A Soulful Journey

When Mahatma Gandhi was studying law at the University College of London, a professor by the name of Peters disliked him intensely and always displayed animosity towards him.  And because Gandhi never lowered his head when addressing him, as he expected, there were always "arguments" and confrontations. One day Mr Peters was having lunch at the University dining room when Gandhi came along with his tray and sat next to him. The professor said, "Mr Gandhi, you do not understand. A pig and a bird do not sit together to eat.  "Gandhi looked at him as a parent would a rude child and calmly replied, "You do not worry, professor. I'll fly away," and he went and sat at another table. Peters, red with rage, decided to take revenge on the next test paper, but Gandhi responded brilliantly to all questions. Unhappy and frustrated, Mr Peters asked him the following question:  "Mr Gandhi, if you were walking down the street and found a package, an...

Rabbi Natan said, “There are Jewish people who live in Israel and they give their lives to do mitzvot.” “Why are you going to be executed?” “Because I read Torah in public.” “Why are you going to be crucified?” “Because I ate matza.” “Why are they are the being whipped?” Because I waved the lulav.”   –M’chilta d’Rabbi Ishmael There are times when we ponder the many pulls on our time.   There are so many things to do and so little time!   At times such as those it is sobering to read of past trials like these.  It gives perspective.

Philosopher Alan Watts said that the sun would not be as bright were it not for human eyes; thorns would not be as prickly if skin were not soft; rocks would not be hard or heavy if muscles did not exist. Things have meaning because of our interaction or perception of them.  And we notice them only because of contrast. All life is relative to us.  Perception is reality. How does this fact change our life?

“This is the difference between a mitnaged and a Hasid (a religious person versus a follower of a Hasidic dynasty); If both are cold, one drinks tea, the other vodka.   As the drinks go down, one becomes cooler and one becomes hotter.”   - Adin Steinsaltz And, best of all, there is room for everyone at the same table.  Move over and make a place.

  A vice-president is like a man in a ”cataleptic fit…conscious of all that goes on but has not art in it.”  -Thomas Marshall, VP to Woodrow Wilson

"The Italians must forget a defeat.   The French must invent victory.”   -Luigi Barzini I t is funny how we make fun of those who are less proficient at killing one another.

“I made one great mistake on my life - when I signed the letter to president Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made.” -Albert Einstein I wonder if God thinks: I created humans to develop better, more efficient ways to destroy each another?"