Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Chetna Shetty O ver last few days, I have used this expression – ‘it comes from a clean space’ – many times and  at different places… Then, I suddenly paused to ask myself: “What is this clean space in us all about?” How am I supposed to know that an act or statement comes from a clean space within me? Giving, loving, caring, helping, mentoring, serving, teaching, working and everything else come from a source… When I care for someone, for example… or when I say something about someone… yes, I can sense inside me as to how I feel about my act of caring or the words I am saying… When I compliment or thank someone, I can sense how I feel it… When I mentor or help someone, I can sense how I feel inside… If it comes from a clean space, I invariably feel good about myself… There is no premeditation, no expectation from other person… I act with no strings attached… I love and care, for that’s what my heart says I should do… I compliment and thank because,...

Pic.: Sheela Mohan “As you enter a house, wish it peace.  If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, go outside that house or town and   shake the dust from your feet .” W hen Jesus gave this advice to his disciples, He had made it very clear to them: “Look guys, you may have in your heart the best of the best intentions, you may be love and peace personified under the sky… your motive may be pure and selfless, you may have gone to their homes for their sake and not yours, yet, be prepared to be ‘rejected’.” You may be good and selfless, and you may have the best intention and concern for others, but, how the other person perceives you - whether he welcomes you or shoos you off… is, certainly, not in your hand… But, one thing, most certainly, is: If the other person rejects you, shoos you off, you do not have to sulk, screa...

        The people who take walks in the morning, the people who attend satsangs or daily morning mass in the church, the people who do yoga, laughter sessions or gym… These people are very proactive people. It takes a strong will to do that… and, do it every day, for a long, long time. Making a small promise to yourself and keeping it is the best way of building up your self-esteem. When you make a promise to get up early every morning and take walks, do yoga, attend satsangs or Mass… or, do laughter sessions in the park or workouts in the gym, it really means, you are taking charge of your mind. And, when you follow up, keep your promise, you have to feel good about yourself. Your self-esteem soars up by a few notches every time you do that… This morning, I was on my way to my class. I had to take a class at 8. Just outside my classes, I met a friend of mine, an advocate, who was coming back from his walking-laughing sessions. We stoo...

There is a simple spiritual law. It goes like this:  “When you leave a place – any place - you leave it in a better condition than you found it when you first came in.” Well, it says, ‘Any place’! Just a while from now, Mr. Kamal * and his family are all set to step into their new house. The auspicious moment is just round the corner… and, they have invited my family, too. I have asked the Florist to deliver a lovely bouquet at the stroke of the clock… “Wish you and your family all happiness, prosperity and peace, dear Kamal,” I have written on the note.  What a happy moment for young Kamal and his family! Incidentally, the man who sold that house to Kamal was not liked by anyone around. He had lived in that house for nearly five years… and, during all these five years, he had been a chronic complainant… mean and vengeful… short-sighted and selfish. Well, it is not my perception… It is the general perception of everyone around ...