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Fables
and Tales , Book
I
Fables and Tales is a compilation of 101 short stories with a message for the transformation of human consciousness towards the Light. It teaches by example, by using metaphors, as Divine Jesus taught his people. We follow His Way.
Research and compilation made by Luis Prada, Editor and Publisher of Brother Veritus' Website. This is a labor of love done with deep passion and love for humanity and to contribute to human enlightenment.
This book is also available in Spanish, see Cuentos y Fábulas, Primer Libro, in Brother Veritus' Website-Español. See also Fables and Tales, Book II, in this Section.
This eBook in the form of a webpage has 101 short stories for children of all ages. This will be a good start for your child into the realm of spirituality.
(Between you and me: I have never grown up, that's why I enjoy this collection so much! Beside, should I have really the mind of an adult instead of a child's I would not have created this Website, since it is too time consuming to produce it and does not generate a monetary profit. I am playing, really.)
All translations to English by Luis Prada.
How
Do You Know?
Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
Many years ago, in a poor Chinese village, lived
a peasant with his son. His only material good, besides
the land and his little straw hut, was a horse he had inherited from his father.
One good day the horse run away leaving the man without a horse to till
the land. His neighbors —who respected him for his honesty and diligence—
came to his home to let him know how much they regretted what happened. He
thanked the visit, but asked:
—How would you know that what happened has been a misfortune in my life?
Somebody commented in a low voice to a friend:
«He doesn't want to accept reality, let him think what he wants, as long as he
doesn't get sad with what has happened».
And the neighbors went away, feigning to be in agreement with what they
had heard.
A week later, his horse
came back to the stable, but he was not alone: He brought with him a
beautiful mare as company. After knowing this the inhabitants of the village
overjoyed, because only now they understood the answer the man had given them,
returned to the peasant's home to congratulate him for his good luck.
—Before you had just one horse, now you have two. Congratulations!—they
said.
—Thank you very much for your visit and your solidarity —answered the
peasant. But, how do you know that what happened to
me is a blessing in my life?
Confused, and thinking the man was turning insane, the neighbors walked
away, commenting on the road:
«Is it possible that this man does not understand that God sent him a gift?»
A month had passed, the peasant's son decided to tame the mare.
But the animal jumped in an unexpected way, and the boy had a bad fall breaking
a leg. The neighbors came back to the peasant's home
taking with them presents for the wounded youth. The major of town,
solemnly, presented his condolences to the
father saying that all were very sad for what had happened. The man
thanked the visit and everybody's affection. But he asked:
—How can you know if what happened has been a misfortune in my life?
This sentence left everybody astonished, since nobody could have the
least doubt that an accident of his son is a true tragedy.
When leaving the peasant's home they commented among themselves:
«Really he is becoming crazy; his only son may end up lame forever and he still
has doubts that what has happened is a tragedy».
Some months passed and Japan declared war to China. The
emissaries went through the country looking for healthy boys to be sent to the
battle front. When arrived to the village drafted
all the young ones except the peasant's son who was with his broken leg.
None of the boys returned alive. His son recovered, the two animals gave a
litter that was sold and gave good money. The peasant went to visit his
neighbors to console them and help them, since they had shown solidarity with
him at all times. Always when any of them complained the peasant said:
—How do you know if this is a tragedy? If somebody was too happy, he
asked:
—How do you know if that is a blessing?
And the men of that village understood that, beyond appearances, life has
other meanings.
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Tale
of the Strawberry
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
Jorge Bucay
A king went to his garden and discovered that his trees, bushes and flowers were dying. The Oak told him that was dying because it could not be as tall as the Pine. Turning to the Pine, found it fallen because could not give grapes as the Vine. And the Vine was dying because could not blossom as the Rose. The Rose cried because could not be as tall and solid as the Oak.
Then he found a plant, a
Strawberry, blossoming and fresher than ever. The king asked it:
—How do you grow so healthy in
the mist of this withered and somber garden?
—I do not know.
Perhaps it be because always I supposed that when you planted
me, you wanted strawberries. If you would have wanted an Oak or a Rose,
you had planted them. At that time I said to myself:
"I will try to be Strawberry the best way I can."
Now it is your turn. You
are here to contribute with our fragrance. Simply look at yourself.
There are no possibilities you be another person. You could enjoy it and
blossom with your own love for you, or you could wither in your own sentence...
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The
Cracked Water Pot
Unknown Author
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?," asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws you have to do all of this work and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Moral: Each of us
has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.
But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives
together so very
interesting and rewarding. You've just got to
take each person for what
they are, and look for the good in them.
There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot
of good in us! Blessed are the flexible, for
they shall not be bent out of shape.
Remember to appreciate all the different people
in your life! Or as we like to think of it
——if it hadn't been for the crackpots
in our lives it would have been pretty
boring and not so interesting
... Thank you, all
crackpot friends.
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The
Old Ceramic Pot
Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
On one occasion the Master told the story of an old ceramic pot of inestimable price for which he had paid a fortune at a public auction. The pot had been used for many years by a beggar who ended up his life in misery, totally ignorant of the value of that object with which he had begged.
When the disciple asked the Master what that vessel represented, the Master told him: "Yourself".
The disciple asked him for an explanation, and the
Master proceeded: "You center all your attention in the insignificant knowledge
that you acquire through books and from the masters. It would be better
that you focus your attention on the vessel in which you keep it."
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The
Hermitage
Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
The old man Haakon took care of a certain Hermitage. In it it was venerated a Crucifix of great devotion. This Crucifix had the name, well significant, of "Christ of the Favors". All came there to ask the Holy Christ. One day the hermit Haakon wanted to ask him a favor. He was compelled by a generous feeling. He knelt down before the image and said:
—"Lord, I want to suffer for you. Let me occupy your place. I want to replace
thee at The Cross." And stayed put with fixed gaze at the Sacred Effigy,
as in waiting for an answer. The Crucified opened his lips and spoke.
His words felt from up high, whispering and admonishing:
—"Servant of mine, I accede to your wish, but it has to be with one
condition."
—"Which one, Lord?", asked Haakon with supplicant accent.
—"It is a difficult condition", said the Lord.
—"I am willing to fulfill it with your help, Lord",
answered the old hermit.
—"Listen: happens what happens and see what you see, you have to keep
always silent". Haakon answered:
—"I promise it, Lord".
And the change was done. Nobody noticed the exchange. Nobody
recognized the hermit, hanging from four nails on the Cross.
The Lord occupied the place of Haakon. And this for long time fulfilled the obligation. He said nothing to anybody. The devout continued filing up asking for favors. But one day came a rich man, after having prayed, left forgotten his wallet there. Haakon saw it and kept silent. Nor even said anything when a poor, that came two hours later, took the wallet of the rich one. Neither said anything when a boy knelt down before him just after that to ask his grace before starting a long trip. But at that moment the rich entered looking for his bag. Not finding it, thought that the boy had taken it. The rich turned to the youth and irascible said:
—"Give me my bag that you have
stolen from me!". Surprised the young answered:
—"I have stolen no bag".
—"Do not lie, give it to me right away!
—"I told you that I have not taken any bag", replied the boy.
The rich furiously charged against him. Then sounded a strong voice:
—"Stop!" The rich looked up and saw that the
image was speaking to him.
Haakon, that could not remain silent, cried, defended the youth, rebuked the
rich for the false accusation. This was astonished, and left the
Hermitage. The young left too because was rushing to start his trip.
When the Hermitage was alone, Christ turned to his servant and said:
—"Come down from the Cross. You do not fit my office. You have
not known to keep silent".
—"Lord", said Haakon, "how I could allowed that
injustice?" The offices were changed. Jesus
occupied the Cross again and the hermit stayed before the Crucifix. The
Lord, nailed, continued talking:
—"You did not know that was right for the rich to lose the bag since
in it he carried the price of a young woman's virginity. The poor, on the
contrary, had a need of that money and did fine in taking it; with respect to
the boy that was about to be hit, his wounds would had prevented him to make the
trip that for him would turn fatal. Now, some minutes ago the ship has
shipwrecked and he has lost his life. You knew nothing. I do know.
That's why I keep silent". . .
And the sacred image of the crucified kept silent.
How many times we pretend to lead
our destiny believing that it is the best for us!
Only God knows what is best for us. We have to learn to accept his/her
Holy Will, even though sometimes we do not comprehend it.
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
Appearances are deceitful, let's always have trust in God.
They say that once a man was chased by several wicked men who wanted to kill him. The man entered into a cave. The wicked men started looking for him in all previous caves from where he was. With great desperation he prayed to God in the following manner:
"Almighty God, make two angels come down and seal the entrance so they cannot enter and kill me". At that moment he heard the men approaching the cave in where he was, and saw a little spider appeared. The little spider started to weave a web at the entrance. The man again prayed, this time more desperately:
"Lord, I asked you for angels, not a spider." And continued: "Lord, please, with your mighty hand place a strong wall at the entrance so that the men cannot enter to kill me." He opened his eyes expecting to see a wall sealing the entrance, and observed the little spider weaving its spider web. The wicked men were already entering the previous cave from where the man was and this one was waiting for his death. When the wicked men stood in front of the cave where the man was in the little spider had already covered the whole entrance, then he heard this conversation:
First man: "Come on, let's get in this cave." Second man: "No. Can't you see that it even has spider webs?, nobody has entered in this one."
Faith is believing that you have what cannot see,
persevering in the impossible. There is a beautiful
sentence that says: "If you ask God for a tree He will give it to you in the
form of a seed". We ask things that from a human perspective are what we
need, but God gives us those with which He shows us that with very simple things
He can do a lot much more. As in this reading
sometimes we ask for walls to be sure, but it wouldn't have any merit since we
would know and we would be certain that we are protected, God on the contrary
asks us for more confidence in Him to let His Glory manifest and to make that
something as a spider web gives us the same protection as a wall. If you
have asked for a wall and only see but a spider web, remember that God can
change things... and trust in Him.
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Unknown Author
Taken from: http://www.thewavesight.net/shareinfo.htm
There is a difference between education and experience. Education is what you get from reading the small print. Experience is what you get from not reading it! But isn't it true that great learning comes from both education and experience? Let me tell you a parable:
A young school teacher had a dream that an angel appeared to him and said, "You will be given a child who will grow up to become a world leader. How will you prepare her so that she will realize her intelligence, grow in confidence, develop both her assertiveness and sensitivity, be open—minded, yet strong in character? In short, what kind of education will you provide that she can become one of the world's truly GREAT leaders?"
The young teacher awoke in a cold sweat. It had never occurred to him before —any ONE of his present or future students could be the person described in his dream. Was he preparing them to rise to ANY POSITION to which they may aspire? He thought, 'How might my teaching change if I KNEW that one of my students were this person?' He gradually began to formulate a plan in his mind:
This student would need experience as well as instruction.
She would need to know how to solve problems of various kinds.
She would need to grow in character as well as knowledge.
She would need self assurance as well as the ability to listen well and work with others.
She would need to understand and appreciate the past, yet feel optimistic about the future.
She would need to know the value of lifelong learning in order to keep a curious and active mind.
She would need to grow in understanding of others and become a student of the spirit.
She would need to set high standards for herself and learn self discipline, yet she would also need love and encouragement, that she might be filled with love and goodness.
His teaching changed. Every young person who walked through his classroom became, for him, a future world leader. He saw each one, not as they were, but as they could be. He expected the best from his students, yet tempered it with compassion. He taught each one as if the future of the world depended on his instruction. After many years, a woman he knew rose to a position of world prominence. He realized that she must surely have been the girl described in his dream. Only she was not one of his students, but rather his daughter. For of all the various teachers in her life, her father was the best. I've heard it said that "Children are living messages we send to a time and place we will never see." But this isn't simply a parable about an unnamed school teacher. It is a parable about you and me —whether or not we are parents or even teachers. And the story, OUR story, actually begins like this:
"You will be given a child who will grow up to
become...." You finish the sentence. If not a world leader, then a superb
father? An excellent teacher? A gifted healer? An innovative problem solver? An
inspiring artist? A generous philanthropist? Where and how you will encounter
this child is a mystery. But believe that one child's future may depend upon
influence only you can provide, and something remarkable will happen. For no
young person will ever be ordinary to you again. And you will never be the same.
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How
the Book Tao Te King Was Written
Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
How was written one of the most important books of the world? In the year twentieth third of the reign of Zhao, Lao Tse perceived that war would end up destroying the place where he lived. Because he had spent years meditating on the nature of life, he knew that in certain moments it is required to be practical. He decided, then, to take the simplest decision: move away.
He took his small belongings, and parted in the direction of Han Keou; at the city's exit gate, he found a guard.
— Where is so important sage going to? — asked the
guard — .
— Away from war.
— You cannot leave like this. I'd like very much to know what was that you
learned in so many years of meditation. I will only let you part is you
share with me what you know.
Just to get rid of the guard, Lao Tse wrote right there a little book, which only copy he handed to him. Then, he continued his trip, and never more was heard of him.
The text of Lao Tse was copied and recopied, crossed centuries, crossed millennia, and came down to our time. It is called Tao Te King, it is published in Portuguese by several publishing houses, and it is a obliged reading. Here goes one of its pages:
He who knows others is wise,
He who knows himself is an enlightened,
He who conquers others is strong,
He who conquers himself is powerful,
He who knows happiness is rich,
He who keeps his way has willpower.
Be humble, and will remain whole,
Bend, and will remain erect,
Empty yourself, and will remain full,
Wear yourself out, and will remain anew.
The wise does not exhibit himself, and therefore he
shines,
He does not make himself noticed, and therefore he is noticed,
Does not praise himself, and therefore he has merit,
And because he is not competing, nobody in the world
can compete with him.
Carpentry
Assembly
Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
It was told that at one time there was a strange assembly in a carpentry. It was a meeting of tools to fix their differences. The Hammer was named Director of Debates, but the assembly notified him that he had to resign: The cause, he was too noisy! And he was spending his time pounding. The Hammer accepted guilty, but asked that also were expulsed The Screw, he said that they had to do him make many turns to make him serve of something. Before the attack The Screw accepted too, but at the same time asked the expulsion of the Sand Paper. He made them see that she was very rough in the treatment of others and always had frictions with the other ones. And the Sand Paper agreed, on condition that were expulsed The Tape that always spend the time measuring others according to his measure, as if he were the only one perfect.
At that moment came in the carpenter, put on the apron and started his work. He used The Hammer, The Sand Paper, The Tape, and The Screw. Finally, the initial rustic wood was transformed into a pretty furniture.
When the carpentry
was again alone, the assembly restarted its deliberation, it was then when The
Saw took the floor and said: Gentlemen, it was demonstrated that we have
defects, but the carpenter works with our qualities. That makes us
valuable. So let's stop thinking on our bad points and let's concentrate
in the usefulness of our good points. The assembly then found that The
Hammer was strong, The Screws joint and gave reinforcement, The Sand Paper was
special to polish and file down roughness and observed that The Tape was precise
and exact.
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The
Automobile
Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
Once upon a time there was a young lad that was near graduation from his studies. For many months he admired a beautiful sport car in an car dealer store.
Knowing that his father could buy it he told him that that car was all he wanted, so, when graduation day approached, the youth waited for some signal that his father would have bought the car. Finally in the morning of graduation day his father called him to his bedroom. He told him how proud he felt of having a son so good and how much he loved him. His father had in his hands a beautiful gift box. Curious and somehow disappointed the young boy opened the box and found a beautiful Bible of skin covers and with his name written in golden letters.
Angrily he shouted at his father saying: — With all the money you have and the only thing you give me is this Bible?
He left home to not return anymore. Many years passed and the youth turned into a successful businessman. He had a beautiful house and a wonderful family, but when he knew that his father, already an old man, was very sick he thought to visiting him. He had not seeing him since graduation day. Before he was able to depart to see him he received a telegram where it said that his father had died, and had left him as the heir of all his possessions for what it was urgently needed that he would go to his father's home to arrange all the requirements immediately.
When he arrived a sadness and repentance filled his heart. Soon he started seeing all the important documents that his father had and found the Bible that in that occasion his father had given to him.
With tears he opened it and started to turn the pages. His father carefully had underlined a verse in Matthew 7:11: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him." While he read those words a set of car keys fell from the Bible. They had a card from the car dealer store where he had seen that sport automobile that had desired so much. On that card was the date of the day of his graduation and the words: "PAID IN FULL."
How many times we have rejected or lost the
opportunity of enjoying or live something because it does not come wrapped in
beautiful packages as we expected?
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Unknown Author
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful, and the favorite.
Green
said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was
chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over
the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue
interrupted, "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea.
It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the
deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity, without my peace you would
all be nothing."
Yellow
chuckled, "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the
world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time
you look at a sunflower the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would
be no fun."
Orange
started next to blow her trumpet. "I am the color of health and strength. I may
be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the
most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and
papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or
sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of
you."
Red
could stand it no longer, he shouted out, "I am the ruler
of all of you! I am blood — life's blood! I am the color of bravery. I am
willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the
earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the
red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."
Purple
rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp. "I am
the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen
me, for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They
listen and obey."
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening, thunder rolled and boomed.
Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort. In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me." Doing as they were told the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes
the world, and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one
another. [Translation of the kids' card at the right: "Peace in the World"]
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
"Love is like a little box, where it is put in and it is taken out ... When love is given, it is taken from our little box and it is put in the little box of another. When love is received, it is taken from the little box of another and put into our own."
I believe that one was the best explanation that I received about love until today ... If it is only received and not given, the little box gets full and nobody gives you love. If it only given, it comes a time when yours is depleted. That is why in life it is important to give and to receive love. Not always the one who receives from us is the one who gives us. Nor we always give to him/her whom we receive from. But always we should be doing changes and recycling our stock of love.
Do not let your little box get
empty, nor let your little box get full. Know to give and to receive.
Place love in everything you do, from the moment you stand up until to lay down,
at work, in the traffic, at home ... The things, the details done with love have
other flavor, both for the one who make them as well as for the one who receives
them. Place love in your smile in the morning. Place love in the
Good Day. Place love in the details of the day. Place love in the
little things, and in the great ones too. And you will see that your life
will be filled with fulfillments, successes, joys, good things and love.
Remember that happiness only depends on us and live better!!!
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
There were once a group of three lost men in the mountain and they only had a fruit to feed all of three, who were almost fainting from starvation. Then God appeared to them and told them would test their wisdom and depending on what they would show would save them. So God asked them what may they ask Him to fix that problem and get everybody fed.
The first one said: "Then make appear more food", God answered that it was an answer with no wisdom, since you should not ask God that magically make appear the solution to problems without working with what we have.
The second one said then: "So make the fruit grow to make it enough", to which God answered no, since the solution is not to ask always the multiplication of what we have to fix the problem, since the human being can never be satisfied and therefore it would never be enough.
The third one then said: "My good God, even though we are hungry and we are proud, make us small ourselves so the fruit would be enough". God said: "You have answered right, since when man makes himself humble and small before my eyes, he will see prosperity".
Know that it is always taught that somebody else fix the problems or to look for the easy way out, always asking God to fix everything without us changing or sacrificing anything. That is why so many times it seems God does not listen to us since we ask without letting anything be left aside and always wanting to win. Many times we are selfish and want always everything for us.
We will be happy the day when we learn that the way to ask God is by seeing ourselves as weak, and by being humble leaving our pride aside. And we will see that by making us small in luxuries and by being tame at heart we will see prosperity from God and see the way how He does listen.
Ask God to makes you small... Try
it!!!!
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Anthony de Mello, Translation from a Spanish translation of the English original
... I propose to your
consideration the following parable of life: a bus
loaded with tourists traverses a beautiful region full of lakes, mountains,
rivers and prairies. But the curtains of the bus are closed, and the
tourists, who do not have the least idea of what lies on the other side of the
windows, spend the trip discussing over who should occupy the best seat on the
bus, whom they should applaud to, who is the worthiest
of consideration... And so they continue until the end
of trip.
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
A popular story of the Middle East tells that
a youth arrived at an oasis shore next to a town and approaching an old man
asked:
—What kind of a people lives in this place?
—What kind of a people lives in the place where you are coming from?, asked
instead the old man.
—Oh, a group of selfish and wicked, replied the young one, I am happy I have
left there. To what the old man answered:
—Same you will find here.
That same day another young man approached the oasis
to drink water and seeing the old man, asked:
—What kind of people lives in this place? The old
man answered with the same question:
—What kind of people lives in the place you are coming from?
—A magnificent group of people, honest, amicable, hospitable, it hurts very much
to have left them.
—Same you will find here, answered the old man.
A man who had heard both conversations asked the old
man:
—How is it possible to give two different answers to the same question?
To which the old man answered:
—Each one carries in his heart the environment where he lives. That one that did
not find anything new in the places where he stayed cannot find other thing
here. The one that found only friends there, can find also friends here,
because, to tell the truth, your mental attitude is the only thing in your life
over which you can maintain absolute control.
When you always have a positive attitude you will
find the true richness in life. If you look within
you will know that you possess a great strength to give and to find all the good
things in others. May you always find an oasis of peace!
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Mónica Barbagallo, from her
libro: The Path to Your Solar Angel (El
Camino Hacia Tu Ángel Solar), Volume II
©
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
Gonzalo Gallo-González,
Oasis For A Better Living (Oasis
Para Vivir Más y Mejor)
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
In the last century a tourist visited the famous polish rabbi Hofetz Chaim. He was astonished to see that the rabbi's house consisted simply of a room crammed with books. The only furniture was a table and a bench.
Detachment is a quality of those that know we are
here passing by and who are free without clinging to things. If you
appreciate more the inner riches that the exterior ones you live simply and live
deeply. We are pilgrims. We advance much more when we walk light of
luggage.
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Oriental Jewish Tale
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
When Noah was planting a vineyard, Satan appeared to him and asked permission to help him.
Satan brought first a lamb, killed it and poured its blood over the furrows. Then he soaked the earth with lion’s blood. Following he trapped a monkey and used his blood in the same way. And finally it was the turn of a pig. Then Satan explained to Noah his intentions:
When man
would drink the first cup of wine he will turn sweet and happy as the lamb.
With the second cup, he will be valiant and fighter as the lion, bragging of his
power. Then after the third cup, he will become ridicule as the monkey. But if
he drinks four or more cups he will become a repugnant pig, dirty and bestial,
capable of wallowing in mud.
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
On
certain occasion a reporter asked a farmer if he could reveal the secret of his
corn, which won the contest of the best product, year after year. The
farmer confessed that it was due to the fact that he shared his seed with his
neighbors.
—"Why do you share your best corn seed with your neighbors, if you also enter to the same contest year after year?” asked the reporter.
—"You will see, Sir," said the farmer. "The wind carries the pollen of the ripe maize, from one crop to the other. If my neighbors cultivate an inferior quality corn, the crossed pollination would constantly degrade the quality of mine. If I am going to sow good corn I should help my neighbor to do it so too."
The same is with other situations in our lives. Those who want to be successful should help their neighbors to be successful too. Those who decide to live well, should help others to live well, because the value of life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who opt to be happy should help others to find happiness, because the welfare of each one is found tied to the welfare of all.
May God
bestow upon you the grace of success in your lives sharing what God gives you.
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
— When you look at your friends strive to see yourself in them, said the master to his disciple.
— But, is that not a selfish attitude? questioned the disciple. If we worry for ourselves we never see what good others have to offer.
—
Perhaps always we would get to see the good things that are around us —answered
the master— but, verily, when we look at a fellowman we only looking for
defects. We try to find something evil, because we wish he be worst than us.
We never forgive him if he hurts us because we believe he would never forgive
us. We manage to hurt him with harsh words affirming we are telling the truth,
when barely we are trying to hide it from ourselves. We feign we are important
so nobody can see our frailty. That is why every time you are judging your
bother be aware you are the one at the tribunal.
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
The disciple said to the master:
— I have spent a great deal of my life seeing things that I should not, wishing for things I should not wish for, making plans I should not be doing.
The master invited the disciple to go for a walk. On the path he pointed out to a plant and asked the disciple if he knew what that was.
— Belladonna. It can kill someone who eats its leaves.
—
But it cannot kill someone who only contemplates it. In the same way the
negative desires cannot cause any evil, if you do not allow yourself be seduced
by them.
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Anthony de Mello
(This is a translation from a Spanish translation)
The sannyasi had arrived to the outskirts of the city and encamped under a tree
to spend the night. Suddenly an inhabitant running to where he was arrived and
said:
— The stone! The stone! Give me the precious stone!
— What stone, asked the sannyasi.
— The other night appeared to me in a dream Lord Shiva,
said the villager, and affirmed that if I would come at dusk to the outskirts of
the village I would find a
sannyasi
that would give me a precious stone that would make me rich forever.
The sannyasi searched thoroughly his bag and took out a stone.
— Probably he referred to this one, said while giving the stone to the villager. I found it in a forest trek some days ago. Of course you can keep it.
The man was looking at the stone in awe. It was a diamond! Perhaps the biggest diamond in the world, since it was so big as the hand of a man. He took the diamond and departed.
He spend the night turning in bed, totally incapable of sleeping. Next day, at dawn, he went to see the sannyasi and said to him:
— Give me the riches that allow you to get rid of this diamond so easily.
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Unknown Author
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
A woman came out of her home and saw three old men with long beards sat before her garden. She did not know them and told them:
—I do not think I know you, but you may be hungry. Please come in and eat something.
They asked:
—Is the
man of the house there?
—No,
she answered, he is not.
—Then
we cannot enter, they said.
At dusk, when the husband arrived, she told him what happened.
—Tell them that I already arrived, invite them to come in!
The woman came out to invite the men to go into her house.
—We
cannot enter a house the three together, explained the old men.
—Why?,
she
wanted to know.
One of the men pointed to other of his friends and explained:
—His
name is Wealth. Then pointing to the other one:
—His
name is Success and I am called Love. Now go in and decide with your
husband which one of the three you wish to invite to your home.
The woman entered her home and told her husband what they said. The man became happy:
—How good! And since it is this way then let's invite Wealth, so that he enters and fills our home.
His wife disagreed:
—Dear, why don't we invite Success?
The couple's daughter was listening from the other corner of the house and came running:
—Wouldn't
it be better to invite Love?
Our
home would then be full of love.
—Let's
take our daughter's advise into account, said the husband to his wife.
Go out
and invite Love to be our guest.
The wife came out and asked:
—Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.
Love stood up and started to walk towards the house. The other ones stood up and followed. Surprised the lady asked to Wealth and Success:
—I invited only Love, why do you too come in?
The old men answered together:
—If you had invited Wealth or Success the other ones would have stayed outside, but since you invited Love, where he goes, we also go with him. Wherever there is love, there is also wealth and success.
*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*
MY WISH FOR YOU IS... Where there is pain, I wish for you peace and mercy. Where there is lack of faith in yourself, I wish a renewed confidence in your capacity to overcome it. Where there is fear, I wish for you love and courage.
You have two options now:
1.
Erase
[ignore]
this,
or...
2.
Invite Love through this story with all people you appreciate.
I hope you choose Option 2. I did it FOR YOU.
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Hindu
Sage Reading About Jesus
Anthony de Mello, from the
book "The Frog's Prayer"
(This is a translation from a Spanish translation)
A Hindu sage was reading the Life of Jesus. When he knew how Jesus had been rejected by his own people in Nazareth, he exclaimed: "A rabbi whose congregation does not wish to cast him out of the city is not a rabbi."
And when he heard how the priests condemned Jesus to death, he sighed and said: "How difficult it is for Satan to deceive everybody... that is why he chooses outstanding ecclesiastics in different parts of the globe."
A bishop's
lament: "Wherever
Jesus went, there was a revolution;
wherever I go, they
serve me tea."
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Anthony de Mello
(Text is not verbatim, translated from Spanish)
An ancient fable from India tells that there was a mouse who was always in anguish because he was afraid of the cat. A magician had compassion of him and converted him into... a cat.
But then he started to feel afraid of the dog. So the magician changed him into a dog. Then he started to feel afraid of the panther, and the magician changed him into a panther. For which he started to feel afraid of the hunter.
At this point the magician gave up and
turned him back into a mouse, telling him: "Nothing of what I do for you is going to be of help to you, because you will
always have the heart of a mouse."
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Neither
You Nor I Are the Same Ones
Mónica Barbagallo
(Original text in Spanish, Translation)
Buddha was
the most awaken man of his time. Nobody as him understood human suffering and
developed benevolence and compassion.
Among his cousins was the perverse Devadatta, always jealous of the master and determined to discredit him and even willing to kill him.
A certain day when Buddha was strolling peacefully, Devadatta threw a heavy rock from the top of a hill on his step with the intention of finishing with his life. However, the rock fell beside the Buddha and Devadatta could not get his objective. Buddha noticed what happened and remained impassible, without losing the smile from his lips.
Days after Buddha crossed his cousin's path
and greeted him affectionately. Quite surprised Devadatta
asked:
—Aren't you annoyed, Sir?
—No, of course not.
Without leaving his surprise, he inquired:
—Why?
And Buddha said:
—Because neither you are he who threw the rock, nor I am either he who
was there when it was thrown.
The Master says: For he who knows to see, all is transitory, for he who knows to love, all is forgivable. Repeat daily: I forgive all who needs my forgiveness and I forgive myself, three times at rising time, three times at bed time —at least— and feel that you forgive from the depth of your heart.
When we forgive we act with the energy of
our inner God's Presence...
and have into account that with forgiving you remove a heavy bag from you.
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Rabindranath
Tagore,
1861-1941
(Translation from a Spanish text)
The sun had
already set in the tangle of the forest over the rivers. The children of
the hermitage had come with the livestock and were sat by the fire listening to
master Gautama, when an unknown child arrived and greeted
him with flowers and fruits. Then, after a deep reverence, he said with
bird voice:
—Lord
Gautama, I come for you to guide me by the Path of Truth. My name
is Satyakama
—Blessed you be -said the Master. And from
which caste are you, my son? Because only a Brahmin
can aspire to supreme wisdom.
The child answered:
—I don't know which caste I am from, Master, but I am going to ask it to
my mother.
Satyakama said good by, crossed the river by the narrowest part, and returned to his mother's hut, which was at the end of the sandy land, outside of the already sleeping village. The lamp illumined weakly the door, and the mother was outside, standing in the shadow, waiting the return of her child.
She hold him against her breast, kissed his
head and asked him what the Master had said.
—What is my father's name? -said the child.
Because the Lord Gautama told me that only a Brahmin can
aspire to supreme wisdom.
The woman lowered her eyes and spoke sweetly:
—When young I was poor and knew many masters. I only can tell you
that you came to the arms of your mother Jabala, who did
not have a husband.
The first rays of the sun scorched the top of the trees of the hermitage of the forest. The children, still wet their tangled hair from the morning bath, were seating before their Master, under an old tree. Satyakama arrived, made a deep reverence to the Master and stood in silence.
—Tell me
-the Master asked him. Do you know already which
caste you are of?
—Lord, -said Satyakama- I
do not know. My mother told me: I
knew many masters when I was young, and you came to the arms of your mother
Jabala, who did not have a husband.
Then a rumor raised as the irascible buzzing of the harassed bees in their honeycomb. And the students mumbled among themselves of the imprudent insolence of the child without father.
But the Master Gautama raised, b
