This Too Shall Pass

Once upon a time there lived a king who was very powerful. His court was attended by wise men from many lands. One day he gathered them and announced, "I wish to test your wisdom. Bring for me, before sunset, a gift that will make me joyous when I am unhappy and sober when I am indulgent."

In the evening he called for the wise men to see what they had brought him. The wise men paid their respects to the king and placed before him a ring on which was inscribed, "This too shall pass."


How stuck are you with the pleasures and pains of life?

Is there anything that is permanent?

How do you keep moving forward in life?


~Taken from "How full is your cup?: 64 stories that can transform the way you look at life" by J M Sampath~

Fault Finding

The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan. Four of them, who were very close friends, promised one another to observe seven days of silence.

One the first day all were silent. Their meditation had begun auspiciously, but when night fell and the oil lamps were growing dim, one of the pupils could not help exclaiming to a servant, "Fix those lamps!"

The second pupil was surprised to hear the first one talk. "We are not supposed to say a word," he remarked.

"You two are stupid. Why did you talk?" asked the third.

"I am the only one who has not talked," announced the fourth pupil.


How often do we find fault in others?

What holds you from using this instinct to find and rectify some of your own faults?


~Taken from "How full is your cup?: 64 stories that can transform the way you look at life" by J M Sampath~

Mahan - the Great

Along the bottom of the river Ganges lives a village of creatures whose way of life was to cling tightly to the rocks on the river bed, and to resist the current of the river. One of them, 'Siddharth the adventurous', got tired of clinging. The monotony wearied him. He decided to place his trust in the current and allow it to take him where it would. His parents and friends cautioned him about the current, "It will smash you against the rocks and kill you." But Siddharth did not heed them and let go. Immediately he stumbled and was tossed against the hard rocks, which strengthened Siddharth's resolve not to cling again.

In time, the current lifted him free from the bottom and he got bruised and hurt no more. The clinging creatures saw him and marvelled at him, hailing him as 'Mahan - the Great'. Siddharth swaying in the current said, "I am no greater than any one of you. Dare to let go and the river will lift you free and you will discover your true worth." The creatures, still clinging, cried, "Mahan!" Siddharth flowed past, leaving the creatures to cling and make legends of a Mahan.


What are some of the things you are clinging to?

What holds you from letting go?


~Taken from "How full is your cup?: 64 stories that can transform the way you look at life" by J M Sampath~

The Lost Key

A neighbour found Nasruddin on his hands and knees near a lamp post, searching for something. The neighbour asked, "What are you searching for?"

"My key."

Now, both men got on their knees to search. After a while the neighbour asked, "Where did you lose it?"

"At home."

"Good Lord! Then why are you searching here?"

"Because it is bright here!"


Do you end up searching for solutions where it is convenient, rather than where you actually need to look for them?

How serious are you about solving your problems?


~Taken from "How full is your cup?: 64 stories that can transform the way you look at life" by J M Sampath~

Winning

A farmer whose corn always took the first prize at the State Fair, had the habit of sharing his best corn seeds with all the farmers in the neighbourhood. When asked why, he said, "It is really a matter of self-interest. The wind picks up the pollen and carries it from field to field, so if my neighbours grow inferior corn, the cross pollination brings down the quality of my own corn. So I am concerned that they plant only the very best."


What does it mean to win with everyone involved being happy?

What does it take to give and still not lose?

How sure are you of your own self?


~Taken from "How full is your cup?: 64 stories that can transform the way you look at life" by J M Sampath~

All For the Good

A close aide of the king had the habit of looking at every situation, good or bad, and commenting, "All for the good". This habit landed him in trouble one day when on a hunting trip, due to a faultily loaded gun, the king's finger was blown off. The aide remarked, "All for the good". The king was furious at such insensitiveness and had him imprisoned.

A few months later, while on a hunt, the king was captured by some cannibals, who had the custom of sacrificing human to their deity. As they were preparing to sacrifice the king, they noticed the king's missing finger and being too superstitious to sacrifice a less than perfect specimen to their deity, set him free.

The king realised the truth behind the comment and summoned his aide. He narrated his near brush with death and apologised for his hasty decision. True to form, the aide remarked, "All for the good." The king was surprised, but the aide explained, "Had your majesty not imprisoned me, I would have surely accompanied you on the hunt and the cannibals would have had no problem sacrificing a 'perfect' specimen like me to their deity."

The king, amused by his aide's attitude, rewarded him and made him his chief advisor.


Do you see life filled with independent events or a series of events, in turn connected with a bigger purpose?

When will you start seeing life as a whole?


~Taken from "How full is your cup?: 64 stories that can transform the way you look at life" by J M Sampath~

Cod Liver Oil for the Dog

A man began to give large doses of cod liver oil to his pet dog because he had been told that it was good for dogs. Each day he would hold the protesting dog between his knees, force its jaws open and pour the oil down its throat.

One day the dog broke away and spilt the oil on the floor. Then to the man's great surprise, it not only lapped up the oil that was spilt on the floor but came back to lick the spoon.

That was when the man discovered that, what the dog had been fighting was not the oil but the manner in which is was being given.


What is more important...'giving' or 'giving your way'?

How can you become sensitive to others' way of receiving?


~Taken from "How full is your cup?: 64 stories that can transform the way you look at life" by J M Sampath~