Jataka tales are said to be past life accounts of Buddha. There is a Jataka tale about Boddhisattva (the future Buddha), living as a gardener, and taking the decision to give up his worldly life and follow the spiritual path. Soon after he makes the decision, his eyes fall on a spade lying nearby. He […]
One February morning in 1916, two brothers Glenn and Floyd, eight and thirteen years old respectively, arrived early at school. The boys wanted to help the teacher by lighting up the coal stove to heat the classroom before the rest of the students arrived. On that particular day, someone had filled the container in the […]
One sunny afternoon, a hunter was out in the woods when he shot a deer, but in the process his arm got caught in a thorn bush. He cried out in pain as the thorn stuck deep in his arm. The thought of pulling out the thorn scared him as he feared the severe pain […]
There is an inspiring anecdote about the legendary Hindi poet and Padma Bhushan awardee, Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan. He had a unique interest in collecting rocks. He would look at rocks, identify a nature-inspired image or figure in it, which he would later artistically bring to life with strokes of his paintbrush. This anecdote is […]
Over three decades back, author and space philosopher, Frank White coined the term “The Overview Effect” to describe a phenomenon reported after space voyages. When astronauts look back at the earth, they experience a profound appreciation for the fragility with which the Earth is held in space. It appears as a pale blue-green dot spinning […]
There is a fascinating true story about the golden Buddha Statue of the Wat Traimit temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Historians estimate that this statue must have been made somewhere between the 13th – 14thcentury. This statue stands ~9’8” tall and weighs 5.5 tonnes (of gold). A true masterpiece, it was revered by monks and appreciated by […]
In the 1999 film, The Matrix, there is a scene where Neo is waiting to go in and visit the oracle. In the waiting room, he notices a little child, dressed as a monk, bending a spoon by merely looking at it. Fascinated by what he has just witnessed, Neo asks the kid, “ How are you […]
One of the most powerful languages of all time is non-verbal language. It is the language of facial expressions, gestures and the subtle movements of our body. The beauty of non-verbal communication lies beyond the realm of words and what is said. It is what is not “said” that matters the most – the cues, […]
One question that we coaches love to ask is “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?”. This question helps the mind think beyond boundaries set by the fear of failure. However, responses to this question bring up two contrasting pieces of information. On one hand there are bold and magnificent dreams […]
Being someone who loves solitude, I have spent a significant amount of time in my own company. Consequently, I have spoken a lot to myself. I have been my best friend and also my worst enemy. However, in the recent past, I have had some of the most meaningful conversations with myself. I have […]