Worldly success and good circumstances based on luck can easily crumble. They are as transient as an illusion. But the state of Buddhahood, once attained, can never be destroyed, not for all eternity. We will enjoy an existence overflowing with good fortune and immense joy in lifetime after lifetime.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 29/8
Friday, October 14, 2011
What is success in Buddhist term?
Success is not a matter of accumulating more of this or that; it is not measured in quantity. It means changing the quality of your life. Wealth, power, fame and knowledge alone cannot make you happy, no matter how much of these you acquire. Nor can you take them with you when you die. But by improving the quality of your life you will at last approach true happiness.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 28/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 28/8
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A Whole New Mission
Spiritual Story by Daniel K.
British Intelligence, London, August 1945. Small room with dark cherry walls and no windows. Eight Navy officers are sitting at a big table and looking down at the world map. Their faces seem tired, for they've spent all their stressful day here. The chief is walking around the table.
"... just one more minute, gentlemen, and I'll let you go. Although the war is over, the US nuclear attack on Japan made us re-evaluate a lot of our concepts. Here is the last one. Just think for a minute and tell me, what do you all live for?" The chief walks another round and stops in front of one young officer, "Captain Jones?" The officer quickly jumps up.
"To serve His Majesty and Great Britain, Sir!"
"Good soldier... Anyone who wants to make the same point, just raise your hands. Good... Major Wilson?" The major stands up and points his deep eyes to the chief.
"Excuse me, Sir, I have a different reason for living. I live just to enjoy my life."
"It makes sense. Now, everyone is dismissed, except you, major Wilson. I'd ask you to stay."
After the chief locks the door behind the last officer, he pours two cups of coffee and sits down next to the major. "You know what I like about you, major? You don't lie to yourself."
"Thank you, Sir..."
"Don't mention it. I looked through your file. You've spent 5 years in battleships in Mediterranean, then 5 years in submarines, sank a lot of Germans yet managed to stay alive. His Majesty himself realized how smart you are and decided to transfer you to reconnaissance. I wonder why you agreed?"
"I've never dreamt of it before, Sir, but once offered, I accepted it at will, because it's so exciting to derive and learn secrets about your enemy."
"Exactly! That's why I want to delegate the whole new mission to you. Soon, you'll discover some more secrets, but not about your enemy -- about yourself. And the most important of them is how to enjoy your life to the maximum extent possible."
Major's deep eyes open wide. The chief puts his hand on major's shoulder, "Relax, I am not trying to catch you on your own words. I educated three generations of spies, and no one have told me the truth about his motives for living. Not because they lied -- they simply didn't know the answer. I have been looking for you, and you came in just at the right time. All these officers went to their vacation. They think they deserve it. You pack your stuff tonight, and wait for my people to come. They will take you to a battleship that departs to Palestine tomorrow."
"Sir, aren't we giving up on that area in a couple of years?"
"Yes, we are, but you are staying there."
"As an agent?"
"That's what I'll report to the upper command and to his Majesty. But indeed, you'll have a completely different mission. One part of it is to discover yourself. The other part you'll learn when you get there. I know you served there before, are you OK with the languages?"
"Yes Sir, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Hebrew."
The chief lays a map on the table. "Perfect. You land here. Dress like an arab. From the ship, take a canoe on a rainy night. There will be a donkey loaded with food and water to last a week. No one should see you landing except that donkey. If you see two people around, don't land until they leave. They are supposed to bring in the donkey but not to see you. Then you make your way to Jerusalem."
"But Sir, once our soldiers leave that city there will be nothing but hell!"
The chief lightly slaps major's shoulder again, "You told me the truth, and I trust you. Now, I am telling you the truth, and could you please trust me too? Yes there will be a big fight and a very poor life. But believe me, it's the only place to find the answers to your questions. In Jerusalem, look for a person named Baal Sulam. He'll tell you what to do next. I bet he'll send you to the United States after a few years of studies. This country has a great potential. Americans are proud and just people, they really like enjoying their lives, and they don't hide it. Yet, they have a lot to learn..."
"I'll go there, Sir."
The chief smiles, "I bet you'll miss England. But you can't even imagine how much you'll miss the land of Palestine after you come to the US. Anyway, you'll never see me again. Any questions?"
"One of our reports says Baal Sulam is doing something extremely important for the mankind, but it doesn't really explain what it is."
"That's all we know about him", the chief chuckles, "British Intelligence only claims it knows everything. You'll have to find it out on your own and explain to the americans. What else?"
"Documents, Sir."
"Take your British passport. That won't surprise anyone. Besides, in this game, you have to play yourself. But arrive incognito; it's my order."
"Yes, Sir! No more questions."
The major folds the map and hides it into his briefcase. Both sit quietly for a minute or two, sipping their coffee. A short admiral with wrinlkes all over his face, grey hair and beard, and a tall gorgeous major. The chief looks at his watch, "Time's up." Both stand up at once. Major Wilson gives a salut. The chief smiles and comes closer. "Forget all these formalities, son. In two weeks, you'll live in a whole new world!" The chief shakes major's hand and suddenly gives him a hug. "Now go. Good luck, son."
A few hours later, a car stops by a pier in a foggy fiord. A man gets out of the car, takes his backpack and runs to the big grey ship with no name, just a number. The ship quietly takes off, no hooter, no lights...
We don't know what happened to major Wilson later, if he ever made it to America or even to Jerusalem. But we know what Baal Sulam could have taught him. We can even learn it ourselves, right here.
British Intelligence, London, August 1945. Small room with dark cherry walls and no windows. Eight Navy officers are sitting at a big table and looking down at the world map. Their faces seem tired, for they've spent all their stressful day here. The chief is walking around the table.
"... just one more minute, gentlemen, and I'll let you go. Although the war is over, the US nuclear attack on Japan made us re-evaluate a lot of our concepts. Here is the last one. Just think for a minute and tell me, what do you all live for?" The chief walks another round and stops in front of one young officer, "Captain Jones?" The officer quickly jumps up.
"To serve His Majesty and Great Britain, Sir!"
"Good soldier... Anyone who wants to make the same point, just raise your hands. Good... Major Wilson?" The major stands up and points his deep eyes to the chief.
"Excuse me, Sir, I have a different reason for living. I live just to enjoy my life."
"It makes sense. Now, everyone is dismissed, except you, major Wilson. I'd ask you to stay."
After the chief locks the door behind the last officer, he pours two cups of coffee and sits down next to the major. "You know what I like about you, major? You don't lie to yourself."
"Thank you, Sir..."
"Don't mention it. I looked through your file. You've spent 5 years in battleships in Mediterranean, then 5 years in submarines, sank a lot of Germans yet managed to stay alive. His Majesty himself realized how smart you are and decided to transfer you to reconnaissance. I wonder why you agreed?"
"I've never dreamt of it before, Sir, but once offered, I accepted it at will, because it's so exciting to derive and learn secrets about your enemy."
"Exactly! That's why I want to delegate the whole new mission to you. Soon, you'll discover some more secrets, but not about your enemy -- about yourself. And the most important of them is how to enjoy your life to the maximum extent possible."
Major's deep eyes open wide. The chief puts his hand on major's shoulder, "Relax, I am not trying to catch you on your own words. I educated three generations of spies, and no one have told me the truth about his motives for living. Not because they lied -- they simply didn't know the answer. I have been looking for you, and you came in just at the right time. All these officers went to their vacation. They think they deserve it. You pack your stuff tonight, and wait for my people to come. They will take you to a battleship that departs to Palestine tomorrow."
"Sir, aren't we giving up on that area in a couple of years?"
"Yes, we are, but you are staying there."
"As an agent?"
"That's what I'll report to the upper command and to his Majesty. But indeed, you'll have a completely different mission. One part of it is to discover yourself. The other part you'll learn when you get there. I know you served there before, are you OK with the languages?"
"Yes Sir, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Hebrew."
The chief lays a map on the table. "Perfect. You land here. Dress like an arab. From the ship, take a canoe on a rainy night. There will be a donkey loaded with food and water to last a week. No one should see you landing except that donkey. If you see two people around, don't land until they leave. They are supposed to bring in the donkey but not to see you. Then you make your way to Jerusalem."
"But Sir, once our soldiers leave that city there will be nothing but hell!"
The chief lightly slaps major's shoulder again, "You told me the truth, and I trust you. Now, I am telling you the truth, and could you please trust me too? Yes there will be a big fight and a very poor life. But believe me, it's the only place to find the answers to your questions. In Jerusalem, look for a person named Baal Sulam. He'll tell you what to do next. I bet he'll send you to the United States after a few years of studies. This country has a great potential. Americans are proud and just people, they really like enjoying their lives, and they don't hide it. Yet, they have a lot to learn..."
"I'll go there, Sir."
The chief smiles, "I bet you'll miss England. But you can't even imagine how much you'll miss the land of Palestine after you come to the US. Anyway, you'll never see me again. Any questions?"
"One of our reports says Baal Sulam is doing something extremely important for the mankind, but it doesn't really explain what it is."
"That's all we know about him", the chief chuckles, "British Intelligence only claims it knows everything. You'll have to find it out on your own and explain to the americans. What else?"
"Documents, Sir."
"Take your British passport. That won't surprise anyone. Besides, in this game, you have to play yourself. But arrive incognito; it's my order."
"Yes, Sir! No more questions."
The major folds the map and hides it into his briefcase. Both sit quietly for a minute or two, sipping their coffee. A short admiral with wrinlkes all over his face, grey hair and beard, and a tall gorgeous major. The chief looks at his watch, "Time's up." Both stand up at once. Major Wilson gives a salut. The chief smiles and comes closer. "Forget all these formalities, son. In two weeks, you'll live in a whole new world!" The chief shakes major's hand and suddenly gives him a hug. "Now go. Good luck, son."
A few hours later, a car stops by a pier in a foggy fiord. A man gets out of the car, takes his backpack and runs to the big grey ship with no name, just a number. The ship quietly takes off, no hooter, no lights...
We don't know what happened to major Wilson later, if he ever made it to America or even to Jerusalem. But we know what Baal Sulam could have taught him. We can even learn it ourselves, right here.
On any journey, we cannot hope to reach our destination if we stop halfway.
The important thing is to keep working for kosen-rufu to the very end. On any journey, we cannot hope to reach our destination if we stop halfway. Likewise, if despite our good fortune in meeting and embarking on the unsurpassed way of Buddhism, we stop halfway, all the efforts we have made thus far will have been in vain; we will not be able to attain Buddhahood.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 27/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 27/8
How to accumulate great good fortune?
We accumulate great good fortune through our earnest prayers, devotion and efforts for the sake of Buddhism, kosen-rufu and humankind. Prayer without action is not the way of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 26/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 26/8
Eight Winds in My Life
Mary Jane Kotan
Author: Joanne Banks / Mary J. Kotan
In the ″Letter to Shijo Kingo,″ Nichiren Daishonin states, ″A truly wise man will not be carried away by the Eight Winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering and pleasure.″
Prior to finding SGI and the practice, my life was governed by much of the Eight Winds without my knowledge. Now, I am in control because I understand what the Eight Winds are.
I came to this practice through a friend who does not practice but who knew this would be beneficial to me. He said, ″You really need to find your place in this philosophy. It will provide you with peace and growth, both of which will help you feel better about yourself.″ Over time I found the people to be the kind of people I wanted in my life so I started to practice, just to make friends with them. One day one of the members said, ″You really should receive Gohonzan. It will help you to do better.″ I agreed to make every one happy, but it didn′t really matter to me. So, I received and I practiced on occasion. Suddenly, my life was changing. I decided to buy a house, something I said I would NEVER do. I found the perfect house and even thought my credit was not pristine the money I needed to do that was made available from a life-long friend who also had issues. She now lives with me in OUR home. Cathy and I are working toward making our lives better.
Next, my relationship with the man who introduced me to this practice ended. We have agreed to be caring friends and are struggling to make that happen. ″The winds of change blow harshly when we resist″, is a phrase I have heard many times in my life. So, as I chant for good health and happiness for him, his life continues to improve. This is a source of pride for me as I know that my chanting is another way I can show him my love has changed to be a positive force in his life. My needs were being met for the first time in my life. No longer was I falling down and having to struggle to get back up. I received in June of this year and these are the changes which my half-hearted practice brought me:
I am a fifty one year old single woman. I have been unlovable, negative, angry, insecure, and so many other things, yet I was not willing to change it. Through my practice I see that I am responsible for my causes, my life and where I go from here. I also see that I do not need to feel guilty for the past. Since I stopped blaming everyone else and started seeing that I was carried away by the winds of censure, suffering, disgrace, and decline, my life has changed. I am no longer the negative person I was. I am in my first semester of college instead of working a dead end job. I believe in myself and no longer look to others to approve of me. I am a homeowner, I am going for a degree in Computer Information Science. I have been offered a job which is measured by the salary per year rather than the dollars per hour. I have found that with my new found self respect, I am distancing myself from those who are not positive influences in my life and I am looking toward a future filled with challenges I have the courage to meet. I find myself enjoying my own praise, prosperity, honor and pleasure, but I am not carried away with them. I know that each of the Eight Winds are fleeting, like a breeze. Each has its purpose in my life and each one signifies growth in a different form. As I work through the challenges in my life, I find more and more inner peace and tranquility. The more I CHANT FOR OTHERS TO BE HAPPY THE HAPPIER I AM. So, when you feel the challenges of outside winds, remember, you built the windmill and only you have the power to direct which way it will blow: gently or harshly. NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO
Mary Jane Kotan
From The Writings
The people of today all turn their backs upon what is right; to a person, they give their allegiance to evil. This is the reason that the benevolent deities have abandoned the nation and departed together, that sages leave and do not return.
- On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land, WND p. 7
Author: Joanne Banks / Mary J. Kotan
In the ″Letter to Shijo Kingo,″ Nichiren Daishonin states, ″A truly wise man will not be carried away by the Eight Winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering and pleasure.″
Prior to finding SGI and the practice, my life was governed by much of the Eight Winds without my knowledge. Now, I am in control because I understand what the Eight Winds are.
I came to this practice through a friend who does not practice but who knew this would be beneficial to me. He said, ″You really need to find your place in this philosophy. It will provide you with peace and growth, both of which will help you feel better about yourself.″ Over time I found the people to be the kind of people I wanted in my life so I started to practice, just to make friends with them. One day one of the members said, ″You really should receive Gohonzan. It will help you to do better.″ I agreed to make every one happy, but it didn′t really matter to me. So, I received and I practiced on occasion. Suddenly, my life was changing. I decided to buy a house, something I said I would NEVER do. I found the perfect house and even thought my credit was not pristine the money I needed to do that was made available from a life-long friend who also had issues. She now lives with me in OUR home. Cathy and I are working toward making our lives better.
Next, my relationship with the man who introduced me to this practice ended. We have agreed to be caring friends and are struggling to make that happen. ″The winds of change blow harshly when we resist″, is a phrase I have heard many times in my life. So, as I chant for good health and happiness for him, his life continues to improve. This is a source of pride for me as I know that my chanting is another way I can show him my love has changed to be a positive force in his life. My needs were being met for the first time in my life. No longer was I falling down and having to struggle to get back up. I received in June of this year and these are the changes which my half-hearted practice brought me:
I am a fifty one year old single woman. I have been unlovable, negative, angry, insecure, and so many other things, yet I was not willing to change it. Through my practice I see that I am responsible for my causes, my life and where I go from here. I also see that I do not need to feel guilty for the past. Since I stopped blaming everyone else and started seeing that I was carried away by the winds of censure, suffering, disgrace, and decline, my life has changed. I am no longer the negative person I was. I am in my first semester of college instead of working a dead end job. I believe in myself and no longer look to others to approve of me. I am a homeowner, I am going for a degree in Computer Information Science. I have been offered a job which is measured by the salary per year rather than the dollars per hour. I have found that with my new found self respect, I am distancing myself from those who are not positive influences in my life and I am looking toward a future filled with challenges I have the courage to meet. I find myself enjoying my own praise, prosperity, honor and pleasure, but I am not carried away with them. I know that each of the Eight Winds are fleeting, like a breeze. Each has its purpose in my life and each one signifies growth in a different form. As I work through the challenges in my life, I find more and more inner peace and tranquility. The more I CHANT FOR OTHERS TO BE HAPPY THE HAPPIER I AM. So, when you feel the challenges of outside winds, remember, you built the windmill and only you have the power to direct which way it will blow: gently or harshly. NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO
Mary Jane Kotan
From The Writings
The people of today all turn their backs upon what is right; to a person, they give their allegiance to evil. This is the reason that the benevolent deities have abandoned the nation and departed together, that sages leave and do not return.
- On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land, WND p. 7
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
A Unique New Year Gift
Spiritual Story by Malvika
It was 1st January, the first day of the year and a holiday for me. What luck! I started by thinking of getting the bank work out of the way. The bank person, an elderly gentleman with white beard, was as usual curt to my polite "Happy New Year." He nodded and I sat in front of him.
Minutes passed and nothing happened.
Then very hesitently I put across my RD form and booklet in front of him. He was busy filling up entries in his register. After a few minutes he took my form and from his cabinet he took out a very thick file from which he started filling in my details. All this while I was wondering about the computerised banking, if we are still filling out forms and registers!
After waiting for few more minutes, in which I showed all signs of being impatient, I asked him if my work was done. The moment I uttered the words, I felt as if a bombshell had fallen on him. He shouted "Nothing is done, it will take time!"
Just then I saw his morning cup of tea which had been lying there for the last 10 minutes, untouched. The tea had turned almost cold while he was doing his work. Suddenly I felt what this man, who has been working in this counter for the last "god knows how many years," must be feeling when customers like me come who are always in a hurry to get their work done. We do not even feel the need to thank them for being there. He must be feeling so agitated that here comes another person who will push me for doing his work first.
On an instinct I told him, "Sir, you please have your tea, I am not in a hurry." This man, who I had been meeting for the last few years, suddenly looked up at me and, for the first time we had an eye contact - he had never given me an eye contact earlier. I saw a different person there, another human being who is as hard pressed for time as I always am.
I saw both of us sailing in the same boat. I felt that he was also missing the small things of life like a hot cup of tea or lying in a warm bed for a few more minutes like me. He gave me a rare smile and said, "It is an everyday affair with me; you are not in a hurry but somebody else will come who will be in a hurry."
He really touched my heart with his wise words. I felt that we have all put shields on our hearts like we put gloves on our hands, we are scared to show our heart and reveal too much of ourselves. I felt that all this time I thought of him as a robot, someone who is there for my convenience, but today suddenly I felt a strange communion with him. I vowed to be more empathetic and friendly with people who help me with my work and be thankful that they are there for me.
It was 1st January, the first day of the year and a holiday for me. What luck! I started by thinking of getting the bank work out of the way. The bank person, an elderly gentleman with white beard, was as usual curt to my polite "Happy New Year." He nodded and I sat in front of him.
Minutes passed and nothing happened.
Then very hesitently I put across my RD form and booklet in front of him. He was busy filling up entries in his register. After a few minutes he took my form and from his cabinet he took out a very thick file from which he started filling in my details. All this while I was wondering about the computerised banking, if we are still filling out forms and registers!
After waiting for few more minutes, in which I showed all signs of being impatient, I asked him if my work was done. The moment I uttered the words, I felt as if a bombshell had fallen on him. He shouted "Nothing is done, it will take time!"
Just then I saw his morning cup of tea which had been lying there for the last 10 minutes, untouched. The tea had turned almost cold while he was doing his work. Suddenly I felt what this man, who has been working in this counter for the last "god knows how many years," must be feeling when customers like me come who are always in a hurry to get their work done. We do not even feel the need to thank them for being there. He must be feeling so agitated that here comes another person who will push me for doing his work first.
On an instinct I told him, "Sir, you please have your tea, I am not in a hurry." This man, who I had been meeting for the last few years, suddenly looked up at me and, for the first time we had an eye contact - he had never given me an eye contact earlier. I saw a different person there, another human being who is as hard pressed for time as I always am.
I saw both of us sailing in the same boat. I felt that he was also missing the small things of life like a hot cup of tea or lying in a warm bed for a few more minutes like me. He gave me a rare smile and said, "It is an everyday affair with me; you are not in a hurry but somebody else will come who will be in a hurry."
He really touched my heart with his wise words. I felt that we have all put shields on our hearts like we put gloves on our hands, we are scared to show our heart and reveal too much of ourselves. I felt that all this time I thought of him as a robot, someone who is there for my convenience, but today suddenly I felt a strange communion with him. I vowed to be more empathetic and friendly with people who help me with my work and be thankful that they are there for me.
This Buddhism has changed my life.
This Buddhism has changed my life.
This is an easy one.
I had inadvertently been searching for a lifetime; answers to questions on why we are here and “What is the purpose” ever since I can remember. My life was in shambles when I came into this practice. No self esteem, hopes dreams or ambitions. I had a life of disappointment and disillusion. Expectations and disappointments for 44 long and disenchanted years. When I started chanting and praying for others and myself, I had an “Opening of the eyes”.
I always wondered why I came into existence. “Why was I here, Why was my life such a mess”? I always relied on outside forces to generate my happiness and well-being, which was obviously not working. I never realized the power to change myself and my life was within me the whole time; that was until I came to know this practice. My purpose in life is to help others. Simple. That is my destiny and every day I chant for the happiness of others, I discover what my own happiness is all about. My life-long questions about why I am here are answered. The questions we all have are answered. We are all here to help each other.
I can experience happiness in this lifetime and had the power to change myself and my life. I had the power. It was there all along. No one else was ever in control of my destiny. It was me. That freed me from the temptation of resentment toward others and my life condition. I am truly free now. What I do is all up to me. I have been on a journey to forgive and take back my power. It was much easier than I had imagined. Thanks to this practice.
As a child, I had danced around with this notion. I wanted to help people and animals. I chose a profession that did just that as an adult. Some where along the way; I lost my idealistic ambitions. I saw first hand what other people can do to other people. It was sad and scary. I lived my life in such a way; that reflected those experiences. I was in EMS the first half of my adult life. Between my career choice and my personal life, I suffered. I lost myself and my very soul.
I had come from an alcoholic/addicted family. Mostly male role models. Therefore I chose similar traits in all 4 of my marriages. I was angry and resentful after each one of them. Some were abusive and some were just downright dysfunctional. I also became dysfunctional. My children, as they got older, did not understand what I had been going through and were distant. My very abusive second husband took my middle child and disappeared. I thought I would never see him again. Those were my darkest days. I was extremely angry and resentful. I started drinking a lot myself and tried to hide my pain. More so since he took my child from me. I went through years of darkness. I hated life and hated myself for allowing this to happen. I drank more and went through a few more destructive relationships, all the while, telling myself and others; it was someone else’s fault. God was punishing me, I was cursed. Some where along the way, I was introduced to Buddhism. I shunned it at first. I had no knowledge of what it was about and I shunned it. A friend came into my chaotic life and tried to show me a better way. I disregarded it. Several years later, here I am again. Once again, introduced with this Buddhism. I was beaten down at this point and felt like life was slipping away from me. I could look into it and do my research to see if this could be a possibility. This is when I had my awakening.
After I started chanting; and still leery of the notion of religion, since God had cursed me with such a tormented life, my middle son, after 15 long years contacted my oldest son. He was looking for his siblings. My oldest called me that night and told me Josh had sent him a letter asking about him and his younger sister Katlyn. He read the letter to me, reluctantly, because he had been brainwashed to believe I was the devil. But I convinced him to read it to me anyway. He condemned me in the letter. We were so excited to hear from him it didn’t matter.
He left his contact info in the letter. My oldest convinced me I should call the number he gave. So I did. He was less than happy with me calling and would not talk to me. I was so happy at the time that I heard his voice, I didn’t care.
He sent me a nasty letter. I thought this was the end of the world. My long lost son hates me and has been convinced by his father I was Satan and he didn’t want to have anything to do with me. I went through all the same emotions I felt when he took him away from me, all over again. I was hurting and depressed. But like I have been told from the beginning, which I didn’t understand at the time, chant for the other person’s happiness. I did it. Repeatedly. All those negative feelings about the ex and how bad he hurt me diminished. I started to “get it”.
Christmas Day, my long lost son who was brain-washed, was on the other line. I couldn’t believe it! He wanted to talk to me! I was elated! We talked for about an hour. I hadn’t talked to him since 1993 when he was two years old, his father dangling him in front of me stating I would never see him again, while he was crying for me. I thought he was lost forever. It was the worst day of my life. I felt like I died that day and the days to follow. My precious angel with someone who beat me regularly and now wanted to have the ultimate control and was taking my son from me. At that moment, I hated him. More than anytime before. I hated him. I thought this was unforgivable. This went on for years. I had no idea where my son went.
My son called a few more times. I chanted and prayed that I would learn how to forgive and chanted for my ex.’s happiness. I did forgive him.
The only thing I ever wanted was to talk to my son. Those are the things that matter most in life. That was the beginning of my benefits since starting this practice. I have had great benefits but my family communicating again is the most special benefit I can imagine. .
I have been learning about how to grasp life by the horns and run with it. I learned how to tap into this potential I have and appreciate what I have today. Not fear the future or regret the past. The gift we are given today is what counts. I can look back at the past with gratitude and know without a shadow of a doubt that my life is what I make it. I have choices to make everyday. I can choose to appreciate what “is” and not worry about what could be. That is freedom. That is true freedom. I have been searching for my freedom all this time. I am free to express myself and free to choose whether I want to be happy, sad, content, or forgiving, which is freeing in and of itself. I have the power. That power, I have accessed through this Buddhist practice. I have found myself and love the life I have today. I can reflect back on the greatest assets in this life. My family and the ones I chose to be with.
I have courage. I didn’t gain this courage until I started chanting. This experience I have just shared was something I didn’t have the courage to talk about anymore. There was so much pain involved; I just stopped talking about it. Today is today. I am courageous today thanks to this practice.
I have become very close with my oldest son. He is in college studying to be a Geophysicist. We spend hours talking on the phone. My middle son contacts me once in a while. That’s ok. He is working and going to school and has a girlfriend. He and my oldest son talk regularly. My youngest, Katlyn is in high school. We have always been close.
My relationship now is one of mutual respect, with my significant other. We have been together for 8 years and are growing closer every day. All I did was chant for others happiness. This was the end result. Now I have my Gohonzon.
My sordid past and destructive way of living has changed because of this practice. I have found myself and come full circle. I am happy. This practice and this Buddhism changed my life and brought my family back together. That is the greatest benefit I can ever imagine.
By: Lacy Teel
SUBMITTED BY JOANNE BANKS
This is an easy one.
I had inadvertently been searching for a lifetime; answers to questions on why we are here and “What is the purpose” ever since I can remember. My life was in shambles when I came into this practice. No self esteem, hopes dreams or ambitions. I had a life of disappointment and disillusion. Expectations and disappointments for 44 long and disenchanted years. When I started chanting and praying for others and myself, I had an “Opening of the eyes”.
I always wondered why I came into existence. “Why was I here, Why was my life such a mess”? I always relied on outside forces to generate my happiness and well-being, which was obviously not working. I never realized the power to change myself and my life was within me the whole time; that was until I came to know this practice. My purpose in life is to help others. Simple. That is my destiny and every day I chant for the happiness of others, I discover what my own happiness is all about. My life-long questions about why I am here are answered. The questions we all have are answered. We are all here to help each other.
I can experience happiness in this lifetime and had the power to change myself and my life. I had the power. It was there all along. No one else was ever in control of my destiny. It was me. That freed me from the temptation of resentment toward others and my life condition. I am truly free now. What I do is all up to me. I have been on a journey to forgive and take back my power. It was much easier than I had imagined. Thanks to this practice.
As a child, I had danced around with this notion. I wanted to help people and animals. I chose a profession that did just that as an adult. Some where along the way; I lost my idealistic ambitions. I saw first hand what other people can do to other people. It was sad and scary. I lived my life in such a way; that reflected those experiences. I was in EMS the first half of my adult life. Between my career choice and my personal life, I suffered. I lost myself and my very soul.
I had come from an alcoholic/addicted family. Mostly male role models. Therefore I chose similar traits in all 4 of my marriages. I was angry and resentful after each one of them. Some were abusive and some were just downright dysfunctional. I also became dysfunctional. My children, as they got older, did not understand what I had been going through and were distant. My very abusive second husband took my middle child and disappeared. I thought I would never see him again. Those were my darkest days. I was extremely angry and resentful. I started drinking a lot myself and tried to hide my pain. More so since he took my child from me. I went through years of darkness. I hated life and hated myself for allowing this to happen. I drank more and went through a few more destructive relationships, all the while, telling myself and others; it was someone else’s fault. God was punishing me, I was cursed. Some where along the way, I was introduced to Buddhism. I shunned it at first. I had no knowledge of what it was about and I shunned it. A friend came into my chaotic life and tried to show me a better way. I disregarded it. Several years later, here I am again. Once again, introduced with this Buddhism. I was beaten down at this point and felt like life was slipping away from me. I could look into it and do my research to see if this could be a possibility. This is when I had my awakening.
After I started chanting; and still leery of the notion of religion, since God had cursed me with such a tormented life, my middle son, after 15 long years contacted my oldest son. He was looking for his siblings. My oldest called me that night and told me Josh had sent him a letter asking about him and his younger sister Katlyn. He read the letter to me, reluctantly, because he had been brainwashed to believe I was the devil. But I convinced him to read it to me anyway. He condemned me in the letter. We were so excited to hear from him it didn’t matter.
He left his contact info in the letter. My oldest convinced me I should call the number he gave. So I did. He was less than happy with me calling and would not talk to me. I was so happy at the time that I heard his voice, I didn’t care.
He sent me a nasty letter. I thought this was the end of the world. My long lost son hates me and has been convinced by his father I was Satan and he didn’t want to have anything to do with me. I went through all the same emotions I felt when he took him away from me, all over again. I was hurting and depressed. But like I have been told from the beginning, which I didn’t understand at the time, chant for the other person’s happiness. I did it. Repeatedly. All those negative feelings about the ex and how bad he hurt me diminished. I started to “get it”.
Christmas Day, my long lost son who was brain-washed, was on the other line. I couldn’t believe it! He wanted to talk to me! I was elated! We talked for about an hour. I hadn’t talked to him since 1993 when he was two years old, his father dangling him in front of me stating I would never see him again, while he was crying for me. I thought he was lost forever. It was the worst day of my life. I felt like I died that day and the days to follow. My precious angel with someone who beat me regularly and now wanted to have the ultimate control and was taking my son from me. At that moment, I hated him. More than anytime before. I hated him. I thought this was unforgivable. This went on for years. I had no idea where my son went.
My son called a few more times. I chanted and prayed that I would learn how to forgive and chanted for my ex.’s happiness. I did forgive him.
The only thing I ever wanted was to talk to my son. Those are the things that matter most in life. That was the beginning of my benefits since starting this practice. I have had great benefits but my family communicating again is the most special benefit I can imagine. .
I have been learning about how to grasp life by the horns and run with it. I learned how to tap into this potential I have and appreciate what I have today. Not fear the future or regret the past. The gift we are given today is what counts. I can look back at the past with gratitude and know without a shadow of a doubt that my life is what I make it. I have choices to make everyday. I can choose to appreciate what “is” and not worry about what could be. That is freedom. That is true freedom. I have been searching for my freedom all this time. I am free to express myself and free to choose whether I want to be happy, sad, content, or forgiving, which is freeing in and of itself. I have the power. That power, I have accessed through this Buddhist practice. I have found myself and love the life I have today. I can reflect back on the greatest assets in this life. My family and the ones I chose to be with.
I have courage. I didn’t gain this courage until I started chanting. This experience I have just shared was something I didn’t have the courage to talk about anymore. There was so much pain involved; I just stopped talking about it. Today is today. I am courageous today thanks to this practice.
I have become very close with my oldest son. He is in college studying to be a Geophysicist. We spend hours talking on the phone. My middle son contacts me once in a while. That’s ok. He is working and going to school and has a girlfriend. He and my oldest son talk regularly. My youngest, Katlyn is in high school. We have always been close.
My relationship now is one of mutual respect, with my significant other. We have been together for 8 years and are growing closer every day. All I did was chant for others happiness. This was the end result. Now I have my Gohonzon.
My sordid past and destructive way of living has changed because of this practice. I have found myself and come full circle. I am happy. This practice and this Buddhism changed my life and brought my family back together. That is the greatest benefit I can ever imagine.
By: Lacy Teel
SUBMITTED BY JOANNE BANKS
By devoting our lives to Buddhism, we will live a life of complete fulfillment.
Life flashes by in an instant. By devoting our lives to Buddhism, we will live a life of complete fulfillment. We are selling ourselves short if we fail to attain such a wonderful state of life.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 25/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 25/8
Be fearless and advance like a lion
Advancement—Nichiren Daishonin teaches the spirit that "not to advance is to retreat." The point is to continue forging ahead despite any storms or hardships that may arise, to be fearless and advance like a lion.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 24/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 24/8
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
A Resolved Fight
Spiritual Story by Amanda Garbutt
Shortly after reading A Course in Miracles for the first time, I was standing on my balcony and I saw a fight break out with my one son's friend and a boy who didn't even live here but had lived in a building across from us. This boy was hurting my son's friend.
I began to pray...
At first it didn't work because the boy was still hurting my son's friend and then I saw our Superintendent's son who had always been a bully with my three children. I prayed for him to help out my son's friend but to use his fighting ways for a good purpose, and to my surprise, he went over and helped my son's friend by firmly squeezing the back of the outsider's neck.
As he did this I prayed for no overly force but to use his fighting abilities for good... he let go and the outsider left. The moral of the story is that I taught someone, through prayer, how to use his fighting abilities for good. It ended the fight with just one grip of his hand, as a result of my prayers.
Shortly after reading A Course in Miracles for the first time, I was standing on my balcony and I saw a fight break out with my one son's friend and a boy who didn't even live here but had lived in a building across from us. This boy was hurting my son's friend.
I began to pray...
At first it didn't work because the boy was still hurting my son's friend and then I saw our Superintendent's son who had always been a bully with my three children. I prayed for him to help out my son's friend but to use his fighting ways for a good purpose, and to my surprise, he went over and helped my son's friend by firmly squeezing the back of the outsider's neck.
As he did this I prayed for no overly force but to use his fighting abilities for good... he let go and the outsider left. The moral of the story is that I taught someone, through prayer, how to use his fighting abilities for good. It ended the fight with just one grip of his hand, as a result of my prayers.
Victory by showing wonderful actual proof of faith at his place of work.
Shijo Kingo, a person of strong faith, was at one point envied and slandered by others, earning the disfavor of his lord. But later he received a new estate from him. In modern terms, we might say that Shijo Kingo scored this victory by showing wonderful actual proof of faith at his place of work. The test of faith is winning in daily life and society, since that is where Buddhism finds expression.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 23/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 23/8
To be swayed by such externals is pointless.
is not a question of your environment or those around you, nor what the organization or leaders may be like. To be swayed by such externals is pointless. It all comes down to one person: you. What matters is that you become a brilliant beacon, shining with joy and happiness and live your life with confidence and courage. If you shine with a radiant light, there can be no darkness in your life.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 22/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 22/8
Monday, October 10, 2011
I'll do it.
Those who say "I'll do it," who are willing to take on a challenge even if they are alone, are true winners. The determination, the commitment to take action yourself, is the force that leads to victory. As Buddhism teaches in the principle of a life-moment possesses 3,000 realms, our mind or attitude can change everything.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 21/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 21/8
To be fearless no matter what happens—that is the root of true happiness
To be fearless no matter what happens—that is the root of true happiness. To move forward resolutely regardless of what lies in store—that is the spirit, the resolve, that leads to human victory. But if we allow ourselves to be disturbed by petty criticism and slander, if we fear pressure and persecution, we will never advance nor create anything of lasting value.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 20/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 20/8
A Reincarnation Story
Spiritual Story by Jo Leonard
I’d been working at the international headquarters of a spiritual organization in Menlo Park, California. As most of the employees were members of the organization, lunch table conversations naturally centered on subjects inherent to the teaching, subjects such as dreams, past lives, and the shortest path home to God.
One day, as she nibbled on a carrot stick, a co-worker I had nicknamed Zeta told me of a past life recall she’d had. She remembered flying in a one person aircraft, seeing herself as both the pilot and a bombardier. A white cloth was tied around her head. She was horrified as she watched herself dropping bombs on people who were going about their lives in an open plaza in Atlantis.
At the time, some of my managerial duties included providing oversight to a department that was editing video recordings from a recent conference. We had hired an outside production company to help record the event and to assist our own folks with assembling the material for eventual distribution to the membership.
One day in casual conversation, one of the production assistants from the outside company confided in me that she was still troubled by a dream she’d had years ago. Before going any further, however, she made it perfectly clear that she did not believe in any of the things we believed in—things such as prophetic dreams, reincarnation or karma. Slightly red-faced from knowingly being in contradiction to her own belief system, she told me her dream.
It seems that she had been walking across a plaza where there were lots of people milling about doing what people do on pleasant days. A deafening sound descended, quite literally, out of the blue. The crowd began to run in all directions as dozens of low-flying planes roared into sight and began dropping bombs, creating small, but effective explosions. The production assistant recalled that the pilots wore (drum roll here) white headbands.
If your logical mind is asking how someone on the ground could tell what the pilots were wearing, I can only say that dreams do not play out like our lives in the physical universe. In dreams, you can be present in your all-knowing, 360-degree soul body as an observer.
I imagine my mouth must have hung open as I listened to her story. Two people I knew who didn’t know one another had the same dream from different perspectives. As they say, something was afoot in all of this.
Hesitantly, I asked the production assistant if she would like to meet someone who had told me about a similar dream. She nodded. “Stay right here,” I said as I spun on my heel and started off in the direction of Zeta’s cubicle.
Zeta and the production assistant exchanged stories as they stood in the back hallway. Hardly able to breathe, I watched in silence and astonishment. This was one of those momentous moments in time and space that somehow get orchestrated to resolve a longstanding karmic debt. The disturbing memory of that day in Atlantis, lodged deeply within both their hearts, was about to be removed with the precision of a surgeon’s knife.
How simply the karma played itself out. Zeta looked at the production assistant, tears swimming in her eyes, and said, “I’m sorry.” The production assistant nodded her acceptance and a debt was paid.
The world began to spin again.
Not all karma gets to be worked out in such a simple and straightforward manner. And who knows, perhaps the two of them have been meeting and working toward this moment for centuries. The moral of the story, however, is to stay awake. Watch for those moments when you can consciously finish unfinished business and make further spiritual progression possible for all. If you miss a moment, it might be a long time coming before all the circumstances and conditions for resolution get so perfectly lined up once again.
The bottom line: live consciously, resolve, grow.
I’d been working at the international headquarters of a spiritual organization in Menlo Park, California. As most of the employees were members of the organization, lunch table conversations naturally centered on subjects inherent to the teaching, subjects such as dreams, past lives, and the shortest path home to God.
One day, as she nibbled on a carrot stick, a co-worker I had nicknamed Zeta told me of a past life recall she’d had. She remembered flying in a one person aircraft, seeing herself as both the pilot and a bombardier. A white cloth was tied around her head. She was horrified as she watched herself dropping bombs on people who were going about their lives in an open plaza in Atlantis.
At the time, some of my managerial duties included providing oversight to a department that was editing video recordings from a recent conference. We had hired an outside production company to help record the event and to assist our own folks with assembling the material for eventual distribution to the membership.
One day in casual conversation, one of the production assistants from the outside company confided in me that she was still troubled by a dream she’d had years ago. Before going any further, however, she made it perfectly clear that she did not believe in any of the things we believed in—things such as prophetic dreams, reincarnation or karma. Slightly red-faced from knowingly being in contradiction to her own belief system, she told me her dream.
It seems that she had been walking across a plaza where there were lots of people milling about doing what people do on pleasant days. A deafening sound descended, quite literally, out of the blue. The crowd began to run in all directions as dozens of low-flying planes roared into sight and began dropping bombs, creating small, but effective explosions. The production assistant recalled that the pilots wore (drum roll here) white headbands.
If your logical mind is asking how someone on the ground could tell what the pilots were wearing, I can only say that dreams do not play out like our lives in the physical universe. In dreams, you can be present in your all-knowing, 360-degree soul body as an observer.
I imagine my mouth must have hung open as I listened to her story. Two people I knew who didn’t know one another had the same dream from different perspectives. As they say, something was afoot in all of this.
Hesitantly, I asked the production assistant if she would like to meet someone who had told me about a similar dream. She nodded. “Stay right here,” I said as I spun on my heel and started off in the direction of Zeta’s cubicle.
Zeta and the production assistant exchanged stories as they stood in the back hallway. Hardly able to breathe, I watched in silence and astonishment. This was one of those momentous moments in time and space that somehow get orchestrated to resolve a longstanding karmic debt. The disturbing memory of that day in Atlantis, lodged deeply within both their hearts, was about to be removed with the precision of a surgeon’s knife.
How simply the karma played itself out. Zeta looked at the production assistant, tears swimming in her eyes, and said, “I’m sorry.” The production assistant nodded her acceptance and a debt was paid.
The world began to spin again.
Not all karma gets to be worked out in such a simple and straightforward manner. And who knows, perhaps the two of them have been meeting and working toward this moment for centuries. The moral of the story, however, is to stay awake. Watch for those moments when you can consciously finish unfinished business and make further spiritual progression possible for all. If you miss a moment, it might be a long time coming before all the circumstances and conditions for resolution get so perfectly lined up once again.
The bottom line: live consciously, resolve, grow.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Buddhism and wisdom
Buddhism is wisdom. As long as we have wisdom, we can put all things to the best use; we can turn everything in the direction of happiness.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 19/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 19/8
Only through action are we able to truly gain the great benefit of the Mystic Law.
Buddhism is action. One meaning of kyo of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is action. Without action, we cannot say that we are practicing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo; it would merely remain a concept. Only through action are we able to truly gain the great benefit of the Mystic Law.
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 18/8
For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 18/8
A Prayer Away
Spiritual Story by Glenys Cunningham
The woman sat, watching the people around her, feeling the pain of the child who fell off his bicycle the tiredness of the old man who was slowly making his way home. She felt the joy of the children playing together on the jungle gym and saw the happiness of the young couple walking hand in hand.
Some glanced her way as they passed the bench she was sitting on, but they never spared her a thought. No one noticed the unshed tears in her eyes as she sat there watching and feeling.
So much pain in the world, so much happiness and so much loneliness.
So many people doing so many things, so involved in their own moments. There just wasn't space for thoughts of others.
And as she watched, her mind drifted to another place, another time. A time when she was like them -- wrapped up in her own life her own misery. Sometimes she wished she could return to those days, and yet...
Just then her attention was caught by a face she hadn't noticed in a long time. A face which reflected contentment, joy, peace and love. Wiping away the remnants of the tears, she stood up and with a final glance into the pond next to the bench, she headed toward the fallen child, helped him up, wiped his tears, returned his smile and offered to help the old man home with his shopping.
No, she didn't want to return to the old days. Those were the days when loneliness was unbearable. Now, although still lonely for human company, she had love in her heart and comfort was just a prayer away.
The woman sat, watching the people around her, feeling the pain of the child who fell off his bicycle the tiredness of the old man who was slowly making his way home. She felt the joy of the children playing together on the jungle gym and saw the happiness of the young couple walking hand in hand.
Some glanced her way as they passed the bench she was sitting on, but they never spared her a thought. No one noticed the unshed tears in her eyes as she sat there watching and feeling.
So much pain in the world, so much happiness and so much loneliness.
So many people doing so many things, so involved in their own moments. There just wasn't space for thoughts of others.
And as she watched, her mind drifted to another place, another time. A time when she was like them -- wrapped up in her own life her own misery. Sometimes she wished she could return to those days, and yet...
Just then her attention was caught by a face she hadn't noticed in a long time. A face which reflected contentment, joy, peace and love. Wiping away the remnants of the tears, she stood up and with a final glance into the pond next to the bench, she headed toward the fallen child, helped him up, wiped his tears, returned his smile and offered to help the old man home with his shopping.
No, she didn't want to return to the old days. Those were the days when loneliness was unbearable. Now, although still lonely for human company, she had love in her heart and comfort was just a prayer away.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
A Pair of Pears
Spiritual Story by Rabbi Allen S. Maller
There was a king who had a daughter who was very ill. The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with her. She just seemed miserable and cried often.
One night the princess dreamed that if she ate a pair of very special pears she would get well. In order to learn what would make the pears so special, she would have to meet with each person who brought pears to her. Her mother the queen, decreed that whoever brought in the very special pears that healed the princess, would have the opportunity to marry the princess, if she wanted to marry him.
Hundreds of young men brought baskets of pears to the princess. She talked for a long time to each of the young men, and ate their pears, but none of them made her feel better.
One farmer who had very sweet and juicy pears as well as three sons told his eldest son, the most handsome of the three, to take a basket of pears to the princess. On the way to the princess the handsome son met a dwarf who related how hungry he was. The dwarf saw the basket and said, “You must be taking pears to heal the princess. Please give me a few pears so I will not starve.”
The handsome son didn’t want to give away even one pear, especially to a dwarf. He was afraid that any pear given away might turn out to be the special one of the pair that would heal the princess. Then he would lose the chance to marry her.
So he said to the hungry man, “The only pears I have in this basket are pairs of pig’s feet.” The hungry man, who was really the prophet Elijah in disguise, replied, “Amen! So shall it be.” Then he walked away.
When the handsome son was brought to the princess, he opened his basket to show her his pears, and it was filled with pairs of pig’s feet. The princess fainted. The king ordered the eldest son to be thrown out into the street.
When the handsome son returned home he didn’t want to tell anybody what had happened so he just said that the pears didn’t work. The farmer then decided to send his middle son, the one who was tall, strong and had lovely blond hair, to bring the farmer’s best pears to the princess.
On the road to the castle the tall blond son also met Elijah, who was disguised this time as a poor beggar who was deaf in one ear. The blond son also didn’t want to help the beggar, even though he seemed very hungry.
The tall blond son said, “I can’t help you. The only pears I have in this basket are pairs of pig’s ears.” “Amen!” said Elijah, “so shall it be.”
When the tall blond son was brought to the princess he opened his basket and it was filled to the top with pairs of pig’s ears. The princess became nauseous and threw up. The king had the blond son thrown out the window into the street. When the middle son returned home he also didn’t tell anybody what happened.
The youngest son wasn’t very handsome, and he wasn’t tall or blond, but he was very kind and considerate. He begged his father to let him go because he wanted to help the princess, although he didn’t think she would want to marry him. On the road to the princess he also met Elijah disguised as a beggar with ugly sores and scabs all over his face and arms.
He felt sorry for the ugly beggar, and even before the beggar asked, he offered half of the pears in the basket to the man saying, “I pray these pears are good for you.” Elijah took them and replied, “Amen! So shall it be good for you.”
When the youngest son opened his basket before the princess she asked why it was only half filled with pears. He told her about offering half the basket of pears to the beggar who was covered with sores and scabs. The princess began to cry. The youngest son apologized for making her cry, but to his surprise she suddenly hugged him. They spent the whole day talking and the princess felt better and better. By the next day she was feeling great. A month later she told the youngest son she wanted to marry him, and that is what she did.
There was a king who had a daughter who was very ill. The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with her. She just seemed miserable and cried often.
One night the princess dreamed that if she ate a pair of very special pears she would get well. In order to learn what would make the pears so special, she would have to meet with each person who brought pears to her. Her mother the queen, decreed that whoever brought in the very special pears that healed the princess, would have the opportunity to marry the princess, if she wanted to marry him.
Hundreds of young men brought baskets of pears to the princess. She talked for a long time to each of the young men, and ate their pears, but none of them made her feel better.
One farmer who had very sweet and juicy pears as well as three sons told his eldest son, the most handsome of the three, to take a basket of pears to the princess. On the way to the princess the handsome son met a dwarf who related how hungry he was. The dwarf saw the basket and said, “You must be taking pears to heal the princess. Please give me a few pears so I will not starve.”
The handsome son didn’t want to give away even one pear, especially to a dwarf. He was afraid that any pear given away might turn out to be the special one of the pair that would heal the princess. Then he would lose the chance to marry her.
So he said to the hungry man, “The only pears I have in this basket are pairs of pig’s feet.” The hungry man, who was really the prophet Elijah in disguise, replied, “Amen! So shall it be.” Then he walked away.
When the handsome son was brought to the princess, he opened his basket to show her his pears, and it was filled with pairs of pig’s feet. The princess fainted. The king ordered the eldest son to be thrown out into the street.
When the handsome son returned home he didn’t want to tell anybody what had happened so he just said that the pears didn’t work. The farmer then decided to send his middle son, the one who was tall, strong and had lovely blond hair, to bring the farmer’s best pears to the princess.
On the road to the castle the tall blond son also met Elijah, who was disguised this time as a poor beggar who was deaf in one ear. The blond son also didn’t want to help the beggar, even though he seemed very hungry.
The tall blond son said, “I can’t help you. The only pears I have in this basket are pairs of pig’s ears.” “Amen!” said Elijah, “so shall it be.”
When the tall blond son was brought to the princess he opened his basket and it was filled to the top with pairs of pig’s ears. The princess became nauseous and threw up. The king had the blond son thrown out the window into the street. When the middle son returned home he also didn’t tell anybody what happened.
The youngest son wasn’t very handsome, and he wasn’t tall or blond, but he was very kind and considerate. He begged his father to let him go because he wanted to help the princess, although he didn’t think she would want to marry him. On the road to the princess he also met Elijah disguised as a beggar with ugly sores and scabs all over his face and arms.
He felt sorry for the ugly beggar, and even before the beggar asked, he offered half of the pears in the basket to the man saying, “I pray these pears are good for you.” Elijah took them and replied, “Amen! So shall it be good for you.”
When the youngest son opened his basket before the princess she asked why it was only half filled with pears. He told her about offering half the basket of pears to the beggar who was covered with sores and scabs. The princess began to cry. The youngest son apologized for making her cry, but to his surprise she suddenly hugged him. They spent the whole day talking and the princess felt better and better. By the next day she was feeling great. A month later she told the youngest son she wanted to marry him, and that is what she did.
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