An elderly pilgrim was on his way to the Himalayan mountains on a very cold winter day when freezing rain began to fall. The innkeeper said to him, “Good sir, how will you reach the mountains in this weather?” The old man cheerfully replied, “My heart is already there, so it is not difficult for … Read more
Once a woman had a strange dream. She dreamt that a new, big, beautiful store had opened in the main square of her town. She entered to look around at the goods offered. To her amazement, she saw God standing behind the counter, waiting for customers. “You!?” the woman croaked. “How come You, Lord God, … Read more
In a desert oasis, the old Elijah was kneeling beside the date palm trees. His neighbor, the wealthy merchant Hakim, stopped by the oasis to water the camels when he saw Elijah sweating as he dug in the sand. – How are you, old man? Peace be with you! – And with you – Elijah … Read more
Golestan (Rose Garden) Saadi (Abu Muhammad Muslih al Din bin Abdallah Shirazi) Chapter VII, story 15 Once, a great man who had lost his beloved son was asked what to write on his son’s grave. The father replied: The verses of the Quran are too sacred to be inscribed in such a place, where time … Read more
Princess Savitri was the only child of King Ashvapati. It was unknown whether she was more beautiful or smarter. Once she went on an excursion to the forest with her attendants. In the forest, she met a woodcutter whose beauty captivated her; and somehow she knew that he was not a woodcutter by birth. Inquiring … Read more
There is a beautiful Hindu story about the beauty and usefulness of cracks. Throughout our lives, we allow the freshest and most creative parts of our being to pass through them. The main character of the story is a water bearer from India who carried two large pots hanging from each end of a stick … Read more
Once Buddha came to a lecture holding a flower in his hand. He remained silent for a long time until someone dared to ask him why he was silent. Buddha smiled and said: “This flower I hold in my hand speaks more than I could ever tell you, more than can be expressed in words. … Read more
When ordinary people come before the king, they say: “Long live the king forever!” Once, in ancient times, there lived a man who, upon coming to the court, always said: “There is no king but God.” He repeated the same sentence constantly, which greatly angered the king who eventually decided to kill him. The man … Read more
Ryokan, a Zen master, lived very modestly in a small hut at the foot of a hill. One evening, a thief entered the hut and discovered that there was nothing to steal. Ryokan returned and found him there. “Perhaps you have travelled a long way to visit me,” he said to the thief, “and you … Read more
Once upon a time, there was a story about Pachacutec having to choose between two young men, potential rulers of a province in the Inca empire. Both were noblemen, wise and good, and he couldn’t decide between the two. However, he came up with a clever trick and said: “Let’s use magic. Here in my … Read more
