Correction Spiritual Stories: Post #17 “Each Reflects

[Guest guest]

Oops - I'd like to strike out this sentence: " Nothing can be farther

from truth. " I do not know how those words sneaked out through my

fingers. It should have read " Nothing can be truer. "

 

Sorry about that.

 

Om Guhaya Namaha.

 

Santhosh

 

dhandapani , " santhosh_s_nair "

<santhosh_s_nair wrote:

>

>

> Hi Patricia/Meyyappan,

>

> I can totally relate to the concern you are bringing.

>

> It is very difficult to practise some of the principles of

> spirituality in our daily lives. However I feel that the tougher

the

> challenge the more rewarding the experience spiritually.

>

> Being at peace and calm does not mean that we become door mats.

> Being bold and standing up for oneself are in fact essential

> spiritual principles.

>

> Let us take the story of our beloved Lord Muruga. Gods (Brahma,

> Vishnu, Indra, et al.) were oppressed by the demon Sura Padma.

They

> prayed to Muruga. What was the first thing Muruga did to save the

> Gods? He sent Veerabahu as his messenger of PEACE to Sura Padma.

> Sura Padma did not heed to Veerabahu's peace proposal. So Muruga

> resorted to go to war with the demon. Even during the war, Muruga

> gave another opportunity to Sura Padma to let go of his evil ways.

> Sura Padma could have saved his own life if he conceded to Muruga.

> But he did not do that. So Muruga continued the war with the demon

> and finaly killed him restoring peace on earth.

>

> The message of Muruga's story in the context of our discussion is

> that being some one who loves peace and calm does mean we allow

> others to make use of or oppress us. We have to be bold and stand

up

> for ourselves. Then we will be like Muruga, our Role Model.

>

> And certainly, yes, our relationships can intensify our challenges

> (and the rewards too, indeed). Tony Robbins once said

relationships

> magnify the human experience. Nothing can be farther from truth.

>

> It is the nature of the world to complain, whine, find faults,

> misintepret etc. Just knowing this could be the first step towards

> peace. An example that Ammachi gives is that if we know ahead of

> time that there is going to be fireworks in the neighborhood we

> won't startle when we hear the explosions. However if we are

unware

> of upcoming fireworks we would startle and panic when we hear the

> explosions.

>

> I do not want to give the impression that I am an expert at all

the

> principles I outlined above. I am still a student of these

> principles.

>

> One principle that helps me to keep grounded is that people do the

> best they can with the resources they have. If someone finds my

> fault all the time, isn't that their problem? I know that when we

> blame (or get angry or become jealous) we lose our mental and

> spiritual energy.

>

> Let me end this already very long mail with a Budha story.

>

> Budha was well known for his state of peace and serenity. A person

> in a nearby village heard about this and wanted to test Budha. He

> came to see Budha and asked him if he could stay with Budha for a

> few days. Budha agreed. Everyday after that this man verbally

abused

> Budha and called him names. Budha was unperturbed. He stayed

> peaceful and calm in spite of the continued verbal abuse. After a

> few days the man asked Budha: " How could you remain peaceful

despite

> my incessant verbal abuse? "

>

> Budha replied: " If you give a gift to someone but that person does

> not accept the gift, who does that gift belong to? "

>

> The man replied: " Me. "

>

>

>

> Om Skandaya Namaha.

>

> Santhosh

>

dhandapani , " S Meyyappan " <smeyyappan@>

> wrote:

> >

> > MURUGA SARANAM

> >

> > Dear Paricia Madam..

> >

> > Thanks for your views on the practical diffculties of being

> compassionate

> > and calm. Its very true and some times we tend to lose our cool.

> But I have

> > observed that in the long term it will still be rewarding. A

> friend of mine

> > does a lot of service to the community and people keep

complaining

> that he

> > did not do something or the other properly. I use to tell him

why

> he should

> > take all the pains and get a bad name still. He use to say " That

> is the

> > challenge in doing service. If you come above all of them only

you

> can

> > continue to serve people " . I was wonderstruck by his views. Even

> now he

> > continues to do service happily. If someone who is totally wrong

> accuses him

> > of something also he says " Thank you sir, I learnt something

from

> you " . He

> > used to say that from some we learn what we should do. And from

> some we

> > learn what we should not do.

> >

> > I think if we keep up that spirit and count on the those who

> understand us

> > and do not take advantage of our compassion, we can continue to

> develop in

> > such a way that it becomes a strength for us. Someone used to

say

> that

> > humility is not a weekness but a strength. We may not lack in

> conviction but

> > by practising it continuously in spite of the brick bats we face

> will help

> > us evolve more strongly with all that softness. People may not

be

> happy all

> > the time, but still continue to do what you believe in.

> >

> > The irony is though I speak all this, I am not able to practise

it

> all the

> > time and get victimised. Still trying to continue to practise it

> regularly.

> > I hope some day it will become a natural habit for me. Whenever

> (most of the

> > times) I get succeeded in such practises as there are also

people

> who

> > recognise good acts I get encouraged more. My statements also

tell

> the fact

> > that whether on the positive or negative side, we are dependant

on

> how

> > others approve or disapprove our actions. I think once we evolve

> more in

> > this we will not be affected by how others react to it, but only

> by how our

> > act remains helpful for others.

> >

> > So in my view, in the long term peaceful and compassionate

nature

> are

> > mentally and spiritually rewarding in spite of others taking

> advantage of

> > it. Let us allow them to happily take advantage of it and

continue

> our

> > efforts steadfast in the long term interests of our self

> development.

> >

> > MURUGA SARANAM

> >

> > With Best Regards

> > Meyyappan S

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > On 11/21/06, Patricia Jay <patriciajay2000@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear Mr Meyappan,

> > >

> > > Your spiritual stories are very valuable. I'm glad you're

> keeping it up.

> > > Re prelude, speaking for myself, I find it alright. I wouldnt

> want to

> > > change it anyway.

> > >

> > > But I do wish to pose this question to everyone in the group.

> > >

> > > Peace and compassion are easy to understand and follow. The

> real conflict

> > > happens when you are in a web of relationships. You're a

child

> to one, a

> > > spouse to another, a parent to still another. Then you have

> additional

> > > roles as superior, subordinate, customer, vendor etc.

> > >

> > > In everyday life, when we deal with a whole range of people, a

> peaceful

> > > and compassionate nature can be *inviting punishment*. For

> example, if

> > > you never say " No " (if you decide to be peaceful and helpful),

> it sends a

> > > wrong message to a whole lot of people. " Why can you help

one,

> but not the

> > > other? " is one kind of situation. Then you begin to actually

> suffer because

> > > you helped someone!

> > >

> > > Another situation is that someone can mistake your

peacefulness

> for Fear,

> > > and even deal with you very rudely and aggressively. I have

> actually

> > > witnessed people wrongly conclude that I'm peaceful and calm

> because I have

> > > " no other option " !!

> > >

> > > Finally, the politickers!! They are everywhere - in the

> workplace, the

> > > neighbourhood, and all sorts of situations. How to remain

> peaceful and calm

> > > if they (1) misinterpret your bonafide actions and (2) even

> attribute a

> > > totally wrong and false meaning to what you say or do?

> > >

> > > I often find myself feeling very calm on the inside, but

putting

> on a very

> > > fierce front just to deal with such deviant minds. The danger

> is that the

> > > external behavior may get internalised.

> > >

> > > I'd love to hear how group members handle difficult behaviors,

> in the

> > > light of the spiritual leanings they possess.

> > >

> > > Patricia

> > > .

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

There's nothing grammatically or even technically wrong about "farther from the truth"; perhaps you're already aware of it? ("Truer than the truth" is one of the innumerable American English expressions. They are usually very accurate and very creative).

 

Patricia

santhosh_s_nair <santhosh_s_nairdhandapani Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 5:01:11 AMCorrection Re: Spiritual Stories: Post #17 “Each Reflects

 

Oops - I'd like to strike out this sentence: "Nothing can be farther from truth." I do not know how those words sneaked out through my fingers. It should have read "Nothing can be truer."Sorry about that.Om Guhaya Namaha.Santhoshdhandapani@gro ups.com, "santhosh_s_ nair" <santhosh_s_ nair wrote:>> > Hi Patricia/Meyyappan,> > I can totally relate to the concern you are bringing. > > It is very difficult to practise some of the principles of > spirituality in our daily lives. However I feel that the tougher the > challenge the more rewarding the experience spiritually.> > Being at peace and calm does not mean that we become door mats. > Being bold and standing up for oneself are in fact essential > spiritual principles.>

> Let us take the story of our beloved Lord Muruga. Gods (Brahma, > Vishnu, Indra, et al.) were oppressed by the demon Sura Padma. They > prayed to Muruga. What was the first thing Muruga did to save the > Gods? He sent Veerabahu as his messenger of PEACE to Sura Padma. > Sura Padma did not heed to Veerabahu's peace proposal. So Muruga > resorted to go to war with the demon. Even during the war, Muruga > gave another opportunity to Sura Padma to let go of his evil ways. > Sura Padma could have saved his own life if he conceded to Muruga. > But he did not do that. So Muruga continued the war with the demon > and finaly killed him restoring peace on earth.> > The message of Muruga's story in the context of our discussion is > that being some one who loves peace and calm does mean we allow > others to make use of or oppress us. We have to be bold and stand up > for

ourselves. Then we will be like Muruga, our Role Model.> > And certainly, yes, our relationships can intensify our challenges > (and the rewards too, indeed). Tony Robbins once said relationships > magnify the human experience. Nothing can be farther from truth.> > It is the nature of the world to complain, whine, find faults, > misintepret etc. Just knowing this could be the first step towards > peace. An example that Ammachi gives is that if we know ahead of > time that there is going to be fireworks in the neighborhood we > won't startle when we hear the explosions. However if we are unware > of upcoming fireworks we would startle and panic when we hear the > explosions.> > I do not want to give the impression that I am an expert at all the > principles I outlined above. I am still a student of these > principles.> > One principle

that helps me to keep grounded is that people do the > best they can with the resources they have. If someone finds my > fault all the time, isn't that their problem? I know that when we > blame (or get angry or become jealous) we lose our mental and > spiritual energy. > > Let me end this already very long mail with a Budha story. > > Budha was well known for his state of peace and serenity. A person > in a nearby village heard about this and wanted to test Budha. He > came to see Budha and asked him if he could stay with Budha for a > few days. Budha agreed. Everyday after that this man verbally abused > Budha and called him names. Budha was unperturbed. He stayed > peaceful and calm in spite of the continued verbal abuse. After a > few days the man asked Budha: "How could you remain peaceful despite > my incessant verbal abuse?"> > Budha

replied: "If you give a gift to someone but that person does > not accept the gift, who does that gift belong to?"> > The man replied: "Me."> > > > Om Skandaya Namaha.> > Santhosh> > > > > > > > dhandapani@gro ups.com, "S Meyyappan" <smeyyappan@ > > wrote:> >> > MURUGA SARANAM> > > > Dear Paricia Madam..> > > > Thanks for your views on the practical diffculties of being > compassionate> > and calm. Its very true and some times we tend to lose our cool. > But I have> > observed that in the long term it will still be rewarding. A > friend of mine> > does a lot of service to the community and people keep complaining > that he> >

did not do something or the other properly. I use to tell him why > he should> > take all the pains and get a bad name still. He use to say "That > is the> > challenge in doing service. If you come above all of them only you > can> > continue to serve people". I was wonderstruck by his views. Even > now he> > continues to do service happily. If someone who is totally wrong > accuses him> > of something also he says "Thank you sir, I learnt something from > you". He> > used to say that from some we learn what we should do. And from > some we> > learn what we should not do.> > > > I think if we keep up that spirit and count on the those who > understand us> > and do not take advantage of our compassion, we can continue to > develop in> > such a way that it becomes a strength for us. Someone

used to say > that> > humility is not a weekness but a strength. We may not lack in > conviction but> > by practising it continuously in spite of the brick bats we face > will help> > us evolve more strongly with all that softness. People may not be > happy all> > the time, but still continue to do what you believe in.> > > > The irony is though I speak all this, I am not able to practise it > all the> > time and get victimised. Still trying to continue to practise it > regularly.> > I hope some day it will become a natural habit for me. Whenever > (most of the> > times) I get succeeded in such practises as there are also people > who> > recognise good acts I get encouraged more. My statements also tell > the fact> > that whether on the positive or negative side, we are dependant

on > how> > others approve or disapprove our actions. I think once we evolve > more in> > this we will not be affected by how others react to it, but only > by how our> > act remains helpful for others.> > > > So in my view, in the long term peaceful and compassionate nature > are> > mentally and spiritually rewarding in spite of others taking > advantage of> > it. Let us allow them to happily take advantage of it and continue > our> > efforts steadfast in the long term interests of our self > development.> > > > MURUGA SARANAM> > > > With Best Regards> > Meyyappan S> > > > > > > > > > > > On 11/21/06, Patricia Jay <patriciajay2000@ > wrote:> > >> > > Dear Mr Meyappan,> > >>

> > Your spiritual stories are very valuable. I'm glad you're > keeping it up.> > > Re prelude, speaking for myself, I find it alright. I wouldnt > want to> > > change it anyway.> > >> > > But I do wish to pose this question to everyone in the group.> > >> > > Peace and compassion are easy to understand and follow. The > real conflict> > > happens when you are in a web of relationships. You're a child > to one, a> > > spouse to another, a parent to still another. Then you have > additional> > > roles as superior, subordinate, customer, vendor etc.> > >> > > In everyday life, when we deal with a whole range of people, a > peaceful> > > and compassionate nature can be *inviting punishment*. For > example, if> > > you never say "No" (if you decide to

be peaceful and helpful), > it sends a> > > wrong message to a whole lot of people. "Why can you help one, > but not the> > > other?" is one kind of situation. Then you begin to actually > suffer because> > > you helped someone!> > >> > > Another situation is that someone can mistake your peacefulness > for Fear,> > > and even deal with you very rudely and aggressively. I have > actually> > > witnessed people wrongly conclude that I'm peaceful and calm > because I have> > > "no other option"!!> > >> > > Finally, the politickers! ! They are everywhere - in the > workplace, the> > > neighbourhood, and all sorts of situations. How to remain > peaceful and calm> > > if they (1) misinterpret your bonafide actions and (2) even > attribute a> >

> totally wrong and false meaning to what you say or do?> > >> > > I often find myself feeling very calm on the inside, but putting > on a very> > > fierce front just to deal with such deviant minds. The danger > is that the> > > external behavior may get internalised.> > >> > > I'd love to hear how group members handle difficult behaviors, > in the> > > light of the spiritual leanings they possess.> > >> > > Patricia> > > .> > >> > > > > >> >>