Gems to Live By- 1

1. The only thing needed to settle all conflicts is little common sense
2. Not to Smile is a Sin
3. Amidst the death of hope, start once more to live, start once more to walk
4. Nothing comes by chance: you got to give your mind to it
5. Endure it for an hour, and you have an age to live
6. The only things needed to be successful in life are ignorance and confidence

Importance of Being a Child

Children’s Day is celebrated in India every year on November 14^th to mark the birth anniversary of Padit Jawharlal Nehru. He was the first prime minister of India. He was really fond of children and wanted them to grow, prosper and become strong foundation for India. He was nicknamed as Chacha Nehru by the children. The day is commemorated with immense joy, enthusiasm and happiness in all the educational institutions of India.
Even before Nehru, Jesus Christ loved children. In fact every human being is a child of God. Jesus said, “ Let the little Children come to me.” This day must be celebrated to bring the child within each one of us. Here are some inspiring thoughts that will makes us dear to children and at the same time brings out the child from inside us.

No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure. - Emma Goldman

 The best way to make children good is to make them happy. - Oscar WildeWe cannot fashion our children after our desires, we must have them and love them as God has given them to us. - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

So long as little children are allowed to suffer, there is no true love in this world. – IsadoraDuncan

A child is a beam of sunlight from the Infinite and Eternal, with possibilities of virtue and vice- but as yet unstained. - Lyman Abbott
A child miseducated is a child lost. - John F. Kennedy

The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” - Denis Waitley

Ideas on IDEA

Is this tautology? Perhaps, it is difficult to have ideas on idea. But, this is what I try to do in this write-up.

The word idea in simple words means a dark image, a thought that is not clear; no certainty in respect of the object intended by the idea, and it is not grounded and unambiguous. The nature of idea is that it can be modified and given a new shape. Thus, one idea leads to the birth of another idea. As a result, it enriches the life of human being. Idea is never complete but there is always something that can be added to make it rich. The essence of idea depends very much on motivations and character of the content. In other words, idea has got power to change life in its wholeness.

Became and Becoming

The two words caught my attention as I was lecturing the students on the theme, ‘GOD’. According to me, they are the two powerful words that can build or dismantle life, construct or destroy life through situations.

Became:  Became symbolizes the end of journey that is it does not show anything beyond the horizon. For example, many a time I heard people affirming themselves as, ‘I became a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer.’ These sentences as simple as they are, signify that people are not interested in acquiring more and more. They are happy with what they are and what they have. In other words, they consider themselves as finished products without waiting for the FUTURE IN HOPE.

Becoming:  Becoming signifies that life is a continuous process of learning, realizing and becoming more and more. The person who is becoming desires that there is more to life. In other words, there is no full-stop but only commas to pause and play the game of life. They are happy with themselves but they believe to go higher and higher in life. They see beyond the horizon. They trust themselves and go AHEAD IN LIFE.

Kingdom of Necessity

Human life is a craving for something more. He/she is never satisfied with what he/she is or has. The desiring for something more can be classified in two ways namely as Wants and Needs. Here I deal with needs alone.

Necessity is the mother of invention is an old saying that reflects very much the life of authentic human being who desires to live an authentic life. The satisfaction of one want leads to the birth of another want. Consequently, wants are never satisfied. Needs are very few and they are according to the necessity. In the kingdom of necessity, there is always a creation of human being where his desires, motivations and aspirations are controlled and directed towards that is good and beneficial. The characteristics of kingdom of necessity are: few desires, satisfaction, happiness, contentment , peace and love. In other words, it is a kingdom where things necessary are given importance, needs are fulfilled and important events are accomplished.

Definitions Ever - 1

Love: An Instinct of Heart

Hate: An Instinct of Mind

Think:

Faith: An Unasked gift and Unpayable debt

Try: Never Say No

Fail: Dare to say yes

Win: An Opportunity to grow more

Loose: An Opportunity to realize that there is something more to conquer

Opportunity: A gift to unfold and use it for betterment

Dream: Easy to imagine, Hard to achieve and effort will make it possible

Prayer: A Sacred waste of time with the Unknown yet known person in life.

Litany of Don Bosco in Telugu- A Translation from English

ఏలినవార  మా మీద దయచూపండి

క్రిస్తువ మా మీద దయచూపండి 

ఏలినవార  మా మీద దయచూపండి

క్రిస్తువ మా ప్రార్దన ఆలకించండి

క్రిస్తువ మా ప్రార్దన  విననవదరించండి 

మా మీద దయగానుందండి  స్వామి 

పరలోకమందున్న తండ్రిఐయిన సర్వేశ్వర

లోకమను రక్షించిన పుత్రుడైన సర్వేశ్వర

పవిత్రాత్మ సర్వేశ్వర 

త్రిత్వేక సర్వేశ్వర

మా కొరకు  వేడుకోనండి 

నిష్కలంక సహాయమత 

పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగార 

పవిత్రత్మచే రుపుదిద్దబడి నడిపింపబడిన డాన్ బోస్కోగార 

మరియమాత పాటశాలలో తర్ఫిడుపోదిన    డాన్ బోస్కోగార 

ఎల్లవేళలా క్రీస్తు మార్గములో నడిచిన  డాన్ బోస్కోగార 

దైవప్రేమను యువకులకు చూపించిన  డాన్ బోస్కోగార 

నిత్య సహాయమత అపోస్తులుడైన  డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

సహాయమత యడల భక్తిని పెంపోదించిన  డాన్ బోస్కోగారా 

తిరుసభ ప్రేమికుడైన  డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ఎల్లపుడు పాపుగార్ల పట్ల సక్యత చూపిన   డాన్ బోస్కోగారా  

సలేసియన్, మరియమాత పుత్రికల మరియు సహాయకులసబాను స్థాపించిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

సలేసియన్ కుటుబమునకు ఆదర్శప్రాయమైన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

యువకుల తండ్రి మరియు గురువైన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

పేదయువకుల స్నేహితుడవైన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

కార్మికయువకులను విముక్తిచేసిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

యువకులకు మంచికాపరివైన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

వేదవ్యపకులకు స్పుర్తిదాతైన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

యువకులకు పునీత మార్గాన్ని చూపించి, పునితులుగా తీర్చిదిద్దిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

అతిత పునితుడవైన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

కష్టానికి మరియు కరుణకు మారుపేరైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ప్రార్ధనకు మరియు దైవఐక్యతకు మారుపేరైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

విద్యావేత్తలకు మరియు ఉపదేశకులకు ఉధహరనైయిన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ఆత్మీయ గురువులకు మరియు విద్యపకులకు ఆదర్శప్రాయమైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

మతసబ స్థాపకులకు స్పుర్తిదాతైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

పరిశుద్ద ప్రేమకు నిలయమైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ఉలాస ఉత్సాహమునకు నిలయమైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ప్రేమ మరియు దయ గుణములకు చిహ్నమైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ద్రుదవిస్వసము మరియు ఆసబవం కలిగిన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

పేద మరియు వినయశిలుడైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

మంచితనమునకు మారుపేరైన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

కృప మరియు కృషి సమిష్టితో నిండిన  డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

అత్యంత మానవత్వముతో నిండిన పవన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ఎల్లవేళలా కాలమునకు అనుగుణముగా నడుచుకోనిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

దేవునిరాజ్యము కొరకు ఎల్లవేళలా కృషి సల్పిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ద్యనమును ఎల్లపుడు సేవలో కలిపినా డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

అద్భుతకర్యాలు చేసిన పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

దేవునియందు గొప్ప విశ్వాసము కలిగిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

యువకుల ఆత్మల రాక్షనయండు  ఆసక్తి చూపిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

యువకులపట్ల అపారమైన ప్రేమతో రగిలింపబడిన  డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ప్రసార సదనాములతో ప్రజలవద్దకు దేవుడిని తిసుకువచిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

యువకులకు సర్వస్వమును త్యాగముచేసిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

కలలను దేవుని మహిమతో నిజముచేసిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

సమయ సందర్బాలలో సరైన నిర్ణయాలతో ముందుకు నడిచిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

దేవుని సేవకుడైన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

నూతన విద్యబోదన సిదాంతాన్ని ప్రవేసపెట్టిన డాన్ బోస్కోగారా

ప్రార్దిచుదము: ఓ దేవ! పునీత డాన్ బోస్కోగారిని యువకుల తండ్రిగా మరియు ప్రేమికునిగా ప్రసాదించినందుకు మీకు వందనములు అర్పించుచున్నాము. డాన్ బోస్కోగారిల

యువకులకు ఎల్లపుడు అందుబాటులో ఉండి, వారిని దివ్యసప్రసదము మరియు పప్సంకిర్థానము అను దేవద్రవ్యనుమనముల ద్వారా క్రిస్తుప్రబువాద్దకి నడిపించిడం, వారిలో దేవమాత మీద భక్తిని పెంపోదించే బాగ్యాన్ని ప్రసాదించండి. అదే విదముగా మేము డాన్ బోస్కోగారి బాటలో నడచి ఆ పునితుడిలగా మా జీవితాన్ని తోటివారికి ముక్యుఅముగా యువకులకు సేవచేసే అదృష్టన్న్ని  ప్రసాదించమని మా నాదుడైన క్రిస్తుద్వార ఈ మనవి చేయుచునము. ఆమెన్

Dream and Dare

A saying goes thus, “For those who dare to dream, there is a whole world to win.” There can be no point in life where we can say I have achieved enough because what is achieved is part of history. There are only turns in life journey and no end because there are many miles to travel. Those who dream believe in looking into the future. Those who dream and dare believe and take risk in what lay in future. Those who dream and dare manifest themselves in four qualities:

1) Know: Know the problems as well as solutions.

2) Respect: All that is good. Never demoralized anybody

3) Trust: Trust in yourself. Think that you can achieve, that you can dream and dare.

4) Go for the Best: Never give up quality. It makes us stand in good stud. Have courage to reject all that is not best.

Dream Bigger and Dare it in Risk. Commitment must be deeper and effort must be greater. So, let us become people who dream and dare, dare and dream always, all the time, everywhere and forever.

Dare to Try

Don’t judge those who try and fail but judge those who fail to try. Cardinal Newman once said, “Until you try, you don’t know what you can’t do. Great men such as Thomas Alva Edison, Abraham Lincoln were born out of trying than luck to the best of their ability. Trials are lessons that teach us that we have not used possibilities well presented to us. It gives an opportunity to make a correct choice where we made a wrong choice. The moment we stop trying, we stop becoming fully realized human being. Every thing in life is a test. Consequently, everything is a trial that is we try, we fall, and we get up. A person who has never tried does not know what really life is about.

            Every trial must teach us something new and pave path for the discovery of new world. There is no automatic success in life. Life is based only on one principle, “Try, Try and Try.” The principle makes everything possible in life. Life is a continuous trying to become who we really are, that is realizing our full potentiality within us. That is why, trying requires a daring attitude. SO, DARE TO TRY OR DARE AND TRY.

Religion-Science Interaction

Albert Einstein, the great Scientist the world has ever produced, has this to say on Religion and Science, “Science as a spiritual path, a way of finding the secrets of the Old one.” Every advance in science must lead to the spiritual knowledge of God. Science must help human beings to reach the ultimate of our life.

            Religion is powerful autonomous structure created by man for his need to quench the thirst for God and to find the God within. Therefore, religion became, becomes and will become a tool in the hands of man to reach God. Science is the powerful monster in the present world whose strength is benefit to humanity at the same time also dangerous to humanity if not properly handled. I define science as “A branch of human knowledge that discovers new microcosms from the old microcosms through recycling the raw material of God by the use of human practical intelligence.”

Relationship between Religion and Science

• Religion is being with God and Science is being with the World
• Religion Saves and Science Heals
• Religion is revolution of God and Science is the product of man
• Religion is God-centred and Science is World-centred
• Religion gives suffering then comfort and Science gives comfort then suffering
• Religion is qualitative transformation and Science is quantitative transformation
• Religion proposes Eternal Truth and Science proposes Generalized Truth
• Religion aims at transformation and Science aims at giving information
• Religion deals with spiritual realities and Science deals with material realities
• Religion is a tool to understand God and Science is a tool to understand Universe
• Religion is a progress of what went before, what is going on now and what will happen in the future and Science is only progress of what went before
• Religion is abode of peace, joy, and happiness and science is abode of fear
• Human being needs Religion and Science needs Human being
• Religion is capable of refining people and Science is capable of further refinement
• Religion builds up moral consciousness and Science builds up material consciousness
• Religion unites us to God and Science unites us to world
• Religion is Spiritual trouble-shooter and Science is Material trouble-shooter
• Religion is answer to many questions and Science is answer to many problems
• Religion is lived and Science is practiced
• Religion is the purpose to arrive at and Science is the goal to achieve
• Religion is always life-giver and Science life-taker
• Religion forgives and Science never forgives

In conclusion, religion with its spiritual development and science with its scientific develop must serve the world to have a better understanding of God’s purpose. They both must make a journey from interdisciplinary to transdisciplinary to give holistic formation through constant dialogue.

Dead Yesterdays, Born Todays and Unborn Tomorrows

Human being is gifted with life and existence. To put in the words of Sartre, “Man is thrown in to the world and hence a free being in the world.” At every moment of life, human being is free to make his/her choices to live as an authentic being. It is the authenticity that makes the essence of human life. I define authenticity as living life to the full dying in Yesterday, living fully in Today unworrying about unborn Tomorrow. In other words, authenticity is authenticity of today. But, human life is lived in yesterday that is gone and worried about tomorrow that is yet to be burn, thus making the born today unauthentic. In the long run human being moves away from authenticity subconsciously.

Dead yesterdays are the days passed in life. They never come back and end possibilities. To put in the words of Martin Heidegger, “Death is not a transition from one mode of life to another but the end of all possibilities to human being.” The dead yesterday has no possibility to offer possibilities to human being. They are no longer alive. They make up history. But, human being , thinking of dead yesterday is devoid of living in the born today in its fullness. It is also true and certain that the yesterday that is dead becomes the reason for today to live life to the full in and through ordinary events of daily life.

Born today is present at hand. It offers itself and strives to make human being authentic. Heidegger’s Dasein gave me pure insight into the life of today. Dasein is a being of today. It is the happening, being-in-the-world and also being here and now. Existence of human being is defined by the possibilities or more clearly, the projects undertaken for fulfilling the essence of human being. Today is the fullness of life with both possibilities and actualities promised by Christ in the gospel of St John, “ I came to give life and life in fullness.” The human being must live today with the experience of yesterday with an imagination towards tomorrow. The born today sets us free from all the chains that tie human being.

 

Unborn tomorrow is yet to be born or rather today is yet to give birth to tomorrow. Therefore, there is no need of tension or worry as to what I will do next? It comes to us in time and not out of time and as such no use of worrying about them. Jesus’ analogy of rich fool who by his pride dreamt of future to live merrily and happily, was told, ‘you fool; you will die to night.’ They are undoubtedly full of possibilities but leave every human being in uncertainty. They are ambiguous.

In conclusion, human life is a transition from yesterday to today, from today to tomorrow. This transition shapes and moulds human life. No human being is human being without undergoing this transition, which is a road towards transformic authenticity.

THE COMPASSIONATE MOTHER

St. Bernard speaking of the great compassion of Mary towards humanity, the poor creatures says that she is the land overflowing with milk and honey promised by God. Hence, St. Leo observes that the Blessed Virgin has so merciful heart that she deserves not only to be called merciful but Mercy itself.  St. Bonaventure considering Mary says, “ O Lady when I behold thee, I can only discern mercy, for thou was made mother of God for the wretched and thou was entrusted with their charge, thou art all solicitude for them: thou art walled in with mercy; thy only wish is to show it.

            The compassion of Mary is so great towards us, that the Abbot Guaric says that her loving heart can never remain a moment without bringing forth its fruits of tenderness. Mary is also called an Olive tree: as a fair Olive tree in the plains. For as the Olive oil alone is extracted, so from the hands of Mary graces and mercy alone proceed. Hence, venerable Fr Louis de Porte says that Mary may properly be called the mother of oil, since she is the mother of mercy. When we go to this good mother for the oil of mercy, we cannot fear that she will deny it us, as the wise virgins in the gospels did it to the foolish ones; lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you.” Oh! No for she is rich in the oil of mercy as St Bonaventure assures us, “Mary is filled with oil of mercy and compassion.”

            Sometimes perhaps we fear that Mary does not see or does not feel for our necessities? She sees and feels them for better than we do ourselves. St Antonuys says who can ever feel for us in our miseries both corporal and spiritual like this woman, the most Blessed Virgin Mary. So much so that there where she sees misery she cannot do otherwise than instantly fly and relieve it with her tender compassion. Our good mother herself protests that she will never cease to fulfil this office of mercy. Emperor Tutus, the great was so desirious of rendering service to those who applied to hem that when a day passed without his being able to grant a favour he used to say with sorrow,’ I have spent the day without benefiting anyone. It is same with our mother of compassion whenever we ask anything with a grateful heart, she never denies and she is always ready to grant any grace.

Every human being should have recourse to this compassionate mother and confidently hope for salvation through her intercession for she according to the encouraging assurance of Bernardino de Bustis, she is our salvation, our hope, our model, our counsel, our life and our refuge.

I conclude with the beautiful and tender exclamation of St Bonaventure, “O Clement, O Pious, and O Sweet Virgin Mary. Mother Mary is clement with the miserable and compassionate with those who pray to her.

Religion- the Raison D’ être of Humanity

Is religion a raison d’être of humanity? It is certainly ‘Yes.’ The Bible declares in the book of Genesis, “God made human in his own image and likeness and also found him good.” In other words, it clearly tells that “God is part of human and Human is part of God.” God had done His part and this is a happy occasion but here comes the need for man to connect himself to God, the Creator, the part of his/her life. Human’s thirst for God is quenched only through religion. It sustains man in his/her desire to reach God and thus religion becomes raison d’etre of humanity.

            Religion had its roots in the heart of human being for ever-evolving and ever emerging desire to connect oneself to God and thus becomes the founder of Relgion of God. Religion etymologically derived from Greek word ‘Ligare’ means to bind together. It binds together ‘God and Man’ collapsing the borders between Godliness and Humanness when God took the form of human being and thus made everyone a child of God giving an invitation to every human being to become God like people

            What is the reason for being a human and not an animal? What is the reason for being a human and not a plant? Why should one be human and not anything else in this entire macrocosm? All these questions make us contemplate on the purpose of God in creating human being in His own image and likeness. Everything has come into the world with a plan and purpose designed by God. In this entire world only the human being has the ability and desire to know God and His purpose. This is uniqueness of human being because where as other beings do not long for this desire and they get satisfied with instinct-fulfilment and not bothering about their inner longing. Human being

            Animals, plants and so many other beings has life and grow physically, intellectually, psychologically, emotionally but not having the capacity for spiritual life and expression. Thus, they just remain ‘beings’ and not beings in the process of becoming. On the other hand human being grows physically, intellectually, psychologically, emotionally and also has capacity to feel and express him/herself fully and because of this, he/she is not just being but a Transcendent Being  in the process of becoming. This aspect of human being is perfected in Religion in his desire to quench the thirst for God. Therefore, religion became, becomes and will become a tool, an instrument in the hands of man to reach God.

Religion becomes the Raison D’être of Humanity:

Ø      When one realizes that religion means not being with God but becoming God

Ø      When one thinks that religion must exist for the purpose of transforming and reconciling people

Ø      When one comes to awareness that religion does not just exist but must be lived in daily life

Ø      When one believes that one’s faith in God is sustained and increased only through religion

Ø      When one knows that religion is part and parcel of human life

Ø      When one accepts religion without eliminating it

Ø      When one recognizes that existence becomes meaningless without religion

Ø      When one allows oneself to be taught by religion

Ø      When one experiences life as religion and religion as life

Ø      When one looks at religion as the way to reach God

Ø      When one embraces religion to show love for people

Ø      When one adorns oneself with the values of religion to give God to Human

Ø      When one professes that religion is life-giver

In conclusion, life is a gift and a vocation to human being from God and since it is a gift, it must be handled with respect, care and in a responsible way to make our life in turn an offering to God, an offering that life meaningful. This desire of human being comes to fulfilment in Religion alone and one can offer his life back to God through religion. Thus, offering this possibility to human being, Religion becomes the Raison D’être of Humanity.