There was a monk in the Buddha’s time, it is said, who originally came from an extremely wealthy aristocratic family. Because he had lived a very pampered life, he was ignorant about some of the simplest things, which made him the object of much teasing by the other monks. One day they asked him, “Where does rice come from, brother?” He replied, “I

In Syracuse, 2,500 years ago, there was a famous teacher of rhetoric named Corax. This new discipline was in high demand: mastery of persuasive speaking, it was hoped, led to fame and wealth. As the story goes, Corax’s most talented student was Tisias. Corax agreed to teach Tisias with the understanding that the student would pay when he won his fi

Arenius

In the sun-scorched sands of the fifth century Egyptian desert, lived a man named Arenius. Determined to carve a path towards a holy life, he abandoned the bustling streets of Alexandria, its markets filled with trinkets and treasures, for the stark and solemn embrace of the desert. He traded the comfort of silken sheets for a rough straw ma

A story is our only boat, to sail on the river of time.

(Ursula K. Le Guin)

The biggest problem in the world.

There is a story about a young reporter who discovers a Buddhist monk at a train station and decides to interview him. He asks the monk what he thinks is the world's biggest problem: is it global warming, world hunger or corruption? The monk smiles and replies: "Let me ask you something first: who are you?" I'm a re

Two clay pots

A father sends his son to school. After 12years the son comes back and the father asks: "Did they teach you about that which cannot be seen, which cannot be heard and which cannot be known, yet without which nothing can be seen, heard or known?" - "No, what is that?" replies the son. So the father begins teaching:

Do you see these