True Follower

Venerable Sariputra declared, not boastfully, but for the instruction of other monks, that upon examining himself, he found that there could be no event which would move him to sorrow, despair or grief. 

"But", he was asked,"Would not even the change in the Teacher cause you sorrow, despair or grief?"

"Not even the change in the Teacher would do that", the Venerable Sariputra replied. "I wish that the Teacher would remain with us for the benefit of the many, for the welfare of the many, out of compassion for the world. But his passing would not cause me sorrow or despair." And the Buddha approved of his answer.

Conclusion: Many of the conflicts have been raised among the disciples due to the attachment towards the teachers. Liberation, not the attachment to the teachers, should be the goal of the followers. 

 

Devotion to the Buddha

Bhikkhu Vakkali was devoted to the Buddha. His adoration was patent for all to see. Whether the Buddha was preaching, walking, or meditating, the eyes of Bhikkhu Vakkali were fixed upon him raptly. Just as the eyes of a lover devour the form of the beloved, so the gaze of Bhikkhu was fixed to the majestic features of the enlightened one.

The Buddha called Vakkali amidst the assembly and said,"Why do you constantly gaze at my body, which is transitory, subject to suffering and without essence? Why do your eyes constantly dwell on this corporeal form, which is nothing but a sack of impurities? It would be better for you to seek out a forest retreat and there strive earnestly to gain that liberation which brings all formations to an end."

Giving him the subject of meditation, he dismissed the monk. The Bhikkhu thereupon retired to the forest, strove earnestly for insight, and after some time duly attained Arahantship. 

Moral: Attachment to the Guru can also be hindrance for liberation.

Discrimination

Currently I am reading the book called "Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist" by Roger Lowenstein. I've completed reading about 13% of the book and the book is really interesting up to this point. The book digs into the personal life of Warren Buffett. It is delightful to read the childhood activities of the Genius. There is a part in the book where at the young age, Buffett falls in for a girl, Susie. But Susie was dating some other guy at that time. In the evenings, Buffett would visit her house and spent time with her parents playing ukelele. The guy with whom Susie was dating was not invited to her house because her parents did not like the fact that the guy was a Jew. This is interesting. We think that the discrimination between people in the name of caste, religion, social status etc. exist only in the underdeveloped countries. But this part of the book shows that human beings are same all over the world. Normally, all the people have discriminatory mind.

अब सौंप दिया इस जीवन का, सब भार तुम्हारे हाथों में

अब सौंप दिया इस जीवन का, सब भार तुम्हारे हाथों में, सब भार तुम्हारे हाथों में ।

है जीत तुम्हारे हाथों में, और हार तुम्हारे हाथों में, और हार तुम्हारे हाथों में॥

मेरा निश्चय बस एक यही, एक बार तुम्हे पा जाऊं मैं, एक बार तुम्हे पा जाऊं मैं।

अर्पण करदूँ दुनिया भर का सब प्यार तुम्हारे हाथों में, सब प्यार तुम्हारे हाथों में॥

जो जग में रहूँ तो ऐसे रहूँ, ज्यों जल में कमल का फूल रहे, ज्यों जल में कमल का फूल रहे।

मेरे सब गुण दोष समर्पित हों, भगवान तुम्हारे हाथों में, भगवान तुम्हारे हाथों में॥

यदि मानव का मुझे जनम मिले, तो तव चरणों का पुजारी बनूँ, तो तव चरणों का पुजारी बनूँ।

इस पूजक की एक एक रग का हो तार तुम्हारे हाथों में, हो तार तुम्हारे हाथों में॥ 

जप जब संसार का कैदी बनू, निष्काम भाव से करम करूँ, निष्काम भाव से करम करूँ।

फिर अंत समय में प्राण तजूं, निरंकार तुम्हारे हाथों में, निरंकार तुम्हारे हाथों में॥

मुझ में तुझ में बस भेद यही, मैं नर हूँ तुम नारायण हो, मैं नर हूँ तुम नारायण हो।

मैं हूँ संसार के हाथों में, संसार तुम्हारे हाथों में, संसार तुम्हारे हाथों में॥

अब सौंप दिया इस जीवन का, सब भार तुम्हारे हाथों में, सब भार तुम्हारे हाथों में ।

है जीत तुम्हारे हाथों में, और हार तुम्हारे हाथों में, और हार तुम्हारे हाथों में॥

 

The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal by Jim Loehr and Tony Shwartz

I just finished reading this actionable book called "The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal" by Jim Loehr and Tom Shwartz. The book is focused on the theme that managing energy, not the time is the key to high performance. To manage the energy the book suggests regular breaks or disengagement from work. The book recommends to take a break on each 90 to 120 minutes of activity. That's it. You've read the entire book. The pages of the book is filled with the description of authors' clients' experience on implementing the suggestions mentioned in the book.