Back...

...after a brief hiatus. Shall begin posting very soon :)

Meanwhile, here's a prayer for the latest love of my life, my niece Zayha

O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden. Let Thy rain fall upon them; let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost beauty. Thou art the Giver. Thou art the Compassionate.

-- Abdu'l-Bahá

Selfless love

Here's a lovely story I read recently in the paper:

A businessman came out of his office in a high-rise commercial centre and crossed the street to get into his saloon car. His chauffeur was holding the door open for him. The man was about to get in when his saw a little boy gazing wistfully at the gleaming automobile. Moved, the man said to the boy, "Would you like to come for a drive with me?"

The child's eyes lit up with excitement and he said: "Thank you sir! I would love nothing better!" And off they went, the man and the boy, seated comfortably at the rear and the chauffeur at the wheel, unable to believe what was happening.

"How much did this car cost?" the boy blurted out, his eyes wide open with wonder. "Er... I don't know", said the man, flushed with embarrassment. "You see, it was a gift from my older brother".

"How lucky you are to have such a brother!" exclaimed the boy. "Where would you like to go?" asked the man, after a while. "I'll get dropped home", said the boy eagerly. "We live close by, in a hutment near the station". Soon they reached the station.

The car stopped in front of the sprawling slum. The boy turned to the man eagerly and said, "Sir, could you wait here for just a few minutes?" The man nodded. The boy got down from the car and vanished into the slum.

But he was back in a few minutes and in his arms he carried a severely disabled child. "Look, Chhotu, look! This is the big beautiful car that sahib's bhaiya gifted him", the boy told the child. "I wish to be like that brother! Then I could buy you such a car when you grow up!"

The boy waved goodbye and the car moved away. Inside the plush car the rich businessman sat in stupefied silence.
At long last he said to the chauffeur, "He did not want a car like this for himself. He wanted to give it to his brother!" True love is selfless. And such love can bring about lasting peace.