A single flower can move a heart; a single thorn can rip it apart. There was once a big traffic jam on a street in Mumbai. The loud honking of the horns by impatient motorists could be heard on all sides. A re light would not turn green. The traffic policeman was unable to control the commotion. People were shouting at each other. Everybody was getting late. Just then a young man climbed up a ladder check the signal. He removed the front plate of the box and located the trouble at once. A wire had got disconnected. It was a small thing in itself, but looks at its effect.

In Visakhapatnam, there was much excitement in the ship building yard. A new ship was being launched. Thousands of people gathered there. The then prime minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi and many other distinguished gusts were also present. The great moment arrived. A special crew of men began to remove the blockings. Mrs. Indira Gandhi held a coconut in readiness. After many efforts the ship would not move down the slipway. It was an Embarrassing moment for everyday. People ran here and there. Suddenly somebody spotted a small wedge that had jumped in between the plates. It was removed and ship began to slide gracefully down the grassed narrow way into the water. A small wedge could disrupt the entire Program.

The world is made up of little things. The biggest mountain is only a great, big mass of little rocks joined together. The great Emperor Napoleon has conquered Europe. His planning was accurate. Perhaps he would have also won the battle of waterloo, but rained the night before the battle and ruined all his plans. The rain in itself was a little thing, but it changed the course of history.

Columbus on his first voyage was becoming discouraged with no sight of land. He was about to turn is ships and return to Europe, when, a young man saw a sea-weed floating near the ship. They knew that land was near.

We build our lives out of little things. Each habit is made up of countless unnoticed actions. These actions in themselves are trifle. They can be controlled. But they can become our habit. A little laziness, a little jealousy, a little hatred if not controlled on time can give us a bad name. But a little smile, a little word of kindness, a little patience or understanding can bring tons of joy to others.

In the same way each individual may seem quite insignificant but when in a group they become a force to recon with. One evening in the Braboume Stadium in Mumbai, 50,000 people were present to watch a match between Dadra Singh of India and Tank Morgan of USA giant searchlights were bathing every corner of the stadium. Suddenly the lights went out there was total darkness in the stadium. People started whistling and children began to cry. Tank Morgan came to the microphone and said, `Ladies and Gentlemen, I am striking a match, can you see the flame?’ there was a mighty roar as the people replied, `Yes’. `Then why don’t each of you also strike a light?’ tank Morgan said. In an instant there were about 50,000 pinpoints of light. Everyone gasped with supervise. They understood the importance of the education of each person to the whole.

Little drops of water can make big oceans. Each grain of sand contributes in making the vast desert. Thus a kind word or action contributes significantly in making us a better human being.

• Burn the lamp of kindness with the wick of care in the oil of love. Spread the light of happiness in this world.

In the church of Mary, Ara Caeli, in Rome, there is a silver lamp kept burning day and night. It is called the lamp of kindness. On the silver base of the lamp is engraved the message that there should be no bad boy or girl. Everyone should be kind just as Christ was kind. This is the message of a small Italian boy called Livio Tempesta, who wrote it in his diary just a short time before he died in the Christmas of 1951. There was nothing special about this boy. He did nothing to make himself a newspaper hero. But one great ambition Burned in his heart - to be kind.

Every year since then, on November 20, an award is given to the best school boy or girl in Italy. It is called the Livio Tempesta prize, in honor of that little boy who wanted to b kind. The prize includes a trip to Rome to take part in a deeply moving ceremony in the church where the lamp is burning. During the service, the Cardinal personally presents the winner with a gold medal and diploma plus an award of hundred liras. Then the boy or girl who has been chosen as the best out of life million pupils in Italy relights the lamp of kindness which has been put out the day before. The town where the child lives offers the olive oil that keeps the flame burning through out the year.

The prize in 1961 went to Carmel Fichera, a little girl with black hair and soft brown eyes. Her home was in Naples, the singing city. She went, a little girl with black hair soft brown eyes. Her home was in Naples, the singing City. She went to school and found many occasions for acts of kindness. She was thus chosen out of 230 entries that were submitted to the judges.

Carmel’s mother was sick and there were four brothers and sisters to take care of. The family was poor yet she shared her savings, her lunch and her clothes with the other companions who were poorer than she was. On many occasions she did shopping even before she went to school. She did all the housework and washed the greasy overall of her father who worked as a mechanic. She often helped her neighbor’s little children with their lessons and visited any one who was sick.

But if she did all this, when did she find the time to complete her home work? Said, that by paying very close attention in school, she knew the lessons as soon as they were over. She did her home-work at night when everybody was in bed. With such a desire to study and help others, it is not surprising that she wanted to become a teacher.

It was one of the biggest surprises in Carmel’s life when she was told that he had won Livio Tempesta Prize for being kind. All she was trying to do was to let her little Lamp of kindness shine in this world.

The three rules to find the way home are known to us. They are:-1) to known god. 2) To love God. 3) To serve God.

Besides, we have to pray to God daily. All these things require us to utter God’s name. We have to utter His name several times a day.

We know that God is the sources of all goodness, power, knowledge, justices and creation. Therefore we call Him by different names:-

1) God is all –creating or omnific.

2) God is all-knowing or omniscient.

3) God is all –powerful or omnipotent.

4) God is everywhere or omnipresent.

5) God is all –holy and all-just.

We have a national flag-tricolor. It is the symbol of our national honor. It is held in high esteem. We salute it. We stand to attention before it. We use it only under certain rules.

But God is the master of all. He is omnipotent. He is much more honorable than our flag.

So, we must utter God’s name with respect. We must use His name carefully. We must not use it in a cheap and careless way. We must also use god’s name only on certain occasions.

We can use God’s name:-

1) When we pray to Him.

2) When we read holy books.

3) When we read books on Moral Science.

4) When we are before a judge or a magistrate.

5) When we wish something good for others.

But people are generally careless. They use God’s name just like a common word. `By God’ has become a common oath with such people. It is very bad.

We must not use God’s name for common oaths. We must remember that God is all –holy. So, His name cannot be used in an unholy way. Any unbecoming word should not be used for god, the Lord of all. He is all-good and great.

Those who use God’s name with disrespect always suffer. So, never swear by god for nothing. A person who swears in ordinary matters is not a good man. Clearly, he is a liar. He takes oath just to cover his lies.

A person who does not tell lies need not swear. People know that he is truthful. So, they believe him easily.

So, we must learn to use God’s name respectfully. It shall help us always remember God, the Creator of all. God’s name is the best thing us. It will help us at every step during the journey to our True Home. We have to acquire certain qualities. Without them, we shall not be able to cover the journey, remembering God and uttering His name with respect is a must for us. This is the first quality that we should acquire.

Its one of the most beautiful and contagious smile I have ever seen. Just a look at this face and you forget all your worries. The fog of uncertainity dissolves and all you see is sunshine, pure happiness, pure bliss.
I met sri sri ravishankar at the ashram near chennai. The art of living center. I was too curios to meet him, cause everytime I see him on tv or newspaper he reminded me of a very young friend of mine. So, I bunked my college and ride almost 27 km to see him performing a special pooja at his ashram.
One look on to his face and I was bowled over. He has this charisma which can attract you like a powerful magnet. He was laughing like a kid. I was spellbound, not even able to react or speak anything. when I regain my consiousness I was too happy, that too without a reason. And then I thought why do I need a reason to be happy. why can't I keep smiling like HIM.