Category: Philosophy

It is alright….

Good morning friends,

Just when you think life is under control,
Something happens that is totally unexpected;
Something that stirs up your heart and soul,
You feel sad, let-down and dejected.
What can you do to lift your mood?
Is it alright to feel subdued?

We must take all situations in our stride,
No one can plan for everything in advance.
In the name of control, one is not required to hide,
That which is thrown at us by destiny or chance.
Remember even happiness is a feeling,
That no one is ever accused of concealing.

So, learn to live with your feelings and emotions,
No one can control them all the time,
All of us, of becoming saints, can’t have notions,
To be ordinary and sad is not a crime.
Only, don’t let emotions run you down,
Given time everything shall turn around.

God, you made everything in the universe,
All emotions were also created by you.
I accept all that are joyous as also the adverse,
If gods could get angry and sad, I can too.
I don’t wish to have everything under my control,
Let me not dissect parts, let me accept the whole.

….if you can’t control your emotions all the while.

Be good to all people….

Good morning friends,

Neither of any man be the superior,
Nor of any man be the inferior.
God made each one unique,
No one needs be more bold or meek,
Never have a motive that is ulterior.

Believe that God made all men the same,
Some live in ignominy, others achieve fame.
At birth he gives all a clean slate,
There are some who go beyond Fate,
In each case, there is no one else to blame.

Deal with others as if to you they’re related,
And to see one of your family you are elated.
They too were made by same God,
How can you be perfect and they flawed?
There is no reason whatsoever to be agitated.

Open your heart and welcome all the others,
They are your own sisters and brothers.
Try to look for their goodness,
And spare them the rudeness,
That’s used for those of unknown fathers and mothers.

…all are related to you.

If you were the Creator of the Universe….

Good morning friends,

Imagine if you were the Creator,
Could you have made the world better?
Would you have achieved greater?
And emerged as a trend – setter?
When you’re younger you have this thought,
Older, you know His world is better than anything you sought.

The best thing He have us is Changing Seasons,
Indeed, everything, at all times, undergoes change.
You can just admire these whatever be the reasons,
There is, no doubt, an endless range.
Every minute, day, or season is indeed new,
Everything in God’s world dons a fresh hue.

Forget about individuals, all of us put together,
Can’t imagine – let alone make – His entire Creation,
We are all, so to say, birds of a feather,
All we can do is to chirp our admiration:
“Thank you, God, for the world you made,
We don’t want to change a single shade.”

….could you have done a better job?

Have you ever wondered why this life was given to you?

Good morning friends,

Have you ever paused to guess,
Why God gave this life to you?
It is, of course, His way to bless,
To be born as humans, the very few.
Can life be just to eat and sleep,
Or for oneself to happiness seek?
Or, as Kabir said, to be sold cheap
Even though it is rare and unique?

The entire life is, but, an alluring maze,
It keeps us from realising our true worth;
Some simply go through it in a daze,
Others seek only comforts on Earth.
Scriptures give us the simile of the sea*,
That we have to cross to reach our goal.
When from our Ego** we become free,
And over the Five thieves*** we have control.

That’s the state when we merge with God,
And escape the cycle of Life and Death.
Everything else on Earth is simply fraud,
To keep us going from one to other breath.
Hence, let’s try to find who we really are,
God already gifted us this precious Life,
With Ego and Five thieves we can’t go far,
These can only add to unwanted strife.

*boat = bohith as given in Sri Guru Granth Sahib; to cross this sea you require the bohith of God’ name.

**Ego = haume’ as given in SGGS
***Five thieves: Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankar; that is: Lust, Rage, Greed, Attachment, and Conceit as given in SGGS

….it can’t simply be a journey from Life to Death.

If you gave away all your money you would have nothing left….

Good morning friends,

If all your money you gave away,
You would have nothing left with you;
But, what would you have to say,
If Love, in the same condition, grew?
Material things come and go,
But Love goes on forever;
Even when you share it with a foe,
It is brought to nought never.

Love is another name for God,
As His own children, He loves us all;
His caring we can’t help applaud,
All are eligible whether big or small.
Of religion, language, caste or creed,
He makes no favours or exception,
Everyone is an equal indeed,
Everyone gets the same affection.

We need to spread the message of Love,
In the world full of enmity and hatred;
It is directly blessed by God above,
And hence it is pure, kind and sacred.
Every Man is of us a variation,
No Man is not related to us;
Believe in the Oneness of His Creation,
Differences are simply superfluous.

….now try giving away Love!

God doesn’t expect you….

Good morning friends,

God isn’t a Pied Piper or a puppeteer,
He didn’t make humans as puppets or mice.
Hence, it’s not correct that He sent us here,
So that about His own powers He’d feel nice.
God has given us, at birth, a clean slate,
He empowered us to make our own destiny or fate.

Excelling in whatever we are destined to be,
Has been totally put in our own hands.
If we are determined we can change our own destiny,
And strive to make for life our own plans.
God has given us, at birth, a clean slate,
He empowered us to make our own destiny or fate.

Many, in the past, changed what they were born to do,
And let destiny be a slave to their grit and resolve.
Their stories of success should motivate me and you,
So that into the likeness of God we evolve.
God has given us, at birth, a clean slate,
He empowered us to make our own destiny or fate.

We shouldn’t give up trying and be defeated,
And make our destiny or fate an excuse.
No one can say we’d be judged as being conceited,
If our own future we were to choose.
God has given us, at birth, a clean slate,
He empowered us to make our own destiny or fate.

….to be resigned to your fate.

Each one of us has a role to play….

Good morning friends,

Until I went to see a real bull-fight in Spain,
I used to think it is a very courageous sport.
Imagining that fighting a bull must be insane,
And a matador has to do it without support.

Now that I am wiser I know it’s more a play,
Than a brave fight it is made out to be;
In the three acts, the bull hardly has a say,
The final death of the bull is for all to see.

Similarly, God has given each one a role,
One has to perform to the best of ability.
None can see the entire play as a whole,
But we should accept our role in humility.

It is pointless coveting someone else’s part,
It doesn’t matter what you are given to enact.
Whatever is assigned, play it from the heart,
And then await the applause that you attract.

….we should play our part to the best of our abilities.

Keeping record of all your hurts and slights….

Keeping record of all your hurts and slights,
Is really the most fruitless task on earth.
You willfully cut out those lovely delights,
That are rife with wistfulness and mirth.

What exactly are you thinking of achieving,
By keeping in your heart that useless stuff?
If it is a garland of memories you’re weaving,
How would it help for you to be forever gruff?

Throw away that junk, make yourself free,
Trust me it doesn’t do good at any rate.
It’d keep you from being calm and happy,
As if you carry a great avoidable weight.

He has His record-keeper, He doesn’t need,
Any of us maintaining unnecessary records.
Just have faith that God’s system, indeed,
Will have its own demerits and rewards.

….is totally infructuous.

One of the most miraculous things in the world….

It’s not possible to store even a nanosecond,
Time is ephemeral and it is gone forever.
There is something that we can later beckon,
It’s available to us whenever and wherever.
It is rare something we can later recall,
Months and years later it’d still enthrall.

Try it, you’ll find Happiness can be stored,
You can keep it and access it at a later date;
Say, when with your life you are bored,
Or you happen to be in a depressed state.
God has given us these miraculous powers,
Even in the deserts we can grow flowers.

There is another magical quality it possesses:
When you share it, it grows and multiplies.
Everybody’s sadness and sorrows it addresses,
When least expected it can swing a surprise.
You can carry it practically everywhere you go,
Share it with all and let them see the rainbow.

Lastly, no matter how old, it feels like new,
I haven’t heard of anyone bemoaning its age.
What a great gift God gave to me and you,
Happiness can be recalled at any given stage.
With this little poem I am sending you some,
Keep it and store it for all times to come.

….is that Happiness can be stored and recalled.

One who treats all negatives and positives alike….

Good morning friends,

Have you ever been lonely and sad?
Do you remember how it made you feel?
Most often it would have made you glad,
That in this condition you learnt a great deal.
Happiness is a result,
Sadness is a learning;
In both you can exult,
If you’re discerning.

Nobody ever lives life with a constant emotion,
We should, indeed, thank God for that.
Sometimes it is quiet, at others there is commotion,
Life keeps changing its style or format.
It has ups and downs,
It has twists and turns.
There are varied sounds,
Thus experience one earns.

Both sorrow and joy have their uses,
Just as it is with failure and success.
Great is a person who gets them and refuses,
To view them with undue elation or stress.
Everything is god sent,
Everything has value,
Try to gauge His intent,
Yes, it is meant for you.

We often want to know life’s aim.
Without solving this simple clue.
Why is the worth of sorrows and joys the same?
Why clay and gold have the same value?
The person who can find,
Merges with His God,
He doesn’t let His mind,
By either be overawed.

….merges with His God.

Worrying never makes things better….

Good morning friends,

There is no situation really so bad,
That worrying won’t make worse;
It does nothing to make you glad,
But acts, more or less, like a curse.
Hence, your leaving worrying to God,
Is a decision that is never flawed.

He gives you the requisite tools,
To deal with any given situation;
Worrying is something for the fools,
It only helps to add to frustration.
Hence, your leaving worrying to God,
Is a decision that is never flawed.

Have faith and you will soon find,
He would Himself show you the way;
To your situation He can never be blind,
All that you have to do is to pray.
Hence, your leaving worrying to God,
Is a decision that is never flawed.

Without worrying your mind is clear,
To tackle your situation much better;
Song on your lips replaces your fear,
And suddenly you become a go-getter.
Hence, your leaving worrying to God,
Is a decision that is never flawed.

….trust in God always does.

You would have wasted the day….

Good morning friends,

Will you make someone smile today?
Will you be able to wipe someone’s tears?
Will you stop a friend from going astray?
Will your presence allay someone’s fears?
If not, you would have wasted the day,
Please do something about it right away.

However miserable you think you are,
There are others more miserable than you.
At least you have, of resources, a reservoir,
They, even for meals, stand in a queue.
God made you their messenger of hope,
So that with their destiny they can cope.

Most often you are not to share anything,
Other than empathy, a smile, a pat or a hug.
Of course there is great joy in freely giving,
And not to dismiss their needs with a shrug.
Give and earn a coveted place next to Him,
Give and bring cheers when things are grim.

In any case all that you have is actually His,
He only wants you to be His chosen man.
Don’t think about what was, will be and is,
Have faith in and rejoice in God’s plan.
“God, thank you that you chose me to share,
I can now be answer to someone’s prayer.”

….if you haven’t brought a smile to someone’s face.

Who should we fear in our life?

Good morning friends,

As we go along in our lives,
Who should we fear the most?
Is it okay to fear the elements,
Or should we fear some ghost?

Do we fear the animals,
Especially those that’re wild?
Or should we fear monsters,
That have been unduly riled?

Are we to fear the future,
And what for us it’d hold?
Should we fear, when young,
Of becoming disabled or old?

You have nothing at all to fear,
When God is there with you;
No situation can ever scare you,
When He guides you through.

Darkness fades and shadows clear,
When God gives you His light;
No wrongs can obstruct your way,
When God leads you to the right.

When everyone else forsakes you,
He’s the only friend you require;
Like Arjuna with Krishna at the helm,
You go unscathed through the fire.

With God as your charioteer, you fear no one.

Thank God for….

When I look around I see people wealthier than me,
Also, there is no doubt that some are healthier than me.
Many are more intelligent, cleverer and smarter,
Many have reached places whilst I’ve been a non-starter.
And yet, I know, God has given me better than the rest.
The overall blessing of Him to me has been by far the best.

God makes each one of us with specific purpose or aim,
And hence He can’t be giving to everyone abilities same.
It is for us to quickly discover what we’re meant to be,
And then to accept the matching abilities proudly.
We should be content with what we’ve been given,
And make the best of it, like a man who’s driven.

God, thank you for giving me the best in your store,
With it, honestly, I can never ask for more.
Just make me worthy of your gifts to me,
From jealousy and envy always keep me free.
Let me not find grass greener on the other side,
Let me take everything good or bad in my stride.

Thank you for making me happy and content.
Rather than living my life in useless lament.
The others have been equipped with what they need,
I too have been given, in my task, to succeed.
I don’t ever rue what they have or possess,
I thank you for your blessings and kindness.

….for what He has already given.

Normal or Abnormal, Right or Wrong, Good or Bad….

Good morning friends,

Let’s today list some rare things on earth,
One of these is surely a ‘normal human being’,
There is around us an almost total dearth,
Even on the definition of it we keep disagreeing.
What does, in effect, this teach us?
That for something this basic there isn’t a consensus.

Like all other virtues and emotions that exist,
Even this is subject to individual interpretation.
When, for example, we find “a normal man” in our midst,
Can he be used for the concept’s confirmation?
We can, therefore, easily conclude,
That even “Good” and “Bad” have no certitude.

We should thus cut out all pretensions,
And don’t ascribe virtues in absolute;
Every virtue and concept has myriads of dimensions,
And therefore even basics lead to dispute.
We don’t have universal definition of “wrong” and “right”,
No one has displayed that kind of foresight.

“God, let me not knowingly do something wrong”,
“Unknowingly, I don’t have the requisite control”,
“I shall learn the difference as I go along”,
“I have no way to see truth as a whole.”
“Forgive me for my innate ignorance,
When I err, give me another chance.”

….are not absolute but subject to interpretations.