Interesting/Inspirational Stories, Proverb and Saying

ESCAPE FROM HELL - A Zen Buddhism Koan

Once upon a time a very wicked man died and ended up in Hell. As he was brought before King Yama, (the Lord of Hell in Buddhism), he pleaded to the King, "I am asking your Majesty to be merciful because I always recited Namo Amitabha Buddha." pleaded the wicked man.

"Can you give me a description of any good deed that you had done on Earth?" asked King Yama. "If you can, then I will be more than willing to let you go to Heaven instead of staying here."

The wicked man thought for a long time and said, "I recall I saved the life of a spider. A bird flew into my garden and destroyed a spider web, and I chased the bird away."

"OK, I will ask my Officers to verify what you say." said King Yama. So he sent two Hell Officers off to look for the spider whom the wicked man said he had saved.

After spending some time looking for the spider, the two Officers finally located her in the Heavenly Garden, serving as the Goddess of Silk under Emperor Sakra' s (the King of Thirty Three Heavens in Buddhism) command.

"Yes, it is true that he saved my life," the Goddess of Silk told King Yama's Officers. "I am very grateful for this and therefore I am willing to help him get out of Hell"

"How would you do it?" asked the Officers.

"I will spin a long fine piece of silk and drop it from Heaven to Hell. Then he can hold on to it and I will lift him to Heaven. There is one condition: My silk looked thin, but very strong. He must have faith in it before he can be lifted to Heaven."

The scheme was approved by both Emperor Sakra and King Yama. A long thin piece of silk was produced by the Goddess and dropped all the way from Heaven to Hell. The man held on the silk and the Spider Goddess started to lift him out. Everything seemed to work well until ........

As the wicked man was being lifted out of Hell, he looked down and found hundreds and hundreds of Hell residents also held on to the piece of silk and tried to get out of Hell into Heaven. The weight of all those people was stretching the spider silk tremendously. Suddenly, a thought came to his mind, "Can I trust this thin piece of silk to hold so many people? If I cut the other Hell residents loose, this piece of silk need not bear so much weight and I am sure that I can to go to Heaven safely!" And he remembered he had a knife in his pocket.

He tried to reach his pocket to find his knife, but as he took his hand off the piece of silk, he fell back into Hell. Thus, while the other residents reached Heaven safely, he was unable to get out.

Morning Edition, July 18, 2005

"Just quit thinking and start walking"
Although it is true certain things require instant action without unnecessary hesitation.

Many people procrastinates, however an immediate action is only "appropriate" when one is clear of the surrounding and circumstances.

Isn't there was a story a few pages back that tell us to look for the "root cause"?

It tells a story of bodies floating in a river and a man keep recovering the victims and the deads without realizing there are many people jumping at the other end.

Conclusion, when one is not sure of the implication or consequences of doing something, better not rush. Chinese has a saying "Think Thrice" (san si).

For trivial matters, do it quickly.

"Military cemeteries in every corner of the world are silent testimony to the failure of national leaders to sanctify human life."

(Rabin's Nobel Peace Prize speech)

"The rich have excess supplies of the things they don't need, while millions live on the edge of hunger. If everyone would only own what they actually need, no one would have to live in poverty and everyone would be happy."

Gandhi

TRANSFORMING ANGER

Mahatma Gandhi provides a perfect example of how anger can be harnessed. As a young, unknown, brown-skinned lawyer traveling in South Africa on business, he was roughly thrown from the train because he refused to surrender his first-class ticket and move to the third-class compartment. He spent a cold, sleepless night on the railway platform.

Later, he said this was the turning point of his life: for on that night, full of anger because of this personal injustice, as well as the countless injustices suffered by so many others every day in South Africa, he resolved not to rest until he had set those injustices right. On that night he conquered his anger and vowed to resist injustice, not by violence or retaliation, but through the loving power of nonviolent resistance, which elevates the consciousness of both oppressed and oppressor.

We may never be called on to liberate a people or lead a vast nation, but Gandhi's example can apply in a small way in our own lives, when we decide to return goodwill for ill will, love for hatred, in the innumerable little acts of daily life.

"I have learned through bitter experience the one supreme lesson to conserve my anger, and as heat conserved is transmuted into energy,
even so our anger controlled can be transmuted into a power that can move the world."
Mahatma Gandhi

I understand the following article does not discuss about Buddhism but its content is deeply related to Buddha's teaching. Thus, I hope everybody would spend some time reading this interview and use google to search for this documentary or anything related to this person, "Yurie Cohen Gerstel". The name of the documentary is "My terrorist".As you can clearly see, even a none Buddhist practices part of the Dharma.

Yulie Cohen Gerstel discusses Israeli reactions to her  attempts to free a terrorist and how her daughters have dealt with these efforts.
     
BBC Four: Why at this point in your life did you want to meet the man who shot you?

Yulie Cohen Gerstel: In 1993 the peace process really seemed encouraging. I started to think about this guy whom I met in 1978 and then again in court in 1979. I thought to myself if their leader can shake hands with my leader then why shouldn't I shake his hand and reconcile? I started to look for him in the Palestinian Territory and couldn't find him. I was sure he was somewhere here because, as I say in the film, I knew that the Iraqi terrorist who shot Argov, our ambassador, in London in 1982 had been released for years so I was sure that Fahad was also out. Surprisingly I didn't find him here so I met a British producer in Israel and asked him to help me perhaps find him in Britain - and he did.

source: (Continue on this website)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/doc ... tel-interview.shtml

WEBSITE: http://www.videoletters.net/

Video letters try to reconcile ex-Yugoslavs

AMSTERDAM, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A television project is trying to rebuild bonds between former friends and neighbours in the Balkans who were turned against each other by the wars of the 1990s that led to the eventual collapse of Yugoslavia.
AMSTERDAM, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A television project is trying to rebuild bonds between former friends and neighbours in the Balkans who were turned against each other by the wars of the 1990s that led to the eventual collapse of Yugoslavia.
In 20 episodes, former friends, neighbours and colleagues separated by the bloody disintegration of the six-republic
Yugoslav federation exchange emotional video letters, seeking to renew contact and restore trust.

The first three episodes of the "Videoletters" project had their premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival in
Amsterdam late on Wednesday.

The full series will be broadcast simultaneously by the national televisions of Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia and Macedonia from April next year, the project's authors Katarina Rejger and Eric van den Broek said.

The Dutch filmmakers say they have designed Videoletters as a reconciliation and conflict-resolution tool. "This was a war based on ethnic cleansing. Neighbours, friends, even families fought one another," said Van den Broek. "After the war people don't talk to each other any more. There are doubts, there are rumours, anger and guilt," he said.

The slow breakup of ex-Yugoslavia, which finally vanished from the map in 2002, was responsible for Europe's worst conflicts since World War Two, with Serbs and Montenegrins fighting 'fellow Yugoslavs' from Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia.


Videoletters' first episode brings together two young Bosnians, Emil and Sasa, who were best friends before the 1992-95 Bosnian war. Sasa, whose father is Serbian, joined the Serb army, and Emil, whose mother is Muslim, had to flee. They never spoke to each other again, torn apart by rumours that

Emil committed crimes against Muslims during the war. After
exchanging video letters they put an end to gossip and mistrust and meet for the first time in 10 years.

The two filmmakers, who act as postmen and mediators, plan to launch an interactive website (www.videoletters.net) in April next year, where other people can search for lost friends and load their own video letters.

The 25-minute episodes have been filmed in the last five years but encountered obstacles as many in former Yugoslavia regard communication with "the other side" as difficult and dangerous, Van den Broek and Rejger said. "People had many reasons to be scared ... And we had Dutch plates so people thought we might be from the Hague tribunal," Rejger quipped, referring to the U.N. court based in the Dutch city that is trying war criminals from the former Yugoslavia.

"How do I become a Buddhist?

Once there was a man called Upali. He was the follower of another religion and he went to the Buddha in order to argue with him and try to convert him. But after talking to the Buddha, he was so impressed that he decided to become a follower of the Buddha.
But the Buddha said: "Make a proper investigation first. Proper investigation is good for a well-known person like yourself."
Upali: "Now I am even more pleased and satisfied when the Lord says to me: 'Make a proper investigation first.' For if members of another religion had secured me as a discipline they would have paraded a banner all around the town saying: 'Upali has joined our religion.' But the Lord says to me: Make a proper investigation first. Proper investigation is good for a well-known person like yourself."
In Buddhism, understanding is the most important thing and understanding takes time. So do not impulsively rush into Buddhism. Take your time, ask questions, consider carefully, and then make your decision. The Buddha was not interested in having a large number of disciples. He was concerned that people should follow his teachings as a result of a careful investigation and consideration of the facts.
From: Good Question, Good Answer by Bhikkhu Shravasti DhammikaSample Text"How do I become a Buddhist?

"It is natural for the immature to harm others.
Getting angry with them is like resenting a fire for burning."
Shantideva

    A BAG OF NAILS

    Once upon a time there was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he should hammer a nail in the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. But gradually, the number of daily nails dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
    Finally the first day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He proudly told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
    "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out, it won't matter how many times you say 'I'm sorry', the wound is still there."

"Tibetans look at a person who holds himself above others, believing he is better than others and knows more, and they say that person is like someone sitting on a mountain top: it is cold there, it is hard, and nothing will grow. But if the person puts himself in a lower position, then that person is like a fertile
field."
Allan Wallace

"If we see pride among people who have no idea about Dharma, it is understandable. However, if afflictive emotions and haughtiness are present among Dharma practitioners, it is great disgrace to practice"
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

"Emotions reflect intentions.
Therefore, awareness of emotions leads to awareness of intentions.
Every discrepancy between a conscious intention and the emotions that accompany it,
points directly to a splintered aspect of the self that requires healing."
Gary Zukav

A Wishing Tree

There is a parable about a poor man walking through the woods reflecting upon his many troubles. He stopped to rest against a tree, a magical tree that would instantly grant the wishes of anyone who came in contact with it. He realized he was thirsty and wished for a drink. Instantly a cup of cool water was in his hand. Shocked, he looked at the water, he decided it was safe and drank it. He then realized he was hungry and wished he had something to eat. A meal appeared before him. "My wishes are being granted," he thought in disbelief. "Well, then I wish for a beautiful home of my own," he said out loud. The home appeared in the meadow before him. A huge smile crossed his face as he wished for servants to take care of the house. When they appeared he realized he had somehow been blessed with an incredible power and he wished for a beautiful, loving, intelligent woman to share his good fortune. "Wait a minute, this is ridiculous," said the man to the woman. "I'm not this lucky. This can't happen to me." As he spoke...everything disappeared. He shook his head and said, "I knew it," then walked away thinking about his many troubles.

Sometimes I thought I know a lot of things about Buddhism and I forget the most basic teachings of Buddhism. Without the constant practice of 8 foldpath you don't truly understand the Dharma. Just like me an ignorant fool that still don't understand the Dharma.

WISDOM
1. Right View         
2. Right Intention
ETHICAL CONDUCT
1. Right Speech
2. Right Action
3. Right Livelihood
4. Right Effort
Mental Development
1. Right Mindfulness
2. Right Concentration

source:
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/intro_bud.htm

[ Last edited by  lyhmsia at 5-8-2006 11:35 AM ]

Buddhism would teach that the enemy and those who harm us can be our best teacher. We can actually benefit now and in the long run by learning to generate sincere feelings of compassion for the perpetrators

The majority of us wait until a war breaks out in order to begin some kind of effort to stop it. Many of us do not know that the roots of war are everywhere, including in our own thinking and way of life. We are not capable of seeing the war while it is still hidden. We begin to focus our attention on the war only when the war breaks out into the open and people start talking about it. Then we feel overwhelmed by the intensity of the war. We feel helpless. We take sides and feel that one is right and other is wrong. We condemn one side, but we have nothing to contribute towards ending the destruction caused by the war.

As a true practitioner, you have to practice looking deeply into the situation to see the war before it starts. You have to begin acting in order to stop the war before it breaks out into the open. With your insight and awareness, you can help other people to wake up and develop the same awareness. Then, together you can act skillfully in order to prevent the war from breaking out into the open....

Violence can never bring about peace and understanding. Only by looking deeply in order to understand the true roots of violence can we achieve peace.

By Thich Nhat Hanh

Monks, as low-down thieves might carve you limb from limb with a double-handed saw, yet even then whoever sets his mind at enmity, he, for this reason, is not a doer of my teaching. This is how you must train yourselves: neither will my mind become perverted, nor will I utter an evil speech, but kindly and compassionate will I dwell, with a mind of friendliness and devoid of hatred.

My interpretation:

Please do excuse me if my opinion of this verse might cause you misunderstanding.

This remind me of what's happening in middle east. Because the Israelis kill the Palestinian, the Palestinian build up this hatred towards the Israelis. Thus, the Palestinian retaliate by killing the Israelis. So, the killing continue forever.

Faith and Optimism: A Story of Kuen Shan Shieh




By Jiun Jiun Suen


The true story of Kuen Shan Shieh is widely known throughout Taiwan. When he was sixteen, he lost both of his arms and his left leg in a work-related accident. Later, he lost his right eye. Just in his daily life, he has had to overcome incredible difficulties that an ordinary person may never even imagine experiencing. Now, he easily takes care of himself and his daily routine. In addition, he also delivers hundreds of speeches a year and writes and paints by using his mouth. Not only have his paintings gained much recognition and appreciation, he even wrote his own autobiography that contains one hundred thousand words (I am Shieh, Kuen Shan)!

I once asked Kuen Shan Shieh this question, "When you were suffering through all this hardship, did you ever think of suicide?" There was no hesitancy in his answer, "No, not at all. I was thinking that life goes on whether or not you carry burdens. So, why not let go of them and march on the path of life? I do not think what I have lost; I only think what I still have! "

On pure faith and optimism, he gratefully moves forward in his life no matter how difficult it might become. Selflessly, he continues to do everything he can to help others and society. Despite his busy schedule, he volunteers at Tzu Chi Hospital at least once per month and shares his time to help the most desperate of people.

One woman, who lost her husband in a gas explosion accident, suffered a severe burn herself, her once beautiful face now twisted and contorted. The woman's heart was breaking because her precious eight-year old daughter was frightened to tears by her own mother's face and feared to approach her.

Kuen Shan Shieh listened to her troubles and said, "You do not treasure yourself." Looking at the woman's puzzled face, Shieh then remarked, "If this accident happened to your daughter, would you be willing to suffer the injury, pain and bitterness for her?" The woman nodded her head vigorously, exclaiming, "I would! I absolutely would!" Shieh replied, "I definitely believe you would. Please look at your mother who is standing behind you." Her mother, who was combing her hair, burst out in tears. "Would your mother not have been willing to suffer the injury, pain and bitterness for you? But, could she? " The mother and the daughter could not help but cry and weep together.

When Kuen Shan saw her again, she had transformed, her face now exuding a beautiful smile and full spirit. Using her beautiful singing voice, she began accompanying Shieh to care for and bring joy to other patients. Kuen Shan Shieh knew that she had finally let go of her unnecessary burdens and understood that what you have will always be more than what you lose!

Whether your destiny is glory or disgrace,
Purify yourself of hatred and love of self.
Polish your mirror; and that sublime Beauty
From the regions of mystery
Will flame out in your heart
As it did for the saints and prophets.
Then, with your heart on fire with that Splendor,
The secret of the Beloved will no longer be hidden.

      Jami, translation by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut - 'Perfume of the Desert'