A monk was walking in the monastery grounds one day when he heard a bird sing.
He listened, spellbound. It seemed to him that never before had he heard, but really heard, the song of a bird.
When the singing stopped he returned to the monastery and discovered, to his dismay, that he was a stranger to his fellow monks, and they to him.
It was only gradually that they and he discovered that he was returning after centuries. Because his listening was total, time had stopped and he had slipped into eternity.
More in The Prayer of the Frog (Volume I) by Anthony de Mello.
Anthony de Mello (1931-1987) was an Indian Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. A spiritual teacher, writer and public speaker, De Mello wrote several books on spirituality and hosted numerous spiritual retreats and conferences. He continues to be known for his storytelling, which drew from the various mystical traditions of both East and West.
Images: Above, postage stamps on song-birds of Russia. Below, postage stamps on song-birds of USA. Courtesy: https://telugupostmasters.blogspot.com/
