Wednesday, March 25, 2009
"I am in desperate need of help -- or I'll go crazy. We're living in asingle room -- my wife, my children and my in-laws. So our nerves are onedge, we yell and scream at one another. The room is a hell.""Do you promise to do whatever I tell you?" said the Master gravely."I swear I shall do anything."
"Very well. How many animals do you have?"
"A cow, a goat and six chickens.""Take them all into the room with you. Then come back after a week."
The disciple was appalled. But he had promised to obey! So he took theanimals in. A week later he came back, a pitiable figure, moaning, "I'm anervous wreck. The dirt! The stench! The noise! We're all on the verge ofmadness!""Go back," said the Master, "and put the animals out."
The man ran all the way home. And came back the following day, his eyessparkling with joy. "How sweet life is! The animals are out. The homeis a Paradise, so quiet and clean and roomy!"
Anthony de Mello, SJ
Most of us are just about as happy as we make up our minds to be.
-Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
The disciple couldn't wait to tell the Master the rumor he had heard in themarketplace."Wait a minute," said the Master. "What you plan to tell us, is it true?""I don't think it is.""Is it useful?""No, it isn't.""Is it funny?""No.""Then why should we be hearing it?"
The disciple couldn't wait to tell the Master the rumor he had heard in themarketplace."Wait a minute," said the Master. "What you plan to tell us, is it true?""I don't think it is.""Is it useful?""No, it isn't.""Is it funny?""No.""Then why should we be hearing it?"
Anthony de Mello, SJ
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
--Henry David Thoreau
A gambler once said to the Master, "I wascaught cheating at cards yesterday, so mypartners beat me up and threw me out of thewindow. What would you advise me to do?"The Master looked straight through the manand said, "If I were you, from now on Iwould play on the ground floor."This startled the disciples. "Why didn't youtell him to stop gambling?" they demanded."Because I knew he wouldn't," was the Master'ssimple and sagacious explanation.
A gambler once said to the Master, "I wascaught cheating at cards yesterday, so mypartners beat me up and threw me out of thewindow. What would you advise me to do?"The Master looked straight through the manand said, "If I were you, from now on Iwould play on the ground floor."This startled the disciples. "Why didn't youtell him to stop gambling?" they demanded."Because I knew he wouldn't," was the Master'ssimple and sagacious explanation.
Anthony de Mello, SJ
We hang the petty thieves and appoint thegreat ones to public office.
--Aesop, Greek fabulist
Labels: Character, Experiences of Life, Life Inspirations
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