Hinduism!!!

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A HINDU?

By Francois Gautier

1) Believe in God ! - Aastik - Accepted

2) Don't believe in God ! - You're accepted as Nastik

3) You want to worship idols - please go ahead. You are a murti pujak.

4) You dont want to worship idols - no problem. You can focus on Nirguna Brahman.

5) You want to criticise something in our religion. Come forward. We are logical. Nyaya, Tarka etc. are core Hindu schools.

6) You want to accept beliefs as it is. Most welcome. Please go ahead with it.

7) You want to start your journey by reading Bhagvad Gita - Sure !

8) You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads - Go ahead.

9) You want to start your journey by reading Purana - Be my guest.

10) You just don't like reading Puranas or other books. No problem my dear. Go by Bhakti tradition . ( bhakti- devotion)

11) You don't like idea of Bhakti ! No problem. Do your Karma. Be a karmayogi.

12) You want to enjoy life. Very good. No problem at all. This is Charvaka Philosophy.

13) You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life & find God - jai ho ! Be a Sadhu, an ascetic !

14) You don't like the concept of God. You believe in Nature only - Welcome. (Trees are our friends and Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship).

15) You believe in one God or Supreme Energy. Superb! Follow Advaita philosophy

16) You want a Guru. Go ahead. Receive gyaan.

17) You don't want a Guru.. Help yourself ! Meditate, Study !

18) You believe in Female energy ! Shakti is worshipped.

19) You believe that every human being is equal. Yeah! You're awesome, come on let's celebrate Hinduism! 

"Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is a family)

20) You don't have time to celebrate the festival.

Don't worry. One more festival is coming! There are multiple festivals every single day of the year.

21) You are a working person. Don't have time for religion. Its okay. You will still be a Hindu.

22) You like to go to temples. Devotion is loved.

23) You don't like to go to temples - no problem. You are still a Hindu!

24) You know that Hinduism ☺ is a way of life, with considerable freedom.

25) You believe that everything has God in it. So you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, River, Prani-matra, Earth, Universe!

26) And If you don't believe that everything has GOD in it - No problems. Respect your viewpoint.

27) "Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu " (May you all live happily)

You represent this! You're free to choose, my dear Hindu!

This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive .. That is why it has withstood the test of time inspite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspects from everything . That is why it is eternal !!!

There is a saying in Rigveda , the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hinduism philosophy in a Nutshell -" Ano bhadrah Krathavo Yanthu Vishwathah"- Let the knowledge come to us from every direction "

*Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar*

I was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing I noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for me.

He handed me a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wasu, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'

Taken aback, I read the card. It said: Wasu's Mission Statement:

To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew me away. Especially when I noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wasu said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'

I said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'

Wasu smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, lassi, water and orange juice.'

Almost stuttering, I said, 'I'll take a Lassi.'

Handing me my drink, Wasu said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Hindu, Times  of India, ET and India Today.'

As they were pulling away, Wasu handed me another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'

And as if that weren't enough, Wasu told me that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.

Then he advised me of the best route to my destination for that time of day. He also let me know that he'd be happy to chat and tell me about some of the sights or, if I preferred, to leave me with my own thoughts.

'Tell me, Wasu,' I was amazed and asked him, 'have you always served customers like this?'

Wasu smiled into the rear view mirror. _No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I  spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do_. *Then I heard about power of choice one day.'

'Power of choice is that you can be a duck or an eagle*.

'If you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. Stop complaining!'

'Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'

'That hit me right,' said Wasu.

'It is about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were

unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'

'I take it that has paid off for you,' I said.

'It sure has,' Wasu replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on it.'

Wasu made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

Have an eagle week..next week... And next...And.... 

😃

"You don't die if you fall in water, you die only if you don't swim.

*Love Your Wife'

*●Don’t shout* at your wife when you are talking. It really hurts her. 

*●Do not share* her love or affection with another woman. It is called Adultery. 

*●Never compare* your wife to another woman. If the other woman was good for you, God would have given her to you. 

*●Be gentle* and accommodating. She has sacrificed so much to be with you. It hurts her deeply when you are harsh and irritating. Be tender. 

*●Hide nothing* from her. You are now one and she’s your soulmate. Let there be no secret you are keeping from her. 

*●Do not make* negative comment about her body. She risked her life and beauty to carry your babies. She is a living soul not just flesh and blood.

*●Do not let* her body determine her worth. Cherish and appreciate her even till old age.

*●Never shout* at her in the public and in private. If you have an issue to sort with her, do it in the privacy of your room. 

*●Thank and appreciate* her for taking good care of you, the kids and the house. It is a great sacrifice she is making.

*●All women* cannot cook the same way; appreciate your wife’s food. It is not easy to cook three meals a day, 365 days a year for several years. 

*●Never place* your siblings before her. She is your wife. She is one with you. She must come before your family. 

*●Make time* to play with her and enjoy her company. Remember when you are dead, she’s gonna be by your grave but your friends may be too busy to attend your funeral. 

*●Never use* money to manipulate or control her. All your money belongs to her. She is a joint heir with you of the grace of God. 

*●Do not* expose her weakness. You will be exposing yourself too. Be a shield around her.

*●Honour* her parents and be kind to her siblings. 

*●Never cease* to tell her how much you love her all the days of her life. Women are never tired of hearing that.

📝

पापा

बड़े गुस्से से मैं घर से चला आया ..

इतना गुस्सा था की गलती से पापा के ही जूते पहन के निकल गया 

मैं आज बस घर छोड़ दूंगा, और तभी लौटूंगा जब बहुत बड़ा आदमी बन जाऊंगा ...

जब मोटर साइकिल नहीं दिलवा सकते थे, तो क्यूँ इंजीनियर बनाने के सपने देखतें है .....

आज मैं पापा का पर्स भी उठा लाया था .... जिसे किसी को हाथ तक न लगाने देते थे ...

मुझे पता है इस पर्स मैं जरुर पैसो के हिसाब की डायरी होगी ....

पता तो चले कितना माल छुपाया है .....

माँ से भी ...

इसीलिए हाथ नहीं लगाने देते किसी को..

जैसे ही मैं कच्चे रास्ते से सड़क पर आया, मुझे लगा जूतों में कुछ चुभ रहा है ....

मैंने जूता निकाल कर देखा .....

मेरी एडी से थोडा सा खून रिस आया था ...

जूते की कोई कील निकली हुयी थी, दर्द तो हुआ पर गुस्सा बहुत था ..

और मुझे जाना ही था घर छोड़कर ...

जैसे ही कुछ दूर चला ....

मुझे पांवो में गिला गिला लगा, सड़क पर पानी बिखरा पड़ा था ....

पाँव उठा के देखा तो जूते का तला टुटा था .....

जैसे तेसे लंगडाकर बस स्टॉप पहुंचा, पता चला एक घंटे तक कोई बस नहीं थी .....

मैंने सोचा क्यों न पर्स की तलाशी ली जाये ....

मैंने पर्स खोला, एक पर्ची दिखाई दी, लिखा था..

लैपटॉप के लिए 40 हजार उधार लिए

पर लैपटॉप तो घर मैं मेरे पास है ?

दूसरा एक मुड़ा हुआ पन्ना देखा, उसमे उनके ऑफिस की किसी हॉबी डे का लिखा था 

उन्होंने हॉबी लिखी अच्छे जूते पहनना ......

ओह....अच्छे जुते पहनना ???

पर उनके जुते तो ...........!!!!

माँ पिछले चार महीने से हर पहली को कहती है नए जुते ले लो ...

और वे हर बार कहते "अभी तो 6 महीने जूते और चलेंगे .."

मैं अब समझा कितने चलेंगे

......तीसरी पर्ची ..........

पुराना स्कूटर दीजिये एक्सचेंज में नयी मोटर साइकिल ले जाइये ...

पढ़ते ही दिमाग घूम गया.....

पापा का स्कूटर .............

ओह्ह्ह्ह

मैं घर की और भागा........

अब पांवो में वो कील नही चुभ रही थी ....

मैं घर पहुंचा .....

न पापा थे न स्कूटर ..............

ओह्ह्ह नही

मैं समझ गया कहाँ गए ....

मैं दौड़ा .....

और

एजेंसी पर पहुंचा......

पापा वहीँ थे ...............

मैंने उनको गले से लगा लिया, और आंसुओ से उनका कन्धा भिगो दिया ..

.....नहीं...पापा नहीं........ मुझे नहीं चाहिए मोटर साइकिल...

बस आप नए जुते ले लो और मुझे अब बड़ा आदमी बनना है..

वो भी आपके तरीके से ...।।



"माँ" एक ऐसी बैंक है जहाँ आप हर भावना और दुख जमा कर सकते है...

और

"पापा" एक ऐसा क्रेडिट कार्ड है जिनके पास बैलेंस न होते हुए भी हमारे सपने पूरे करने की कोशिश करते है........Always Love Your Parents💕 

RISE ABOVE ALL

One day a school teacher wrote on the board the following:

9×1=7

9×2=18

9×3=27

9×4=36

9×5=45

9×6=54

9×7=63

9×8=72

9×9=81

9×10=90

When she was done, she looked to the students and they were all laughing at her, because of the first equation which was wrong, and then the teacher said the following,

"I wrote that first one wrong on purpose, because I wanted you to learn something important. This was for you to know how the world out there will treat you. You can see that I wrote RIGHT 9 times, but none of you congratulated me for it; you all laughed and criticized me because of one wrong thing I did. So this is the lesson...:

'The world will never appreciate the good you do a million times, but will criticize the one wrong thing you do... 

But don't get discouraged, ALWAYS RISE ABOVE ALL THE LAUGHTER AND CRITICISM. STAY STRONG.' "

HUMARI BETI!

A friend's daughter posted this on fb - worth sharing :- 

"For the Indian girls at Rio...

They defeated the ultrasound that declared 'it' was a 'she'.

They defeated the nurse declaring in a sombre tone 'ladki hai'.

They defeated murderous parents or even worse those who keep them alive but kill their spirit every single day.

They defeated the odds against them for parents "allowing" her to chase her dream.

They defeated the family pride that wants every Indian child to be a doctor or engineer.

They defeated the school teacher who said "it's not a girl's game".

They defeated bad sports infrastructure and even lack of healthy food needed to fuel the fire.

They defeated a system where overweight foreign travelling officials, who have only played Ludo as a sports, decide her fate.

They defeated the Dada-Nana who told her "good girls don't wear short clothes".

They defeated the Dadi-Nani who told her not to play in sun and become "kaali-kaluthi."

They defeated friends who told her she needs to "control aggression and chill."

They defeated the pados waali Aunty ji who wondered "akele kahan-kahan ghumti hai aapki ladki."

They defeated the million eyes staring at her legs and not noticing the brilliant game she played.

They defeated the Bua jee and Mausi jee who ask "tum shadi kab karogi."

They defeated the journalist who asked her when she would "settle".

They defeated the cynics who thought they were pouting and clicking selfies on a fully paid foreign trip.

So dare not take even a slice of her glory by calling her HUMARI BETI!

They have achieved what they have not because of us. But despite us!"

Letter to parents

Heritage School Kolkata sent this letter to all their board parents recently.....just loved it, so sharing with you all:

Dear Parent,

The exams of children are to start soon. I know you are all really anxious for your child to do well. 

But, please do remember, amongst the students, who will give the exams, is an artist, who doesn't need to understand Maths. 

There's an entrepreneur, who doesn't care about History or English literature. 

There's a musician, whose Chemistry marks won't matter.

There's a sportsperson, whose physical fitness is more important than Physics. 

If your child does get top marks then great. But, if he or she doesn't please don't take away their self- confidence from them. 

Tell them it's ok, it's just an exam. They are cut out for much bigger things in life.

Tell them, no matter what they score, you love them and will not judge them.

Please do this and if you do, watch your children conquer the world. One exam or a 90 percent won't take away their dreams and talent.

With Warm Regards,