A story of a sheltered mother's boy who meets some knights and decides he wants to be just like them. So he goes off into the world, has a series of adventures, and progresses from legendary fool to legendary knight.
The country, at the time, has become a wasteland because the grail king (who guards the holy grail) has been wounded. And it just so happens that Parsifal is led to the grail casle, where he sees the king in terrible pain. As a compassionate human being, he wants to ask, "What is wrong?" And, according to legend, if someone pure of heart asks that question of the king, he will be healed and the blight on the land will be lifted.
However, Parsifal does not know this. And as a knight he has been trained to observe a strict code of conduct, which includes the rule of never asking questions or speaking unless he is addressed first. So he goes to bed without talking to the king. In the morning, he wakes to discover that the grail castle has disappeared. He has blown his chance to save king and country by obeying his training instead of his heart. Unlike the scorpion, Parsifal had a choice. He just made the wrong one.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The frog and the scorpion
One day, a scorpion stood on the side of a stream and asked a frog to carry it to the other side. 'How do I know you won't sting me?' the frog asked. 'Because if I sting you, I'll drown,' the scorpion said.
The frog thought about it and realised that the scorpion was right. So he put the scorpion on his back and started ferrying him. But midway across the stream, the scorpion plunged its stinger into the frog's back. As they both began to drown, the frog gasped, "Why?'
The scorpion replied, 'Because it's in my nature.'
The frog thought about it and realised that the scorpion was right. So he put the scorpion on his back and started ferrying him. But midway across the stream, the scorpion plunged its stinger into the frog's back. As they both began to drown, the frog gasped, "Why?'
The scorpion replied, 'Because it's in my nature.'
Love in an ugly house
And do you think that love itself, living in such an ugly house, can prosper long?- Edna St. Vincent Millay
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Favourite quotes 1
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. - Oscar Wilde
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you. - Oscar Wilde
"It's not you, it's me...I don't like you" - Dom Thurbon
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying. - Woody Allen
My one regret in life is that I am not someone else. - Woody Allen
What chance has the innocent uncultivated liar against the educated expert? What chance have I against a lawyer? - Mark Twain
I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him. - Mark Twain
Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Parliament. But I repeat myself.
"I was confusing learning with the smell of cold stone." Hector in 'History Boys' by Alan Bennett
"If such there be, yet grant me this at least:
Man differs more from man, than man from beast."
- Earl of Rochester, A Satyr against Reason and Mankind", 1674
"law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." - Anatole France
"Capacity for the nobler feelings is in most natures a very tender plant, easily killed, not only by hostile influences, but by mere want of sustenance" - J S Mill
"God is good, God is just, God is righteous, God is holy. Has God no title to our odedience but such as the devil would have, if there were a devil and the universe were without a God." - JS Mill, Later Letters, Works, XV, p631
His lack of education is more than compensated for by his keenly developed moral bankruptcy. - Woody Allen
Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. - Woody Allen
In general, black people can run faster, jump higher and are more agile. What do white people get? "Due process" - Jonathan Libchik
"Riverdance proves two things. You can't keep the Irish down, and potatoes are good for your legs." - Anon.
"Being a train station toilet attendant must be the worst job in the world. I would rather count trees in Siberia, in speedos, at least death would come quicker." - Nicholas Cocco
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. In letting our own light shine, we give people permission to shine. Who are you, not to be brilliant, fabulous and talented? You are a child of God, and playing small does not serve the world. As we are liberated from our fears, our presence auto-matically liberates others. And so I choose today to live big. My successes and mistakes teach me that the lessons are here to take us beyond our self-imposed limits, so that we may be the best persons we can imagine" -Nelson Mandela
"Eat until you are full, and then stop"
“The man who does more than he is paid for will soon be paid for more than he does.” - Napoleon Hill
“If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it, write it in the sand near the water's edge'' - Napoleon Hill
“Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.” - Napoleon Hill
“Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing” - Napoleon Hill
“Wise men, when in doubt whether to speak or to keep quiet, give themselves the benefit of the doubt, and remain silent.” - Napoleon Hill
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you. - Oscar Wilde
"It's not you, it's me...I don't like you" - Dom Thurbon
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying. - Woody Allen
My one regret in life is that I am not someone else. - Woody Allen
What chance has the innocent uncultivated liar against the educated expert? What chance have I against a lawyer? - Mark Twain
I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him. - Mark Twain
Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Parliament. But I repeat myself.
"I was confusing learning with the smell of cold stone." Hector in 'History Boys' by Alan Bennett
"If such there be, yet grant me this at least:
Man differs more from man, than man from beast."
- Earl of Rochester, A Satyr against Reason and Mankind", 1674
"law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." - Anatole France
"Capacity for the nobler feelings is in most natures a very tender plant, easily killed, not only by hostile influences, but by mere want of sustenance" - J S Mill
"God is good, God is just, God is righteous, God is holy. Has God no title to our odedience but such as the devil would have, if there were a devil and the universe were without a God." - JS Mill, Later Letters, Works, XV, p631
His lack of education is more than compensated for by his keenly developed moral bankruptcy. - Woody Allen
Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. - Woody Allen
In general, black people can run faster, jump higher and are more agile. What do white people get? "Due process" - Jonathan Libchik
"Riverdance proves two things. You can't keep the Irish down, and potatoes are good for your legs." - Anon.
"Being a train station toilet attendant must be the worst job in the world. I would rather count trees in Siberia, in speedos, at least death would come quicker." - Nicholas Cocco
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. In letting our own light shine, we give people permission to shine. Who are you, not to be brilliant, fabulous and talented? You are a child of God, and playing small does not serve the world. As we are liberated from our fears, our presence auto-matically liberates others. And so I choose today to live big. My successes and mistakes teach me that the lessons are here to take us beyond our self-imposed limits, so that we may be the best persons we can imagine" -Nelson Mandela
"Eat until you are full, and then stop"
“The man who does more than he is paid for will soon be paid for more than he does.” - Napoleon Hill
“If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it, write it in the sand near the water's edge'' - Napoleon Hill
“Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.” - Napoleon Hill
“Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing” - Napoleon Hill
“Wise men, when in doubt whether to speak or to keep quiet, give themselves the benefit of the doubt, and remain silent.” - Napoleon Hill
Monday, May 26, 2008
For Generosity
Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve you as you deserve -
to give, and not to count the cost,
to fight, and not to heed the wounds,
to toil, and not to seek for rest,
to labour, and not to ask for any reward,
except that of knowing that I do your holy will.
This prayer was written by St Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus. Whatever your opinion of the current day church might be, this remains a nice prayer.
teach me to serve you as you deserve -
to give, and not to count the cost,
to fight, and not to heed the wounds,
to toil, and not to seek for rest,
to labour, and not to ask for any reward,
except that of knowing that I do your holy will.
This prayer was written by St Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus. Whatever your opinion of the current day church might be, this remains a nice prayer.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Poor you
Poor you, I'm sorry you're not me,
for you will never know what loving you can be.
Poor you, you'll never know your charms,
You'll never feel your warmth, you're never in your arms.
for you will never know what loving you can be.
Poor you, you'll never know your charms,
You'll never feel your warmth, you're never in your arms.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
One week of freedom left
It's one week until I officially start my first full time job at a law firm on Bridge Street in Sydney. I am really looking forward to the expected challenges, learning a lot and meeting a whole bunch of new people.
In the mean time, I am making the most of my free time.
Last Wednesday I played poker at a friend's house in Newtown, winning $38. Not bad for an enjoyable night in.
Last Thursday I went to the Sydney University Law Society Emo Easter party at the Ruby Rabbit on Oxford Street. Dressed in my sister's skinny jeans, with eye make-up and black nail polish I was a true Emo wanna-be. However, I was a little scared to go into the city looking like such a freak. And then I realised, there are dozens of freaks walking around in the city at night (especially Oxford Street), so nobody paid any attention to me.
Last Saturday the family celebrated easter at my aunties house which was pretty fun. My cousin has the Nintendo Wii, so I tested out my skills at virtual tennis. Initially I sucked, but eventually I got the little flipping of the wrist action down. Look out Agassi, here I come.
I managed to speak to one of my favourite friends on Skype the other day. She is American, but most of her family comes from in and around Hyderabad. She gave me the link to a cool site that describes some of the most popular Hindu gods and includes nice little cartoon illustrations. http://www.gheehappy.com/
Last night was one of my friends 23rd birthdays. Around ten of us had dinner at Shinju Teppenyaki in China Town. Very fun, but rather expensive.
In the mean time, I am making the most of my free time.
Last Wednesday I played poker at a friend's house in Newtown, winning $38. Not bad for an enjoyable night in.
Last Thursday I went to the Sydney University Law Society Emo Easter party at the Ruby Rabbit on Oxford Street. Dressed in my sister's skinny jeans, with eye make-up and black nail polish I was a true Emo wanna-be. However, I was a little scared to go into the city looking like such a freak. And then I realised, there are dozens of freaks walking around in the city at night (especially Oxford Street), so nobody paid any attention to me.
Last Saturday the family celebrated easter at my aunties house which was pretty fun. My cousin has the Nintendo Wii, so I tested out my skills at virtual tennis. Initially I sucked, but eventually I got the little flipping of the wrist action down. Look out Agassi, here I come.
I managed to speak to one of my favourite friends on Skype the other day. She is American, but most of her family comes from in and around Hyderabad. She gave me the link to a cool site that describes some of the most popular Hindu gods and includes nice little cartoon illustrations. http://www.gheehappy.com/
Last night was one of my friends 23rd birthdays. Around ten of us had dinner at Shinju Teppenyaki in China Town. Very fun, but rather expensive.
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