Gerald D'Cunha

“Destiny doesn’t care that we’re wounded. Destiny sees through scars… All that Destiny sees is light.” Mary Calvi   “T hank God, I did not get the ‘best Job’; for, I got the ‘right job.” The ‘best’ is only a perception… an ideal, rather a myth. The ‘right’ is a reality… what you and I really make out of the given situation. A very senior and respected motivational speaker and trainer tirelessly hammers down in his every session this: “Five decades ago, I came to Bombay to face the interview for a job in one of the best companies… I was rejected. Thank God, I did not get the ‘best’ job; for, I got the ‘right’ job in life.” To me, this confession seems to be a familiar experience of most of us, who have come ‘here’ seeking our respective ‘best’ things… Yes, the best jobs, the best schools and colleges, the best life-partners, children, relatives, friends, neighbours, everything. Invariably, the quest is for the ‘best. But, then, what we get is only what we deserve… An...

“God does not create a lock without its key; And, God does not give problems without solutions…Trust Him.” -           Anonymous O ne of my favourite stories comes from the teachings of Gautama Buddha. The story is popularly known as ‘Kisa Gotami and the Parable of the Mustard Seeds’. Kisa’s young son had died. She was heart-broken… Carrying the dead son in her arms, she went from one door to another, pleading people to bring her little boy to life. But, her efforts seemed futile. Finally, someone suggested her to seek Gautama’s help. Thus, she presented herself before the Buddha. “O Master, I am unable to bear this loss,” she cried, “Have mercy on me and bring my son back to life.” The Buddha agreed. He advised the distressed woman to go back to her village and gather a fistful of mustard seeds from any household which was not touched by death. “From those mustard seeds, I shall prepare a med...

A dvertisements and commercials are created with only one objective: to influence us, to sell, to promote and, enhance the brand value. Why else, do you think, such amazing ads and commercials are created? Several years ago, when Raymond started bringing out their commercials, ‘The Complete Man’, it had touched millions. Yes, I wasn’t the unsentimental odd-ball not to have been touched by it. After all, I was (I still am!) a ‘man’… and, Raymond was aiming to influence men directly, and men’s loved ones indirectly. It was a very effective campaign. Men, like me, wanted to be reassured that we were ‘Complete Men’… Ideals lovers, ideal husbands, ideal fathers, ideals grandpas, ideal uncles, ideal bosses etc… Perfect… Absolutely flawless. Yes, ‘The Complete Men’… Very happy, content and blessed souls in life! But, were we? I remember settling for Raymond when the time had come to select the wedding-suit material! Maybe, I wanted to present myself before my...

Pic.: Aruna Anand “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”  ―  Jalaluddin Rumi I am a great believer in the theory: “Time heals”. The reason why, like most around me, the doubt, sometimes, creeps in me is… because, the wounds seems to remain open for a long, long time. Well, all wounds have been caused through our strained relationships… through our egos and arrogance, through our hatred and revenge… through our hurts and our inability to forgive, let go… through our suppressed pain and anger… through our misunderstandings and ignorance… So, take away this ignorance, all else will fall in place… To get healed, I should have the burning thirst to be healed. It starts with me, not with the other person… my so-called ‘enemy’ or ‘oppressor’ or ‘tormentor’. I am my worst enemy… I am my worst oppressor… I am my worst tormentor. Till I am not out of my own prison, I cannot be out of the other perso...

I love the guy who praises me, my work. I love him for the obvious reason: he praises me! I feel good when he praises me, my work. So, he is my friend… I love him! But, what about the guy, who criticizes me, my work? No, I don’t feel good when he does that… So, he is not my friend… I don’t love him! This does sound like a juvenile rationale… “Kids do such things!”… It is easy to castigate it like that. But, freeze for a moment! We do behave like kids… Because, it is easy to love a person when he compliments you… and, tough when he chides! Well, once again, I said ‘we’. Yes, I have generalized. Therefore, let me correct by saying this: I, a 54-year-old teacher/parent/husband/son etc., do behave like a small kid when it comes to ‘bouquets’ and ‘brickbats’ in life! To accept someone’s compliments does not demand my character-strength. But, to accept gracefully, and in right learning-spirit, his c...