Once upon a time, there was a man who came to Buddha and asked him, "I want happiness." Buddha replied, "First, remove 'I' - that's ego. Then remove 'want' - that's desire. Now all you are left with is happiness."
The message of this story is that our ego and desires can prevent us from experiencing true happiness. By letting go of these things and embracing the present moment, we can find peace and contentment.
Mindfulness Story:
aOnce there was a farmer who had a beautiful horse. One day, the horse ran away, and the farmer's neighbors came to offer their condolences. "What a misfortune!" they said.
The farmer replied, "Maybe."
A few days later, the horse returned with several wild horses. The neighbors came to congratulate the farmer. "What a stroke of luck!" they said.
The farmer replied, "Maybe."
The following day, the farmer's son tried to ride one of the wild horses and was thrown off, breaking his leg. The neighbors came to offer their sympathies. "What a tragedy!" they said.
The farmer replied, "Maybe."
A few days later, soldiers came to the village to conscript young men into the army. Seeing the farmer's son with a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors came to congratulate the farmer. "What a stroke of luck!" they said.
The farmer replied, "Maybe."
The message of this story is that we can never be certain about the outcome of events in our lives. We can choose to worry about things that might happen or reflect on things that have happened, but it's ultimately our attitude towards life that will determine our happiness. Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and accepting what is, without judgment or attachment. By adopting this approach, we can cultivate a sense of inner peace and contentment.
Good lesson of the Short Buddha Story:
The Short Buddha Story highlights several important "gunas" or qualities that are important in Buddhism, such as:
- Non-attachment - Buddha encourages the man to remove his desire, which is a form of attachment. Non-attachment is a key aspect of Buddhism, as it helps us avoid suffering caused by clinging to things that are impermanent.
- Egolessness - Buddha also advises the man to remove the "I" from his statement, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the illusion of a separate self. The ego is seen as a source of suffering, as it creates a sense of separation and attachment to one's identity."
- Mindfulness - The message of the story encourages us to be present in the moment, without worrying about the past or the future. Mindfulness is a core practice in Buddhism, as it helps us cultivate awareness and presence.
Step by step explanation of the Mindfulness Story:
- The farmer's horse runs away, which could be seen as a negative event. However, the farmer doesn't react emotionally or attach a particular meaning to it.
- When the neighbors offer their condolences, the farmer responds with "maybe," indicating a lack of judgment or attachment to the situation.
- When the horse returns with several wild horses, the neighbors offer their congratulations. Again, the farmer responds with "maybe," indicating that he doesn't see the situation as either positive or negative.
- When the farmer's son breaks his leg while trying to ride one of the wild horses, the neighbors offer their sympathies. Once again, the farmer responds with "maybe," indicating that he doesn't attach a particular meaning or emotion to the situation.
- Finally, when the soldiers come to the village to conscript young men,