Two seeds

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile soil.

The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me … I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring … I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!” And so she grew…

The second seed said, “Hmmmm. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts … what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.” And so she waited…

A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

A rat trap

A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a rat trap. Retreating to the farmyard the rat proclaimed the warning; "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Rat, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The rat turned to the pig and told him, "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!" "I am so very sorry Mr. Rat," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured that you are in my prayers."

The rat turned to the cow. She said, "Like wow, Mr. Rat. A rat trap. I am in grave danger. Duh?"

So the rat returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's rat trap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.

So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk.

 

A beautiful heart

"The more hurt and pain you have gone through in life, the stronger and more beautiful your heart will be..."

One day, a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley.

A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.

Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said, "Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine."

The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly, but it was full of scars. It had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.

The people stared. How can he say his heart is more beautiful? The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed.

"You must be joking," he said.

"Compare your heart with mine. Mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."

"Yes," said the old man,

"Yours is perfect looking but I would never trade mine with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love - I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart. But because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared. Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges - giving love is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting for them. So now do you see what true beauty is?"

The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands.

The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fits, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges.

The young man looked at his heart. It was not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man's heart flowed into his.

They embraced and walked away side by side.

How sad it must be to go through life with a whole heart.

Remember... Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching.

What good is your heart if you have never given it to someone? What good is your heart if you stop loving? You were given your heart to share, love, hurt, smile and feel emotions so allow your heart to beat and beat loudly! Love conquers all. Love yourself and others will run towards your loving beating heart! Hence, go through life spreading your love and be loved in return and you'll live a richer life than a billionaire.

The travelling monks at the river

Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they 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 departed.

As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. “Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried her!”

“Brother,” the second monk replied, “I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her.”
 

Phần dịch:

Hai nhà sư hành khuất đi đến con sông, gặp một người phụ nữ trẻ. Lo sợ dòng nước, người phụ nữ nhờ họ cõng cô qua sông. Một nhà sư lưỡng lự, nhưng người kia nhanh chóng cõng cô trên vai, vượt sông và để cô ở bờ bên kia sông. Người phụ nữ cảm ơn và rời đi.

Khi tiếp tục cuộc hành trình, nhà sư còn lại nghiền ngẫm và lo lắng. Không thể giữ yên lặng được nữa, nhà sư ấy nói: "Sư huynh, giáo lý dạy chúng ta tránh đụng chạm đến phụ nữ nhưng sao huynh để cô ấy đứng lên vai và cõng cô qua sông."
 

Vị sư huynh đáp: "Sư đệ, ta đã để cô ấy ở bên kia sông, nhưng đệ vẫn còn đang cõng cô ấy đấy.".

Helping hands

A mother, wishing to encourage her son's progress at the piano, bought tickets to a performance by the great Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski. When the evening arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on the stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away.

At eight o'clock, the lights in the auditorium began to dim, the spotlights came on, and only then did they notice the boy - up on the piano bench, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." His mother gasped in shock and embarassment but, before she could retrieve her son, the master himself appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard.

He whispered gently to the boy, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side and improvised a delightful obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized with their blended and beautiful music.

In all our lives, we receive helping hands - some we notice, some we don't. Equally we ourselves have countless opportunites to provide helping hands - sometimes we would like our assistance to be noticed, sometimes we don't. Little of what we all achieve is without learning from others and without support from others and what we receive we should hand out.

The hedgehogs

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold.

The hedgehogs, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

The two wolves

A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one." The grandson asked him, "Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?" The grandfather answered: "The one I feed."
 

Phần dịch:

Người ông Mỹ bản địa nói chuyện với cháu trai của mình về việc ông cảm thấy như thế nào. Người ông nói: "Ông cảm thấy như có hai con sói đang đánh nhau trong trái tim mình: một con sói thì thù hận, giận dữ và bạo lực, con sói kia thì yêu thương, trắc ẩn tình thương". Người cháu hỏi: "Con sói nào sẽ giành chiến thắng trong cuộc chiến của trái tim ông ạ?" Người ông trả lời: "Con được ông cho ăn."

King Arthur and the witch

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question?....What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.

He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.

Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life! Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.

The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened

The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day...or night?

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments?

Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.

Phần dịch:

Vị vua Arthur trẻ tuổi bị phục kích và giam cầm bởi quốc vương nước láng giềng. Vị quốc vương đáng lẽ đã xử tử Arthur nhưng do cảm phục tuổi trẻ và lý tưởng của Arthur. Cho nên, ông hứa sẽ thả tự do cho chàng với một điều kiện là chàng phải giải đáp được một câu đố cực kỳ khó. Arthur có một năm để suy nghĩ câu trả lời và nếu sau thời hạn này, vẫn không có lời giải đáp thì chàng sẽ bị giết chết.

Câu hỏi? ... Phụ nữ muốn điều gì nhất? Một câu hỏi như thế còn làm lúng túng ngay cả một người am hiểu nhất, và đối với Arthur trẻ tuổi, điều này dường như là câu đố không thể giải đáp được. Nhưng như vậy còn tốt hơn phải chết, chàng chấp nhận đề nghị có câu trả lời vào cuối năm.

Chàng quay lại vương quốc của mình và bắt đầu thăm dò ý kiến mọi thần dân: công chúa, các tu sĩ, những nhà thông thái và thậm chí tên hề trong hoàng cung. Chàng kể với tất cả mọi người nhưng không ai có thể cho chàng một câu trả lời vừa lòng. Nhiều người khuyên chàng hỏi ý kiến mụ phù thủy già, vì chỉ mụ ta mới có câu trả lời. Nhưng cái giá để có câu trả lời sẽ rất cao, vì mụ ta nổi tiếng khắp vương quốc là lấy giá cắt cổ.

Ngày cuối cùng của năm đã đến và Arthur không còn lựa chọn đành nhờ đến mụ phù thuỷ. Mụ ta đồng ý trả lời câu đố, nhưng chàng phải chấp nhận giá yêu cầu của mụ trước. Mụ phù thủy già muốn kết hôn với Ngài Lancelot, hiệp sĩ ưu tú nhất trong Hội Bàn Tròn và là người bạn thân nhất của Arthur! Arthur vô cùng kinh hãi. Mụ phụ thuỷ bị gù lưng và gớm guốc, chỉ có độc nhất một cái răng, hôi thối như mùi nước cống, phát ra những âm thanh tục tĩu… Chàng chưa từng gặp một con người kinh tởm như vậy trong đời mình.

Chàng từ chối ép bạn mình kết hôn với mụ ta và phải gánh chịu hậu quả khủng khiếp đến như vậy; nhưng Lancelot, sau khi biết lời đề nghị, nói chuyện với Arthur. Chàng nói sự hy sinh chẳng có gì to tát so với việc đổi lấy tính mạng của Arthur và sự duy trì của Hội Bàn Tròn.

Do đó, đám cưới được công bố và mụ phù thuỷ đã trả lời câu hỏi của Arthur như sau: “Điều một người phụ nữ mong muốn nhất là”, mụ trả lời “… là được tự quyết định cuộc đời của chính mình!” Mọi người trong vương quốc đều nhanh chóng nhận ra rằng điều mụ phù thuỷ nói là đúng và Arthur sẽ được tha mạng. Và thế là quốc vương nước láng giềng trả tự do cho Arthur, Lancelot và mụ phù thuỷ đã có một đám cưới linh đình.

Khi thời gian trăng mật đến và Lancelot, lấy hết can đảm chuẩn bị cho sự trải nghiệm kinh hoàng này, bước vào phòng ngủ. Nhưng, cảnh tượng bất ngờ chờ đợi anh ấy. Một người phụ nữ xinh đẹp tuyệt trần mà chàng chưa từng thấy đang nằm trên giường chờ chàng. Lancelot vô cùng kinh ngạc đã hỏi chuyện gì đã xảy ra.

Người đẹp trả lời vì chàng vẫn đối xử tử tế với nàng khi nàng xuất hiện dưới vỏ bọc một mụ phù thuỷ xấu xí, cho nên từ nay trở đi một nửa thời gian trong ngày, nàng sẽ trở về hình dạng xấu xí, nửa ngày còn lại, nàng sẽ là một giai nhân tuyệt sắc. Chàng thích cái nào hơn? Đẹp vào vào ban ngày… hay ban đêm?

Lancelot phân vân suy nghĩ. Nếu chọn ban ngày, chàng sẽ có thể đem vợ đẹp khoe khoang với bạn bè, nhưng khi đêm về, trong cuộc sống riêng tư trong lâu đài của mình, là một mụ phù thuỷ già ư? Hoặc chàng sẽ chọn có một mụ phù thủy gớm guốc vào ban ngày, nhưng đêm đến, sẽ có mỹ nhân để tận hưởng những giây phút gần gũi tuyệt diệu?

Lancelot ưu tú đã trả lời rằng chàng sẽ để NÀNG tự quyết định. Sau khi nghe câu trả lời, nàng tuyên bố bất kể ngày hay đêm nàng sẽ ở mãi trong hình hài xinh đẹp này vì chàng đã tôn trọng nàng và để nàng tự quyết định cuộc đời của chính mình.