AWESOMENESS in the HOUSE!
the era of awesomeness has begun.Paulo Coelho short stories Part 1
Deryk tagged me in a note on Facebook, and that note tells a story about the wrong side of the bread, a short story in one of Paulo Coelho's books. (If you don't know him, click the link for details. :P) So I searched for more of his short stories, and I found great inspiration. Here are some of my favorites . . . so far:
Trying to cheat destiny
On his way to Galicia during the religious wars that ended with the Spanish expelling the Arabs from the Iberian Peninsula, the Emperor Charlemagne's troops face a traitor. Before the battle, he prayed to Santiago, who revealed to him the names of the 140 soldiers who would die in the fight. Charlemagne left these men in the camp, and went to fight.
Later that afternoon, victorious and without a single casualty in his army, he returned to discover that the camp had been set on fire and 140 men were dead.
Beggar and the Guru
A baker wanted to get to know a great guru in his town a little better, so he invited him to dinner. The day before, the guru went to the bakery disguised as a beggar, picked a bread roll off the display and began to eat it. The baker saw this and tossed him out onto the street.
The following day, the guru and a disciple went to the baker's house and were treated to a splendid banquet.
In the middle of the meal, the disciple asked, "How does one tell a good man from a bad man?"
"Just look at this baker. He is capable of spending ten gold pieces on a banquet because I am famous, but is incapable of giving a piece of bread to feed a hungry beggar."
Beggar and the Monk
A monk was meditating in the desert when a beggar came up to him and said:
"I need to eat."
The monk, who was almost reaching the point of perfect harmony with the spiritual world, did not answer.
"I need to eat, insisted the beggar."
"Go to the town and ask someone else. Can't you see that you are bothering me? I am trying to communicate with the angels."
"God placed himself lower than men, washed their feet, gave His life, and no one recognized Him," the beggar replied. "He who says he loves God, who does not see and forgets his brother - who does, is lying."
And the beggar turned into an angel.
"What a pity, you almost made it," he remarked before leaving.
Children and Prayers
A Protestant priest, having started a family, no longer had any peace for his prayers. One night, when he knelt down, he was disturbed by the children in the living room.
"Have the children keep quiet!" he shouted.
His startled wife obeyed. Thereafter, whenever the priest came home, they all maintained silence during prayers. But he realized that God was no longer listening.
One night, during his prayers, he asked the Lord: "What is going on? I have the necessary peace, and I cannot pray!"
An angel replied: "He hears words, but no longer hears the laughter. He notices the devotion, but can no longer see the joy."
The priest stood and shouted once again to his wife: "Have the children play! They are part of prayer!"
And his words were heard by God once again.
Choosing One's Destiny
"I am willing to give up everything," said the prince to the master. "Please accept me as your disciple."
"How does a man choose his path?" asked the master.
"Through sacrifice," answered the prince. "A path which demands sacrifice, is a true path."
The master bumped into some shelves. A precious vase fell, and the prince threw himself down in order to grab hold of it. He fell badly and broke his arm, but managed to save the vase.
"What is the greater sacrifice: to watch the vase smash, or break one's arm in order to save it?" asked the master.
"I do not know," said the prince.
"Then how can you guide your choice for sacrifice? The true path is chosen by our ability to love it, not to suffer for it."
Condemning One's Brother
Abbot Isaac of Thebes was in the patio of the monastery praying when he saw one of the monks commit a sin. Furious, he interrupted his prayers and condemned the sinner.
That night he was prevented from returning to his cell by an angel who said to him: "You condemned your brother, but you did not say what punishment we should inflict: the pains of hell? Some terrible disease in this life? Some torment in his family?"
Isaac knelt down and asked for pardon: "I tossed the words in the air, and an angel heard them. I sinned by being irresponsible for what I said. Forget my ire, Lord, and make me take greater care in judging my neighbor."
Covering the sun with one's hand
A disciple went to Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav:
"I shall not continue with my studies of sacred texts," he said. "I live in a small house with my brothers and parents, and never have the ideal conditions for concentrating on that which is important."
Nachman pointed to the sun and asked his disciple to place his hand over his face, in order to hide it. The disciple obeyed.
"Your hand is small, yet it can completely cover the power, light and majesty of the great sun. In the same way, the small problems manage to give you the excuse you need in order to hinder your progress along your spiritual journey."
Just as your hand has the power to hide the sun, mediocrity has the power to hide your inner light. Do not blame others for your own incompetence.
Crowns on the Torah
When Moses ascended to Heaven to write a certain part of the Bible, the Almighty asked him to place small crowns on some letters of the Torah. Moses said: "Master of the Universe, why draw these crowns?" God answered: "Because one hundred generations from now a man named Akiva will interpret them."
"Show me this man's interpretation," asked Moses.
The Lord took him to the future and put him in one of Rabbi Akiva's classes. One pupil asked: "Rabbi, why are these crowns drawn on top of some letters?"
"I don't know," replied Akiva. "And I am sure that not even Moses knew. He only did this to teach us that even without understanding everything the Lord does, we can trust in his wisdom."
----------------------------------------------
Yes Lord, I trust in your wisdom :) One year ago, I did not see myself as who I am today, but still, I thank you. I trust that now is just not my time.
Labels: inspiration
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
4:07 AMProfile
This picture isn't mine. Credits to the owner :) I like it so I'm keeping it. HAHA.
My name is Denise Soriano. IV-Chofu, ESC Committee Head on Discipline, Managing Editor (Administrative) of Echoes, YES member and PSYSC affiliate. Weeeee!
You alone should define who you are. Don't let anyone tell you who you should be or what you should do when you what's best for you.
That's about it, I guess. for now. :)
Archives
Awesome alternatives!
Michelle
Kuya Ramon
Tissue
Kyla
Jessa
Kuya Neo
Crizelle
Jonina
e-Catalyst
Kuya Kev
Raina Hein
Joanna
Christine
Ate Dawn
Margie
Ate Dawn
Phil Wang (WFP)
Am I right or am I right? |
Answer the poll! |
The Bright Side |
Another Friday, another success :) |
Thank You talaga. |
Green Lantern |
Update x] |
Great things come in small packages :) |
The Perks of Being a Legal Adult |
He was too young. |
December 2009 |
January 2010 |
February 2010 |
March 2010 |
April 2010 |
May 2010 |
June 2010 |
July 2010 |
August 2010 |
September 2010 |
October 2010 |
November 2010 |
December 2010 |
January 2011 |
February 2011 |
March 2011 |
April 2011 |
May 2011 |
June 2011 |
July 2011 |
August 2011 |
September 2011 |
October 2011 |
November 2011 |
December 2011 |
January 2012 |
--- DENISE =) ---
