The Secret of Heaven and Hell & other short stories

Discussion in 'Philosophy & Religion' started by BabyRain, Jun 23, 2007.

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BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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Secrets of Heaven and Hell, The
by: Fr. John W. Groff Jr., A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul

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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 zazen 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."
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Samurai and a Zen Master, A
by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

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A samurai, a very proud warrior, came to see a Zen Master one day. The samurai was very famous, but looking at the beauty of the Master and the Grace of the moment, he suddenly felt inferior.

He said to the Master, "Why am I feeling inferior? Just a moment ago everything was okay. As I entered your court suddenly I felt inferior. I have never felt like that before. I have faced death many times, and I have never felt any fear -- why am I now feeling frightened?"

The Master said, "Wait. When everyone else has gone, I will answer. "

People continued the whole day to come and see the Master, and the samurai was getting more and more tired waiting. By evening the room was empty, and the samurai said, "Now, can you answer me?"

The Master said, "Come outside."

It was a full moon night, the moon was just rising on the horizen. And he said, "Look at these trees. This tree is high in the sky and this small one beside it. They both have existed beside my window for years, and there has never been any problem. The smaller tree has never said to the big tree, 'Why do I feel inferior before you?' This tree is small, and that tree is big -- why have I never heard a whisper of it?"

The samurai said, "Because they can't compare."

The Master replied, "Then you need not ask me. You know the answer."
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A Scorpion Moment
by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown
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There was this Hindu who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him.

But the Hindu said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

Don't give up loving.
Don't give up your goodness.
Even if people around you sting.
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Are You God's Wife?
by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

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New York City: It's a cold day in December. A little boy about 10-year-old was standing before a shoe store on Broadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"

"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.

By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, and tying up the remaining pairs of socks, gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"

As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's wife?"
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Came across some of these inspirational stories, make us ponder ... -^_^
http://www.inspirationalstories.com/

Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman.
Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across.
One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed.

As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable
to hold his silence, he spoke out. "Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid
any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried
her!"

"Brother," the second monk replied, "I set her down on the other side, while you are
still carrying her."
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http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com/TeachingStories.html

#1 BabyRain, Jun 23, 2007
wind2000 Self Schemata

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Those are great inspirational stories.

#2 wind2000, Jun 23, 2007
fearless_fx Eugooglizer

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Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman.
Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across.
One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed.

As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable
to hold his silence, he spoke out. "Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid
any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried
her!"

"Brother," the second monk replied, "I set her down on the other side, while you are
still carrying her."

this one was very good

#3 fearless_fx, Jun 23, 2007
Taxloss Stripper Vicar

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I love this kind of stories! Bets one is the monk carrying the woman and the monk & warrior who wants to learn about heaven and hell.

#4 Taxloss, Jun 23, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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And a few more for thoughts. -^_^

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, "Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Aren't we not suppose to talk?" The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?" The fourth monk laughed and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak."
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The Wish Fulfilling Tree
A young aspirant was sitting at the foot of a tree in the summer heat. Fortunately or unfortunately, the tree he happened to be sitting under was the Kalpataru tree, the tree that fulfils all desires, but he did not know this.

After a while the heat became scorching and he said, "How I wish somebody would come and fan me!" Right away a young boy came and started fanning him.

First he was very surprised. Then he began to think that whatever he wished for would be granted. So he said, "This is a young boy. I don't want him. Let me have a beautiful girl." Immediately a beautiful girl came and started fanning him.

After a while he said, "Now I would like to have food here. I am very hungry." The young girl went and fetched food for him. He ate his fill and then said, "Oh, how beautiful this place is. But I don't see any animals here. I am in a forest, but how is it that there are no animals? A forest should always be alive with animals. How I wish to see at least one tiger in front of me!" In no time a tiger appeared- only to devour him!

So, as George Bernard Shaw said, "There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart's desire, the other is to get it." In this story, the young aspirant got it!

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from Gopal's Eternal Brother
And Other Stories for Children
by Sri Chinmoy
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#5 BabyRain, Jun 24, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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The dose for today

Dark Candle, The
by: Strickland Gillilan, Aspiring to Greatness

A man had a little daughter-an only and much-beloved child. He lived for her ~ she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.

His best efforts proved unavailing and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self. But one night he had a dream. He was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic tot carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl. Rushing to her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and then asked: "How is it, darling that your candle alone is unlighted? "Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out."

Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and its effects were immediate. From that hour on he was not a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his little darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears.
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Unobtrusiveness
by: Anthony de Mello, SJ, One Minute Wisdom

A man of spiritual repute came to the Master and said, "I cannot pray, I cannot understand the Scriptures, I cannot do the exercises that I prescribe to others.

"Then give it all up," said the Master cheerfully.

"But how can I? I am supposed to be a holy man and have a following in these parts."

Later the Master said with a sigh: "Holiness today is a name without a reality. It is only genuine when it is a reality without a name."
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http://www.inspirationalstories.com/

#6 BabyRain, Jun 25, 2007
kdotc 안녕하세요빅뱅K-Dragon입니다

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do u wanna read it to me =)

#7 kdotc, Jun 25, 2007
wind2000 Self Schemata

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The one with the tiger is so true. At times what we wish for doesnt necessarily bring us happiness.

#8 wind2000, Jun 26, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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Today's dose

"Humor is mankind's greatest blessing"
—Mark Twain

Thelma
by Shari Smith

Even at the age of 75, Thelma was very vivacious and full of life. When her husband passed away, her children suggested that she move to a "senior living community." A gregarious and life-loving person, Thelma decided to do so.

Shortly after moving in, Thelma became a self-appointed activities director, coordinating all sorts of things for the people in the community to do and quickly became very popular and made many friends.

When Thelma turned 80, her newfound friends showed their appreciation by throwing a surprise birthday party for her. When Thelma entered the dining room for dinner that night, she was greeted by a standing ovation and one of the coordinators led her to the head table. The night was filled with laughter and entertainment, but throughout the evening, Thelma could not take her eyes off a gentleman sitting at the other end of the table.

When the festivities ended, Thelma quickly rose from her seat and rushed over to the man. "Pardon me," Thelma said. "Please forgive me if I made you feel uncomfortable by staring at you all night. I just couldn't help myself from looking your way. You see, you look just like my fifth husband."

"Your fifth husband!" replied the gentleman. "Forgive me for asking, but how many times have you been married?"

With that, a smile came across Thelma's face as she responded, "Four."

They were married shortly after.
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The World’s Greatest Stand-Up Comedian
by Rabbi Joan S. Friedman

My bubbe, may she rest in peace, was one sharp lady. If she’d been born in a different time and place, she could have been president of the United States-or the world’s greatest stand-up comedian.

Bubbe picked up the telephone one day to call my aunt. It was not a long-distance call, just an ordinary call from Chelsea to Wakefield, but something happened. This was back when Nixon had nominated Henry Kissinger to be his secretary of state, and the U.S. Senate was holding confirmation hearings. Bubbe’s call got connected into somebody else’s line. Two men were having a conversation about Kissinger: Yes, he was from Germany, but still, he was a Jew, and you know those Jews, and wasn’t it awful that we were going to have a Jew for Secretary of State?

“So vat’s wrong vit det?” said Bubbe into the telephone.

“WHO IS THIS?”

“Dis is Kissinger’s mother!” And she hung up.

I always wonder what those guys must have thought.
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#9 BabyRain, Jun 26, 2007
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"Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, "Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Aren't we not suppose to talk?" The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?" The fourth monk laughed and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak."
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^
I don't really get this one? Is it about the fourth monk who went into the biggest fault because he bragged about how he didn't spoke while the others were only speaking to confirm something?

#10 Taxloss, Jun 26, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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Taxloss said: ↑

^
I don't really get this one? Is it about the fourth monk who went into the biggest fault because he bragged about how he didn't spoke while the others were only speaking to confirm something?
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Hehehe yup. It's about ignorant thinking...
The 4th monk bragged about it, without realizing he's committed the act. Kind of like a hypocrite.

#11 BabyRain, Jun 26, 2007
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Aha, he didn't learn anything about modesty.

#12 Taxloss, Jun 26, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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Taxloss said: ↑

Aha, he didn't learn anything about modesty.
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Aha, that's another correct observation too!

You are a fast learner, Tax... -clapclap

#13 BabyRain, Jun 26, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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Today's dose

VAMPS, VAMPIRES, ELVIS, AND ME

by Jennifer Vihel

It was October 31st and the scene inside my local Safeway was surreal. This store is just blocks from Humboldt State University, and this late afternoon it was overrun by students dressed in creative costumes, carrying copious quantities of candy, chips, and beer in anticipation of Halloween parties they would soon be attending. I, a middle-aged woman just off work and shopping for needed groceries, felt strangely out of place.

Halloween is a holiday that has always created an internal struggle with my beliefs. I had reached a compromise years ago, choosing to see it as a pretend time for children, a time to embrace creativity and pretense, and a time to laugh at fears from a place of security and in a safe situation. So during my parenting years, I joined in the fun, on occasion yelled "Boo!", dressed my children in fun costumes and took them around to neighbors for safe trick-or-treating. But this was different.

Today there were no children in these aisles, and as I pushed my cart forward, the people and their costumes took on quite a hard edge. Although I was in awe of the students' creativity and attention to detail, I became increasingly uncomfortable as I encountered young people in creations realistically evil and socially degenerate, who were rushing by with attitudes that seemed to match their attire. A group that had just passed me had been downright rude and pushy.

Travelling the aisles, I passed several witches and demons of the night, a pale-faced, blood-dripping vampire, some hard-looking, scantily clad women I could only guess were pretending to be ladies of the evening. I did come upon a standout Elvis dressed in the white, studded costume Elvis impersonators like to wear, with the open front shirt, big belt, and carefully coiffed glossy, black hair. This massive young man who stood about 6' 4", and his hair 4" above that, was most impressive. The girl with him was quite cute, dressed in a white sailor's uniform, but her refreshing charm quickly faded from memory as I turned and encountered more students costumed to celebrate the various evil spirits representative of this night.

I have long thought of this store's staff as one of the friendliest I had ever encountered. Usually the workers here made the chore of shopping enjoyable simply by their willingness to serve and their cheerfulness. But today, layoffs loomed due to a freight driver's strike over which this store had no control. No one knew when the strike might end. Many items were already missing from the shelves, and customers were starting to complain. The normal goodwill and friendly service had been replaced by a sense of tension and uncertainty.

I entered the checkout area eager to finish my shopping and get out of the store. Everyone seemed to be rushing to be someplace else, and there was a strange edginess in the air. It troubled me. Waiting in line, I looked around for reassurance, but all I saw were strangely acting people in even stranger costumes. No one was smiling. There was none of the usual friendly banter. The girl in line behind me stared at me with hollow, worldly eyes. She wore excessive and harsh make-up. I could not decide if she was in costume or not, but I did sense her impatience and negativity.

I watched Elvis checking out at the stand next to me. I still found his costume entertaining, but his countenance now was one of hostility, complete with snarly lip. Normally, I enjoy viewing human nature, but today I could not shake an overpowering sense of unease. It had permeated the entire store and was affecting us all.

My clerk was struggling to remain pleasant, but she was obviously tense and stressed. I felt anxious to get outside and escape the heavy feeling of unrest and discontent surrounding me. As the clerk scanned my last few items, a surprising sound, lovely and out-of-place, filtered through the sounds of rush. Shoppers' heads turned, attempting to find the source of the hauntingly beautiful music. As the slow sweet strains of an unfamiliar melody settled over the crowd, a silence enveloped all activity until only the pure sound created by the skillful play of a lone harmonica filled the store. The music was soulful and peaceful, and its unexpected beauty captivated me and all those around me. The unrushed continuing refrain settled over the strange crowd like a canopy of serenity. No one dare break the moment by speaking. All work ceased.

My eyes searched in the direction of the music. Finally, I saw the source. Two checkout counters over from me stood a short, silver-haired lady with an amazing angelic face playing the harmonica. In awe I stared. We all stared. With the last poignant note still reverberating in the air, she lowered her harmonica, placed it in her matronly-styled black purse, and snapped the purse shut.

A few seconds of collective silence enveloped the previously bustling store. Then a spontaneous clapping filled the air. I looked around and saw vampires, vamps, Elvis, and me all united in joy, across the generations, clapping in appreciation of the gift she had just given us. When the snarly-lipped Elvis dropped his façade, smiled openly and clapped wildly, I felt a strange, wonderful oneness with him.

Wearing a humble, Mona Lisa-type smile, the giver of our joy quietly gathered her groceries and walked out of the store. We all watched in silent respect. After a few seconds, the hum of activity resumed, but with one major difference: We were all changed. For a few brief moments, beauty and peace had entered our world, and all stress had ceased. Around me, people wore wide-eyed expressions of amazement over the simplicity of the source, an unassuming, grandmotherly figure who solely orchestrated our metamorphosis. Stangely, there was no buzz around me as to why she did what she did. No analysis…only appreciation.

I walked to my car a changed person, marveling how one little, charming old lady had risked the possibility of personal ridicule to change for the better the mood of an entire grocery store without saying one word, but by speaking eloquently through her gift of soothing music-a gift not asked for, but sorely needed. Vamps, vampires, Elvis and I all heard and heeded the same powerful message played from her harmonica that Halloween-Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men.
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http://www.chickensoup.com/stories/writers/VampsVampires.html

Lesson learnt "All beings are equal, be it Vamps, Vampires or Elvis... We should not discriminate and show hostility towards others"

#14 BabyRain, Jun 27, 2007
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That was a nice dose of story everyone can learn a lesson out of it.

#15 Taxloss, Jun 27, 2007
Denomic Well-Known Member

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I'd like to say you have way too much time on your hands BabyRain.. but I must admit that I rather enjoy reading your posts..

Thank you =D

#16 Denomic, Jun 27, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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^Oh, no problem, in fact it took just a few secs of my time to post these up... Not much of a task, even to an Epsilon , let alone an Alpha -^_^

#17 BabyRain, Jun 27, 2007
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BabyRain said: ↑

^Oh, no problem, in fact it took just a few secs of my time to post these up... Not much of a task, even to an Epsilon , let alone an Alpha -^_^
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No idea what you're referring to by Epsilon and Alpha.. Could you explain that to me please?

#18 Denomic, Jun 28, 2007
philostrate Well-Known Member

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the kid and the candle is nice.....the 75 year old pickup lines are great lol...but the best ones are in your 1st post...keep posting babyrain...

#19 philostrate, Jun 28, 2007
BabyRain Doppelgänger of da E.Twin

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Today's dose

The Fragrance of the Rose

The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-tzu’s dictum:
"Those who know, do not say;
Those who say, do not know."
When the master entered,
they asked him what the words meant.
Said the master, "Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?"
All of them indicated that they knew.
Then he said, "Put it into words."
All of them were silent.

from One Minute Wisdom by Anthony DeMello
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Puppies For Sale

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies For Sale.” Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign. “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked.

The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”

The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. “I have $2.37,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”

The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerable behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. “That’s the little puppy that I want to buy.”

The store owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.

The store owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to jump and play with you like the other puppies.”

To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”

By Dan Clark
from Chicken Soup for the Soul
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HMM, this one sounds suspiciously like the one Wind posted in the fanfix section...
Where did you get yours, Wind?

wind2000 said: ↑

Puppies for sale

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.
He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.

As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls.
He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy "one of your puppies."

"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran

Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a some what awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup..

Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

"How much?" asked the little boy.

"No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."
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#20 BabyRain, Jun 28, 2007

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