Once there was a thug named Sheikh Sajjan. He would appear to be a nobleman but would rob people deceitfully. He pretended to be kind, God-fearing and hospitable - he would offer food and shelter to the visitors and in the stealth of night would kill them, and take away their valuables.

Once Guru Nanak, along with a Muslim companion Mardana, stayed at Sajjan's rest house. It was almost midnight and despite waiting long for his guests to fall asleep, Sajjan continued to hear the soothing sounds of bani played on the Rabab. Guru Nanak recited a hymn: "Bronze is very bright to look at; but if you keep it, your hands get blackened with it. Similarly, some people appear to be good, but they are like a house whitened on the outside, but empty within. A man should be good from inside as well as outside." Sajjan was overwhelmed and falling at the Guru's feet, confessed his crimes.

Sajjan distributed all his possessions and converted his house into a Dharamshala which, according to puratan janamsakhi, was the first such centre in the history of early Sikhism.

Once a person riding on his physical prowess went to a Master and challenged him. The Master politely replied, "You might defeat me by putting a large amount of force in your push. But can you defeat me when I redirect your force and make you push the ground?"

The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao Tzu's dictum: "Those who know, do not say; those who say, do not know." When the Master entered, they asked him what the words meant. The Master replied, "Which one of you knows the fragrance of a rose?" All of them indicated that they knew. Then he said, "Now, put it into words." All of them were silent.

Man of the millennium!

Mr.Kalayanasundaram worked as a Librarian for 30 years. Every month in his 30 years of experience (service), he donated his entire salary to help the needy. He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his needs. He donated even his pension amount of about ten lakh INR to the needy.

He is the first person in the world to spend the entire amount of earnings for a social cause. In recognition of his service, the American government honored him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of INR 30 crores as part of this award, which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.

Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. He still lives as a bachelor and has dedicated his entire life to serving humanity.

Curse, not spring if saplings do not bloom. Curse, not the sun, if an owl cannot see in the daylight. Curse, not rain, if clouds cannot quench Chatak bird's thirst. Curse no one as everything is preordained. - Saint Savata Mali.

During a question and answer session, Angie Boissevain came before Kobun Chino Roshi with a question that had been burning within her all morning. But after she made the customary 3 bows and knelt before him, she found her mind utterly blank and the question is gone. She sat before him in silence for a long time before finally saying: "Where have all the words gone?" "Back where they came from!", replied the teacher.

One evening as Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras, a thief with a sharp sword entered the room, demanding either money or his life. Shichiri told him: "Do not disturb me. You can find the money in that drawer." Then he resumed his recitation. A little while afterwards, he stopped and called: "Don't take it all. I need some to pay taxes tomorrow." The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave. "Thank a person when you receive a gift," Shichiri added. The man thanked him and made off. A few days afterwards, the fellow was caught and confessed, among others, the offence against Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a witness, he said: "This man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him money and he thanked me for it." After he had finished his prison term, the man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.

"Whoever you are, Oh you, who wish to probe the secrets of nature, if you do not find within yourself that which you seek, neither shall you be able to find it outside. If you ignore the excellencies of your own house, how do you intend to find other excellencies? In you is hidden the treasure of treasures. Oh, man, know yourself and you shall know the Universe and the Gods!" - Inscribed in the ancient Temple of Delphi.