Who is a Friend? - words from Chinmayanandaji to us including Kunjalikkutty sahib.

"Cultivate friends! To have a friend is to make life easier and richer. A friend is a present that you give yourself. But you cannot pick up a friend. We have to discover a friend.

Friends are made by many acts: and friends are lost often by single thoughtless act. You must grow up to deserve a friend.... to have friends you must have friendliness in you: selfless and loving, with deep concern for others.

Perhaps dogs are lovable and become friends because they wag their tails..... rarely their tongues. Learn to speak softly, always words of love and affection, then friends multiply. In short, the ability to love and express it in action are the requirements in gathering more and more friends. In fact, "love in action" is the heart of all religions.

Who is a friend? He who comes to you with love and cheer, when all others have left you is a true friend! Such a true friend is discovered not by searching outside for the right person to be friend, but by your growing to be the right person, to deserve a friend!"

......Swami Chinmayananda......

What a great words. This I post to remind me and also to those others who may go through this blog. Our ex-Industry Minister P.K.Kunjalikkutty Sahib is in trouble which he says due to his one time friend Rauf. But when we go deep into the labyrinth of media blitzcreeg, one wonders that the same Kunjalikkutty sahib had the chance to have a long and consistent acquaintance with the great soul, Late Mr.Panakkad shihab Ali Thangal who led a life of service to all. But the long and continuous association with a great man, had not deter our beloved Kunjalikkutty sahib from seeking "friendship" with Mr. Rauf,the dirty Harry, whom he says was blackmailing him for the last 14 or 15 years.

This is not to blame Kunjalikkutty Sahib or any body else. But only to remind us that we are like him.All of us get a chance or many chances to have a company of a great soul who is walking along the same path with us, but with a different determination, aim, purpose, resolution and target. But the erring soul in us fails to deserve him.

With love to all, I quote the words of Swamiji once again, "....a true friend is discovered not by searching outside for the right person to be friend, but by your growing to be the right person, to deserve a friend!"

Why do we Love? or How to Love- Swami Chinmayananda.

"Recently, I met an old couple who had lived 53 years of married life! They had their tiffs, quarrels, mutual screamings at each other. Yet, they lived joyously and saw their children get educated, becoming independent and now they are living happily with their own growing families.

The old couple have grandchildren, great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. As I was talking to them, we went back in time and I asked what made him marry her. After a moment's pause, the toothless lips parted in a mischievous smile, and his bony hand moved quitely to hold the wrinkled and knotted fingers of the lady and said,"I married her and we remained in marriage so long because we have so many faults in common". The old lady admiringly smiled in to his face.

I asked her if she has an explanation for their married life; she shyly looked in his eyes and slowly reminded me, "Swamiji, we like someone 'because', but we love someone 'in spite of'.

I was silenced. I came away wiser carrying with me the picture of the old grandsire shaking his head in admiration for the lady!"

......Swami Chinmayananda..

Chinamayanandaji's formidable way of presenting a point is once again forcefully throws open many a locked doors inside us.

"Nobody Loves Me"..... Who closed the door? -

Very often we hear some people complaining that "nobody loves me". The world is full of love. But generally our hearts are not open for the love to gush in to us. And the door of your heart ever remains closed. Nobody other than you can ever throw it open, for the door of your heart cannot be locked from outside and it can be open only from within. You alone are in your heart. You unconsciously got locked in and you cry to others to open up and release you. Nobody can.Stop crying. Find the handle and turn - Lo! It has opened, and you get immediately a blast of the life giving and reviving breeze of fragrant cool love from all around. Open up and receive all love.

............... Swami Chinmayananda.

Yes, Swamiji said it in resounding words. No body loves me is a common complaint that we hear not so infrequently raise. But what we forget that actually we are the only one responsible for what happened to us.