Gurudwara Bangla Sahib - The story

Because sometimes, watching the sun go down is proof enough.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi, known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan Ji.   Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, an Indian ruler in the seventeenth century, and was known as Jaisinghpura Palace. The eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan resided here during his stay in Delhi in 1664. 

During that time, there was a smallpox and cholera epidemic, and Guru Har Krishan helped the suffering by giving aid and fresh water from the well at this house. Soon he too contracted the illness and eventually died on March 30, 1664.

Guru Har Krishan Ji was only five years old when he succeeded his father - Guru Har Rai Ji  - as Guru. When Guru Har Rai Ji was asked who among his two sons Ram Rai and Har Krishan would be the next guru. Guru Ji asked the person to go with a needle and insert the needle in the leg of the bed where these two sat and recited baani.

The sevadaar did the same and he was surprised to see that the needle went inside the bed when Guru Har Krishan Ji was doing paath but not when Baba Raam Rai was doing it. The sevadaar obviously perplexed went to Guru Har Rai Ji to ask the meaning. Guru Ji explained that although both of them were reciting the same baani, needle going inside the bed was symbolic of softness in the heart of Har Krishan Ji. Since the child guru was to take up so many diseases on his own self, softness was of prime importance. Thus next Guru came to be Guru Har Krishan Ji at the age of 5 years. Its the first time in the history when the light of the Guru had entered a small child.

Maktub: It is written

Maktub:The Arab culture has an ancient belief, or rather, an archaic saying. It simply says "It is written" - It is written. Meaning no matter how horribly things go wrong, or how badly life deviates from the script you had planned, believe that if you want something with all your heart and you believe it is your destiny, then the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it, because it is written. And if it is written, it happens. Maybe you wouldn't be too sure about it now, but you'll see. Believe in yourself, and no matter how messed up things may seem at that moment, things will fall into place, because you believed in yourself and your destiny. And when the pieces of your life fall into place, you'll find yourself muttering 'Maktub', because you will realize that miracles do happen, but not to those who call themselves 'lucky', but to those who believe in them.

Tell your story

 Tell your story: Yes, tell your story. Show your example. Tell everyone it's possible, and others shall feel the courage, to climb their own mountains  

― Paulo Coelho

In 1948, while working for Bell Telephone Laboratories, he published a paper in the Bell System Technical Journal entitled "A Mathematical Theory of Communication" that not only introduced the word bit in print but established a field of study today known as information theory. Information theory is concerned with transmitting digital information in the presence of noise (which usually prevents all the information from getting through) and how to compensate for that. In 1949, he wrote the first article about programming a computer to play chess, and in 1952 he designed a mechanical mouse controlled by relays that could learn its way around a maze. Shannon was also well known at Bell Labs for riding a unicycle and juggling simultaneously.” ― 

Charles Petzold, Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software 

Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better... or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future.”
― Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman In The World 

Life is a play that does not allow testing. So, sing, cry, dance, laugh and live intensely, before the curtain closes and the piece ends with no applause.”
― -Charlie Chaplin.

I've learned...

I have learned: 

• Life isn’t always a fairytale, that’s why you should enjoy the moments when it feels like it is.
• One important lesson in math that we can all apply in life is always be careful of the signs
• That past does not equal the future. Because you failed yesterday, or all day today, or a moment ago. All that matters is: What are you going to do, right now? 
• You cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
• Sometimes you have to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next.
• Life is too short. Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should and let go of what you can’t change. Love deeply and forgive quickly. Take chances. Give everything and have no regrets. Life is too short to be unhappy. You have to take the good with the bad. Smile when you’re sad, love what you got, and always remember what you had. Always forgive, but never forget. Learn from your mistakes but never regret. People change, and things go wrong but always remember – life goes on!
• You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.

What are we holding onto

Sam: It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it's only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it'll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.