is a simile for the writers block.
In the creative writing class today, I said that the writers block, in fact, is something to be worshiped rather than feared.
'Why?' asked the once burnt student, someone who has really faced the goddess.
because, I said, the writers block is the womb of all that is written. It is the source of inspiration.
just like cotton is the mother of thread, a writers block is the space where words are so pure that they don't even have an identity yet.
before a word became thread, it was shapeless, like a cloud of cotton.
but it was.
it existed.
if only
we could give up
our clothes and float
in
clouds of cotton.
if you don't get this, don't worry. enjoy this song.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
And I am now a teacher
Film maker to novelist to school teacher. Each jump has been quite exiting, I must admit. Creatively exhaustive.
I used to say that I was the happiest when I wrote the novel. But when I stand in a class and look at the fresh and alive stream of naughty kids, sometimes I feel on top of the world. Sometimes teaching happens in a flow so gushing, all I can feel is grateful.
Teaching children is a calling. I am so so glad I answered the call.
That I didn't wait for the elusive next birth before I simplified my life. :) Smarter than Einstein, aren't I?
Here is a sample of what happens in my class.
The lesson in the English text book (class 5), is, 'A flash of light.'
A frenchman, on a cold night, offers some money to a blind beggar. The beggar tells him that he has given him a frank instead of a sou. The man is astonished that a blind man can tell the difference so quickly and the flash of light spurs the birth of Braille.
Student: Can we also learn braille?
Teacher: Well, it is possible, but it will take you longer than those who are blind.
Student: Why Miss?
Teacher: Because, their sense of touch is more developed.
Student: Why Miss?
Teacher: ............................................(after a long pause).........
Home work: Blind fold yourselves under supervision and walk around in your house for ten minutes and write the experience.
Next day:
Student 1 : I stepped on my brothers feet and he hit me.
Teacher writes on the board: Difficulties with siblings
Student 2: My mother was worried that I might fall.
Board: Anxious parents
Student 3: Miss, I did not blindfold myself totally. I cheated a bit. I was scared.
Board: Fear
Student 4 : Miss, I walked around a bit, using my hands to guide me.
Board: Hands become eyes.
I used to say that I was the happiest when I wrote the novel. But when I stand in a class and look at the fresh and alive stream of naughty kids, sometimes I feel on top of the world. Sometimes teaching happens in a flow so gushing, all I can feel is grateful.
Teaching children is a calling. I am so so glad I answered the call.
That I didn't wait for the elusive next birth before I simplified my life. :) Smarter than Einstein, aren't I?
Here is a sample of what happens in my class.
The lesson in the English text book (class 5), is, 'A flash of light.'
A frenchman, on a cold night, offers some money to a blind beggar. The beggar tells him that he has given him a frank instead of a sou. The man is astonished that a blind man can tell the difference so quickly and the flash of light spurs the birth of Braille.
Student: Can we also learn braille?
Teacher: Well, it is possible, but it will take you longer than those who are blind.
Student: Why Miss?
Teacher: Because, their sense of touch is more developed.
Student: Why Miss?
Teacher: ............................................(after a long pause).........
Home work: Blind fold yourselves under supervision and walk around in your house for ten minutes and write the experience.
Next day:
Student 1 : I stepped on my brothers feet and he hit me.
Teacher writes on the board: Difficulties with siblings
Student 2: My mother was worried that I might fall.
Board: Anxious parents
Student 3: Miss, I did not blindfold myself totally. I cheated a bit. I was scared.
Board: Fear
Student 4 : Miss, I walked around a bit, using my hands to guide me.
Board: Hands become eyes.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Einstein is now a plumber
By the end of his life, Albert Einstein started believing in rebirth. To refresh your memory about Einstein, he is the same scientist who gave us the equation E = mc2
and told us that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. He also had a driver who was very smart, and who made it to my blog here.
So at the end of his life, Einstein was in a hospital, sick, in bed. His chelas asked him,
'Master, what will you be in your next life? How will we find you?'
'I will be a plumber!' said Albert.
'What? A plumber? Why?' they asked, in a chorus.
'Yes, I want to be a plumber in my next life. I have given out a few truths to the world, but to be very honest, I lied to myself.
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by plumbers. But my mother, then my school, and later the entire society gave me the idea that I was made for other things, and I went along. The fact is, I am still fascinated by plumbers and in my next life I am going to be a plumber. I have had enough of science and blah blah blah. Goodbye.'
So if you see a plumber whistling as he works, stop by and take a pause. Here could be a man who has relinquished the rat race after winning it. Here is a person who is happy just to be.
and told us that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. He also had a driver who was very smart, and who made it to my blog here.
So at the end of his life, Einstein was in a hospital, sick, in bed. His chelas asked him,
'Master, what will you be in your next life? How will we find you?'
'I will be a plumber!' said Albert.
'What? A plumber? Why?' they asked, in a chorus.
'Yes, I want to be a plumber in my next life. I have given out a few truths to the world, but to be very honest, I lied to myself.
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by plumbers. But my mother, then my school, and later the entire society gave me the idea that I was made for other things, and I went along. The fact is, I am still fascinated by plumbers and in my next life I am going to be a plumber. I have had enough of science and blah blah blah. Goodbye.'
So if you see a plumber whistling as he works, stop by and take a pause. Here could be a man who has relinquished the rat race after winning it. Here is a person who is happy just to be.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Narmade Har!
He wore white, and carried just one more pair of clothes. He wasn't barefoot, he wore slippers, but by the end of it he had blisters on his feet. He begged for food, but no, he was not a sanyasi. He was on one of the most beautiful pilgrimages I have ever dreamed of : walking around the deep and serene Narmada Ma. The enchanting and the mysterous Goddess on earth, Shiva's daughter, blessed with eternal beauty.
A dear friend of a dear friend.
When he came home, I felt like touching his feet and I did.
These are a few of the stories he shared with me, that I share with my pen.
'My daily schedule was to get up at four, take a dip in the river, start walking. By ten, the sun would be scorching, so take a break. If you are tired, take some rest in a temple or a school courtyard. Then by sunset, again take a dip in the water and start walking. If you see an ashram on way that apeals to you, stay for a couple of days to meditate.
Begging for food has a style. You go to people's homes and say, 'Narmade Har!' I never once went hungry. People served me with so much love, and devotion, and the trust was the most amazing thing... none ever asked me my name.
And the families were so poor, they had barely enough food for themselves. But they all consider it their duty to feed us, the parikrama vasis, because we are doing something for Narmada maiiya.
All of them have an unshakable faith and devotion for the maiya. "Maiya degi," (Mother will provide), they would say, if I asked them how they would manage.
In the beginning, I thought, I will give it back to them. I will come back in a car with gifts for everyone... and I felt good with such thoughts. But later I realized, thats not the point. I have to become them. I have to carry the heart of India to its cities.
Their is of cource the physical aspect, the grandeur, the beauty of the river. But the effect on the being is deep. Something happens to you. There are days when you have to walk a few kilometers off the river, when you cannot see it.
And thats when the Mother aspect dawns on you, when you begin to yearn for it like you yearned for your mother when
you were a child.
One day, it was around four in the evening. I had been walking for days without a glance of the Maiya, and suddenly, she was there. I started running towards it, and suddenly a sadhu stopped me . He said, 'Go and call your mother. Right now.'
So I hunted for a cellphone in the village and called my mom. She was kind of missing me, and was glad to speak to me. I was also happy to connect to her.
And then I entered the water, as the sun was going down. It was so so beautiful, the way I was welcomed by its warmth.
The next morning I sought out the sadhu. He had a kutiya by the river and he had two cows.
For a half hour we just sat silently, by the flowing river. Then he told me his story. His mother passed away when he was seven. Thereon he was with his master, in a gurukul. When he was seventeen, he attained to the state of contentment. And he asked his master, 'Tell me what to do now, so that I may spread the word.'
His master took him to the cowshed of the gurukul and pointed to two newborn calves. 'Take them with you and look after them as if you are their mother. Thats all you need to do.' And thats all he does. He has a kutiya with these two cows by the river.
'Don't ever forget your mother, the one who cared for you. It is because my mother is no more that I am here. Take care of your mother. Give her her due.' the sadhu told me. (to be continued)
Paa : a quick review
Its been a long time since I reviewed a movie on this blog. Thats because these days I find movie watching tiring.
Yes, to be honest, Paa was also a movie that made my blood all jammed up by the end of it. But still, it was a movie worth watching.
Surprisingly, it was not disgusting. Amitabh plays a kid who has the body of an old man, and an enlarged, venous head. And yet, and yet, he manages, to steal your heart.
Humorous dialogues, dubbing, treatment, co-actors, and camera work get the credit. The mis-en--scene. Not Amitabh. Because one doesn't ever see him. not even his eyes remind you of the star.
All you can see is a naughty child who calls his granny Bum and has an attitude of a regular kid.
At the most, a kid with a good dialogue writer behind him.
Here is account of how BIG B became Auro:
The most Herculean task about the latest release PAA was transforming a 67-year old Amitabh Bachchan into 13-year old child Auro, suffering from a
rare disorder called progeria.
The prosthetic makeup, as we know, has been done by Hollywood's Christien Tinsley (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, CATWOMAN) and Dominie Till (THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY).
According to the reports Bachchan's make-up cost 10 per cent of the total
budget. It is learnt that it used to take four to five hours daily for Amitabh
Bachchan's makeup to be done for his film PAA.
Not only this, if it used to take four hours to put on the make-up then two
hours to remove it. There are eight different layers of clay which has been put in his make up in the film.
While applying the make up he could not eat, drink and talk for four hours. Most of the performance comes out because of the make up.
Big B wore specially designed dentures so as to effortlessly replicate the
voice of a 13-year old child.He gets a lisp and his speech pattern gets altered because of the extra teeth. He wore the dentures throughout the film's shooting and also had them on while dubbing.
Infact he has also sung a song in his voice wearing these dentures, which
sounds like a child. But Big B never ever showed a sign of panic, on the contrary he was always co-operative, patient, cool and full of enthusiasm.
Yes, to be honest, Paa was also a movie that made my blood all jammed up by the end of it. But still, it was a movie worth watching.
Surprisingly, it was not disgusting. Amitabh plays a kid who has the body of an old man, and an enlarged, venous head. And yet, and yet, he manages, to steal your heart.
Humorous dialogues, dubbing, treatment, co-actors, and camera work get the credit. The mis-en--scene. Not Amitabh. Because one doesn't ever see him. not even his eyes remind you of the star.
All you can see is a naughty child who calls his granny Bum and has an attitude of a regular kid.
At the most, a kid with a good dialogue writer behind him.
Here is account of how BIG B became Auro:
The most Herculean task about the latest release PAA was transforming a 67-year old Amitabh Bachchan into 13-year old child Auro, suffering from a
rare disorder called progeria.
The prosthetic makeup, as we know, has been done by Hollywood's Christien Tinsley (THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, CATWOMAN) and Dominie Till (THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY).
According to the reports Bachchan's make-up cost 10 per cent of the total
budget. It is learnt that it used to take four to five hours daily for Amitabh
Bachchan's makeup to be done for his film PAA.
Not only this, if it used to take four hours to put on the make-up then two
hours to remove it. There are eight different layers of clay which has been put in his make up in the film.
While applying the make up he could not eat, drink and talk for four hours. Most of the performance comes out because of the make up.
Big B wore specially designed dentures so as to effortlessly replicate the
voice of a 13-year old child.He gets a lisp and his speech pattern gets altered because of the extra teeth. He wore the dentures throughout the film's shooting and also had them on while dubbing.
Infact he has also sung a song in his voice wearing these dentures, which
sounds like a child. But Big B never ever showed a sign of panic, on the contrary he was always co-operative, patient, cool and full of enthusiasm.
Monday, November 30, 2009
A vain wife and a petrified husband
'Who do I remind you of? Sushmita or Aishwarya?' wife asks hubby.
'You remind me of Nutan.' he says.
'What! But Nutan's ancient! wife wails.
'No, I meant the Nutan of Mother India.' hubby says.
'There was no Nutan in Mother India. There was Nargis. I remind you of Nargis?'
Now hubby is even more scared.
'No, you remind me of Madhubala.'
'Oh I see. Which movie did Madhubala act in?'
'That I don't remember.' he finally stops lying.
'Do you remember my face at least?'
'Oh yes I do. How to forget ones most intimate enemy?'
'You remind me of Nutan.' he says.
'What! But Nutan's ancient! wife wails.
'No, I meant the Nutan of Mother India.' hubby says.
'There was no Nutan in Mother India. There was Nargis. I remind you of Nargis?'
Now hubby is even more scared.
'No, you remind me of Madhubala.'
'Oh I see. Which movie did Madhubala act in?'
'That I don't remember.' he finally stops lying.
'Do you remember my face at least?'
'Oh yes I do. How to forget ones most intimate enemy?'
being physical, is the new spiritual
breathe in and out through the twenty one points of your body: all the twenty fingers and toes, and the top of your head. feel the weight of your body, not the mind. It is the weight of the mind that tires, not weight of the body. Weight of the body refreshes you. (!).
all suffering is suffering. fullstop. do not make your suffering sacred, because then you will not be able to leave it.
all suffering is due to your stupidity. all you need is a little intelligence. ( ! )
here the process is like this: from bliss to bliss to bliss to bliss! fullstop,
whatever low mood you might have is because of you only.
all the techniques and meditations are meant to get you in the physical plane, so that it can be transmitted to you. thats all.
be physical. give up all your ideas of being a soul, light, and what not. relax.
all i need from you, is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. be physical. just be physical. be with the body. continuously breathe in and out through all the twenty one points. (I did this, it is fantastic!) be inside your skin.
visualization and fantasy is the same. humbleness is a refined ego. education polishes the ego.
this body is cooked, boiled and available in the physical plane.
I say this without humility or bragging. I am here to share Jeevan Mukthi.
Swami Nithyanandas latest video. Experience all dimensions of Living Enlightenment.
all suffering is suffering. fullstop. do not make your suffering sacred, because then you will not be able to leave it.
all suffering is due to your stupidity. all you need is a little intelligence. ( ! )
here the process is like this: from bliss to bliss to bliss to bliss! fullstop,
whatever low mood you might have is because of you only.
all the techniques and meditations are meant to get you in the physical plane, so that it can be transmitted to you. thats all.
be physical. give up all your ideas of being a soul, light, and what not. relax.
all i need from you, is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. be physical. just be physical. be with the body. continuously breathe in and out through all the twenty one points. (I did this, it is fantastic!) be inside your skin.
visualization and fantasy is the same. humbleness is a refined ego. education polishes the ego.
this body is cooked, boiled and available in the physical plane.
I say this without humility or bragging. I am here to share Jeevan Mukthi.
Swami Nithyanandas latest video. Experience all dimensions of Living Enlightenment.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Whose dust is it?
Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:16 AM PST
Another story:God and all the scientists of the world had a meeting and a competition.
Whatever item that God made, the scientists reproduced it identically out of some material. The scientists were able to reproduce things with no problem.
Finally, God made man out of dust and challenged the scientists.
The scientists started to pick up dust…
God said, “Wait! Make it out of your dust, not mine!”
Man has to understand that Existence is the creator, the created and the creation. Only then can he simply start enjoying things without a care. Only then can he relinquish possession and doer-ship.
So understand: When you change your attitude from seeking discontentment, worries and depression, to seeking the present with gratitude, you will automatically be able to harness the energy of Existence better. You will then be able to appreciate Existence better and gratitude will then become your attitude.
______________________
This excerpt has been taken from the book: Guaranteed Solutions.
love vs non-violence
The only other time I have heard the sound of Pali is by S. N. Goenka, during the Vipassanna meditation binge.
Pali was spoken at the time of Buddha and Mahaveera. Both of them spoke in Pali, because they wanted to reach the masses.
I don't know if Swami Nithyananda understands Pali, but he utters it here as if it were his mother tongue. Something comes through and touches your core.
Swami translates from the Pali to English, and interprets the Jain sutras here, on non-violence as being better than love.
Love, at some point, can become possessive and may turn violent.
Non-violence, on the other hand, is a deeper promise.
"I will not hurt you."
We keep saying we love each other, and we keep swaying between caring and neglecting, between affection and shouting.
If only we could say, 'I will not hurt myself,' all else will fall in place.
If we start with non-violence, love will happen as a by-product. Because we start with love, we mess up.
....., etc,....
Pali was spoken at the time of Buddha and Mahaveera. Both of them spoke in Pali, because they wanted to reach the masses.
I don't know if Swami Nithyananda understands Pali, but he utters it here as if it were his mother tongue. Something comes through and touches your core.
Swami translates from the Pali to English, and interprets the Jain sutras here, on non-violence as being better than love.
Love, at some point, can become possessive and may turn violent.
Non-violence, on the other hand, is a deeper promise.
"I will not hurt you."
We keep saying we love each other, and we keep swaying between caring and neglecting, between affection and shouting.
If only we could say, 'I will not hurt myself,' all else will fall in place.
If we start with non-violence, love will happen as a by-product. Because we start with love, we mess up.
....., etc,....
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Bliss Bytes
Deep patience and the decision to wait is what I call surrender.
Don't control your body. Just trust its intelligence.
With pure love, you can awaken even a stone.
If you consciously relax your unconscious, you will transform.
All great shrines are resonant with the Existential energy.
Listening itself can lead to enlightenment.
~Paramahamsa Nithyananda
Don't control your body. Just trust its intelligence.
With pure love, you can awaken even a stone.
If you consciously relax your unconscious, you will transform.
All great shrines are resonant with the Existential energy.
Listening itself can lead to enlightenment.
~Paramahamsa Nithyananda
Sunday, November 22, 2009
when will the saree arize?
This post is for the fashion dadas and dadis. Please consider my request, give it a thought, this might be the next fashion statement.
My grandmother always wore her saree six inches above the ground. My mothers sarees don't sweep the floor either. My uncle gets his trousers stitched six inches above the floor.
None of us ever wear heels, we prefer going barefoot, or as near the earth as possible. We love walking, and we like to walk with our hands free. We like to feel free. We love to run. We like to be open to the possibility of skipping down the stairs.
I like to be able to pick up a babe from the arms of an exasperated mom. I like to put my brat in the hand cart and run. He likes me to chase him around, even though he has proven it time and again that he is faster.
I like to be able to pick up a babe from the arms of an exasperated mom. I like to put my brat in the hand cart and run. He likes me to chase him around, even though he has proven it time and again that he is faster.
And, I also like the feel of a saree. I love the fact that a saree is an integrated attire, it does not separate parts of the body into fragments.
Then why do people, mostly women, keep telling me to pull down my saree? Do they want me to trip? No? Then why?
If everything else is arising, when will the saree lift itself a little from the shackles of fashion? Trust me, the saree will come back into fashion if it shows a little ankle.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Speech on Childrens day
I am to give a five minute speech on Children's day in a school. This is what I want to say to them:
Happy Children's day, all of you. And I mean, all of you, all of us.
I find children's day very very special. Do you know why? Because the child in me also celebrates. All of us, including grown ups, have the child within us. Childhood is common to all of us. We are still our parents children, and to God, all of us are his children, aren't we? From the youngest child to the oldest teacher, all of us here are God's children. On this day, let us say hello to the child within us. This day is an opportunity to deeply and truly connect with the child within all of us, and so I wish everyone a very happy children's day.
All of us have heard the phrase, Laughter is the best medicine, isn't it? So do you think it is true? Is laughter really the best medicine? If you go to the doctor for a stomach ache, does he prescribe laughter? have you ever seen a prescription that says, ten minutes of loud laughter, three times daily, followed by a glass of water? Laugh for ten days and then come back to report to me? He should, no?
The fact is, if you have a stomach ache, you will be too morose to laugh, isn't it? But seriously, have you ever tried to laugh off a sickness? Is there anyone here who has a headache or a stomach ache? Children are always getting hurt, no? No one has any aches or pains?
Ok, let us do this experiment. Let us see if laughter is the best medicine.
Once upon a time, there was a teacher in a school. The teacher asked her student,
'How do you spell crocodile?'
'Krokodile.' the student replied.
'But that is the wrong spelling.' the teacher scolded the student.
'Maybe, but you asked me how I spell it.' the student replied cheekily.
One day, the boy asked his teacher,
'Miss, would you punish someone for something he has not done?'
'Of course not.' said the teacher.
'Good. Because I did not do my homework.'
The school is gone on a Himalayan trip. They see a lot of sheep walking about in the mountains.
Then the teacher asks the students, 'How many sheep does it take to make one sweater?'
The student looks baffled. 'I didn't even know they could knit.' he says, wonder-struck.
'So, are you enjoying the scenery?' the teacher asks his students in the Himalayas.
'Yes, Sir, but the Mountains sometimes block our view.'
Now you are laughing at this joke. But if you laugh like this whenever you are in trouble, when you are fighting with each other, when you get hurt, if you include laughter in all your daily activities, it will keep your energy level high, it will keep your lungs clean, and, most important, it will keep you connected to God.
God has made this world for us to be happy. Imagine, if God looks down and sees his children laughing, how will He feel?
God loves laughter. In fact, god has given us the gift of laughter as a secret healing tool. If you laugh continuously for five to ten minutes, your sickness will go away. Always add laughter to your life, it will make you feel light.
There is scientific evidence that proves that regular, long spells of laughter can bring down your blood pressure. Deep belly laughter releases endorphins, the feel good chemicals in your brain.
How many of you have a small statue of the laughing Buddha in your homes? How does he laugh? He has a big belly, doesn't he? And his mouth is open. He has a bag flung over his shoulder. The bag signifies that he is a wondering monk. and how does he stand? With his hands in the sky, like this. What does this posture mean to you? Where else have you seen this posture? Did you know, what this laughing Buddha do all day? And why did he get the name, the laughing Buddha?
He walked from one town to another town, stood in the market place right in the center of the main square where everyone could see him, threw up his hands and laughed and laughed and laughed.
People stared at him, wondering if he is a mad man. But he laughed so beautifully, without any hesitation, without a care in the world, that they also started laughing. Soon the entire market place was laughing. The people who went back home couldn't get over the site of the laughing Buddha. Each time they would remember him, they would laugh. And, because they had laughed so much, the entire village was in a light, happy mood.
The laughing Buddha never uttered a word to anyone, he was in silence. His only job was to laugh.
A small story from a book called Guaranteed Solutions, written by my master, Swami Nithyananda.
Once, there was a conference of Buddhist monks on the meaning of true spirituality.
Each monk went up to the stage and gave a long speech. Finally, it was the turn of a zen monk to speak.
He went on the stage and simply started laughing. He laughed and laughed, from his being. The laughter just rose from his belly. he started shaking uncontrollably with laughter.
And his laughter was so infectious that all the others also started laughing, without even knowing why.
Without their being aware of it, the monks produced a huge wave of positive energy in the room. The monks reached a state of tremendous elevation.
Their thinking was shattered and their being was filled with bliss.
The zen monk finally spoke: 'This is true spirituality.'
Happy Children's day, all of you. And I mean, all of you, all of us.
I find children's day very very special. Do you know why? Because the child in me also celebrates. All of us, including grown ups, have the child within us. Childhood is common to all of us. We are still our parents children, and to God, all of us are his children, aren't we? From the youngest child to the oldest teacher, all of us here are God's children. On this day, let us say hello to the child within us. This day is an opportunity to deeply and truly connect with the child within all of us, and so I wish everyone a very happy children's day.
All of us have heard the phrase, Laughter is the best medicine, isn't it? So do you think it is true? Is laughter really the best medicine? If you go to the doctor for a stomach ache, does he prescribe laughter? have you ever seen a prescription that says, ten minutes of loud laughter, three times daily, followed by a glass of water? Laugh for ten days and then come back to report to me? He should, no?
The fact is, if you have a stomach ache, you will be too morose to laugh, isn't it? But seriously, have you ever tried to laugh off a sickness? Is there anyone here who has a headache or a stomach ache? Children are always getting hurt, no? No one has any aches or pains?
Ok, let us do this experiment. Let us see if laughter is the best medicine.
Once upon a time, there was a teacher in a school. The teacher asked her student,
'How do you spell crocodile?'
'Krokodile.' the student replied.
'But that is the wrong spelling.' the teacher scolded the student.
'Maybe, but you asked me how I spell it.' the student replied cheekily.
One day, the boy asked his teacher,
'Miss, would you punish someone for something he has not done?'
'Of course not.' said the teacher.
'Good. Because I did not do my homework.'
The school is gone on a Himalayan trip. They see a lot of sheep walking about in the mountains.
Then the teacher asks the students, 'How many sheep does it take to make one sweater?'
The student looks baffled. 'I didn't even know they could knit.' he says, wonder-struck.
'So, are you enjoying the scenery?' the teacher asks his students in the Himalayas.
'Yes, Sir, but the Mountains sometimes block our view.'
Now you are laughing at this joke. But if you laugh like this whenever you are in trouble, when you are fighting with each other, when you get hurt, if you include laughter in all your daily activities, it will keep your energy level high, it will keep your lungs clean, and, most important, it will keep you connected to God.
God has made this world for us to be happy. Imagine, if God looks down and sees his children laughing, how will He feel?
God loves laughter. In fact, god has given us the gift of laughter as a secret healing tool. If you laugh continuously for five to ten minutes, your sickness will go away. Always add laughter to your life, it will make you feel light.
There is scientific evidence that proves that regular, long spells of laughter can bring down your blood pressure. Deep belly laughter releases endorphins, the feel good chemicals in your brain.
How many of you have a small statue of the laughing Buddha in your homes? How does he laugh? He has a big belly, doesn't he? And his mouth is open. He has a bag flung over his shoulder. The bag signifies that he is a wondering monk. and how does he stand? With his hands in the sky, like this. What does this posture mean to you? Where else have you seen this posture? Did you know, what this laughing Buddha do all day? And why did he get the name, the laughing Buddha?
He walked from one town to another town, stood in the market place right in the center of the main square where everyone could see him, threw up his hands and laughed and laughed and laughed.
People stared at him, wondering if he is a mad man. But he laughed so beautifully, without any hesitation, without a care in the world, that they also started laughing. Soon the entire market place was laughing. The people who went back home couldn't get over the site of the laughing Buddha. Each time they would remember him, they would laugh. And, because they had laughed so much, the entire village was in a light, happy mood.
The laughing Buddha never uttered a word to anyone, he was in silence. His only job was to laugh.
A small story from a book called Guaranteed Solutions, written by my master, Swami Nithyananda.
Once, there was a conference of Buddhist monks on the meaning of true spirituality.
Each monk went up to the stage and gave a long speech. Finally, it was the turn of a zen monk to speak.
He went on the stage and simply started laughing. He laughed and laughed, from his being. The laughter just rose from his belly. he started shaking uncontrollably with laughter.
And his laughter was so infectious that all the others also started laughing, without even knowing why.
Without their being aware of it, the monks produced a huge wave of positive energy in the room. The monks reached a state of tremendous elevation.
Their thinking was shattered and their being was filled with bliss.
The zen monk finally spoke: 'This is true spirituality.'
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