Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Random Thoughts-33: "The Story of the Tirupati Lock"
Many years ago, we, my dad and myself, had been to Tirupati as we had some work at Sri Venkateswara University. Then we left for Tirumala along with an influential friend. The friend helped us to get a quick and easy 'darshan' at Tirumala. On an impulse, I told my dad that I would like to stay overnight at Tirumala. We could get easily get a cottage. We hired a 'Godrej Nav-Tal' lock and key from a nearby petty shop after making a cash deposit of Rs.300/- and moved into the cottage. The atmosphere at the hill was serene and peaceful and I loved it.
The next day morning we vacated the cottage and went to the petty shop to return the lock and settle accounts. We got back our deposit and left for the bus station. The queue for the bus to Tirupati was long and it appeared it would take a long time to get into the bus. Fortunately for us, through the Railway Reservation Counter at Tirumala, we could get into a bus quickly, circumventing the queue.
As our bus was half way through, I opened my bag to look for something. I was shocked to see the lock and key there; somehow we have forgotten to return them; the shopkeeper also obviously forgot it. I did not know what to do. As you are probably aware, the buses from Tirumala to Tirupati do not have a conductor and they do not stop in between. I did not remember the name or address of the shopkeeper. So there was no way of returning the lock and key. I felt terribly sorry and realized that there was nothing I could do. So the lock and key came into my possession. I was using them for some time. When my kid brother, opened a shop, I gave him the lock and key. He was using it.
Then one morning when he went to open the shop, he found the lock broken and everything inside the stop stolen. The thief or thieves did not leave even a small chocolate. It was a clean sweep. When I heard the news, I was upset.
It occurred to me that there was some connection with misbegotten lock and the theft. The lock was not rightfully ours. We did not cheat the shopkeeper intentionally. Still there was a price to pay. For a 300-rupee lock, we had to pay more than Rs.10,000 worth materials. You can say we repaid it along with heavy interest. Generally, the dispensation of justice is not that simple. Still let us not forget the Law of Karma holds good for everybody and nobody can escape it. If you do something bad, you cannot escape the consequences; sooner or later, you will have pay for it.
You read, hear and see about people acting greedily, adopting all sorts of foul means, taking possession of other people's wealth. You can only pity them; for, they don't know that they will have to repay it with heavy interest; in the process, they will have to experience a lot of pain and misery. When you find that even rightfully got wealth do not remain with you for long, this covetousness is pointless and plain stupidity. If only people know this, there will be less greed and covetousness in this world.
The next day morning we vacated the cottage and went to the petty shop to return the lock and settle accounts. We got back our deposit and left for the bus station. The queue for the bus to Tirupati was long and it appeared it would take a long time to get into the bus. Fortunately for us, through the Railway Reservation Counter at Tirumala, we could get into a bus quickly, circumventing the queue.
As our bus was half way through, I opened my bag to look for something. I was shocked to see the lock and key there; somehow we have forgotten to return them; the shopkeeper also obviously forgot it. I did not know what to do. As you are probably aware, the buses from Tirumala to Tirupati do not have a conductor and they do not stop in between. I did not remember the name or address of the shopkeeper. So there was no way of returning the lock and key. I felt terribly sorry and realized that there was nothing I could do. So the lock and key came into my possession. I was using them for some time. When my kid brother, opened a shop, I gave him the lock and key. He was using it.
Then one morning when he went to open the shop, he found the lock broken and everything inside the stop stolen. The thief or thieves did not leave even a small chocolate. It was a clean sweep. When I heard the news, I was upset.
It occurred to me that there was some connection with misbegotten lock and the theft. The lock was not rightfully ours. We did not cheat the shopkeeper intentionally. Still there was a price to pay. For a 300-rupee lock, we had to pay more than Rs.10,000 worth materials. You can say we repaid it along with heavy interest. Generally, the dispensation of justice is not that simple. Still let us not forget the Law of Karma holds good for everybody and nobody can escape it. If you do something bad, you cannot escape the consequences; sooner or later, you will have pay for it.
You read, hear and see about people acting greedily, adopting all sorts of foul means, taking possession of other people's wealth. You can only pity them; for, they don't know that they will have to repay it with heavy interest; in the process, they will have to experience a lot of pain and misery. When you find that even rightfully got wealth do not remain with you for long, this covetousness is pointless and plain stupidity. If only people know this, there will be less greed and covetousness in this world.
At least, I have learnt my lesson.
A Thought for Today-253:
The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts - Landor
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Random Thoughts-32: "Crime and Punishment"
I have found morning walks energizing, enthusing, enlightening, stimulating, thought-provoking and a lot more things.
The other day I was performing my morning walk. Two middle-aged women were ahead of me. Though I was doing 'japa' mentally, I could not avoid their conversation entering my ears.
One of them was obviously a government employee. She was narrating of her tale of woe in getting some payment due to her from the government. She was harassed, made to run hither and thither. The villain, a clerk, would not prepare/pass her bill unless he is 'paid'. To make her pay, he was indulging in so many dilatory tactics. She became miserable and ultimately, after several months of suffering, paid him and got her payment. All along she had been mentally cursing him. It seems that fellow passed away within a month after that. She was gloating: "My curse was not wasted".
How simple it all looks! Crime-Curse-Punishment. A very simple linear equation! If it were so, there would be less crime, less corruption, less evil. Unfortunately, the dispensation of justice is more complicated, sometimes mind-boggling. Courts, lawyers, witnesses who do somersaults, police personnel, endless adjournments and a lot of other factors enter the arena to make it so. I recall a saying my dad used to mention: "Justice delayed is justice denied." If that is right, then you will have come to the painful conclusion that there is no justice in this world.
The divine dispensation of justice is even more complicated and would probably drive everyone crazy. We hear about good people suffering for their past deeds, unknown deeds they probably committed in some previous birth. Oh God! Does it mean that justice cannot meted out in one's single lifetime? Does it mean carry forward of your bad 'karma' to several births?
No wonder evil thrives in the world!
By comparison, our courts look better!
What do you say?
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Thought for Today-252:
An inspiration is a joy for ever, a possession as solid as a landed estate, a fortune which we can never exhaust and which gives us year by year a revenue of pleasurable activity. To have many of these is to be spiritually rich. - R.L.Stevenson
Sunday, October 18, 2009
A Thought for Today-251:
Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;
He who would search for pearls must dive below.
- Dryden
He who would search for pearls must dive below.
- Dryden
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Eyecatchers-140:
U.S. coroners were reporting a sharp increase in the number of unclaimed bodies due to the recession.
-- Margaret Cordi
HARPER'S WEEKLY
October 13, 2009
Grateful thanks to Harper's Weekly and Margaret Cordi.
-- Margaret Cordi
HARPER'S WEEKLY
October 13, 2009
Grateful thanks to Harper's Weekly and Margaret Cordi.
S and T Watch-57:
Astronomers discovered the largest ring in the solar system, a colossal circle of debris around Saturn caused by the planet's moon Phoebe having been hit by wayward space rocks.
-- Margaret Cordi
HARPER'S WEEKLY
October 13, 2009
Grateful thanks to Harper's Weekly and Margaret Cordi.
-- Margaret Cordi
HARPER'S WEEKLY
October 13, 2009
Grateful thanks to Harper's Weekly and Margaret Cordi.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Thought for Today-249:
Even the ordinary man has some unique talent hidden in him. All he has to do is to identify it, find a way to manifest it and utilize it properly and fully, his life will become more rewarding and he will find fulfillment in this life. Then he becomes a real gift to mankind.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
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