"O-nami,You are those Waves"

In the early days of the Meiji era there lived a well-known wrestler called O-nami, Great Waves.
O-nami was immensely strong and knew the art of wrestling. In his private bouts he defeated even his teacher, but in public he was so bashful that his own pupils threw him.
O-nami felt he should go to a Zen master for help. Hakuju, a wandering teacher, was stopping in a little temple nearby, so O-nami went to see him and told him of his trouble. 
"Great Waves is your name," the teacher advised, "so stay in this temple tonight, Imagine that you are those billows. You are no longer a wrestler who is afraid. You are those huge waves sweeping everything before them, swallowing in all their path. Do this and you will be the greatest wrestler in the land." 
The teacher retired. O-nami sat in meditation trying to imagine himself as waves. He thought of many different things. Then gradually he turned more and more to the feeling of the waves. As the night advanced the waves became larger and larger. They swept away the flowers in their vases. Even the Buddha in the shrine was inundated. Before dawn the temple was nothing but the ebb and flow of an immense sea.
In the morning the teacher found O-nami meditating, a faint smile on his face. He patted the wrestler's shoulder. "Now nothing can disturb you," he said. "You are those waves. You will sweep everything before you." 
The same day O-nami entered the wrestling contests and won. After that, no one in Japan was able to defeat him. 

Step Back

"You should step back and investigate. 
How do you step back? It is not a matter of sitting there ignoring everything, stiffly repressing the body and mind so that they are like earth and wood---that will never do any good. 
When you want to step back, if there are any sayings you do not understand, or stories you do not comprehend, they are then right before you. Step back and see for yourself why you do not understand." 

Nine Powerful Bruce Lee Quotes

Bruce Lee was a martial artist, film director, producer, screenwriter, philosopher and actor. Bruce Lee is widely considered to be one of the most influential martial artists of the last century. Up to this day he is considered as a legend and his philosophy continues to live through the martial art that he created Jeet Kune Do and through his writing.
I am sharing those quotes that I like.

What a Waste !!

A Zen master named Gisan asked a young student to bring him a pail of water to cool his bath. 
The student brought the water and, after cooling the bath, threw on to the ground the little that was left over. 
"You dunce!" the master scolded him. "Why didn't you give the rest of the water to the plants? What right have you to waste even one drop of water in this temple?" 
The young student attained Zen in that instant. He changed his name to Tekisui, which means a drop of water. 

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)