Tag: lifelessons
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Don’t lose your qualities
Can you think of a time when someone’s behaviour disappointed you? Perhaps you expected them to be considerate, grateful or supportive. When they weren’t, you felt hurt or angry. Much of the pain in relationships comes from the expectations we carry. We assume others will think, behave or respond the way we would. When they…
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The boatman and the scholar
Knowledge is often full of competing voices. For a seeker of wisdom, navigating this maze can be difficult. Who should we listen to? Why do we remain dissatisfied after reading and listening so much? How much learning is enough? The following story invites us to reflect on what wisdom is. The Scholar on the Boat…
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The King Who Forgot and the King Who Remembered
What makes us happy? And what helps happiness last? We spend much of our lives seeking things, experiences, and relationships that bring us joy. But what determines whether happiness fades quickly or stays with us? The following stories of a king who forgot and a king who remembered offer a clue. Story 1: The King…
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No one can take it away
Have you experienced situations where someone seems to block your path? They may overtly or covertly obstruct our work, withhold information or opportunities, or spread rumours and misinformation. We know this by many names — politics, manipulation, sabotage, or simply hurtful behavior that disturbs our peace of mind. The story of two wandering dervishes carries…
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From Having to Being
What is something you feel concerned or preoccupied about these days?A work goal, finances, health, relationships? How do you imagine you will feel once you achieve it?And then what will you do? As we sit with these questions, here is an account of a conversation with one of the most powerful kings in history —…
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Habits that are hard to break | Ajamila
There are habits that can be changed with effort, and there are habits that seem to take hold of us. We may know they harm us, yet still return to them. Some patterns become so strong that they begin to shape the direction of our lives. At such times, despair can quietly arise: I have…
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The Key That Opens the Door
Do you sometimes feel torn between doing what feels deeply right, and doing what seems necessary to meet the demands of work, family, or society? Are you able to make regular space for your spiritual growth? Do you often hear the inner or outer refrain: This is not the time. You can do this later…
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The Complaint that Changed Everything
Inconveniences and setbacks are a part of everyday life.Can you recall a few things you complained about in the last 24 hours? It could be a coworker who didn’t deliver as expected,a family member who didn’t cooperate,or even your health or the environment. The following story about a complaint made by Bhagat Trilochan’s wife carries…
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Beyond our efforts – The Half-baked bricks
Here is a story about a brick maker who went through a similar cycle. The story ends with an insight that offers hope in difficult circumstances. The brick maker Bhai Buddhu was a brick maker living in what was then Lahore, in undivided India. He had been struggling for some time. A devout Sikh of…