"Only God can move mountains,
but faith and prayer can move God"

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"A student asks the teacher, "I traveled to Mecca and did not find God
there."
The teacher replies, "Yes, God wasn't there. He was traveling
with you."

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer."

Protecting The Sapling

"When we plant a young tree sapling, we need to protect it from the various dangers to its safe survival. One danger is the lack of water. We need to see that it is watered frequently, until it is able to establish its roots deeply into the earth, insuring for itself a steady supply of water, regardless of external conditions.
In the same way we need to protect our newborn spiritual self from drying up because of a lack of spiritual sustenance. We can do this by keeping company with spiritually oriented persons through seminars and group gatherings for such purposes.We can also water our inner spiritual sapling through daily prayer, meditation and reading of spiritual texts etc.

Another danger is that passing goats might eat it. Thus we must erect a temporary fence around the sapling, preventing the goats from eating its tender leaves and shoots.Eventually, however, when the tree has grown larger and its leaves have risen above the level which the goats can reach, we can remove the fence without fear of there being any harm to the tree.Now the tree is not only no longer vulnerable, but it can offer protection to the goats from the hot sun or the rain or snow. The goats now benefit from the tree.

In the same way we must, in the beginning of our spiritual growth process, protect ourselves from company and contacts with people who are not spiritually oriented, so that we can have the opportunity to develop our inner faith and discipline.By avoiding those who are negative towards spiritual values, and keeping company with those who embrace those values, we gradually strengthen our spiritual sapling into a full-grown tree, which no longer needs any such protection.

Now, we can have contact with all types of negative influences without loosing our center. Now, like the large tree, we can offer comfort, love and wisdom even to those who previously would have caused us to loose our spiritual center.

We need to determine whether we are saplings or trees and act accordingly."( Source Internet)

g g g

Why Worry, Have Faith

"I can make a hobby out of worrying. I worry about the noise and then complain when it is too quiet. I worry about having too many sunny dry spells and then complain when it rains. I may even be worried about worrying too much.

It is essential to take an honest interest in what goes on around me, and of course it is always wise to analyse a situation and take the necessary precautions to avoid being influenced by anything negative. However, when all is said and done, my tense and burdened mind will not be able to function clearly enough to arrive at a suitable solution to a problem. Maybe I should just do the best that I can and beyond that leave it in the hands of God.

To have faith in the self, faith in God and faith in God's plan is a sure way to remain clear and free of burdens.."

source:(thought for today)

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Instant Message from God.

"God : Hello. Did you call me?Me: Called you? N-no.. who is this?God : This is GOD - I heard your prayers - thought we'd chat.Me: Well, I do pray - makes me feel good - but I'm actually busy right now. I'm in the midst of something.God : What're you busy at? Ants are busy, too.Me: Don't know. But I can't find free time. Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.
God : Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.Me: I understand, but I still can't figure it out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.God : Well, I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?God : Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.Me: Why are we then constantly unhappy?God : Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.
Me: But how can we NOT worry when there is so much uncertainty?God : Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.Me: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty. God : Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?God : Diamonds cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials but don't necessarily have to suffer because of them. With their experiences, their life ought to become better, not bitter.Me: You mean to say such experiences are useful?God : Yes. In everyday terms, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.Me: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can't we be free from problems?
God : Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't know where we're heading....God : If you look outside, you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast enough seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?
God : Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.Me: In tough times, how can we stay motivated?God : Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.Me: What surprises you about people?
God : When they suffer they ask, "Why me?" When they prosper, they never ask, "Why me?" Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, yet few want to be on the side of the truth.Me: Sometimes I ask, who am I? why am I here? I can't get the answer.God : Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.Me: How can I get the best out of life?
God : Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.God : There are no unanswered prayers. Sometimes the answer is simply NO.Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat.
God : Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live."

(Source:Internet Message)
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Tranquility

'Tranquility is a state of mind, in which a person, while living in this materialistic world of transient happiness and suffering, is absorbed in devotional meditation within.

In order to achieve it,we have to develop perpetual consciousness of The Divine and full faith in His Grace, adhering to spiritual self-discipline, earning truthful and honest living, accepting in profound calmness... the Will of God.

The foremost perquisite to happy life is 'equipoise' -the inner peace.

The Bliss can be felt and experienced in the deepest of silence."

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"The real spiritual progress of the aspirant is measured by the extent to which he achieves inner tranquility"............ (Swami Sivananda)

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