Inspirational messages

Languages used in Carnatic Music & Literature
venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

cartoon Quotes from inspirational folks..

See and enjoy..

http://zenpencils.com/

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

Image

..Let us all read to know as to how shallow is life....Let us not have any EGO..

Alexander's message to the world :
Alexander, the great, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother’s face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, “I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail.” With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king’s last wishes.
“My first desire is that,” said Alexander, “My physicians alone must carry my coffin.” After a pause, he continued, “Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury.
“My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.”The people who had gathered there wondered at the king’s strange wishes. But no one dare bring the question to their lips.
Alexander’s favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. “O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?”
At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: “I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.
The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world.”
Alexander’s last words: “Bury my body, do not build any monument, keep my hands outside so that the world knows the person who won the world had nothing in his hands when dying“. Courtesy : Shyamoli Bagchi

There's a Tamil proverb : Kaadattra oosiyum vaaradukan kadaivazhikke

meaning, " Even a needle with a broken eye cannot be taken with you on your final journey." A similar feeling was experienced by Emperor Ashoka after his Kalinga victory.
Today as we are turning increasingly materialistic, let's remember this.

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

Uncommon Valor: The Kyle Carpenter Story
25 year-old Kyle Carpenter should not be alive today. But he is, and he wears his scars with pride. After nearly 40 surgeries and two and a half years in the hospital, he got back to fighting shape and completed the Marine Corps Marathon. This summer, Kyle became the second living Marine since the Vietnam War to receive the nation's highest military decoration -- the Medal of Honor...

Every marine is a hero but Kyle Carpenter’s story is one for the books. In November 21, 2010 Kyle was only 19-years-old when he was struck by an enemy grenade.

The injuries Kyle sustained were enough to have killed him. However, miraculously he survived! It is undeniable that God had a bigger plan for Kyle. Watch as he shares his incredible story with David Letterman...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRFX5qpaxwE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqaZoeWJ0gk

Pratyaksham Bala
Posts: 4164
Joined: 21 May 2010, 16:57

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

venkatakailasam wrote:... There's a Tamil proverb : Kaadattra oosiyum vaaradukan kadaivazhikke ...
பட்டினத்தார்:-

வாதுற்ற திண் புயர் அண்ணாமலையார் மலர்ப் பதத்தைப்
போதுற்ற போதும் புகலும் நெஞ்சே இந்தப் பூதலத்தில்
தீதுற்ற செல்வம் என்? தேடிப் புதைத்த திரவியம் என்?
காதற்ற ஊசியும் வாராது காண் உன் கடைவழிக்கே.

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

Image

This great man passed away last week....

"A few weeks ago, he was hacked down by some people."
"Oh why did they do that?"
"This is how people show their anger towards me to cause me pain. Apart being an animal welfare officer, I'm also a slaughterhouse inspector. Hence many don't like what I do."

"How did you start rescuing animals?"
"Even during the time of my school days, I used to rescue dogs who got hurt due to road accidents. I used to take care of them and find homes for them.”

“Could you share a rescue-story that has deeply impacted you?”
"Once I got a call to kill a dog. The caller said that the dog is in critical condition and it would be best to end its life rather than making it suffer the pain. I was on my way to Kochi from Thrissur that time, so I told him to wait and not to do anything with the dog. I was in touch with him throughout my drive to ensure that the dog was not killed before I reach there. Finally what I found was a piece of meat lying on the road, whimpering with pain. Someone had poured acid on it and the whole body was in a molten fused state. It had been lying there in that situation for almost two days. People around me were forcing me to kill it. I asked them would you do the same if this happened to any of you. And their reply was - who wants them anyway, it’s high time these dogs are all killed off.

I didn't bother replying to them because I knew they didn't deserve any reply. I carried the dog to my car. All the blood, flesh and pus were sticking to my shirt. I took him to Cochin Pet Hospital. The doctor was shocked to see him. He asked me what to do as he felt that there was no way the dog could be saved. I told him, you have to somehow do something or the other.

“What was the doctor’s name?”
“Dr. Sooraj. It took us four and a half hours to save him. We had to remove large amount of dirt which were sticking inside his flesh as people had thrown sand and stones at him. We had to clean all of that.”

“People had thrown sand and stones at him, even when he was lying there burnt in acid?”
“Yes, that’s how cruel the society is. We don’t have even an ounce of a feeling called compassion in our minds!“

“Oh, so how did he then recover?”
“Ricky was not able to sleep even after giving sedation. For acid attacks, the pain will not go even if you give sedatives. For five and a half months, he was not able to sit. He had to stand throughout the period. So we built an adjustable support to help him stand. With medication and proper care, Ricky became a healthy dog."

“What is the scenario of pet dogs being abandoned in Kochi?”
"We get around 15-20 calls in a day regarding pet dogs found on the streets. 60 percent of the cases are due to people abandoning them due to old-age. Remaining 40 percent is because they don't want to take care of their dogs when they get sick.”

“Could you elaborate on this?”

“Breeders are abandoning dogs on the streets after they become old and unusable to give birth. There are many people who keep dogs just to show off to their guests. It is a matter of pride for them to make others see that they own German Shepherd, Doberman and other expensive breeds of dogs. First of all, our climate is not suitable for dogs such as Pug, St. Bernard, German Shepherd. These dogs are later thrown into the streets when they grow old. People abandon their pet dogs when they get skin disease, when they get an eye infection, when they get pus in their ears or when the owners change their residence. I have got calls from many saying they have seen a pet dog roaming around nearby their area and if it would be possible for me to take it away. In many cases, these callers are actually the owners of the dogs pretending to be not connected with the dog and they want to somehow get rid of them through me.”

“Oh!”

“Being educated and being cultured are two different things. We are very high in being educated, but very low in being cultured. We have to develop a culture with a sense of responsibility to our society, with a sense of responsibility to the people living in that society, and with a sense of responsibility to the other living beings existing along with those people. Currently we do not have any of these, it’s all destroyed. Now if we want to revive these, they can only be developed through today’s children."

“So what message do you wish to convey to the society?”

"God has given us abilities - not to plunder the earth and loot people. We all have the ability to love, but we are not willing to use that. We don't want to see even when we have eyes; we don't want to hear even when we have ears. A change is needed for all this.

PS: The interviewee, Mr. Pradeep Kumar, founder of KARMMA (Karuna Animal Rescue Ministering and Management Association), passed away last week suffering from a heart attack. We pray that his loved and dear ones get the strength to move on. .

Photo credit: Deepesh PM

Via- Humans Of Kochi
Shared from Ram Sury

VK RAMAN
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:29

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by VK RAMAN »

Good to see you back. Hope all is well. Love and Namaskarams

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

THE HEDGEHOGS AND THE FOXES
(Couldn't resist sharing this from Good to Great)
In his famous essay "The Hedgehog and the Fox," Isaiah Berlin divided
the world into hedgehogs and foxes, based upon an ancient Greek parable:
"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big
thing. The fox is a cunning creature, able to devise a myriad of complex
strategies for sneak attacks upon the hedgehog. Day in and day out, the fox circles around the hedgehog's den, waiting for the perfect moment to
pounce. Fast, sleek, beautiful, fleet of foot, and crafty-the fox looks like
the sure winner. The hedgehog, on the other hand, is a dowdier creature,
looking like a genetic mix-up between a porcupine and a small armadillo.
He waddles along, going about his simple day, searching for lunch and
taking care of his home.
The fox waits in cunning silence at the juncture in the trail. The hedgehog,
minding his own business, wanders right into the path of the fox.
"Aha, I've got you now!" thinks the fox. He leaps out, bounding across the
ground, lightning fast. The little hedgehog, sensing danger, looks up and
thinks, "Here we go again. Will he ever learn?" Rolling up into a perfect
little ball, the hedgehog becomes a sphere of sharp spikes, pointing outward in all directions. The fox, bounding toward his prey, sees the hedgehog defense and calls off the attack.
Retreating back to the forest, the fox begins to calculate a new line of attack. Each day, some version of this battle between the hedgehog and the fox takes place, and despite the greater cunning of the fox, the hedgehog always wins.
Berlin extrapolated from this little parable to divide people into two
basic groups: foxes and hedgehogs. Foxes pursue many ends,at he same time and see the complexity. They are "scattered or diffused,
moving on many levels," says Berlin, never integrating their thinking into
one overall concept or unifying vision. Hedgehogs,on the other hand,
simplify a complex world into a single organizing idea, a basic principle-or
concept that unifies and guides. everything. It doesn't matter how complex
the world, a hedgehog reduces all challenges and dilemmas to simple indeed almost simplistic-hedgehog ideas.
For a hedgehog, anything that does not somehow relate to the hedgehog idea holds no relevance.
Hedgehogs took a complex world and simplified it.
Hedgehogs are not stupid. Quite the contrary. They understand
that the essence of profound insight is simplicity. What could be more simple than e = mc2? What could be simpler than the idea of the unconscious, organized into an id, ego, and superego? What could be
more elegant than Adam Smith's pin factory and "invisible hand"? Hedgehogs see what is essential, and ignore the rest.
( Maybe this is all about generalists vs specialists?)

thanjavooran
Posts: 2972
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 04:44

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by thanjavooran »

Shri VK avl,
Excellent message! thanx for sharing.
Thanjavooran
06 05 2015

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

REAL MANAGERS..............

A team of Managers were given an assignment to measure the height of a

flagpole.

The Managers got out to the flagpole with ladders and tapes.

They were falling off the ladders, dropping the tape measures - the whole

thing was just a mess.

An Engineer came along that way and seen what they were trying to do,

then walked

over, pulled the flagpole out of the ground, laid it flat, measured it

from end

to end, gave the measurement to one of the managers and walked away.

After the Engineer had gone, one manager turned to another, laughed and

s aid,

"See this idiot. We're looking for height and he gives the length !!!"

Moral: "No matter what good you do, your Managers always find faults in

you".

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

"Look at a man the way that he is, he only becomes worse. But look at him as if he were what he could be, and then he becomes what he should be." - Goethe

Mr. Washington
(by: Les Brown, A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul)
One day in 11th grade, I went into a classroom to wait for a friend of mine. When I went into the room, the teacher, Mr. Washington, suddenly appeared and asked me to go to the board to write something, to work something out. I told him that I couldn't do it. And he said, "Why not?"
I said, "Because I’m not one of your students."
He said, "It doesn't matter. Go to the board anyhow."
I said, "I can’t do that."
He said, "Why not?"
And I paused because I was somewhat embarrassed. I said, "Because I’m Educable Mentally Retarded."
He came from behind his desk and he looked at me and he said, "Don’t ever say that again. Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality."
It was a very liberating moment for me. On one hand, I was humiliated because the other students laughed at me. They knew that I was in Special Education. But on the other hand, I was liberated because he began to bring to my attention that I did have to live within the context of what another person’s view of me was.
And so Mr. Washington became my mentor. Prior to this experience, I had failed twice in school. I was identified as Educable Mentally Retarded in the fifth grade, was put back from the fifth grade into the fourth grade, and failed again, when I was in the eighth grade. So this person made a dramatic difference in my life.
I always say that he operates in the consciousness of Goethe, who said, "Look at a man the way that he is, he only becomes worse. But look at him as if he were what he could be, and then he becomes what he should be." Like Calvin Lloyd, Mr. Washington believed that "Nobody rises to low expectations." This man always gave students the feeling that he had high expectations for them and we strove, all of the students strove, to live up to what those expectations were.
One day, when I was still a junior, I heard him giving a speech to some graduating seniors. He said to them, "You have greatness within you. You have something special. If just one of you can get a glimpse of a larger vision of yourself, of who you really are, of what it is you bring to the planet, of your specialness, then in a historical context, the world will never be the same again. You can make your parents proud. You can make your school proud. You can make your community proud. You can touch millions of people’s lives." He was talking to the seniors, but it seemed like that speech was for me.
I remember when they gave him a standing ovation. Afterwards, I caught up to him in the parking lot and I said, "Mr. Washington, do you remember me? I was in the auditorium when you were talking to the seniors."
He said, "What were you doing there? You are a junior."
I said, "I know. But that speech you were giving, I heard your voice coming through the auditorium doors. That speech was for me, Sir. You said they had greatness within them. I was in that auditorium. Is there greatness within me, Sir?"
He said, "Yes, Mr. Brown."
"But what about the fact that I failed English and math and history, and I’m going to have to go to summer school. What about that, Sir? I’m slower than most kids. I’m not as smart as my brother or my sister who’s going to the University of Miami."
"It doesn't matter. It just means that you have to work harder. Your grades don’t determine who you are or what you can produce in your life."
"I want to buy my mother a home."
"It’s possible, Mr. Brown. You can do that." And he turned to walk away again.
"Mr. Washington?"
"What do you want now?"
"Uh, I’m the one, Sir. You remember me, remember my name. One day you’re gonna hear it. I’m gonna make you proud. I’m the one, Sir."
School was a real struggle for me. I was passed from one grade to another because I was not a bad kid. I was a nice kid; I was a fun kid. I made people laugh. I was polite. I was respectful. So teachers would pass me on, which was not helpful to me. But Mr. Washington made demands on me. He made me accountable. But he enabled me to believe that I could handle it, that I could do it.
He became my instructor my senior year, even though I was Special Education. Normally, Special Ed students don’t take
Speech and Drama, but they made special provisions for me to be with him. The principal realized the kind of bonding that had taken place and the impact that he’d made on me because I had begun to do well academically. For the first time in my life I the honor roll. I wanted to travel on a trip with the drama and you had to be on the honor roll in order to make the trip out of town. That was a miracle for me!
Mr. Washington restructured my own picture of who I am. He gave me a larger vision of myself, beyond my mental conditioning my circumstances.
Years later, I produced five specials that appeared on public television. I had some friends call him when my program, 'You Deserve,' was on the educational television channel in Miami. I was sitting by the phone waiting when he called me in Detroit. He said, "May I speak to Mr. Brown, please?"
"Who’s calling?"
"You know who’s calling."
"Oh, Mr. Washington, it’s you."
"You were the one, weren’t you?"
"Yes, Sir, I was.

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

One day, during an evening class for adults, the psychology Teacher entered the class and told students, “Let’s all play a game!” “ What Game?”

The Teacher asked one of the students to volunteer.
A lady, Aliza came forward.

The Teacher asked her to write 30 names of most important people in her life on blackboard.
Aliza wrote names of her family members, relatives, friends, her colleagues and her neighbors.

The Teacher told her to erase 3 names that Aliza considered most unimportant.

Aliza erased names of her colleagues.
The Teacher again told her to delete 5 more names. Aliza erased her neighbor's names.

This went on until there were just four names left on the blackboard. These were names of her mother, father, husband and the only son...

The entire class became silent realizing that this wasn’t a game anymore for Aliza alone.

Now, The Teacher told her to delete two more names.
It was a very difficult choice for Aliza.

She unwillingly deleted her parents names.
“Please delete one more” said the Teacher.

Aliza became very nervous and with trembling hands and
tears in eyes she deleted her son’s name. Aliza cried painfully...

The Teacher told Aliza to take her seat.

After a while Teacher asked "why your husband?? The parents are the ones that nurtured you, and the son is the one you gave birth to ??? And you can always find another husband !!!"

Total silence in the class.

Everyone was curious to know her response.
Aliza calmly and slowly said, “One day my parents will pass away before me.

My son may also leave me when he grows old, for his studies or business or whatever reason. The only one who will truly share his entire life with me, is my Husband”.
All the students stood up and applauded for her for sharing this truth of life.

This is true. So always value your life partner, it's not only for husbands but wives as well.

God has united these two souls and it's on you now to nurture this relationship above all.

A share from a friend..

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS....

How God Answers our Prayers?

Dr.Stephen, a well-known doctor, was once on his way to an important medical conference in another city where-in he was going to be granted an award for medical research he had recently done.
He was very excited to attend the conference and was desperate to reach as soon as possible. He had worked long and hard on his research and felt his efforts deserved the award he was about to obtain.
However, two hours after the plane took off, the pilot announced that there was a problem with the plane and that they were going to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport. Afraid that he wouldn't make it in time for the conference, Dr. Stephen immediately went to the help desk as soon as the plane landed and explained to the woman at the desk that he was expected to be at a very important conference and that he needed to know the immediate next flight to his destination. She told him that there was nothing she could do to help him as there wouldn't be another flight to his destination for another ten hours; but suggested he rent a car and drive down to the city as it was only four hours away.
Having no other choice, he agreed to the idea despite his hatred for driving long distances.
Dr. Stephen rented a car and started his journey. However, soon after he left, the weather suddenly changed and a heavy storm began. The pouring rain made it very difficult for him to see and he missed a turn he was supposed to take.
After two hours of driving, he was convinced he was lost. Driving in the heavy rain on a deserted road, feeling hungry and tired, he frantically began to look for any sign of civilization. After some time, he finally came across a small tattered house. Desperate, he got out of the car and knocked on the door. An old woman opened the door for him. He explained his situation and asked if he could use her telephone. She told him that she didn't have a phone or electricity but that he was welcome to come in for some food and something warm to drink as he had completely lost his way and that it would take him some time to get back on the right road.
Hungry, wet and exhausted, the doctor accepted her kind offer and walked in. The woman told him to help himself to some food and hot tea on the table and then excused herself to finish her prayers. Sitting on the table sipping his tea, the doctor watched the woman in the dim light of candles as she prayed next to what appeared to be a small baby crib.
Every time she finished a prayer, she would start another one. Feeling that the woman might be in need of help, the doctor seized the opportunity to speak as soon as she finished her prayers and told her that he hoped God would answer her prayers. He then said that he noticed that she had been making a lot of prayers and asked if there was something she needed that he could get for her or help her with. The woman smiled and said that God had answered all her prayers except one. She said she didn't know why God hadn't answered this specific prayer yet but perhaps it was because of her weak faith.
The doctor asked if she didn't mind telling him what she needed. Nodding her head in approval, she said that the child in the crib was her grandson. She said that the child had a very rare type of cancer and that all the doctors she had seen were unable to treat him. She also said that she had been told that there was a doctor who specialized in the type of cancer her grandson had, but there was no way for her to get to this doctor as he lived very far from her; so she has been spending her days and nights praying to God to help her find a way to get to Dr. Stephen - the doctor who could treat her grandson.
Upon hearing her words, tears began to flow down the doctor's cheeks and He said: God is great, there was malfunction in the plane, a thunderstorm hit, and I lost my way; and all of this happened because God did not just answer your prayer by helping you find a way to get to Dr. Stephen, but He brought Dr. Stephen to your house. I am Dr. Stephen. Tears streaming down her cheeks,
Three important steps:
1)Ask
2)Believe
3)Receive
Thanks to the author of this story....

Received by mail from a friend..

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by venkatakailasam »

On his first day in office as President,
when Abraham Lincoln entered to give his inaugural address, one man stood up.
He was a rich Aristocrat.
He said, “Mr. Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family.” And the whole Senate laughed; they thought they had made a fool of Lincoln.
But certain people are made of a totally different mettle.
Lincoln looked at the man directly in the eye and said,
"Sir, I know that my father used to make shoes for your family, and there will be many others here, because he made shoes the way nobody else can.
He was a creator.
His shoes were not just shoes;
he poured his whole soul into them.
I want to ask you, have you any complaint..,
Because I know how to make shoes myself.
If you have any complaint I can make you another pair of shoes.
But as far as I know, nobody has ever complained about my father’s shoes.
He was a genius, a great creator and I am proud of my father.
The whole Senate was struck dumb.
They could not understand what kind of man Abraham Lincoln was.
He was proud because his father did his job so well that not even a single complaint had ever been heard.
Remember:
“No one can hurt you without your consent.”
It is not what happens to us that hurts us.
It is our response that hurts us.
Everything we want in life is waiting for us outside our comfort zone and inside our effort zone...
we just need to make a move.
Shared..

thanjavooran
Posts: 2972
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 04:44

Re: Inspirational messages

Post by thanjavooran »

Shri VK avl,
Many thanx for sharing.
Inna saidharai oruthal avar naana nan nayam saidhuvidal
Thanjavooran
16 07 2015

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