The power of words

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:
1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.

Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

What's New at Akshaya Patra...

‘Click a Smile’ Photography Exhibition

‘Click a Smile’ will showcase an array of smiles from across India. The exhibition will showcase 20 best photographs from over 350 entries chosen by Mr. Senthil, Winner of many prestigious photography awards including awards at Cannes International-2001 & 2003. Mr. Chitranga Chaitanya Dasa, Program Director, of Akshaya Patra will also be gracing the event. The exhibits will be showcased at Alliance Francaise Bangalore, Millers Tank Bund Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka on the 15th and 16th of December, 2010 from 10 am to 6.30 pm.

Akshaya Patra to Teach Children in Corporation Schools

Akshaya Patra Foundation, which currently serves food to schoolchildren under the mid-day meal programme, is now working with students to help them fare better in academics. Vidya Akshaya Patra, an educational initiative of the Akshaya Patra Foundation has been given renewed impetus by Bruhat Bengalooru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the administrative body for the civic and infrastructural assets of Bangalore, to conduct classes in areas of the city that suffer from poor student performance in Board exams. Nearly 1120 students in 16 schools will benefit from the program, which will provide students with extra classes in Maths, Science, English and Kannada over a period of 107 days lasting till March of 2011.

For more information on these and many more events coming up, please visit www.akshayapatra.org

Hear with an open mind

Nan-in, a Japanese master received a university professor who came to inquire about the Absolute Truth.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you the Absolute Truth unless you first empty your cup?"

Hence it’s very important when we hear or take association from seniors; we go with an empty cup and hear with an open mind, keeping aside our own opinions and speculations.

Forgiving others is the best attitude to take

A kindergarten teacher decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes.

The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for one week. Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After one week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.

The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for one week?" The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go.

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???"

Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take!