JuneChasingMoons

A Little Pea The King of Benares was out on a hunting trip with his wise counsellor.  They stopped to feed their horses some peas.  Suddenly a young monkey darted down a tree and scooped a huge handful of peas out of the feeding trough. Halfway back up the tree one pea fell from the monkey's furry hands and, in a desperate attempt to catch it, the monkey dropped all the peas he was carrying. Peas scattered on the ground and the horses ate them.  The monkey climbed back up the tree empty-handed and sat sadly on a branch.  The King and his wise counsellor watched this episode with amusement.  The counsellor chuckled, "Great King, when far too greedy you be, remember that monkey and the pea."

A Red Rose A young man stopped at a flower shop considering ordering some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived about 100 miles away. He had not seen her for some time so thought it was time to send some flowers.  As he got out of the car, he noticed a young girl sitting at the side of the road. He recognised her as the girl who stayed close to where he lived. He had spoken to her before and always found her a cheerful girl, but she was sitting in tears.  He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother But I do  not have enough money to but the rose I thought my mother would like and I so wanted to buy it today." The young man smiled and said, " Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose." He bought her the rose and ordered a similar bunch of roses to be sent to his own mother. As they were leaving the shop, he offered the girl a ride home in his car. Knowing who he was she said that she would ...

A Little Advice A young man was on the bus travelling from Dunfermline to Dundee.   A man of Arabic appearance got off the bus and the young man noticed that he had left his bag behind.  He grabbed the bag and ran after him, caught up with him just outside the bus station and handed him back his bag. The man was extremely grateful and reached into his bag which appeared to contain large bundles of banknotes.  He offered the young man a reward, but he refused. The Arabic man looked around, made sure nobody was looking and whispered to the young man, "I can never repay your kindness, Sir, but I will try to leave you with a word of advice. Stay away from Dunfermline Steak Houses." The young man was terrified. "Is there going to be an attack?" he whispered. "No." the man whispered back "The food is terrible and the dessert selection extremely limited."  Never jump to judgement because of a personal appearance.  

I Lost Two Pounds Once a married couple while visiting their friends were taken to a day at the races. They found the whole experience an amazing day out. They had a few bets on the various races and lost some of the little money they had, leaving him only two pounds in his pocket. Next day the husband said that he would go to the races alone. In the first race, he put two pounds on the outsider, and the horse came first. He put all his winnings on the next race and won again. That day, he was very lucky; by the end of his day, he had won about £1000. On the way home, he saw a casino. The inner voice, the one he had been listening to all day as he wondered what horse to gamble said to him, " Come in and play."  He entered the casino where he saw people playing all sorts of gambling games. he went to the roulette table and placed some money on number 13. When the roulette stopped, the dealer announced: "Number 14." He gambled a few more t...

Do Not Get Angry A man was publicly offending Omar Chajam: "You’re an atheist! You’re drinker! Almost a thief!" said the man to Omar. Omar just smiled in response. A dandy dressed in the silk trousers watching the scene asked Omar, "How can you tolerate such offences? Don’t you feel hurt?" Omar smiled again and said,” Come with me." The dandy followed him to the dusty lumber-room. Omar lit a light and began rummaging in the trunk, where he found a completely worthless tattered robe. He threw it to dandy and said, "Try it, it will match you." The dandy took the robe, looked at it and was full of anger.  " Why do you give me these dirty rags. I am well dressed, and you must be crazy!  He threw the robe back at Omar. "You see," Omar said,” you did not want to try my rags. Similarly, I did not want to try those dirty words that man threw me.   To be aggrieved by offences means to try on rags someone throws us. ...

Anger and the Buddha One day Buddha was walking with his students through a village, where the opponents of Buddhism lived. The people of the village surrounded Buddha and his students and started insulting them.  In response, the students got angry and wanted to retort, but the presence of Buddha calmed them down. The words of Buddha confused not only the students but also the villagers. He turned to his students and said: "You disappointed me. These people are doing their thing. They are angry. They think that I am an enemy of their religion and their moral belief. These people are insulting me and it’s obvious. But why are you angry? Why did you let these people manipulate you? Now you depend on them, therefore you’re not free." The people from the village were completely confused and asked: "But we were insulting you, why aren’t you mad at us?" Buddha smiled: "You are free people, and what you did, is your business. I am also a ...

The Examination Prior to the examination, the professor gave some instructions where had stated that at the end of the examination each student was to sign a form stating that they had received no external assistance.  No bits of paper or notes had been brought into the examination.  One student, unsure whether he should sign the form stated to the professor he had prayed to god for assistance.  The professor took the examination paper from the student and studied briefly his answers.  He then turned to the student and said, "You can sign it with a clear conscience. God did not assist you with this examination."

A Little Prod A minister was desperately trying to get his congregation to give some serious consideration to their actions.  At the end of his Sunday service, he told them that the next Sunday he was going to be preaching on the topic of telling lies.  He then told them that he would like them to do some preparatory work. He asked them to read chapter seventeen of St Marks gospel.  The following Sunday before beginning to preach his sermon he asked the congregation to raise their hands if they had done as he had requested and read the seventeenth chapter. Almost ninety per cent of the hands went up saying that they had done as asked.  The minister looked around the congregation and said, " Now that is really something very special." There were warm smiles all around the church. He then went on, "It is amazing that so many of you did that considering there are only sixteen chapters in Marks gospel."  The truth will find you out.

Potato Planting Some things from youth continue with you to old age. I can still remember the potato planting days.   After my Dad had tilled the soil, we went to work. It was my job to drop the little seed potatoes in the rows along with handfuls of manure. My father then covered them all with the freshly turned earth and built the mounds in which the potatoes would grow. For months afterwards, I would glance over at the garden while I played outside and wonder what was going on underneath the ground. When harvest time came, I was amazed at the huge size of the potatoes my Dad pulled out of the soil. Those little seedlings had grown into bushels and bushels of sweet sustenance. They would be turned into meal after meal of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fried potatoes.  They would keep the entire family well fed throughout the whole year. It truly was a miracle to behold. Thinking back on those special times makes me wonder how many other seeds I have planted in...

Little Acts Large Results Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a table tennis bat, and a small tape recorder. He knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden.  As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, table tennis and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend. They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke.  The also decided to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home.  They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both moved on from to school to university. They ended up...

The Candle A group of friends were having they're weekly get together, after some discussion, Mula had with his friends had a wager  that he could survive a night on an icy mountain with nothing to warm him.  Taking only a book and a candle for some light, he sat through the frigid night. When he came down to claim his winnings, his friends asked, "Did you take anything up there with you to keep warm?" "No," said Mula, "just a small candle to read by." "Aha!" they exclaimed, "Then you lose!" A week later he invited these same friends to a feast.  They waited and waited for food. "Dinner's not ready," said Mula, "Come and see why!" In the kitchen, they saw a huge pot of water under which a small candle was burning.  Tula said, "Does this remind you of our bet?  I've been trying to heat this pot of water over this candle since yesterday and it's not warm yet!...

Wasting Time A scholar asked a boatman to row him across the river.  The journey was long and slow.  The scholar began to become bored; the journey was taking so long.  "Boatman," he said, "let's have a conversation." Suggesting a topic of special interest to himself, he asked, "Have you ever studied phonetics or grammar?" "No," said the boatman, "I've no use for those tools." "Too bad," said the scholar, "You've wasted half your life. It's useful to know the rules so that you can speak wise words correctly." Later, as the rickety boat crashed into a rock in the middle of the river, the boatman turned to the scholar and said, "Pardon my humble mind that to you must seem dim, but, wise man, tell me, have you ever learned to swim?" "No," said the scholar, "I've never learned. I've immersed myself in thinking, and wisdom." ...

Acting Like a Dog When loved ones come home, always run to greet them, and show you are happy to see them. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride or a walk. It is a good way of sharing. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face, to be pure ecstasy.   When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience, but not in a subservient way. Take naps and stretch before rising   run romp and play daily, do not take life too seriously Thrive on attention and let people touch you.   Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do. In other words, keep your temper under control. On warm days stop to lie on your back on the grass.   On hot days drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree. Life is too short to always be about things so make time to just be. When your happy dance around and do not be afraid to show that you are.   No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout,...

The Famous Preacher A very well-known preacher was visiting a small town as a visiting minister. it was in the times when email was just across the horizon and sending letters was still one of the main means of communication.  The preacher had a letter that he wanted to send but did not know where the nearest post office or post box was. He asked a young boy if he could give him directions to the post office showing him the letter.  The young lad very politely gave him directions.  The preacher thanked him and said, "If you come to the Baptist Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven." The boy thought for a moment looking at the preacher with an earnest look he said. " I don't think I'll be there. You don't even know your way to the post office never mind heaven." Deep thinking begins at an early age it seems.

The Minister's Son There is little doubt that young people can make you see life as it is and not exactly how you thought you were showing it to be. Here is a very short but meaningful episode from my own life. The son of the minister one morning just before Sunday service asked his father. "Dad, I notice every Sunday morning when you climb into the pulpit to give your sermon, you bow your head for a moment."  "What are you doing?" The minister smiled and answered, "I am asking God to give me a good sermon." The minister's sons face grew very serious, "Then why doesn't he?"  It is worth the time and effort to every now and again stop and think about how we portray ourselves to others. T 

What Am I? It made me think and so I give you this little tester this morning.  The question I am asking you is simple, "What Am I?" I am seldom considered, though I do more to influence everything about you than virtually any one thing in your life.   I often control the time you get up in the morning, the time you go to sleep, what you eat and drink and the very thought that runs through your head.   I can make you either happy or sad, loving or hateful, cheerful or remorseful, congenial or spiteful and in doing so, control the very capacity that you have for success. No, you don’t often think of me instead you BLAME the problem I create on the shortcoming of others, or the state of the economy, or your family or a million other reasons.   Often at times unable to find anyone else to BLAME you look for shortcomings within yourself on which to lay the BLAME. When my impact on your life fully is considered in your every thought and a...

The Bag of Buns A woman was waiting for her flight at the airport. She bought a bag of her  favourite buns , found a place to sit and took out her book. She started to read and suddenly noticed that a man, sitting beside her, grabbed a bun from her bag. She thought she would just ignore it. She sat and read reaching out now and then to have another of the little buns and at the same time watched how shameless bun thief was diminishing her stocks. She thought to herself, "If I was not such a nice person, I would blacken his eye." When only one bun was left, she looked with interest and wondered what he would do. He smiled, took the last bun and broke it in half. She thought, "This man is so rude, he did not even show any gratitude!” Just at that moment, the boarding of her flight was called, the woman gathered her baggage and headed to the gate. She took her seat on the plane and started to look for her book, which was almost complete. As she ...

In the Beginning In the creation story, each day of creation ends with the words,  And God looked down and saw that it was good. So here are the bits you never hear. In His wisdom, God decreed that seniors become forgetful so they would have to search for their glasses, keys and other things thus doing more walking. And God looked down and saw that it was good Then God saw there was another need. In His wisdom He made seniors lose coordination so they would drop things requiring them to bend, reach & stretch. And God looked down and saw that it was good. Then God considered the function of bladders and decided seniors would have additional calls of nature requiring more trips to the bathroom, thus providing more exercise. God looked down and saw that it was good. So if you find as you age that you are getting up and down more, remember it's the way of nature.  It is all in your best interest even though you mutter under your breath.

The Train Journey A 24-year-old boy was travelling on a train with his father,  seeing out from the train’s window he shouted… “Dad, look the trees are going behind!”  The father smiled.  A young couple sitting nearby looked at the 24-year old’s childish behaviour with pity.  Suddenly he again exclaimed,  “Dad, look the clouds are running with us!” The young couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man,  “Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor? ”They were wondering why this old man was doing nothing about the boy's excited behaviour. The old man smiled and said,  “I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes a few weeks ago and this is his first journey on a train since his operation. Every single person on the planet has a story.  We should not judge people before you truly know them. 

The Clever Monk Once there was a monk who was an expert on the Diamond Sutra, and as books were very valuable in his day, he carried the only copy in his part of the world on his back.  He was widely sought after for his readings and insight into the Diamond Sutra, and very successful at propounding its teachings to not only monks and masters but to the lay people as well.     One day as the monk was travelling on a mountain road, he came upon an old woman selling tea and cakes.  The hungry monk would have loved to refresh himself, but alas, he had no money. He told the old woman, "I have upon my back a treasure beyond knowing -- the Diamond Sutra. If you will give me some tea and cakes, I will tell you of this great treasure of knowledge." The old woman already knew something of the Diamond Sutra herself and proposed her own bargain. She said, "Oh learned monk, if you will answer a simple question, I will give you tea and cakes." To this, the monk re...

The Biggest Cabbage Jim and Iain were the best of friends. They were in the same class at school and went to the same cub pack of an evening.  One day they were passing the greengrocer shop. In the window was a huge cabbage, it was the biggest in the shop, they had never seen such a large cabbage before.  Without any real thought, Jim boasted to Iain. "Jim, I saw a cabbage much bigger than that last year when I went to my grandmother's place. It was in my grandmothers garden, it was huge." Iain replied politely, "Oh wow! That cabbage must have been so big. You know what, my grandfather made a huge pot once bigger than my house." Confused Jim turned and asked Iain, "Why did your grandfather make such a huge big pot?" "I often wondered about that. But I suppose he made it cook your grandmothers cabbage." Immediately Jim realised his mistake and felt ashamed. From then on, the friendship of those two boys is in stren...

Think First Speak Later One beautiful sunny day a young Buddhist monk decided to take the benefit of the day's sun. He decided to have a meditative walk on his own pondering his thoughts.  As he wandered, he came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle he could see no way across, so he pondered how to cross such a wide barrier and to proceed on his journey.  Have sat and mused for some time he was about to give up and about turn. It was just at that moment that he noticed a well-known teacher on the other bank. The young Buddhist yelled over to the master, "Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river?" The teacher stopped and pondered for a moment. he looks up and down the river and shouts back, "My son, you are on the other side." Now had he thought for a moment longer and pondered his question he might have asked it another way so he may have said something other than he did.

Making Changes The great Zen teacher, Benzei had many pupils. One day, one of them was caught stealing by his fellow-students and they reported him to Benzei.  But he took no action against the boy. A few days later the same boy was again caught stealing.  And again, Benzei did nothing. This angered the other students who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief. They threatened to leave en masse if the boy was allowed to stay. The teacher called a meeting of the students. When they had assembled, he said to them:  “You are good boys who know what is right and what is wrong. If you leave you will have no trouble in joining some other school. But what about your brother who does not even know the difference between right and wrong? Who will teach him if I don’t? No, I cannot ask him to go even if it means losing all of you." Tears coursed down the cheeks of the boy who had stolen.  He never stole again and in later life became r...