The importance of the cat in meditation by Paulo Coelho

Having written a book about madness (Veronika decides to die) , I was forced to wonder how many things we do are imposed on us by necessity, or by the absurd. Why wear a tie? Why do clocks run “clockwise”? If we live in a decimal system, why does the day have 24 hours of 60 minutes?
The fact is, many of the rules we obey nowadays have no real foundation. Nevertheless, if we wish to act differently, we are considered “crazy” or “immature”.
Meanwhile, society continues to create some systems which, in the fullness of time, lose their reason for existence, but continue to impose their rules. An interesting Japanese story illustrates what I mean by this:

A great Zen Buddhist master, who was in charge of the Mayu Kagi monastery, had a cat which was his true passion in life. So, during meditation classes, he kept the cat by his side – in order to make the most of his company.
One morning, the master – who was already quite old – passed away. His best disciple took his place.
– What shall we do with the cat? – asked the other monks.
As a tribute to the memory of their old instructor, the new master decided to allow the cat to continue attending the Zen Buddhist classes.

Some disciples from the neighboring monasteries, traveling through those parts, discovered that, in one of the region’s most renowned temples, a cat took part in the meditation sessions. The story began to spread.
Many years passed. The cat died, but as the students at the monastery were so used to its presence, they soon found another cat. Meanwhile, the other temples began introducing cats in their meditation sessions: they believed the cat was truly responsible for the fame and excellence of Mayu Kagi’s teaching.

A generation passed, and technical treatises began to appear about the importance of the cat in Zen meditation. A university professor developed a thesis – which was accepted by the academic community – that felines have the ability to increase human concentration, and eliminate negative energy.
And so, for a whole century, the cat was considered an essential part of Zen Buddhist studies in that region.

Until a master appeared who was allergic to animal hair, and decided to remove the cat from his daily exercises with the students.

There was a fierce negative reaction – but the master insisted. Since he was an excellent instructor, the students continued to make the same progress, in spite of the absence of the cat.
Little by little, the monasteries – always in search of new ideas, and already tired of having to feed so many cats – began eliminating the animals from the classes. In twenty years new revolutionary theories began to appear – with very convincing titles such as “The Importance of Meditating Without a Cat”, or “Balancing the Zen Universe by Will Power Alone, Without the Help of Animals”.

Another century passed, and the cat withdrew completely from the meditation rituals in that region. But two hundred years were necessary for everything to return to normal – because during all this time, no one asked why the cat was there.

घाघ और भड्डरी की कहावतें

घाघ और भड्डरी की कहावतें

आपने चाणक्य नीति तो पढ़ी होगी। इस पुस्तक में उसी की तरह नीति सम्बन्धी कहावतें दी गई है। कुछ कहावतें कृषि से भी सम्बंधित है. सभी का हिन्दी में अनुवाद किया गया है।
ये सभी कहावतें उत्तर भारत में खूब प्रचलित है। ये कहावतें ज्ञान से भरपूर है। ये इंसान को जीवन में सफलता प्राप्त करने में बहुत सहयोग करती है।

उदहारण देखिये:


जो उधार लेकर कर्ज देता है, जो छप्पर के घर में में ताला लगता है और जो साले के साथ बहिन को भेजता है , घाघ कहते है कि इन तीनो का मुंह काला होता है।

या

हंसकर बात करने वाला ठाकुर(कोतवाल) और खांसने वाला चोर, घाघ कहते है कि इन ससुरो को गहरे पानी में डुबो देना चाहिए।

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Campbell explores the theory that important myths from around the world which have survived for thousands of years all share a fundamental structure, which Campbell called the monomyth. In a well-known quote from the introduction to The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell summarized the monomyth:
“ A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.[2] ”
In laying out the monomyth, Campbell describes a number of stages or steps along this journey. The hero starts in the ordinary world, and receives a call to enter an unusual world of strange powers and events (a call to adventure). If the hero accepts the call to enter this strange world, the hero must face tasks and trials (a road of trials), and may have to face these trials alone, or may have assistance. At its most intense, the hero must survive a severe challenge, often with help earned along the journey. If the hero survives, the hero may achieve a great gift (the goal or "boon"), which often results in the discovery of important self-knowledge. The hero must then decide whether to return with this boon (the return to the ordinary world), often facing challenges on the return journey. If the hero is successful in returning, the boon or gift may be used to improve the world (the application of the boon).
Very few myths contain all of these stages - some myths contain many of the stages, while others contain only a few; some myths may have as a focus only one of the stages, while other myths may deal with the stages in a somewhat different order. These stages may be organized in a number of ways, including division into three sections: Departure (sometimes called Separation), Initiation and Return. "Departure" deals with the hero venturing forth on the quest, "Initiation" deals with the hero's various adventures along the way, and "Return" deals with the hero's return home with knowledge and powers acquired on the journey.

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,....Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, If the jar was full... They agreed that it was..

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked The students again if the jar was full... They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued,' there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are
important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented?

The professor smiled.....'I'm glad you asked'.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

track your mobile anywhere in the world

Each mobile carries a unique IMEI i.e International Mobile Identity No which can be used to track your mobile anywhere in the world.

This is how it works!!!!!!

1
Dial *#06# from ur mobile.

2
Your mobile shows a unique 15 digit no (its a mix match of
alpha numeric digit code)

3
Note down this number anywhere but except your mobile as
this is the number which will help trace your mobile in
case of a theft.
4
Once stolen you just have to mail this 15
digit IMEI
no to cop@vsnl.net

5
No need to go to police.

6
Your Mobile will be traced withing next 24 hrs via a complex
system of GPRS and internet.
7
You will find where your hand set is being operated
even in case your no is being changed.

Why we read the Bhagavat Geeta, even if we can't understand it?

An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen
table reading his Bhagavat Geeta..

His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagawat Geeta just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand, I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagawat Geeta do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.


At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.

Out of breath, he said, "SEE..... it is useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bhagavat Geeta. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Lord Krishna in our lives.."

3 things which Microsoft can never explain

MAGIC #1


An Indian found that nobody can create a FOLDER anywhere on the Computer
which can be named as "CON". This is something funny and inexplicable. At
Microsoft the whole Team, couldn't answer why this happened!
TRY IT NOW, IT WILL NOT CREATE A "CON" FOLDER



MAGIC #2


For those of you using Windows, do the following:

1.) Open an empty notepad file
2.) Type "Bush hid the facts" (without the quotes)
3.) Save it as whatever you want.
4.) Close it, and re-open it.

Noticed the weird bug? No one can explain!



MAGIC #3


Again this is something funny and can't be explained. At Microsoft the
whole Team, including Bill Gates, couldn't answer why this happened!

It was discovered by a Brazilian. Try it out yourself.
Open Microsoft Word and type

=rand (200, 99)
And then press ENTER
And see the magic.

गरम मसालों में खोज ली विद्युत ऊर्जा

सुरम्या की जिज्ञासाओं की उड़ान देखिये। इस लड़की का वैज्ञानिक बनने का सपना है। वह देश को वैकल्पिक ऊर्जा के जरिये ऊर्जा संकट से मुक्ति दिलाना चाहती है। उसने भोजन में प्रयोग होने वाले गरम मसालों में भी विद्युत ऊर्जा खोज ली है। किसी को उसकी इस खोज पर भरोसा नहीं होता। जब वह प्रयोग के जरिये इसे प्रमाणित करती हैं तो लोग इस नन्हीं वैज्ञानिक की प्रतिभा के कायल हो जाते हैं। सुरम्या पाण्डेय गोरखपुर के कार्मल इंटर कालेज में कक्षा आठ की छात्रा है। उसके पिता रवि प्रकाश पाण्डेय रेलवे में टीटी और मां डा.सत्या पाण्डेय एक कालेज में प्राचार्य हैं। मसाले से ऊर्जा की खोज में सुरम्या को कई बार अपनी मां की डांट सुननी पड़ी। उसने जब अपनी मां को मसाले की ऊर्जा से टार्च का छोटा बल्ब जलाकर दिखा दिया तो उन्होंने भी उसका सहयोग करना शुरू कर दिया। सुरम्या ने जागरण कार्यालय में आकर अपना प्रयोग दिखाया और उसकी व्याख्या की। उसने जायफल, सोठ, इलाइची, बड़ी इलायची, तेजपत्ता आदि मसालों को एक बरतन में उबाला। इसी दौरान तांबे के तार का एक सिरा बर्तन में डाल दिया और दूसरा सिरा छोटे चाइनीज टार्च बल्ब में लगा दिया। बल्ब के भीतर के तार जल उठे। इससे रोशनी तो नहीं हुई लेकिन यह प्रमाणित हो गया कि गरम मसालों में भी ऊर्जा का स्रोत मौजूद है। क्या कहते हैं भौतिक विज्ञानी सुरम्या के इस प्रयोग के बारे में दीन दयाल गोरखपुर विश्र्वविद्यालय के भौतिक शास्त्र विभाग में उपाचार्य डा.सुग्रीव कुमार तिवारी का कहना है कि सैद्धान्तिक तौर पर यह प्रयोग सही है लेकिन इसे खोज का दर्जा नहीं दिया जा सकता। उन्होंने कहा कि बिजली उत्पन्न होने में गरम मसालों ही नहीं जल का भारी योगदान है। जल ध्रुवीय तरल है और मसालों में विभिन्न प्रकार के यौगिक होते हैं। दोनों की रासायनिक क्रिया के कारण इलेक्ट्रॉन उत्पन्न होते हैं। जिसके कारण अत्यंत अल्प एम्पीयर की विद्युत धारा उत्पन्न हो जाती है

Resource Utilisation - Learn from Buddha....

Buddha, one day, was on deep thought about the wordly activities and the ways of instilling goodness in human. The following is the text of conversation between him and his disciple.

One of his disciples approached him and said humbly " Oh my teacher ! While you are so much concerned about the world and others, why don't you look in to the welfare and needs of your own disciples also."

Budhha : "OK.. Tell me how I can help you"

Disciple : "Master! My attire is worn out and is beyond the decency to wear the same. Can I get a new one, please."

Buddha found the robe indeed was in a bad condition which needed replacement. He asked the store keeper to give the disciple a new robe to wear on. The disciple thanked Buddha and retired to his room.

Though he met his disciple's requirement, Buddha was not all that contended on his decision. He realised he missed out some point. A while after, he realised what he should have asked the disciple . He went to his disciple's place and asked him "Is your new attire comfortable? Do you need anything more ?"

Disciple : "Thank you my Master. The attire is indeed very comfortable. I need nothing more"

Buddha : "Having got the new one, what did you do with your old attire?"

Disciple : "I am using it as my bed spread"

Buddha "Then.. hope you have disposed off your old bed spread"

Disciple " No.. no.. master. I am using my old bedspread as my window curtain"

Buddha " What about your old Curtain?"

Disciple "Being used to handle hot utensils in the kitchen"

Buddha : "Oh.. I see.. Can you tell me what did they do with the old cloth they used in Kitchen"

Disciple : "They are being used to wash the floor."

Buddha " " Then, the old rug being used to wash the floor...???"

Disciple " Master, since they were torn off so much, we could not find any better use, but to use as a twig in the oil lamp, which is right now lit in your study room...."

BUDDHA SMILED IN CONTENTMENT AND LEFT FOR HIS ROOM.

// If not to this degree of utilisation, can we atleast attempt to find the best use of all our resources - at home and at office ..??!! ??

How the path was forged by Paulo Coelho

One day, a calf needed to cross a virgin forest in order to return to its pasture. Being an irrational animal, it forged out a tortuous path full of bends, up and down hills.

The next day, a dog came by and used the same path to cross the forest. Next it was a sheep’s turn, the head of a flock which, upon finding the opening, led its companions through it.
Later, men began using the path: they entered and left, turned to the right, to the left, bent down, deviating obstacles, complaining and cursing – and quite rightly so. But they did nothing to create a different alternative.
After so much use, in the end, the path became a trail along which poor animals toiled under heavy loads, being forced to go three hours to cover a distance which would normally take thirty minutes, had no one chosen to follow the route opened up by the calf.

Many years passed and the trail became the main road of a village, and later the main avenue of a town. Everyone complained about the traffic, because the route it took was the worst possible one.

Meanwhile, the old and wise forest laughed, at seeing how men tend to blindly follow the way already open, without ever asking whether it really is the best choice.

Narcissus and the lake by paulo coelho

The alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus.

The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a younth who knelt daily beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus.

But this was not how the author of the book ended the story.

he said that when Narcissus died, the goddesses of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.

“Why do you weep?” the goddesses asked.

“I weep for Narcissus,” the lake replied.

“Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus,” they said, “for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand.”

“But…was Narcissus beautiful?” the lake asked.

“Who better than you to know that?” the goddesses said in wonder. “After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!”

The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said:

“I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.”

“What a lovely story,” the alchemist thought.