HAPPINESS LOST

There is a Hindu legend which tells of a story when all men had always been happy but after a long time, they abused happiness. So Brahma decided to take away happiness and hid it where men could not find it.

The council met to decide where to hide happiness so men would not be able to find it.

One suggested to bury happiness deep in the earth.

 

But the Brahma said men could still dig deep under the earth to find it.

Another suggested to sink happiness in the deepest ocean, hang it in the highest of stars in the sky.

But again Brahma said men would eventually explore the depths of the sea, and the height of the sky, and eventually would find it and take it again.

The council had ran out of options, because it seemed that there is no place in this world which men could not reach.

The Brahma said, “This is what we should do. We should hide happiness deep inside man himself for he would never think to look for it there.”

Ever since then, legend has it that man has been going up and down the earth, climbing, digging, diving, exploring, searching for something that is already in himself.

-Adopted from the Book, Living Moments of Sunshine, by J. MAURUS.

The Bombay St. Paul Society.

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grands-inone.com

Getting Up Again and Again

A brother monk  asked Abba Sisoes, 'I have fallen, Abba; what shall I do?'

Abba Sisoes, said to him, 'Get up again.'

The brother said, 'I have gotten up again, but again have I fallen.'

The  Abba said, 'Get up again and again.'

So the brother asked, 'How many times?'

The Abba  replied, 'Until you are taken up either in virtue or in sin.  For a man        presents himself to judgment, in that state in which he is found.'

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THE RABBI AND THE OLD TRAVELER

A story is told of a Rabbi who welcomed an old weary traveler in his home as dusk set in. After preparing the bed of his  guest for a night's rest, the Rabbi and the old traveler struck a conversation while partaking a meal. 

He asked how old the traveler, was. The old man revealed he was almost a hundred years old. 

The Rabbi asked the old man what might be his religious beliefs. The old man said he had none because he was an atheist. 

Aghast, the Rabbi said he could not keep the old man in his house, for he could not share his dwelling with an unbeliever. 

The Rabbi asked the old traveler to leave. The old traveler departed as the Rabbi closed the door of his house. 

The Rabbi settled in his chair, read the Scriptures. Then he heard a Voice from heaven, saying, "Son, why did you throw the old man out?"

The Rabbi answered," Because he does not believe in You, and I could not possibly endure his company." 

The Voice replied, "I have endured him for almost a hundred years now."

Convicted, the Rabbi rushed out of his home and went after the old traveler and brought the old man back into his home and showed the unbeliever God's kindness.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

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Olga's Gallery

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LESSON FROM THE UNPAID PIZZA

LESSON FROM THE UNPAID PIZZA

My son was fourteen years old. I would bring him to the mall where I bought groceries. I wanted to train him to be a smart shopper, know the essentials, keep a list, skip the luxuries, unless necessary, study the products, note the contents  compare the prices, read expiry dates, and keep a budget for the purchases. He loved doing this. I’m pretty sure  when he becomes an adult, he would, definitely take after me, follow my lead, and spare his wife the trouble of doing this errand.

One time after shopping we stopped at a popular Pizza Parlor, where we ordered a plate of family size pizza just for the two us. My son said no problem if we couldn’t eat them all, we could take out the leftovers for his sisters. I said that’s a good idea.

The young lady crew brought our food with the usual solicitous smile, and standard remark, “Enjoy your meal!”  We were so famished, that nothing was left but crumbs, on the plate. We stood up and left the mall, full.

When we reached home I mentioned to my son that something was not quite right. He asked me what’s wrong. It dawned on me that we forgot to pay our bill for the pizza.  

I asked him what would be the right thing to do. Without  wavering he said, “We need to straighten it out”. “Yes, we have to”, I said, “because while it was unintentional, it was wrong”.

He asked me how would I feel if we simply forget about it. I said I would  be losing some sleep. He would probably feel the same way, too, he said. I enlightened him, that ordering food and slipping out without paying, is a form of swindling, a crime. “Really?” he exclaimed. “Yes really, I should know because I’m a lawyer,” I said.

“Tomorrow, I after fetch you from school we would go back and pay our bill,” I said.  

And so we did. The lady crew was profuse in her gratitude, for the kindness she didn’t expect, telling us she was resigned to accept the deduction in her pay, hadn’t we returned to settle the charge. I said we were sorry to have caused her enough trouble.

After we left I asked my son how he felt.  He said, he felt great. He asked me how I felt. I said I felt lightness in my heart. Great, he said. And we gave each other  high fives. This boy is going to be just fine as long as the lesson stays with him.

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MY BUSY BUDDY

MY BUSY BUDDY

Friends usually ask me how busy my life is. I tell them I’m not busy, on the contrary, I have all the time in the world for the simple and ordinary things I want to do. I tell them I don’t pretend to be busy as some do.  I don’t use as an excuse busyness or lack of time, to decline an invitation, I do not act busy to look busy. Busyness is not a badge of honor for me.

Studies show that the higher the standard of living, the busier the lifestyle. Busyness projects an image of success and self-importance. Even when in reality one is only busy for being busy, a lot of people are impressed.      

So when I tell my friends I’m having it easy, my response surprises them. I tell them it’s really that simple. I live at the moment, following the advise of my old buddy, who doesn’t have the slightest care in his life even if he lives in penury. He says busy hard driven people appear to enjoy the pleasures of their worldly wealth and success, but actually they may have all the pleasures but hardly experience the joy..

How this impertinent philosophy infected me, is the result of my buddy’s regular visits to my office, telling me, “How about you drop all the shit you’re doing, right now and treat me for a cup of coffee?”

I can’t understand how he does it, rubbing me the right way, that he always persuades me to drop what he describes as the “shit” I’m working on,  and give him his coffee treat, with sweet donuts on the side. In exchange he uses my time telling me stories, gossips and jokes, which makes my day. Becoming my buddy’s disciple in the benighted brotherhood of the idle did not take long. I have learned since to deal with my worldly and mundane preoccupations as they come one moment at a time and finishing them off without hurrying one moment at a time. This, to my satisfaction, gives me some extra time to condescend to the level of my idle brothers, enjoying their company as they just live in the present moment,  each day will bring.     

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