Books don't change people; paragraphs do, sometimes even sentences-John Piper! Is this Quote True?

Dear Friends and Students

Recently one of my friends quit his job as his boss told him something, about whom he trusted the most. In his previous stint, he did not even bother though his boss used to harass him for a long time. He happily worked for years. When a "trusted" person tried to “misquote”, he could not able to embrace it. When a "mistrusted" person “misbehaved for long”, he could able happily manage. The underlying factor between the two cases is the “Trust” factor.

Sometimes I get complaints from my children that I scold them with high gravity powerful statements. I might say it as part of “right parenting or due to my wrong attachments”. However, they leave stains in the mind and create long-term impacts (some positive and some negative).

Historically, a few statements or verses made a profound impact on mankind.

During Nelson Mandela's Inaugural Speech, he mentioned, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure”. This paragraph has motivated many individuals to overcome self-doubt, step into their own power, and make a positive impact on their communities.

Anne Frank's diary, which documented her experiences hiding from the Nazis during World War II, contains numerous poignant sentences that have deeply affected readers. One such sentence, "I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart," highlights Anne's unwavering faith in humanity despite the horrors she witnessed. This sentence has resonated with individuals, inspiring them to maintain optimism and kindness in the face of adversity and to believe in the inherent goodness of humanity.

The people who have been practicing Yoga got inspired by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - In Book 1, Sutra 2, Patanjali states, "Yoga chitta vritti nirodha," which translates to "Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind." This concise sutra captures the essence of yoga as a means to quiet the mind, attain inner stillness, and ultimately experience a state of union and liberation.

Scripturally, for the people who believed in Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text of Hindu philosophy, is filled with enlightening verses that have influenced spiritual seekers for centuries. One such verse is from Chapter 2, Verse 47: "Your right is to perform your duties only, but never to lay claim to their results. Do not be motivated by the fruits of action, and never develop an attachment to inaction." Verse 47 has influenced or still influencing millions of people across the world. The underlying factor is- Belief in Lord Krishna.

Each of us might have experienced or been influenced (positively or negatively) by one such human statement or inspired through a verse of scriptures of our own belief.

Can You Recollect One Such? Try to Ignore it now! It saves your life if it is a negative statement! Try to recollect now! It rejuvenates your life if it is a positive statement/scriptural verse!

Ravi Saripalle