1# Turn Your Enemy Into A Friend
Then, Benjamin resumed his seat, angry and bitter, to await a counter-attack. But what he heard just left him amazed and a little while later, Seward was seen joking with his colleagues, puffing contently on the cigar given by Benjamin.
QUESTIONS
1. What did Seward say as a counterattack?
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. Senator Seward sauntered up to his opponent
and in his most disarming manner said, Benjamin, give me a cigar. When your
speech has been printed, send me two copies.
2. Forgiveness can even turn the bitterest enemies into friends.
2# A
Lesson For Every Wife
Nathaniel Hawthorne had a great job at the customs. He had however, one great passion in life and that was to write. One day, he lost his job at the customs and went back home disheartened and depressed.
But a surprise awaited him at home. His wife told him, “I always
knew that you were a man of genius, and someday you would write an immortal masterpiece.
Now, you can write your book. Out of the money you gave me, I have saved a sufficient
amount to support our family.”
With his wife’s support and
encouragement, he went on to write.
QUESTIONS
1. What did he write?
2. What is the implication of
this story?
ANSWERS
1. He wrote a masterpiece like his
wife had predicted The Scarlet
Letter.
2. In times of lows and depressions,
encouragement from a wife can do wonders for the husband. Hawthorne was
fortunate to have had such a wife.
3# Don't
Hug Your Sufferings
A teacher of esotericism made it a
point to teach by just writing on the blackboard. One day, he entered the
classroom and wrote six sentences on the blackboard:
Stop loving your suffering.
Stop enjoying your persecution.
Stop adoring your anxiety.
Stop cherishing your resentment.
Stop glorifying your failure.
If you want spiritual rebirth, give
up your love for such foolishness.
QUESTIONS
1. What did the teacher really
mean?
2. What is the implication of
this story?
ANSWERS
1. The teacher simply meant that one
may think that people want to end their suffering and persecution, but the fact
is that they fight like tigers to keep them.
2. People enjoy their suffering, because
suffering provides an excuse for egotism. The sufferer is able to remain the Centre of both, his own attention and the attention of others.
4# Serve
People In Dire Need
Once upon a time, in the land of
Japan, there was Tetsugen, a student of Zen,
who once resolved on a mighty undertaking
the printing of 7,000 copies of sutras which, till then were available
only in Chinese. He travelled the length and breadth of Japan to collect funds
for this project.
Some wealthy people offered him
hundred pieces of gold, while a few gave him small amounts, but he expressed
equal gratitude to each donor regardless of the sum given. After ten long years
of travel, he finally collected the funds necessary for the task. Just then,
the river Uji overflowed and thousands were left without food and shelter.
Tetsugen spent all his project money
to help these people. Then, he began the work of raising funds again. Again, it
was several years before he got the money he needed. Then an epidemic spread
all over the country. So Tetsugen once again gave away all his project money to
help the suffering ones.
Once again, he set out on his travel
and twenty years later, his dream finally came true.
The printing block that produced
this first edition of the sutras is on display at the Obaku Monastery in Kyoto.
The Japanese tell their children that Tetsugen got out three editions of the
sutras in all.
QUESTIONS
1. What are the first two
editions ?
2. What is the implication of
this story ?
ANSWERS
1. The first two editions are the monetary
help he offered to people rendered distraught by the flood and the epidemic.
They are considered invisible editions
of the book, which are far superior to the third one.
2. Serving people in dire need is superior
to bringing out books of scriptures.
5# Exclusively For Lawyers
Once, a Springfield farmer got into
difficulty with a neighbour about the line between their farms. From a small
insignificant argument, it became a major issue. He went up to Lincoln to file
a case against his neighbour.
Surprisingly, his neighbour too came
to Lincoln with the same intention of filing a case against him. Lincoln said
to both of them, If you go on fighting like this, it will entail enmity that
will last for generations and that is not good.
Therefore, it is better to settle your
dispute out of court and work out a compromise. Both the farmers were adamant and
did not like the idea of compromise. Ultimately, Lincoln made them compromise and
settled the issue out of court.
QUESTIONS
1. How did Lincoln manage to
settle the dispute?
2. What is the implication of
this story?
ANSWERS
1. When Lincoln found that they were
not in a mood to compromise, he told them, “Why don’t you two sit in my office
while I attend to a man outside. In the meantime, you can settle your dispute
amicably. To secure you from any interruption, I will lock the door as well.”
He locked the room and did not return till afternoon. The two men were left
alone in the room.
They did not know what to do and
started conversing with each other. In the process, they realized that a compromise
was the best solution. By the time Lincoln returned, the matter was settled.
2. This shows Lincoln’s large heartedness.
Instead of having an eye on money, he had the heart to help his clients.
Lawyers in general could emulate his example.
6# Destruction Is The Task Of
Children
Once upon a time, the Buddha was walking
past a jungle which was said to be under the rule of an evil bandit called
Angulimal. Unfortunately, the Buddha was caught before he could make it through
and was threatened with death by the bandit.
Then be good enough to grant me two wishes
before killing me, said the Buddha. First, cut off the branch of that tree, he
said, pointing towards a nearby tree. One slash of the sword and it was done! What
next? asked the bandit.
QUESTIONS
1. What was the second wish of
the Buddha?
2. What is the implication of
this story?
ANSWERS
1. Put it back again, said the
Buddha. The bandit laughed. You must be crazy to think that anyone could do
that. On the contrary, you are crazy to think you are mighty because you can
wound and destroy.
2. Growth takes place in silence. Destruction
is always followed by loud noise. Construction of a building is a process of
silence.
Destruction of a building is followed
by a thunderous sound. Growth takes time, like the growth of a tree.
Destruction occurs in no time like that of cutting down a tree.
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