Time to re-think

Once upon a time a strong woodcutter asked a timber merchant for a job. The timber merchant was happy to oblige. The pay was good and so were the work conditions. Therefore the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

The timber merchant presented the woodcutter with an axe and showed him where to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought eighteen trees.

“Congratulations!” the boss said. “Go on working like that!”

Motivated by the boss’ words the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could cut down only fifteen trees. The third day he tried even harder but cut down only ten trees. Day after day he brought fewer and fewer trees.

“I must be losing my strength,” the woodcutter thought. He went to the timber merchant and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the timber merchant asked.

“Sharpened? I have had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been busy trying to cut trees,” said the woodcutter.

Moral: We sometimes become so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen our axe. There’s nothing wrong to work hard, but we should not become so busy that we neglect what’s truly important in life. If we don’t take time to sharpen our axe, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. So start TODAY.

Power of silence

There once was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him.

After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn.

He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded.

Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”

So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed.

The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”

Moral : A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind. Practice few minutes of silence to your mind every day, and see, how sharply it helps you to set your life the way you expect it to be!  The soul always knows what to do to heal itself..The challenge is to silence the mind….

Its all about Time

Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island.

The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.
Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realised it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?”
“No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”
A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.”
Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.”
Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.
Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.
On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?”
Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.”
“And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered.
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.”
“The important message is that when we are prosperous, we overlook love. When we feel important, we forget love. Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love.
Only with time do we realize the IMPORTANCE OF LOVE. Why wait that long? Why not make love a part of your life today?”

Ride In Search of Ancient Temples

Place Name: Magadi

Distance from Bangalore: approx 40-50 KM from Majestic

Route: Vijayanagara Tolgate, Magadi road

Duration: Half day Trip

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: October to Feb
Eateries : No eateries available on the way .. small hotels are available.

It was 4 months of projects, back to back, and all weekends were pre-occupied, with no room for leisure. The prolonged working hours and project deadlines was making me feel sick and I really longed for a break. Though the time constraint did not permit me to plan for a long trip, a half day trip was definitely feasible. In pursuit of looking for places around, idea struck me - to explore the ancient temples around Bangalore. I had heard of the "Pachima murthy Ranganatha swamy temple" near Magadi, and was eager to explore it. Also, since it was closer to my residence, I zeroed in on this visit to the temple. I roped in my friends but unfortunately, they coud'nt make it due to other commitments. It was a sunny morning but the trees along the path made the ride a pleasant one. I reached the destination by 10 a.m. Though the 1st glimpse of the temple didn’t strike to me that this temple belonged to chola dynasty. As I paved my way through, I was marveled at the architecture. I had a good darshan of the main deity and the temple was less crowded.  I enquired on the history of the temple with the local priest and took the necessary permission from the authorities to capture the pictures. I also got to know that there was another temple in the vicinity, called the “Prassana someshwara temple”. I rode to my next destination, equipped with the whereabouts of the place. Interestingly the temple is open only on Mondays and Thursdays. As I entered the temple a sense of tranquility gripped me.  The main deity was resplendent with all the grandeur. I loved the temple of Bramarambika and the Satyanarayana idols. The place seemed a perfect spot for meditation. As I moved around the "Kempegowda hajara"(Kempe gowda hall) and also " Kempegowda judgement place” made my imagination run through the chronicles of history. An old pulley caught my attention. It was made of hard iron that is rarely found these days. Also, the pulley had bends which showed that the well had been extensively used by the people.

I went around the place capturing the details on the camera. As I rode back, I went past the Swaymboo Ganesha temple, which is 31 year old and the Tippagondanahalli dam which is also called Chamarajasagar located at the confluence of Arkavathy river and Kumudavathi River. It was built way back in 1933 by Sir M V, one of the magnificent Engineer works till date.  This is one of the man made reservoir, which pumps drinking water for most parts of Bangalore.

 

With a feeling of contentment and rejoice of exploring the ancient temple, I rode back home with the memories of Magadi lingering in my mind and heart.

Few pics of my ride below 

Road leading to magadi

Road near T G halli

ChamarajSagar built in 1933 by Sir M V

Enterance

Gopuram of Paschima Ranganatha temple

Carving across the Pillar

Inside the Temple

Madhvacharya

Someshwara Temple

Swayamboo vinayaka

Ruins of the Fort

Different design Bus captured me

Water Resource at ChamarajaSagar

Never judge anyone

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor.

On seeing him, the dad yelled: “Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?” 

The doctor smiled & said: “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work".

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??” said the father angrily.

The doctor smiled again & replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Book “From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace” 

“Giving advises when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father. 

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank goodness!, your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any questions, ask the nurse!!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left. 

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was at the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.” 

MORAL : Never be impulsive to judge anyone ….. because you never understand their situation & what they have been going through.

Kindness Pays

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. 

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. 

She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied “Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.” 

He said… “Then I thank you from my heart.” 

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. 

When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. 

He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case. 

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.

He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as she read these words…… ” Paid in full with one glass of milk.” (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly. 

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands. 

Moral : Your Good deeds always pay you back, though not immediately but surely. If you have a good heart, good life will follow.

Burned toast

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to cook food and every now & then I remember she used to cook for us.
One night in particular when she had made dinner after a long hard day at work, Mom placed a plate of bread jam and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I was waiting to see if anyone noticed the burnt toast.
But Dad just ate his toast and asked me how was my day at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember I heard Mom apologizing to dad for burning the toast.

And I’ll never forget what he said: “Honey, I love burned toast.” Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your mamma put in a long hard day at work today and she was really tired. And besides, A burnt toast never hurts anyone but harsh words do!”

You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I’ve learned over the years, is that learning to accept each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

Life is not a Sharp Knife to Cut all those Bad Memories. But Life is a Needle to Weave Golden Thread of Sweet Memories … Love your Life … Live your Life ..

It’s the only one you have…. ….ENJOY LIFE NOW. It has an expiry date.