Monday Spiritual Joke #23

A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby. "Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray," the priest said.

"No," said the minister. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven."

"You're both wrong," the guru said. "The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor."

The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted, "The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

Giving HAPPINESS

I have just come back from India. My time was packed with amazing experiences. One such sweet experience happened one day whilst I was having lunch when an Indian family (quite numerous) passed by our table.

Spotting my friend and I sitting at the table they asked us with a lot of enthusiasm if we would mind if they took their photo with us. I am not very much into being photographed, so in my mind my initial reaction was “Oh, not again!”. I mostly tend to agree to this kind of thing but not very willingly. My feelings must have shown on my face as it invoked a comment from the neighbouring table: “This is your opportunity to give happiness, are you going to miss it?” Within a fraction of a second my attitude turned around by 180 degrees. I immediately became enthusiastic about fulfilling their wish and "that" photograph is the evidence for it:-)! The father of the family thanked us and added: “We will remember this until the end of our lives”. I know it might sound over the top, but these were the exact words he spoke.

Very often we can make someone very happy with such little effort. I almost missed my opportunity, just because I don’t like being photographed. I am glad I didn’t miss it though and that was thanks to the person sitting at the neighbouring table. Thank you, I hope we meet again!

The Difference

I got up early one morning and
rushed into the day.
I had so much to accomplish,
I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
heavier came each task.
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but
the day toiled on, gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "You didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence.
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning and
paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish,
I had to take time to pray.

By A. Grant

Waiting at the Bus Stop...

The other morning - it was early, but for many it was the end of a long night out! - I was waiting at the bus stop to go to the meditation centre for morning class and there were these two teenagers, well they might even have been in their 20s...One was playing the wise one, he may even have been a bit older, and the other was completely rebelling against the system/the world. I think that both of them had had a few too many drinks but still were having a constructive conversation. The one rebelling looked like he was on his way to work and he was sharing with his friend about how he didn't care about work, and that for him he was there to do the work, get paid and leave and so it didn't matter if his wasn't clear in the mind. The undercurrent was that he felt that the world/system was corrupt and so he was consciously not buying into it. The wiser one suggested to him that there was another option, being that he could also enjoy work...He said: that if you're not clear in the head and 'don't care' how will you be able to offer something of value? I only caught about 5mins of the conversation before my bus came...the beauty of the conversation - even though it was very clear that neither one of them was willing to listen to the other - was how they were trying to express themselves and stand up for something which for them was their truth, and neither one was willing to compromise it.

I wanted to say just one thing to the rebel...'the world needs your clarity'...but the thought came too late - I was already sitting in the bus. I'm sure, in time, he'll come to the same conclusion himself...

Monday Spiritual Joke #22

A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish."

The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want."The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that would honor and glorify me."

The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife. I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says, "nothing's wrong" and how I can make a woman truly happy."

The Lord replied, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"

Go on - make your day!

I was walking in Central London yesterday and was running late for an appointment. Whilst standing at the traffic light waiting for the 'little green man' to alight, I saw a well-dressed elderly lady on the other side of the road who seemed a little lost. Many people hurrily walked pass her when she approached them including a tall gentleman who had his hand up to indicate he didn't have time for her. However, I continued to watch her maintain the same smile on her face unaffected by the responses of the people (that's what I call wisdom).

When the 'little green man' came alight, I started crossing the road and met her at the side of the road. Our eyes met and there was no way I could have pretended not to see her. She then asked me with a warm and gentle voice whether I knew the way to British Museum. I explained briefly to her how to get there and the roads she needed to look out for. She then thanked me and I felt such genuine gratefulness in her voice. She made my day. As it turned out, the person whom I was meeting was running late anyway. At least I had a good excuse for being late.

Sometimes I feel I get so caught up in my own affairs and wrapped up in my own little world that I become self-centred, which eventually stops my 'heart' from growing and sharing. So, why can't we stop for a few moments to say hi and acknowledge another human being with a genuine smile - wouldn't it make your day?

Monday Spiritual Joke #21

Patient: My irregular heartbeat is really frightening me.
Doctor: Don't worry, we'll put a stop to it.

Traveling Home

I have just come back from traveling extensively. To travel is always nice. In a way, it served to bring me back home inside, to touch base with who I really am, as my normal reference points were not there. So that was beautiful and allowed me to have many insights. One of them, the most practical of all, was that:

-- I only have 25 days holiday per year
-- one year has 365 days

I can not afford to find inner beauty only on 25 out of 365 days of the year… which means that I need to create some newness and forge ‘inner trips’ whilst sitting here in my office. To find ‘food for thought’ and train my eyes to see the magic of everyday life. To be a guest, a constant traveler… one who is not attached to anything and yet appreciates everything – and has FUN with it all!

Awakening

A few days ago I visited a friend who lives outside of london - it's amazing how people who have had many experiences, look to be living the high life tend to lose the sense of simplicity and appreciation - the ego is much more at the forefront. In comparison my friend...she is from an older generation, illiterate and her appreciation of everything was quite mind blowing. We were reflecting on life and at one point I asked the question 'how often do we have a thought that we've never had before?...my friends eyes opened up wide like a childs' and very enthusiastically said 'I have - right now!' I asked what it was and she said ' where is the mind?' Amazing I thought...it was because of appreciation, an open mind and a willingness to learn that this thought came to her for the first time. I thought: this is what awakening is...it's when the ego falls...how often do we dare to ask the questions that could shift our reality?...she was and it was beautiful to witness.

Reading Faces

On two occasions within this past week - whilst chatting with people... judging by their expressions I was convinced that I knew what was going on in their minds...but I was completely wrong. On both occasions I was convinced that their expressions were negative but in fact their experiences were overwhelmingly positive. How could I be so wrong in my judgement? It's happening to me more frequently these days that I scan someone's face or I hold a certain impression and find I am thinking 'are they listening', 'is what I am saying making sense to them ', or 'they really aren't interested'...these thoughts come like flashes into my mind but they influence both my experience as well as my responses to them...It's along the same lines as I was sharing in the 'Success Ruler' blog, where I found myself judging too quickly...it's as though my whole perception is focused outside rather than inside. Is there a time and place to read faces...or should we just get on with the job and simply play our part with 100% confidence? Part of me is convinced that even in a business deal if I maintain my confidence and trust myself - others will adjust to my state of mind (facial expressions!!!) instead of the other way around.