Story:God Hides from Men...

It was God who created the world and later men to live there. The men He created always placed before Him, one desire or another asking Him to fulfill them. He was pestered by them with several demands and complaints. God called Angels and asked them to show Him some place where He could hide Himself from men.

Angels Said, "Go to the peak of Himalayas."
God said, "Men would climb Himalayas out of craziness, If not for Him."

Angels suggested an alternative, asking Him to hide at the depth of the Ocean.
God nodded His head in disapproval, saying that men already are using sonars, radars for detection.

Then, Angels suggested to hide behind Sun, But God said that men are already using telescope etc, so they may reach there.

Then God came up with an idea saying, "He will go and hide Himself in the hearts of men. That is the one place where they will not search for Him."

God immediately decided to do so. Till date man searches for God in every place except his own heart.

Technique:Smile Breath Meditation

With eyes closed Sit comfortably with hands clasped and legs crossed
Bring smile onto your face and spread it whole body as if your total body is smiling. Feel all cells, organs, body parts are smiling.
Feel each breath of you is bringing more joy of smiles into you and spreading.
If you have any discomfort or pain already existing in your body feel that part or area smiling and any mental-relation-financial issues are also filled with smile.
Next feel this energy-bliss-peace is radiating to the place where you live and gradually to whole globe and universe.
Benefits-Pure smile instead of plastic smile always exists on your face.
Since smile is contagious you will become a source of joy-peace-oneness.
You can witness any pain in and out with smile without any shaking.

Expressing and Experiencing Divine love in Daily life

I sought love in many lives. I shed bitter tears of separation and repentance to know what love is. I sacrificed everything, all attachment and delusion, to learn at last that I am in love with Love—with God—alone. Then I drank love through all true hearts. I saw that He is the One Cosmic  Lover, the One Fragrance that permeates all the variegated blossoms of love in the garden of life.

Many souls wonder wistfully, helplessly, why love flees from one heart to another,- awakened souls realize that the heart is not fickle in loving different ones, but is loving the one God- Love that is present in all hearts.

The Lord ever silently whispers to you:
I am Love. But to experience the giving and the gift of love, I divided Myself into three: love, lover, and beloved. My love is beautiful, pure, eternally joyous; and I taste it in many ways, through many forms.

As father I drink reverential love from the spring of my child's heart. 
As mother I drink the nectar of unconditional love from the soul-cup of the tiny baby. 
As child I imbibe the protecting love of the father's righteous reason. 
As infant I drink causeless love from the holy grail of maternal attraction. 
As master I drink sympathetic love from the flask of the servant's thoughtfulness. 
As servant I sip respectful love from the goblet of the master's appreciation. 
As guru-preceptor I enjoy purest love from the chalice of the disciple's all-surrendering devotion.
As friend I drink from the self-bubbling fountains of spontaneous love. 
As a divine friend, I quaff crystal waters of cosmic love from the reservoir of God-adoring hearts.

So My love is playing hide-and-seek in all human hearts, that each might learn to discover and worship, not the temporal human receptacles of My love, but My love itself, dancing from one heart to another.

I want them to learn to speak the ultimate truth: "Love the One Love in all of us." 
To tell another, "I love you," is false until you realize the truth: "God as the love in me is in love with His love in you."

Without speaking a word, I have loved you always. I alone can truly say, "I love you"; for I loved you before you were born; My love gives you life and sustains you even at this moment; and I alone can love you after the gates of death imprison you where none, not even your greatest human lover, can reach you. 

I am the love that dances human puppets on strings of emotions and instincts, to play the drama of love on the stage of life. 
My love is beautiful and endlessly enjoyable when you love it alone; but the lifeline of your peace and joy is cut when instead you become entangled in human emotion and attachment. Realize, My children, it is My love for which you yearn!

Those who love Me as only one person, or who imperfectly love Me in one person, do not know what Love is. 
Only they can know Love who love Me wisely, faultlessly, completely, all surrenderingly— who love Me perfectly and equally in all, and who love Me perfectly and equally as all.

- Divine Romance, Paramahansa Yogananda

As you see the sky, know it is the Lord looking at you. 
As you look at the sun, know that the Lord is giving vitality to you. 
As you look at the moon, know the Lord is giving you love. 
As you look at the flowers, know that the Lord is smiling at you. 
As you look at people, know the Lord is asking to be recognised and crying for deliverance. 
As you look at saints, know that the Lord is talking to you.
- From Rajarsi Janakananda, A Great Western Yogi book

For all that has been - Thanks! To all that shall be - Yes!

"For all that has been - Thanks! 
To all that shall be - Yes!" 

UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold (pronounced HAM-mar-shold), theologian, poet, humanitarian, athlete, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961, wrote this prayer in his personal journal (published after his death under the title "Markings" in 1964). 
Imagine how much better the world would be if you and I could simply embrace that statement and live it! 

Quotes:
There is a calmness to a life lived in Gratitude, a quiet joy. - Ralph H. Blum

It is gratefulness that makes the soul great. - Rabbi Joshua Heschel

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'thank you,' it will be enough. - Meister Eckhart

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. - Melodie Beattie

The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated - William James

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. - Eric Hoffer

Be thankful for what you have and you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. - Oprah Winfrey

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures - Thornton Wilder

There are souls in this world who have the gift of finding joy everywhere - and leaving it behind them when they go - Frederick William Faber

The affect of one good-hearted person is incalculable - Oscar Arias Sanchez

Unselfish acts are the real miracles out of which all the reported miracles grow - Ralph Waldo Emerson

If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or attempts to understand, extraordinary things begin to happen. - Loretta Girzartis

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. - Oscar Wilde

Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you. - Eileen Caddy

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them - John F. Kennedy

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie

"For all that has been - Thanks! 

To all that shall be - Yes!" 

http://www.thecreatrix.co.nz/words/82-pages/368-thankyou-quotes

Story:The Benevolence Of Sant Eknath

An incident in his life highlights his broad mind, forbearance and compassionate nature.

Sant Eknath lived in a village called Prathinapura, in Maharastra. He practiced Bhagvath Dharma - singing the names and glories of the Lord. He performed pooja to the idols of Rukmini and Panduranga which was presented to him by his Guru - Sri Janardana Swami. Sant Eknath was particularly famous in his village for his patience; nobody ever saw him angry, and nothing could ever make him lose his temper. Almost all his fellow-villagers paid respects to Eknath for his great virtues.

In the same village, there were a few vagabonds who used to regularly meet for gambling. One morning it so happened that one of them arrived late. When the others looked at him with a questioning look, he said, "I had been to Sant Eknath's residence to pay respects to him. So I could not come here in time."

On hearing this, the others guffawed and with a mocking tone asked him, "So my friend, what is so special about this gentleman, which makes you fall at his feet?"

"Sri Eknath never loses his temper under any circumstance. Isn't this trait unusual?"

They teased him further..."How can he who never gets angry be called a human?" On hearing thus, he immediately answered, "That is the reason why I regard him a saint..." The conversation which started in a light vein, took a serious turn... In the end, one of them challenged, "I shall make Saint Eknath lose his temper, and prove to you all that he is no different from others and I shall accomplish what I just said by tomorrow itself."

The next morning, Sant Eknath went to bathe in the Holy Godavari river early in the morning. While he was returning, the one who threw down the gauntlet, was waiting for Sant Eknath on a rooftop with mouthful of Paan (Betel leaves and Betel nuts, usually taken after meals). While walking back home, Eknath suddenly felt something wet falling on him. Without any signs of surprise, and without losing his composure, he walked back to the river for a holy dip.

The defiler was surprised, but when Sri Eknath returned from his second dip, he again spat on this great saint. Sri Eknath again went back to the river for a dip without losing his calm. But the vagabond was persistent in his efforts to make this saint angry, and he kept on spitting at Saint Eknath. 

Each time he spat on the saint, he could not even detect a faintest frown in Eknath's face. As the twilight of the dawn started to bounce off from the glittering waters of Godavari, the vagabond got tired of spitting at Eknath. 

He was totally bewildered on seeing the patience and forbearance of Eknathji. While his mouth was aching stiff due to repeated spitting, Eknath was looking as composed and as fresh as he was early in the morning!

The vagabond, feeling guilty and ashamed, rushed down to fall at the feet of Saint Eknath. Saint Eknath, with eyes brimming with compassion and love even for this offender, blessed him. 

Now the vagabond was totally perplexed, "Swamiji, how is it possible for you to be like this?" 

Saint Eknath replied, "Brother, if you can stick so stubbornly to this vice of harassing sadhus, it isn't the least surprising that I, on my part, should stick to my virtue of not losing my temper.I am on the way to offer my morning worship to my Lord. The dirt on my body can be easily cleansed by a dip in the river, but if I let anger enter my mind, it defiles the mind, and no amount of bathing in any river cancleanse me of this impurity.Worshipping with an impure mind would not bear fruits."

Remembering Sant Eknath when we get angry would help us to regain our composure without much difficulty.

http://creative.sulekha.com/india-s-great-saints-the-benevolence-of-sant-eknath_246601_blog

http://storydekho.blogspot.in/2014/09/story-dekho-paitience-and-tolerance.html

Story:Why Me?

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983.

From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?

To this Arthur Ashe replied:
The world over -- 5 crore children start playing tennis,
50 lakh learn to play tennis,
5 lakh learn professional tennis,
50,000 come to the circuit,
5000 reach the grand slam,
50 reach Wimbledon,
4 to semi final,
2 to the finals,
When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?"
And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"

"Happiness keeps u Sweet,
Trials keep u Strong,
Sorrow keeps u Human,
Failure Keeps u Humble,
Success keeps u Glowing,
But only God Keeps u Going..
Keep on Going.."

http://creative.sulekha.com/happiness-keeps-u-sweet_39991_blog

Story:Spiritual Friendship

http://www.aryaloka.org/community/friends-sangha/

Joke:Knowing Nothing

A monk asked Zhaozhou, “I have come here and know nothing. What are my duties?” 
Zhaozhou said, “What’s your name?” 
The monk said, “Huihan.” 
Zhaozhou retorted, “A fine ‘knowing nothing’ that is!” 

http://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/Zen_Humor.html

Joke:What is Buddha?

A monk asked famous Chan Master Zhaozhou Congshen (Chao-chou, 778-897): “What is the Buddha?” 
The master replied: “The one in the hall.” 
The monk said, “But the one in the hall is an image, a mere statue, a lump of mud.” 
Zhaozhou agreed, “That’s true.” 
“So,” persisted the monk, “what is the Buddha?” Zhaozhou responded: “The one in the hall!” 

The Master was trying to tell his disciple that the Buddha could not be known by asking questions such as 'What is the Buddha!' The Buddha is to be experienced; it is to be understood through an awakening. When awakening happens, you understand that you are Buddha! This is how the Buddha can be understood. 

It is like this: I have tasted nectar. Just by explaining the sweetness of it to you, by explaining its texture to you, by explaining about my experience of it to you, can you understand anything about nectar? No! But if you just taste it once, you will know exactly what it is! Only tasting will help. Until then you can have an idea that it is sweet, that it is smooth etc, that's all. But you cannot feel the real joy of it till you taste it for yourself.

http://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/Zen_Humor.html

Joke:Visiting teacher

When Ch’an Master Te-shan (782-865) arrived at Kuei-shan monastery, he carried his bundle with him into the teaching hall, where he crossed from east to west and then from west to east. He looked around at all the monks assembled and said, “There’s nothing here, no one.” Then he went out.

http://www.gurusfeet.com/spiritual_joke/visiting-teacher