The Wisdom Stories

When he was asked which was the right way, the path of sorrow or the path of joy, the rabbi of Berdichev said: “There are two kinds of sorrow and two kinds of joy. When a person broods over the misfortunes that have come upon him, when he cowers in a corner and despairs of help—that is a bad kind of sorrow, concerning which it is said, “The Divine Presence does not dwell in a place of dejection.” The other kind is the honest grief of a person who knows what he lacks. The same is true of joy. He who is devoid of inner substance and, in the midst of empty pleasures, does not feel it, nor tries to fill his lack, is a fool. But he who is truly joyful is like a person whose house has burned down, who feels his need deep in his soul and begins to build anew. Over every stone that is laid, his heart rejoices.”

— Pema Chödron

Chassid story in progress.

From "Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart" by Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield.

Buddha decided to teach Monkey King a lesson. Buddha made a wager with Monkey, betting him that he could not jump out of Buddha's hand. If Monkey King won the bet, he would get the Jade Emperor's job. If he lost, he would be banished to Earth for centuries to learn humility. Monkey agreed to the bet. He immediately flew through the clouds at a terrific speed to the end of the universe, where he saw five pink pillars. These he took to be the end of the world. On the middle pillar he wrote "The Great Sage Equal of Heaven reached this place", to prove beyond any doubt he had reached this spot. To drive home the point, he also peed at the base of the first pillar. Then he returned to the Buddha, and told him of his accomplishment. To Monkey’s shock, the Buddha informed him he had never left Buddha's hand after all. To prove it, Buddha showed Monkey the writing on his middle finger. Then he made Monkey smell the bottom of his smallest finger and smell his own urine. Monkey tried to renege on the bet, but before he could escape, Buddha pushed him out of the Gate of Heaven. Buddha then changed his five fingers into the five elements –metal, wood, water, fire and earth. These became a five-peaked mountain, and under it Monkey was trapped, leaving only his head and hands exposed. Monkey King was obliged to remain trapped under the mountain for 500 years to learn humility. Buddhist

About a century ago, the enlightened vagabond and Tibetan Yogi Patrul Rinpoche was wandering as an anonymous beggar when he heard about a renowned hermit who had long lived in solitary seclusion. Patrul Rinpoche went to visit him, suddenly entering unannounced into the monk's dim cave, and peered about with a wry grin on his weathered face. "Where have you come from,” asked the hermit, “and where are you going?" “I came from behind my back, and am going in the direction I am facing," replied Patrul. The hermit was nonplussed, but continued, "Where were you born?" "On earth," was the reply. By that time the hermit was becoming agitated. "What is your name?” the hermit demanded. "Yogi Beyond Action,” replied the unexpected guest. Patrul Rinpoche then inquired as to why he had come to live in such a wild and remote part of the country. This was the question the hermit was prepared to answer. "I have been here for twenty years in meditation. At this time l am working on the Perfection of Patience.” All this was said not without a touch of pride. "That's a good one!" said the anonymous visitor. Then, leaning forward as if confiding something to him, Patrul whispered into his ear: “A couple of old frauds like us could never manage anything like that!" The angry hermit rose abruptly from his seat. "You’re a liar!" he exploded. "Who do you think you are? Why did you come here? Leave me to meditate in peace!" “And now, dear friend," said Patrul Rinpoche calmly, "where is your perfect patience?” Buddhist