I am from the village of Parra in Goa, hence we are called Parrikars. My village is famous for its watermelons. When I was a child, the farmers would organise a watermelon-eating…
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Three-stringed violin
On November 18th, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. If you have ever been to…
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Simplicity of Shastriji
Lalbahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India. He was the personification of simplicity, honesty and nobility. Many incidents in his life inspire us. This is an incident which shows his…
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The inventor of fire
After many years of labour, an inventor discovered the art of making fire. He took his tools to the snow-clad northern regions and initiated a tribe into the art – and the…
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The applauding angel
An ancient legend has it that when God was creating the world, he was approached by four angels. The first one asked, “How are you doing it?” The second, “Why are you…
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The song of the bird
The disciples were full of questions about God. Said the Master, “God is Unknown, the Unknowable. Every statement about him, every answer to your questions, is a distortion of the truth.” The…
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The prayer of the frog
When Brother Bruno was at prayer one night, he was disturbed by the croaking of a bullfrog. All his attempts to disregard the sound failed, so he shouted from his window, “Quiet!…
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“Are you God?”
With Christmas coming, grandma was out shopping for gifts for her grandchildren. While she was at the toy store going through her list she noticed a small homeless girl outside wistfully looking into…
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The way out of fear
Once there was a young warrior. Her teacher told her that she had to do battle with fear. She didn’t want to do that. It seemed too aggressive; it was scary; it…
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“I distinctly remember forgetting it!”
When the Master was a boy at school, a classmate treated him with persistent cruelty. Now, older and contrite, he came to the monastery and was received with open arms. One day,…