Story of the month

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=180 BGCOLOR="#663366" TEXT="#080000" background="044c6172dkcfuy.gif"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.trellix.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.trellix.com"><U><B><IMG SRC="04f52280.gif" border=0 width="82" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#CC99CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#663366" FACE="Arial" >Wisdom Tales</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Times New Roman" >    </FONT> |    <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wisdom Tales"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>Story of the month </B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TellMeAnuda "><U>TellMeAnuda </U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holiday Tips"><U>Holiday Tips</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bibliography"><U>Bibliography</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Previous Stories"><U>Previous Stories</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stories for Peace 9/11"><U>Stories for Peace & 9/11</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles"><U>Articles</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Storytelling and Healing"><U>Storytelling and Healing</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04af0030.gif" border=0 width="496" height="3" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Story of the month </div> <div>      Every few months I will feature a wisdom tale. It may be a story from a specific spiritual or cultural tradition, or it may be a literary tale for which I was able to get copyright permission. It may or may not be included in my book. I will include source information at the end of each story.</div> <div>    Following the story I will offer some suggestions for ways of looking at the story.  I may offer a personal or biographical story to aide readers in making connections to their own lives.</div> <div>    I hope that you will write me with responses to the stories and the follow-up suggestions.  I would love to hear your personal stories and any suggestions that you may have for other wisdom tales that speak to the themes in this months story. </div> <div>    You will also find stories geared for children aged 5-13 at my character ed site www.wisdomtales.com/character.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Broom Master - A Buddhist Tale from Tibet </B></div> <div> Adapted by Elisa Pearmain </div> <bR> <div>           The children at the village school laughed at Chunda. They said that the boy was a simpleton because no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to learn to read or write. But the adults of the village were fond of Chunda, for he had a kind heart, and though he was a wisp of a teen, he was always willing to help, running an errand or sweeping a front yard. </div> <div>       Chunda admired his older brother Raj above all else. Raj, who was a couple of years older than Chunda was a bright scholar. When he turned 16, he decided to move to the city to study Buddhism at the monastery.  Chunda begged to go with him, and his brother found a way for Chunda to live at the monastery and to earn his keep by working. </div> <div>      At the monastery Chunda swept the yards, and clapped the dirt from the sandals of the monks as they came in for the evening meal. He watched and listened as the young monks sat in long conversations. How he wished that he could join in, but he would remember how the children had laughed at him, and his shame always drove him away. Chunda's brother noticed his brother's sadness and longing, and spoke to him. “Chunda, perhaps you could study to be a monk as well."    </div> <div>       “But how could I become a monk?” He asked, “I can't read or write, or memorize?”</div> <div> “ There is more to becoming a monk than book learning. Go to see the Buddha (who was the master of the monastery at that time) and tell him your wishes. He is wise, and compassionate.” </div> <div>         So Chunda went and sat before the Buddha who quickly saw that he was an honest young man of pure heart. He gave Chunda just one line of scripture to learn. It was the first of hundreds that each monk was expected to learn by heart. </div> <div> "Give up negative actions. Free yourself from negative thoughts." </div> <div> Chunda tried and tried to learn the short passage, but he had to repeatedly ask for help, and once he had learned the first line, he would forget it when he began to learn the second. </div> <div> Chunda returned to the Buddha and told him what had happened. The kind man sat in silence for some time. Finally, an idea occurred to him. “Chunda, you are a hard worker are you not?' he asked. “Yes master." </div> <div> "I would like to give you a special job. I want you to sweep the temple hall each day. Can you do that?" </div> <div>           “Oh yes, teacher.” Chunda said, jumping up with delight. “That is something I can do well.” </div> <div>           “Very well then, Chunda. I will give you the job of sweeping the temple. That is all that you must do, but as you sweep the floors you must speak these two lines to yourself, over and over: "Sweep away the dust, sweep away the dirt." Can you remember that?”</div> <div>      “Sweep away the dust, sweep away the dirt. Yes, that is easy, because that is what I will be doing!” Chunda set off to begin his work. Every day he did sweep the temple, all day long, and as he swept he kept up a rhythm, “Sweep away the dust” he would say with each  sweep out, and “Sweep away the dirt,” with each sweep back. Often he would get lost in thought and he would forget to say the lines. Luckily the other monks knew what he was supposed to be chanting, and they would remind him, and he would go back to is work. "Sweep away the dust, sweep away the dirt."  </div> <div>      Then one day the Buddha came upon Chunda who was standing still, thinking hard about something. "Chunda, where is your mind right now." </div> <div>      "Oh sorry, Master, I should be sweeping," No, Chunda," he smiled, "share your thoughts."</div> <div> "Well I was thinking that you are a wise man, and you have given me these lines to say about something that I know how to do. When I remember to say them I feel at peace. You have not given me any more lines. Do you mean for me to learn something more from this?" </div> <div>      "Yes Chunda. You have found the peace that is there for us in the present moment. Now I want you to think about this: You are sweeping clean the dirt from the temple. Think also about sweeping clean the inner dust and dirt in your mind." </div> <div>         "But what are inner dust and inner dirt?"</div> <div>       "Well, Chunda, think of the nature of dust and dirt: They cover what is beautiful and clean, and cloud what is clear. And dust and dirt often cover those things that are old and of no more use to us. It is also the nature of dust that we can see it in the air, but when we grasp for it, it is not there, just like thoughts of the future or the past. Think on this and notice when your thoughts are clouding you from the present moment, and causing unhappiness, and notice when you cling to old ways of thinking."</div> <div>  Chunda went back to sweeping. One day he noticed that he was often longing to sit with the other students as they talked about the things they were learning. "But," he would think to himself, "I am not worthy to sit and talk with the other monks and students my age, for I cannot read nor write." This way of seeing and thinking was like dirt, it was an old way of seeing himself that kept him from happiness. "I should sweep these thoughts from my mind." He thought. "Sweep away the dust, sweep away the dirt." He felt peaceful again. </div> <div> Another time he noticed that he was often living in the future wishing, "If only, if only I could read and write like the others, then …" These wishing thoughts were like dust. He was always trying to grasp things out of his reach, and missing the present moment. "Sweep away the dust, sweep away the dirt." </div> <div>           Chunda went and shared his insights with the Buddha who again smiled. "Ah Chunda, you are doing very well. Tell me, can you stop and enjoy the beauty of a clean temple after you have swept?" "Yes, master." "Good then, " smiled the Buddha, "I hope you will now remember to also stop to notice the simple joy of a clean inner temple, as well as an outer one." </div> <div>           Chunda did stop to notice, and he continued to sweep the inner dirt, and the outer dirt, and to stop often to experience the peace of the present moment, and the simple joy that was there when all negative thoughts were gone. </div> <div>           And in this way Chunda continued to sweep, to chant and to ponder on the nature of grasping and clinging, and the peace of living in the present moment. In time the other students noticed his peace, and began to talk with him. He was able to share his wisdom with other monks. As the years passed his wisdom and inner peace grew. He became known as The Broom Master, and many came to hear his simple, yet profound wisdom. </div> <bR> <div> Sources: </div> <div> Conover, Sarah, "The Broom Master" in <I>Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents,</I> (Spokane, WA: Eastern WA University Press, 2001) pp. 68-71.</div> <div> Lama Surya Das, "Greatness of Heart is What Counts," in <I>The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane: Wisdom Tales from Tibet</I>. Pp. 45-48. </div> <bR> <div> Follow-up Suggestions:</div> <div>          Start by just noticing what strikes you about the story. Is it a phrase, and image, an idea or a memory? Write it down or talk about it with others. </div> <bR> <div> Share the story</div> <div>      The best way to ponder a story is to share it. By retelling it in your own words, you are internalizing it and drawing out what is most important in the story to you. Two people would likely retell it quite differently. To retell it, you may want to read it several times, and then write an outline of the main sequence of events. You may also wish to find the other sources of the story, which are both, quite different. Please note that in the written versions the details of Chunda's insights are omitted. I have projected these examples of dust and dirt, which reflect my own connections to the story. You may wish to substitute those that feel more natural for you. </div> <bR> <div> Questions to ponder:</div> <div>      As you go about your life or sit in meditation, what do you notice that you grasp for? Do you make "if only" statements? Do you tell yourself, "If only" stories, as to how your life could be different if only certain circumstances were different? Write or tell these to someone else. Notice when they come up and try to sweep them away rather than falling into these story thoughts. Come back to the present moment.</div> <div>      Do you notice yourself clinging to old ways of thinking about yourself and what is possible for you? Do you have relationships or habits that are old and familiar but harmful? Do you find yourself thinking a lot about the past? Again, notice when these thoughts come up and try to sweep them away, and to bring yourself back to the present moment. </div> <bR> <div>      This story represents mindfulness in action, as the character learns a meditation technique that helps him to continually notice where his thoughts are and to bring himself back to the present moment. He uses a mantra and a repeated action. You might like to try simply watching your breath, or counting from one to ten over and over, or cultivating images of peaceful scenes in your imagination. See my suggestions for practicing mindfulness and my bibliography of resources on mindfulness on this site. </div> <bR> <div> Suggested activity to do with a partner or small group:</div> <div>      The listeners pretend to be Buddha like, giving the teller total compassion, and nonjudgmental stance.  The teller sees themselves as Chunda did, going to the Buddha for insight. As the teller, share with the listeners some of what you cling to or grasp for in your thought patterns. Are there areas of your life where you hold on to or frequently find yourself having fear thoughts, or shame, or other thoughts that keep you from living in the present moment? Share these with your Buddha listeners, and practice sweeping them away from your mind as they come up. </div> <div>       Also notice - When negative or troublesome thoughts are swept away, what does it feel like without them? Can you feel a sense of peace? Is there love underneath, or is there more fear to deal with? Often we feel that we must be vigilant in our thinking to keep bad things from happening and to find the best outcomes to our problems. Actually a quiet mind is the most alert to creative solutions, and to handling crisis in the moment, than one encumbered by disquieting thoughts. </div> <bR> <div> See my bibliography for suggestions of many other tales to inspire your mindfulness practice. Many mindfulness related tales can be found in my award-winning collection of tales <I>Doorways to the Soul </I>(Pilgrim Press 1998). See my resources page. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Mindfulness Bibliography </B></div> <div> Compiled by Elisa Pearmain  M.Ed, M.A.  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><A HREF="http://www.wisdomtales.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wisdomtales.com"><U><U>www.wisdomtales.com</U></U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <div> <B>Resources Containing Mindfulness Related Stories </B></div> <div> Brody, et al<I>. Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope</I>: Stories of Peace, Justice, and the Environment (Philadelphia: New Society Publishers l992) </div> <div> Bruchac & Caduto, <I>Keepers of the Animals</I>, (Golden, CO: Fulcrum Press, 1990).</div> <div> Conover, Sarah, <I>Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents</I> (Spokane WA: Eastern Washington University Press, 2001). </div> <div> DeMello, Anthony, Song of the Bird, & One Minute Wisdom, (NY: Doubleday, 1982,'85,)</div> <div> DeRoin, Nancy, <I>Jataka Tales,</I> (NY: Dell Publishing Co. Inc., 1977)</div> <div> Downing, Charles, <I>Tales of the Hodja</I> (New York: Henry Z. Walck, 1965).</div> <div> Feldman & Kornfield<I>, Soul Food: Stories to Nourish the Spirit and the Heart</I> (HarperSanFran, l996).</div> <div> Forest, Heather, <I>Wisdom Tales From around the World</I> (Little Rock: August House 1997) </div> <div> Kopp, Sheldon, <I>If you Meet the Buddha on the Road Kill Him: The Pilgrimage of Psychotherapy Patients </I>(Bantam Books, 1972). </div> <div> Martin, Rafe - <I>The Sound of One Hand Clapping</I>, </div> <div> MacDonald, M. R., <I>Peace Tales</I>  (Hamden, CT: Linnet Books l992)</div> <div> Pearmain, Elisa, <I>Doorways to the Soul: Fifty-Two Wisdom Tales  </I>(Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 1998).  </div> <div> Reps, Paul, <I>Zen Flesh, Zen Bones</I>, (Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle, 1947) </div> <div> Shah, Idries, <I>The Way of the Sufi</I>, (NY: E.P. Dutton, l970) & The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudhin (NY: Simon & Schuster, l966). </div> <div> Surya Das, <I>The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane</I>: <I>Wisdom Tales From Tibet</I> (1992) New York: Harper Collins Publishers. </div> <div> Swami Prakashananda, <I>Don't Think of a Monkey</I> - (Freemont, CA: Sarasvati Pubs, 1994).</div> <div> Yolen, Jane, <I>Favorite Folktales from around the World</I>, (NY: Random House 1986).</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.healingstory.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.healingstory.org"><U><U>www.healingstory.org</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" >   See “The Forum” for examples of stories and follow-up activities used in therapeutic settings.</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.wisdomtales.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wisdomtales.com"><U><U>www.wisdomtales.com</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" > See both the Wisdom Tales featured stories and the Character Ed featured stories for stories and follow-up activities. </FONT></div> <div> <B>Resources on Mindfulness in the Therapeutic Setting </B></div> <div> Eastoak, Sandy Ed. <I>Dharma Family Treasures: Sharing Buddhism with Children</I> ( Berkely,CA: North Atlantic Books, l994).</div> <div> Epstein, Mark M.D. <I>Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness</I>, (l998). New York: Broadway Books. (Also see <I>Thoughts Without a Thinker</I> by same author). </div> <div> Epstein, Mark M.D., <I>What the Buddha Felt: A Buddhist Psychiatrist Points the Way to Uncommon Happiness</I>, (Sounds True audiocassette 2001) </div> <div> Kabat-Zinn, Jon, <I>Mindfulness Meditation</I> (NY: Simon & Schuster, 1995)------<I>Wherever you go, There you Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Everyday Life.</I> (Also available in audio from Audio Renaissance Tapes, Los Angeles, CA.)------<I>, Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness</I> (Also available in audio.)</div> <div> <I>Linehan, Marsha, M</I>.  Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder.<I> (New York: Guilford Press, 1993). Includes many useful handouts on Mindfulness, and Tolerating Emotions. </I></div> <div> Thich Nhat Hanh, <I>The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual of Meditation</I> (Boston: Beacon Press, 1987).</div> <div> Tolle, Eckhart, <I>The Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from The Power of Now </I>(Novato, CA: New World Library, 199 ) See Sounds True, Boulder, CA for audio version. </div> <bR> <div> -  The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy - <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><A HREF="http://www.meditationandpsychotherapy.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.meditationandpsychotherapy.or"><U><U>www.meditationandpsychotherapy.org</U></U></A></FONT></div> <div> 35 Pleasant St., Newton, MA. 02459 (978) 526-4095, Offers workshops around MA.</div> <bR> <div> Steps for Practicing Mindfulness   by Elisa Pearmain M.A. </div> <bR> <div> Mindfulness: A state of quiet awareness, that is fully present to each moment we are in.  </div> <div> The present moment is the only moment in life that we have control over. Here we can change the way that we react to triggering situations. Here we can change the future, by making good decisions in each moment. Here we can begin to raise our self-esteem, by making healthy choices, and by learning to know, manage and accept our feelings. We cannot change the past, but we can change the power it has over us in the present, through mindful self-awareness. The present moment is often a peaceful place too!</div> <bR> <div> 1) Start by stretching and relaxing your body. </div> <div> Stretching is a wonderful way to start, as it can anchor your awareness of your body in this moment, and quiet your mind. Do a quick all over stretch. Pay attention to the tension in your face, and consciously let your jaw drop and your mouth open slightly. You might like to do a progressive relaxation, in which you bring awareness to each part of your body and consciously relax it, for a deeply calming experience. </div> <bR> <div> 2) Bring your awareness to your breath. </div> <div> Try some deep, slow breathing to calm yourself. Empty your lungs of all air, and feel how deeply you can fill your belly when you breathe in again. Continue to focus on deepening your breath, by breathing in through your nose to the count of 7. Make sure you are filling up your belly full of breath, not just your upper chest area.  Hold the breath for two counts. Then breath out through your mouth slowly, as if trying to make a flame dance, to the count of 8. Repeat this a number of times. Then just breathe deeply, and slowly, perhaps repeating a suggestive word such as: Relaxing, calming, or letting go.</div> <div> The breath is perhaps the best anchor to the present moment, as it is always happening.</div> <div> Notice your breathing, but do not try to control it, as you did in the initial relaxation. Let it come naturally. Try saying to yourself, “In,” as it comes in, and “Out,” as it flows out, or focus on an area in your body where you feel the flow of breath in and out, such as your stomach, or your nostrils. If thoughts come in to your mind, just notice them and let them go, and return to the breath. If a breath focus doesn't work well, try the ideas below.</div> <bR> <div> 3) Other ways to anchor in the present moment.</div> <div> If focusing on your breath doesn't work for you, then let that go, and try another method. You can count over and over, from one to five, ten or one hundred, picturing the numbers in your mind. You can also repeat a word over and over such as, “Peace,” or “One.” You do not have to close your eyes. Try lowering your gaze, or concentrating on a simple object, or task. You can also simply sit or lie quietly, observing your mind and body without judgment. You do not even have to be “meditating”, to practice mindful awareness. Try to practice it when you are eating, or doing other simple tasks. Put your concentration fully into what you are doing: Fold towels, iron, garden. Go for a walk and put your awareness on each step. When the mind wanders, notice it, and bring it back. </div> <div> Ultimately the goal is to be mindful all of the time, so it helps to find anchors to mindfulness in many parts of our lives. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 4) Observe your body in the present moment. </div> <div> Notice how your body feels in this moment. Do a body scan, feeling the energy in every cell of your body. If you have physical pain, notice how it feels without judging it. Describe it to yourself: Is it sharp, dull? Notice it as a sensation unto itself; separate from the you that is observing it. Notice the thoughts and feelings associated with this pain, and try to step back from them, without judging them. Breathe to relax your muscles.   </div> <bR> <div> 5) Creating images to quiet the mind.</div> <div> Try creating an image for your quiet mind, and for your thoughts while doing mindfulness meditation. Examples of images for quiet mind could be; a lake that is deep and profoundly still underneath. Your thoughts could be like bubbles rising up from the calm lake and disappearing on the surface. You may think of your mind as a mountain, deeply rooted in the earth, still and strong. Thoughts move past as clouds. Some people image a stream and thoughts float by like leaves, or a beach in which a wave washes the thoughts away. When you notice thoughts, you can say, “thinking,” and let the thought pass by. Find an image that works for you.</div> <bR> <div> 6) Observe your thoughts and sensations without judgment.</div> <div> Mindfulness asks us to use a, “Beginners mind”. This means in part, to look at our thoughts and feelings as one who does not know anything about them. We simply notice them, describe them factually, and let them go without judging them. An example of this would be if we felt tension in our stomach, we might describe it by saying to ourselves, “tightness.” If we worry about work, we would say, “worrying,” and let it go. By observing our thoughts and sensations objectively, such as a scientist would, we are separating our selves from them a bit, and simply noticing them. In truth, we are more than our thoughts and sensations, and we can cultivate the part of us that is not caught up in reacting to each thought, feeling and experience. Thoughts will come and go. Do not judge this. Each moment spent practicing is well spent. This is how we change our habits. </div> <bR> <div> 7) Sitting with our feelings mindfully.</div> <div> Knowing and accepting our feelings, is a crucial step to healing. Many of us were discouraged from feeling or expressing our feelings as children. We often need to learn how to feel and express feelings now that we are adults. We need to start by making it safe in our selves to feel. When we judge, hate and avoid aspects of ourselves, and our experience, we add layers of depression, anxiety, and shame to our struggle. We need self-acceptance and awareness, before we can change. The first step in accepting difficult feelings, is to learn to tolerate sitting with them, and getting to know them for what they are. Feelings can feel overwhelming and dangerous. They sometimes need to be felt a little at a time. Try sitting with a feeling, and noticing it without judgment as you did above. Describe it, and notice how it feels in your body. Remind yourself that you are more than your feelings. Remind yourself that you are having the feeling for a reason. Is it a familiar feeling from the past that you don't need anymore? Notice if having this feeling makes you want to do something to get away from it, such as eating, using drugs, or hurting yourself. Choose to step back from that urge, and not to act on it. Use your breath, and senses to calm, and bring yourself back to the present moment, and remember that you have a choice, as to how to act, here and now. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT>Please share these stories with others. That is the best way to get them under your skin, and to make personal meaning from them.  I'd love to know what you think of the Story of the Month page, or to hear suggestions of stories that remind you of this story or theme.  Please write to me at<A HREF="mailto:elisa@wisdomtales.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:elisa@wisdomtales.com"><U> </U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:elisa@wisdomtales.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:elisa@wisdomtales.com"><U>Elisa@wisdomtales.com</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>