Inspiring Thoughts

Inspiring Thoughts

If I Can
If I can throw a single ray of light,
Across the darkened pathway of another,
If I can aid some soul to clearer sight
Of light and duty and thus bless my brother;
If I can wipe from any human cheek a tear
I shall not have, then, lived in vain while here.
If I can guide some erring to truth
Inspire within his heart a sense of duty;
If I can plant within the soul of a rosy plant
A sense of light, a love of truth and beauty:
If I can plant within the soul of a rosy plant
A sense of light, a love of truth and beauty;
If I can teach one man that God and Heaven are near;
I shall not have, then, lived in vain while here.
If from my mind I can banish doubt and fear.
And keep my life attuned to truth, love and kindness;
If I can scatter light and hope and cheer
And help and remove the curse of mental blindness;
If I can make joy more, more hope, less pain
I shall not have, lived in vain while here.
If by life's road side I can plant a tree
Beneath whose shade some wearied head may rest
Though I may never share its shade or see
Its beauty I shall yet be truly blessed
Though no one knows my name








IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired of waiting,
Or being lied about don't deal in lies;
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
Yet don't look too good nor talk too wise;
If you can dream and not make dreams your master.
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,
And treat those two imposters just the same,
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken,
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings,
And risk it on one turn of pitch and toss,
And lose and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss,
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew,
To serve your turn long after they have gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you,
Except the will which says to them, "Hold on",
If you can mix with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or, walk with kings, nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If you men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With 60 seconds' worth of distance run,
Then yours is the world and everything that's in it,
And what's more-you 'll be a Man, My son!
-Rudyard Kipling




In the lamp of heart;
Put the oil of dispassion,
Insert the wick of devotion,
And kindle the light of knowledge,
By constant meditation;
The darkness of ignorance will be
Dispelled and you will be fully illumined.

-Swami Sivanand




Others

Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for "Others"
Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true,
And know, that all I do for You
Must needs be done for "Others".
And when my work on earth is done,
And my new work in Heavens begun
May I forget the crown I've won,
While thinking still of "Others"
"Others." Lord, yes, "Others!"
Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for others
That I may live for Thee.






Just for Today

Just For Today, Lord
I will live through the next 12 hours and
Not try to tackle all of life's problems at once.
I will improve my mind.
I will learn something useful.
I will learn something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.
I will be agreeable.
I will look my best,
Speak in a well-modulated voice,
Be courteous and considerate.
I will not find fault with friend, relative, or colleague.
I will not try to change or improve anyone but myself.
I will have a programme.
I might not follow it exactly, but I will have it.
I will save myself from two enemies-hurry and indecision.
I will do a good turn and keep it a secret.
If anyone finds out, it won't count.
I will do two things I don't want to do, just for the exercise.
I will believe in myself.
I will give my best to the world and feel confident that
The world will give its best to me.
-SAI BABA