“Rabbi Ben Zoma was asked: “Who is wise?” “He who always finds something to learn from others,” said the Rabbi. “Who is strong?” “The man who is capable of dominating himself,” responded the Rabbi. “Who is wealthy?” “He who knows…
“As soon as he dies, Juan found himself in a very beautiful place surrounded by all the comforts and beauty he had ever dreamed of. Someone dressed in white came up to him: “You are entitled to whatever you wish:…
“A violent samurai who was known for picking fights for no reason at all arrived at the door of a Zen monastery and asked to speak to the master. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ryokan came out to meet him. “They…
“A powerful monarch called a holy father – everyone said he had healing powers – to help him with his back ache. “God will help us,” said the holy man. “But first let us understand the reason for these pains.…
“A sultan decided to travel by sea with some of his favorite courtiers. They joined the ship in Dubai and sailed out into the open sea. However, as soon as the ship moved away from land, one of his subjects…
“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…
“Abd Mubarak was on his way to Mecca when one night he dreamed that he was in heaven and heard two angels having a conversation. “How many pilgrims came to the holy city this year?” one of them asked. “Six…
“After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull’s eye on his…
“”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…
“In a certain village in Umbria (Italy), there lived a man who was always bewailing his lot. He was a Christian, and found the weight of his cross too heavy to bear. One night, before going to sleep, he begged…