Tag Archives: Learning

Proverbial Wisdom!

Every Proverb Has An Equal And An Opposite Proverb!

All good things come to those who wait.
But
Time and tide wait for no man.

The pen is mightier than the sword.
But
Actions speak louder than words.

Wise men think alike
But
Fools seldom differ.

The best things in life are free.
But
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Slow and steady wins the race.
But
Time waits for no man.

Look before you leap.
But
Strike while the iron is hot.

Do it well or not at all.
But
Half a loaf is better than none.

Birds of a feather flock together.
But
Opposites attract.

Don’t cross your bridges before you come to them.
But
Forewarned is forearmed.

Doubt is the beginning of wisdom
But
Faith will move mountains.

Great starts make great finishes.
But
It ain’t over until it’s over.

Practice makes perfect.
But
The definition of insanity is repeating the same thing but expecting different results each time

Silence is golden.
But
The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

You’re never too old to learn.
But
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
But
One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
But
Out of sight, out of mind.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.
But
Many hands make light work.

Hold fast to the words of your ancestors.
But
Wise men make proverbs and fools repeat them…

Wonderful compilation of equal yet opposite proverbs!!

What is Chardi Kala?

Chardi Kala means keep your morale (spirits) high no matter what the situation is. Have faith and keep doing good and stay positive , leave rest to God. This positive thinking will give you calm , peaceful and positive mind that doesn’t get bothered with obstacles of life , you will be in charhdi kala (high spirits ) always.

Sikhs are always happy because of the “Charhdi Kala” given to them by Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Sikh Guru.

This concept is commonly translated as “high morale,” but it is much more than that. According to Encylopedia of Sikhism,

“It stands for a perennially blossoming, unwilting spirit, a perpetual state of certitude resting on unwavering belief in Divine justice.”

Word “Kala” of Sanskrit origin has several shades of meaning, but the dominant among which is “energy.” Chardhi in Punjabi means rising, ascending, soaring. So “Charhdi Kala” means an intensely “engergized”, ever-ascending state of the spirit of an individual or a group.

If someone asks a Sikh (Ki haal hai) (How are you?), his answer would be “In “Charhdi Kala!” meaning I am in ascending spirits even when he might be in great pain or sorrow!

Sikh meditate and pray everyday. The prayer is concluded with the following liturgy:

Nanak Naam Charhdi Kala tere bhane sarbat da bhala.

In the name of Guru Nanak, let there by ascending spirit and welfare of all.

So a Sikh prays not only for himself or his family, but also for all living beings in the universe. When you have this kind of spirit and operate at that level, this brings happiness – Charhdi Kala just happens!

A Sikh prayer cannot be complete without praying for the welfare of all. So this spirit has a lot to do with the power of prayer.

It is a mental stage that keeps a person strong during the most difficult moment in life – even when one is facing a life and death situation. The spirit of defiance of all hardships is very much part of it. Sikhs are tenacious people who do not lose faith! Even when they lose, they do not know if they have lost because they never accept defeat!

This spirit of “Charhdi Kala” is unique to the Sikhs.