My new favorite is The ancient parable of the farmer – It goes something like this:
There once was a man who lived on a farm with his son and his horse.
One day, the barn door was left open and the horse ran away. When the nearby villagers heard about it, they ran to the farm to tell the farmer how sorry they felt for him.
“We heard about your horse, that’s horrible”, the villagers said.
The farmer simply shrugged and said “maybe?”
A few days later, the farmer’s horse returned, and following it were two more horses. The villagers were so excited for the farmer’s luck, they ran to his farm and told him how lucky he was.
The farmer simply shrugged and said “Maybe?”
The new horses were not broken in, so the farmer’s son worked hard to break them in so they could be used on the farm. While doing so, one of the new horses threw him off and his leg was broken.
The villagers again ran to the farm and expressed their deep sadness about the son’s broken leg. “We heard about your son’s leg, that’s horrible!” they said with their heads hung low.
The farmer simply shrugged and said “Maybe?”
As the son was healing from his broken leg, a war broke out in the countryside. All the young men were sent to fight. Many died or were seriously injured. However, since the farmer’s son had a broken leg, he was not able to go. The villagers again came to the farm, to say to the farmer how very lucky he was that his son didn’t have to go fight in the war.
Once again, the farmer shrugged his shoulders and stated, “Maybe?”There are many lessons to be learned from this parable – What lessons can you take from it?
There were three companions walking on the steep path of intuition. One was named Fact, one was named Faith and the other was named Feelings. Crossing a narrow bridge, Feelings took a tragic fall. Faith was stunned and took several steps back, teetering on the edge. Fact pulled up Faith, Faith sorted out Feelings and they continued on their journey towards unity.
If you stay stuck where you have fallen and wait for others to change, you may wake up and POOF! your life is gone, there is no going back. You can only move forward.
Choose life over pain. Make a decision to be happy. If you go into battle, be the peace, be the joy and be the love. Others will have to sort out their own journey. Compassion knows this is a tough battle so tells the others, you can always be courteous and kind. Some days are better then others, but every day make the effort.
Stories about threats or challenges, obstacles overcome, are an obvious answer. In thinking about this, though, I want to treasure the very ordinary everyday moments that will seem so precious in hindsight when I do encounter obstacles. I can treasure life in this moment with my neighbor mowing their yard, Tiggs the cat following my husband and meowing for his attention, birds twittering, our plans for the day that include going for a bike ride to a conservation area and then going out for really good ramen later. All the treasure I could want is right here in this moment.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is one story that comes to mind – the story of a boy in pursuit of purpose. The story highlights all things can work together for “good” if one maintains focus and passion in their individual pursuits – i.e., if one maintains focus on the “treasure” of their life.
The stories bring appreciation of values and compassion in action.
The stories leave me knowing I’m not alone. The stories that work with the struggles of staying present and being in states of love may be ones that inspire. So, not so much treasuring life, more treasuring the potential of still being alive. And my favorite stories are poems, verses of good council.
Last year
A foolish monk.
This year
No change!
Ryokan 1758-1831
Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
Rumi
Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:9 —
Stories of someone’s sudden illness or unexpected death always remind me to appreciate the life I have right now and to live each day to the fullest degree possible. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
As I get older I hear more stories about friends and classmates who are now sick or no longer with us in this world. This inspires me to remember that we are only human and that I should cherish and appreciate everyone and everything in my life. Life is limited and precious. Treat each day as your first and last.
The story of Mother Earth inspires me to let go of the selfishness and self made mind world that only exists in our self centered mind. When we see things with truth we see things with a view from the universe/god/ Buddha perspective.
we can start to change the conversation and save the planet! Today’s quote is smart, because it challenges us to let go of our selfish man made mind world which is falseness.
We need to let go of our self made views – because that’s all they are . Views .
When I hear stories about people who have endured extreme hardship, or who somehow persevered through a harrowing ordeal, be it injury, disease, or survived through war, and fought, and succeeded, in saving their own lives or the lives of others.
Someone was walking with god along the beach. They turned around and looked at the footprints in the sand of both of them. The guy asked god. Some places I can see only one pair of footprints. God said this where the times when you felt very bad. Why then did you leave me in those hard times, asked that guy. Oh, this are not your footprints. You can see only my footprints, because I was carrying you through those periods, my dear…🤍
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My new favorite is The ancient parable of the farmer – It goes something like this:
There once was a man who lived on a farm with his son and his horse.
One day, the barn door was left open and the horse ran away. When the nearby villagers heard about it, they ran to the farm to tell the farmer how sorry they felt for him.
“We heard about your horse, that’s horrible”, the villagers said.
The farmer simply shrugged and said “maybe?”
A few days later, the farmer’s horse returned, and following it were two more horses. The villagers were so excited for the farmer’s luck, they ran to his farm and told him how lucky he was.
The farmer simply shrugged and said “Maybe?”
The new horses were not broken in, so the farmer’s son worked hard to break them in so they could be used on the farm. While doing so, one of the new horses threw him off and his leg was broken.
The villagers again ran to the farm and expressed their deep sadness about the son’s broken leg. “We heard about your son’s leg, that’s horrible!” they said with their heads hung low.
The farmer simply shrugged and said “Maybe?”
As the son was healing from his broken leg, a war broke out in the countryside. All the young men were sent to fight. Many died or were seriously injured. However, since the farmer’s son had a broken leg, he was not able to go. The villagers again came to the farm, to say to the farmer how very lucky he was that his son didn’t have to go fight in the war.
Once again, the farmer shrugged his shoulders and stated, “Maybe?”There are many lessons to be learned from this parable – What lessons can you take from it?
Love stories
There were three companions walking on the steep path of intuition. One was named Fact, one was named Faith and the other was named Feelings. Crossing a narrow bridge, Feelings took a tragic fall. Faith was stunned and took several steps back, teetering on the edge. Fact pulled up Faith, Faith sorted out Feelings and they continued on their journey towards unity.
If you stay stuck where you have fallen and wait for others to change, you may wake up and POOF! your life is gone, there is no going back. You can only move forward.
Choose life over pain. Make a decision to be happy. If you go into battle, be the peace, be the joy and be the love. Others will have to sort out their own journey. Compassion knows this is a tough battle so tells the others, you can always be courteous and kind. Some days are better then others, but every day make the effort.
Thank you, Blossom. I really need to hear something like that in this moment!
Stories about threats or challenges, obstacles overcome, are an obvious answer. In thinking about this, though, I want to treasure the very ordinary everyday moments that will seem so precious in hindsight when I do encounter obstacles. I can treasure life in this moment with my neighbor mowing their yard, Tiggs the cat following my husband and meowing for his attention, birds twittering, our plans for the day that include going for a bike ride to a conservation area and then going out for really good ramen later. All the treasure I could want is right here in this moment.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is one story that comes to mind – the story of a boy in pursuit of purpose. The story highlights all things can work together for “good” if one maintains focus and passion in their individual pursuits – i.e., if one maintains focus on the “treasure” of their life.
The stories bring appreciation of values and compassion in action.
The stories leave me knowing I’m not alone. The stories that work with the struggles of staying present and being in states of love may be ones that inspire. So, not so much treasuring life, more treasuring the potential of still being alive. And my favorite stories are poems, verses of good council.
Last year
A foolish monk.
This year
No change!
Ryokan 1758-1831
Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
Rumi
Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:9 —
Any story of resilience, inspires me.
Stories of someone’s sudden illness or unexpected death always remind me to appreciate the life I have right now and to live each day to the fullest degree possible. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
As I get older I hear more stories about friends and classmates who are now sick or no longer with us in this world. This inspires me to remember that we are only human and that I should cherish and appreciate everyone and everything in my life. Life is limited and precious. Treat each day as your first and last.
I literally just read on my local news this one:
https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2022/07/10/tampa-bay-family-lose-four-relatives-in-mexico-crash–child-the-only-survivor
How sad that this 12 yr old has lost both parents and grandparents. I hope she gets to fly back home to recover and be with her family.
The story of Mother Earth inspires me to let go of the selfishness and self made mind world that only exists in our self centered mind. When we see things with truth we see things with a view from the universe/god/ Buddha perspective.
we can start to change the conversation and save the planet! Today’s quote is smart, because it challenges us to let go of our selfish man made mind world which is falseness.
We need to let go of our self made views – because that’s all they are . Views .
When I hear stories about people who have endured extreme hardship, or who somehow persevered through a harrowing ordeal, be it injury, disease, or survived through war, and fought, and succeeded, in saving their own lives or the lives of others.
Someone was walking with god along the beach. They turned around and looked at the footprints in the sand of both of them. The guy asked god. Some places I can see only one pair of footprints. God said this where the times when you felt very bad. Why then did you leave me in those hard times, asked that guy. Oh, this are not your footprints. You can see only my footprints, because I was carrying you through those periods, my dear…🤍
oh that’s so lovely. Thank you.
loved this, will always be a good one:)💗