Tag Archives: life

POETRY: THERE IS A STORM IN EACH LIFE

July 15, 2015poem, POETRYdefeat, destiny, emotion, failure, faith, health, illness, isolation, karma, life, lifetime, poem, poetry, recognition, spiritual, storm, success, virtueshravancharitymission

THERE IS A STORM IN EACH LIFE

There is a raging storm in each life,

That creates ripples in every life,

But without it there isn’t a life,

And so, be that as it may,

Storm touches the chord of every life.

While there is a tormenting storm in a failure,

There is a fizzy storm in a victory,

A heart-sinking storm in defeat,

And a sweet storm in success,

Well tailored a storm for each occasion.

While I face the storm of illness,

In the merry-go-rounds of my emotions,

Someone else faces the storm of healthiness,

In his own upbeatishness,

But yes there is a storm in each life,

Until he’s alive.

For there is an icy storm in isolation,

A competitive storm in company,

A celestial storm in recognition,

A soft storm in a priest,

And a nasty storm in a devil,

Nevertheless, there is a storm in each life and situation.

It has no face,

No voice of discord,

Offers no pleasantries nor badinage,

As it makes no sound,

And often enters through the back door,

As a vortex of a lifetime.

It often comes as a friend disguised as an enemy,

When it throws you off gear,

And shocks you to despair,

It hurts you proper yet it keeps you alive,

To learn the lessons of life,

And what more, for there is a storm in each life.

It doesn’t favour,

Doesn’t pick and choose,

Treats all equally,

And gives no one a breather,

And spares no one, not even a freshner.

Bigger the smile bigger the storm,

And behind every smile there is a storm,

Before every storm there is a smile,

And beyond the storm there is a wider smile.

And in my canvas of life, there wasn’t a moment,

When I never faced a storm,

But storms come and go,

Leaving behind the storm of life.

For you can disown your life,

But not the storm in your life,

And now when the storm stays away,

I wonder what next,

For there has to be a storm at every behest.

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

(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

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainities to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Now available in Amazon.com

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

*****

SHORT STORY: MAHARISHI’s LAUGH

July 11, 2015short story, storyarrogance, brag, chamchas, disciples, future, karma, life, short story, spiritual, story, sycophants, theologyshravancharitymission

By Kamlesh Tripathi

Maharishi (great spiritual leader) Matang was a bhramagyani (theologian) He had many devotees, and to meet his devotees he used to continuously travel to various towns and cities, and that gave an opportunity to his disciples to see new places, and meet new people. Most people used to come to the Maharishi with their worries and problems to get it solved.

One day the mukhiya (Head) of a town with his complete jingbang and sycophants came to meet the Maharishi. And to Maharishi’s surprise, mukhiya’s sycophants were not getting tired of praising him. And the pompous mukhiya with a lot of arrogance, started boasting to Maharishi about how he had thought about the citizenry of his town and had made plans to develop it, by keeping their future in mind.

After sometime, Maharishi Matang went to another town. There the famous vaidya (practitioner of Ayurvedic medicines) of the town came to see him along with his aides and supporters and started swaggering about, how he had treated so many illnesses and saved so many from the cruel hands of death. And when his aides and supporters were praising the vaidya, Maharishi couldn’t help, and he laughed. Vaidya took offence to Maharishi’s laugh and left immediately with his aides and supporters.

And, after some time, in a different town, a renowned Pandit of that town, along with his disciples came to see the Maharishi. And all those disciples started bragging about the spiritual knowledge of the Pandit, and started narrating how he pardoned the crime of so many criminals and brought them under his fold and gave them assurance of a good life. Upon hearing all this talk Maharishi laughed, when the Pandit too, took offence and left in anger.

The disciples of Maharishi were watching this, and were amazed at him, when they decided to ask, ‘Gurudev, normally you bless people who come to your fold, but thrice we saw you have not blessed them, on their achievements and on the contrary you laughed at them, because of which they took offence and left in a huff. Can we know the reason for this?

Maharishi smiled and looked at them, and said softly, ‘My dear disciples, Mukhiya was planning to sort out others life in the town when he knew nothing about his own life. In the same manner Pandit, by pardoning criminals was trying to become God, when he never could focus, his own attention on the number of sins he himself had committed. And such arrogant and boastful people want to control the future, life and faith of others.

I laughed because the mukhiya is soon going to die, the viadya will contract a disease shortly that doesn’t have a cure and the pandit will go mad soon. In life we should not try and do those jobs which are beyond us. In fact we should encourage other people to move forward themselves. We should rely only on God, and at best, should be in under the aegis of a theologian, if required.

This story reminds us about some relevant aspects of life, and that is, although, we may plan meticulously for our future we can’t ensure it. We are no one to give life to anyone but we can definitely look after the health of someone. In the same manner we can control our devotion. We can increase our devotion or help increase devotion of others.

***

BEAUTIFUL QUOTES OF FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA

July 9, 2015ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, beautiful lines, column, general knowledge, quote of His Holiness Dalai Lama, quotes and lines, snippet, spiritual, spiritual articlebeautiful lines, buddha, buddhism, buddhist, Dalai Lama, death, dharmshala, faith destiny, guidance, holiness, karma, life, mcloidganj, monastry, quotes, spiritual, tibet, virtuesshravancharitymission

Posted by: Kamlesh Tripathi

Some beautiful quotes by Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama

He is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. He has written several books on Buddhism and philosophy, and has received many international awards, including the 1989 Nobel Prize as recognition for his advocacy of world peace and inter-religious understanding.

The common enemy of all religious disciplines is selfishness of mind. For it is just this which causes ignorance, anger and passion, which are at the root of all the troubles.

Whenever Buddhism has taken root in a new land, there has been certain variation in the style in which it observed. The Buddha himself taught differently according to the place, the occasion and the situation of those who were listening to him.

Buddhahood is a state free of all obstructions to knowledge and disturbing emotions. It is the state in which the mind is fully evolved.

From the earliest stages of our growth, are completely dependent upon our mother’s care and it is very important for us that she express her love. If children do not receive proper affection, in later life they will often find it hard to love others.

Through actual practice in his daily life, man well fulfils the aim of all religion, whatever his denomination.

We can speak of an effect and a cause on the disturbing side as well as on the liberating side.

According to Buddhist practice, there are three states or steps. The initial stage is to reduce attachment towards life. The second stage is the elimination of desire and attachment to this samsara. Then the third stage, self-cherishing is eliminated.

Encountering sufferings will definitely contribute to the elevation of your spiritual practice, provided you are able to transform the calamity and misfortune into the path.

Faith dispels doubt and hesitation, it liberates you from suffering and delivers you to the city of peace and happiness.

Suffering increases your inner strength. Also, wishing for suffering makes the suffering disappear.

Even when we are helping others and are engaged in charity work, we should not regard ourselves in a very haughty way as great protectors benefitting the weak.

The creatures that inhabit this earth—be they human beings or animals—are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.

We are born and reborn countless number of times, and it is possible that each being has been our parent at one time or another. Therefore, it is likely that all beings in this universe have familial connections.

The process of dying begins with the dissolution of the elements within the body. It has eight stages, beginning with the dissolution of the earth element, then the water, fire and wind elements. The next four stages are visions in terms of colour: appearance of a white vision, increase of the red element, black near-attainment, and finally the clear light of death.

Do your best and do it according to your own inner standard—call it conscience—not just according to society’s knowledge and judgement of your deeds.

For discovering one’s true inner nature. I think one should try to take some time, with quiet and relaxation, to think more inwardly and to investigate the inner world.

When one is very involved in hatred or attachment, if there is time or possibility during that very moment, just try to look inward and ask: ‘What is attachment? What is the nature of anger?’

Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned.

It is through listening that your mind will turn with faith and devotion, and you will be able to cultivate joy within your mind and make your mind stable.

Laziness will stop your progress in your spiritual practice.

When a day seems to be long, idle gossip makes our day seem shorter. But it is one of the worst ways in which we waste out time. If a tailor just holds the needle in his hand and goes on talking to a customer, the tailoring does not get finished. Besides, the needle might prick his finger. In short, meaningless gossip prevents us from doing any kind of work.

If you rely on someone who has lower qualities than yourself, that will lead to your degeneration. If you rely on someone who has qualities similar to yourself, you will stay where you are. It is only if you rely on someone who has better qualities than yourself, that you will achieve sublime status.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well being.

The problems we encounter are never the result of starting a project or work on an inappropriate day or time. Buddha always talked about negative experiences as the result of having performed negative actions. So, for a good practitioner there is no good day or bad day.

There is no way to escape death. It is just like trying to escape when you are surrounded by four great mountains touching the sky. There is no escape from these four mountains of birth, old age, sickness and death.

Ageing destroys youth, sickness destroys health, degeneration of life destroys all excellent qualities and death destroys life. Even if you are a great runner, you cannot run away from death. You cannot stop death with your wealth, through your magic performances or recitation of mantras or even medicines. Therefore it is wise to prepare for your death.

Discipline is a supreme ornament and, whether worn by old, young or middle-aged, it gives birth only to happiness. It is perfume par excellence and, unlike ordinary perfumes which travel only with the wind, its refreshing aroma travels spontaneously in all directions. A peerless ointment, it brings relief from the hot pains of delusion.

A blossoming tree becomes bare and stripped in autumn. Beauty changes in ugliness, youth into old age, and fault into virtue. Things do not remain the same and nothing really exists. Thus appearances and emptiness exist simultaneously.

Some people who are sweet and attractive, strong and healthy, happen to die young. They are masters is disguise teaching us about impermanence.

POETRY: BAD TIMES A FRIEND OF ALL TIMES

July 7, 2015beautiful lines, column, poem, POETRY, snippet, Uncategorized, versesaeon, bad, bad times, death, elitist, era, friends, god, good, good times, lesson, life, lifetime, poem, poetry, rhymes, shrine, slimy times, teaching, timeshravancharitymission

Copyright@shravancharitymission

BAD TIMES A FRIEND OF ALL TIMES

Pricey and snobby was good times,

Where bad times was a friend of all times,

Choosy and selective was good times,

When cheaply available was bad times.

*

In the skit of life,

Only few had the privilege of good times,

Rest remained in the domain of bad times,

Quite easily the friend of all times.

*

In life where one longs for good times,

Bad time comes uninvited,

Good times chooses where to go,

But bad times hovers every pore.

*

Good times remains a friend of the few,

Where bad times befriends every new,

Good times is elitist,

Where bad times is populist.

*

And in the cage of times,

Only few are having a good time,

And most in general bad times,

That makes me ask,

Who invented these slimy times,

Doesn’t look like the work of a shrine,

*

But does God work through times,

Or time works through God,

The question remains unanswered,

Over a long period of time.

*

Bad times is more laborious than good times,

And it also teaches the lessons of life,

While good times teaches only lessons of rhyme,

And it all happens in the ambit of caged time.

*

And in the frequents of life,

I have dealt more with the wrath of bad times,

Than the rhymes of good times,

And so to me bad times is a friend of all times.

*

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)

*****

Shravan charity mission

By Kamlesh Tripathi

BAD TIMES A FRIEND OF ALL TIMES

PRICEY AND SNOBBY WAS GOOD TIMES,

WHEN BAD TIMES WAS A FRIEND OF ALL TIMES,

CHOOSY AND SELECTIVE WAS GOOD TIMES,

WHEN CHEAPLY AVAILABLE WAS BAD TIMES.

IN THE SKIT OF LIFE,

FEW HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOOD TIMES,

REST REMAINED IN THE DOMAIN OF BAD TIMES,

QUITE EASILY A FRIEND OF ALL TIMES.

WHERE ONE LONGS FOR GOOD TIMES,

BAD TIME COMES UNINVITED,

GOOD TIMES CHOOSES WHERE TO GO,

BUT BAD TIMES HOVERS EVERY PORE.

GOOD TIMES IS A FRIEND OF THE FEW,

WHERE BAD TIMES IS A FRIEND OF MANY,

GOOD TIMES IS ELITIST,

WHERE BAD TIMES IS POPULIST.

AND IN THE CAGE OF TIMES,

ONLY FEW ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME,

AND IN GENERAL BAD TIMES,

AND THAT MAKES ME ASK,

WHO INVENTED THESE SLIMY TIMES,

DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A WORK OF…

View original post 91 more words

SHORT STORY: THE WORRYING KING

July 5, 2015causerie, cinema, short story, snippet, spiritual, story, Uncategorizedancient story, career, courage, emperor, history, ignorance, king, life, lifetime, minister, primitive, problem, raja, rejoice, short story, solutions, spiritual, story, stupid, worryshravancharitymission

In primitive times there once ruled an intelligent king who constantly worried about something or the other. And every now and then, for various reasons, he used to feel helpless and hapless. He often behaved like those ordinary people who for lack of resources could never face a problem in a lively and bold manner. As a consequence of which he never laughed. Even his ministers never saw him laughing. Nor did they ever smile in the king’s presence.

One day, the well-wishers of the king discreetly thought of ways and means to change his attitude towards life. So they made a plan. Next time, when the king’s court was held. Like any other time the king called for his closest minister and said, ‘I’m worried about something.’ Upon hearing this. The minister promptly replied, ‘yes your honour. I know that, and I have been thinking about it.’ Upon hearing the minister’s reply the king was astounded, ‘even without my telling you, how do you, know about my worry?’ The king asked.

The minister replied humbly. ‘Your majesty. I’m not interested in learning about your problem, because I already know the solution to your problem.’ King was surprised at this and he said, ‘even without knowing my problem, how do you know the solution?’ Minister replied in a respectful tone. ‘Your majesty, quite possibly you may not have one but many problems, but to all your problems there is only one solution.’

And upon hearing this. The king got baffled and hesitantly asked, ‘May I know, what is the solution to my problem?’

The minister replied, ‘your majesty, please don’t worry about the solution as, it is absolutely on the dot and perfect for you.’ The king tried to guess what the minister had in mind when he said, ‘well if there is a problem how can I not worry?’

Minister bowed respectfully and asked, ‘your majesty, till date has your worry solved any of your problems? ‘No,’ replied the king. “Well if that is so then why worry?’ Mystery of success doesn’t lie in worries, but removal of worries. And, it is also true that your worries lead you to your grave. The joy of life is in rejoicing and not in worrying. Your majesty, you are so knowledgeable. With your wisdom you lead us. So then, why don’t you set up a more vivacious aura of yourself in front of us?

The king then realised his stupidity and ignorance. He also realised how in a subtle manner his minister and his well-wishers taught him this simple fact of life. He started laughing, and was rather astonished, when everyone else too, started laughing with him.

This is an ancient story. That tells us, worrying is not the solution to our problem. On the contrary it makes us weak and creates barriers on our way to success. To win over your worry means you have already won fifty percent of the battle.

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

(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

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainities to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Book launched on 10^th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon.com and Flipkart

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

*****

POETRY: RAIN-RAIN

July 3, 2015poem, POETRYclouds, enjoy, hill station, life, moments, monsoon, nature, pleasant, poem, poetry, rain, rain god, rainy season, showers, spiritualshravancharitymission

RAIN- RAIN

From the nature’s domain,

Comes the soothing rain,

That washes my strain,

And cleanses my brain.

For to live and sustain,

I collect all the sludge and insane,

And when the stench becomes overbearing,

She comes to claim.

In the torrential rain,

She showers and splashes,

Her blessings and gains,

That we all can claim.

For in the flux and flow of life,

So often I mingle and mangle,

To suit my gains,

And when I lose count of sanity,

I look up for soothing rains.

She comes every year,

And she comes to everyone,

Some love her and some hate her,

But no one can do without her.

She’s the almighty,

She’s the TNT,

She’s the bully,

But she is also life giving.

We abuse her,

We waste her,

We tie her,

Yet we can’t hold her.

We drown when she over showers,

We parch when she doesn’t shower,

And from rain to water,

She runs the cosmos full throttle.

And in the merry-go-round of life,

When I feel tormented,

I look up to the skies moment by moment,

To find out where is she in disguise?

And when the first showers,

Strike mother earth,

Nature blossoms humans smile,

And ambience recoils.

And every year,

When my chips are down,

I know it’s about time,

For the soothing showers to come down.

And as she comes pouring down,

I walk downhill and to the downtown,

In my mackintosh and gumboots,

Criss crossing the puddles and the ponds,

And holding on to my pleasant horizons.

Is when the child in me says,

Enjoy the cloudy overcast,

And celebrate the rain,

For it won’t stay,

And such is the bliss of soothing rain.

****

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

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

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainities to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Now available in Amazon.com

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

*****

SHORT STORY: REDISCOVER LIFE

June 29, 2015ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, articles, casual causerie, causerie, column, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, Uncategorizeddeath, fear of death, god, karmas, knowledge, life, lifetime, puran, rediscover life, shravan charity mission, spiritual, vedas, veds, virtues, wisdomshravancharitymission

Once upon a time there live a Mahatma in a small town, whom, many people from in and around the area visited for spiritual knowledge. One day a person who was particularly known for his anger and cruelty came up to him and said, ‘Your holiness, my mind is always filled with bad and dirty thoughts that prompts me to do wrong things. So, can you please help me keep away from these dirty thoughts and can you also help me acquire some spiritual knowledge?

Mahatama, thought for a while and then said, ‘son, before I pass on any spiritual knowledge or message of peace to you I want to caution you, that you’ll die within a month.’

Upon hearing this, the man got a shock of his lifetime. Fear of death almost gripped his mind immediately. He hurriedly went across to his wife and said, ‘I have troubled you a lot in the past but now I want to correct my mistakes. Please forgive me, because as per holy predictions I’m going to die within a month. Therefore I now want to live with you peacefully.’ Then he went to his kids, parents, relatives, friends and neighbours, and apologized to everyone and started living with them peacefully.

The change in the state of his mind had changed his behaviour in a dramatic way. Everyone, then reciprocated to his affection with cordiality and the whole ambience was filled with positivity. But the man had one, regret; that he is going to die within a month.

On the last day of the month Mahatma came to him, and asked about the experience. He replied, ‘Guru ji my mind is always filled with the thought of death, and that has changed the state of my mind to a great extent. Now people love me, and my mind is completely at peace, but I have only one worry and that is I’m going to die now.’

Mahatma smiled and said, ‘the very thought of death within a month has changed you for good, and everywhere around you, there is peace, love and harmony. We all know life is impermanent and through our karmas we can spread a lot of happiness, yet we don’t. You are not going to die soon, but don’t let these beautiful thoughts ever die in you as they have benefitted you so much. Stay happily with everyone. And live in the present, as that is the supreme spiritual knowledge.’

Most problems of our life, stems, from our belief that we are going to live for a very long time, even when, every now and then we see death all around us.

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)

*****

SHORT STORY: THE LONG HISTORY OF MANKIND

June 24, 2015beautiful lines, casual causerie, causerie, column, interesting facts, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, story, Uncategorizedbooks, career, csr, education, elephants, gita, goal, gold coins, history, history of mankind, human race, karma, king, knowledgeable, life, mankind, mission, routine of life, scholars, spiritual, vedas, vidvanshravancharitymission

Long time ago in a far away kingdom there lived a king who wanted to know about the complete history of mankind. Starting, right from the birth of the first man till the present day man. He therefore, decided to summon all the Vidvans (scholars) to his kingdom to understand from them. How much time it will take to provide him with this valuable and unique knowledge. Vidvans, discussed the matter amongst themselves. After which, the senior most out of them, got up and humbly said, ‘Your majesty. This otherwise will take a very long time. But we shall try and complete the exercise for you in about 20 years. And it will cost around 27,000 gold coins.

Although, the cost of the assignment was exorbitant and the time frame was much more, than what the king had expected. He was still eager to know about the history of mankind. Therefore, he agreed to their proposal, and thereafter, handed over the gold coins to them and decided to wait for the findings.

When the king had given the go ahead for the exercise. He was 50 years old. Since then, some twenty years had passed and he was now 70. Upon completion of the promised period all the Vidvans, reached the palace of the king with some 2000 books in 20 elephants. But by now the king had grown old. His eyesight and hearing had receded. Even his general health was not as good as before. So, he couldn’t have sat and attempted to read these voluminous books. Because, to read them, one would have required at least a time frame of ten years.

So, the King softly said. ‘With this health condition of mine. Ten years is a long period. So kindly reduce the number of books for me. So that I can read them in lesser time.’

Vidvans, again got into a huddle. To discuss the issue and came out in consensus, ‘Your Majesty. We will surely fulfill your wishes by reducing the number of books. But it will take five years and 5000 gold coins.’ The king had no choice being midway, than to accord his approval. And after 5 years. The team of Vidvans, as agreed. Entered the King’s palace with some 200 books.

But in the last 5 years. The king had fallen sick and had become extremely weak. So very weak, that he couldn’t even move. Even his eyesight and hearing capability had reduced substantially. And in no way. He could have gone through those books.

The king therefore smiled and politely said, ‘I am obliged. That you all worked so hard for me. But now, I am physically not capable of reading these huge books. And in case, someone tries to read it to me. Then also, it will take a lot of time. So kindly reduce the number of books further.’ Vidvans had no choice but to agree to the King’s request. So, they told him. Your Majesty, this time it will take. At least a year and some 1000 gold coins to complete the exercise. To which the king readily agreed.

After a year. All the Vidvans, as agreed reached the king’s palace with three voluminous books. But by now the king’s health had further deteriorated. Where, the doctors had given up hopes. Pundits and priests in the kingdom had now started their prayers. To save him.

One Vidvan went close to the king and said, ‘Your majesty we have finally summarized the entire history of mankind, into, just 3 voluminous books. For you to read and benefit.’ King replied in dejection, ‘Now it is too late. As I am on my death bed. My wealth, time and efforts, all went for a waste in pursuit of this knowledge. Before, I even start reading the history of mankind that you all have brought for me, my death will take me far away.

‘Nahi Rajan’ (No Your Majesty) replied the Vidvan, who was standing close to him, ‘you’ll surely learn about the history of mankind. And, in fact. Should I tell you about it in your ears now?’ King was in deep pain, but he made an effort to say, ‘Well if you can narrate it, in my ears. Please do it fast.’

Vidvan respectfully bowed at the king and whispered in his ears, ‘a man is born. He eats all his life and at the end he dies. In short. This is the ultimate reality of mankind.’

‘That’s all, only this much,’ said the king and he expired, thereafter.

This is one such a story that narrates, how the majority of mankind, have spent their time in this world. They are born, they eat and in spare time they do some work and one day because of tension and disease they expire.

Can we not do better than this?

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)

*****

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

*****

POETRY: MY PAST IN MY LIFE AHEAD

June 19, 2015POETRYdays ahead, future, god, life, lifetime, past, poem, poetry, present, spiritualshravancharitymission

MY PAST IN MY LIFE AHEAD

In the life ahead lies the toil of my yesterday,

In the life ahead lies the heat of my today,

And in the life ahead slumbers my unruffled dreams waiting to unravel,

Is when my unknown life ahead tow-chains with my pristine past.

And in the cantabiles of today lies the unresting rehearse,

And all along the soft dribbles of the winding brooks,

Lies the harsh and cruel nature,

Yet life ahead only believes in its bloated ego.

Sanity says forget the past enjoy the present for future is unknown,

But i say unknown is unknown till it is known,

So be with your present,

And never dump your past,

For bright days ahead will only evolve out of your vibrant past.

And between the flashy today and the glamorous tomorrow,

Exists my mother of lifetime–my past,

That held my hand and showed me the way.

And when the flash dwindles and glamour recedes,

Much evaporates and little is left in the days ahead,

But a treasure to applaud,

In the realms of past and the bygone days.

And that is when i realised,

There is no future without a past,

But there is a past without a future.

****

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

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

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainties to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Now available in Amazon.com

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

*****