Sandeep Thakkar's Posts

SOS : How to protect Tulasi maharani from Red Ants

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on April 4, 2011 at 1:25pm

Haribol Prabhus and Matajis

I am in a desperate situation here .

My Tulasi maharani's abode has been attacked by red ants and I have no clue what to do

Could experienced devotees here advice how can I save tulasi maharani from this attack ?

Your advice would be worth its weight in gold for me as I dont want any harm to come to Tulasi maharani

Thank you v much to all for help

Haribol

YS

Trust God

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on February 14, 2011 at 10:51pm

Once there was a small kid on earth. One fine day it came to know that God is distributing apples to humans in his place at heaven. The kid was so happy to receive that news and it went with lot of enjoyment to heaven to get the apple from God. There was a big queue standing to get apple from God and this kid also joined in that queue. While it was standing, it was fully excited and thrilled for the fact that it is going to receive in person from God's hands. It's turn too came and the kid showed its both the hands to receive apple. God gave the apple but unfortunately the tiny hands couldn't hold that big apple. Apple fell down and got wasted in mud. The kid got so disappointed. The ministers near the God informed that if the kid likes to have an apple from God again then it has to again follow the queue. Having waited for so long the kid didn't want to return back to earth with empty hands so it decided to wait again in the queue.
    This time the queue has become even more longer than the previous one. While waiting in queue, the kid could see lot of people who returns back with apple in hands and utmost satisfaction on their faces. The kid was so much disappointed and thought why me alone didn't get the apple in hand when all others were easily able to get it. What is the sin I did that I alone should suffer like this. Now the kid was so scared that it should not miss the apple again. Again Its turn came and God gave the apple to the kid's hands and after giving the apple god spoke to the kid.
    "My dear child, last time after giving you the apple only I noticed the apple I gave to you was a rotten apple and that's why I made that to fell down from your hands. Having given you a rotten apple, I felt bad for you and I wanted to give you the best apple in the farm and that time the best apple in the farm was growing and that's why I made you to wait such a long time in the queue. Here it is. Now the apple that you have in hand is 'The Best' apple in the farm till to date. "
Moral of the story and its practical application in our life
So, friends, sometimes it happens as even after we put our 100% dedication and commitment things may get delayed or things may go wrong. Believe that God has something great for us and that's why this has happened.
Principles to learn and apply in our own life :
1)                  We must have rock-like faith in God and His divine plan for us.
2)                  God loves us unconditionally and infinitely.
3)                  He wants to give us the best that He has for us.
4)                  We should be ever grateful to Him for His gifts to us.
5)                  Whatever God does, He does it for our own good.
6)                  Whether we know His plans or not, we need to put implicit
faith in Him and His loving plans for us. Then and then alone
we will be eternally blissful in life.
   Believe this and see the world..... Your world will also look happy......
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAM HARE RAM RAM RAM HARE HARE

Let’s change to make a change

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on February 3, 2011 at 9:53pm

The story of the eagle

The eagle has the longest life-span among birds.

In its 40’s…..It’s long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food.

It’s long and sharp beak becomes bent.

Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its’ nest.

There the eagle knocks its’ beak against a rock until it plucks it out.

After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its’ talons.

When its’ new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old-aged feathers.

And after five months, the eagle takes its’ famous flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years.

Why is change needed? Many times, in order to survive we have to start a change process. We sometimes need to get rid of old memories habits and other past limiting beliefs.

Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present. Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.

A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. Let’s change to make a change!!!

Conscious Understanding

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on January 28, 2011 at 3:52pm

Conscious Understanding

Undoubtedly the soul is present in the heart of the living entity, and it is the source of all the energies for maintaining the body. The energy of the soul is spread all over the body, and this is known as consciousness. Since this consciousness spreads the energy of the soul all over the body, one can feel pains and pleasures in any part of the body. The soul is individual, and he is transmigrating from one body to another, just as a person transmigrates from babyhood to childhood, from childhood to boyhood, from boyhood to youth, and then to advanced old age. Then the change called death takes place when we change to a new body, just as we change our old dress to a new dress. This is called transmigration of the soul.

When a soul wants to enjoy this material world, forgetting his real home in the spiritual world, he takes this life of hard struggle for existence. This unnatural life of repeated birth, death, disease, and old age can be stopped when his consciousness is dovetailed with the supreme consciousness of God.

--

Pray regularly

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on January 27, 2011 at 11:30am

Pray regularly

There is a story of about a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands. On one trip, the boat was full of young people.

They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out, because the day was fine and the sea was calm.

However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.

But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship."

Here is a lesson for us:

If we cannot and will not seek God in quiet moments of our lives; we are not likely to find Him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic. But if we have learnt to seek Him and trust Him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find Him when the going gets rough.

--
YS,

-Sandeep S Thakkar

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Srila Prabhupada's example : A lesson in learning

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on December 15, 2010 at 7:50am

Srila Prabhupada’s Example

Srila Prabhupada was so attentive to the devotees. On the first Gaura Purnima festival the only existing building was not yet finished. The first night that the devotees were there, Srila Prabhupada got up in the middle of the night to look in each room to see if everyone was properly taken care of, and to see that every devotee had a mosquito net. He would also ensure that there was prasada for all of them, and when they were getting sick he was very concerned about their health.

In Vrindavana, during his last months on the planet, Srila Prabhupada was so sick that he couldn't even walk. When he had to go upstairs two British devotees would pick him up and carry him in his chair. One of these devotees had a boil on his foot, and once, while he was carrying Srila Prabhupada, he hit something on it. The devotee said “Oh!” and tried to hide his pain, but Srila Prabhupada understood. Srila Prabhupada had not eaten for months and had lost so much weight that his body was only bones.

In such a state most people would be absorbed in their own discomfort. What's a little boil for a big, strong, young devotee, in comparison with Srila Prabhupada's condition? Still, Srila Prabhupada asked, “What is wrong?” “No problem, Srila Prabhupada, no problem” said the disciple. But Srila Prabhupada insisted, “No, no, please, tell me”, and then he saw the boil and told him exactly what medicine to use. He told the disciple to take the leaf of a certain tree, place it in mustard oil, boil it, and apply this as a poultice at least three times a day.

The next day, when that devotee was carrying Srila Prabhupada upstairs, Srila Prabhupada asked, “How is your foot? Let me see.” And for the next several days, until the boil was completely cured, Srila Prabhupada would inquire with attention and concern. How much do you think this increased the love of that devotee for Srila Prabhupada? He felt, "Srila Prabhupada is so concerned with such an insignificant disciple like me. I'm not a big preacher or anything like that.” This is bhakti.

When devotees have physical or mental difficulties it's an opportunity for us to express our love for them. It's an opportunity to express our love for Krsna through serving a Vaisnava.

-Sandeep S Thakkar

Together ordinary people can do extraordinary things : Association matters

Qualities Of A Chaste Woman & Duties Of The Wife:

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on December 14, 2010 at 3:31pm

Thanks to HH Kavichandra swami Maharaj for sharing the below article and guiding us ::

http://www.16108.com/dharma/training/qualities.htm

Haribol

YS

Sandeep

Try something Different

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on December 14, 2010 at 3:27pm

Try something different

Most people are stuck right where they are. The reason they’re stuck, however, isn’t usually due to circumstances, incompetence, or lack of opportunity, but a simple unwillingness to change, to try new things.

We can make smaller, inner changes on a day-to-day, moment to moment basis – changes in our attitude, reactions, and expectations. I’m talking about being willing to take new risks, and face old fears.

Over and over again I hear people saying things like “I’ve always done things that way” or “That’s just the type of person I am.” These things are said as if they are carved in stone. It is amazing what you can learn by simply opening your mind and trying new things.

Starting today, tell yourself that you are going to do something, however small, a little differently. Perhaps you can be more friendly to the people you work with. Maybe it’s not too late to overcome your fear of asking others to help you, or for their advice whoever you are, whatever you do, there is always something you can do a little differently.

You may find that you love the tiny changes you make and that you can open exciting new doors by making relatively small adjustments. If you’re okay with the changes, you might want to try some other changes as well.

Problems in Life n Solutions

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on December 5, 2010 at 6:35am

19 Horses

One rich man owned 19 horses when he died. In his last will and teastament he had written that upon his death, half the horses he owned should go to his only son; one fourth to the village temple and one fifth to the faithful servant.

The village elders could not stop scratching their heads. How can they give half of the 19 horses to the son? You cannot cut up a horse. They puzzled over this dilemma for more than two weeks and then decided to send for a wise man who was living in a neighbouring village.

The wise man came riding on his horse and asked the villagers if he can be of any help to them. The village elders told him about the rich man's last will and testament which stated that half of the (19) horses must be given to his only son, one fourth must go to the temple and one fifth to the faithful servant.

The wise man said he will immediately solve their problem without any delay whatsoever. He had the 19 horses placed in a row standing next to one another. Then he added his own horse as the 20 th horse. Now he went about giving half of the 20 horses – that is ten horses to the son. One fourth of 20- that is 5 horses were given to the temple committee. One fifth of twenty- that is 4 horses were given to the faithful servant. Ten plus five plus four made 19 horses. The remaining 20 th horse was his own which he promptly mounted, spoke a few inspiring words, and rode back home.

The villagers were simply dumfounded, full of disbelief and filled with admiration. And the parting words of the wise man were inscribed in their hearts and minds which they greatly cherished and passed on to their succeeding generations till today.

The wise man said: In our daily lives, in our daily affairs, simply add God's name and then go about facing the day's happenings. Ever come across problems in life that are seemingly insurmountable? (Like the villagers, do we feel that such problems cannot be solved?).

The wise man continued: Add the God Principle in our daily lives and the problems will become lighter and eventually will disappear. In the manner of the ice which, with the addition of the heat principle will turn into water, and that will eventually evaporate as steam and disappear. And how do we add God's name in our daily lives? Through prayers, filled with true love and devotion with sincerity of purpose and dedication that only total faith can bring about. Meditation is a powerful means of directing the mind Godward.

But without true love and devotion entering into it, it remains like a boat without water. It is not difficult to push a boat that is floating in water, but extremely hard to drag the same boat on dry land.

In the same way, if our life's boat floats on the waters of true love and devotion, we can sail easily in it. The principle of love of God and devotion with total faith, (like water) makes easy the voyage of our lives. When the mind is pure and the heart full of simplicity and holiness, such a devotee becomes an instrument in the service of the Lord.

Needle & Scissors : What goes where !!!

Posted by Sandeep Thakkar on December 5, 2010 at 6:25am

A tailor was at work. He took a piece of cloth and with a pair of shining, costly, scissors, he cut the cloth into various bits.

Then he put the pair of scissors at his feet. Then he took a small needle and thread and started to sew the bits of cloth, into a fine shirt. When the spell of sewing was over, he stuck the needle on to his turban.

The tailor's son who was watching it asked him: "Father, the scissors are costly and look so beautiful. But you throw them down at your feet. This needle is worth almost nothing; you can get a dozen for an anna. Yet, you place it carefully on your head itself. Is there any reason for this illogical behaviour?"
"Yes, my son. The scissors have their function, no doubt; but they only cut the cloth into bits. The needle, on the contrary, unites the bits and enhances the value of the cloth. Therefore, the needle to me is more precious and valuable. The value of a thing depends on its utility, son, not on its cost-price or appearance."

Similarly, there are two classes of people in the world-those who create dissensions and disharmony, who separate man from man; and those who bring about peace and harmony, who unite people.

*******
The former are generally the rich people, powerful politicians and kings; the latter are generally the poor devotees of God, the penniless wandering monks, and mendicants. The Lord makes use of both to carry on his function of providing the field for the evolution of individual souls. He throws down on the dust the mighty kings and millionaires who create wars and disharmony; and He keeps the poor, pious devotee over His own head. In His eyes the scale of values is entirely different!