Inspiring Stories 4 All: September 2020

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Apple in the bag

Apple in the bag

A teacher teaching Maths to seven-year-old student asked him, "If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?"Within a few seconds the student replied confidently, "Four!"

The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three). She was disappointed. "Maybe the child did not listen properly," she thought. She repeated, "My boy, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?"

The student had seen the disappointment on his teacher's face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy. This time hesitatingly he replied, "Four…"

The disappointment stayed on the teacher's face. She remembered that this student liked strawberries. She thought maybe he doesn't like apples and that is making him loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, "If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?"

Seeing the teacher happy, the boy calculated on his fingers again. There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile the student enquired, "Three?"

The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, "Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?"
Promptly the student answered, "Four!"

The teacher was aghast. "How my boy, how?" she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice. In a voice that was low and hesitating young student replied, "Because I already have one apple in my bag."

When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect. Don't think they are wrong. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion.

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Saturday, September 19, 2020

A Box of Kisses

Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box using Gold wrapping paper & scolded her ruthlessly.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her, “Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside it?”

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,”Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.”

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is also told that after some time ,an accident took life of the child & later the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Friday, September 11, 2020

JUST DROP

*JUST DROP*

Once a Crow, holding on to a piece of meat was flying to a place to sit & eat peacefully...

However, a flock of Eagles who were flying nearby started chasing it. The crow became scared & anxious. It started flying higher and higher, yet the much stronger eagles were after the poor crow.

Just then "Garuda" saw the plight and pain in the eyes of the crow. Coming closer to the crow, he asked:

"What's wrong, dear? You seem to be very "disturbed" and in terrible "stress"?"..

The crow cried "Look at these eagles!! They are after me - to kill me".

Garuda being the bird of wisdom spoke "Oh my friend!! They are not after you to kill you!! In fact, they are after that piece of meat that you are holding tightly in your beak". Just drop it and see what happens.

The crow followed the advice of Garuda and dropped the piece of meat, and lo & behold..

All the eagles in a mad rush flew towards the falling meat.

Garuda smiled and said "The Pain is only till you hold on to it" Just Drop" it & release the "Pain"..

The crow just bowed and said "Thank You for your wise advice.. I dropped this piece of meat & now, I can fly even higher without tension.."

*There is a message in this story for all of us 😗

1. People carry the huge burden called "Ego," which creates a false identity about oneself, like - " I am so & so, I should be loved, I need to be respected, I need to be invited.. etc... ..

_Just Drop_ - this silly "Ego" & assumption about yourself & see what happens..

2. People get irritated instantly by "others actions or words" .. It could be anyone - friend, parents, children, colleagues, spouse etc..... and instantly the sparks of Anger get ignited & one starts fuming ..

_Just Drop...._ this senseless "negative feeling" & see what happens..

3. People compare themselves with others.. in beauty, wealth, life style, marks, talent and appraisals and get disturbed & insecure...

forgetting the fact that We must be grateful with what we have ... .."

_Just Drop_...- these silly comparisons, negative emotions & see what happens..

Some people are attached in a negative way to their jobs, their material possessions, their dear ones..which creates more harm than good..

_Just Drop_..detach yourself.. drop the burden of attachment & see what happens..

Probably, that's the reason why in temples ash (vibuthi) is given to devotees - To constantly remind us.. we are nothing but dust.

*_We have risen from the Dust & unto Dust we shall return.._*

Inspiring Stories 4 All