘#Aadab #Lucknow … fond memories’ is a book on Lucknow’s #culture (in novel format) of #Hindu-#Muslim #brotherhood. E-book is available in amazon.com and flipkart and some other stores. Print copies available with us. Book was launched in Lucknow Literary festival last year.

http://goo.gl/O3FgDY ‘One to tango … Ria’s odyssey.’ Is a #Story on #SINGLEHOOD about a #Delhi girl. The book is now archived in prestigious Connemara library of Chennai. In case you require a copy you can find in any online store or write to us.

Short stories for sale (Earnings go for cancer patients)

http://goo.gl/yCyImD ‘WHO SHOT THE #WILD #BOAR?’ Is a #short #story on #wild-life written to aid poor children suffering from #cancer. Price Rs 100 for a PDF copy

http://goo.gl/88UVzd ‘ ALLURING MIRAGE OF Raj estate-Ludhiana’ – a short family story written for the cause poor children suffering from #cancer. Price Rs 100 for a PDF copy.

FOR DONATIONS OR PURCHASES KINDLY MAKE A NET TRANSFER AS PER INDIVIDUAL URL OR DROP A CHEQUE IN ANY OF THE ACCOUNTS AND SEND US AN E-MAIL ON shravancharitymission@gmail.com AND WE WILL DESPATCH THE BOOK/SHORT STORY TO YOU

Account name: Shravan charity mission

HDFC account number: (04801450000140)

IFSC code: (HDFC0000480)

Account name: Shravan charity mission

Bank of India ac no: (680510110004635)

IFSC code: (BKID0006805)

Account name: Kamlesh Tripathi (for overseas $ transfer)

ICICI account no: (008301504072)

IFSC code: (ICIC0000018)