February 10🔗

Ananda Pappaiah woke up to find himself in the hospital with his friend sitting beside him. Shocked he asked him, "What happened last night?" Sadly his friend replied, "You know Pappaiah, at last night's party, after drinking too much you declared that you were going to parachute down from the fourth floor through the window." Pappaiah exclaimed, "And why didn't you stop me you fool?" Replied his friend, "Because last night, I thought you could do it!"

Just like how liquor blurs our senses, our ignorance blurs our intelligence. We need to penetrate through this mist of ignorance in order to perceive the Truth. Meditation is the key to this!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

A lady's car stopped in the middle of the road and Haughty Ananda was right behind her honking furiously. She tried her best but the car refused to start. Haughty was honking ruthlessly. The lady got out of her car, went up to him and said, "Sir, I'm sorry, but I am unable to start my car. You think you can get my car to start while I lean on your horn?"

Some people need to be invited for an exchange offer for them to realize the luxury they are in!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sikar Shareef charged his manager saying that there was a fifty-rupee shortfall in his pay cover. The manager verified his records and said to him, "Sorry sir, but last time we seem to have paid you fifty rupees more, how come you didn't complain then?" Sikar replied, "Well, one mistake I can forgive, but not two in a row."

Honesty is often conveniently traded for wit! It is alright when done jocularly.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda Pappaiah had remained a bachelor with his mother for more than thirty years and didn't want to get married, for fear of offending her. His friends however insisted and he got married without his mother's knowledge. After keeping it away from her for a few months, he decided to let her into it. "Ma," he said, "I have a confession to make. I got married six months back without your knowledge or blessings." He hung his head in shame. His mother glared at him in disbelief. "What?" she cried out, "You mean to say that you've been married six months and I am still waking up at five to pack your food!"

Today, love is more like a business deal. Estimating it at more than that might give disappointment. True love is that which gives everything and asks for nothing!

Be Blissful

Durg Chander was showing his family albums to his friend. He pointed to a stately gentleman in a picture and proudly told his friend, "This is my wealthy great-grandfather." The friend asked, "What did he do?" Durg replied, "He founded the family." The friend asked again, "But what did he do?" Durg said, "I told you, he founded the family." The friend finally asked, "I mean, what did he do in day time?"

Very often, if we look back, we will find that there is nothing worthwhile mentioning about the long life that we have lived. False prestige and family pride keeps us going. We should try and serve humanity in some way worth mentioning.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sagar Pillai was directing a play. He told the rather shy lead actor, "Don't think of the audience as strangers, think of them as your own family." Asked the actor, "What if the family boos?" Sagar shot back, "Who pays attention to relatives?"

Tread your path with courage of conviction. There will be every outside attempt to deter you from your path. Courage with faith in yourself and in the Truth should stand by you!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Churu Kiran's out-house got razed to the ground in an earthquake and the insurance agent told him that he would not be able to get cash for it. The agent explained, "Sir, according to the policy, we will only build you an out-house identical to the original one." Churu was furious. However he quickly added, "Alright then, please cancel the policy on my wife immediately!"

Man when given a chance to relive life would invariably choose to live it differently. This is because he lives with preconceptions and images that never get realized. He needs to drop these, for fulfillment to exude with every passing moment!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Moti Ankur bought a car and painted it a fluorescent orange much to the disgust of his family. One cousin finally ventured, "Moti, we don't think much of the colour of your car, why don't you repaint it some other colour?" Moti replied, "Oh! At least now when I stop at signals people say, "Look at the colour of that car!" instead of saying, "Look at that fat man in that car!"

We try so hard to deceive others' minds, because our self-esteem is built with their opinions of us. When we are not able to control our own minds, how foolish we are in trying to control the minds of others!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Manu joined as an apprentice in a shoe shop. One day, when his boss entered, he told him proudly, "Sir, today a young girl came to buy shoes with only 30 rupees in her purse, but in order not to lose the order, I gave her what she wanted taking the money. She will give the remaining money tomorrow." The boss cried out, "What have you done? She will never come back, I can tell you that." Manu replied, "Sir, I guarantee you she will - I gave her two left shoes!"

A little creativity can go a long way in any walk of life!

Ananda went back home early one morning after a hangover and his wife was waiting for him at the doorstep. He declared, "Before you start talking, I wish to say that I was baby-sitting my friend who was sick last night." The wife replied, "Oh! And what was the friend's name?" Ananda was at a loss for a few seconds but quickly came back, "He was so sick that he could not tell me."

Man is an expert in finding excuses and reasons! Excuses are convenient substitutes for ignorance and lapses.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda Pathi said to his friend, "I decided to put an end to my wife's worries and so I stopped drinking, smoking and gambling!" The friend exclaimed, "She must be so happy now!" Pathi replied, "Well actually not, because now she's at a loss as to what to worry about."

We think that the causes for our worries are external. Not at all! In reality, worry is nothing but food for our ego. If we don't have something to worry about, our ego goes unfed and insecurity sets in. Worries are our secret friends!

Ananda Pappaiah was playing billiards at the club. The opponent commended his game and asked him, "How long since you've been playing?" Pappaiah replied, "Three months." The opponent said, "Oh! You play very well for that." Pappaiah sighed, "I'd better; I took four years to learn."

If you don't learn from your first mistakes, it might be too late when you finally learn!

Boss Ananda was at his desk when an employee approached him for a pay raise. Boss explained to him that things had to pick up in the company for him to be able to give any pay raise. The employee said to him, "Sir, I've all along been doing the work of two men and I think I deserve a raise for that." Boss exclaimed, "Two men! Show me the other one and I'll fire him right away!"

We set certain limitations upon our potential and work with them as our benchmark. Our potential is truly unlimited. The limitation comes from our mind, not from our body.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Pathni and Ananda Pathi were cleaning the house amidst the usual bickering. As always, Nithya Pathni had the final word in everything. Suddenly, the neighbor's mad dog entered their house and bit Pathi who had his back turned towards it. Pathni watched in horror. Pathi screamed out in pain: "Honey! if ever you hurt me like that again, I will get very angry with you!"

Never reign irrational supremacy over another. It can cause suppression in him and make him a dead man.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Manu was in the hospital with bandages all over him. His friend visited him and asked what happened. Manu explained, "I was on a roller coaster ride and suddenly saw a sign board on a hill very near the highest point of the ride. I tried reading it but missed it. I took another ride meaning to read it but missed it again. I took yet another ride and this time stood up to read the board, but I blacked out and found myself here after that." The friend asked, "What did the sign board say anyway?" Manu replied, "Don't stand up during the ride."

Man sometimes works with perseverance towards disaster no matter how hard Existence tries to deter him.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Ameeta called up the fire department and said, "Sir, I've spent a fortune just a few months ago redoing my garden and..." The voice asked, "where's the fire?" Ameeta continued, "and my husband is already screaming at me for not maintaining it well..." The voice interrupted, "Madam, maybe you want the garden service center's number?" Ameeta said, "Well, the fire is in the house next door and I don't want your men messing around my garden when they come over."

You can get so self-centered that you can fail to see the fire in the neighbor's house. Shift your focus from yourself to others and feel the beauty blossoming in you!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Chanda Basu was teaching a girl how to drive, standing on the road and screaming out the instructions. A passerby could not contain himself and asked him why he was outside the car. Chanda screamed back, "The car is insured but I am not!"

When we don't plan well, the job on hand gets tougher and gets the better of us. Any job requires planning with forethought before execution.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Be Blissful

Nitti Mudaliar dropped by at a doctor's clinic. He said to him, "Sir, I came by to thank you and tell you how much I benefitted from your treatment." The doctor looked at him rather puzzled and said, "You are not my patient and I have never treated you." Nitti replied, "You're right sir, I am not your patient but my uncle was!"

Gratitude is the greatest attitude even in the most embarrassing of moments.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Moti Ankur was a wealthy mill owner with a sprawling area of activity. He had visitors one day and he took them around the place and showed them the various activities. At one point, the visitors had to go through a rather heavy turnstile to get to the adjoining area. Surprised, they asked him, "Sir, why is it that you are still keeping such heavy turnstiles?" Moti replied, "Well, every time someone operates it, they pump 50 liters of water into the over-head tank."

Even under the most affluent of circumstances, a truly wise man saves money where he can.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Boss Ananda was interviewing a young man for the post of a mechanic. He asked him, "Why did you leave such a reputed company as the one you were working in?" The man replied, "Well, Lady Luck played up." "And what does that mean?" asked Boss. "Well," replied the fellow, "I was in-charge of fixing part nineteen on the cars in sequence. Suddenly my tool slipped and by the time I bent to pick it up, I was fifteen cars behind."

It is only when we work on jobs requiring 110% precision, will we realize what is meant by perfection. Most of us feel good with just 70%.

Latur Singh came late to office one day. His boss caught him walking in and demanded, "Why are you late?" Latur replied, "Sir, I overslept." The boss exclaimed, "You mean you sleep at home as well!"

In the name of sleep, man wastes many hours a day. In reality, man needs just a couple of hours of deep sleep to keep him more alert than ever.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Little Ananda gave in to indulgence and stole a watch from a man. The man suspected him of the theft and took him to court. However, he was unable to provide enough evidence and therefore the judge was forced to free Little. He told him, "You are free to go. You are judged not guilty." Little was standing there pricked by guilt and not understanding what the judge meant. He clarified meekly, "Does that mean I can keep the watch?"

Guilt is a sure killer of intelligence! Of course, it better be - in the context of theft. Undue guilt is what needs to be dropped.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Durg Chander was taken to court for ignoring the new neighbor's affectionate gestures. The judge asked him, "Sir, haven't you heard of the saying - Love thy neighbor?" Durg replied, "I sure have, but it has got me into a lot of trouble in the past."

There is nothing more misconstrued than 'Love' is today. It has become a watch word more than anything else. To love is to feel a deep sense of oneness with a person without any trace of lust or expectation.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Kanthi told her husband that since he was always complaining about her big mouth, she found a plastic surgeon who agreed to make a couple of stitches in her mouth to make it half its size. Her husband said, "Well, I complain only because your mouth is always open. Anyway, how much will he charge for it?" "Hundred rupees." said Kanthi. "Alright," said he, "Here's two hundred rupees."

Bickering has become a way of life. Husband and wife need to drop their pre-conceived images of their spouses and look at each other with a welcoming attitude. This is the only way to a peaceful marriage.

Bhilai Mansoor met up with a friend who asked him why he was not married as yet. Bhilai replied, "I am still recovering from a tragedy that happened." The friend asked, "Why? What happened?" Bhilai explained, "You know, there was this beautiful girl whom I met and got on well with. Finally one day I mustered courage to propose to her. To my delight she accepted. Unfortunately, two days later, I forgot all about the proposal and proposed again."

'Absent mindedness' is mere lack of concentration on the present moment. It is often mistaken to be a medical condition and forgiven.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sagar Pillai, a doctor, answered the telephone in the middle of the night and woke up his wife saying, "Listen, I need to rush now! There's someone on the phone saying that he can't live without me." The wife told him, "Calm down dear, that call must have been for me."

We need to bring a little awareness or intelligence in to whatever we hear or do. This will help us react in a balanced fashion at all times.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda was walking towards a sugarcane factory. He stopped to ask a passerby the way to it. The man said that he did not know and moved on. The man however met a friend further down and stopped to ask him if he knew where the sugarcane factory was. The friend replied, "I don't know. But wait...could he have possibly meant the confectionery factory?" The other man said, "But of course, that was what he would've meant." Both of them screamed out to Ananda and he went up to them. "Didn't you mean the confectionery factory?" they asked him. Ananda thought for a while and replied vaguely, "Well, perhaps yes. Do you know the way to the confectionery factory?" The men looked at each other and nodded their heads, "Well, we don't know the way to that either."

In our journey, we need to ask our questions to someone who knows the answers. Most often, we miss the Master in this and follow the mass of ignorance that takes us nowhere.

Nithya Madhu took her little daughter for an interview for admission into school. The girl was falling short by a year for the age requirement, but Madhu felt that she would manage. She told the teacher, "Ma'am, I think my daughter can manage the test although she is not yet six." The teacher looked at the child and said, "Simply tell me whatever comes to your mind." The child looked at her mother and asked, "Mamma, do I have to speak cogent sentences or disjointed words?"

Children are more intelligent than grown-ups because of lesser conditioning. Only, they need to be allowed to express more freely.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Kanthi was expecting her seventh baby and was complaining of her weak state to her friend. The friend said to her, "Kanthi, you need to stop with this one." Kanthi replied, "Well, tell me how else will I keep the last one from being spoilt?"

If our complaints are investigated deeply, they are merely consequences of our own ignorance or lack of intelligence. In a way, our troubles are our invited guests although we see them as uninvited ones!

Nithya Twinkle and Ananda Twinkle were identical twins who decided to have fun one night. They dressed up as identically as they could and went to a party. They sat together sipping from the same glass. A drunk passed by them, stopped and turned around. He rubbed his eyes and continued staring. The twins laughed and told him, "You're not mistaken, we are identical twins!" The man exclaimed, "But all four of you!"

Man is such that even when the Truth presents itself clearly to him, he sees it distorted through the mist of his ignorance. Inner intelligence alone can dispel this mist.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Barsi Rajan was the only available doctor in his village. An old cobbler visited him one day complaining of stomach ache. He examined him and told him sympathetically, "Ayyah, you have only a month to live, your condition is beyond any medication." Two months later, Barsi was walking down the road when he saw the old cobbler happily attending to his work looking much healthier than ever before. He asked him what happened and the cobbler replied, "You told me I have only one month to live, so I decided to enjoy myself. I ate 20 of my favourite dosas and I became better after that!" The next day, an old tailor visited Barsi with a stomach ache. He promptly advised him 20 dosas. The following day, news broke that the tailor had died. Barsi wrote in his book: 'Dosas are good for cobblers but not for tailors'.

We need to observe and hear with our intelligence, not with our mind. Then, the Truth will never elude us!

Nithya Manu suddenly found that his eyes were popping and his ears were ringing. He visited a doctor who examined him and suggested that he get a tonsillitis operation done. Manu agreed, but the condition prevailed even after that. He visited another doctor who examined him and said that he needs to get his teeth pulled out. His teeth were removed but the condition remained unchanged. One day, he went to the tailor to get some shirts done for himself. The tailor took his measurements and wrote down his collar as 'sixteen'. Manu intervened, "fifteen! not sixteen." The tailor said, "Sir, the correct measurement for you is sixteen." Manu insisted that he wore fifteen all along. The tailor said, "Alright Sir, we will take it as fifteen. But let me warn you, if you wear a fifteen collar, your eyes will pop and your ears will ring."

In our quest for the Truth, until we find the Master, we allow ourselves to be guided by the mass of ignorance and tread the paths that lead us nowhere.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Madhu was driving her new car when she knocked down a cyclist. The policeman asked her, "Madam, how did you manage to knock him down in broad daylight and that too with hardly any traffic on the road?" Madhu replied, "Well, I could barely see through the safety-first stickers on my windshield."

Sometimes we talk of a matter more than getting down to doing it right. Action is ultimately more important than discussion.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Twinkle asked her father one night, "What is the meaning of the word guaranteed?" He replied, "It means that something is made well and it will last for a long time." That night before going to sleep she called out, "Good night guaranteed father!"

The mind looks for security in all that it sees. A Master throws you upon the utter insecurity of life, because those who find nothing else will find God.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sikar Shareef declared that he was tired of his house and called up his real-estate friend to give an advertisement to sell it. A week later, he called up the friend after reading his ad in the paper. "Listen!" he said, "I've changed my mind. After reading your advertisement I'm convinced that this is the dream house I've always wanted!"

All what we have IS all that we need to make us happy. However, we need reminders about this from fresh avenues and fresh perspectives. One thing - true happiness never comes from outside, it comes from inside us.

The teacher asked her students, "Where do you think hell is?" After a while, Little Ananda raised his hand and answered, "I think it is in my Dad's study room." The teacher was amused and asked him why he said that. Little replied, "Every time I go in there, Dad says - get the hell out of here!"

Children are like a sponge that seamlessly absorbs the water it is in. When in the right waters, they will expand effortlessly!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Bhilai Mansoor was seen walking with a walking stick that was too high for him. A nephew suggested to him, "Uncle, why don't you cut off a few inches at the bottom? It would then be right for you." Bhilai replied, "Well, but it is this end that is too high!"

Our mind is so programmed that it becomes difficult to break from it and think laterally. To break free from this mental setup, we need to drop our mind first!

Ananda Pathi was suddenly seen attempting to dive off a bridge. He was stopped and asked, "why are you attempting to die?" Pathi replied, "My wife ran away with my best friend, and I miss him so much!"

A wife can be a man's best friend if both of them look at each other with no foregone conclusions and no pre- conceived images.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Kanthi pointed to her husband at a party and told her psychiatric friend, "You know, my husband thinks he is a traffic light. He keeps shutting and opening one eye." The friend said, "Alright, let me go and talk to him." "Wait!" cried Kanthi, "the light is now against you!"

One who analyzes the expression behind a deep experience, will feel the same experience behind that expression.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Madhu finally decided to get married. Her cousin came along and asked her, "So, does he look good?" Madhu replied, "You won't take a second look at him." The cousin continued, "Does he earn well?" Madhu said, "Yes, but he won't spend any of it." The cousin asked, "Does he have any bad habits?" Madhu replied, "Oh yes! He smokes and drinks." The cousin finally asked her, "If there's nothing nice to say about him, why are you marrying him?" "Well," replied Madhu, "he's always traveling and I'll never get to see him!"

Marriage needs to be a communion between two hearts, not a convenience between two people.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda Pathi came home from work one day to find his wife in an awful mood. "I finally managed to train up the maid to do all the work and she has now quit!" she screamed. Pathi asked sympathetically, "For what reason?" She replied, "Well, you are the reason! She claims that you spoke so rudely to her over the telephone that she felt she needed to guard her self-respect and therefore quit." Pathi was baffled and blurted, "But I thought I was talking to you!"

Never take anyone or anything for granted. Every single thing is a gift from Existence, which needs to enjoyed with gratitude.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Latur Singh pulled up the maid: "In spite of me telling you not to tell what time I came in last night, you have told your mistress." The maid replied, "Sir, I promise I did not tell her the time. She asked me and I told her that I was too busy cooking breakfast to see the time when you entered the house."

Some people are so simple and straight forward that they can't even be trained to speak lies! It is better to leave them undisturbed.

Durg Chander was leaving his beautiful wife alone in the house for a week and traveling for business. Before leaving, he did all the grocery shopping, paid up all the bills and ensured that his wife would not have to leave the house for anything. He finally locked her inside the house and gave the key to his neighbor, a trusted friend. He told him, "Please do not allow anyone inside my house." The friend took charge of the key. Durg left and had traveled a few kilometers when he found the friend frantically trying to overtake him in a car. He was crying out, "You gave me the wrong key!"

There is no dearth of exploitation. But once again - Trust even if you are exploited!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Boss Ananda was training the new boy at the store. He told him, "Remember one thing - the customer is always right!" The boy nodded and enthusiastically started the day at work. Soon, Boss noticed that customers were walking in but leaving without buying anything. He asked the boy what was happening. The boy replied, "They keep telling me that the prices are high and I tell them that they are right!"

Most often, we catch the words but miss the truth in what is told to us. It is then that the misunderstanding starts. Intelligence is needed while interpreting what we hear. Only then can we progress in our path.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Churu Kiran visited the doctor and told him, "My wife does funny things in her sleep like talking, walking and arguing!" The doctor said, "Don't worry Sir, there are appropriate medicines to cure these things." Churu exclaimed, "Oh no doctor! She is so interesting in that state, I want you to prescribe something for me to keep me awake!"

Patiently hear out a person before suggesting the solution. Else you will be wasting time in giving the wrong solutions!

Sikar Shareef was with his two friends at a party. They made a wealthy trio and spent most of their time boasting about their wealth. Suddenly they spotted a diamond stone on the floor. One of them said, "Oh, its not mine." The second said, "It's not mine either." Sikar said, "It must be mine. I am missing a cufflink!"

It's good fun to be able to flaunt professionally, but only when it is done like a lotus in a pond - untouched by the waters although neck deep in it!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sagar Pillai went to the store to buy the latest and most sought after invisible hair nets for his wife. The girl at the store handed him a packet of them. He asked, "Are you sure these are invisible?" The girl replied, "Of course Sir! We've been selling them all day and we've been out of stock for the past one week."

Advertisements and media are dream-sellers to people, who buy these dreams and get fooled without even realizing it!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Little Ananda got his examination answer paper in class. The teacher wanted to know if anybody had any doubts in the corrections. Little went up to the teacher with his paper and asked her, "Ma'am, what is this that you have written at the end of my paper?" She replied sternly, "I've written that you should write more clearly."

We need to remove the speck in our own eye before we see the speck in the other's. Once we start practicing this, we will all be engaged in correcting ourselves and the whole world will simply transform!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Kanthi took her little son to the eye doctor as he was complaining that he couldn't see well in class. The doctor examined him and gave him the prescription. It read, "Haircut!"

The exact solution to a problem can be perceived by very few. You are lucky if you go to them first before you go to anyone else!

Nitti Mudaliar went to a doctor for psychiatric treatment. The doctor asked him, "Do you ever hear just voices without anyone in the vicinity?" Nitti nodded. The doctor asked, "When does this happen?" Nitti replied, "When I answer the telephone."

In some situations, in order to get the right answer to a question, the question needs to be reviewed. Most often, the answer is reviewed!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Be Blissful March 31

Boss Ananda instructed his new secretary, "My family keeps calling up and disturbing me at office. They will tell you that their call is very important. Just tell them that that's what they all say." His wife called one day and said, "I need to urgently talk to him, I am his wife." The secretary promptly replied, "That's what they all say."

It will not do if we blindly apply what we hear. We need to apply it with some intelligence to make it work for us.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Moti Ankur came to the theatre with two tickets. The man at the door looked up and asked, "Where is the other person?" Ankur replied rather embarrassed, "Well actually, I find it difficult to manage with one seat and so I bought two tickets. They are both for me." The man looked at the tickets and said, "OK Sir, but you're going to have a problem. The tickets are numbered fourteen and eighteen."

A task that is well planned but poorly executed will not bring the desired results. Execution is as important as planning.

Nithya Twinkle and Ananda Twinkle were seen crossing the road. The former was leading the latter who had her eyes closed. One woman on the road asked Nithya if her sister was blind. She replied, "No! this is a routine for us. She keeps her eyes closed till we reach the movie theater and when we reach the theater, she opens her eyes in the dark and finds the seats for us!"

Man finds such arduous methods of training his mind and body to gel with the surroundings. All he needs to do is drop the idea that he needs to gel; he will automatically gel!

Latur Singh was a lion-tamer and his wife hated him coming back home late in the night. Latur was terrified of listening to her endless chiding. One night after working late at the circus, he was scared at the thought of going back home late. He got into the lions' cage and slept with them. The next day morning he woke up to find his wife standing outside the cage. She glared at him and snarled, "You coward!"

Human beings become more fearsome than wild animals when they lose their compassion for people. The danger is - they don't even realize it!

Bhilai Mansoor demanded to his colleagues: "Who was it who called my wife a nasty old woman?" One of them came forward and challenged him, "It was I who said that. What do you want to do now?" Bhilai meekly replied, "I want to congratulate you. I've been holding that opinion for years and have not had the courage to tell her."

When Man needs courage only to believe in and merge with Existence, he searches for courage to sustain his very existence!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda Pappaiah was telling his friend, "You know, I had an uncomfortable train journey yesterday. I get sick in the stomach when I sit traveling backwards in the train." The friend asked, "Why didn't you exchange seats with the person sitting opposite you?" Pappaiah replied, "Well, there wasn't anyone sitting there to exchange."

Your mind has become such a programmed device that you are unable to break free and think laterally. Drop your mind and allow a little awareness to step in; the solutions will stand out!

A hurricane was shaking the vicinity and Nithya Pathni and Ananda Pathi were fast asleep. Nithya woke up Ananda, "Dear, seems like our house is going to be blown away; you don't seem to be bothered." Ananda mumbled, "Go back to sleep. In any case, we are only renting it."

Worries are of different types and of different degrees. We laugh at each other's worries while the Cosmos laughs at our idea of worrying itself! After all, worry is nothing but a direction for our mind to dwell.

Churu Kiran and Chanda Basu lived together. One day, they found a cover stuck to their door which contained free passes for a movie in town. They tried guessing who might have sent the passes but couldn't. However, they went for the movie and returned, to find their house robbed of all the valuables. There was also a paper stuck at the door that read: "Now you know who!"

Anything including a crime needs to be well planned to get well executed. Of course, a crime is a crime at the end of the day; it gets no laurels for it.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Madhu was saying bye to her weeping daughter at the latter's wedding. She told her not to cry. The daughter asked her, "Ma, why should I stop crying? After all, I am going out all alone with a man I hardly know." Madhu asked her, "Didn't I do it with your father?" The daughter shot back, "You did it with Papa, not with any stranger!"

Sometimes, we fail to see others' problems because we take them for granted. Never take anyone for granted.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda Pathi and Nithya Pathni were fast asleep when the door bell rang. Contrary to routine, Ananda Pathi woke up and answered it. He came back laughing loudly into the room. His wife asked him what the matter was. He explained, "I wore your night suit to save time and went to open the door. I got the milk from the milkman and also a kiss with it! His wife must be having a night suit just like yours!"

Sometimes, we completely miss the truth in what is being presented to us; like how people catch the priest but miss God!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Manu was tried in court for a crime. He gave one look at the jury and declared, "Sir, I admit I am guilty." The judge exclaimed, "But the case hasn't even started!" Manu replied, "Well, I am in front of an all-woman jury. I can't even win my wife, where am I going to win 12 women!"

Getting defeated is alright. A defeatist attitude is what is not alright.

Barsi Rajan was treating a chronic gambler. After a year of treatment he was convinced that the man had dropped the habit. He told him, "I think you have dropped the habit. We will stop the treatment here." The man replied, "Good news doctor. Shall we go out for a treat?" Barsi asked jovially, "Are you going to treat me or should I treat you?" Pat came the reply, "Get a deck of cards and we will cut for it!"

To try to change man's chronic habits, his mental setup needs to be changed. Meditation is the key to this.

Ananda's friend got married and he presented him with a puppy dog as a gift for the wedding. Two months later, Ananda visited the friend and asked him how different life was after two months of marriage. The friend replied, "Just a small difference - when I got married, the pup used to bark and my wife used to fetch the newspaper, but now my wife barks and the pup fetches the newspaper!"

The barking starts when you realise that reality is different from the images collected and kept inside yourself. Drop your images and watch how beautiful the whole world becomes!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Three men came together to start a business. They decided to include God as a partner. They fixed a small percentage of the expected profit as God's share. The business grew and yielded unexpectedly high profit. God's share suddenly seemed too high to be given away. One of them suggested that they would place a small vessel and throw up all the money. Whatever fell inside the vessel would be God's and the rest would be their's. The second man suggested that they place a big vessel and throw up all the coins and whatever fell inside would be their's and the rest God's. The third one finally said, "No, lets do it this way. Anyway God is sitting above us. We will throw up all the money. Whatever he wishes to take let him take; whatever falls down is ours!"

Our attitude towards God or the Cosmos needs to be one of gratitude and nothing else and most definitely not a business deal!

Sikar Shareef wanted to get rid of his wife. His wife had a cat and he thought he would get rid of both. Thinking that he would start with the cat, he caught the cat, took it ten miles away, dropped it in an unfamiliar place and came back. When he reached his house, the cat was standing there waiting for him. The next day he took the cat to the other side of the town, 20 miles away. He dropped it, and within one hour he saw the cat standing in front of the house. The third day, he took the cat, put it in a gunny bag, tied it, drove for a couple of hours going all directions and reached a forest-like place. He dropped the gunny bag and started driving back. A couple of hours later, he rang up his wife, "Dear, is the cat in the house?" She replied, "The cat is here. Where are you?" The man said, "Can you please somehow find out the way back from him? I have lost my way."

Man is the only animal who has lost the connection with nature, with Existence altogether.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Manu sat down for meditation. He barely closed his eyes when the maid walked in with noisy anklets. He screamed at her for the disturbance. The next day, he sat down for meditation again and the lady tip toed in with lesser noise this time. All the same, he opened his eyes and screamed at her. The third day, he sat down for meditation and waited to hear the anklets!

We have only our own inner state to be blamed for any disturbance felt. No outer noise can disturb us if our inner state is solid and peaceful.

Nitti Mudaliar was walking with his Master towards the city when they passed by a lake. A beautiful lady was standing near it and requested them to help her cross the river. The Master carried her across, left her there and returned. As they were nearing the city, Nitti could not contain himself and blurted out, "Master! How can you as a Master touch or carry a lady in that fashion?" The Master replied, "I left her there a long time back, why are you still carrying her!"

When we force moral conduct upon ourselves, we will only feel suppressed. It has to flower from within. Only then will it become our very nature.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Worry Ananda was all alone in his apartment when his friend walked in. They started talking when his friend asked him, "Worry, you seem upset about something, what is the matter?" Worry replied, "I am just wondering what might replace automation."

Although we outwardly seem distressed at worries, in reality, worry is the food for our ego. That is why we nurture worries secretly!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Bhilai used to sit every day in the beach from morning to evening watching the people in the beach. Another man who noticed this, went to him and asked what he was actually doing. Bhilai replied that he was searching for a woman to be his wife. The man was shocked at this reply and asked him why he had never searched in his youth. Bhilai replied that he has been searching from when he was 30 years old. The man was astonished and asked him what sort of a woman he was searching for and he replied, "I am searching for a perfect woman. I found one woman who matched what I had in mind but it didn't work out well with her." The man asked why, for which Bhilai replied, "Well, she was searching for a perfect man!"

We all collect images from media and watch 'reality' continuously hoping to find a match for these images some time. It would be a good idea to drop these images and welcome reality instead!

Nithya Manu wrote to his girlfriend: "I will bend the sky to make a bow and use the rivers as arrows using which I will pluck the moon and bring to you as a gift". The postscript at the end said, "I will meet you this Friday if it doesn't rain."

Most often, we all say things that we don't really mean. This is where the problem starts in practical life.

Durg Chander lived without any faith in God. Suddenly one day he fell from a hilltop and found himself dangling from just the grip of a tree's root. He suddenly remembered people talking about God all the time and cried out, "Oh God! I have never had faith in you; are you really up there? Can you save me now?" God answered, "Sure son, just let go of the root that you are holding and I will hold you from beneath." Durg cried out again: "Is there anyone else out there who can help me!"

Our faith is never total Surrender. Surrender! and you will be cradled in every step of your life by the Life Force that is cradling this entire Universe.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Haughty Ananda boarded a ferry boat that was going to the mainland. Inside the boat, he was pacing up and down. The ferryman told him to sit quietly. Haughty replied, "I have no time to sit, I have to reach quickly!"

If we Surrender to the Cosmos that is taking care of us and continue doing our work, we can unload a big burden off us. We don't do this and end up taking on undue tensions and sorrows in life.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

One night, 2 drunkards were walking down a street past a halogen lamp. One of them exclaimed, "Look! the sun has come down for us!", to which the other replied, "No, it is night time, it is the moon." The first one continued, "It is yellow in colour and therefore is the sun." A third man also consumed by liquor came by them. They asked him, "Sir, please tell us whether this is the sun or the moon." The man replied, "I am new to this neighborhood; I do not know."

When you ask someone who does not know, you will either not get an answer or get the wrong answer. The source of information is very critical to our growth - especially to our spiritual growth; that is why Masters appear on Planet Earth every now and then.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

One day, Nitti Mudaliar was crying at his doorstep. A man came up and asked why he was crying. Nitti replied, "My grandfather has died leaving behind a wealth of fortune for me." The man was puzzled and asked why he should cry so much for that. Nitti continued, "My uncle passed away a few weeks back leaving all his wealth to me. My paternal grandmother died a month back and she too left all her wealth to me." The man was very confused by now and asked, "Why are you crying if they all left their wealth to you and departed in their old age?" Nitti replied, "I have no more relatives who will die leaving their wealth to me!"

If you were to make a list of the things that you possess, the list would never end and it will take you by surprise. But you keep asking, 'What next..what next...' All you need to do is count your blessings and feel grateful.

Be Blissful

April 24

Bhilai Mansoor lived in the middle of a desert in a small hut. One day, a young boy came by his hut and requested to allow him one night's sleep and food. He agreed and the boy stayed. The next day morning, he found out from the boy that he was a burglar by profession. He cried out loud for having given food and accommodation to a burglar after all. He suddenly heard an even louder cry from the heavens. Allah was saying, "You are crying for giving him all this for one day! Imagine me who has been giving him all this for his life time!"

We all need to understand that whether we accept it or not, whether we like it or not, it is the Cosmic Energy that is actually taking care of us every minute.

In a South Indian temple, the deity's idol was customarily brought out of the temple on the back of a donkey in a big procession around the town for people to see. On one such occasion, as the procession moved, the donkey was amazed to find people bowing low before it, performing arathi and offering sweetmeats. It was convinced that it had become a celebrity overnight. It started to swagger and looked contemptuously upon the other animals on the streets. It decided that it no more needs to carry the heavy burden on its back; It shook the idol off its back. You don't need help to imagine what happened to it after that!

Every moment, be aware that you are an instrument of the Divine. Don't let your ego get in the way. Surrender your ego and Existence will take care of you!

Sagar Pillai entered a restaurant and began ordering vast quantities of food. Platefuls of steaming idlis, dosas and jalebis made their way to his table. He ate with relish. After a heavy meal, he signaled to the waiter for the bill. The waiter duly returned with a lengthy bill. "What is this?" cried Sagar, baffled at the bill, "I hadn't ordered anything like this!"

We are all like Sagar - inviting pain and disease upon ourselves with our excessive life styles - only to forget about it and complain later when they actually come!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Be Blissful

April 27

One evening, Chanda Basu was found searching for a lost gold coin in his courtyard. His wife and practically the entire neighborhood soon joined him in his search. One young man finally asked him, "Where exactly did you drop the coin?" to which he replied, "inside the house." "Then why are you searching here?" cried the young man. Chanda explained, "Well, there are no lights inside my house and hence I thought I would search here where there are the street lights."

> `We are all experts at searching for the answers in the wrong places! We seek to find ourselves everywhere - in money, power and relationships, forgetting that all we need to do is to seek inwards in ourselves to find out. > > - Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

In a certain kingdom, the King came to know that everybody was depressed, because they found themselves burdened with more than their fair share of worries, while the others seemed to have no major worries. The King announced a 'Mega Worry Exchange Offer', where people could trade their worries. A giant Worry Pot was placed in the center of a vast space wherein people could happily dump their own worries and pick up the worries of anyone else. The entire kingdom gathered for the event. The event was declared open and strangers met and started talking to each other about their worries. Time passed on…and not one worry was exchanged!

After all, who wants to drop their small familiar worries and take on unknown worries of another! Worry itself is a mere familiar dwelling pattern for the mind.

Bhilai Mansoor went with his family to watch a movie. Suddenly inside the cinema hall, he started groping about on the floor. His grand daughter got annoyed and asked him what he was doing. He replied, "Dear, my chewing gum has fallen down." The grand daughter snapped, "So what? Just leave it Grandpa." Bhilai replied, "Dear, my teeth are in it."

We all continue to search for material things thinking that they will bring us fulfillment; but what we are really searching for unknowingly is the Ananda or True Bliss that is the highest and only form of fulfillment.

Latur Singh was on his customary walk with his blind friend. Latur would describe to his friend the scenery and people that they passed. On that day, a very beautiful girl passed them and Latur described her physical attributes meticulously to his friend. As they passed her, his head turned to complete his description and in the event he bumped into a pole. The friend said, "You walked into a pole." Embarrassed, Latur replied, "You're right." The friend said, "You'd better hold my hand to prevent further accidents."

Life is most often a story of 'the blind leading the blind'. Just being eye-blind is no real handicap; having the intelligence blinded is the real handicap.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Kanthi was on the cross-country rail and spent all her time in the observation car. An elderly lady was seated next to her and Kanthi told her that the best part of the journey was the breathtaking scenery outside. The lady sat for a while and left. A little later, she came back and sat for a while before getting up to go. The third time, she came and sat behind Kanthi. Barely a few minutes went by when she tapped her on the back and asked, "Excuse me, but do you see something that I don't?

We are surrounded by beauty. But we see only what we want to see. That is why they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Twinkle had her sister over for a few days. The two were enjoying themselves when their parents called up to say that they were driving over to spend time with them. Nithya spun into focus and thrust a duster cloth into her sister's hand to start dusting. The latter protested saying that the house was already clean. Nithya replied sharply, "This is sister clean, we will have to make it mother clean."

Man spends all his life on putting to rest others' anxiety; he gets himself anxious in the whole process! This is a phenomenon which can be broken only if intelligence blossoms in every man independently.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Durg Chander was jogging early one morning. As he passed by a man seated on the road, he asked him breathlessly, "What is the time?", but got no reply before he jogged on. The next day, during his jog, he passed by the same man. As he passed him, the man shouted, "Sorry, but it's 7am!"

Timely help when failed to be offered loses its purpose when offered later.

Ananda was known for his wisdom. He always told people that they should strive not to be attracted by material things. But very often, Ananda was seen in the fancy store doing window shopping. Puzzled, his friend asked him what the great idea was. Ananda replied, "It never fails to amaze me when I see the number of things in this world that I don't need!"

Enjoy the worldly things by renouncing them! This state cannot be achieved as a goal; it simply has to happen to you, somewhere in the path of inner growth.

Ananda Pathi decided to surprise his wife with a gift one day. He ordered the gift to be door-delivered with a poem of love attached to it. He told them not to put his name saying that she will know once she sees it. The gift was delivered and the agency promptly got a call from his wife. She asked them who the sender was. They said that the sender preferred not to disclose his name. She pleaded, "Please, I need to know this before my husband gets back home."

Only a radical change in our nature can convince the world that we have changed. Superficial moves will not suffice!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

The entire city was flooded and the rescue group was evacuating people from their homes. A flexible staircase was suspended from the first floor of a building to evacuate the inmates on to a waiting lorry. An elderly lady appeared and cautiously made her way down while everyone watched with bated breath. She landed safely and everyone sighed relief. She called out upwards, "It's nothing mamma, you can do it!"

Life is a great drama with no dearth of action. It is up to us whether we are going to enjoy it objectively or get involved subjectively.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Boss Ananda was very efficient in getting work done. He however had no idea what it was to bend his own back. He would see only the results and never tolerated shortcomings in them. One day, his secretary didn't turn up and he went without coffee for the day. His friend asked him why he didn't make coffee for himself. He replied, "Well, I had no idea how I took my coffee."

It is not enough if you master the technique of 'instructing' alone. You should also be able to get down to do the job perfectly if need be!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Latur Singh opened his lunch box at work and sighed, "Oh! the same old fried rice yet again." His colleague asked him, "Why don't you tell your wife to make something different?" Latur replied, "What wife? I make my own food!"

Where man is, his mind is not and that's why he suffers. When he zigs, his mind zags and in the event he gets hurt. Live in the present and much of your problems will dissolve!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Churu Kiran took up a part-time job with a supermarket to promote a particular product. It required him to dress up as a duck. When he was on the job, a man walked up to him and asked him, "Don't you feel silly dressed up as a duck?" Churu snapped back, "You ought to feel silly talking to a duck."

Strangely, the eye that misses our own follies, never misses others'!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda Pappaiah was called to make a reforming speech at a prison's criminal offence section. He stood up and to the horror of everyone present started by saying, "I am happy to see you all here today..."

Our mind is always following past patterns; it is seldom in the present and this why we make mistakes.

Nithya Ameeta came dressed in a two-piece outfit to a party. The host looked at her rather sternly and said, "I'm sorry, but my wife and I would rather not have people dressed in two-piece clothes." "Sorry sir," replied Ameeta, "which one should I remove?"

When a certain moral conduct settles down in a person, he turns dangerously blind to its shortcomings.

Barsi Rajan taught a group of physically handicapped children how to do various things like handling electronic gadgets, repairing them etc. His greatest lesson to them was that they should have faith in their capabilities. He was thrilled when one day a boy came in with a broken toaster in one hand and a loaf of bread in the other!

The most essential thing is to have trust in our own capabilities. Most often, we trust others' capabilities more than our's!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Pathni and Ananda Pathi were returning from a party one night. Nithya said she would drive as Ananda had taken a little liquor at the party. She struggled to take the car out of the crowded parking area. A policeman who was watching, came over and knocked at Ananda's window. He requested him to blow into an instant alcohol test kit. Ananda protested, "I'm not driving anyway." The policeman said, "Please Sir, do as I say." Ananda did so and the test came out negative. The policeman said, "Now Sir, could you please take the wheel and help this woman get out of this area."

We sometimes feel shy to try and therefore live life the harder way. If the results will not be upsetting, it is worthwhile to try better ways in life.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Kanthi had a heated argument with her husband and stormed out of the house. Her husband wasn't too concerned until twilight set in and she did not return. He made calls to a few of his friends but to no avail; there was no trace of his wife. As he was seated in despair, the door opened and Kanthi walked in. She announced: "The night's too cold out there. I will leave tomorrow morning."

All of us fight very bravely from inside four walls. Only when we are made to fight in the cold outside will we realize the security we've been enjoying thanklessly all along.

Nithya Kanthi was seated in the doctor's waiting room inflicted with depression. The lady next to her started a conversation and came to know that she was mother to 12 children. The lady exclaimed, "Twelve children and you look so young and beautiful!" Kanthi got her prescription and felt instantly better.

Most often, we fall sick because we don't hear what we wish to hear. It's amazing how we allow the outside world to influence our physical and mental health!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sikar Shareef decided to take judo lessons for self-defense. Strenuous training for a month gave him tremendous confidence to tackle any surprise attack. One day, he was walking to his house in the middle of the night and he was suddenly assaulted near a bush. His judo lessons had prepared him with magnificent foot sweeps to handle such situations, to smash the assailant to the pavement. He astounded his assaulter with a knock on the head with his umbrella.

What comes naturally to a man comes with near perfection! We should therefore nurture our nature with all great virtues.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Ameeta was busy with her house accounts when her baby was persistently grabbing her papers. She put him inside the playpen and resumed her work but the little one screamed until he was brought out of it. Ameeta thought for a moment and struck upon an idea. She gathered all her papers and got inside the playpen. The little one happily played around outside.

A little bit of lateral thinking can turn a situation around. A one-track mind will only dwell deeper into the familiar side of a situation.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ram Gopal was by himself in the house when his grandfather passed away. He called the doctor next door. The doctor's son answered and he told him that his grandfather was dead and that he wanted his father to come over. The son spoke slowly, "Well, Dad's good, but I don't know if he's that good."

Anything put forward should be done so with no ambiguity what so ever. Only then can we look for appropriate responses.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Little Ananda had a problem with remembering the words 'yesterday', 'today' and 'tomorrow'. During the evening homework session, his mother was trying to get him through with the words yet another time. She managed to get him to say 'yesterday' and 'today'. She continued, "Mamma often says, wait until...?" Little's face lit up and he said, "Payday!"

A child's mind is so creative. We make a great mistake in trying to impose our patterns on it.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Worry Ananda and his friend went for a stage show. It was most enjoyable but the friend noticed that Worry kept looking at his watch periodically. He whispered into his ear, "Aren't you enjoying it?" Worry replied, "That's just the problem; I'm wondering how much more time is left to enjoy."

The human mind is so much in tune with worrying that it feels insecure when there is nothing to worry about!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Gritty Gauri was in the market doing her monthly shopping. The vendors were weary of her complaining nature. She queued up to buy oranges. The lady in front of her was getting 13 oranges to a dozen. When it was her turn, the vendor carefully picked 12 large oranges and handed them over. She looked sharply and asked, "How come you gave her 13?" The vendor replied, "Ma'am, one of them was a little decayed and so I made up by giving an extra one." Gritty said, "Well, then I too want a half-decayed one." The vendor took a decayed one and put in her bag.

Comparing with others on material things takes us one step backwards in life. Every man needs to compare himself with his own barometer and forge forwards.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ram Gopal went to an art exhibition. After seeing all the paintings, he went to one of the painters and said, "Your's was the only ones I could admire." "Oh, thankyou!" said the painter. Gopal continued, "There were always people crowded in front of the others".

Sometimes we don't plan to be rude in what we say although we sound that way; we are lucky if people take it in the right spirit!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Madhu was going through the filled out application forms for the new academic year. She paused at one particular form. Against the line 'Language spoken at home' was written: Decent.

When we answer questions, we are in effect exposing our own mind-set with our own words!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Chanda Basu was visiting the psychiatrist. After finishing his turn, he was asked to call in the next patient before he left. He called out, "Mrs. Angela, please" and walked out. After about 5 minutes of walking, a meek voice enquired from behind him, "Where are we going?"

In life, when we misconstrue the message intended for us, we easily slip into the wrong path. Intelligence alone can prevent this from happening.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Be Blissful

Nithya Pathni and Ananda Pathi were sending their son out on his first job to a car service center. Pathi advised, "Be careful to use goggles while welding; God gave you only two eyes." Pathni said, "And be careful about your hands while working inside the bonnet; God gave you only two hands." Pathi stepped in, "Careful about your feet sticking out when under the car; God gave you only two feet." The son nodded for everything and finally said, "Yes, and thank God, He gave me only two parents."

We just have to believe that the Life Force or Cosmos that conducts this Universe will take care of us also. Then, all our worries will dissolve and no more will surface.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ananda walked in as a guest lecturer for a week into a particularly teasing crowd of youngsters. Before the start of the lecture, he announced, "I want each of you to write down a list of all the shortcomings in my speech as you listen. You may do so mercilessly, not sparing any observation that you might make." The crowd bustled with pens and papers. Ananda continued, "And, whoever makes the longest list will handle the session tomorrow."

Only when put under the pressure of performing will people realize their own shortcomings!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Ram Gopal was a painter by profession. He was recalling to his friend, "You know, this girl walked in with a blue-black chip and wanted me to paint a model house with the same colour. I thought I would give up my profession in trying to match it. Nothing seemed to satisfy her." The friend asked, "Did you match it?" Gopal continued, "Well, lucky for me, she got a call on her mobile and I quickly painted the chip while she was talking!"

In Life, we are constantly trying to match the images inside us with reality outside. We will never find a perfect match. If we drop these images inside us, we will find endless possibilities opening up!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sagar Pillai gave the first film roll to be washed from his newly bought hi-tech camera. He went to collect the prints and found the lady at the counter looking at him with an awed expression. While collecting the money from him, she ventured, "This sure is a unique technique." Puzzled, Sagar collected the prints and went home. He pulled them out and found 36 prints of his eye.

Total ignorance can be misconstrued for profound intelligence when seen from outside because extremes always look alike!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Nithya Manu had five children. He would always reduce their ages by a couple of years when it came to purchasing tickets. His last two children were aged two and one. He stood along with his friend in the queue for procuring railway season passes, and procured only three. The friend asked him why he was purchasing only for three children. Manu replied, "Well, my last two are not officially born yet."

When we hide facts, we will need to remember what we hid in order to maintain them! Facts are best spoken as they are.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Sheikh Govinda went to his boss and said, "Sir, can you give me permission to take off half a day from work? My wife wants me to take her out shopping." The boss replied emphatically, "Sorry Sheikh, but most definitely not." Sheikh replied, "Thank you Sir, I knew I could depend on you for it."

A well seasoned relationship will not require outside intervention at any time or on any issue.

Boss Ananda owned a car workshop. He sent out his new recruit with instructions written on a card to attend to a house call. Hours passed and the boy did not return although the job required only an hour's time. He called up the client and asked to talk to the boy. The boy explained, "Sir, I have only now finished removing the engine with great difficulty." "What on earth are you removing it for!" cried Boss. The boy said, "Sir, let me read: 'Remove the engine...' that's exactly what is written on the card here." Boss screamed, "Turn the card over and read the rest! it says to remove the engine filter and replace!"

Messages received in one's life should be captured in its entirety and its implication understood, in order to see the desired transformation happening.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

A beggar stopped Ananda on the road and asked him, "Two years back, you used to give me 20 rupees; last year fully, you gave me only 10 rupees; for the past few months, you are giving me only 2 rupees, why?" Ananda replied, "First I was a bachelor, then I got married and now I have a baby, that's why." The beggar cried, "What! You are using my money to run your family!"

When we take things for granted, we lose some basic principles in life. The danger in this is that we are not even aware of this plight of ours.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Little Ananda went up to his grandfather and asked him, "Grandpa, are you happy with your hearing aid?" The old man replied, "Absolutely! I have already changed my will twice."

All our fears are actually nothing but the ultimate fear of death in disguise. Sometimes we are aware of this relation and sometimes not.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Gritty Gauri was taking the last class of the academic year in Literature. She prepared a few questions to learn the feedback on her teaching and gave them to the students to answer. One of the questions was, "Have I influenced your attitude towards the subject?" One girl wrote: "No. I still like it."

The quality of education can inspire a 'liking' to become a 'passion' and make great differences between man and man.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Boss Ananda was being taken through the military posts stationed at three strategic points within a particular radius of the enemy camp. His guide whispered to him that they had reached the first post. They went a little further and the guide whispered that they had reached the second one. Boss whispered back, "Are we close to the enemy camp?" The guide whispered, "No, we have a long way to go." Boss: "Then why are we whispering?" The guide whispered, "I don't know about yourself, but I have laryngitis."

Most often, we do things with no rhyme or reason, blindly following what we hear; little do we realize the extent of our folly!

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Latur Singh and his wife were teaching their 2-year-old son what to do if he accidentally locked himself inside the bathroom and didn't know how to open the door. Latur said it might be better if he removed the key and chucked it outside the window and called out to one of them to pick it up and open the door. His wife disagreed and instead taught her son that he should remove the key and push it under the door outside for someone to pick it up and open. She did it and showed it to him. Latur pointed out to her that they were all three actually locked inside the bathroom with the key pushed outside.

We are so deeply engrossed in bracing ourselves for the future that the present eludes us completely!

Churu Kiran was called by a complaining lady in the middle of a storm. She showed him a crack in the wall through which the entire wall had dampened. Churu took one look and explained, "Ma'am, I don't see how this is going to get repaired. During rain, I anyway can't repair it and during sunshine, there won't be the need to repair it!"

Our perception of things is a reflection of our own self. We see the world as we are, not as it is.

- Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda

Be Blissful