Anger to Empathy

It is believed 'natural' for people
to expect others to live by 'their values'
to behave as per 'their expectations'
and if this does not happen
it is 'natural' to be angry

If one can understand, realize
that even if living in same house
people have had different experiences
going long way back to even past lives
that moulded their present
different perspective and behaviour,
one would no longer be angry....

One then moves from anger,
condemnation. being upset
to acceptance and empathy
A change in thought, perception
is all it takes to move
from anger to empathy...

NB: This poem is inspired by the teachings of Brahmakumaris (BK)

Captivating Lines from Here and There-16

Let us ring in the new year with some inspiring thoughts, particularly from Anita Moorjani who had a Near death experience(NDE) and shared her learning in the book "Dying to be Me".

• The next time your core beliefs are challenged, try being curious instead of furious - Randy Gage, Author & motivational speaker
• Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting- Marshall Goldsmith, Author & leadership coach
• The areas of your life that are abundant and wonderful are where you have used gratitude and are experiencing the magic as a result. any areas that are not abundant and wonderful are due to a lack of gratitude- Rhonda Byrne, Author
• Anger speaks about the past and then attacks the person. Assertiveness speaks about the behaviour and what needs to be done in the future- Sister Shivani, Brahmakumaris
• The most important thing is to be ourselves- Anita Moorjani (AM), Author
• Avoid fear like the plague- fear of not being good enough, of sickness or whatever. Live your life fearlessly- AM
• Self love and self respect is the key- AM
• It is okay to be different, There is nothing wrong with you.You are meant to be unique.- AM
• Competition comes from fear. So it should be a no-no in schools- AM
• It seemed important to have fun and laugh. I felt a lightness that was completely new, and I laughed easily. I enjoyed the company of those who wanted to do the same-  AM ( after NDE)
• As I am at the center of my cosmic web, the whole is affected by me.If I am happy, the universe is happy. If I love myself,everyone else will love me. If I am at peace, all of creation is peaceful and so on- AM  
• I understood that true joy and happiness could only be found by loving myself- Going inward, following my heart and doing what brought me joy.

सोचकर सोचना

भारत देश की आध्यात्मिक पढाईयों में
तीन बातों की चर्चा होती है - मनसा, वाचा, कर्मणा
इसमें बोल और कर्म होती  है, सोच के आधार पर -
तो  पहली  स्थान है, सोच का ही  !

बुरा या भला, किसी व्यक्ति पर
जब हम सोचते है, अज़र पड़ता है पहले
सोचने वालों पर,फिर उस व्यक्ति पर
और अन्त में समाज पर भी!

तो कितना सोचकर सोचना है
कि गलत परिणाम खुद पर
और इतने सारे लोगों पर न पढ़े
उल्टा अच्छा सोचे, अपने
दूसरे, सब के भलाई केलिए ...

सोचकर सोचना मित्रों
सोचकर सोचना !

NB: यह कविता बीके ( ब्रह्मकुमारीs)  की  पढाई से प्रेरित है।

Facade

Whether happy or not inside
there is this obsession these days
to convince, get the other guy to believe
that one is on a roll
and that all areas of one's life
are picture perfect!

If you are happy, you are happy
does it matter what people around think?
or do you get a kick out of
seeing him/her wide eyed, envious?

Oh, of what use are such intense efforts
of play acting, ever smiling, holidaying
not for self, but for others' sake
what is the point if one is
feeling empty and  hollow inside?

Smile

In the seventies, I read in the papers
of tourists visiting India
expressing shock and surprise
at Indians being so different
from what they had imagined

Coming from the first world
they expected people living
in a poor third world country
to be somber, grim, with
worry writ faces....

How is it that so many
on the streets are smiling?
little children having fun
playing happily in the bylanes?

Today, people are a lot richer
aspirational.moving ahead
many still seem to be smiling
but are their smiles
reaching their eyes....?

Praise

When people praise you to the skies
be aware, they could withdraw it
at any moment of their choice
and the higher the flight
the steeper the fall,
and the thud afterwards!

Equanimity in handling
bouquets and brickbats
an indifference to both
is the key to happiness and peace...