Gerald D'Cunha

  “Breathe darling… This is just a chapter; it’s not your whole story.” S. C. Lourie   N o doubt, there are ample number of problems in life. But, who decides, whether they are big or small? Often, we see our problems through the magnifying glasses… That’s why they look bigger, overpowering. We are, seldom, able to see them through right lenses, if we go about our lives carrying those magnifying glasses. Often, it takes another soul –   a S. C. Lourie-kind - to help us see them through right lenses and gently remind us: “Breathe darling. It’s only a chapter; it’s not your entire story.” When we see our problems through the magnifying glasses, we, literally, stop breathing… ‘We’ includes ‘we all’. A couple of days ago, when I saw my students (Class X1) taking their studies casually – seeing them going nowhere – I started fretting and fuming. At the end of my marathon fretting and fuming, I could see things through the right lenses… I had calmed down, I was ...

“When you make peace with yourself, You make peace with the world.” Maha Ghosananda I f the images of a White police-officer in Minneapolis state in America choking down (with his knees) his fellow-Black citizen to death was extremely disturbing and provocative, the images of the White Police-chief of New York City and of several other cities in America kneeling down to hug the protesters, walking with them in solidarity in their peaceful protest-march… yes, these images are extremely empowering and healing. What a time for this unfortunate episode to explode, and what a way! In a way, all over the world, episodes like these are waiting to explode… It can be anywhere, any moment. Trust me, I am not a Prophet of Doom… I am a die-hard advocate of peace… I am an incorrigible optimist! But, that doesn’t make me bury my head in the sand and say, “Everything is fine… Sab changa si”! Everything ' will be'  fine… Yes, I believe in that. S...

A parent had come to seek my help, this morning. Apparently, his daughter, who studied in eleventh standard, had failed in all the subjects! “I had paid Rs.40,000/- and enrolled her in   so and so classes,” he grumbled angrily, “What is the use if a student fails like this?”   Now, this distraught soul had come to enroll his beloved daughter in my classes, with the hope that some miracle might take place here!  I heard him out… allowed his steam to go off his pressure cooker. Then, I told him in most gentle manner a very nice old-story. One evening, a merchant was returning home sitting on his camel. He had made good business through the day and was very happy. When they approached a roadside mosque, he decided to thank Allah for giving him a profitable day… So, he got off the camel, left it just outside the mosque and went inside the mosque to pray.   Once inside, the merchant thanked Allah profusely. He als...