Gerald D'Cunha

      “And stand together yet not too near together: For, the pillars of the temple stand apart And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s company.” Kahlil Gibran in ‘The Prophet’ I n his remarkable book, ‘The Prophet’, Kahlil Gibran’s famous lines might have been in response to the request – “Master, say something about Marriage”… Yes, it might have been used to emphasize on the need for ‘space’ in marital relationships… yet, in a larger context, ‘space’ is a universal thirst in every kind of relationship… You see, humans cannot grow in shade… They get suffocated, and die! In our summer programme on Personality Development, we, always, hold the Workshop on ‘Self-esteem’ first. The reason: a healthy self-esteem is the foundation for the healthy development of one’s personality… During the Workshop on ‘Self-esteem’, the facilitator (Swami Brahmavidananda Saraswati) helps the participants to reflect on the major parental messages that impact s...

The TY B’Com results are just out. A young-girl, who has done extremely well, called me to break the good news. Understandably, she was on top of the world! Before we ended the conversation, I asked her, “So, what is the plan?” “Sir, I will be working for a couple of years for experience,” she told me; “I will do my MBA after that.” Then, she added a line, which has made me write this post, today. She said, “Sir, first-hand knowledge is, always, first-hand… Our own!” “Wow, how true, dear!” I exclaimed in my mind, “How I wish many thought the way you did!” Two days ago, I had recounted a popular-story:   the blind-man carrying a lantern in the night. This story has been told by many, in different versions, to convey a different message each time. One such version, immediately, came to my mind. Once a blind-man had been to another town to visit his friend. Late that evening, when the blind-man was ready to leave, his friend lit a lan...