Two short Stories with Life Lessons for reflection

1. S t o r y To
Refle c t
Upo n 77
Self- control
One day there was an earthquake that shook the entire Zen
temple. Parts of it even collapsed. Many of the monks were
terrified. When the earthquake stopped the teacher said,
"Now you have had the opportunity to see how a Zen man
behaves in a crisis situation. You may have noticed that I
did not panic. I was quite aware of what was happening and
what to do. I led you all to the kitchen, the strongest part of
the temple. It was a good decision, because you see we
have all survived without any injuries. However, despite my
self-control and composure, I did feel a little bit tense -
which you may have deduced from the fact that I drank a
large glass of water, something I never do under ordinary
circumstances."
One of the monks smiled, but didn't say anything.
"What are you laughing at?" asked the teacher.
"That wasn't water," the monk replied, "it was a large glass
of soy sauce."
Reflections From People's Comments
* "I see this sort of behavior often in men. They
feel they have to put on a front to appear to be
something that they are not."
* "Sometimes the calmest looking person in an
emergency situation is really the most nervous."
* "Sometimes, when you're in a very stressful
situation, you aren't aware of your actions until
else points it out."
Training the mind in RIGHT MINDFULNESS is of
utmost importance ... in this life and in lives to
come.

2. Story To
Reflect Upon 78
Sand and Stone
Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point
of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the
other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but
without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST
FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they
decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck
in the pool and was on the verge of drowning, but the friend
saved him. After the victim recovered from the near drowning,
he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY
LIFE."
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him,
"After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a
stone, why?"
The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should
write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it
away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must
engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."
Reflection
* We will gain great peace of mind if we learn to forgive
another who has hurt us. Feelings of illwill, anger, hatred and
revenge will weaker the mind and make us suffer even more.
* When we realize the impermanence or transiency of things
and the absence of a real "I" or self, we begin to let go of the
past...of things rooted in greed, anger and delusion ... the
mind attains greater peace and freedom.
* It is good to remember the kindness another has shown us.
Gratitude is a virtue to practise. The grateful person is loved
and relates well with others