Do you have the Power...?

A Chinese emperor known for his foul temper entered the bedroom of his soon-to-be-bride, who was one of the most beautiful women in all of China. She was being made to marry him against her will, as her parents were forcing her into it.
Little did the emperor know however that she had also been taught by wise sages as a child. She sat expressionless, staring at the wall.
"Hello, pretty," he said to her, but she didn't respond.
"I said hello to you, and you will respond when I address you, do you understand me??" he snarled. But still, she didn't reply.
Most people would have answered him by now, so despite himself he grew curious, and gruffly asked, "What is it you are thinking?"
Finally she answered him.
"Two things. One, that I do not wish to marry you because you are so callous
and mean-spirited. And the other thing, is that I was wondering if you have it within your power to have a certain something changed.
" "What?!" the emperor exclaimed with outrage. "You bitch! How dare you question my authority! ... But ... I admit I'm curious. Since I have it within my power to snap my fingers and whatever I command within my kingdom will be obeyed, what is it you are wondering if I could change?"
"Your attitude," she replied. And with that she got up and walked out of the room, leaving him in stunned silence

Warren Buffett's son preaches values as wealth

Probably only a few know that Warren Buffet has a son!!!! Well, I came to know only recently.............

Here is a write up from Reuters about a book written by Son of Warren Buffet :

Warren Buffett's son preaches values as wealth: Source : Reuters


The son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett has an old-world spiritual message for today's money-rich parents: teach your children values and do not give them everything they want.
Musician and now author Peter Buffett preaches the message in his new book "Life is What You Make it: Finding Your Own Path to Fulfillment". Recently released in the United States, it describes how he wound up a "normal, happy" person instead of a spoiled child to one of the world's richest people.
Buffett, 52, teaches the rewards of self-respect and pursuing one's own passions and accomplishments rather than buying into society's concepts of material wealth.
"I am my own person and I know what I have accomplished in my life," he said. "This isn't about wealth or fame or money or any of that stuff, it is actually about values and what you enjoy and finding something you love doing."
People who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth can fall victim to what Buffett said his father has called a "silver dagger in your back," which leads to a sense of entitlement and a lack of personal achievement.
"Entitlement is the worst thing ever and I see entitlement coming in many guises," he said. "Anybody who acts like they deserve something 'just because,', is a disaster."
But Buffett wasn't always this wise. His own family gave him USD 90,000 in stock when he was 19, a small sum from such immense financial wealth. After studying at Stanford University, he moved to San Francisco and lived in a studio apartment with just enough room for his musical instruments.
"I was really searching," he said, adding that he began his musical career by working for free writing music for a local television station.
"I was kind of lost, but trying to find myself. It was definitely this strange period where I didn't really know where I was going," he said.

LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE

As well his musical passions, the values taught to him growing up and a sense of a bigger picture in life stayed with him during those trying times, he said.
"I was not only not handed everything as a kid, I was shown that there are lots of other people out there with very different circumstances," he said.
Although many people he encounters assume that his father wanted him to go into finance, he said his father accepted his choice to become a musician beginning with commercials then his own albums and composing for television shows and films.
"It was encouraged for a moment when I was open to the idea," he said about pursuing finance. But he added that as he grew older, it became clear the financial world "was not speaking to my heart."
Along with the book, Buffett has embarked on a "Concert & Conversation" tour in which he plays the piano, talks about his life and warns against consumerist culture and damaging the environment.
He said he eventually inherited more money after his mother died in 2004, but by then he had learned his lessons. Now he works on giving back to the world -- another of his life philosophies -- which includes through working for his father's NoVo charitable foundation.
"Economic prosperity may come and go; that's just how it is," he writes in the book. "But values are the steady currency that earn us the all-important rewards."

A Dialogue With God in Prayer

(God's words are in blue:)

My Dear Father in Heaven. 

Yes? 

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. 

But you called Me. 

Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying... My Dear Father in Heaven... 

There, you did it again. 

Did what? 

Called me. You said, "My Dear Father in Heaven." Here I am. What's on your mind.? 

But I didn't mean anything by it. I was just, You know, saying my prayers for the night. I always say my prayers. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done. 

Oh. All Right. Go on. 

I'm thankful for my many blessings... 

Hold it. How thankful? 

What? 

How thankful are you for your "Many blessings?" 

I'm... well... I don't know. How should I know? It's just part of the prayer. Everyone always said that I should express my thanks. 

Oh well. You're welcome. Go ahead... 

Go ahead? What go ahead?? 

With the prayer, son! 

Oh yeah. Let's see... bless the poor and the sick and the needy and the afflicted... 

Do you really mean that? 

Well, sure I mean it. 

What are you doing about it? 

Doing? Who, me? Nothing. I guess. I just think that it would be kind of nice if You got control of things down here like You have up there, so people don't have to suffer so. 

Have I got control of you? 

Well I go to church, I pay my tithing, I don't... 

That isn't what I asked you. What about your temper? You have a problem there, and your friends and family suffer. And then there's the way you spend your money... all on yourself. And how about the kinds of books you read? 

Stop picking on me. I'm just as good as some of the rest of those I see every Sunday at church. 

Excuse Me. I thought you were praying for me to bless the needy. If that is to happen, I'll have to have help from the ones who are praying for it... like you. 

All right. I guess that I have a few hangups, now that You mention it. I could probably mention some others. 

So could I.

Look, Father. I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than usual. Bless the missionaries to be led to the doors of the honest in heart. 

You mean people like Ralph? 

Ralph? 

Yes, the guy around the corner. 

That Ralph... but he smokes and drinks and never goes to church.

Have you ever looked in his heart lately? 

Of course not. How can...??? 

I have. I looked. And it's one of those honest hearts your were just praying about. 

O.K. then, get the missionaries over there. Do you think I like having a non-member for a neighbor? 

Aren't you supposed to be a missionary? I thought I made that pretty clear. 

Hey, wait a minute. What is this? Criticize "me" day? Here I am, doing my duty, keeping your commandments to pray. And all of a sudden you break in and start reminding me of all my problems. 

Well, you called Me. And here I am. Keep on praying. I'm interested in this next part. You haven't changed the order around have you? ... Go on... 

I don't want to go on .... 

Why not? 

I know what You'll say. 

Try Me and see. 

Please forgive me of all my sins... and help me to forgive others.

What about Bill? 

See. I knew it. I knew you'd bring him up. Listen Lord, he told lies about me, and I got fired. All my co-workers think I'm a first class creep, and I didn't do anything. I'm going to get even with him! 

But your prayers. What about your prayers?About forgiveness!!! 

I didn't mean it. 

Well, at least you're honest. I guess you enjoy carrying that load of bitterness around, don't you?

No, I don't. But I'll feel better as soon as I get even. 

Do you want to know a secret? 

What secret? 

You won't feel better. You'll feel worse. Listen to me. You forgive Bill and I'll forgive you. 

But Lord, I can't forgive Bill. 

Then I cannot forgive you. 

No matter what? 

No matter what. But you're not through with your prayer yet. Go on. 

Oh all right... please help me to control my feelings and not yield to temptations. 

Good. Good. I'll do just that. But you stop putting yourself in all those places where you can be tempted. 

What do you mean by that? 

Quit hanging around the magazine racks and spending so much time in front of the tube. Some of that stuff is going to get to you sooner or later. You'll find yourself involved in some terrible things before long... and don't use me for an escape hatch either. 

An escape hatch? I don't understand. 

Sure you do. You've done it lots of times -- you find yourself in a crisis situation, then you come running to me. "Lord, help me out of this mess and I promise I'll never do it again." It's amazing how the quality and intensity of your prayers improve when you are in trouble. Do you remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me? 

Well I don't think... Oh... yeah... like the time Mom's visiting teacher saw me coming out of that movie about... Oh brother... 

Do you remember your prayer. You may not but I do. "Oh God. Don't let her tell my mother where I've been. I promise I'll go to nothing but "G" rated movies from now on. She didn't tell your mother, but you didn't keep your promise. Did you? 

No Lord, I didn't. I'm sorry. 

So am I. Go ahead and finish your prayer. 

Wait a minute. I want to ask you a question. Do you always listen to my prayers? 

Every word. Every time. 

Then how come you never talked back to me before? 

How many chances have you given me? There's not enough time between your "Amens" and your head hitting the pillow for me to draw a breath. How am I supposed to give an answer? 

You could, if you really wanted to. 

No. I could if you really wanted Me to. Child, I always want to. 

Father, I am sorry. Will you forgive me? 

I already have. And thanks for letting me interrupt. I get lonely to talk to you sometimes. Good night. I love you son. 

Good night, and I love You too father. 

(Author : Unknown)

Thinking Out of Box

Many hundreds of years ago in a small town, a merchant had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to the moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the merchant’s beautiful daughter so he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the merchant’s debt if he could marry the daughter. Both the merchant and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. 

The moneylender told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag. The girl would then have to pick one pebble from the bag.If she picked the black pebble, she would become the moneylender’s wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail. They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the merchant’s garden. 

As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick her pebble from the bag.

What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her? 
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities: 
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble. 
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a cheat. 
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment. 

The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. 

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. “Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.” Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an advantageous one. 

MORAL OF THE STORY: Most complex problems do have a solution, sometimes we have to think about them in a different way.

Wish

Many centuries ago, there was an old Native American who was called Dancing Bear, who belonged to a tribe now known as the Sioux. He had lived a life with much enjoyment of the little things, and as the years passed he began to feel pulled to go to a tall mountain that his tribe would pass by in their travels once a year. He found himself wondering what it would be like to climb to the top of that snow-capped mountain, and to be so very close to the golden sun, the vast sky and the moon. And so the next time his tribe traveled by the mountain, he told his family that he was going on a vision quest. 
When asked if they would be physically seeing him again, he said probably not -- that he felt ready to enter the spirit world, and they were accepting and respectful of it. And so he left on a cloudless morning when the sun had just peeked over the horizon, enjoying the solitude and the beauty of nature all around him. Sometimes he chanted softly, or said a prayer, or stopped to look at something.
That evening he came to the base of the mountain where he found a cluster of tall oak trees, and he sat below one as the stars shimmered overhead... and after enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of nighttime for a while, he quickly went to sleep. He dreamed of the sun and the moon becoming one. The next morning as the sun bathed him he started the arduous journey uphill, feeling the air get cooler and cooler, and was glad that he had wore his furs. Then he reached where the snow began, and the wind became extremely chilly. Though he began feeling very tired he was determined to reach the top, and so on and on he went. Finally he walked up a knee-deep snow-drift that was near the crest, when he stumbled, and rolled down the steep slope for quite some distance. When he finally reached the bottom where the slope evened off his body ached, he had snow down his furs, and could no longer feel his fingers or feet due to the numbing cold.
As he sat there catching his breath he watched two large wolves emerge from a nearby group of trees and cautiously approach him.

 His heart leaped and his instincts screamed at him to run, but instead he laughed and said, "So are you two the ones who are to deliver me to the spirit world? I am ready." And as he smiled and laughed the wolves sensed his lack of fear, and the friendly sound in his voice, and though they were very hungry and didn't completely understand why, they sensed that he was a friend. And so they walked close to him sniffing and then rubbed up against him, letting him pet their fur that had never before been petted by human hands. And again he laughed, as the sun overhead grew brighter and brighter until it was all-consuming.