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Life as We Know it….. By Lawrence Pereira Lawrence Pereira was born in Belman and did his BE from Visveswariah University, Belgaum. He is presently working in Doha, Qatar. March 24, 2011 Do we really know anything about Life? This question reminded me of a story, which I thought of sharing with you readers. I work for a small company where I get to meet people from different parts of the world, of different age groups, different religions etc, and the only thing common between us is that we are all human. I knew one gentleman, Andres, who comes from Hungary, which also tells me that he is always “hungry”. Hungary lies in central Europe; thanks to the geography I studied, I still know the locations of some countries, even though I don’t know the location of my aunt’s place in Mangalore. This is today’s generation - we give more importance to geography than relationships. Anyway, back to Andres, he is in his mid-50’s, to be precise, 56 years old. Let’s go back in time, Andres was in his mid-20’s when he graduated from a well-reputed petroleum engineering college, a rank holder in his days. At that age, a handsome, charming, intelligent guy would definitely have a girlfriend and he too had one, named Maria, she in her 18th year, a beautiful girl who had finished her schooling. He was a smart lad and got a break in a service company where he worked as a tool service hand, assembling tools, and then sending it to Rig for usage. He progressed in work, and as for life, he delayed his marriage, as he and Maria wanted to enjoy their youthful days and were in a live-in relation. He moved from one job to another, getting promotion after promotion, with his salary package increasing every year, and so also his desires. (To those who don’t understand rotation, it means an employee will be on duty 24X7 for five weeks and the rest five weeks he will be off at home. During the five weeks when he works he will receive a daily bonus of 150 dolllars along with his base salary). Life went on and so did he. In no time, his son was in first standard, and at the same time his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Sad, but true. That’s life - the moment you think you are driving along a smooth road in a beautiful weather, the tyre turns flat. You have the smooth road you have the beautiful weather but you are stuck with your punctured car. So was he. He was in a dilemma whether to quit his job and stay home with his ailing wife and kid or stick to his job, so that he can provide the necessary treatment for his wife and good schooling for his kid. He was at work not because he had insufficient amount of money for treating his wife or sending his kid to school, but because he was worried about the future. What if the money runs out, how will he treat his wife and provide education for his kid? Life moves on, friends, and now, it’s going to be almost a year since Maria died. The reason for sharing this story is, two weeks back, I met Andres. He has reduced in weight, very lean, smoking cigarette after cigarette. I was sitting in the canteen and I decided to take a seat beside him. He smiled at me, I didn’t know what to say. I looked at him with a sad face and said, “Sad to know about your wife’s death.” And he looked at me and said, “You know what, my friend, I have done everything in life - I have a beautiful house, bank balance, good education, a nice job, a dear girlfriend who turned to be my lovely wife, a cute obedient kid - I had every luxury in life, But I forgot to do one thing. “What?” That’s what we do in our life. We go for everything, more desires, more wants, we get everything in our life but in the end we forget to live our life.
He loved Maria very much and wanted to keep her happy. And he thought happiness is all about material satisfaction. He built a 5 BHK apartment, bought a brand new Mazda Sport limited edition car, and every other luxury for Maria.
17 years into live-in relationship, they finally decided to get married, at the age of 40. In the meantime, he got a job as a field specialist engineer, 5-5 rotation-based.
Andres was excited in the beginning - new package and more money, so more happiness. In the meantime, he decided that it was the right time to start a family; his wife became pregnant and the time came for her delivery, but he couldn’t make it as he was on duty 24X7, 5 weeks, making 150 dollars, thinking he was buying happiness for his family but missing the most memorable moment of his life, the birth of his first son and being a father.
He chose the latter, did his job and the off for 5 weeks, sat with his wife and spent some quality time with his kid. Looking at his wife he lost courage but his son was his hope. One fine day, Maria said to Andres, “Can’t you quit your job and stay with me for this year?” Andres replied, “Maria, I promise this will be my last year at work, from next year we will stay as a happy family, I will be at home cooking food for you, giving u medicine and personally taking tuitions for my child. I promise. “
Promise is a word which has a lot of meaning, but it’s better in dictionary than being used or said. Andres couldn’t keep his promise, not because he didn’t quit his job after a year but because Maria didn’t live long enough to make him keep the promise. She died in two months’ time, and Andres was called back from work on emergency leave.
Came the reply with tears in his eyes - “I FORGOT TO LIVE MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY,”
Today, whenever I see him, it reminds me of an engineer having accomplished everything in life, but still has nothing. How many of us are like him? Who knows, someday this same story may repeat in our lives.
I thought it worth sharing, and by the way, it’s a true story
10 things to learn from Japan 1. THE CALM Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated. 2. THE DIGNITY Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture. 3. THE ABILITY The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall. 4. THE GRACE People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something. 5. THE ORDER No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding. 6. THE SACRIFICE Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid? 7. THE TENDERNESS Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak. 8. THE TRAINING The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that. 9. THE MEDIA They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No sensationalizing. Only calm reportage. 10. THE CONSCIENCE When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly This makes the nation great.
******************AS RECEIVED****************! Can Voltage / current travel through Flash light of camera to your body? yes it is 100% true
Dear friends,
With deep pains (and tears in my eyes), I am sorry to inform You that yesterday morning, one of my dear friend’s elder son (Mr. Aditya Suresh Joshi), age 19, studying in 1st year of engineering, died in Keshvani Hospital, Mumbai. He was admitted in Keshavani Hospital as burned patient.
REASON
4 days back this boy had gone to Amravati (One of the district place located in State of Maharashtra ) on study tour. After their study was over, he, his classmates & his teachers, all of them were standing on “Badnera” railway station to catch the train. “Badnera” is the name of the railway station for ” Amravati ” city.As soon as they arrived on Badnera Railway station, many of them started taking pictures of their friends using “Mobile Phones” and/or “Digital Camera”. One of them complained that, in his camera, he was not able to capture more number of friends in one frame. He was not able to catch the angle. Another boy suggested that let’s climb on train boogie and take picture so that all of them can be accommodated in single frame.
At that there was one goods wagon (all of them were oil tankers) train resting between 2 main railway lines.
Kumar Aditya climbed up oil boogie. Above his head, 40,000 volts electrical line was passing through. As soon as he clicked the digital camera? 40,000 volt current passed through the camera flash light to his camera and then from his camera to his fingers and then from his fingers to his body. All this happened within fraction of minutes. Next moment he was thrown from the top. His body was half burned on the spot.
At that time, his father (my friend) was traveling in Bangkok . His many friends in Pune came to know about this via mobile SMS. They instantly arranged air ambulance in Amravati and his burned body was brought to Keshavani Hospital , Mumbai. I was told that this is the best hospital in Mumbai. For 1 and 1/2 day or so he was talking to his relatives. When he was admitted to the hospital, at that time only, doctor informed his relatives that don’t keep great hopes. Because of lot of complex issues in half burned body? He died yesterday morning.
Now how many of us are aware about this technological threats & dangers? Honestly, Kumar Aditya and his father was not aware. His family was not aware. Our entire friend circle of more than 12,000, we were not aware. Now should we call ourselves as fully educated and fully knowledgeable people? Please Think of it.
Please avoid mobile phones on petrol outlets.
Please avoid talking on mobile phones while driving. I also know many of my friends who do not bother about this good suggestion and each one of them have opted for “Chalta Hai Yaar Attitude”.
Please avoid talking on mobile phones while they are in charging mode.
Please avoid charging mobile phones near Your bed. Avoid keeping on your bed while sleeping. Avoid mobile phones near high voltage electrical lines like railway stations and use flash lights.
My friend, his family members and we all friends learned our lesson with loss of young life. Now Would You like to empower Your friends about this accident so as to avoid future accidents? We can save human life by empowering all the IT users who are in Your network?
What can we do ?
Please Please…..I request you to send this very important life threatening information to your loved ones…..
YOU MAY VISIT&FWD TO YOUR FRIENDS
GO THROUGH THE I LAND POSTS
Later Lord Vishnu came in the form of a Narasimha (who is half-man and half-lion) and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk (which was neither day nor night), on the steps of the porch of his house (which was neither inside the house nor outside) by restraining him on his lap (which is neither in the sky nor on the earth) and mauling him with his claws (which are neither astra nor shastra). YOU MAY VISIT&FWD TO YOUR FRIENDS GO THROUGH THE I LAND POSTS
The main day, Holi, also known as Dhuli Vandana in Sanskrit,also Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in South India.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi (Dhulandi) was on March 11 and Holika Dahan was on March 10. In 2010, Holi was on March 1 and Holika Dahan was on February 28.
This Year 2011 Holi Holi (Dhulandi) on March 20 and Holika Dahan on March 19
Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities involving colours.
In Vaishnava Theology, Hiranyakashipu is the great king of demons, and he had been granted a boon by Brahma, which made it almost impossible for him to be killed. The boon was due to his long penance, after which he had demanded that he not be killed “during day or night; inside the home or outside, not on earth or on sky; neither by a man nor an animal; neither by astra nor by shastra”. Consequently, he grew arrogant and attacked the Heavens and the Earth. He demanded that people stop worshipping gods and start praying to him.
Despite this, Hiranyakashipu’s own son, Prahlada, was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. In spite of several threats from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada continued offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. He was poisoned but the poison turned to nectar in his mouth. He was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet remained unharmed. He was put in a room with hungry, poisonous snakes and survived. All of Hiranyakashipu’s attempts to kill his son failed. Finally, he ordered young Prahlada to sit on a pyre on the lap of his demoness sister, Holika, who could not die because she also had a boon which would prevent fire from burning her. Prahlada readily accepted his father’s orders, and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika burnt to death, while Prahlada survived unharmed, the burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi.
In Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days (until Rangpanchmi) in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna. Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the gopis here. Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother about the contrast between his dark skin complexion and Radha’s (Shakti or energy that drives the world) fair skin complexion. Krishna’s mother decided to apply colour to Radha’s face. The celebrations officially usher in spring, the celebrated season of love.
There is alternative story detailing the origin of Holi. This story is about Kamadeva, a god of love. Kama’s body was destroyed when he shot his weapon at Shiva in order to disrupt his meditation and help Parvati to marry Shiva. Shiva then opened his third eye, the gaze of which was so powerful that Kama’s body was reduced to ashes. For the sake of Kama’s wife Rati (passion), Shiva restored him, but only as a mental image, representing the true emotional and spiritual state of love rather than physical lust. The Holi bonfire is believed to be celebrated in commemoration of this event.
SMILE WITH
RAMNATH
THIS WONDERFUL PRAYER WAS PASSED ON TO US SO WE ARE PASSING IT ON. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!
Lord, I just want to say THANK YOU,
Because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were.
Because this morning my home was still standing,
Because this morning I am not crying
Because my spouse, my child, my brother or sister, my parent does not need to be buried
or to be pulled out from underneath a pile of concrete,
Because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water,
Because this morning I was able to turn on the light,
Because this morning I was able to take a shower,
Because this morning I was not planning a funeral,
But most of all I thank you this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Japan .
Lord I cry out to you, the One that makes the impossible, possible,
The One that turns darkness in to light,
I cry out that You give those mothers strength,
That You give them peace that surpasses all understanding,
That You may open the streets so that help can come,
That You may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye.
For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on!
Protect the children and shield them with your power.
I pray all this in the name of GOD
OM SAIRAM
RAMNATH
WIShing you a Happy Holi
************************
Khaa key gujiya, pee key bhaang,
laaga k thora thora sa rang,
baaja ke dholak aur mridang,
khele holi hum tere sang.
HOLI MUBARAK!!!!
Holi par sabhi ko sabhi rango se milkar ek rang,
apko mile jo apki khusiyon ko rangin bana de.
Happy Holi!!
Rang udaye Pichkari
rang se rang jaye duniya sari
holi ke rang aapke jeevan ko rang de
ye shubha kaana hai hamari.
HAPPY HOLI !!!
Rango Ke Tyohar Me Sabhi Rango Ki Ho Bharmar,
Dher Saari Khushiyo Se Bhara Ho Aapka Sansar,
Yahi Dua hai Bhagwan Se Hamari Har bar,
Holi Mubarak!
Makki ki Roti, Nimbu ka Aachar,
Suraj Ki Kirne, Khushiyo ki Bahar,
Chand Ki Chandi, Apno ka Pyar,
Mubarak Ho Aapko, HOLI ka Tyohar
Pichkari ki dhar, gular ki bauchar,
apno ka pyar, yahi hai HOLI ka tyohar.
Wishing you and your family
a very hapy and colourful HOLI.
Lal, gulabi, neela, pila hathon me liya samet,
Holi ke din rangenge sajni, kar ke meethi bhent.
Gul ne gulshan se gulfam bheja hai,
Sitaro ne aasman se salaam bheja hai,
Mubaraq ho aapko holi ka tyohar,
Humne dil se yeh paigam bheja hai.
Rango ke tyohar mein sabhi rango ki ho bharmar,
Dher saari khushiyon se bhara ho aapka sansar,
Yahi dua hai bhagwan se hamari har bar,
Holi Mubarak ho mere yaar!
Dipped in hues of love and trust has come the festival of Holi.
Happy Holi!!
Bright colors, water balloons,
lavish gujiyas and melodious songs
are the ingredients of perfect Holi.
Wish you a very happy and wonderful Holi.
May God gift you all the colors of life,
colors of joy, colors of happiness,
colors of friendship, colors of love
and all other colors you want to paint in your life.
Happy Holi.
If wishes come in rainbow colors then
I would send the brightest one to say Happy Holi.
Best wishes to you for a Holi filled with sweet moments and memories to cherish for long.
Happy Holi!!!
BEST WISHES FOR HOLI
Cheers ! Have fun !
OM SAIRAM Let us Pray for the people in Japan. So far there are people dead. Tsunami waves sweep along Iwanuma in northern Japan on Friday. The earthquake slammed Japan’s eastern coast and unleashed a 13-foot tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Lord, at times such as this, As the things we have built crumble about us, Do not forget us now. Today, so many people are afraid. Comfort them, God, in this disaster. Embrace in your arms those who died so suddenly this day. Pierce, too, our hearts with compassion, And once the shaking has ceased, For though the mountains leave their place Our help is in the name of the GOD
Earthquake hits Japan
Japan was hit by a massive earthquake the measured 8.9 on the Richter scale, on March 11. This was followed by a 10 meters high Tsunami wave that washed away Northern Japan. The nearest city to the epicenter is the coastal city of Honshu, 130 km (80 miles) from the quake center. Japan’s capital city Tokyo is situated 373 km (231 miles) away. Take a look at some photos.
when we realize that the ground beneath our feet
is not as solid as we had imagined,
we plead for your mercy.
we know too well how small we truly are
on this ever-changing, ever-moving,
fragile planet we call home.
Yet you have promised never to forget us.
They wait in fear of the next tremor.
They hear the cries of the injured amid the rubble.
They roam the streets in shock at what they see.
And they fill the dusty air with wails of grief
and the names of missing dead.
Be their rock when the earth refuses to stand still,
and shelter them under your wings when homes no longer exist.
Console the hearts of those who mourn,
and ease the pain of bodies on the brink of death.
we who watch from afar,
as the poorest on this side of the earth
find only misery upon misery.
Move us to act swiftly this day,
to give generously every day,
to work for justice always,
and to pray unceasingly for those without hope.
the images of destruction have stopped filling the news,
and our thoughts return to life’s daily rumblings,
let us not forget that we are all your children
and they, our brothers and sisters.
We are all the work of your hands.
and the hills be tossed to the ground,
your love shall never leave us,
and your promise of peace will never be shaken.
who made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the God,now and forever
Somebody’s Mother The woman was old and ragged, and gray And bent with the chill of the winter’s day… The street was wet with a recent snow, and the woman’s feet were aged and slow….. She stood at the crossing and waited long…. Alone, uncared for, amid the throng, Of human beings who passed her by Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eyes…. Down the street, with laugther and shout, Glad in the freedom of school let out… Came the boys like a flock of sheep, Hailing the snow piled white and deep, past the woman so old and gray…. Hastened the children on their way Nor offering a helping hand to her So meek, so timid, afraid to stir Lest the carriage wheels or the hores, feet, Should crowd her down in the, slippery street…. At last came one of the merry troop, The gayest laddie of all the group. He paused beside her and whispered low, I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go”. Her aged hand on his strong young, arm She placed and so without, hurt or harm he guided the trembling feet along Proud that his own were firm and strong Than back again to his friends he went, His young heart happy and well content…. “She’s somebody’s mother, boys you know For all she’s aged and poor and slow And I hope some fellow will lend a, hand To help my mother, you understand, If ever she’s poor and old and gray, When her own children is far away of just don’t have the time to care” And “somebody’s mother bowed her, head in her home that night and prayer she said was, God be kind to the noble boy, Who is somebody’s son, and pride and joy”… Be kind, respect the older people cause they’re somebody mother , somebody father, somebody sister of brother and for those who’re bless to still have a mother of a father spend times with them cause they took care are you when you couldn’t take care of yourself.