Guest guest Posted December 5, 2003 Report Share Posted December 5, 2003 A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water.In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last, ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. The daughter did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle Adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN? Do not tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your GOD is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 Dear Latha, Thanks for sharing this beautiful story. Doing the best to become the coffee but the carrot and egg pop up from time to time especially during 8 'til 4. Jai Maa Kali , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how > things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to > make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and > struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. > > Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with > water.In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs > and the last, ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without > saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. > She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the > eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out > and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me > what do you see?" > > "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. > > She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. The > daughter did and noted that they were soft. > > She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the > shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to > sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. > > The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?" > > Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same > adversity boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot > went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected > to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been > fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, > after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. > The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the > boiling water they had changed the water. > > "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on > your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee > bean?" > > Think of this: Which am I? > > Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I > wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts > with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid > spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some > other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the > same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and > a hardened heart? > > Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot > water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water > gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. > > If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get > better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the > darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another > level? > > How do you handle Adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE > BEAN? > > Do not tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your > GOD is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2003 Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 Latha, I definately seem to have more in common with the carrots than the coffee, but surely, if Jesus can change water into wine, Divine Mother can manage carrots into coffee. Chris , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how > things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to > make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and > struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. > > Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with > water.In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs > and the last, ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without > saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. > She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the > eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out > and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me > what do you see?" > > "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. > > She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. The > daughter did and noted that they were soft. > > She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the > shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to > sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. > > The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?" > > Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same > adversity boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot > went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected > to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been > fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, > after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. > The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the > boiling water they had changed the water. > > "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on > your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee > bean?" > > Think of this: Which am I? > > Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I > wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts > with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid > spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some > other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the > same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and > a hardened heart? > > Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot > water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water > gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. > > If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get > better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the > darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another > level? > > How do you handle Adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE > BEAN? > > Do not tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your > GOD is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 Dear Kali and Chris , I have been thinking over this too. It struck me that we go thro different "hot water" each day and sometimes we are carrots, in others we are eggs and in some cases coffee beans too. My heartfelt solution is a prayer, "Dear Maa, I surrender to you and this situation. What do YOU want the outcome to be? Do You want me to emerge a C/E/or CB out of this solution ?" Love Latha , "Chris Kirner" <chriskirner1956> wrote: > Latha, > > I definately seem to have more in common with the carrots than the > coffee, but surely, if Jesus can change water into wine, Divine > Mother can manage carrots into coffee. > > Chris > > > , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> > wrote: > > A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and > how > > things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to > > make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and > > struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. > > > > Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with > > water.In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed > eggs > > and the last, ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil > without > > saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. > > She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled > the > > eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out > > and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell > me > > what do you see?" > > > > "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. > > > > She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. The > > daughter did and noted that they were soft. > > > > She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off > the > > shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to > > sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. > > > > The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?" > > > > Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same > > adversity boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot > > went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected > > to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been > > fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. > But, > > after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became > hardened. > > The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in > the > > boiling water they had changed the water. > > > > "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on > > your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a > coffee > > bean?" > > > > Think of this: Which am I? > > > > Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do > I > > wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts > > with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a > fluid > > spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some > > other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look > the > > same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit > and > > a hardened heart? > > > > Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot > > water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water > > gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. > > > > If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get > > better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the > > darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another > > level? > > > > How do you handle Adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE > > BEAN? > > > > Do not tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your > > GOD is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 This story reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's "IF". Come what may I resolve to continue in my practices. Puja makes for good times even in the worst of circumstances. Puja seems to transform just about everything. At least that is the way I feel at the completion of puja. Subjectively it is highly enriching. It can work wonders in tranforming the pujari. Maybe it can even alter things in the objective realm. The external world of things can be rather inert and tamasic. It can probably be as resistent to change for the better as Mahishasura and his armies of demonds. If this is so, dealing with externals might then call for enormous patience and forebearence. This makes it all the more important to persist in Puja until all victories are won. The long enduring are likely to reach it. Jai Maa , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Dear Kali and Chris , > I have been thinking over this too. It struck me that we go thro > different "hot water" each day and sometimes we are carrots, in > others we are eggs and in some cases coffee beans too. > > My heartfelt solution is a prayer, "Dear Maa, I surrender to you and > this situation. What do YOU want the outcome to be? Do You want me to > emerge a C/E/or CB out of this solution ?" > > Love > Latha > > > > > > , "Chris Kirner" > <chriskirner1956> wrote: > > Latha, > > > > I definately seem to have more in common with the carrots than the > > coffee, but surely, if Jesus can change water into wine, Divine > > Mother can manage carrots into coffee. > > > > Chris > > > > > > , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> > > wrote: > > > A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and > > how > > > things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going > to > > > make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and > > > struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. > > > > > > Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with > > > water.In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed > > eggs > > > and the last, ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil > > without > > > saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the > burners. > > > She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled > > the > > > eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee > out > > > and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she > asked, "Tell > > me > > > what do you see?" > > > > > > "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. > > > > > > She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. The > > > daughter did and noted that they were soft. > > > > > > She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off > > the > > > shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her > to > > > sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. > > > > > > The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?" > > > > > > Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the > same > > > adversity boiling water - but each reacted differently. The > carrot > > > went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being > subjected > > > to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had > been > > > fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. > > But, > > > after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became > > hardened. > > > The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in > > the > > > boiling water they had changed the water. > > > > > > "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks > on > > > your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a > > coffee > > > bean?" > > > > > > Think of this: Which am I? > > > > > > Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, > do > > I > > > wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that > starts > > > with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a > > fluid > > > spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or > some > > > other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look > > the > > > same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit > > and > > > a hardened heart? > > > > > > Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot > > > water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water > > > gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. > > > > > > If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get > > > better and change the situation around you. When the hours are > the > > > darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another > > > level? > > > > > > How do you handle Adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE > > > BEAN? > > > > > > Do not tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your > > > GOD is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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