Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Cloud and The Dune...


“Everyone knows that the lives of clouds are very active, but very short,”


And that brings us to another story:

A young cloud was born in the middle of a great storm in the Mediterranean Sea. But it hardly had time to grow there; a strong wind pushed all the clouds towards Africa.

As soon as they arrived on the continent, the climate changed: a warm sun shone in the sky, and down below the golden sand of the Sahara desert spread into the distance. The wind continued to push them towards the forests in the south, since it hardly ever rains in the desert.

However, just as it is with young people, so with young clouds: this one decided to break away from its parents and older friends, to see the world.

- What are you doing? – complained the wind. – The entire desert is exactly the same! Come back to the group, and let’s go to the center of Africa, where there are beautiful mountains and trees!

But the young cloud, a rebel by nature, did not obey; little by little, it lowered its altitude, until it was able to float on a gentle, generous breeze down near the golden sands. After wandering all over the place, it noticed that one of the dunes was smiling at it.

It was because the dune was also young, recently formed by the wind which had just passed. Straight away, the cloud fell in love with its golden hair.

- Good morning – said the cloud. – What is it like living down there?

- I have the company of the other dunes, the sun, the wind, and the caravans which pass by from time to time. Sometimes it is very hot, but it is bearable. And what is living up there like?

- There is also the wind and the sun, but the advantage is, I can wander across the sky and get to know everything.

- For me life is short – said the dune. – When the wind returns from the forests, I will disappear.

- And does that make you sad?

- It gives me the impression that I am of no use to anyone.

- I feel the same way. As soon as another wind comes, I will go south and become rain; however, that’s my destiny.

The dune hesitated for a moment, before saying:

- Did you know that, down here in the desert, we call the rain Paradise?

- I didn’t know I could become something so important – said the proud cloud.

- I’ve heard several legends told by old dunes. They say that, after the rain, we are covered in herbs and flowers. But I’d never know what that is like, for in the desert it only rains very rarely.

This time it was the cloud which hesitated. But then it started to smile joyfully:

- If you like, I can cover you with rain. Although I’ve only just arrived, I am in love with you, and would like to stay here forever.

- When I first saw you up in the sky, I too fell in love – said the dune. – but if you turn your lovely white hair into rain, you will die.

- Love never dies – said the dune. – It transforms; and I want to show you Paradise.

And so it began to caress the dune with droplets; they remained together like this for a long time, until a rainbow appeared.

The next day, the small dune was covered in flowers. Other clouds passing towards central Africa, thought that must be part of the forest they were searching for, and poured down more rain. Twenty years later, the dune had become an oasis, which refreshed travelers under the shade of its trees.

And all because, one day, a loving cloud hadn’t been afraid to give up its life in the name of love.

Spiritual quotes Stories and Inspirations Affirmations What a LifeLovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The Cloud and The Dune...


“Everyone knows that the lives of clouds are very active, but very short,”


And that brings us to another story:

A young cloud was born in the middle of a great storm in the Mediterranean Sea. But it hardly had time to grow there; a strong wind pushed all the clouds towards Africa.

As soon as they arrived on the continent, the climate changed: a warm sun shone in the sky, and down below the golden sand of the Sahara desert spread into the distance. The wind continued to push them towards the forests in the south, since it hardly ever rains in the desert.

However, just as it is with young people, so with young clouds: this one decided to break away from its parents and older friends, to see the world.

- What are you doing? – complained the wind. – The entire desert is exactly the same! Come back to the group, and let’s go to the center of Africa, where there are beautiful mountains and trees!

But the young cloud, a rebel by nature, did not obey; little by little, it lowered its altitude, until it was able to float on a gentle, generous breeze down near the golden sands. After wandering all over the place, it noticed that one of the dunes was smiling at it.

It was because the dune was also young, recently formed by the wind which had just passed. Straight away, the cloud fell in love with its golden hair.

- Good morning – said the cloud. – What is it like living down there?

- I have the company of the other dunes, the sun, the wind, and the caravans which pass by from time to time. Sometimes it is very hot, but it is bearable. And what is living up there like?

- There is also the wind and the sun, but the advantage is, I can wander across the sky and get to know everything.

- For me life is short – said the dune. – When the wind returns from the forests, I will disappear.

- And does that make you sad?

- It gives me the impression that I am of no use to anyone.

- I feel the same way. As soon as another wind comes, I will go south and become rain; however, that’s my destiny.

The dune hesitated for a moment, before saying:

- Did you know that, down here in the desert, we call the rain Paradise?

- I didn’t know I could become something so important – said the proud cloud.

- I’ve heard several legends told by old dunes. They say that, after the rain, we are covered in herbs and flowers. But I’d never know what that is like, for in the desert it only rains very rarely.

This time it was the cloud which hesitated. But then it started to smile joyfully:

- If you like, I can cover you with rain. Although I’ve only just arrived, I am in love with you, and would like to stay here forever.

- When I first saw you up in the sky, I too fell in love – said the dune. – but if you turn your lovely white hair into rain, you will die.

- Love never dies – said the dune. – It transforms; and I want to show you Paradise.

And so it began to caress the dune with droplets; they remained together like this for a long time, until a rainbow appeared.

The next day, the small dune was covered in flowers. Other clouds passing towards central Africa, thought that must be part of the forest they were searching for, and poured down more rain. Twenty years later, the dune had become an oasis, which refreshed travelers under the shade of its trees.

And all because, one day, a loving cloud hadn’t been afraid to give up its life in the name of love.

Spiritual quotes Stories and Inspirations Affirmations What a LifeLovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Real Detachment.


Real Detachment
The man who is pure of heart is bound to fulfil himself in whatever way he is taught. A worldly man seeks all his life, but is still bewildered. Detached from the senses, you are free. Attached, you are bound. When this is understood, you may live as you please.
Astavakra Gita 15:1-2
*
Those who conquer their minds are beings of renunciation and detachment. They are lovingly focussed on the True One, they realise and understand themselves.
Guru Nanak
*
O my mind, day and night, you are always full of wishful hopes. Serve the true Guru, and your emotional attachment shall be totally burnt away; remain detached within the home of your heart.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib
*
The essence of the way is detachment.
Bodhidharma
*
Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.
St John of the Cross



Spiritual quotes Stories and Inspirations Affirmations What a LifeLovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Real Detachment.


Real Detachment
The man who is pure of heart is bound to fulfil himself in whatever way he is taught. A worldly man seeks all his life, but is still bewildered. Detached from the senses, you are free. Attached, you are bound. When this is understood, you may live as you please.
Astavakra Gita 15:1-2
*
Those who conquer their minds are beings of renunciation and detachment. They are lovingly focussed on the True One, they realise and understand themselves.
Guru Nanak
*
O my mind, day and night, you are always full of wishful hopes. Serve the true Guru, and your emotional attachment shall be totally burnt away; remain detached within the home of your heart.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib
*
The essence of the way is detachment.
Bodhidharma
*
Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.
St John of the Cross



Spiritual quotes Stories and Inspirations Affirmations What a LifeLovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Work And Play....


Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
Gautama Buddha
*
Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love, but only with distaste, it is better that you leave your work and sit at the gate of a temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
Kahlil Gibran
*
Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.
Jalaluddin Rumi
*
The person who is a master in the art of living makes little distinction between their work and their play, their labour and their leisure, their mind and their body, their education and their recreation, their love and their religion. They hardly know which is which. They simply pursue their vision of excellence and grace in whatever they do, leaving others to decide whether they are working or playing. To them, they are always doing both.
Zen Buddhism


Spiritual quotes Stories and Inspirations Affirmations What a LifeLovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Work And Play....


Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
Gautama Buddha
*
Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love, but only with distaste, it is better that you leave your work and sit at the gate of a temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
Kahlil Gibran
*
Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.
Jalaluddin Rumi
*
The person who is a master in the art of living makes little distinction between their work and their play, their labour and their leisure, their mind and their body, their education and their recreation, their love and their religion. They hardly know which is which. They simply pursue their vision of excellence and grace in whatever they do, leaving others to decide whether they are working or playing. To them, they are always doing both.
Zen Buddhism


Spiritual quotes Stories and Inspirations Affirmations What a LifeLovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

World in A Village


This statistic, which buzzes around the Internet, has be published in numerous places across the world:

If it were possible to reduce the population of the entire world to 100 inhabitants, maintaining the proportions of people which currently exist in the world, it would be made up as follows:

57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 Americans (North, Central and South)
8 Africans
52 would be women
48 men
70 non-white
30 white
89 would be heterosexual
11 homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the world’s wealth
80 would dwell in inhabitable housing
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would have a computer
1 (yes, just one) would have a university degree

And consider this: if you are more healthy than sick, you are luckier than a million people who will not see next week. If you never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of prison, the agony of torture, the pain of hunger, you are luckier than 500 million of the world’s inhabitants.

If you have food in the fridge, clothes in your closet, a roof over your head, a place to sleep, then consider yourself richer than 75% of the world’s inhabitants.

If you have money in the bank, a wallet or some loose change lying around somewhere, consider yourself among those with the best quality of life in the world.
Spiritual quotes Stories and Inspirations Affirmations What a LifeLovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You
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