After many years of labour, an inventor discovered the art of making fire. He took his tools to the snow-clad northern regions and initiated a tribe into the art – and the…
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The applauding angel
An ancient legend has it that when God was creating the world, he was approached by four angels. The first one asked, “How are you doing it?” The second, “Why are you…
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“How are your children?”
“How are your children?” “Both of them are very well, thank you.” “How old are they?” “The doctor is three and the lawyer is five.” Anthony de Mello The Prayer of the…
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The song of the bird
The disciples were full of questions about God. Said the Master, “God is Unknown, the Unknowable. Every statement about him, every answer to your questions, is a distortion of the truth.” The…
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The prayer of the frog
When Brother Bruno was at prayer one night, he was disturbed by the croaking of a bullfrog. All his attempts to disregard the sound failed, so he shouted from his window, “Quiet!…
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“Are you God?”
With Christmas coming, grandma was out shopping for gifts for her grandchildren. While she was at the toy store going through her list she noticed a small homeless girl outside wistfully looking into…
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The way out of fear
Once there was a young warrior. Her teacher told her that she had to do battle with fear. She didn’t want to do that. It seemed too aggressive; it was scary; it…
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Vigilance
Is there anything I can do to make myself Enlightened? As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning. Then of what use are the spiritual exercises…
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“I distinctly remember forgetting it!”
When the Master was a boy at school, a classmate treated him with persistent cruelty. Now, older and contrite, he came to the monastery and was received with open arms. One day,…
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Falling into the cup
Once there were two ants sitting on the rim of a cup that contained amrit, the nectar of immortality. As they were talking, one of the ants lost his balance and was…