There is an old Sufi fable. In a very ancient family, there was some musical organ, but people had completely forgotten how to play it. Generations came and people even forgot that…
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The first principle
When one goes to Obaku temple in Kyoto, one can see carved over the gate the words “The First Principle.” The letters are unusually large, and those who appreciate calligraphy always admire them as…
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The crystal cup
A Zen master was given a beautifully crafted crystal cup. It was a gift from a former student. He was very grateful. Every day, he enjoyed drinking out of his glass. He…
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Be the boss
A horse suddenly came galloping down the road. It seemed as though the man had somewhere important to go. Another man, who was standing alongside the road, shouted, “Where are you going?”…
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The symmetry of kindness
The train slammed into the station, injuring hundreds. The engineer was critically hurt. People toppled over each other, bouncing across seats and against windows. There was blood and glass everywhere. One woman…
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Increase the dose
An unorthodox doctor, who always thought beyond prescriptions, pills and medication, once said to one of his regular patients: “I’m starting to suspect that the best medicine for humans is love.” The…
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A wife’s secret
A happy couple of over sixty years shared everything with each other. They never kept a secret from each other except for one. The lady kept a shoe box in her cupboard and…
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Clay balls
A man was exploring the caves by a seashore when he found a bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. The balls looked like someone had intentionally rolled the clay and…
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Purpose of life
Once upon a time, there lived a wise man. He was the head of the local administration of a small village. Everyone respected him and his views and opinions were well regarded.…
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How Joseph Fourier discovered the greenhouse effect
That’s Maths: French physicist’s study of heat conduction led him to analyse why Earth was so warm. Joseph Fourier’s idea that the Earth’s atmosphere acts like an insulator is the first formulation…