Q: There is much similarity among the different religions, in matters of rituals like ringing of bells. Why should there be so much bickering among religious groups? – T.M. Sundararaman, Mylapore A:…
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Try to pick it up
A Zen Master dropped his handkerchief and said to one of his disciples who was just sitting there, “Try to pick up the handkerchief. Try to pick it up.” Immediately the disciple…
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Which is worthless in life?
Once it happened that Buddha asked one of his disciples, “Can you find anything which is worthless in life? If you can, then bring it.” The disciple thought for many days and…
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A dream fulfilled
Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a boy when France lost the Battle of Sedan in 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War. Emperor Napoleon III was captured by the Germans, along with several French…
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The story of Uddalaka Aruni
This is a story from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Ayoda Dhaumya was a famous teacher who lived before the Buddha, at least 3000 years ago. Princes and paupers came to him to…
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The little hero of Holland
This is the story of a little boy with a brave heart and passionate love for his village. Read on the story to find what the little hero of Holland did to…
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Collecting wise sayings
It is said of a Hindu mystic that he went begging. And a woman looked at his eyes… He had beautiful eyes. Saints have beautiful eyes, nobody can have eyes like a…
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Red cross society
In 1859, Castiglione, an Italian town, had become a big hospital. A gruesome battle was being fought on its outskirts between France and Italy on one side and Austria on the other…
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A farmer saved a republic
Even two thousand five hundred years ago, Rome was a republic. The people elected their rulers. In times of peace the common people lived as farmers. They turned into soldiers when necessary.…
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Saving from peril
Hasan of Basra relates: ‘I had convinced myself that I was a man of humility and less than humble in my thoughts and conduct to others. ‘Then one day I was standing…