[Video/Audio for practice will be added soon.]

 

TWO SQUIRRELS

Winter. Snow. Leafless trees.

 

There were two squirrels chasing each other furiously on the top of a large maple tree. They hopped rapidly from branch to branch. One squirrel hopped to a branch, which is rather thin, at the edge of the tree crown. The branch bent down under the weight of the squirrel. As quick as lightning, the other squirrel hopped exactly to where the first one was. However, as it was about to reach the destination, the first squirrel just got back its balance and hopped to another branch. Without the weight of the squirrel anymore, the branch rapidly sprang back to its initial state. The second squirrel missed the target, landed in the air, and fell down the ground from the height of ten meters.

 

Furiousness and aggression sometimes result in tragedy.

 

THE EAGLE AND THE CROW

An eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her talons and flew off back to her nest. A crow saw it, and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was also big and strong enough to do the same thing as the eagle had done. So, with much rustling of feathers and a fierce air push, he came down swiftly on the back of a large sheep. But when he tried to fly up again, he found that he could not get away because his claws were tangled in the wool net on the back of the sheep. It was actually a bird trap. And so far was he from being able to carry the sheep away that the sheep hardly noticed that the crow was there.

 

The shepherd saw the fluttering crow, and at once guessed what had happened. Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its wings. That evening he gave the crow to his children.

 

"What a funny bird this is!" they said laughing, "What do you call it, father?"

 

"That is a crow, my children. But if you ask him, he would say he is an eagle."

 

Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your power. Think twice before attempting what the eagle does if you are not so powerful as the eagle.

 

THE BUFFALO THEORY - GOOD NEWS FOR BOOZERS

A herd of buffalo can move only as fast as the slowest buffalo. When the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

 

In much the same way the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we all know, kills brain cells, but naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.

 

That's why you always feel SMARTER after a few beers, and that's why beer is so good for you! 😀

 

PRIORITIES IN YOUR LIFE

There was once a very wise teacher, whose words of wisdom students would come from far away to hear. One day as usual, many students began to gather in the teaching room. They came in and sat down very quietly, looking to the front with keen anticipation, ready to hear what the teacher had to say.

 

Eventually, the teacher came in and sat down in front of the students. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. On one side of the teacher was a large glass jar. On the other side was a pile of dark grey rocks. Without saying a word, the teacher began to pick up the rocks one by one and place them very carefully in the glass jar. Plonk, plonk, plonk, ... When all the rocks were in the jar, the teacher turned to the students and asked, "Is the jar full?"

 

"Yes," said the students, "Yes, teacher, the jar is full."

 

Without saying a word, the teacher began to drop small round pink pebbles carefully into the large glass jar so that they fell down between the rocks. Click, click, click, ... When all the pebbles were in the jar, the teacher turned to the students and asked, "Is the jar now full?" The students looked at one another and then some of them started nodding and saying, "Yes. Yes, teacher, the jar is now full. Yes."

 

Without saying a word, the teacher took some fine silver sand and let it trickle with a gentle sighing sound into the large glass jar. Whoosh ... It settled around the pink pebbles and the dark grey rocks. When all the sand was in the jar, the teacher turned to the students and asked, "Is the jar now full?"

 

The students were not so confident this time, but the sand had clearly filled all the space in the jar, so a few still nodded and said, "Yes, teacher. The jar is now full. Now it's definitely full."

 

Without saving a word, the teacher took a jug of coffee and poured it carefully, without splashing a drop, into the large glass jar. When the water reached the rim, the teacher turned to the students and asked, "Is the jar now full?" Most of the students were silent, but two or three ventured to answer, "Yes, teacher.The jar is now full. Now, it must be."

 

Without saying a word, the teacher took a handful of sugar and sprinkled it slowly over the top of the water with a very quiet sound. When all the sugar had dissolved into the water, the teacher turned to the students and asked once more, "Is the jar now full?" The students were totally silent. Eventually one brave student said, "Yes, teacher. The jar is now full".

 

"Yes," said the teacher, "The jar is now FULL."

 

"Now," said the Professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The big rocks are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions - things like that. If everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.

 

The sand is the rest - the small stuff in your life. If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the big rocks. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are more important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Don't worry too much about the small stuff. There will always be time to clean the house, or fix the garbage. Take care of the big rocks first, the things that really matter in your life. Set your priorities. The rest is nothing but just sand."

 

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the coffee represented. The Professor smiled, "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that, no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for some coffee with your friends or the ones you love."

 

SCRATCH MY BACK AND I'LL SCRATCH YOURS

A woman who had worked all her life to bring about good things was granted one wish. "Before I die, let me visit both hell and heaven." Her wish was granted.

 

She was escorted off to a great banqueting hall. The tables were piled with delicious food and drink. Around the tables sat miserable, starving people as wretched as could be. "Why are they like this?" she asked the angel who accompanied her. "Look at their arms," the angel replied.

 

She looked and saw that attached to the people's arms were very long chopsticks tied up above the elbow, so that they could not bend their arms. Unable to bend their arms, those people picked up the food but could not reach their mouths. That was why they sat there hungry, frustrated and miserable. The woman exclaimed, "Indeed, this is hell. Take me away from here, please!"

 

She was then taken to heaven. Again, she found herself in a great banqueting hall with tables piled with lots of food and drinks. Around the tables sat people laughing in joy and satisfaction.

 

"No chopsticks I suppose," she said.

 

"Oh yes, there are. Look! Just as in hell, they could not bend their arms either. However, the people here have learned to feed one another."

 

A TURN OF THE SCREW DRIVER

There once was a factory owner, whose production line inexplicably broke down costing him millions of dollars per day.

 

He tried to look for help, and finally tracked down an expert who took out a screwdriver, turned one screw, and then as the factory cranked back to life, presented the factory owner with a bill for $10,000.

 

Affronted, the factory owner demanded a detailed version of the bill. The expert was more than happy to oblige:

 

- Turning a screw: $1

- Knowing which screw to turn: $9,999

 

Study hard and be able to spot the right screw!

 

HOW TO BE HAPPY

There was an old man who lived in that small village. He always thought he was one of the most unfortunate and unhappy people in the world. The whole village got bored of him because all what he did was complaining about life and his bad luck. Moreover, he was constantly in a bad mood and felt miserable for himself all the time, and hence he got frustrated by every single thing happening around him. Day by day, his misfortune became contagious because people also had a feeling of unhappiness and sadness when being near him. As a result, people started to avoid him.

 

But one day, when he turned eighty years old, an incredible thing happened to him. Words spread throughout the village:

 

"The old man is happy today! He doesn't complain or feel bad anymore. His face is so brightened!"

 

The whole village gathered in his house. The old man was asked, "What's happened to you?"

 

"Nothing special," he answered, "For the last eighty years, I've been chasing happiness. I got frustrated all the time. I couldn't have peace. It was hopeless. So, from now on, I've decided to live without happiness and just enjoy life. I stop complaining. That's why I'm HAPPY now."

 

CHASING HAPPINESS

When an old dog saw a little puppy chasing its tail around, he asked:

 

"Why are you chasing your tail that way?

 

"I have studied philosophy and solved the problem of the universe, which no other dog before me had ever solved," the puppy answered, "and I have found out that the best thing for a dog in life is happiness, and that my happiness is nowhere but in my tail. That is why I am chasing it, and when I catch it, I will reach happiness."

 

"Son," the old dog said, "in my young days, I was also interested in the question of the universe, and I have also understood that happiness is in the tail. In the beginning, I was also chasing it. But later, I noticed that no matter where I went, no matter what I did, the tail was following behind me. And then I understood that I didn’t have to chase it."

 

HOW THINGS CHANGE

Once there was a blind girl who was filled with animosity towards the world. She didn't have many friends, just a boyfriend who loved her deeply, like no one else. She always used to say that she would marry him if she could ever see him.

 

Suddenly, one day someone donated her a pair of eyes. And that was when she could finally see her boyfriend. She was so surprised to see that her boyfriend was blind, too.

 

He told her, "You can see me now, so what about your promise? Can we get married?"

 

She replied, "Get married and do what after that? We would never be happy this way. I have my eye sight  now, but you still don't. What can you do for my life? It won't work out that way. Honey, I love you, but ... I'm sorry."

 

He was so devastated to let her go.

 

...

 

Many years later, he became an old man and was dying, but before his death, he still managed to send her the last postcard ever in his life with the following words:

 

"Honey, I understand your words. I love you more than anyone could ever love. I've never felt about anyone the way I was feeling about you. I just want you to always be happy whatsoever. So, just take care of yourself ... and my eyes."

 

EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT

Mark was in his first month in college. The Professor gave Mark's class a pop quiz. He was a conscientious student and breezed through the questions until he read the last one, "What is the first name of the lady who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. He had seen the cleaning lady several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 20's, but how would he know her name? He handed in his paper, leaving the last question blank.

 

Just before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward the quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the Professor, "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They each deserves your attention and care, even if all you do is just smile and say 'hello.'"

 

THE LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK

 

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches.

 

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

 

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'.

 

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

 

THE FROGS AND THE RACE UP THE TOWER

Once there were a bunch of tiny frogs who held a racing competition in a small village. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.

 

The race began. Honestly, no one in the crowd really believed those tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You would here statements from the crowd such as:

 

"Oh, way too difficult!"

"They will never make it to the top."

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

 

The tiny frogs began collapsing one by one, except for those who were in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher.

 

The crowd continued to yell louder.

"It is too difficult! No one will make it!"

 

Then, more tiny frogs got tired and gave up. But there was one who continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn't give up.

 

Finally, all the frogs had given up climbing the tower, except for the one tiny frog who, after a great effort, was the only one that reached the top and became the winner of the race.

 

The winner was interviewed by the other frogs about how he had made it.

 

Surprisingly,  they found that the winner was actually DEAF.

 

SHAKE IT OFF AND TAKE A STEP UP

A parable was told of a farmer who had an old donkey. One day the donkey fell down into a well that the farmer had accidentally left uncovered. The farmer tried to figure out what to do while hearing the donkey ‘braying’ for hours down there. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer felt sorry for the donkey, but decided that the animal was actually old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, so it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. Instead, he called all his neighbors to come over and help him. He asked them to help haul dirt into the well to bury the old donkey in order to put him out of his misery.

 

At first, the old donkey was so hysterical. He realized what was happening and cried horribly. But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a magical thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he should shake it off and take a step up. This was all what the old donkey did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and take a step up … shake it off and take a step up … shake it off and take a step up!” he repeated to encourage himself.

 

No matter how painful the blows were, or distressing the situation appeared, the old donkey was fighting against panic and just kept right on shaking it off and taking a step up. You guessed it, right? It wasn’t long before the old donkey, battered and exhausted, stepped happily over the edge of that well. What seemed like it would bury him, actually ended up blessing him. All because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

 

Life is  shoveling dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up. Shake it off and take a step up!

 

THIS IS GOOD

Once there was a King in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life, either positive or negative, and made a remark, “This is good!”

 

One day the King and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the King. The friend had obviously made a mistake in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the King made a shot, and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend made a remark as usual, “This is good!” to which the King replied, “No, this is not good!” and sent his friend to jail.

 

About a year later, the King was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to it. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the King was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So, they untied the King and sent him on his way back home.

 

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt sorry for his bad treatment of his friend. He immediately went to the jail to speak with his friend. “You were right,” he said, “it was good that my thumb was blown off. It saved my life.” And he started to tell the friend all that had just happened. “And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.”

 

“No,” his friend replied, “This is good!”

 

“What do you mean ‘This is good!’? How could it be good that I sent my best friend to jail for saving my life?”

 

“If you hadn’t sent me to jail, I would have been with you.”

 

Always look on the bright side. Everything happens for a reason.

It doesn’t always have to be a bad one.

 

TWO FROGS IN A VAT OF MILK

This is the story about the two frogs, one large and one smaller. One day, while searching for food, they accidentally jumped into a vat of milk. They couldn't get out, as the sides of the vat were too slippery, so they were just swimming around and around.

 

The larger frog said to the smaller one, "Hey brother, there's no use paddling any longer. We're just going to drown, so we might as well give up."

 

The smaller frog replied, "Hold on brother, keep paddling. Somebody will get us out."

 

And so, they continued paddling for hours.

 

After a while, the larger frog said, "Hey bro, there's definitely no use. I'm getting very tired now. I'm just going to stop paddling and drown. It's Sunday, you know,  and nobody's working. We're doomed. There's no possible way out of here."

 

But the smaller frog said, "Keep trying. Keep paddling. Something will happen. Keep paddling."

 

Another couple of hours passed.

 

The larger frog said, "I can't go on any longer. There's no sense in doing it because we're going to drown anyway. What's the use?" And the larger frog stopped. He gave up. And he drowned in the milk. But the smaller frog kept on paddling.

 

Ten minutes later, the smaller frog felt something solid beneath his feet. It turned out that he had churned the milk into butter, and hopped out of the vat.

 

Never give up!

 

PEACE OF MIND

Once, Buddha was walking from one town to another with a few of his followers. This was in the early days when He started his preaching. While they were traveling, the group happened to pass a lake. They stopped there, and Buddha told one of his disciples, “I am thirsty. Please go get me some water from the lake over there.”

 

The disciple obediently walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water and, right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy and very turbid. The disciple thought, “How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!” So he came back and told Buddha, “The water in the lake is very muddy. I don't think it is good to drink.”

 

After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake, and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time he found that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked so fit to drink. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

 

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, “See what you did to make the water clean? You let it be, and the mud settled down on its own, and as a result, you got clear water. Similar is your mind. When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless.”

 

Having 'peace of mind' is not a strenuous job; it is an effortless process. When there is peace inside you, that peace permeates to the outside. It spreads around you and in the environment, such that people around start feeling that peace and grace.