History abounds with tales of experts who were convinced that the ideas, plans, and projects of others could never be achieved. However, accomplishment came to those who said, “I can make it…
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Mandela’s humility
Pippa Green recalls the man who shunned pomp (Dec. 12, 2013) Shortly after he turned 80, Nelson Mandela received an honorary doctorate from Harvard at a special convocation. “I know that through…
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The difference between pain and suffering
There is a Buddhist teaching that says that when you get hurt, say, by an arrow, that is pain. The arrow hitting your arm, it hurts. Pain. However, there is a second…
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Nobody in the boat
The Taoists have a famous teaching about an empty boat (read the story ‘The Empty boat’ in this website) that rams into your boat in the middle of a river. While you…
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Buddha with a black nose
This is a famous story about a Zen nun. She had a beautiful golden Buddha, a very artistic, aesthetic statue of Buddha, made of pure gold. And the nun used to carry…
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Life belongs to those who can play
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…