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…
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Spirituality
Hasan came upon Rabia one day when she was sitting among several contemplators, and said, “I have the capacity of walking on water. Come, let us both go on to that water…
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The teacher
A man came to Bahaudin Shah and said, “First I followed this teacher and then that one. Next I studied these books and then those. I feel that although I know nothing…
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Going higher
It intrigued the congregation to see that their rabbi disappeared each week on the eve of the Sabbath. They suspected that he was secretly meeting the Almighty, so they deputed one of…
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The bad coin
There was once an old Sufi who earned his living by selling all sorts of odds and ends. It seemed as if the man had no judgment because people would frequently pay…
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Appointment with April
Once, philosopher George Santayana came into a sizeable legacy and was able to relinquish his post on the Harvard faculty. The classroom was packed for his final appearance, and Santayana did himself…
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The real life
There is a beautiful story…. A great king, Prasenjita, had come to see Gautama Buddha. And while they were conversing, just in the middle, an old Buddhist sannyasin – he must have…
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Drop it!
Once a king came to Gautama Buddha. He was a devotee, a great devotee, and he had come for the first time for his darshan — for his audience. In one of…