Two Stories to reflect upon as one strives on to develop Wisdom ... wisdom that brings greater mental happiness, peace and freedom.

1. Story To Reflect
Upon 13
Eight Earthly Winds … A Story For
Reflection
There was a well-known scholar who practiced Buddhism
and befriended a Chan Master. Thinking that he had made
great stride in his cultivation, he wrote a poem and asked
his attendant to deliver it to the Master who lived across the
river. The Master opened the letter and read the short
poem aloud:
"Unmoved by the eight worldly winds, *
Serenely I sit on the purplish gold terrace."
A smile broke up on the lips of the Master. Picking up an
ink brush, he scribbled the word "fart" across the letter and
asked that it be delivered back to the scholar.
The scholar was upset and went across the river right away
to reprimand the Master for being rude. The Master
laughed as he said, "You said you are no longer moved by
the eight worldly winds and yet with just one 'fart', you ran
across the river like a rat!"
* 'Eight worldly winds' refers to "Gain and loss,
honor and disgrace, praise and blame, happiness
and pain."
Reflection
So much mental suffering comes from the
conditioned mind…reacting to the changing
outside world. The trained and cultivated mind
remains steady and peaceful amidst the 8 worldly
winds of life.

2. STORY TO
REFLECT
UPON 14
The Secret of Heaven and Hell … A Story of Wisdom
The old monk sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his legs crossed
and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep meditation, he sat. Suddenly his
meditation was interrupted by the harsh and demanding voice of a samurai
warrior.
"Old man! Teach me about heaven and hell!"
At first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible response from the
monk. But gradually he began to open his eyes, the faintest hint of a smile
playing around the corners of his mouth as the samurai stood there, waiting
impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each passing second.
"You wish to know the secrets of heaven and hell?" replied the monk at last.
"You who are so unkempt…You whose hands and feet are covered with dirt…
You whose hair is uncombed… whose breath is foul, whose sword is all rusty
and neglected…You who are ugly and whose mother dresses you funny… You
would ask me of heaven and hell?" The samurai uttered a vile curse. He drew
his sword and raised it high above his head. His face turned to crimson and the
veins on his neck stood out in bold relief as he prepared to sever the monk's
head from its shoulders.
"That is hell," said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its descent.
In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement, awe,
compassion and love for this gentle being who had dared to risk his very life to
give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in mid-flight and his eyes
filled with grateful tears.
"And that," said the monk, "is heaven."
Reflection
* The untrained and uncultivated mind experiences hellish mental states
right here on Earth.
* One creates one’s own heaven and hell in one’s living …through one’s
mind states.
* A mind of Wisdom, seeing things as they really are, attains serenity,
happiness, peace and bliss.