Let this
blog find you in pure contribution mode, creating joy around you.
Here is
one of my favourite stories that my mentor used to relate to us:
-------
Guided
tour of heaven & hell…
I once
got a guided tour to Heaven & Hell !!!
I was
first taken to Hell. I had expected it to be full of fire, flames, blood etc.
To my utter surprise it was all green, well manicured gardens, 8 lane roads
etc. I was shocked. However, the inhabitants were very frail and thin. As if
they have not eaten for days – skin stretched on skeleton!
I then
went to Heaven. The scene here was exactly same. Same infrastructure, greenery,
roads etc. The only difference was that the inhabitants looked very fit,
healthy and happy!!
What was
the mystery? I rushed to God and asked. “Please tell me why people at these two
places look different?”
God
smiled. “Did you see their canteen?”
“No.
What is there to see in the canteen?” I asked.
“There
you will find your answer!” God said.
I went
again. Outside the Hell canteen, there was a notice. “You can eat ONLY with the
spoon provided”. There was a big spoon put on the notice board – 2 feet long.
Also the spoon was tied to the one arm of each inhabitant as they entered (with
elbow locked), the other arm was tied behind his back.
Inside
the canteen, the scene was interesting. Each person was dipping his spoon in
the food and throwing it towards his mouth & attempting to catch the food.
Everyone was doing that. All were busy. 95% of the food fell on the floor.
I then
went to Heaven’s canteen. Same rule, same spoon! Yet the scene was different.
You guessed it right!! People were sitting in pairs, facing each other.
Each person picked food in the spoon and fed the person in front.
----------------------
Important
point to note is that no one was shirking. Every person did his/her job. No one
was fed out of pity, none were pleading helplessness.
How does
this apply to our life?
We have
a choice to create Heaven or Hell, right here on this earth. If we only think
of “Self, Me, Mine”, we may most likely create Hell around us.
If we
choose to be in pure contribution mode, where we contribute to others, “Help
them to help themselves”, we may create Heaven around us right here on this
earth.
Remember
‘Helping out of pity” is totally opposite of pure contribution. Most of the
time, that act has a big selfish element. One may feel that at least there is
someone who exists because of him. One may also feel that he/she is better off
than someone. It may even be seeking appreciation, approval from the person
being helped, or from society or even self satisfaction. It is all the same
thing. It fuels the ego subtly.
Someone
taught me: “Keep your hand always outstretched in an active contribution mode –
as a GIVER. Contribute and add value to the situation. You will never need to
spread your hand out as a borrower or for favour. What you need will come to
you!”
I
realized that much later in my life. I remember in my first few years of
working as an employee. I always thought of what I was getting; how my CV value
was getting enriched for a better job, higher salary; how to maximize available
benefits and allowances from the company; how I deserved better from life; how
people should pay me for my past individual accomplishments!! – ME, ME & I
all the way.
Much
later I realized that when I first focus on the company, its bottomline growth,
contributing to its clients, growing people around me, helping them to be
winners in their lives, life turned simple & heavenly.
The joy
of being a star pilot in my own life was miniscule in comparison to the joy of
assisting others to fly in their lives in reaching their dream destination.
Here is
a test. Whenever you find something a drag and struggle, do a check. Have you
shifting to ME-ME mode from the contribution mode. Shift the choice back to
pure contribution and see the drag disappear magically!
Warm regards,
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