Gandhi Quotes

Yesterday, I wrote a little about Gandhiji in my post “Bapu for me“. Well, not just “about” him, but mostly on my thoughts about him and his philosophy and teachings. I wanted to share some of his quotes too in that post but couldn’t for some reasons. So thinking of doing it today.

Some of my favorite quotes of Mahatma Gandhi-

• Gandhi’s Talisman:

“I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?

Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away.”

- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.

• A ‘No‘ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes‘ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.

• A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.

• An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it. Confession of errors is like a broom which sweeps away the dirt and leaves the surface brighter and clearer. I feel stronger for confession.

• As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.

•  Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.

• I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.

• I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.

• In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.

• It is easy enough to be friendly to one’s friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.

• Let everyone try and find that as a result of daily prayer he adds something new to his life, something with which nothing can be compared.

• Man can never be a woman‘s equal in the spirit of selfless service with which nature has endowed her.

• Morality which depends upon the helplessness of a man or woman has not much to recommend it. Morality is rooted in the purity of our hearts.

• My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. Non-violence is the means of realising Him.

Learn and apply. Love and live.  

A Cow and a Boy- My Sunday Picture

Almost every evening I watch this kid taking his cow back to their home in the village down the hill. He doesn’t even have to force her to walk, she just walks along with him, as if he is following the cow and not the other way around. I feel like waving and smiling to him but he never gives me a single glance or, for that matter, to any of the houses. He just walks playfully with his eyes down or facing straight, as if thinking something or just nothing. I wonder what..

Believe in Yourself.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same.

- Nelson Mandela.

Give it a thought. I most certainly need to.

Good Day everyone!

My Mom Loves Birds, Esp. Sparrows!

We ,if we are lucky enough to have an open mind, interact with nature. Flowers, birds, or other natural wonders around us. My mom has these special friends which come over in the evening almost at the same time. These sparrows stay in the balcony near the flowers (My mom’s gardening) and search for food. They chirp until my Mom opens

To Afridi, with Love [by Maheen Sadiq]

I came across this article (which is actually a letter) today on Facebook via a friend (J.J.) of mine. I found it really touching. Such lovely words. It really is worth sharing.

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There’s a lot to be said about the cricket tournament, especially our match against India. And it has a lot more to do with Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Gul’s bad luck, and Sachin Tendulkar’s good fortune.

Cricket speaks to our nation in a way our government never has.

And Shahid Afridi addressed the nation in a way our president never has – unselfish, genuine, modest. So when Afridi apologized to Pakistan, millions listened and were humbled by the gesture. Our eyes filled with tears and our hearts with love and strange kind of sorrow. Shahid Afridi, you need not apologize to the nation. We are proud of you and our entire cricket team! You didn’t bring back the cup, but any excitement, any happiness, any hope that Pakistanis have felt in the past few months is because of your brilliance. We’ve been hearing a lot of “Pakistan needs something to celebrate,” but

They All Said The Same

“It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways.” {Gautam Buddha}

“Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship that is bound to break into pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock.” {M K Gandhi}

“The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we ought to control our thoughts.” {Charles Darwin}

“One gradually attains tranquility of mind by keeping the mind fully absorbed in the Self by means of a well-trained intellect, and thinking of nothing else.” {Bhagavad Gita 6:25}

The month of colorful March is over. And here comes April. Have nice time everyone. May you all achieve what you want to. And may God grant you peace and love.

“Face it”… (Wisdom Lines)

weheartit.com

Knowing very well escapism can only be transitory, and also knowing very well you cannot eternally escape anything in life,why do you still try to escape? Why don’t you want to know, what you must know? When the cat closes its eyes the world does not become blind. Eventually, what must be faced must be faced. Then, why at all eventually? Why at all postpone? The forest fire you will face tomorrow is the little spark that you tried to escape yesterday.

 

It is a fact that most of us lack the courage to face the facts of life. That we do lack the courage to face the facts of life is the first brutal fact that we must face.

I think my friend is drifting away from me. Face the fact. Something can be done about it. I think my marriage is falling apart. I think the competition is eating into our market share. I think some of our employees are nurturing the aspirations of joining the competitor. I think as an organisation we are deviating from the original vision with which it was formed. I think my kind of work wins me not only friends, but also enemies. I just don’t know, how and where to go from here in life. I know in the heart of my heart I was wrong, though I have always told him that it was his mistake. The list is endless…

Face the fact. Something can be done about it. If you avoid the fact, it gets nastier, and it revisits you. At least now face the fact. Something can still be done about it. What you avoid does not go away from you. It gets uglier, and it revisits you. Every fact that you escape from will one day make you think, “I should have…I could have…I must have…”

We can always seek the right medical intervention, follow proper fitness regime and practice appropriate diet. You can ease out the differences with your friend through open communication, through initiative you can become your son’s best friend, open up new markets, make your employees your co-owners, and take the courage to say the small big word ‘Sorry’.

Everything that was ever solved was solved because somebody was willing to face it. It all starts with the courage to face the facts. In facing the facts that you had always tried to avoid, for the first time you are looking at life square in the eye. Face the brutal facts of life courageously; knowing very well that something can be done about it. Escapism is not for people like you and me. What must be faced, must be faced, sooner than later.

Source: Frozen Thoughts

P.S. I need to work on it the most, honestly.

God- It’s Not Just A Three-Letter Word.

Following are some “universal” quotations I came across today:

“Divine Mystery”

Reference: Times of India, 18.03.2011.

God Bless everyone.

16 Charitable Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day (via Philanthropy Writing)

This is one of the “freshly pressed” posts of WordPress. And it deserves it too. Well, I never thought of doing all this on Valentine’s Day, although I didn’t do anything else special

This Valentine’s Day, forget the wining and dining. Do something that matters. Like many people, I’ve had good Valentine’s Days and well, not so good.

The not-so-good dates back to middle school, when I, like many of my classmates, anxiously awaited one of those pink-dyed carnations from what I hoped would be a secret admirer. Much to my dismay, the carnation

Gayatri Mantra

 

ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं । भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि, धीयो यो न: प्रचोदयात् ।।
Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swah, Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

Translation:

Oh God, the Protector, the basis of all life, Who is self-existent, Who is free from all pains and Whose contact frees the soul from all troubles, Who pervades the Universe and sustains all, the Creator and Energizer of the whole Universe, the Giver of happiness, Who is worthy of acceptance, the most excellent, Who is Pure and the Purifier of all, let us embrace that very God, so that He may direct our mental faculties in the right direction.

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