One of the greatest kings in history, Akbar, was called the “Nourisher of Humanity” by his people because of his kindness and sense of justice. During his reign, he greatly strengthened and expanded India. The king often walked through the streets of his capital and would stop whenever one of his subjects wished to speak […]
A woman came to the Buddha, weeping and remembering. Her child had died, and she could have no more children. She cried and begged the Buddha to bring her child back to life. The Buddha said: “I will help you. But first, go into the village and bring me a few mustard seeds from a […]
As Osho shares in one of his parables, “Do not perish in the trap of hope; do not get carried away by the idea that help comes from the outside. No one else intends to fulfill your hopes. That happens within you. A hunter once got lost in the jungle. For three days, he encountered […]
A philosopher and a mystic lost their way in a forest on a dark night. It was a very dangerous forest, full of wild animals; the darkness was impenetrable. One of them was a man of doubt, the other a man of faith. Suddenly a storm began, thunder struck, and a flash of lightning lit […]
A man was walking across a field. He passed by a farmer and asked him: “How long will it take me to reach the town?” The farmer looked at him and gestured with his hand for him to keep walking. The traveler thought the man had not understood him and asked again: “How long will […]
“Buddha was walking through the forest with his disciples. They were very thirsty and came upon a small spring. The disciples rushed to drink, jostled one another, and muddied the water. Then they began to wonder what to do. Buddha, however, insisted that they continue on their way. The disciples were very thirsty; they pleaded […]
This story from the book “The Five Stages of the Soul” by Harry Moody and David Carroll illustrates the profound difference between intellectual ego, lack of faith, and the power of persistent, humble practice. “Once upon a time, three men, in search of knowledge, set out with a caravan toward the middle of the desert. […]
If you have ever asked yourself why things sometimes feel so difficult for you, here is one possible answer. It comes from a story told by Harry Moody and David Carroll in their book The Five Stages of the Soul: Charting the Spiritual Passages That Shape Our Lives. “Long, long ago, a hermit received a […]
“Inner Nature, when relied on, cannot be fooled. But many people do not look at it or listen to it, and consequently do not understand themselves very much. Having little understanding of themselves, they have little respect for themselves, and are therefore easily influenced by others… One of the most convenient things about this Sensitivity […]
A very alchemical tale with a commentary from Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh “In the state of Chu, a thief became a soldier under General Wu Tzu-fa, a man renowned for his remarkable ability to make use of other people’s capacities. After some time, Chu was attacked by the army of Qi. In response, […]
“When you desire something, your joy depends on that thing. If the thing is not there, you are unhappy; if it is given, you are happy – but only for a moment! This also has to be understood. Whenever your desire is fulfilled, it is only for that moment that you feel joy. It is […]
“There grew in a forest many beautiful and tall trees, and among them one crooked, low, knotty, and ugly tree. All the trees mocked this one, and it was very unhappy. One day woodcutters came into the forest and began to cut down the trees. All the trees were felled; only the small and crooked […]
