Red sand hill..

Narrated Abu Huraira: The angel of death was sent to Moses and when he went to him,  Moses slapped him severely, spoiling one of his eyes. The angel went back to his Lord, and said, "You sent me to a slave who does not want to die." Allah restored his eye and said, "Go back and tell him (i.e. Moses) to place his hand over the back of an ox, for he will be allowed to live for a number of years equal to the number of hairs coming under his hand." (So the angel came to him and told him the same). Then Moses asked, "O my Lord! What will be then?" He said, "Death will be then." He said, "(Let it be) now." He asked Allah that He bring him near the Sacred Land at a distance of a stone's throw. Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Were I there I would show you the grave of Moses by the way near the red sand hill."

- (Sahih Bukhari: Vol.2, book 23, hadith 423)

[red sand hill pic courtesy: NeilsPhotography]

doors...

"A warrior, a samurai, a great soldier, came to a Zen master and he asked "Is there any hell, is there any heaven? If there is hell and heaven, where are the gates? Where do I enter from? How can I avoid hell and choose heaven?"

He was a simple warrior. He had not come to learn any doctrine. He wanted to know where the gate was so he could avoid hell and enter heaven. And Hakuin replied in a way only a warrior could understand.

What did Hakuin do? He said, "Who are you?" And the warrior replied, "I am a samurai."

It is a thing of much pride to be a samurai in Japan. It means being a perfect warrior. He said, "I am a samurai, I am a leader of samurais. Even the emperor pays respect to me."

Hakuin laughed and said, " You, a samurai? You look like a beggar."

The samurai's pride was hurt, his ego hammered. He forgot what he had come for. He took out his sword and was just about to kill Hakuin. He forgot that he had come to this master to ask where is the gate of heaven, to ask where is the gate of hell.

Hakuin laughed and said, "This is the gate of hell. With this sword, this anger, this ego, here opens the gate." This is what a warrior can understand. Immediately he understood: This is the gate. He put his sword back in its sheath. And Hakuin said, "Here opens the gate of heaven."

Hell and heaven are within you, both gates are within you. When you are behaving unconsciously there is the gate of hell; when you become alert and conscious, there is the gate of heaven.

Silence is the door. Inner peace is the door. Nonviolence is the door. Love and compassion are the doors."

- (quoted by ZahretElNur)

Discounted prayers

"Narrated Abu Dhar: Allah's Apostle said, "While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. Then he took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven, when I reached the nearest heaven, Gabriel said to the gatekeeper of the heaven, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered: 'Gabriel.' He asked, 'Is there anyone with you?' Gabriel replied, 'Yes, Muhammad is with me.' He asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel said, 'Yes.' So the gate was opened and we went over the nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his right and some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he laughed and when he looked toward his left he wept. Then he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' He replied, 'He is Adam and the people on his right and left are the souls of his offspring. Those on his right are the people of Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when he looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left he weeps.' Then he ascended with me till he reached the second heaven and he (Gabriel) said to its gatekeeper, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper said to him the same as the gatekeeper of the first heaven had said and he opened the gate.

Anas said: "Abu Dhar added that the Prophet met Adam, Idris, Moses, Jesus and Abraham. He (Abu Dhar) did not mention on which heaven they were but he mentioned that he (the Prophet ) met Adam on the nearest heaven and Abraham on the sixth heaven." Anas said, "When Gabriel along with the Prophet passed by Idris, the latter said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious brother.' The Prophet asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Idris." The Prophet added, "I passed by Moses and he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious brother.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Moses.' Then I passed by Jesus and he said, 'Welcome! O pious brother and pious Prophet.' I asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Jesus. Then I passed by Abraham and he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Abraham. The Prophet added, 'Then Gabriel ascended with me to a place where I heard the creaking of the pens.' "

Ibn Hazm and Anas bin Malik said: The Prophet said, "Then Allah enjoined fifty prayers on my followers. When I returned with this order of Allah, I passed by Moses who asked me, 'What has Allah enjoined on your followers?' I replied, 'He has enjoined fifty prayers on them.' Moses said, 'Go back to your Lord (and appeal for reduction) for your followers will not be able to bear it.' (So I went back to Allah and requested for reduction) and He reduced it to half. When I passed by Moses again and informed him about it, he said, 'Go back to your Lord as your followers will not be able to bear it.' So I returned to Allah and requested for further reduction and half of it was reduced. I again passed by Moses and he said to me: 'Return to your Lord, for your followers will not be able to bear it. So I returned to Allah and He said, 'These are five prayers and they are all (equal to) fifty (in reward) for My Word does not change.' I returned to Moses and he told me to go back once again. I replied, 'Now I feel shy of asking my Lord again.' Then Gabriel took me till we reached Sidrat−il−Muntaha (Lote tree of the utmost boundary of the seventh heaven) which was shrouded in colors, indescribable. Then I was admitted into Paradise where I found small walls of pearls and its earth was of musk." "

- (Sahih Bukhari: book 8, hadith 345)

Satan..

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle deputized me to keep Sadaqa (al−Fitr) of Ramadan. A comer came and started taking handfuls of the foodstuff (of the Sadaqa) (stealthily). I took hold of him and said, "By Allah, I will take you to Allah's Apostle ." He said, "I am needy and have many dependents, and I am in great need." I released him, and in the morning Allah's Apostle asked me, "What did your prisoner do yesterday?" I said, "O Allah's Apostle! The person complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so, I pitied him and let him go." Allah's Apostle said, "Indeed, he told you a lie and he will be coming again." I believed that he would show up again as Allah's Apostle had told me that he would return. So, I waited for him watchfully. When he (showed up and) started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said, "I will definitely take you to Allah's Apostle. He said, "Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again." I pitied him and let him go. In the morning Allah's Apostle asked me, "What did your prisoner do." I replied, "O Allah's Apostle! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free." Allah's Apostle said, "Verily, he told you a lie and he will return." I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and) started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, "I will surely take you to Allah's Apostle as it is the third time you promise not to return, yet you break your promise and come." He said, "(Forgive me and) I will teach you some words with which Allah will benefit you." I asked, "What are they?" He replied, "Whenever you go to bed, recite "Ayat−al−Kursi"−− 'Allahu la ilaha illa huwa−l−Haiy−ul Qaiyum' till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no satan will come near you till morning. " So, I released him. In the morning, Allah's Apostle asked, "What did your prisoner do yesterday?" I replied, "He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit me, so I let him go." Allah's Apostle asked, "What are they?" I replied, "He said to me, 'Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat−al−Kursi from the beginning to the end −−−− Allahu la ilaha illa huwa−lHaiy−ul−Qaiyum−−−−.' He further said to me, '(If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no satan will come near you till morning.' The Prophet said, "He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Huraira?" Abu Huraira said, "No." He said, "It was Satan."

- (Sahih Bukhari: Book 38, Hadith 505.2)

"You and me.."

"They led him then to the esplanade where before an enormous crowd they cut off his hands and feet after having flogged him with 500 lashes of the whip.

He rubbed his bloody, amputated hands over his face, so that both his arms and his face were stained with blood.

"Why did you do that?" people enquired.

"Much blood has gone out of me," he replied. "I realize that my face will have grown pale. You suppose that my pallor is because I am afraid. I rubbed blood over my face so that I might appear rose-cheeked in your eyes. The cosmetics of heroes is their blood."

"Even if you bloodied your face, why did you stain your arms?"

"I was making ablution."

"What ablution?"

"When one prays two rak'as in love," Hallaj replied, "the ablution is not perfect unless performed in blood."

The executioners then plucked out his eyes; he was then stoned by the crowd, after which they cut off his ears and nose. He uttered his forgiveness of them as they were preparing to cut out his tongue.

An old woman shouted, "What right has this little wool carder (hallaj) to speak of God?"

Thereafter, he uttered "It is enough for the lover to diminish himself before the uniqueness of the One."

Then his tongue was cut out, and, finally, he was beheaded at the time of the evening prayer. Then his trunk was rolled up in a straw mat, doused with fuel, and burned.

Later, they carried his ashes to the minaret on the Ra's al-Manara promontory beside the Tigris to disperse them to the wind. "

- ( Al-Hallaj )

Heaven & Hell

' Narrated Abu Huraira:
The people said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" He replied, "Do you have any doubt in seeing the full moon on a clear (not cloudy) night?" They replied, "No, O Allah's Apostle!" He said, "Do you have any doubt in seeing the sun when there are no clouds?" They replied in the negative. He said, "You will see Allah (your Lord) in the same way. On the Day of Resurrection, people will be gathered and He will order the people to follow what they used to worship. So some of them will follow the sun, some will follow the moon, and some will follow other deities; and only this nation (Muslims) will be left with its hypocrites. Allah will come to them and say, 'I am Your Lord.' They will say, 'We shall stay in this place till our Lord comes to us and when our Lord will come, we will recognize Him. Then Allah will come to them again and say, 'I am your Lord.' They will say, 'You are our Lord.' Allah will call them, and As−Sirat (a bridge) will be laid across Hell and I (Muhammad) shall be the first amongst the Apostles to cross it with my followers. Nobody except the Apostles will then be able to speak and they will be saying then, 'O Allah! Save us. O Allah Save us.' There will be hooks like the thorns of Sa'dan [??] in Hell. Have you seen the thorns of Sa'dan [??]?" The people said, "Yes." He said, "These hooks will be like the thorns of Sa'dan [??] but nobody except Allah knows their greatness in size and these will entangle the people according to their deeds; some of them will fall and stay in Hell forever; others will receive punishment (torn into small pieces) and will get out of Hell, till when Allah intends mercy on whomever He likes amongst the people of Hell, He will order the angels to take out of Hell those who worshipped none but Him alone. The angels will take them out by recognizing them from the traces of prostrations, for Allah has forbidden the (Hell) fire to eat away those traces. So they will come out of the Fire, it will eat away from the whole of the human body except the marks of the prostrations. At that time they will come out of the Fire as mere skeletons. The Water of Life will be poured on them and as a result they will grow like the seeds growing on the bank of flowing water. Then when Allah had finished from the Judgments amongst his creations, one man will be left between Hell and Paradise and he will be the last man from the people of Hell to enter paradise. He will be facing Hell, and will say, 'O Allah! Turn my face from the fire as its wind has dried me and its steam has burnt me.' Allah will ask him, "Will you ask for anything more in case this favor is granted to you?' He will say, "No by Your (Honor) Power!" And he will give to his Lord (Allah) what he will of the pledges and the covenants. Allah will then turn his face from the Fire. When he will face Paradise and will see its charm, he will remain quiet as long as Allah will. He then will say, 'O my Lord! Let me go to the gate of Paradise.' Allah will ask him, 'Didn't you give pledges and make covenants (to the effect) that you would not ask for anything more than what you requested at first?' He will say, 'O my Lord! Do not make me the most wretched amongst Your creatures.' Allah will say, 'If this request is granted, will you then ask for anything else?' He will say, 'No! By Your Power! I shall not ask for anything else.' Then he will give to his Lord what He will of the pledges and the covenants. Allah will then let him go to the gate of Paradise. On reaching then and seeing its life, charm, and pleasure, he will remain quiet as long as Allah wills and then will say, 'O my Lord ! Let me enter Paradise.' Allah will say, May Allah be merciful unto you, O son of Adam! How treacherous you are! Haven't you made covenants and given pledges that you will not ask for anything more that what you have been given?' He will say, 'O my Lord! Do not make me the most wretched amongst Your creatures.' So Allah will laugh and allow him to enter Paradise and will ask him to request as much as he likes. He will do so till all his desires have been fulfilled . Then Allah will say, 'Request more of such and such things.' Allah will remind him and when all his desires and wishes have been fulfilled, Allah will say "All this is granted to you and a similar amount besides." '

-(Sahih Bukhari- Vol. 1, No:770)

(pic. by Carmen Lomas Garza)

Kamala

Kamala.
Someone whom I could relate to.

Love you.

Moses and the running stone

Narrated Abu Huraira:
"The Prophet said, 'The (people of) Bani Israel used to take bath naked looking at each other. The Prophet Moses used to take a bath alone. They said, 'By Allah! Nothing prevents Moses from taking a bath with us except that he has a scrotal hernia.' So once Moses went out to take a bath and put his clothes over a stone and then that stone ran away with his clothes. Moses followed that stone saying, "My clothes, O stone! My clothes, O stone!" till the people of Bani Israel saw him and said, 'By Allah, Moses has got no defect in his body.' Moses took his clothes and began to beat the stone.' " Abu Huraira added, "By Allah! There are still six or seven marks present on the stone from that excessive beating."

(Sahih Bukhari .. Vol.1, No:277)

a couple and a donkey...

I liked this story:

A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, ‘very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey?’ upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, ‘the husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?’ hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.

Further on the way home, they met an old lady. She commented, ‘how can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman.’ The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, ‘poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you.’ Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river.

You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future. Do not be too bothered by others’ words if your conscience is clear… coz one man’s meat could be another man’s poison..

- (stolen from a notice board ;)

ഒരു മലകേറ്റക്കഥ...

“
"ഇരുപത്തിയെണ്ണായിരം അടി കയറി. നമ്മുടെ, ഇന്ത്യയുടെ, ടെന്‍സിങ്‌, മലയുടെ മകന്‍‍, ഷേര്‍പ്പ, ഓക്സിജന്‍പോലും ഇല്ലാതെ പടപടായെന്ന്‌ മല കയറി. മുഖത്ത്‌ കാറ്റടിക്കുന്നു. അവിടത്തെ കാറ്റില്‍ ചൂളമുണ്ട്‌. ഹിലാരി പറഞ്ഞു: 'ടെന്‍സിങ്ങേ, എന്താണീ വെപ്രാളം? നമ്മ മലകേറാന്‍ വന്നവരല്ലേ, വായുഗുളിക മേടിക്കാനല്ലല്ലാ?’
ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ പറഞ്ഞു: 'വെക്കം നടയെന്റ ഹിലാരിച്ചേട്ടാ.' ഇരുപത്തിയെണ്ണായിരത്തി അഞ്ഞൂറാമത്തെ അടി. മുഖത്ത്‌ ഐസിന്റെ പരലുകള്‍ ചുളുചുളാ കുത്തി. ടെന്‍സിങ്ങിന്‌ ഉണ്ടോ കുലുക്കം! മലയാടാണ്‌ നമ്മുടെ ടെന്‍സിങ്‌. ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ മുമ്പോട്ടു നീങ്ങി.ഇരുപത്തിയെണ്ണായിരത്തി അറുനൂറാമത്തെ അടി. ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ തിരിഞ്ഞുനോക്കിയപ്പോള്‍ ഹിലാരിയെ കാണ്മാനില്ല. അയാള്‍ കുത്തിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്‌; ഹിപ്പ്‌ ഫ്‌ളാസ്‌കില്‍നിന്ന്‌ ബ്രാണ്ടി മോന്തുന്നു. ടെന്‍സിങ്ങിന്‌ ദേഷ്യം വന്നു: 'ഹിലാരിച്ചേട്ടാ, അത്യുന്നതങ്ങളില്‌ കൊള്ളരുതാത്തരം കാട്ടണേണാ?' ഹിലാരി പറഞ്ഞു: 'ഇത്തിരി അവന്‍ ചെന്നാ സംഗതി ഉഷാറാകും.' ബ്രാണ്ടിയുടെ ബലത്തില്‍ ഹിലാരി ഇരുന്നൂറടി കയറി. ഇരുപത്തിയെണ്ണായിരത്തി എണ്ണൂറ്‌ അടി.ഹിലാരി ഔട്ട്‌. ബോധം പോയി. ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ ഹിലാരിയുടെ വയറില്‍ ഒരു കയറ്‌ കെട്ടി, ആ കയറ്‌ സ്വന്തം വയറില്‍ കെട്ടി, പുല്ലുപോലെ മലകയറി.
"ഇനിയുള്ള കയറ്റം ദുഷ്‌കരമാണ്‌. ചുമരുപോലെ കുത്തനെ ഉള്ള മല. പിക്‌ആക്സ്‌ മലയില്‍ കുത്തിനിര്‍ത്തി അതില്‍ ബന്ധിച്ച കയറ്‌ പിടിച്ച്‌ ഓരോ അടിയായി ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ കയറി. ഹിലാരി, ഊഞ്ഞാല്‍ ആടുന്നപോലെ, കാറ്റില്‍ ആടിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു. ഒരു വലിയ പെന്‍ഡുലം പോലെ. ടെന്‍സിങ്ങിന്‌, ങ്‌ഹാ, ഒരു കുഴപ്പവും ഇല്ല. ആ മിടുക്കന്‍ തിബത്തെന്നൊരു ദേശത്തിലാണ്‌ ജനിച്ചത്‌. അവിടത്തെ കുട്ടികളുടെ വിനോദം ആരാണ്‌ ഫസ്റ്റ്‌ എത്തുന്നത്‌ എന്ന്‌ മത്സരിച്ച്‌, ദിവസവും എവറസ്റ്റ്‌പോലെയുള്ള കൊടുമുടികള്‍ കയറിയിറങ്ങുക എന്നതായിരുന്നു. ഇരുപത്തി ഒമ്പതിനായിരം അടി. ഇനി ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ടടി മാത്രം. പത്തടികൂടി ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ കയറിയപ്പോള്‍, കയറില്‍ തത്തിക്കളിച്ചിരുന്ന ഹിലാരിക്ക്‌, അല്‍പം ബോധം വന്നു. അയാള്‍ പറഞ്ഞു: 'പതിനെട്ടാമ്പടി കഠിനമെന്റ ടെന്‍സിങ്ങേ.' വീണ്ടും ഹിലാരി മയക്കത്തിലായി. ഹിമക്കാറ്റ്‌ അയാളെ, സെബാസ്‌ത്യാനോസ്‌ പുണ്യവാളന്റെ പെരുന്നാളിനു വരുന്ന ഊഞ്ഞാല്‍ത്തൊട്ടിലുകളുടെ റാട്ട്‌പോലെ, സ്‌പീഡില്‍ വട്ടം കറക്കി.
"ദാ എവറസ്‌റ്റ്‌ കൊടുമുടി. 29028 അടി മുകളില്‍നിന്ന്‌ ടെന്‍സിങ്‌, ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും പൊക്കമുള്ള സ്ഥലത്തുനിന്ന്‌, തെക്കോട്ട്‌ നോക്കി. ടാറ്റാകമ്പനിയുടെ പുകക്കുഴല്‍ കണ്ടു; മട്ടാഞ്ചേരി വാര്‍ഫിലെ കൂറ്റന്‍ ക്രേയ്‌നുകളെ കണ്ടു; തോപ്പുംപടി പാലത്തിലെ വലിയ തൂണുകള്‍ കണ്ടു; തിരുവനന്തപുരം പാളയംപള്ളിയുടെ മുകളിള്‍ കൈപരത്തി നില്‌ക്കുന്ന യേശുക്രിസ്‌തുവിന്റെ പ്രതിമയും കണ്ടു. ടെ‍ന്‍സിങ്‌ പുറകിലെ മാറാപ്പില്‍നിന്ന്‌ ഇന്ത്യയുടെ ത്രിവര്‍ണ്ണപതാക പുറത്തെടുത്തു. കൂടെ കരുതിയിരുന്ന മുളവടിയില്‍‍ അത്‌ കെട്ടി, ഹിമാലയത്തിന്റെ ഉച്ചിയില്‍ കുത്തിനിര്‍ത്തി. നെഹ്‌റുമ്മാന്‍ പ്രസംഗം അവസാനിപ്പിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ പറയുന്നപോലെ ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ മൂന്നുതവണ ഉറക്കെ 'ജയ്ഹിന്ദ്‌' പറഞ്ഞു.
"ശബ്‌ദം കേട്ട്‌ ഹിലാരി ഉണര്‍ന്നു. 'എന്താണ്‌ ടെന്‍സിങ്ങേ ഒരൊച്ചേം ബഹളോം? മനുഷ്യനെ സുഖമായട്ടൊന്ന്‌ ഒറങ്ങാന്‍ സമ്മതിക്കൂലേ?' ഹിലാരി ചോദിച്ചു. ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ ചിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്‌ പറഞ്ഞു: 'വണ്ടി ടെര്‍മിനസില്‌ എത്തി, ഇനി മുമ്പോട്ടില്ല. ഇതാണ്‌ കൊടുമുടി.' ഹിലാരി ചാടിയെഴുന്നേറ്റു. അയാളും ന്യൂസിലാന്റ്‌ എന്നു പേരുള്ള അയാളുടെ രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ കൊടിനാട്ടി. എന്നിട്ട്‌ പറഞ്ഞു: "പൊന്ന്‌ ടെന്‍സിങ്ങേ ഒരു ഫോട്ടോ എടുത്തേ, മൂപ്പത്തീന, മിസ്സിസ്‌ ഹിലാരീന, കാണിക്കാനാണ്‌. അവള്‌ട വിചാരം ഞാനൊരു ബ്രാണ്ടിപാര്‍ട്ടിയാണെന്നാണ്‌."
"ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ ഫോട്ടോ എടുത്തു. അത്‌ ചതിയായിരുന്നു, വന്‍ചതി, യൂദാസ്‌ ചതി. ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ എടുത്ത ഫോട്ടോ ആരുടെ കാമറയ്‌ക്കുള്ളിള്‍? ഹിലാരിയുടെ. ഹിലാരി അടിവാരത്തില്‍ എത്തിയപ്പോള്‍ ഫോട്ടോ പുറത്തുവിട്ടു. എല്ലാ കടലാസുകളിലും ന്യൂസ്‌ലാന്റിന്റെ കൊടിപിടിച്ച്‌ ഹിലാരി എവറസ്‌റ്റിന്റെ മുകളില്‍ നില്‌ക്കുന്ന പടം അച്ചടിച്ചുവന്നു. ന്യൂസ്‌ലാന്റിന്റെ കൊടി നിങ്ങള്‍ കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ? അതിന്റെ വടക്കുപടിഞ്ഞാറന്‍ മൂലയില്‍ ഒരു ചെറിയ ചതുരത്തില്‍ ഇംഗ്ലീഷുകാരുടെ ജാക്കികൊടി ഉണ്ട്‌. ഇംഗ്ലീഷുകാര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു: 'ഞങ്ങട ആള്‌ ഫസ്‌റ്റ്‌.' 1953 മേയ്‌ 28-ന്‌ നമ്മുടെ ടെന്‍സിങ്‌ ത്രിവര്‍ണ്ണപതാക എവറസ്‌റ്റിന്റെമേല്‍ കുത്തി. പക്ഷേ, വെള്ളക്കാര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു: 'ഹിലാരി ഫസ്‌റ്റ്‌.' വെള്ളക്കാര്‍ അങ്ങനെയാണ്‌, എപ്പോഴും നമ്മളെ പറ്റിക്കും."

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- (ലന്തന്‍ബത്തേരിയിലെ ലുത്തിനിയകള്‍)