None who is observant of common human experience, especially that of suffering, can deny at least the existence of the cruelest injustice in human affairs. No thoughtful individual can long be blind to the inequalities of health and opportunity under which children are seemingly innocently and helplessly born. In this, as in so much else, […]
A man used to pray the same prayer every night. Again and again he would ask, “Lord, do one favor for me, at least one favor — and I have been asking my whole life. As far as I can see, I am the most miserable man on earth. Why have you chosen me to […]
One day, all the disciples went to their Master and said, “Master, we all want to go on a pilgrimage.” Master: “Why do you want to go on a pilgrimage?” Disciples: “So that it will bring a transformation and help us on our spiritual path.” Master: “Take this bitter gourd along with you. Make sure […]
There was a cobbler who lived in big village. As he was the only cobbler in that village, everyone went to him to get one’s footwear repaired. He was so busy that he didn’t have time to repair his own shoes. This wasn’t a problem at first, but over time, his shoes began to wear […]
Unhappiness may be influenced — but certainly not controlled — by external situations. We’re unhappy because we allow ourselves to be unhappy. Often, we plant our own seeds of discontent. Sometimes we realize it, but most of the time, the seeds take root and begin to blossom completely unbeknownst to us. Until it’s too late. Until […]
That night Sue, a little girl aged 12, quarreled with her mother and then stormed out of the house. As she traveled a little distance, she realized that she did not have money; not even enough coins to make a phone call home. As she passed by a noodle shop, she suddenly felt very […]
Boredom comes when we have spare time and there is nothing to do. Boredom comes when we are unable to enjoy and appreciate solitude. Boredom comes when we can’t stand our own company and want to escape from ourselves. The greatest tragedy of anybody’s life is that one can’t stand one’s own company. And then […]
Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons from Arabia. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained. Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of […]
Miseries, failures, tragedies and disappointments in life are inevitable. But on that ground we should not sink in an endless sorrow. We have to outgrow anguish as quickly as possible. For it eats up the personality as a whole. “There’s no market for our sorrows in this world, so we should never advertise them.” “Sometimes… Hurt […]
Take a look at an apple tree. There might be five hundred apples on the tree and each apple has ten seeds. That’s a lot of seeds! We might ask, “Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more apple trees?” Nature has something to teach us here. It’s telling us: “Not […]
