Asian Stories

"Let Buddh help you reach that ultimate point. Then certainly, if you meet him there, kill him. You will be truly free."

"Then why are Zen masters," asked Josh, "who teach their disciples to kill the Buddh on the way, still clinging on to Buddh themselves?"

In life and in business, logic only helps reduce risk.

Risk can never be eliminated.

Birbal shows how better decision-making comes from keeping perspective.

"Why did you wait before putting in the onions?" asked Hosh.

"Because we want to remove the odor from the mustard oil. Usually 5 minutes on high heat is enough, but you can always tell by the colour of the oil. When it goes pale, it is done. If you were using olive oil, you would only need to wait half the time."

An 83-year-old Japanese billionaire, who’s redefining how to do business successfully in the new world of today, with what many decry as old 'values of yesterday'.

In a world where managers are obsessed with pleasing shareholders, Inamori, entrepreneur, management guru and Zen Buddhist priest, focuses instead on making his staff happy.

"Nimbu Basmati is quick and easy to make yet it turns out looking alluring, smelling heavenly and tasting delicious. It combines Basmati fragrance with lime and lemony flavors and we flare up its presentation using golden glows of turmeric."

"So it uses mostly ingredients that you already know about."

He plucked an arrow from the quiver, placed it on the bow, and pulled the string.

"What do you see when you aim?" Dron asked him when he was ready to release his arrow.

"Aren't the recipe for making Lassi and Raita the same? Why call them by different names then? Isn't that even more confusing?"

"Generally Raita is undiluted," she answered, "or diluted less with water than Lassi generally is. If you are still confused, remember this: Raita is eaten as a condiment with food, while Lassi is drunk."

Isha teaches Hosh how to cook spicy Khichdi - Lentils Rice, a prominent ancient Ayurvedic Satvik diet improvised & served as a popular, convenient comfort food now.

"Tadka Chaas is a popular variant in yoghurt drinks, as the crunchiness of tempered spices in chaach gives the drink a bit of body, color as well as bite."

"Tempering is the brief frying of spices (especially in various South Asian cuisines) to release their aroma. It is a popular garnishing technique used in various parts of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan."

"Tamatar Basmati is quick and easy to make, yet it turns out looking rich and tasting delicious."

"Basmati fragrance is compromised a bit because tomato has a powerful flavor, but the dish gets compensated for that as tomato also lends the dish its rich color lavishly."

"And have you tamed your mind yet, my knowledgable husband?" Isha teased, clearing the dinner table.

He smiled and replied, "No my dear, not yet. I try often, but I always fail."

Interesting story of buried terracotta army of Qin Shi Huang, first Emperor of China.

No two terracotta warrior figures in this vast army were completely identical. Do you know why?

Their burial site is now a prominent UNESCO world cultural heritage site.

"Then half he shall have," growled Akbar, "immediately!"

At the snap of his fingers, soldiers rushed out to the gate and hastily hauled the fearful guard back with them.

Buddhist Story: The Burden

Most burdens we carry, like anger, are burdens of the mind.

Leave them behind to move on...

Zhuangzi knew about the happiness of fish, but Huizi’s skepticism only gets him circular answers.

Funny story of the famous Chinese philosopher’s clever rejoinders...

Inspiring Story: The Power of One

Dr. Sujit Kumar Brahmochary began IIMC by treating 20 poor Indian kids per day.

25 years later it was serving 120,000 patients

"Time magazine recently named six inspirational young people in its first class of next generation leaders. People, it said, who are leaders of tomorrow because they are working hard to change their worlds today."

"A 28-year-old Indian architect, Alok Shetty, is one of them. Why? Because of his pioneering work in designing affordable flood-proof houses for slum dwellers."

How to make traditional spicy tea?

Isha teaches Hosh about Indian culture & gives tea cooking tips.

Informative story with delicious Masala Chai cooking recipe.

"What we do in life, what choices we make in life comes from our perception of who we are."

"But that still doesn't make it clearer for me how I am that?" asked Josh. "How can I be the same as you, or one with Nature or God?"

Am I my body or my mind? My consciousness or my memories? Or am I a sum total of all of these?

Discover some pointers in this old Buddhist story or this Sufi song...