PERCEPTION
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.
How many other things are we missing
NON VIOLENT PARENTING ( True Story)
Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in his June 9 lecture at theUniversity of Puerto Rico, shared the following story as an example of Nonviolence in parenting:
"I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbours, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies.
One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. "Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father ask me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced.
When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, "I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together.'"After hurriedly completing my chores, I went straight to the nearest movie theatre.
I got so engrossed in a John Wayne double feature that I forgot the time. It was 5:30 before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00. He anxiously asked me, "Why were you late?" I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a John Wayne western movie that I said, 'The car wasn't ready, so I had to wait,' not realizing that he had already called the garage.When he caught me in the lie, he said:
"There's something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth." "In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I'm going to walk to walk home 18 miles and think about it."So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads. I couldn't leave him, so forfive-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered. I decided then and there that I was never going to lie again.
I often think about that episode and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have learned a lesson at all. I don't think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single nonviolent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday
THAT IS THE POWER OF NON VIOLENCE
A WELL PLANNED RETIREMENT
Outside England's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were 1Pound for cars ($1.40), 5Pound for buses (about $7).
Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.
The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility. The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee..The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.
Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain orFrance or Italy ... is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day -- for 25 years.
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars ....... and no one even knows his name.
TAKE A BREAK
Unconditional Love
He called his parents from San Francisco
“Mon and Dad,” I’m coming home but I’ve a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring home with me”
“Sure , they replied “we’d love to meet him.” There’s something you should know the son continued “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that son maybe we can help him find some where to live,”
“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”
“Son,” said the father, “ You know what you’re asking; Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives.
I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find away to live on his own
At that point the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.
A few days later, however they received a call from the San Francisco police.
Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.
The grief –stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him but to their Horror they also discovered something they didn’t know their son had only One Arm and One Leg
There are parents in our story one like many of us. We find it easy to Love those who are Good-Looking or fun to have around, but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable
We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy beautiful or smart as we are
The Difference Between Focus on Problems, and Focus on Solutions:
When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity. (Ink won't flow down to the writing surface) In order to solve this problem, they hired Andersen
Consulting (Accenture today). It took them one decade and 12 million dollars.
They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, under water, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees Celsius
The Russians used a pencil in space
I AM FORGIVEN... BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND
After the civil war, Abraham Lincoln, as the President of the United States, had the power to forgive people for committing crimes against the State. And so, before considering the pardon, he would receive testimonies from friends, families and acquaintances to vouch for the prisoner
One day, he came across a prisoner that surprised him. That particularperson had no testimonies. Abraham Lincoln then asked his aide about that man and found out that this man had no friends, no relatives
and knew no one. And so, because of this, this man had no chance of being freed
Abraham Lincoln thought for a moment, and then signed the pardon letter of this man.
Before he did so, he said, 'I'm now his friend.'
A True Story : Date with second Woman
After get marriage for twenty-one years, I found an unique way to refresh my love life. Not long ago, I was going to date with a lady, and the idea came from my wife. One day my wife said: I know u love her. I was shocked: The one I love is you! She said: I know, but u love her too. The lady that my wife asked me to visit was my mother.
She was alone for nineteen years, however, I was busy with my job and my children, so I was less likely to visit her.
The night, i called her, invited her to have a dinner and movie with me at the second day. ' What happen? Are u alright?', she asked.
I answered: I was just thinking that if I have chance to date with you alone, it sure be very interesting.
After a while, she said: I do.
The Friday came after i knock off from my worked, I fetched her at her home, felt like a little bit nervous, because I had never been to a date with my mom before. When I reached her house, I found that she seems a little bit nervous too.
She was in her suite, which she wore during her last wedding anniversary with my dad, waiting for me in her house.
She made her hair specially, smiling like an angel.
When she get into my car, she proudly said: all my friends were jealous at me when they know that I’m gonna dating with my son.
We went to a restaurant which was not expensive but with warmth and cozy environment.
My mom holds my hand as she was the wife of a president.
After getting to her seat, I help her to order her food, because she only can read the big capital words.
When we were eating, I found she was staring at me.
She smile and said: I remembered that during yr childhood, I always make the order for u. I answered: then now is yr chance to take a rest and let me to serve you.
We keep talking during our dinner, and some special things happening these few years.
We talked for very long time until we missed the movie. When I fetched her back to her house,
She asked: I'd like to date with u next time, but please let me pay the bill next time. I agreed.
When I back to my home, my wife asked: "How was your date with your mom?"
' It was interesting and fun, over my expectation' , I answered.
Few days later, my mom passed away due to heart failure. The thing happened in an unexpected manner, I wasn't prepared for it at all.
Soon after this, I received a letter; there are a receipt of the restaurant that I dated with my mom, and a message: I already paid the bill for our next date, even though I know I'd probably won't have chance to date with you anymore, I still pay the bill for two persons: you and your wife. You will never know how meaningful the date to me, I love U.
At the moment, I realized: we must always spare our precious time to our beloved, and told them u love them before it is too late.
There is nothing more important than your family, spend more time with them before it is too late.
You are gifted if your parents are still alive,
Matha. Petha, Guru, Thevam,
Without their blessing, they is no Guru and no blessing from God.
Don't make any regret in our life, We should share good things with them.
God Loves You
Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal, and, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she lovedThe newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go." You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But the scars
of a painful past, Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not let you go. God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. That is why it is so important that we are not selfish to receive the blessings of these messages without forwarding them to someone else
LOVE
A love story that will touch you heart There was once a guy who suffered from cancer... a cancer that can't be treated. He was 18 years old and he could die anytime. All his life, he was stuck in his house being taken cared by his mother. He never went outside but he was sick of staying home and wanted to go out for once.
So he asked his mother and she gave him permission. He walked down his block and found a lot of stores. He passed a CD store and looked through the front door for a second as he walked. He stopped and went back to look into the store. He saw a young girl about his age and he knew it was love at first sight. He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her. He walked closer and closer until he was finally at the front desk where she sat.
She looked up and asked "Can I help you?" She smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he has ever seen before and wanted to kiss her right there.
He said "Uh... Yeah... Umm... I would like to buy a CD." He picked one out and gave her money for it.
"Would you like me to wrap it for you?" she asked, smiling her cute smile again.
Kumari Kandam and Lemuria
"Lemuria" in Tamil nationalist mysticist literature, connecting Madagascar, South India and Australia (covering most of the Indian Ocean).Kumari Kandam is a legendary sunken kingdom sometimes compared with Lemuria (Tamil: ஞானமுத்தன் தேவநேயன்). In Tamil tradition, Kumari Kandam is referred to as the Land of Purity, a sophisticated kingdom of higher learning, located south of Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin. During a violent geologic catastrophe the entire island was submerged under the water. The survivors migrated to the present Indian subcontinent and supposedly sparked the Indus Valley Civilization. This mass of land is often compared to the island of Lemuria.
According to these modernist interpretations of motifs in classical Tamil literature — the epics Cilappatikaram and Manimekalai that describe the submerged city of Puhar[11]— the Dravidians originally came from land south of the present day coast of South India that became submerged by successive floods. There are various claims from Tamil authors that there was a large land mass connecting Madagascar and Australia from the Southwest and Southeast respectively to the present-day Kanyakumari District coast.
Another piece of literature in Ayyavazhi mythology, specifically Akilathirattu Ammanai speaks of a sunken land about 152 miles south of present day Kanyakumari. It goes on to describe the civilization with exactly 16008 streets.[11]
SAGE AGATHIYAR
The following is based on an article on Sage Agathiyar –SAGE AGASTHYA
‘Agathiyar Muni is considered to be the embodiment of one of the nine celestial intellectuals who came to this earth for enlightening human beings.’
‘Siddhars are those who have attained perfection in yogic practices to ultimately reach the stage of immortality. Through higher-level yogic practices they attain a state of ultra luminosity that results in invisibility; thus they remain impervious to ordinary vision.’
‘Such siddhars work incessantly for the propagation of knowledge and the evolution of souls.’
Agathiyar during the course of literary research on the Siddha medical sciences in a Tamil manuscript written on palm leaves about 3,000 years ago. The text is titled ‘Prapancha Kaandam’
It is attributed to Lord Muruga. It was narrated by sage Agathiyar while recorded by sage Pulasthiya.
‘The Prapancha Kaandam commences with explanations about the origin of the earth and the entire solar system. The earth is believed to be a fragment of the sun blown into space as a big ball of fire billions of years ago. This big fire globe, after spinning round and round at a very high speed for innumerable length of time, began to cool on its surface.
During the course of its voyage from the sun through different gaseous spheres of highly energetic particles the earth being attracted and repelled by different planets of the solar system, acquired the energetic potency of all the planets.
Later it gained a constant movement rotating on its own axis having its path around the sun. It is stated that the earth took its origin 200 billion years ago.’ the world was not habitable having only land and water for half this period of time.
‘Gradually vegetation began to appear as the earliest form of life on earth. Subsequently aquatic living creatures followed by insects, reptiles, birds and animals came upon; with the last being humans.
Each species had its own genetic origin and human beings are considered the sixth in the order of original creation. It is stated that planet earth is the only place for the survival and existence of life in the entire solar system. As life began to exist time began to be counted.
The entire period was divided into yugas. The present Kali Yuga is stated to have started from 3100 BC and may correspond to 14th March 3100 BC.’
ON THE BIRTH OF AGATHIYAR
Sage Agathiyar was said to have been born about 4573 years prior to the commencement of Kali Yuga at a place in Gujarat, in the early hours of Tuesday, 14th of February 7673 BC.
Belonging to the early Aryan race, his father Bhargava was well learned while his mother Indumathi was from Punjab. They were both devotees of the Pasupatha order of the sage Rishabha Muni.
Agathiyar then had his early education in Gujarat. As his thirst for knowledge in particular on philosophy, yoga, medicine, and astronomy was immense he traveled all over Kashmir, Tibet, China, Nepal and Kailas in Manchuria. Mount Kailas was deemed to be in Manchuria those days.
He became a disciple of sage Nandi and Dhanvantri. He then traveled towards the south to Cambodia and Malaya. In Cambodia he established the very first of his many educational institutions for the propagation of philosophy and science.
After establishing a similar institution and hospital in Malaya he crossed the sea to the continent of Kumari Kandam. During Agathiyar’s time Kumari Kandam occupied a vast area extending from the present day Sri Lanka to the Antarctic. This continent was ruled by Ravana, a great devotee of Lord Siva. King Ravana gave away a portion of his kingdom to Agathiyar to establish more institutions. The foremost of these institutions in this region was known as Arunodaya Giri or Meozone. Here Agathiyar practiced yoga and taught it to his large following of disciples. He then went back north to Malaya where he was betrothed to the king’s daughter. He then ruled the kingdom of Vijayapuri.
He returned to Kumari Kandam where he met Lord Murugan in the form of sage Kandan or Supramaniar at Trikona Malai, present day Trincomali. At the hill station called Kadari Kama or Kadhirgama, Lord Murugan imparted spiritual knowledge to Agathiyar.
In his meditation he could see into the future; see impending calamities. As a result he moved to the North Pole considering it to be a save place. This period of his move to the Arctic was said to coincide with the end of the Dwapara Yuga placed at about 6580 BC. Just as he had seen of an impending calamity and had decided to move north, a tremendous explosion in the planet Mars sents a piece of debris towards earth. This impact caused a great deluge on the earth. Significant portions of Kumari Kandam submerged into the Indian Ocean. Continental drift resulted in the present day arrangement of this region.
On returning to Mancuria after the great flood Kailas was no more but instead the Himalayan mountain range had emerged in North India.
Amidst all this geographical changes, sage Agathiyar went seeking for a place that would not be affected by future calamities.
He located a mountain range in South India. This is the present day Courtalam. This spot is said to be the safest place and free from any future catastrophes. Here Agathiyar met Lord Siva and Uma in the form of Dhashina Murthi and Shenbaga Devi. This spot where the meeting took place between Dhashina Murthi, Shenbaga Devi, Lord Murugan and Agathiyar was Mahadeva Giri. This meeting also signified the commencement of Kali Yuga.
Other sages then stated coming to Mahadeva Giri. Lord Dhashina Murthi revived the knowledge of the Vedas and instructed these sages to propagate this knowledge at the appropriate manner and time for the benefit of humanity. This imparting of this knowledge was said to have taken place on the 21st day of the Tamil month of Kartigai, during the eleventh year , Eswara Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga. Agathiyar gave much importance to this day. All his dating was reckoned from this day.
The sages recorded their knowledge on palm leaves after extensive discussions held in Alagan Kulam and presented them to Dhashina Murthi for his perusal. This included the 64 kinds of learning, 18 Puranas, 96 Tatvas, and 48 branches of scientific knowledge. The entire literature in Tamil came to be called Sidha Veda. It was then translated into the four existing languages of that period vis Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew and Chinese.
Sage Agathiyar on the instruction of Lord Murugan originated the Tamil language. Sage Bhogar from China, Thaeraiyar from Malaya, Yugimuni from Kerala, Pulipani from Kantha Malai, Pulathiyan and Kapiyan too served Agathiyar. A conference of sidhas called Sidhar Sabai was held during the 53rd year, Sidharti Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga at Courtalam.
An institution known as Sidhar Gnana Koodam was inaugurated by Lord Murugan and was headed by Agathiyar. Pulathiyan and Kapiyan headed the literary section while Pulipani in research. Thaeraiyar who was into surgery headed a medical research centre established at Thorana Malai. Yugimuni who was into herbal medicines headed an Ayurvedic hospital at Paradesi Kundai. Sage Bhogar who was in charge of all scientific researches established an alchemy research centre at Thiruparankundram. Pambatti Sidhar was heading a team researching venom at Marudamalai.
After having established these institutions Agathiyar again started on an extensive mission of propagating the wealth of knowledge gained by these sidhars in Tibet, Manchuria, Egypt, Palestine, Rome, America, Africa, Malaya and Arab world.
After satisfactorily completing their mission of propagating the said teachings the sages went into 'Samadhi' merging themselves into the cosmos. Kandan went into Samadhi in Thorana Malai, Bhogar in Palani, Thaeraiyar, Pulipanai and Yugimuni in Kantha Malai, and Agathiyar himself choose to come back to Courtalam. He chose a spot called Dhashina Meru in the Pothigai Hills. This spot is also the abode of Lord Siva as Dhashina Murthi.
The Saint, the Crane and the Housewife
Konganavar was a religious man who did great penance and acquired great powers. One day, while he was meditating, a crane was sitting on a branch above his head and its droppings fell on his lap. Enraged at being disturbed in his prayers, he looked at the bird, which immediately started to burn. His very look burned the bird.
It was customary for Konkanavar to beg for food. On the day he burnt the crane, he decided to visit the house of the poet Thiruvalluvar. The poet's wife Vasuki was serving her husband when the Sage arrived. On hearing Konganavar call for alms, she called out to him to wait until she had served her husband. Konganavar was annoyed at the delay. He thought to himself, “If only the poor lady knew that I am a great saint and have the power to burn a bird by merely looking at it, she would not keep me waiting”. When Vasuki finally came out, Vasuki said, “Oh Konganavar, do not think I am a like the bird you burnt today”. Konganavar was amazed. The incident had occurred deep in the forest and no one had witnessed it. Yet Vasuki knew about it. He bowed humbly before her and asked her how she knew. She said “Go to the house of the butcher, who lives down the road, and he will enlighten you”. The sage immediately did so. The butcher was bathing his old and blind parents and hence could not give the saint his immediate attention. But this time Konganavar`s curiousity was so great that he waited without getting annoyed .
After serving his parents the butcher brought food for the saint and said, “Oh holy man, please eat my humble food and I shall tell you why the wife of the poet asked you to see me”.
Normally, Konganavar would not have had anything to do with a butcher, but now he was willing to do anything to get at the truth behind the extraordinary powers of an ordinary housewife and a butcher. After a good dinner, Konganavar asked him, “Please tell me the secret of the powers that you and the poet`s wife have”. The man replied, “We have no extraordinary powers. We say what we feel, and we feel for others as much as we feel for ourselves. We carry out our duties to the best of our abilities. There is nothing more than that”. On hearing this Konganavar bowed down low in reverence to the butcher and said, “Teacher, you have enlightened me, I shall always be grateful to you”
The Great Einstein and some real incidents
============ ========= ========= =========One day during a speaking tour, Albert Einstein's driver, who often sat at the back of the hall during his lectures, remarked that he could probably give the lecture himself, having heard it so many times. Sure enough, at the next stop on the tour, Einstein and the driver switched places, with Einstein sitting at the back in his driver's uniform.
Having delivered a flawless lecture, the driver was asked a difficult question by a member of the audience. "Well, the answer to that question is quite simple," he casually replied. "I bet my driver, sitting up at the back there, could answer it!"
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Albert Einstein's wife often suggested that he dress more professionally when he headed off to work. "Why should I?" he would invariably argue. "Everyone knows me there." When the time came for Einstein to attend his first major conference, she begged him to dress up a bit. "Why should I?" said Einstein. "No one knows me there!"
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Albert Einstein was often asked to explain the general theory of relativity. "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour," he once declared. "Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity!"
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When Albert Einstein was working in Princeton university, one day he was going back home he forgot his home address. The driver of the cab did not recognise him. Einstein asked the driver if he knows Einstein's home. The driver said "Who does not know Einstein's address? Everyone in Princeton knows. Do you want to meet him? Einstein replied "I am Einstein. I forgot my home address, can you take me there? "The driver reached him to his home and did not even collect his fare from him.
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Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.
The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.'
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.
The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.'
Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'
Generous Karna
My little friends, Karna was Duryodhan’s special friend. He was well known for his generosity. He never used to send back any needy person empty handed. Every morning, Karna used to go to the river bank for a bath and give oblation of water to the Sun-God. After his bath, while returning home, if any needy person came before him, he never used to return him back empty handed.
Once, Lord Srikrushna and Arjun were engaged in a conversation. They were talking about Karna’s generous nature. Srikrushna praised Karna for his generosity. He said, "No one is as generous as Karna." Arjun was surprised to hear this. He said, "O Srikrushna, my brother, Dharmaraj Yudhishthir too is very generous." However, Srikrushna argued that Karna was more generous as compared to Yudhishthir. As usual, Srikrushna was ready to prove his point. He said, “Alright, let us settle this issue tomorrow, by going to both, Dharmaraj and Karna.”It was a rainy season then. Srikrushna and Arjun went to Dharmaraj Yudhishthir the next morning. Welcoming them, he asked the reason for their coming. Srikrushna said, “Some important construction work has to be undertaken in the capital immediately and for that some wooden logs are required.” Dharmaraj called his servants and ordered them to bring wood of best quality for construction. However, the servants did not return with the wood for a long time. Finally, one servant came back and stood before them looking to the ground. Dharmaraj asked, “What happened? Did you not get the wood?” Since it was monsoon, the logs had become wet due to the rains; hence the servants could not bring them. Dharmaraj was helpless in providing the required wood. He expressed his helplessness to Srikrushna and Arjun. Hearing this, Srikrushna and Arjun went away.
Srikrushna then took Arjun to Karna. When they arrived at Karna’s residence, Karna welcomed them with great respect and inquired about their wellbeing. Arjun told him about their urgent need of wood. Karna said, “O, why are you so worried for such a simple thing?” saying so, he asked his servants to fetch some wood. The servants returned after a while and reported to him about the wood being wet due to rain. Hearing this, Karna went inside. Since he did not return for a long time, Arjun and Srikrushna went inside Karna's room. There, they saw that Karna was cutting the legs of his wooden bed. They saw many pieces of furniture were set aside. Now they realised the reason for the delay in Karna’s returning to them. Arjun asked Karna, "O, Karna, why did you cut off your precious artistic sandalwood furniture?" Karna replied, "These things can be made again, but there is no other grief than sending away someone empty handed despite his request to fulfil his desire."
Later, the same Karna gave away his golden armour and earrings, which he had received as a blessing at birth. This example of total sacrifice is recorded in history.
Friends, you just read about the generosity of Karna. Karna gave away his armour and earrings, which he had received as a blessing at birth. However, we are never willing to give even the smallest of our possessions to others. From this, we must learn that, we too should be ready to sacrifice our things for the sake of others.
