The Benefit of Meditation - The Story of Poochalar Nayanar

When the mind is united in planning and uniting, it pays off accordingly. Whatever the mind concentrates and does, it becomes meditation. Another example of meditation is the story of Poosalar Nayanar, who lived in Thiruninravur.

He intended to build a temple to Lord Shiva. He began to build the temple in his mind. He got up every morning and finished his daily routine and sat in a secluded place and built the temple in his mind. Selecting the site for the construction of the temple, looking at the day and worshiping the earth to determine the length, width and height of the temple; Setting up the wall; He planned in mind the dimensions of the statues to be installed in the temple, what to do with them, to make arrangements for the consecration of the temple, and to mark the day for it, and began to build accordingly. The temple arose because there was no other thought than this, and the day was uninterruptedly thought of in the same way. His act was penitent. The benefit of his meditation is the benefit of temple meditation.

While his return was taking place, Vanderperuman, a king, set up a shrine to the Lord in the city of Kanchi and devoted all his great possessions to the Athirukkoyir Pusana. Lord Shiva, who has the power to announce to the world the openness of the love of conflict, wake up in a dream in front of Kadavar Koman in the first midnight of that day and we will enter tomorrow into the benevolent temple that remembers the long lasting love of conflict; You will not keep the establishment that you have done here tomorrow and then do it another day. '

Pallavarkon awoke and reached Thiruninravur, where he wanted to go and see the great man who had built the great temple of Lord Ulamuvakum. He asked the bystanders, "Where is the temple built by Poosalar?" When the people of Ninravur heard this, they said, "Poosalar did not build any temple in this town." King Awur called the deceased and asked him, "Who is Poosalar?" King went to the place where he was a chemist and worshiped him. I came to work to see you, knowing that the Lord had told me that this was the day on which Lord Shiva would be resurrected in that temple. ' Poosalar, the king's speech, said, ‘What is the glory of the temple if the Lord has blessed me with material? He explained to the emperor the structure of the temple that he had thought to himself and sought with his mind.

 Lord Sriruthayaliswarar is the lord of the temple at Thiruninravur, Tiruvallur district. If you come here and pray to Iruthayaliswara, heart related problems will be cured. Heart disease is completely cured. It is said that blurred memories guide the heart.

By Mani from Ananda Jothi

Source: Wikipedia

Be better at controlling emotions

Adi Guru Shankaracharya said, “Truth is Brahma, and this world is Maya.”

In this world nothing is fixed, what you see right now, will look different after some time.

How do I become better at controlling emotions?

Emotions are good, isn’t it?

Let’s enter deep inside emotion.

It unites us, it makes the relationship with people, we feel for others, we let people come in our life, we are compassionate towards people.

I am missing someone, I feel good when people come into my life, but I feel devastated when the same guy leave me? Why people leave me, why people betray my trust, why they spew poison?

Emotions are part of our life, try to understand situations. Just consider each relationship or consequences as Leela (Game of this existence)

You are a beautiful actor or actress, who has come into this world to play its part.

You must love people, you live in this world, experience these moments, but do not stick as nothing belongs to you.

You were born naked, you will die naked.

The cloth is just hiding your naked skin, it's not your reality. Your reality is - you don’t have anything.

Spiritual stories

An old man comes to Buddha, he seemed somewhere around 70 years of age. He was enlightened like Buddha.

Buddha asked him, “What's your age?”

He said, “I am 4 years old.”

Buddha was staggered totally.

Buddha said to him, “But you seem 70 years old.”

Old man replied, “ I became enlightened 4 years before and the day I was awakened I count it my real birthday.

Buddha immediately declared, now onwards, my sannyasi too will get the real birth when they become enlightened.

Source: quora

The sage, after travelling a half of his life and being an advisor of the king, has retired and prayed, preparing to stand before God. But still he communicated with students, who were allowed to ask him the trickiest questions.

So, he was asked:

— Why the Creator does not let people make a paradise on the earth during their lifetime?

— If they could, they would do it, — was his answer.

But his student continued asking:

— It comes so that people cannot be better? But it‘s all in God‘s hands, isn‘t it? And he wishes his children to joy him. How it can be?

The sage looked at him, smiled and asked:

— Do you want to say that God can do nothing with us and ask to give him an advice?

The student bowed his head silently.

The sage said:

— Isn’t it better to start from your own? Do not think about people too much, remember about yourself. Everyone will have to answer for his own.

Source:  Inspirational stories

An aspiring student of martial arts went to a great teacher and said, “I am devoted to studying your martial arts system. How long will it take me to master it?”

The teacher’s reply was, “Ten years.”

Impatiently, the student answered, “But I want to learn it faster and I will work very hard. If I practice every day, ten or more hours a day, how long will it take then?”

The teacher thought for a moment, “20 years.”

A mind which is more calm helps you to concentrate better, attaining undivided focus and it makes you proactive. Be devoted to your work.

How can I train my brain to stay focused?

This state of awakening is the need for focus.

There is a story related with it.

In ancient India there was a King called Janaka, who was also a sage. One day Janaka was taking a nap on his flower-strewn bed with his servants fanning him and his soldiers standing guard outside his door.

As he dozed off, he had a dream in which a neighboring King defeated him in battle, took him prisoner, and had him tortured. As soon as the torture began, Janaka woke with a start to find himself lying on his flower-strewn bed with his servants fanning him and his soldiers on guard.

Once again he dozed off and had the same dream. And once again he woke up to find himself safe and comfortable in his palace.

Now Janaka began to be disturbed by several thoughts: While he was asleep, the world of his dreams had seemed so real. Now that he was awake, the world of the senses seemed real. Which of these two worlds is the real one, he wanted to know.

None of the philosophers, scholars, and seers he consulted could give him an answer. And for many years he searched in vain, till one day a man called Ashtavakra knocked at the door of the palace. Now, Ashtavakra means " eight (ashta) deformed or crooked parts of body," and he got that name because that is exactly what his body had been from birth.

At first the King was not disposed to take this man seriously. "How can a misshapen man like you be the carrier of a wisdom denied to my seers and scholars?" he asked.

"Right from my childhood, all avenues have been closed to me - so I avidly pursued the path of wisdom," was Ashtavakra's reply.

"Speak, then," said the King.

So this is what Ashtavakra said: "O King, neither the waking state nor the dream state is real. When you are awake, the world of dreams does not exist and when you dream the world of the senses does not exist. Therefore, neither is real."

"If both the waking and the dream states are unreal, then what is real?" asked the King.

"There is a state beyond these two. Discover that. It alone is real.

Ideal for life

God met with an old saint and told him, “To ask a boon.”

Saint said, “I don't need anything, I am so content with my life.”

God said, “But it's my wish to grant you something.”

Saint said, “You decide what to give, If you are willing to bless me with a boon.”

God said, “Whenever you pass like this to any creature or tree plant or anything that is dead, it will revive.”

Saint said, “I will accept this boon but make one change in it, whenever I will be passing and something is revived then I shouldn't be aware that I revived it because I can get filled with ego that I have such power to revive anything.”

God smiled and said, “As you wish.”

We must have that ideology to help others but we need to remain untouched with ego, nowadays, most of the people are doing good things but filling themselves with ego because they claim we are always indulged in helping others.

Helping someone should be like, you are helping others because it is in your root and you are reviving the humanity with your small contribution, this must be an ideal life to live.

Source: quora

Short Stories

* Short story 1 *

Struggling Will make your life stronger

Once upon a time, a man found a butterfly that was starting to hatch from its cocoon. He sat down and watched the butterfly for hours as it struggled to force itself through a tiny hole. Then, it suddenly stopped making progress and looked like it was stuck.

Therefore, the man decided to help the butterfly out. He took a pair of scissors and cut off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, although it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man thought nothing of it, and he sat there waiting for the wings to enlarge to support the butterfly. However, that never happened. The butterfly spent the rest of its life unable to fly, crawling around with small wings and a swollen body.

Despite the man’s kind heart, he didn’t understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle needed by the butterfly to get itself through the small hole were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings to prepare itself for flying once it was free.”

* Short story 2 *

Damaged souls still have worth

A shop owner placed a sign above his door that said: ‘Puppies For Sale.’

Signs like this always have a way of attracting young children, and to no surprise, a boy saw the sign and approached the owner; ‘How much are you going to sell the puppies for?’ he asked.

The store owner replied, ‘Anywhere from $30 to $50.’

The little boy pulled out some change from his pocket. ‘I have $2.37,’ he said. ‘Can I please look at them?’

The shop owner smiled and whistled. Out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his shop followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, ‘What’s wrong with that little dog?’

The shop owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. ‘That is the puppy that I want to buy.’

The shop owner said, ‘No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.’

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said;

‘I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.’

The shop owner countered, ‘You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.’

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the shop owner and softly replied, ‘Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!'”

 

* Short story 3 *

Stop complaining

People visit a wise man complaining about the same problems over and over again. One day, he decided to tell them a joke and they all roared with laughter.

After a few minutes, he told them the same joke and only a few of them smiled.

Then he told the same joke for a third time, but no one laughed or smiled anymore.

The wise man smiled and said: ‘You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem?'

* Short story 4 *

Value of life

A popular speaker started off a seminar by holding up a $20 bill. A crowd of 200 had gathered to hear him speak. He asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?”

200 hands went up.

He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He crumpled the bill up.

He then asked, “Who still wants it?”

All 200 hands were still raised.

“Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” Then he dropped the bill on the ground and stomped on it with his shoes.

He picked it up, and showed it to the crowd. The bill was all crumpled and dirty.

“Now who still wants it?”

All the hands still went up.

“My friends, I have just showed you a very important lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, life crumples us and grinds us into the dirt. We make bad decisions or deal with poor circumstances. We feel worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special – Don’t ever forget it!

Source: Thought catalog

A small story for motivation in every single day

The japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the water close to japan have not held many fish for decades. So the fishermam had to go farther out to sea to catch thier supply of fish, the fishing boats got bigger and bigger.

The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip tool more than a few days, the fish were not fresh and they lost their fresh taste.

To slove this problem, fishing company installed freezers on thier boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However the japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish . Also, the frozen fish brough at lower price. So fishing company installed fish tanks, they would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tried and dull, but alive. Unfortunately the japanese could still taste the difference, because the fish did not move for days, they lost thier fresh fish taste.

How did the japanese fish company slove this problem?

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the japanese fishing companies added a small shark to the tanks that the fish were kept in the shark of course eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in every lively state due to the fact that the fish are challenged.

Keep that shark inside you alive!! 

Shark?

Challenge yourself everyday. Push yourself everyday.

The more the sharks (challenges), the more you are forced to move the sharks, the more you will be motivated to work better.

Source-Japanese fresh fish story / Put a shark in your tank.

Interesting Short Stories

Cycle of Life

A week before that day, when he was taken to hospital, my father was helping grandpa to lie on back seat of our car. I could not forget grandpa’s last unanswered reply when I, while trying to control my tears, asked my mother whether he would be all right. Grandpa called me by weak gesture and softly caressed my hair as he generally used to do. But, very soon, his hand slipped away from my head, holding left part of his chest to unsuccessfully stop the rising pain. He was struggling to breathe normally. He was the same man who once almost ran to market in heavy rain to buy inhaler for me, when I lost the one in school and was little breathless because of asthma I had. But when it came to him that day I could not do much but just cried. My mother embraced me saying grandpa would come back soon.

A night before that day, at hospital’s reception my mother was consoling my distressed looking father to accept the destiny, “it has to happen one day.” I did not understand what it meant but simply closed my eyes and prayed God to let my grandpa be well soon. My grandpa once told me that prayers from children are pure and they surely reach God. But it did not happen, perhaps.

That day, we reached hospital at 1 PM. We went inside. Security at reception did not stop me that day. I was following my mother trying to meet her pace, climbing stairs, to ICU where grandpa was admitted. A nurse guided us to a room. After a long week gap I saw my grandpa — my best friend. Grandpa was sleeping peacefully on hospital bed. There were many small TV and radio alike boxes with tiny lights. Few boxes were making “beep-beep” sound in rhythm. I knew that the sound was fading heart beats of my best friend — my grandpa. Then I saw my father, with red and swollen eyes, sitting closure to grandpa’s bed. My mother could not control herself. She started sobbing loudly kneeling at my father shoulder. My father gently stood up and took my crying mother out of the room.

I was left alone with the most adorable man of my life. I went closure to him, where my father was sitting just few seconds back. I watched the face of my dear grandpa. There was no pain — it was calm and composed. Even with few plastic tubes in his nose and mouth and a white foggy gas mask on it, I found his face quite charming and graceful. I started caressing grandpa’s hair. I wished that he utter my name… just once… It was the same mouth that told me so many stories, every day, until I slept. I was waiting for his eyes to be opened… to see me last time… but he continued sleeping… these were the old eyes that never got tired enjoying watching my toys, my drawing, my homework, my mark sheets… Then I looked at his hand. It was same hand that used to caress my hair. I held his palm in my both hand. I tried measuring my palm with his. Nothing had changed. His palm was still larger than mine. I touched his index finger… I held it last time… holding it always assured me safe feeling in busy markets and crowded places…

I took out my inhaler from my pocket and kept it on a nearby table where already many medicines were kept scattered. I remembered once my grandpa told me that the inhaler was my life saviour… I murmured in grandpa’s ear, “Don’t worry Grandpa, you would get well soon. I kept here inhaler to save you.”…

“It’s a boy” exhilarated voice of my father brought me back in my present. Today, after eighteen years later, on the same floor of the same hospital I found my father rushing towards a nurse who was carrying a just born baby. “What are you doing there… come… look at him… he resembles ‘ditto’ your grandpa”, almost shouted my father in excessive excitement, carefully holding the baby in his arms.

But I saw my grandpa in my father more than in my just born son. A new cycle of life has started… to repeat itself once again.

Mountain Story

 
"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

The Rose Within

 

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it.

He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns? Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom... it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth, grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects.

We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns of another, and find the rose within them.

This is one of the characteristic of love... to look at a person, know their true faults and accepting that person into your life... all the while recognizing the nobility in their soul. Help others to realize they can overcome their faults. If we show them the "rose" within themselves, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over.

Puppies for Sale

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about Nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he Felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the Eyes of a little boy.
Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."
The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure," said the farmer.
And with that he let out a whistle,"Here,Dolly!" he called.
Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared; this One noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....
"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.
The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."
With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself To a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need Someone who understands."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

The Four Wives
There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !"

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives

a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

b. Our 3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament