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SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 1THE SHADOW COCONUTS

Here is a coconut tree and up the tree

are the coconuts. This tree has ashadow that extends for a distance on the ground.Now, a man who wishes to secure the coconuts climbs up the coconut tree. Atthe very time he is climbing the tree; his shadow may be seen climbing theshadow tree.And, when he plucks the coconuts, his shadow may be seen plucking theshadow coconuts. The man who climbs the real tree secures the real coconutsand, at the same time, his shadow self climbs the shadow tree and plucks theshadow coconuts! But if the man does not relish the task of climbing the real tree, and instead limitshis action to the climbing of the shadow tree, he will not get satisfaction from theshadow coconuts.While the shadow tree represents the world, and the shadow coconuts representworldly prosperity,

the real tree represents the spiritual life, and the realcoconuts represent the fulfillment of life.

Hence it is said that the person who devotes his life and energy to spiritualvalues will ‘automatically’ get worldly benefits. In fact, everything isspiritual and the ‘make – believe’ world is nothing but ‘the shadow tree’, anillusion!!!Do contemplate on this!SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 2THE GARLAND

Man's life is like a garland, with birth at one end and death at the other. Betweenthe two ends are strung together flowers of all kinds - troubles, worries, joys,sorrows and dreams.Few are aware of the string that runs through all the flowers. Without the stringthere can be no garland. Our sole objective is to recognize this Divine string!!!

The hundreds of flowers in a garland are held together by this thread, whichwe do not see.... So also, this world has an unseen Master and lawgiver.The Unseen is the sustainer of the Seen!!!

That SUPREME POWER is the thread around which the flowers are strung; wesee and feel the garland very easily; are we seeing and feeling that string thatholds the flowers together?Are we seeing & feeling that supreme power?

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 3

THE GUEST!!!

There was a nice couple who had a guest. But that guest was like a pest. Hedidn’t want to leave. At first, they treated him well for 1 or 2 weeks. Later, whenthey saw he wouldn’t leave, instead of giving him 3 or 4 snacks, they cut it downto one snack. They used to give him 2 meals, but then cut it down to 1 meal. Buthe still wouldn’t leave!!!One day they got frustrated because now this guy was staying with the family for almost 1 year. They didn’t know what to do to get rid of this bad guest. Then theymade a plan:The husband and wife enacted a drama that they were fighting with each other.“Either you stay in the house or I will.” Finally the guest looked disgusted withtheir fights and left.The wife said, “See how beautifully I acted. That’s why he left.” The husbandsaid, “No, I acted better, that’s why he left.”Meanwhile they heard a knock on the door. When they opened the door, theguest was standing there and said, “Oh, I acted even better,” and came back!!!However hard we ‘shoo’ away the

‘VAASANAAS’

like anger, jealousy, desire,Ego, criticizing others etc…they keep coming back to haunt us. We’ve to try evenharder to keep them away if we’ve to

MOVE UP THE SPIRITUAL LADDER!!!SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 4THE MOUNTAINEER

Once, a man was climbing a snow-clad mountain. It became night. Suddenly, theman slipped and fell. He found himself hanging by the rope which he had tied tohis waist. It was cold. It was dark. It was freezing.The man became desperate and cried to God, "God, please save me."

“CUT THE ROPE,” said GOD.

The man was shocked. He could not believe in God. He did not pay heed to God.He shouted, “Are you crazy? You’re supposed to help me and you actually wantme to kill myself!!! I’ve come to your temple so many times & prayed.”“That’s why I’m here to help you. Cut the rope before you freeze,” God’s voicedeclared.But the man didn’t listen.The next morning, the newspaper headline read, "Man frozen to death hangingby a rope, just 2 feet above the ground!!!" And the media wondered why he didn’tcut the rope to save himself!That is why it is said,

"A man without faith is half-blind".

We visit so manyreligious places to worship. But do we really have the

FAITH

SURRENDER

and

LISTEN

to Him? In deep silence, God’s voice can be heard!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 5THE OMNIPRESENCE

The man whispered, "God, speak to me." And aCuckoobird sang.But, the man did not hear.Then the man yelled "God, speak to me."Thunder rolled across the sky.But, the man did not listen.The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."And theStarslit up the sky. But the man did not notice.And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle."And, aLifewas born. But the man did not know. So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me knowyou are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.But, the man brushed theButterflyaway and walked on!!!

Spirituality is seeing GOD everywhere & in everyone including you!!!

ANOTHER EXAMPLE…A man who, sitting on the roof of his house during a rising flood, refused all helpfrom men in boats and helicopters who tried to rescue him, saying, "Don't bother,I have prayed to God to save me!!!"When in due course, he was drowned, and his soul stood in the presence of God, he said to the Almighty, "I prayed to you to save me, but you did not."