The Jain tattvas, or principles, are the single most important subject of Jain philosophy. It deals with the theory of karma, which provides the basis for the path of liberation. Jain literature explains nine fundamental tattvas. Without the proper knowledge of these tattvas, a person can not progress spiritually.
The proper understanding of this subject brings about right knowledge (samyak jnana), right faith (samyak darshana), and right conduct (samyak-charitra) to an individual.
Nine Tattvas (Principles)
1. Jiva Soul or living being (Consciousness)
2. Ajiva Non living substances
3. Punya* Virtue
4. Papa* Sin
5. Asrava Cause of the influx of karma
6. Samvara Stoppage or arrest of the influx of karma
7. Nirjara Exhaustion of the accumulated karma
8. Bandha Bondage of karma
9. Moksha Total liberation from karma
• Punya and Papa are the diverse results of Asrava and Bandh. Some exponents of Jains do not treat them as separate tattvas. According to them, there are only seven principles instead of nine.
1. Soul (Jiva) or Living being Substance
Jiva or Soul is the only substance, which in pure state possesses infinite knowledge, vision, power, and bliss. The pure soul is a liberated soul. The worldly soul is covered by karma particles. The karma subdues the natural qualities of the soul. The qualities of the impure soul are as follows: • Limited Knowledge, Vision, Power, and Bliss• Possesses a body (plants, hellish, animal, human, or angel) • Wanders into the cycle of life and death• Suffers from birth, death, pain, and pleasureThe ultimate goal of human life is to remove all karma particles, which are attached to the soul. Then the soul will become pure and liberated.
2. Ajiva (Non living) Substances
Except soul, everything else in the entire universe is non-living substance. The non-living substances are classified into five categories. Matter - PudgalSpace - AakasMedium of motion - DharmastikayMedium of rest - AdharmastikayTime - Kaal or Samay
Out of five categories, only matter substance possesses body, color, and senses. Karma is one of the categories of matter. It is known as karmic matter (karma pudgala). Karma particles are Chatur-sparshi Pupgalas (of very fine matter not perceptible to the senses). The entire universe is filled with such karmic matter.
Every living being is covered by karmic matter from the beginning of time or from their eternal existence. It is the karmic matter that keeps the soul away from realization of its true nature. It is due to karma one feels pleasure and pain, reincarnates in the different form of life, acquires certain types of physical body, and the duration of life.
3. Punya (Virtue)
The fruit of influx of karmic matter due to good activities of the mind, body, and speech with the potential of producing pleasant sensations is called punya or virtue. By Subha Yoga (religious) activities the soul becomes purified, simultaneously karmic matter (shubha karma pudgala) are attached to the soul. The bondage of shubh karmas is called dravya Punya and when they give result, it is called punya.
4. Papa (Sin)
The result of influx of karmic matter due to evil activities of the mind, body, and speech with the potential of producing unpleasant sensations is called papa or sin. Ashubha Yoga Activities such as violence, untruth, theft, unchastity, attachment to objects, anger, conceit, deceit, lust result in producing ashubha karma pudgalas is called papa when it give result.Asrava (Cause of the influx of karma)Asrava is the cause, which leads to the influx of good and evil karma which lead to the bondage of the soul.
5. Asrava Ashrava
may be described as attraction in the soul toward sense objects. The following are causes of Asrava or influx of good and evil karma:Mithyatva IgnoranceAvirati Lack of self restraintPramada* Unawareness or unmindfulnessKasaya Passions like anger, conceit, deceit, and lustYoga Activities of mind, speech, and body
6. Samvara (Stoppage of Karma)
The method that stops fresh karma from attaching into the soul is called samvara. This process is a reverse process of asrava. It can be accomplished by constant practice of:
Samyaktva Right belief virati Observance of vows Apramada Awareness Akasaya Passionlessness Ayoga Peacefulness of vibratory activities
7. Nirjara (Exhaustion of the attached karma)
The attached karma exhaust themselves by producing their results when it is time for them to do so. At that time new karma attach to the soul.
Unless the attached karma are exhausted before they start producing the results, it becomes difficult for the soul to be free.
Therefore, it is necessary to exhaust all karmas before their maturity. This is done by rigorous austerities and penance. This process is called nirjara.
There are twelve types of nirjara defined in the Jain scriptures. They are divided into two groups; external nirjara which disciplines the human body against passions and desires and internal nirjara which purifies the soul. The internal nirjara is the true austerities because it exhausts the attached karma before their maturity from the soul.
External Nirjara:
Anasan Complete abstinence of eating any food and drinking liquid for certain timeUnodary or Alpahara Reduction in the quantity of food one normally eats
Bhikshachari Limiting the number of food items to eat and material things for useRasa Parityaga Complete abstinence of eating or drinking juicy and tasty foods such as honey, alcohol, butter, milk, tea, sweets, etc. (no attachments to the taste of the foods)Kayaklesha Live and travel on a bare foot in a severe heat and cold whether condition. Remove hair with the hand. Prati-Samlinata Sitting in a lonely place in due postures with senses and mind withdrawn inwardly.
Internal Nirjara:
Prayaschita Repentance for the breach of vows for spiritual purificationVinaya Politeness (appropriate behavior) towards teachers and eldersVaiyavrata Rendering selfless service to the suffering and deservingSvadhyaya Studying and listening of religious scripturesDhyana Religious meditationVyutsarga The ultimate internal austerity, where the activities of body, speech and mind are withdrawn. The body is fixed without movement, the speech is fixed by means of silence, and the mind is fixed by means of sublime meditation. This nirjara destroys all karmas.
8. Bandha (Bondage of karma)
Bandha is the attachment of karmic matter (karma pudgala) to the soul. The soul has had this karmic matter bondage from eternity because of its own ignorance. This karmic body is known as the karmana body or causal body or karma.
Karmic matter is a particular type of matter which is attracted to the soul because of soul's ignorance, lack of self restraint, passions, unmindfulness, and activities of body, mind, and speech.
The soul, which is covered by karmic matter, continues acquiring new karma from the universe and exhausting old karma into the universe through the above mentioned actions at every moment.
Because of this continual process of acquiring and exhausting karma particles, the soul has to pass through the cycles of births and deaths, and experiencing pleasure and pain. So under normal circumstances the soul can not attain freedom from karma, and hence liberation.
When karma attaches to the soul, its bondage to the soul is explained in the following four forms:Prakriti bandh Type of karmaSthiti bandha Duration of attachment of karmaAnubhaga bandha Intensity of attachment of karmaPradesha bandha Quantity of karma
Prakriti Bandha (Type of karma):When karmic matter attaches to the soul, it will obscure soul's essential nature of; perfect knowledge, perfect vision, bliss, perfect power, eternal existence, non corporeal, and equanimity. The different types of karma obscure different quality or attributes of soul. This is known as Prakriti bandha.
Prakriti bandha is classified into eight categories, according to the particular attribute of the soul that it obscures.
Jnana varaniya karma -It covers the soul's power of perfect knowledge.Darasna varaniya karma -It covers the soul's power of perfect visions.Mohniya karma -It generates delusion in the soul in regard to its own true nature. The soul identifies itself with other external substances and relationships. Antaraya karma -It obstructs the natural quality or energy of the soul such as charity and will power. This prevents the soul from attaining liberation. It also prevents a living being from doing something good and enjoyable.Vedniya karma -It obscures the blissful nature of the soul, and thereby produces pleasure and pain.Nama karma -It obscures the non corporeal existence of the soul, and produces the body with its limitations, qualities, faculties, etc.Gotra karma -It obscures the soul's characteristics of equanimity, and determines the caste, family, social standing, and personality.Ayushya karma -It determines the span of life in one birth, thus obscuring soul's nature of eternal existence.
Ghati karma and Aghati karma:The above eight karmas are also categorized into two groups, known as ghati karma which subdues the qualities of the soul, and aghati karma which relates to physical body of the living beings.
Ghati Karma (Dangerous karma)Jnana varaniya, Darasna varaniya, Mohaniya, and Antaraya karmas are called ghati karmas (dangerous karmas) because they obscure the true nature of the soul, which is, perfect knowledge, power, vision and bliss.
Aghati Karma (Nondangerous karma)Ayushya, Nama, Gotra, and Vedniya karmas are called aghati karmas. They do not obscure the original nature of the soul. However, they associate with the physical body of the soul.
When a person destroys all of his ghati karmas, he attains keval jnana (absolute knowledge). At that time he is known as Arihant. However, he continues to live his human life until all his aghati karmas are destroyed. He attains liberation only after his death.
Some Arihants establishes the religious order of Monks, Nuns, Sravaka, (male layperson), and Sravika (female layperson). These Arihants are called Tirthankaras and the religious order is known as four fold Jain order. Other Arihantas who do not establish religious order but remain as a part of the existing order are known as simple Kevali. After nirvana (death) both Tirthankaras and simple Kevali (all Arihantas) become Siddhas.
All Siddhas are unique individuals, they all possess perfect knowledge, vision, power, and bliss, and no physical body. Hence from the qualities and attributes point of view all Siddhas are same.
Sthiti Bandha (Duration of attachment):When karmic matter attaches to the soul it remains attached for certain duration before it produces the result. The duration of the attachment is determined according to the intensity or dullness of the soul's passions or actions when the karma is being attached to the soul. After producing the result, karma will separate from the soul.
Anubhaga Bandha or Rasa Bandha (Intensity of attachment):What fruits the karmic matter will produce are determined at the time of attachment by varying degrees of soul's passions.
Pradesha Bandha (Quantity of karma)The intensity or dullness of the soul's action determines the quantum of karmic matter that is drawn towards the soul for attachment.
9. Moksha (Liberation)
Moksha is the liberation of the soul after complete exhaustion or elimination of all karmas.
A liberated soul regains totally its original attributes of perfect knowledge, vision, power, and bliss. It climbs to the top of Lokakas and remains their forever in its blissful and unconditional existence.
It never returns again into the cycles of birth, life, and death.
This state of the soul is the liberated or perfect state, and this is called "Nirvana."
Friday
Lord Mahavira – Life and Teachings
Lord Mahavira was the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara of the Jain religion of this era. According to Jain philosophy, all Tirthankaras were human beings but they have attained a state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self-realization. They are the Gods of Jains. The concept of God as a creator, protector, and destroyer of the universe does not exist in Jainism. Also the idea of God's reincarnation as a human being to destroy the demons is not accepted in Jainism.
Lord Mahavira was born on the thirteenth day of rising moon of Chaitra month, 599 B.C. in the state of Bihar, India. This day falls in the month of April as per English calendar. His birthday is celebrated as Mahavira Jayanti day.
Mahavira was a prince and was given the name Vardhaman by his parents. Being son of a king, he had many worldly pleasures, comforts, and services at his command. But at the age of thirty, he left his family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, and become a monk in search of a solution to eliminate pain, sorrow, and sufferings.
Mahavira spent the next twelve and half years in deep silence and meditation to conquer his desires, feelings, and attachments. He carefully avoided harming or annoying other living beings including animals, birds, and plants. He also went without food for long periods. He was calm and peaceful against all unbearable hardships that he was given the name Mahavira, meaning very brave and courageous. During this period, his spiritual powers fully developed and at the end he realized perfect perception, knowledge, power, and bliss. This realization is known as keval jnana or the perfect enlightenment.
Mahavira spent the next thirty years traveling on bare foot around India preaching to the people the eternal truth he realized. The ultimate objective of his teaching is how one can attain total freedom from the cycle of birth, life, pain, misery, and death, and achieve the permanent blissful state of one's self. This is also known as liberation, nirvana, absolute freedom, or Moksha.
Mahavira explained that from eternity, every living being (soul) due to its ignorance is in bondage of karmic atoms. Then these karmic atoms are continuously accumulated by our good or bad deeds. Under the influence of karma, the soul is habituated to seek pleasures in materialistic belongings and possessions. This is the deep-rooted cause of self-centered violent thoughts, deeds, anger, hatred, greed, and such other vices. These result in further accumulation of karmas.
Mahavira preached that right faith (samyak darshana), right knowledge (samyak jnana), and right conduct (samyak charitra) together is the real path to attain the liberation from karmic matter of one's self.
At the heart of right conduct for Jains lie the five great vows:
Nonviolence (Ahimsa) - not to cause harm to any living beings
Truthfulness (Satya) - to speak the harmless truth only
Non stealing (Asteya) - not to take anything not properly given
Chastity (Brahmacharya)- not to indulge in sensual pleasure
Non possession/ - complete detachment from people, places, and Non attachment (Aparigraha) material things
Jains hold these vows at the center of their lives. These vows can not be fully implemented without the acceptance of a philosophy of non absolutism (Anekantvad) and the theory of relativity (Syadvad). Monks and nuns follow these vows strictly and totally, while the common people follow the vows as far as their life styles will permit.
In the matters of spiritual advancement, as envisioned by Mahavira, both men and women are on an equal footing. The lure of renunciation and liberation attracted women as well. Many women followed Mahavira's path and renounced the world in search of ultimate truth and happiness.
Thus, the principles of Jainism, if properly understood in their right perspective and faithfully adhered to, will bring contentment and inner happiness and joy in the present life. This will elevate the soul in future reincarnations to a higher spiritual level, ultimately achieving Perfect Enlightenment, reaching its final destination of Eternal Bliss, ending all cycles of birth & death.
Mahavira attracted people from all walks of life, rich and poor, kings and commoners, men and women, princes and priests, touchable and untouchable. He organized his followers, into a four fold order, namely monk (Sadhu), nun (Sadhvi), layman (Shravak), and laywoman (Shravika). This order is known as Tirtha or Jain Sangh.
Lord Mahavira's sermons were orally compiled in Agam Sutras by his immediate disciples. These Agam Sutras were orally passed on to the future generations. In course of time many of the Agam Sutras have been lost, destroyed, and some are modified. About one thousand years later the Agam Sutras were recorded on Tadpatris (leafy paper that was used in those days to preserve records for future references). Swetambar Jains have accepted these Sutras as authentic versions of His teachings while Digambar Jains did not accepted as authentic.
At the age of 72 (527 B.C.), Lord Mahavira attained nirvan and his purified soul left his body and achieved complete liberation. He became a Siddha, a pure consciousness, a liberated soul, living forever in a state of complete bliss. On the night of his nirvan, people celebrated the Festival of Lights (Dipavali) in his honor. This is the last day of Hindu and Jain calendar year known as Dipavali Day.
Jainism existed before Mahavira, and his teachings were based on those of his predecessors. Thus, unlike Buddha, Mahavira was more of a reformer and propagator of an existing religious order than the founder of a new faith. He followed the well-established creed of his predecessor Tirthankar Parshvanath. However, Mahavira did reorganize the philosophical tenets of Jainism to correspond to his times.
A few centuries after Mahavira's nirvana, the Jain religious order (Sangha) grew more and more complex. There were schisms on some minor points, although they did not affect the original doctrines as preached by Mahavira. Later generations saw the introduction of ritualistic complexities, which almost placed Mahavira and other Tirthankars on the throne of Hindu deities.
Significant points of Teachings of Lord Mahavira:
Mahavira made religion simple and natural, free from elaborate ritual complexities. His teachings reflected the internal beauty and harmony of the soul.
Mahavira taught the idea of supremacy of human life and stressed the importance of the positive attitude of life.
Mahavira's message of nonviolence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), non stealing (Achaurya), celibacy (Brahma charya), and non possession (Aparigraha) is full of universal compassion.
Mahavira said that, "A living body is not merely an integration of limbs and flesh but it is the abode of the soul which potentially has perfect perception (Anant darshana), perfect knowledge (Anant jnana), perfect power (Anant virya), and perfect bliss (Anant sukha). Mahavira's message reflects freedom and spiritual joy of the living being.
Mahavira emphasized that all living beings, irrespective of their size, shape, and form how spiritually developed or undeveloped, are equal and we should love and respect them. This way he preached the gospel of universal love.
Mahavira rejected the concept of God as a creator, a protector, and a destroyer of the universe. He also denounced the worshiping of gods and goddesses as a means of material gains and personal benefits.
Though of the Day
"One should ask God
only for His blessings not for a family, not for wealth, not for 'intelligence', not for this and that, but for Goodness of Heart, purity of heart.
That is the greatest gift, the greatest wealth which one could imagine.
The heart of a person who truly loves God is a wonderful altar for the Divine.
Such a heart is always full of devotion, purity, wisdom, beauty and light; andtherein is the living Presence of the Divine."
only for His blessings not for a family, not for wealth, not for 'intelligence', not for this and that, but for Goodness of Heart, purity of heart.
That is the greatest gift, the greatest wealth which one could imagine.
The heart of a person who truly loves God is a wonderful altar for the Divine.
Such a heart is always full of devotion, purity, wisdom, beauty and light; andtherein is the living Presence of the Divine."
Cute Friendship Quotes :
o Love starts with who is falling in love with your smile.
o What do you do when the only person who can make you stop crying is the person who made you cry?
o NOBODY IS PERFECT UNTIL YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM. (Isn't that the truth?)
o Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.
o Most people walk in and out of you life. But only friends leave footprints in your heart.Send this on to everyone special in your life, even the people who really make you mad sometimes. Whether we realize it or not, everyone we know is very special to us. When we look back on our younger years, we will remember the people who went to school with us, the people who made us laugh, the people who hung out with us when nobody else would, and the people who made our lives much better simply by being a part of it.There may be somebody who is thinking about you RIGHT NOW and wishing that you were around. That's the wonderful thing about friendship-you always feel loved and cared about.The most important thing to remember is... Always appreciate the friends that you have. A fight mute of happiness is wasted. So send this to your friends and let them know that you careay come and go very easily, but a friendship could last forever. For every second spent in anger, a min.a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear.
o Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you.
o Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.
o You can only go as far as you push.
o Actions speak louder than words.
o The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else.
o Don't let the past hold you back; you're missing the good stuff.
o Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while, you might miss it.
o A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.
o If you think that the world means nothing, think again. You might mean the world to someone else.
o When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there.
o True friendship never ends.
o Friends are forever.
o Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
o Don't frown. You never know
o What do you do when the only person who can make you stop crying is the person who made you cry?
o NOBODY IS PERFECT UNTIL YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM. (Isn't that the truth?)
o Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.
o Most people walk in and out of you life. But only friends leave footprints in your heart.Send this on to everyone special in your life, even the people who really make you mad sometimes. Whether we realize it or not, everyone we know is very special to us. When we look back on our younger years, we will remember the people who went to school with us, the people who made us laugh, the people who hung out with us when nobody else would, and the people who made our lives much better simply by being a part of it.There may be somebody who is thinking about you RIGHT NOW and wishing that you were around. That's the wonderful thing about friendship-you always feel loved and cared about.The most important thing to remember is... Always appreciate the friends that you have. A fight mute of happiness is wasted. So send this to your friends and let them know that you careay come and go very easily, but a friendship could last forever. For every second spent in anger, a min.a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear.
o Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you.
o Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.
o You can only go as far as you push.
o Actions speak louder than words.
o The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else.
o Don't let the past hold you back; you're missing the good stuff.
o Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while, you might miss it.
o A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.
o If you think that the world means nothing, think again. You might mean the world to someone else.
o When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there.
o True friendship never ends.
o Friends are forever.
o Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
o Don't frown. You never know
Quotes on Friendship, Friendship Day
Friendship Quotes :
0 A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.
0 A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.
0 Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.
0 Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure.
0 Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
0 What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
0 Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.Just walk beside me and be my friend.
0 The only way to have a friend is to be one.
0 The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.
0 Hold a true friend with both your hands.
0 A faithful friend is the medicine of life.
0 Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.
0 Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try.
0 Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.
0 Friendship needs no words...
0 Friends are the sunshine of life.
0 The best mirror is an old friend.
0 One who looks for a friend without faults will have none.
0 A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
0 Friends are needed both for joy and for sorrow.
0 Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.
0 Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.
0 A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.
0 Count your age with friends but not with years.
0 Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.
0 I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship.
0 There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends.
0 The rain may be falling hard outside,But your smile makes it all alright.I'm so glad that you're my friend.I know our friendship will never end.
0 Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.
0 Friendship is essentially a partnership.
0 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe unto him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
0 A friend loves at all times.
0 A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.
0 Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another.
0 Friendship is Love without his wings!
0 Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it.
0 True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.
0 Every man passes his life in the search after friendship.
0 A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.
0 A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere.
0 We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need.
0 Friends show their love in times of trouble...
0 One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.
0 A good friend is my nearest relation.
0 My friend is he who will tell me my faults in private.
0 Your friend is your needs answered.
0 Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
0 Let your best be for your friend...
0 In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
0 A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.
0 We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.
0 However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.
0 A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care to acquire.
0 I shot an arrow into the air,It fell to earth, I knew not where; For so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where;For, who has sight so keen and strong That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oakI found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.
0 You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people, than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you
.0 Love is rarer than genius itself. And friendship is rarer than love.
0 There can be no Friendship where there is no Freedom.
0 No man is useless while he has a friend.
0 A friend is a present you give yourself.
0 Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose.
0 Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.
0 An honest answer is the sign of true friendship.
0 A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.
0 You cannot be friends upon any other terms than upon the terms of equality.
0 It is not what you give your friend, but what you are willing to give him that determines the quality of friendship.
0 A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.
0 Advice from your friends in like the weather, some of it is good, some of it is bad.
0 It's the ones you can call up at 4:00 a.m. that really matter.
0 Books like friends, should be few and well chosen.
0 Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
0 Good friends are good for your health.
0 The language of friendship is not words but meanings.
0 True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.
0 I have lost friends, some by death, others through sheer inability to cross the street.
0 Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence.
0 In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
0 It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.
0 One of the surest evidences of friendship that one individual can display to another is telling him gently of a fault. If any other can excel it, it is listening to such a disclosure with gratitude, and amending the error.
0 A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!
0 A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.
0 Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.
0 Friendship is to be purchased only by friendship. A man may have authority over others, but he can never have their hearts but by giving his own.
0 A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.
0 A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.
0 Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.
0 Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure.
0 Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
0 What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
0 Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.Just walk beside me and be my friend.
0 The only way to have a friend is to be one.
0 The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.
0 Hold a true friend with both your hands.
0 A faithful friend is the medicine of life.
0 Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.
0 Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try.
0 Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.
0 Friendship needs no words...
0 Friends are the sunshine of life.
0 The best mirror is an old friend.
0 One who looks for a friend without faults will have none.
0 A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
0 Friends are needed both for joy and for sorrow.
0 Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.
0 Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.
0 A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.
0 Count your age with friends but not with years.
0 Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.
0 I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship.
0 There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends.
0 The rain may be falling hard outside,But your smile makes it all alright.I'm so glad that you're my friend.I know our friendship will never end.
0 Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.
0 Friendship is essentially a partnership.
0 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe unto him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
0 A friend loves at all times.
0 A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.
0 Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another.
0 Friendship is Love without his wings!
0 Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it.
0 True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.
0 Every man passes his life in the search after friendship.
0 A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.
0 A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere.
0 We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need.
0 Friends show their love in times of trouble...
0 One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.
0 A good friend is my nearest relation.
0 My friend is he who will tell me my faults in private.
0 Your friend is your needs answered.
0 Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
0 Let your best be for your friend...
0 In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
0 A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.
0 We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.
0 However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.
0 A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care to acquire.
0 I shot an arrow into the air,It fell to earth, I knew not where; For so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where;For, who has sight so keen and strong That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oakI found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.
0 You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people, than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you
.0 Love is rarer than genius itself. And friendship is rarer than love.
0 There can be no Friendship where there is no Freedom.
0 No man is useless while he has a friend.
0 A friend is a present you give yourself.
0 Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends whom we choose.
0 Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.
0 An honest answer is the sign of true friendship.
0 A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.
0 You cannot be friends upon any other terms than upon the terms of equality.
0 It is not what you give your friend, but what you are willing to give him that determines the quality of friendship.
0 A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.
0 Advice from your friends in like the weather, some of it is good, some of it is bad.
0 It's the ones you can call up at 4:00 a.m. that really matter.
0 Books like friends, should be few and well chosen.
0 Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
0 Good friends are good for your health.
0 The language of friendship is not words but meanings.
0 True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.
0 I have lost friends, some by death, others through sheer inability to cross the street.
0 Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence.
0 In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
0 It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.
0 One of the surest evidences of friendship that one individual can display to another is telling him gently of a fault. If any other can excel it, it is listening to such a disclosure with gratitude, and amending the error.
0 A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!
0 A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else.
0 Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.
0 Friendship is to be purchased only by friendship. A man may have authority over others, but he can never have their hearts but by giving his own.
The Gift of Life
On the very first day, God created the cow.
He said to the cow, "Today I have created you! As a cow, you must go to the field with the farmer all day long. You will work all day under the sun! I will give you a life span of 50 years."
The cow objected, "What? This kind of a tough life you want me to live for 50 years? Let me have 20 years, and the 30 years I'll give back to you."
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the dog.
God said to the dog, "You are supposed to do is to sit all day by the door of your house. Any people that come in, you will have to bark at them! I'll give a life span of 20 years."
The dog objected, "What? All day long to sit by the door? No way! I give you back my other 10 years of life!"
So God agreed.
On the third day, God created the monkey.
He said to the monkey, "Monkeys have to entertain people. You've got to make them laugh and do monkey tricks. I'll give you 20 years life span."
The monkey objected. "What? Make them laugh? Do monkey faces and tricks? Ten years will do, and the other 10 years I'll give you back."
So God agreed.
On the fourth day, God created man and said to him, "Your job is to sleep, eat, and play. You will enjoy very much in your life. All you need to do is to enjoy and do nothing. This kind of life, I'll give you a 20 year life span."
The man objected. "What? Such a good life! Eat, play, sleep, do nothing? Enjoy the best and you expect me to live only for 20 years? No way, man!....Why don't we make a deal? Since the cow gave you back 30 years, and the dog gave you back 10 years and the monkey gave you back 10 years, I will take them from you! That makes my life span 70 years, right?"
So God agreed.
AND THAT'S WHY....
In our first 20 years, we eat, sleep, play, enjoy the best and do nothing much.
For the next 30 years, we work all day long, suffer and get to support the family.
For the next 10 years, we entertain our grandchildren by making monkey faces and monkey tricks.
And for the last 10 years, we stay at home, sit by the front door and bark at people!
He said to the cow, "Today I have created you! As a cow, you must go to the field with the farmer all day long. You will work all day under the sun! I will give you a life span of 50 years."
The cow objected, "What? This kind of a tough life you want me to live for 50 years? Let me have 20 years, and the 30 years I'll give back to you."
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the dog.
God said to the dog, "You are supposed to do is to sit all day by the door of your house. Any people that come in, you will have to bark at them! I'll give a life span of 20 years."
The dog objected, "What? All day long to sit by the door? No way! I give you back my other 10 years of life!"
So God agreed.
On the third day, God created the monkey.
He said to the monkey, "Monkeys have to entertain people. You've got to make them laugh and do monkey tricks. I'll give you 20 years life span."
The monkey objected. "What? Make them laugh? Do monkey faces and tricks? Ten years will do, and the other 10 years I'll give you back."
So God agreed.
On the fourth day, God created man and said to him, "Your job is to sleep, eat, and play. You will enjoy very much in your life. All you need to do is to enjoy and do nothing. This kind of life, I'll give you a 20 year life span."
The man objected. "What? Such a good life! Eat, play, sleep, do nothing? Enjoy the best and you expect me to live only for 20 years? No way, man!....Why don't we make a deal? Since the cow gave you back 30 years, and the dog gave you back 10 years and the monkey gave you back 10 years, I will take them from you! That makes my life span 70 years, right?"
So God agreed.
AND THAT'S WHY....
In our first 20 years, we eat, sleep, play, enjoy the best and do nothing much.
For the next 30 years, we work all day long, suffer and get to support the family.
For the next 10 years, we entertain our grandchildren by making monkey faces and monkey tricks.
And for the last 10 years, we stay at home, sit by the front door and bark at people!
LIFE IS A THEATER
Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row seat in our lives.
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a DISTANCE.
It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of, or at least minimize your time with, draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships/friendships.
Observe the relationships around you.
Pay attention.
Which ones lift and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?
When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know or appreciate you?
The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of Your Life.
"If you cannot change the people around you, CHANGE the people you are around".
Remember that the people we hang with will have an impact on both our lives and our income.
And so we must be careful to choose the people we hang out with, as well as the information with which we feed our minds.
We should not share our dreams with negative people, Nor feed our dreams with negative thoughts.
It's your choice and your life.....
It's up to you who and what you let in it.............
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a DISTANCE.
It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of, or at least minimize your time with, draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships/friendships.
Observe the relationships around you.
Pay attention.
Which ones lift and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?
When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know or appreciate you?
The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of Your Life.
"If you cannot change the people around you, CHANGE the people you are around".
Remember that the people we hang with will have an impact on both our lives and our income.
And so we must be careful to choose the people we hang out with, as well as the information with which we feed our minds.
We should not share our dreams with negative people, Nor feed our dreams with negative thoughts.
It's your choice and your life.....
It's up to you who and what you let in it.............
Somethings not to do
Don't attempt to run from the past, it is always behind you.
Don't be afraid of opposition; Remember a kite rises against, not with the wind.
Don't be afraid of tomorrow, for God has already been there.
Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
Don't be angry at a friend who told your secret, for neither could you keep it to yourself
Don't be concerned others not appreciating you. Be concerned about your not appreciating others (Confucius).
Don't be irreplaceable -- if you can't be replaced, you won't be promoted.
Don't be so Heavenly minded that you do no earthly good.
Don't control, be in control.
Don't count the days, make the days count. (Mohammed Ali)
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
Don't ever slam a door- you may want to go back.
Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things.
The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have,might have, and should have. (Louis E. Boone)
Don't get good at doing something if you don't like doing it.
Don't get married only because of the money. You can borrow it cheaper.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Don't just get something out of church, put something into it.
Don't kill the dream - execute it! Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.
Don't let anybody walk through your mind with dirty feet. (Gandhi) Don't let people drive you crazy when it is within walking distance.
Don't let time take control of your destiny.Let your destiny take control of your time. (Ulrick Ricardo Milord)
Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. (John Wooden)
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.
Don't limit your challenges - challenge your limits.
Don't listen to what I say; listen to what I mean.
Don't love the things! you own, lest they own you.
Don't measure your life by how many breaths you take, measure it by how many times you get your breath taken away.
Don't pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people.
Don't be afraid of opposition; Remember a kite rises against, not with the wind.
Don't be afraid of tomorrow, for God has already been there.
Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
Don't be angry at a friend who told your secret, for neither could you keep it to yourself
Don't be concerned others not appreciating you. Be concerned about your not appreciating others (Confucius).
Don't be irreplaceable -- if you can't be replaced, you won't be promoted.
Don't be so Heavenly minded that you do no earthly good.
Don't control, be in control.
Don't count the days, make the days count. (Mohammed Ali)
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
Don't ever slam a door- you may want to go back.
Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things.
The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have,might have, and should have. (Louis E. Boone)
Don't get good at doing something if you don't like doing it.
Don't get married only because of the money. You can borrow it cheaper.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Don't just get something out of church, put something into it.
Don't kill the dream - execute it! Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.
Don't let anybody walk through your mind with dirty feet. (Gandhi) Don't let people drive you crazy when it is within walking distance.
Don't let time take control of your destiny.Let your destiny take control of your time. (Ulrick Ricardo Milord)
Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. (John Wooden)
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.
Don't limit your challenges - challenge your limits.
Don't listen to what I say; listen to what I mean.
Don't love the things! you own, lest they own you.
Don't measure your life by how many breaths you take, measure it by how many times you get your breath taken away.
Don't pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people.
A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER
I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;it isn't granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly caresand brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own! ,but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
May God Bless You,
"To the world you might be one person, but to oneperson you just might be the world"
"Even the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' says 'I M POSSIBLE' "
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;it isn't granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly caresand brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own! ,but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
May God Bless You,
"To the world you might be one person, but to oneperson you just might be the world"
"Even the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' says 'I M POSSIBLE' "
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