Recalibrate:Change Your Mindset, Change Your World

The Horse & The Butterfly Once upon a time there lived a sad and lonely Horse. It was a long time ago that his owner had died, and now no one visited our horse anymore. He so desperately wanted company, to join the other horses he could hear in the distance. Alas his field was fenced and there was no escape. He would spend his days wandering sadly around his field eating only the tastiest bits of grass. Until one day everything changed for him. On that amazing, life tranforming day everything started out as normal. It all started while he was sampling a particularly tasty patch of grass. At that moment a Butterfly came fluttering along and landed on a dandelion next to our Horse. “Hello beautiful Horse” said the Butterfly Surprised and delighted that the Butterfly could talk the Horse instantly began telling the Butterfly all his worries “You see” said the Horse “no one comes to visit anymore and I’m desperately lonely and trapped in this field” “Oh I see” said the Butterfly “that’s terrible you feel this way” ***1 Now it was just lucky for our Horse, that fine morning, that this little Butterfly was fluttering through the field. Some may even say it was a coincidence that the Butterfly landed on just that exact dandelion next to our Horse. For our Butterfly was a wise and gentle soul and understood instantly our Horse’s worry and pain. “It’s sad Horse but you have lost your way” “How do you mean little Butterfly” asked the Horse “You are magnificent, strong and independent, but have forgotten who you are” “I know I’m a Horse little Butterfly, I haven’t forgotten” But with that said the Butterfly fluttered off to another flower on the other side of the field. Our Horse started to follow and began thinking out loud. “What did the Butterfly mean I’ve forgotten who I am? I am a Horse, I don’t get it.” Soon he was where the little Butterfly had landed again and asked “Little Butterfly I’m confused, can you explain further” “Of course” kindly replied the Butterfly “you have been stuck for a long time within this field, lonely and desperate for company. Slowly over time this has become your normal. Then gradually your have taken this normal to become who you are!” “That sounds deep little Butterfly” said the Horse “How do you mean” “We all place prisons within our own minds. These prisons stop us from achieving our life’s goals and dreams. Your life alone in this field has now become a type of prison in your mind. You have forgotten your a Horse.” And with this the little Butterfly fluttered off to another flower. “Oh I’m still confused” thought the Horse as he wandered over to where the Butterfly had once again settled “what prison in my mind?” ***2 Soon our Horse was once again where the Butterfly had landed and asked her to explain some more “I would like to tell you a little story to help explain” said the little Butterfly “Oh I like Stories” replied the Horse “Then I shall begin. The common house flea has the ability to jump 200 times it’s own height. Now if you place a glass cup over that same flea something interesting happens. When the flea now jumps he keeps hitting his head on the bottom of the glass cup. After a few jumps the flea realises what’s happening and will adjust his jumping height accordingly. The flea now jumps to just under the roof of the cup. When you remove the glass our poor flea is now conditioned into jumping at this new height. He has learnt from experience that if he jumps any higher he will hit his head and it hurts. He has created his very own glass ceiling or a kind of prison in his own mind. This is the prison of our own minds, we all create them and yours Horse is this field. You have forgotten your a Horse and what horse’s do.” But with this last comment the Butterfly flew out of sight and our Horse was left alone in his field once again. For a moment our Horse felt sad he was left alone again. Gradually though, as he satarted thinking about what the little Butterfly had said he suddenly realised he was a Horse. “I am a Horse” he exclaimed “and horses run and jump and play. I had forgotten who I was, I really had made my own prison in my mind. This field with its fence around me had become my prison, but I’m a Horse and Horse’s run and jump and play” And with this our Horse ran as fast as his legs could take him straight at the fence. In one great jump he cleared it and landed on the other side. He never even glanced back, he just kept running and running to the sounds of the other horses in the distance. our Horse was now free. Moral of the Story: We have all created some form of prison within our own minds. Anywhere you don’t want to be is like a prison, even in the lap of luxury one can feel poor and in a crowd, lonely. To see these prisons we have created it helps if we practice meditation, observing the mind. We get to watch the minds interactions and games it plays as it experiences the world through our 5 senses. When we can truly see, those prisons we have created and there unwholesome qualities we will naturally let go. We begin to move forward and escape our very own prisons.

The Monk & The Grasshopper One fine day, whilst out and about, hopping here and there, a little grasshopper happened across a monk who was meditating. He hopped his way around the motionless monk for some time. He was struck by how calm, still, and peaceful the monk appeared but he wasn’t sure what he was doing. The grasshopper hopped here and there, back and forth, keeping his eye on the monk and slowly gaining the courage to get closer and closer until finally, he was almost at the monk’s side. Just at the moment when he was about to hop on his knee and clear his tiny grasshopper's throat, the monk opened his eyes and looked down at the grasshopper. “Hello little grasshopper,” the monk said in a warm and friendly manner. “How may I help you? ” Surprised that the monk knew he was there, the little grasshopper, hopped back a little, and, plucking up all of his little grasshopper courage, he asked his question. “I have been watching you for some time and would like to know what it is you are doing?” “Meditation little grasshopper,” said the monk “We meditate to calm our wandering minds”. “Wandering minds, the grasshopper repeated, What do you mean? “Our minds can be like that of a little grasshopper that hops from place to place, always moving, never still and calm” “Oh, said the little grasshopper, trying hard to be still for a moment. “I like that. I would like to try to calm my wandering mind, and my wandering legs, for that matter. Do you think I could learn?” “Of course, little grasshopper. It's quite simple. We start by getting comfortable, then sitting with crossed legs and our backs straight, and we close our eyes”. ***1 The little grasshopper immediately sits down and after spending a little time working out how to cross its little legs, it closes its little eyes. A few moments pass before the grasshopper opens one eye and looks up at the still and calm monk. “But what now? ” he asks a little impatiently. The monk chuckles “steady little grasshopper, not so fast. When we close our eyes we watch our breath, Breathing in we are truly aware we are breathing in. Breathing Out we are truly aware we are breathing out” “OK, that sounds pretty simple”, says the little grasshopper and does as the monk says, making himself comfortable again and crossing his little legs, he slowly closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. A few moments pass. “Wait!” shouts the grasshopper “I think it would be better to meditate over there on that lovely grass stalk” and off he hops. He jumps onto the blade of grass and looks around in satisfaction. “Ok I’m ready now” The monk and the grasshopper get themselves comfortable again, the monk crosses his legs and the little grasshopper does the same, they both slowly close their eyes and take a deep breath. A few more moments pass. “Wait!” Shouts the grasshopper “I think it would be better to meditate over there on that lovely rock” and off he hops. He jumps onto the rock and looks around in satisfaction. “Ok I’m ready now” The monk and the grasshopper once again make themselves comfortable the monk crosses his legs and the little grasshopper does the same, they both slowly close their eyes and take a deep breath. A few more moments pass. “Wait!” shouts the grasshopper Our minds can be like that of the little grasshopper, always hopping off here and there following the next big distraction. This is known as the monkey mind in Buddhism. We meditate to calm our minds, stilling and quietening ourselves to live more in the present moment. When we become present at the moment we start to learn and experience the fundamental truths of that which causes us to suffer.

The Two Arguing Tigers. Two tigers start to get into an argument while out for a walk The first tiger is adamant that he is right, and the second tiger is certain that he is correct, both won’t give in, and the argument starts to escalate. Just then, as they round a corner in the road, they meet a friendly meditating monk. “Ahhh now for sure we will see I am right.” says one tiger. “I don’t think so.” says the other tiger. “we shall see if I am right.” They pay their respects to the monk, before asking their pressing question. “Monk we have a question for you.” states one tiger. “we would like you to clarify who is right and who is wrong. where do Heaven and Hell reside? My friend believes that Heaven is above, and Hell is below but I disagree, and am sure that Hell is above and Heaven is below. Monk, please tell us” ***1 The Monk smiles and considers the problem for a moment before replying. “I’m afraid neither of you are correct. Heaven and Hell don’t reside outside of us, either above the clouds or deep within the earth. Heaven and hell reside in each one of our minds. Let me explain. Both of you are angry with each other in this moment and so your minds are filled with a destructive force, this is like a Hell. Only peace and compassion can bring about a Heaven in our minds” Both the two tigers instantly understand what the monk has explained and drop their stupid argument, apologise to each other and become friends once more. “And right now, in your mind tigers, is Heaven.” said the monk “when we have peace and compassion in our minds we are experiencing Heaven.” Moral of the Story: Heaven is not a place, Heaven is a state of consciousness. And if you learn to raise your level of consciousness, you raise your level of understanding Reflections: The Nature of Conflict: Reflect on the conflicts in your own life. Are there any ongoing arguments or disagreements that could benefit from a shift in perspective? Consider how the tigers’ stubbornness to be “right” escalated their argument. Are there instances in your life where ego or the need to win an argument has led to negative consequences?

Four Monks A comical take on enlightenment Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, “Oh, no! The candle is out.” The second monk said, “Aren’t we not supposed to talk?” The third monk said, “Why must you two break the silence?” The fourth monk laughed and said, “Ha! I’m the only one who didn’t speak Moral of the story We all have a mind similar to that of a monkey jumping from branch to branch, always moving here and there. This is known in Buddhism as the Monkey Mind, most of us never really notice what we are thinking and act in a similar way to the Four monks practicing their meditation, every thought creates a feeling and every feeling is the karmic reaction of that thought. If you feel happy, it’s because you’re thinking happy thoughts, if you’re thinking negative thoughts then you feel in a bad mood.

The Grumpy Old Man Once not so long ago there lived a grumpy, ugly and rather smelly old man. He hadn’t always been this grumpy or this smelly when he was younger, it was life’s circumstances that had dealt him blow after blow and left him feeling this way. He would spend his days trying too find food and shelter but everyday town folk and villagers would chase him away, teasing him and calling him names as they went. Many days were spent like this, hungry and alone. With the beginning of a new day, the grumpy, smelly old man picks himself up from the dirt and starts walking the usual main road in search of food. What starts out to be a normal day for our grumpy, smelly old man certainly isn’t going to end that way. The first village of the day The first village he walks into looking for a kindhearted soul who would give him some food, turned out to be terribly mean indeed. The moment the villagers see him walking towards them, fresh new insults are hurled in his direction. “Hey you over there you!” Shouted one man “you smell so bad my pigs have just hidden. Ha ha ha” As the grumpy, smelly man hears this new insult he can feel himself becoming just a slightly bit more grumpier and slightly more stinkier than he had been a few moments before. “Oi smelly britches” laughs a little girl “Get out of our town you grumpy smelly thing” shouts an angry women “Leave us alone” adds another “your not welcome smelling like you do and looking as ugly as a dogs dinner” Again as these new harsh words are spoken, our grumpy, smelly old man can feel himself grow just a little bit more grumpy and slightly more stinky. The mayor of the town steps forward and delivers the final harsh words telling our old grumpy, smelly old man to leave. found in this poor man’s heart. On hearing this the villagers hearts went out to the grumpy old man. “Welcome to our village” a young women said to the old man. “You must be tired with all your walking let me help you” said another and gently took the old man’s shoulder. And sure enough just like the wise man had said. Every time they welcomed the grumpy, smelly and old man into their hearts. And every time they bestowed praise and kindness towards him. He would become ever so slightly less smelly and a touch less grumpy. And the more the villagers could see with their own eyes how sending kindness towards the grumpy old man was working. The more they praised him with their words of positivity, love and happiness. And the more the villagers gave compassion from their hearts the more the smelly, grumpy old man was becoming a happier and nicer person altogether. Until eventually ever trace of the ugly, smelly, grumpy old man were replaced by a handsome, kindhearted and happy old man. He spent the rest of his days living in that wonderful little village. And became a life long student of the wise man who had turned his life around. Moral of Story: What we think we become! The more we feed our negativity the more it grows. If we add input to that negativity the more our minds produce the same type of thoughts. And around and around it goes. Be careful what you think and say!

The One Bad Apple Once upon a time there lived an apple farmer. He was very good at growing apples and it gave him great satisfaction to see all his hard work over the year come to fruition with a glorious harvest. On one particular morning as the farmer is taking his dog for a walk, he notices something out of place. There’s one bad apple sitting high up on his most prized bountiful tree. “If that one bad apple were to spread to the rest of the apples and then the rest of the field my whole crop will be spoilt” he says to himself “I must do something, but what?” He goes to the tractor shed to fetch a long pole. “That way I can poke it out the tree and stop the problem” He says to himself. Try as he might the long pole just isn’t quite long enough and in an attempt to get that one bad apple a few goods ones are knock to the floor. “This is no good” he says to himself “I need a better idea” It’s once again back to the tractor shed, this time for a catapult. “That way I can shoot the one bad apple off it’s branch and my problem will be solved” he says to himself Try as he might, our farmers aim isn’t so good and he can’t hit that one bad apple to save his life. In all the badly aimed and missed attempts a few good apples are also knocked to the floor. “This is no good” he thinks to himself “a better solution is need one that is fool proof. It’s once again back to the tractor shed, this time the plan is to shake the tree so that one bad apple may fall to the ground solving the problem once and for all. Try as he might no matter how hard the farmer shakes the tree that one bad apple just won’t budge. And in all his attempts a few good apples are shaken loose and fall to the ground. A few more days pass and the farmer is now obsessed with that one bad apple sitting at the top of the tree. With one final fool proof plan of attack the farmer arms himself with a chainsaw, if he can’t poke it out, shoot it out, or shake it out of the tree then he’s going to cut off the branch. That way he is sure he will rid himself of that one bad apple. The farmer arrives at his prized apple tree and notices something for the first time. With all his concentration and days being taken up with that one bad apple, he had knocked, shaken and poked all the other apples to the ground where they now lay rotting. In an attempt to stop that one bad apple spreading to the rest, he had forgotten to notice all the other wonderful apples that had ripened on his prized apple tree. Moral of the Story: Sometimes we spend too much time and effort looking at the One Bad Apple in our lives. What we forget to do is remember all the other wonderful apples we already have sitting in our apple tree. Take time today too focus not on the one bad apple but the many wonderful ripe apples you already have in your life. And this little exercise can help you do just that

The Cursed Little Boy One day not so long ago there lived a very angry little boy. Everything in life and everything about life made him angry. The more angry he became the more frustrated he became and the more frustrated he became well that just made him more angry. He began to hurt the people around him who loved him the most. With each new insult and angry outburst, he was hurting those who cared. He wasn’t seeing the consequences of his anger. He couldn’t understand that his actions were causing others pain and hurt, he was too consumed by his rage to even notice. After a particularly bad outburst, his mother had sent him to walk in the woods and think about things until he had calmed down. It was on this day, walking in the woods, that he met a witch who was about to change his life for the better. The witch was out collecting her herbs and spices for potions and magical spells when she heard the little boy. He was cursing and kicking stones, making an awful racket as he went. The little boy cursing and kicking sticks as he went, was so engrossed with his emotion of anger he didn’t see the witch until he was standing right in front of her. “Who are you!” He angrily muttered, YYouin my way!” “I’m a witch capable of turning you into a frog or making your tongue talk like a parrot, maybe I turn you into a mouse or something worse. so I would drop the attitude” replied the wise witch “Well, you in my way!” Barked the angry boy “And you smell” “Your an angry little man” replied the witch, “I think you might need to be taught a lesson” “Oh shut up and get out my way” angrily demanded the little boy “I did warn you” ***1 And with a great flash of light and a kinda whooshing sound the witch threw one of the most powerful spells she had for years, it seemed this angrily little boy was about to be taught a lesson. “There, it is done! You have been cursed, now every time you find yourself angry and about to hurl insults and abuse you will blow fire like a dragon” And with this, the Wise witch walked away leaving the little boy feeling a little dazed and slightly confused. When the boy finally arrived back home his mood of anger had passed and he was feeling a lot more calmer. He’d forgotten about the witch and the curse and was feeling happier. It was around the evening dinner table that he started to lose his temper. Just as his father had poised on his fork a particularly nice-looking potato ready to pop in his mouth the little boy burst into anger. As the little boy opened his mouth ready to curse, suddenly, just as the witch had said, a burst of flames as impressive as any dragon came raging out of his mouth instantly turning the potato on his father’s fork to crumbly dust. Shocked and surprised the boy quickly put his hands over his mouth to spare any more carnage. His anger had now been replaced by horror and surprise as to the damage he had just caused. That evening as the little boy was told it was bedtime, anger reared its ugly head once more. Once again the instant the little boy opened his mouth to vent his rage a massive burst of flames came shooting out. The walls were scorched black and the television taking a direct hit was left melted and deformed. Our little boy went to bed that evening thinking for the first time in his life, how his anger was having a direct effect on those around him. Over the next few weeks, little by little our boy started to see firsthand how every time he was angry or had an angry outburst the flames raged from his mouth burning everything to a crisp as it went, hurting and harming those around him. ***2 The other town folk was now becoming afraid of the little boy who was now famous for blowing flames every time he was angry and so would try to avoid any direct contact with him. Our poor little boy was becoming very sad and lonely indeed. However, this curse the wise witch had bestowed upon our little angry boy was turning out to be very clever indeed. As more time passed the little boy was slowly beginning to control his angry outbursts. Gradually over time, his anger became less and less. At first, he managed to control his anger for a day, then he could manage two days in a row, then three, and four then an entire week went by without the little boy becoming angry in the slightest way. And as our little boy began to control his anger a fantastic transformation was also unfolding. He was also beginning to become a calmer and happier person. The other town folk could also see the wonderful new change in our little boy and so they had started to include him once again. This was just the encouragement the little boy needed to finally rid himself of the old wise witch curse. With a massive concerted effort and intense control, our little boy expelled the last remaining flakes of anger in his body, he had truly conquered his curse of blowing fire and in doing so had also mastered his anger. His curse was lifted! Our little boy decided to leave some of the destruction and scorch marks his anger had created. A reminder of how a quick small outburst of anger can cause far longer-lasting damage. Moral of the Story: Words we say in anger can cause deep emotional scars that may take many years to heal or be covered over. Be careful what you say!

The Two, Three-Headed Eagles Once upon a time, there lived two very unusual Eagles who both had three heads. The two Eagles both had the same affliction. One head was always good, one head was always bad and the poor third head couldn’t decide between the two. Both the two Eagles and their three heads were often found talking amongst themselves. The good heads that represented love, kindness, and compassion often fought with the bad heads, that represented Anger, hatred, and loathing. The good and bad heads always argued as to the best solution to any given problem. And the poor third head always felt stuck in the middle and unable to decide what to do. The first head, the good one, always wanted to see honesty and trust in everything. Always exploring the problem with an open heart. The second head, the bad one, always found the negative side of the argument. Alweays always always ugly waiting to see what unfolded. unfoldsird had listened to the other two but could never decide between them. After all, both raised valuable points that couldn’t be ignored. And as such a decision could never be found. Our two poor Eagles would spend many hours in confusion, never making their minds up as to what was the best choice. ***1 One day this all changed Once again both our three-headed Eagles found themselves in a moral dilemma and became stuck in their thinking. The good heads were adamant they were correct. The bad heads were positive they were right and so the arguments were pursued. It was at this exact moment that one of our Three-Headed Eagles had an idea. The decision was that the only way to live a normal life, like all the other Eagles, was to cut off the other two heads. Only doing this, thought the Eagle, would sever their constant arguing and bickering between what was always right and wrong, good or bad. The other Three Headed Eagle didn’t agree. They thought this idea wasn’t such a good plan, but agreed that something should be done. Our first three-headed Eagle makes their plan to separate themselves from the other two heads. With careful timing and precision, our three-headed Eagle takes a sharp knife and quickly cuts the other two heads off in one fell swoop. For just a moment all is content in our Eagles world. There is no more fighting and arguing between the other two heads and our Eagle feels at peace. However, as our Eagle leaps from the tree tops, stretching his wings ready for a celebratory flight. He suddenly finds himself completely off balance and totally out of control. Try as he might our Eagle cannot gain composure without his other two heads. With the ground rushing ever closer there is only going to be one inevitable outcome. Our Eagle hits the ground with a nasty thud. Kindness & Compassion The second of our three-headed Eagles has a different kind of plan. He plans to use kindness and compassion toward his situation and so begins to meditate. He focused his attention on his breathing, breathing in, breathing out, becoming truly present in the moment. Slowly he witnesses a calming with the chatter of his other two heads. With this calming came a quietness slowly the other two heads began to shrink every so slightly. Seeing the other two heads become smaller and smaller was all our Three-headed Eagle needed to know that his plan was working. With a determined effort, closely following every breath and the silence that comes with it. The two heads shrink ever more slightly and become increasingly quieter. Finally, they disappeared altogether, our three-headed Eagle had found his true freedom. Moral of the Story: Our inner speech is just like that of our three-headed Eagles, always chattering away and seemingly never-ending. The fundamental reason for all of our life’s problems is this inner speech, our inner speech creates all of our fears, anger, hatred, boredom, guilt, anxiety, and depression. And the exceedingly high regard we place on this inner speech, onto our thoughts, is, and has become, the main obstacle in our lives.

“It Is In Your Hands” A young man caught a small bird, and held it behind his back. He then asked his spiritual master “ “Master, is the bird I hold in my hands alive or dead?” The young man thought this was a grand opportunity to play a trick on the old master. If the master answered “dead”, it would be let loose into the air. If the master answered “alive”, he would simply wring its neck. The master spoke, “The answer is in your hands” Moral of the story: We all have the power within our own hands, this story is just a simple demonstration to prove that point. At any given moment we can be confronted with peoples opinions, others anger, frustrations or temptations within our life, it is completely in our own hands if we surrender our power, we can stay positive and cheerful in the midst of chaos it is our choice, today I choose a different way. It’s in your hands

The Wise Mouse & Bouncy Tiger On a dusty windy road in the middle of the countryside, a wise mouse is walking. He carries everything he needs on his back and is happy and content. With each small step, he breathes in experiencing his surroundings, the fresh air, and the beautiful rolling countryside. Suddenly out of seemingly nowhere a bouncy tiger comes racing along the track. The tiger skids to a halt in a rather dramatic fashion and introduces himself to the mouse. “Hello little mouse, I am Tony the bouncy tiger, do you want to race me?” “Hello Tony tiger, I am Micheal mouse” replied our wise little mouse “I’m not in a rush Tony and have no need of a race, sorry” “Oh come on” replies Tony bouncing up and down as he does so “it will be awesome” “Sorry Tony, rushing around everywhere isn’t my thing, I like to breath in my surroundings and become present in the moment, I’m afraid running around we miss so much” “Ohhhhhh please” replies Tony even more animated and bouncy Our wise mouse has a little think to himself and decides the only way is to entertain the bouncy tiger’s idea of a race. And finally agrees. Tony gets even more excited at the news and is uncontrollably bouncing around on the start line. “So where do we race too” asks the little wise mouse “Let’s race to the beautiful old tree, a few miles away” replies Tony “last one there smells like rotten cabbage” really appreciating the moment your in. You chose to run as fast as you could and to the destination. I chose to enjoy the journey, the fresh air, the countryside and my surroundings I was walking in. This gave me time to meet others and share in there joy and happiness. It isn’t the destination that’s important, yes it may be our final goal, it’s the journey however that’s truly important. It’s this very journey that makes and shapes our very lives it moulds us into who we are” “Wow little mouse that is profound and it makes total sense to me. I’m going to from now on slow down and smell the roses, I’m going to enjoy the journey more than where I’m trying to get too.” And together the little wise mouse and the bouncy Tiger slowly walked off together along the dusty road, each enjoying the moment and the journey they were on. Moral of the Story: We all seem to live more and more hectic and busy lives. We rush from one task to the next never really taking enough time to appreciate and enjoy the simpler aspects of life. If you feel you are living your life like that of our tiger, at a hundred miles an hour. Then it’s time to stop and smell the roses. It’s time to look out for yourself and reconnect with the joys and delights of simplicity. Remember it’s the not the destination that’s all important in life but the journey it takes for us to get there. It time to enjoy that journey.

The Red Racing Car A Motivational Spiritual Story A beautiful red racing car sits on the start line, ready and waiting. It sits patiently, still and calm, waiting for a driver. A hero approaches the car, a handsome fella all eager and fine, he waves to the expectant crowd, slips on his gloves and a helmet, then casually climbs inside. The beautiful red racing car roars into life The lights are gone! Our driver selects 1st gear, he can Smell the burning rubber as the beautiful red racing car launches off the start line. He slips it into 2nd gear and Hears the roar of the engine groan with confidence as he asks for more. Now the 3rd, he can Feel the power of this beautiful racing car, he can feel the speed picking up as he gets faster and faster. Slipping it into 4th gear, he can Taste the champagne, he can taste the victory. Into the 5th and final gear, he can see himself getting faster as the countryside goes whizzing past seeing the way in the distance the finishing line he eagerly presses his foot harder to the floor. But wait what’s this? The racing car is beginning to slow, the driver isn’t selecting any more gears! The beautiful red racing car is coming to a stop. With no gears selected the beautiful red racing car does indeed come gracefully to a complete stop. The driver is quiet and gently watching, a stillness lies within his heart. Without those gears we call the 5 senses selected, our emotions, our driver is simply calm, relaxed, and exuding peace. Moral of the Story: The racing car represents you and me, our physical bodies. The driver represents our consciousness, our inner speech. The five gears represent each of our 5 senses hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling, and feeling. We select each gear at any given moment according to what has attracted us. The gear clicks in place and our mind creates thoughts from either previous experiences or future events or dissolves into a world of fantasy. With one of those gears selected the racing car mind is captivated and propelled off at great speeds, into that future, past, or fantasy world of jibba jabber. But just like every racing car it needs a driver to select those gears. If your mind is like that of the race car take it out of gear and slip it into neutral, just like the racing car your inner speech will gradually come to a stop. Without the input of the 5 senses, our consciousness has nothing to fixate on, nothing to grasp or attach to. Eventually, your consciousness and inner speech come to a stop. What replaces that busyness we call inner speech is peace and happiness so pure and indescribable, leaving you feeling renewed and energized.

The Roman Soldier This story comes from a time during the Roman Empire when there were mighty gladiators and legendary Emperors. Our story is centered around a normal soldier who became a legend in his own right. From a young age, our soldier was always good at sports and always dreamed of becoming a soldier. His dream wasn’t just of an ordinary soldier he dreamt of glory and recognition. By the age of twelve, he had proved himself and was accepted into the military academy. He enjoyed his life and strived every day to become the best. Our soldier knew nothing better than being a soldier in the Roman army. Progressing well becoming one of the top students. Finally, the day came of graduation, where he was selected to join the twelfth legion. An elite legion known for their bravery and savagery on the battlefield. Becoming a true Roman Soldier He quickly excelled with his new legion, making friends and soon becoming recognized as fearless and ruthless in battle. He rose through the ranks and became a sergeant looking after a dozen men. Battle after battle was fought with our soldier and his brave twelve victorious at every turn. Monastery to practice a simple life and to repent all his sins. He learned under a great master of the time and before long his heart was pure enough to allow for the healing. With love now in the soldier's heat, he walked the countryside spreading kindness and compassion wherever he could. His reputation began to spread far and wide as a saintly man full of love in his heart. He now wore simple robes and collected only alms for his food. He began to gather a following of men and women all eager to hear words of wisdom from this great man. And so a legend was born. The transformation of a soldier man Moral of Story: All our actions have consequences this is called Karma. Whatever we do, think, or say produces Karma. If we harm others or ourselves then that karma caused is only negative. Over the long run that has a devastating effect on both our peace of mind and our wellbeing. What we think we become!

The Four Trees Once upon a time in a land not too far away, four trees started to grow on top of a small hill. Three of the trees are very selfish, arrogant, and proud trees are always boasting about how big and tall they will become, teasing each other about how they will live forever. The fourth tree is all happy and content, just to be a tree. As time passes the three proud and selfish trees spend all their days growing as tall and impressive as they can, bravely every day how wonderful they will be The fourth tree listens but is all happy and content, just to be a tree. Content, just to be a tree. The fourth tree knows that it cannot live forever. That the day must come when the fourth tree passes away, But not before it sets seed to Four little Trees growing on that hill, all Happy and Content, Just To Be a tree! Moral of Story: True greatness lies not in the pursuit of self-importance and pride but in the humility to embrace one’s unique place in the world, the wisdom to appreciate life’s simple joys, and the kindness to leave a legacy of positive influence. Reflections: Humility and Contentment: The fourth tree represents humility and contentment. It teaches us that true happiness can be found in being content with who we are and what we have, rather than constantly striving to be better than others. In a world where people often pursue external validation and success, the story reminds us of the beauty of inner peace and self-acceptance. The Beauty in Simplicity: The fourth tree’s ability to find joy in its simplicity and purpose as a tree serves as a reminder of the beauty in the simple things in life. It encourages us to appreciate the present moment and the everyday wonders around us. What are some simple joys or everyday wonders that you often overlook or take for granted? How can you incorporate more appreciation for the simple things into your daily life? The Dangers of Arrogance: The first three trees are consumed by their arrogance and pride, believing that they are the best and will live forever. This attitude blinds them to the reality of their existence and eventually leads to their downfall. What can we learn from the first three trees’ arrogance and the fourth tree’s humility? How can we strike a balance between setting goals and being content with what we have? Overall, “The Four Trees” encourages us to reflect on our values, our attitudes toward success and humility, and our relationship with the world around us. It teaches us that true fulfillment can be found in embracing humility, kindness, and the beauty of the present moment.

The Fairy Gathering Our story begins a long, long time ago, a time when the earth was covered in great forests and wild oceans. All the earth was filled with bountiful fruits and succulent berries, all except for the frozen land of the North and South Poles. It was a time when Fairies were the masters of all the creatures, for they were the law that kept everything so harmoniously balanced. With a whoosh and a flash of great light All the Brown Bears were instantly turned white. With another Whoosh and flash of light, Those Beats that stole, vanished out of sight. This concludes our story from a very long time ago, On how the Brown Bears turned white and are now found at the North Pole. So if you are thinking of stealing, please think of this little tale, Because in real life you will end up going to jail. This is a cute tale or short moral story that is only written to entertain and demonstrate the severity of stealing. We hope you enjoyed it. No Brown Bears were hurt or turned white in the making of this story. Moral of the story: Stealing causes damage not only to the victims of stealing but also to the troubled and unsettled consciousness of the mind that stole. We meditate to see that every thought and action we have creates karma, and all karma is the result of our inner dialogue and the actions that then take place. If we Steal we confuse within, leading to a troubled mind in the future. Kind and Warmest Regards

The Wandering Monk For over 2,500 years the Thudong or Wandering way of life has been lived by Buddhist monks in many different lands. There isn’t much of a record of their lives, since those that undertake this way of life are not usually writers or artists, instead choosing the seclusion that comes with the practice of a wandering thudong monk. The Buddha himself chose this way of life and spent his 40 years teaching, wandering from place to place. Only when the monsoon rains of the Indian sub-continent started, would he take shelter for the three months they lasted, this is now known as the rain retreat and is practiced by all Theravada Buddhist monks still to this day. Traditionally this way of life is practiced only after a period of training has been undertaken, usually a period between 5-7 years studying the Buddhist texts, learning the monastic code, and a firm foundation in meditation training. Only after proficiency has been established is the monk allowed to wander unsupervised. For millennia this tradition has been practiced by Buddhist monks from many different lands. Today the practice of the thudong monk is observed but in most cases, our monks will now seek the monastery environment for sleeping at night. It is becoming rarer to find the thudong monk practicing the traditional way, during the communist turmoil of the 1960s and 1970’s thudong monks were forced to come out of their secluded retreats and return to cities or they were seen as communist supporters. The thudong monks attempted to teach others from town and city Monasteries about the binding link between humans and their natural world, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears and they were unable to stop the tremendous forces of modernization. The destruction of around 80 percent of Thailand’s forests has left very little in the way of seclusion for the monk. People in contemporary towns and city societies seemed insensitive to the larger meaning and value of themselves and their environment. It is possible to see the thudong monk wandering and from personal experience have met many true ascetic monks, mostly in Myanmar but also within Lao, Cambodia, and Thailand, in some very rare cases it is even possible to see the practice of thudong monks in Europe. A Thudong monk only carries with him what he needs, his set of 3 robes, his alms bowl, a small sewing kit, toiletries, a krot or mosquito net, a water filter, and medicine. The monk will search out places of solitude and seclusion, whether forest or mountain cave, the search is for the practice of and development of meditation. Reflecting on the three facts of existence through an established and strong Samadhi Meditation our thudong monk practices diligently with a determined, one-pointed attention until the realization of those three facts of existence becomes firmly established. Impermanence, suffering, and nonsense. For the thudong monks, the remote wilderness was a sanctuary in which they could train their minds. When they chose, they could withdraw deep into the forests where no one would be able to find them. The forest was home to wandering monks, it was their school, their training ground, and their sanctuary. Life in the forests was a safe place provided the monks were mindful. I am a practicing Thudong Monk, and have wandered across Thailand, Sri Lanka, and through the Shan State within Myanmar, after I was offered a plane ticket back to my home country of England, have now wandered across Europe including Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, France and Spain finally finding my way, and where I’m presently at, the South Coast of Portugal. This way of life, wandering across Europe, is a different experience than that of Asia but the generosity of Europeans is the same as the Thais or Burmese, where the Thais and Burmese understand the needs of a monk the Europeans lack, however, their kindness, generosity, and general enthusiasm always makes up for this and every day I am humbled by everyone’s kindness. Throughout my wanderings, I have found a companion in a street dog I’ve now officially adopted and affectionately call Marley Moo, he came and cuddled into me while I was meditating one day, and has never left. How magically wonderful life is. Our thong life is a 21st-century experience, and the solitude of remote forests, which would have been commonplace in Europe, is now hard to come by, a reminder that everything is impermanence in action. The very monk name given to me on ordination means, a Dharma hermit free from dust, but the seclusion to be able to be a hermit is limiting, although by 21st-century lifestyles, I am just that. I was a practicing Monk for a long time and still dedicate my entire life to discovering the realities within my mind. This journey towards enlightenment has become my life, although I now stay in one place and reside in Wiltshire, England, and still with Marley Moo. There is no better quest than the one I am on, and it would be wonderful if you could join us.  Kind and Warmest Regards I was a practicing Monk for a long time and still dedicate my entire life to discovering the realities within my mind. This journey towards enlightenment has become my life, although I now stay in one place and reside in Wiltshire, England, and still with Marley Moo. There is no better quest than the one I am on, and it would be wonderful if you could join us.  Kind and Warmest Regards

Abraham Lincoln 1809 – 1865 American lawyer and politician serving as the 16th president of the United States of America. A remarkable man who led his country through a civil war described as the bloodiest war America has ever known, he abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and is considered by many to be the forefather of the modern economy with methods first introduced during his presidency. Lincoln had grown up in a poor family upbringing in Kentucky, largely self-educated he was an avid reader and had a lifelong interest in learning, compelling Lincoln to his destiny. Lincoln married Miss Mary Todd in 1842 the daughter of a wealthy slave-holding family, they were to have four children of which only one survived to adulthood. This is said to have had a profound effect on both Lincoln and his wife for the rest of their lives. Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865 a few days after successfully reuniting two opposing forces at war with remarkable policies of reconciliation. A highly revered man in not only presidential history but of the history of the United States of America itself.

The Zen Master and His Dog The Zen teacher’s dog loved his evening romp with his master. The dog would bound ahead to fetch a stick, then run back, wag his tail, and wait for the next game. On this particular evening, the teacher invited one of his brightest students to join him – a boy so intelligent that he became troubled by the contradictions in Buddhist doctrine. “You must understand,” said the teacher, “that words are only guideposts. Never let the words or symbols get in the way of truth. Here, I’ll show you.” With that, the teacher called his happy dog. “Fetch me the moon,” he said to his dog and pointed to the full moon. “Where is my dog looking?” asked the teacher of the bright pupil. “He’s looking at your finger.” “Exactly. Don’t be like my dog. Don’t confuse the pointing finger with the thing that is being pointed at. “All our Buddhist words are only guideposts. Everyman fights his way through other men’s words to find his truth Author: Unknown Moral of the story Don’t believe everything you read or are told. This includes all the Buddhist texts and meditations, never take someone’s word for anything, always question what people tell you, and explore within your mind and heart what is right. Look with your own heart for the truth you seek

What is Standing Meditation? Standing Meditation is exactly as it sounds, we stand and meditate, the most important factor with Standing Meditation is to keep your eyes open. Shutting our eyes causes us to lose our balance and fall. With our eyes open we have an opportunity to focus our attention on something, a burning candle, a statue or painting of the Buddha, a vase of flowers, or maybe incense burning. The choice is yours, so long as the feeling you get from looking at your object is a positive or natural one and in no way brings negative emotions out of you. Now With your back straight and your feet firmly placed on the floor, about shoulder-width apart, gently relax your shoulders and have your arms loosely hanging in front of your abdomen, place one hand gently on top of the other, and bring your thumbs together in a kind of circle. Keep your head and eyes looking forward and slightly down, and focus on your chosen object of meditation How do we Meditate? Breathing Meditation otherwise known as Samadhi Meditation is the fundamental basis of most mindfulness and meditation training. Breathing Meditation is simply being at ‘oneness with the object of meditation‘ and can be one of the simplest and easiest of all the meditations to grasp, however, the untrained mind will find it a lot harder than it sounds. The good news is, just like going to the gym regularly you start to build those muscles up, and so too with meditation your powers of concentration become greater and meditation becomes easier. Take a moment and breathe a few long deep breaths, feel yourself slowly begin to relax and unwind. Now when you're ready bring your attention to your breath. Breathing in be aware you’re breathing in,  breathing out, be aware you are breathing out.  Count one. Repeat this for five or ten counts then start again. This is the basics of Standing Meditation. To become completely at one with the meditation object takes time, practice, and kindness toward your inner dialogue. The moment you experience this oneness, everything you have ever been told about mindfulness, meditation, and being present at the moment are all realized, spontaneously as if you always knew the secret you just need a gentle nudge What happens if my mind wanders? To start you will find your mind wanders from the breath onto something else, a shopping list, a fantasy or maybe you start to daydream. This is perfectly natural our minds are thought producers and this is completely ok to be happening. Always remember to be kind to yourself, never scold, always be patient, and gently bring your attention back to your breathing. The more you practice the better you become at anything, and this is the same with mindfulness and meditation.

You will start to see a positive change in yourself. To help you get going I have grouped the seven main categories where we all can find enjoyment within our lives. I hope this gives you the inspiration needed and is a good place to start exploring your very own seven wonders. I’ve been practicing this for many years now and still find it rewarding. Over time, some of the wonders on my list have been updated and changed, and that I find fascinating. Finding Your Personal 7 Wonders in Your Life Friends and Loved Ones Everyone has someone they can love in their life. Some of us are more fortunate than others and have a larger-than-average family, but this sometimes is not always a blessing. What are your best moments with friends, family, or loved ones? The loved ones, your family, your partner, old friends, good friends, and best friends can all bring out the best in you and those are the moments to be cherished. Some of us have beloved pets and my very own Marley Moo, my adopted stray dog, makes me smile every single day. Maybe one of your seven wonders could be sharing a glass of wine with your girlfriends, or chatting over a coffee with your best mate. Maybe Sunday lunch with Mum is a favorite time, or taking Dad out to watch soccer. How about playing fetch with your dog, or having your cat snuggled and purring in your lap? There are so many things to choose from. What makes you happy within this category? Nature and the Countryside Wherever you live there is some sort of nature and countryside, even in the largest cities there are set aside areas where nature can exist and thrive. What makes you happy while we're in nature or the countryside? Maybe it’s camping like you did in the Boy Scouts, or cooking over campfires, walking in the woods with the crunch of the autumn leaves underfoot. Maybe it is a simple joy such as feeding the birds at the local park standing at the top of a hill with the wind blowing through your hair, or maybe being out in a thunderstorm. Having a picnic by the river or sunbathing on the beach. Maybe one of your seven wonders could be seeing wildlife in their natural environment or even hugging a tree. The great outdoors is one of the most uplifting and inspiring energies in the world and we all have wonders that include nature and the countryside. Whenever you feel down or depressed nature and the great outdoors have tremendous ways of uplifting your spirits no matter what the weather. Creativity I am one of those people who think that they aren’t very creative, however, I paint, write, play around with Photoshop, and love the process of making videos. No matter how bad you think you are at this category, every single one of us has a deep well of creativity inside of us waiting to be explored. Maybe you love to play a musical instrument, paint with watercolors, sing in the shower or r, or perform on stage on your own or as part of a production. Building something from wood or maybe Lego, learning a new magic trick, or just learning something new is all creativity. Maybe cooking is something you love to do, or even putting forth your effort into cleaning is all creative. How about owning your own business, or gardening even if just in pots on a window ledge can all be considered creative. So what are your creativities that bring you that joy and happiness? Sports and Exercise Sports and exercise a scientifically proven ways to boost our mood and of course, have es the added advantage of keeping our bodies fit and healthier. Sport is a great way to shift any negative feelings we have and there are so many different activities to take part in or even participate alone. Do you love playing a round of golf with your mates? Maybe this could be a seventh wonder for you. How about running or jogging in the countryside, or around the park? What about a fresh walk in the outdoors, playing as a team in soccer, baseball, football, Aussie rules, or cricket or do you prefer the intensity of playing one one-on-one, maybe badminton, tennis or squash is more your thing? Driving a sports car around a race track could be a thrilling activity and be used as one of your seven wonders. Do you love swimming in open water, lakes, and the sea? What about surfing, kayaking, paddle boards, body boards, or windsurfing? The possibilities almost seem endless. So what brings you joy within sports and exercise? Relaxation Now we come to relaxation, something every one of us enjoys immensely, although some of us struggle to find the time to relax in our all too busy lives. What makes you feel relaxed? What does it take for you to unwind after a stressful day at work? It could be that first cup of coffee in the morning, what about meditating in the shade of a tree? Maybe playing a musical instrument makes you feel relaxed and content, yoga can make you feel incredibly relaxed, as does a massage, maybe it’s just soaking up the sunshine at home or a spot of gardening, sitting watching the weekend sports on television is your ideal way to relax. What makes you relax after a long day's work? Freedoms Freedom is an interesting category and something most of us overlook even being there. Coronavirus has possibly taught us all a valuable lesson in our freedoms and maybe now we might not take them for granted. Just the freedom to be able to go outside, and express your opinion with friends. What about the freedom to travel and explore new places? Maybe one of your seven wonders could be spending a night in a hotel in an exciting place. One of the most important freedoms most of us overlook is the freedom of our thoughts and attitudes. We have the freedom to choose how we feel at any given moment we can either choose to be negative or positive, optimistic or pessimistic. Most of us have the freedom of choice, this sometimes is a curse as well as a blessing and is a freedom that our ancestors never had. So what freedoms do you value and do they make one of your seven wonders? Sensations Sensations are a brilliant wonder to have because they can almost instantly bring us joy and happiness. This is a large category but take your time to explore the many wonderful sensations that there are. These will be very useful in using as a mood booster when needing to shift a negative mindset towards a more optimistic outlook. Maybe it’s the smell of the first cup of coffee in the morning, freshly baked bread, freshly cut grass, cuddling up with your partner or even pet, driving your sports car, the feeling of completing the crossword puzzle, the love for your children or grandchildren, the feeling you get from making someone smile, or helping and doing a good deed, the hug you receive from you partner, the sensation of running or playing sports, the energy from watching live music, or excitement going to the cinema, maybe cuddling up on the sofa watching a movie or sitting reading by an open fire, how about the feeling you get from being romantic or dressing smart. How about eating your favorite food, or the feeling of the wind in your hair or the sun on your skin? There are so many wonderful sensations that we can use as our seven wonders. It just takes a moment like today for you to realize how wonderful your life truly is. So what are those favorite sensations in your life? Now it’s your turn Now I want you to write down on a piece of paper your own personal seven wonders in your life. This piece of paper is going to be used time and time again as a mood booster. Every time you feel a little down, depressed, anxious, or even stressed, refer to your personal seven wonders, close your eyes, and imagine for a moment being there doing one of those seven wonders. This is a type of meditation called Metta meditation, a loving-kindness meditation towards yourself that can change and shift negative and unwholesome moods.

Horishmo The Samurai Warrior The Question Of Heaven or Hell A soldier named Horishmo came to a famous meditation master of old, and asked him a serious question, “Is there heaven and hell?” “Who are you?” Demanded the famous meditation Master. “I am a samurai warrior” replied the soldier “You, a soldier!” Laughed the meditation master. “What kind of king would have you as his guard? You're not strong enough to be a soldier and you look like a beggar.” Horishmo became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but the Meditation Master continued: “So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too blunt to cut off my head, and you don’t look to have the strength” The Soldier, so incensed, drew the full length of his sword ready to strike, The Meditation Master remarked “Here you open the gates of hell!” In these words, the worrier instantly understood sheathed his sword, and bowed. “And hear you open the gates of heaven,” said The Master Author: Unknown Moral of Story Inside of us is a personal battle, we and only ourselves have the power to create our heaven or hell. Never let someone else control your state of mind, this is yours to give away not someone’s to take from you.

The Angry Boy & The Bag of Nails There once was a little boy who had a very bad temper. His father decided to hand him a bag of nails and said that every time the boy lost his temper, he had to hammer a nail into the fence. On the first day, the boy hammered 30 nails into that fence. The boy gradually began to control his anger and over the next few weeks, the number of nails he was hammering into the fence slowly decreased. He discovered it was easier to control his temper than to hammer those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the little boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father the news and the father suggested that the boy should now pull out a nail every day he kept his temper under control. The days gradually passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were finally gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.” Moral of the story: We all experience anger from time to time, what we all too often forget is the consequences of that anger on others, sometimes ever-lasting. Learning where our anger comes from can help.

Nelson Mandela Quotes Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela 1918 – 2013 Nelson Mandela was born into the Thembu royal family in the British-ruled South Africa. He was able to study law for two weeks before he started work as a lawyer in Johannesburg. During his time working as a lawyer Mandela slowly became interested in politics and joined the African National Congress party (ANC party) in 1943, after the government in charge established apartheid, a system of racial segregation of blacks and colored in favor of whites. 💯" I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it" Mandela’s commitment to the overthrow of this white supremacy began with his involvement with the ‘Defiance Campaign against unjust laws’ which led to the first large-scale mobilization against the apartheid government. He also had much influence and involvement in ‘Gathering of the Congress of the People’ which in 1955 laid out their vision for a future South Africa including all its rainbow nation, which is now known as ‘The Freedom Charter’. 💯"Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemy" Mandela was arrested on numerous occasions for the act of Sedition, defined as the speech or organization of thought or ideas that led to the uprising against the establishment. He was unsuccessfully prosecuted. Mandela originally started with a commitment to nonviolent methods, but slowly over the next seven years as he progressed within the ANC he would also turn to more dramatic steps and became a co-founder of the militant group known as the Umkhonto we Sizwe or spear of the nation, a heavily armed division of the ANC intent on creating havoc against the government. After the first attacks on government facilities and institutions, they were seen and classed as terrorists by not only the South African government but also the United States Of America. Mandela was convicted and imprisoned in 1962 for inciting the world to strike and leaving the country without permission. In a police raid of the Lillie's leaf farm in 1963, the headquarters of the Umkhonto militant group, incriminating evidence was uncovered and along with 10 other ANC lead members Mandela was convicted and sentenced to Life in prison. 💯“I am not a saint unless you think a saint is a sinner who keeps trying" Nelson Mandela would spend the next 27 years behind bars, with his fame growing slowly around the world Mandela’s personality developed into the wise and caring man he became. He was offered a release in 1985 only if he put a stop to the ever-increasing violence on the streets of South Africa. He rejected the offer and the situation in South Africa deteriorated ever more. By 1988 Mandela turned 70 and this attracted a lot of worldwide media attention, a concert was staged at Wembley Arena London that was seen by over 200 million worldwide, and the slogan Free Nelson Mandela was born. 💯"A nation should not be judged by how well it treats its highest citizens but its lowest ones" A further two years passed and the long-serving P.W. Botha having a stroke gave way for F.W de Klerk to become president. He believed the apartheid was unsustainable and started to release some of the ANC political prisoners. On the 11th of February 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison and held a hero by his people. In a televised event around the world Mandela gave a speech declaring his commitment to peace and reconciliation with the white majority, instantly giving him heroic status amongst those listening. 💯"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Mandela stood in the first democratic South African elections where all were able to vote. He won a landslide overall majority and served for two terms as South Africa’s first black president. He was loved by whites and blacks alike, he had a calm and sense of purpose about him, his passion and determination not to see revenge from his people or to slip into another type of apartheid this time against the whites. He truly was an inspirational figure of the 20th century and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition.

How to catch a Baby Dragon Almost 6,000 years ago to this very day, a challenge was set by a wise and noble king. “Whoever can catch me a Baby Dragon will inherit my kingdom” Notice how wonderful this Baby Dragon is. More beautiful than any sunrise or sunset they have ever seen. And with colors that seem to shimmer and sparkle with every step. Our wannabe hero becomes so engrossed and mesmerized by this sight, that the Baby Dragon sees their opportunity. Gobbles him all up, bones and all. Our next hero to act is drawn to a Baby Dragon who is gently singing. However, as they approach the music becomes so soothing and peaceful. It’s like a melody so perfect in pitch and tone our hero completely forgets the mission and stands engrossed. Seeing this opportunity the Baby Dragon gobbles them up, bones and all. The third to act is a little more cautious. Seeing the other two getting caught by the sight and sound of the Baby Dragons our hero decides to be careful. They carefully step past the singing Dragons and don’t even glance at the most beautiful. Instead, they are drawn to one Baby Dragon who seems harmless enough. Our true hero, guarding those senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and feeling with the sixth and most important sense, our sense of consciousness. Will find they are not controlled or manipulated by their desires or passions but see them clearly for what they are. Impermanent, forever changing, and as we cling and attach brings us suffering. As such they are unaffected by these devilish tricks and simply walk calmly up to one Baby Dragon place it in their rucksack and start making the long way back to the palace. Our true hero is born and rules the kingdom wisely for a very long time. Moral of the story: As humans, we experience the world around us through our five senses sight, sound, taste, feeling, and smell. No matter what comes our way and fixes itself within our six senses, our consciousness always starts from one of these five senses. Each of us has our favorite sense, mine has always been Feeling, I love the feeling of the sun and wind on my skin, the feeling of a hug, and the feeling of surfing, for example, I can get so caught up and carried away with a feeling I sometimes too will get eaten by my Baby Dragons, which represents the Anger, loathing, and envy.

The Poisoned Dice Once upon a time, a rich man was living in India who was addicted to gambling. He played dice day and night and in the process met with another gambling addict, a man whose mind worked in tricky ways. While the rich gambler was very honest and above board, the tricky gambler was one of dishonesty. When the tricky gambler won he kept on playing. But when he began to lose he would secretly put one of the dice in his mouth and swallow it, claiming the dice lost and stopped the game. The rich gambler began to notice this little trick and decided one day to teach his friend a lesson. His plan was simple, he smeared poison on the dice and let it dry so it was invisible then took these to his next game of Dice with his friend. The day came and the two friends set up the gambling board and started to play. As usual, the tricky gambler was happy to win. And win he did with every throw of the dice, as soon as his luck began to change and he started to lose he immediately snuck one of the dice into his mouth, unaware they were coated in poison. After swallowing the poison dice the trickster instantly fell sick. The rich gambler, who was basically good at heart and only wanted to teach his friend a lesson, thought, “Enough is enough. Now I must save his life.” He made a concoction of herbs and spices to cause vomiting. He made his friend swallow it, and he threw up the poison dice. His friend was saved and learned a valuable lesson. Moral of the story: Deceiving a friend may be hazardous to your health. Lying, or deception causes real pain in this world, and a liar is always found out. Creating a lie requires vast amounts of effort in keeping it believable, real and who you told, this takes valuable energy away from your true purpose of living contently, calmly, and at peace.

The Wise Old Man & The Precious Stone A long time ago a wise old man came across a beautiful and very precious stone in a dried-up river bed. He pocketed the stone and continued his walk. Later that day a robber approached the old man and demanded that he share any food that he may have. Without hesitation, the wise old man goes into his bag to offer his food. As soon as the highway robber catches a glimpse of the beautiful and highly precious stone he instantly demands the old man give him that instead. Instantly and again without hesitation, the wise old man gives the robber the beautiful precious stone with a smile. Feeling very satisfied with himself the robber makes his way to the nearest city, dreaming of all the wonderful food he can buy, all the fancy clothes he will dress himself in, and all the late-night parties he will have. Suddenly the robber realized the old man could give him more, so he turned and returned to where he met the old man. As soon as the robber reaches the wise old man he gives the beautiful and precious stone back. “I know the value of this beautiful stone” explained the robber “but I want more, I want the understanding and love you have within your heart to let go of this beautiful precious stone, without hesitation and all with a smile on your face. This gift is more precious than any beautiful stone and I wish to learn and become your student” Moral of the Story To hold a heart filled with love and without fear is humanity's greatest achievement, however, there are still so many of us wandering lost in a universe that feels harsh and cold. Learning and watching the process of our minds with meditation allows us to see the connectedness between thought and action, gradually over time our unwholesome thoughts and actions are dropped instantly the moment they are recognized and seen for what they truly are. Start this wonderful practice today, and every day. Use free guides found through this website, taught to me by a lineage of Buddhist monks who have trained and practiced this art form for well over 2,000 years. As a Monk, I practice daily what I teach and what has been passed down to me directly from other Monks. Once we realize that our mind is our only true companion on the journey through life, we find the value in these teachers to be priceless.

The Wealthy Land Owner’s Flowers Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy landowner who had a passion for flowers, he was extremely fond of the chrysanthemum flowers and had the whole of his land planted with these wonderful things, he would spend a great amount of time and effort to cultivate and care for them. Our wealthy landowner paid more attention to the care of his chrysanthemums than he did to his wife and children, Many times his wife and children had been scolded and punished for accidentally breaking off one of the flowering blooms. This created a tense and unhappy household where everyone felt miserable. On one particular morning when his children were playing as usual, a football accidentally broke more than one flower, and our wealthy landowner became furiously enraged. He ordered his child into solitary confinement for a month. The child became so upset and angry at his father for being so unreasonable that he decided to commit suicide as a punishment to his father. This tragic news soon spread far and wide and came to a little village where it fell upon the ears of an enlightened Monk. Immediately the monk decided that he should help the wealthy landowner and his son. Not content with a temporary measure, our Monk had resolved to effect a permanent solution to the landlord and his flowers. One rainy night when the chrysanthemums were in their full bloom, our Monk sneaked into the wealthy landowner's garden with a sickle and cut down every single chrysanthemum. Hearing a strange sound coming from outside the wealthy landowner looked out and saw someone destroying all his flowers. He instantly rushed outside to confront the flower assailant, wielding his sword, he demanded to know what the Monk was doing. The Monk turned and calmly replied, “Even beautiful flowers become like weeds, eventually they become ranked if they are not cut” “These flowers have become like weeds in your mind, your very passion for these flowers has blinded you to the truth around you” Instantly the wealthy landowner realised how wrong he had been. He could see how his passion for his flowers had become all-consuming and he could see the destruction it was causing to the life around him, It was like awakening from a dream. From that time onward, he vowed to follow the Monk’s advice and bring peace to his mind, he was determined never to lose sight or be blinded by his desires to the point where he forgot the true importance of life. Author: Unknown Moral of the story We all sometimes find we lose sight of what is truly important, Fears of our desires and our dreams can become all-consuming if we are not careful, while this is fine and healthy in some cases, don’t become like the wealthy landowner and forsake that which is around.

Letting Go Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman waiting to cross. Scared of the current, the young woman asked if one of the monks could carry her across. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and then departed. As the monks continued on their journey, the other monk became obsessed and preoccupied with his thoughts. Unable to hold his silence any longer he spoke out. “Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that young woman up and onto your shoulders then carried her across the river, breaking this most sacred rule” “Brother,” the second monk calmly replied, “this happened many many miles back, it was I who carried the young woman and it was I who placed her down on the other side, over an hour ago. So why, brother, are you still carrying her? Author: Unknown Moral of the story We all can become obsessed with thoughts running around in our minds, letting Go is easy to say but sometimes seems so difficult to do. Mastering this vital skill for happiness requires practice and training of the mind. Seeing how we naturally Let Go of sense impressions that have no interest in helps us see the skills needed to truly Let Go. Meditation is about observing or watching the mind function and how each action has an equal and opposite reaction, seeing this dance of consciousness is humanity's true purpose to living a fully satisfying life without the need for constantly more!

The Six Worthy Ways Once upon a time, a rich man was living in Benares, in northern India. He had a son who was intelligent, curious, and eager to learn. Even though he was only seven years old, he was determined to find out what was valuable. One day the little boy asked his father, “What are the ways to gain the most valuable things in life?” His father said, “Only worthy ways lead to worthwhile goals. These are the six worthy ways: Keep Yourself Fit Be Wholesome in Every Way Listen to those with more experience Learn from those with more knowledge Live according to the truth Act with sincerity not just energy The boy paid close attention to his father’s words. He tried hard to practice these ways from then on. As he grew up and became wise, he realized that the six worthy ways, and the most valuable things in life, could not be separated. Moral of The Story: A serious question deserves a serious answer

The Monk and the Snake Once a very long time ago there lived a Hermit Monk. He preferred to spend his time well away from the trappings of society and instead sought seclusion within nature to deepen his meditation practice. He would still visit the local village early each morning to collect his alms food. And this had been the way our Monk lived for many years. One fine afternoon, after our Monk had received his alms food he found his usual meditation cushion. And started to practice Samadhi Meditation and began to be aware of his breathing. His concentration became so great our Monk sat for a very long time. He didn’t notice the large snake coming closer and closer. Our Monk was absorbed with the one-pointed concentration that he had become as still as a tree. The large snake didn’t even notice the silent and still Monk who was meditating as still as a tree. All he noticed was a nice warm sleeping spot in those Monks' robes all draped around his crossed legs, and in the sunshine. Our snake snuggled into the monk's lap and fell fast asleep. Many Days Passed An hour or so passed like this with our Monk in a deep mediative concentration. And our snake was fast asleep on his lap. Slowly the Monk returned his concentration to his surroundings and began to become aware of an unusual weight in his lap. You can imagine the surprise of the Monk as he glanced down into his lap. As bold as brass a very large snake had indeed curled up in his lap and fallen fast asleep. Fear grasped our Monk who instantly closed his eyes and started meditating again. He calmed himself and remembered his training. All things are impermanent and forever changing. He knew without a doubt the snake would move on again, and so he stayed in Meditation But our snake was very comfortable and didn’t want to move, he stayed where he was fast asleep. This went on for many hours and then many days. Eventually, the villagers started to notice the absence of their Monk and decided to visit him. The villagers came with food and offerings. However, as they approached they noticed the Monk sat silently in Meditation. They were all so absorbed with the serenity of the Monk and his stillness that they didn’t notice the snake curled up fast asleep in his lap. Slowly each villager bowed concerning the meditating monk and left their offerings and our monk to his meditation. Life went on like this for many, many days. Our Monk out of fear in a deep mediative concentration. The snake is fast asleep on his lap all comfortable as can be. And the villagers come every day to offer food. At last, the snake finally moved on Finally, our snake found he had become hungry. He uncurled himself from the monk's lap and stretched his biggest stretch. And slowly slithered off in search of food. Our Monk also slowly came out of meditation but something had changed deep within. He had sat for many days in complete absorption of his mind. And now we can see as clearly as a mountain lake the processes within our minds. He could see that which causes humanity so much pain and suffering, he had attained enlightenment. Moral of the Story: Sometimes Fear can compel us to do some remarkable things but also has the power to cripple our thinking. Every one of us has experienced fear in our lives and it is how we move forward not allowing that fear to consume our thinking that is the key. Fear is a natural response to changeable and uncertain situations. To attach to that fear and live life within her is not a natural response, this is overthinking. If fear is having a crippling effect on your decision-making, we are overthinking life and need to find a way to relax. Meditation helps to calm the mind and settle overthinking. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

The Meditating Security Guard An Inspirational Short Story Once upon a time, an Enlightenment Being was born into a rich and powerful family. When he grew up he became dissatisfied with the ordinary pleasures of the world and so gave up his former lifestyle, including his wealth and position. He went to the foothills of the Himalayas to become a holy man in the search for enlightenment. What the bandits didn’t know was that the holy man was so deep in meditation that he didn’t notice them at all — or anything else for that matter! So they kept waiting for him to fall asleep. And he just kept walking and walking and walking — until the light of dawn finally began to appear. Only then was he finished meditating. The Bandits Threw Down their weapons Having had no chance to rob the caravan, the bandits threw down their weapons in frustration. They shouted, “Hey you in the caravan! If your security guard hadn’t stayed up all night, walking under that tree, we would have robbed you all! You should reward him well!” With that they left in search of someone else to rob. When it became light the people in the caravan saw the clubs and stones left behind by the bandits. Trembling with fear, they went over to the holy man. They greeted him respectfully and asked if he had seen the bandits. “Yes, this morning I did,” he said. “Weren’t you scared?” they asked. “No,” said the Enlightenment Being, “the sight of bandits is only frightening to the rich. But I’m not a rich man. I own nothing of any value to robbers. So why should I be afraid of them? I have no anxiety in a village, and no fear in the forest. Possessing only loving-kindness and compassion, I follow the straight path leading to Truth.” In this manner he preached the way of fearlessness to the lucky people of the caravan. His words made them feel peaceful, and they honored him. After a long life developing the Four Heavenly States of Mind, he died and was reborn in a high heaven world. Author: Unknown Moral of the story: Sometimes it pays to have a holy man around and to learn the way of truth and wisdom. mindfulness brings us back to the present moment where we begin to see our true nature, its just thought and our thinking that’s getting in the way, clouding our minds, follow the path to true liberation. On this fine day in question, our holy man ran out of salt. He decided to go and collect alms, while we were walking he came upon a caravan of people and horses and decided to join it for part of his journey. In the evening they all stopped and made camp. The holy man began walking at the foot of a big nearby tree. He concentrated his mind on meditation until he entered a high mental state. He remained in that state throughout the night, while continuing to walk. Meanwhile Meanwhile, bandits meaning to do no good had surrounded the campsite. They had waited until after supper when everyone had settled down for the night. But before they could attack, they noticed the holy man. They said to each other, “That man must be the guard on security. If he sees us, he’ll warn the rest. So let’s wait until he falls asleep, and then do our robbing and looting!”