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Other entries in my homepage |
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HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE |
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A SIMPLE MATHS PROBLEM |
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WAHOO INSPIRATIONAL SITE |
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WHAT'S A W.I.F.E.? |
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A young man dreamt that he walked into heaven's grocery store where an angel was standing behind a counter. He hastily asked the angel, "What do you sell in this store?"
"Anything, you name it," said the angel. |
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THE BUTTERFLY SYMBOL |
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So the young man began by saying, "I would like a formula to end hunger, and to homelessness. I would like an end to war. I want an end to indifference, to prejudice and all forms of injustice. In short, I want in my grocery bag a formula that will put an end to human suffering." |
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At this point, the angel interrupted and said, "Excuse me, young man, you did not understand me correctly. We don't sell fruits and finished products in this store. We only sell seeds.
Source: Drank Mihalic, The Next 500 Stories, 1993, Logos Publications |
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Tsinoy says: Wow! It's soo . . . profound. And so . . . beyond me. I mean, with all the imperfections in this world, the only help we can ever expect from this celestial being is . . . a seed?
No wonder some people like Howard Bloom think that evil is inborn in humans. Howard Bloom is the author of the book "The Lucifer Principle." The book explores the intricate relationship among genetics, human behavior and culture, and puts forth the thesis that evil is a byproduct of nature's strategies for creation. He suggests that such human foible could have brought about division in ancient and modern history among tribes and nations. Sadly, it has led to the downfall of some great civilizations. It is done in the name of ideology or belief. It is carried out by the strong to dominate the weak. The result is obvious, as violence begets violence. |
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Mr. Bloom offers, however, a glimmer of hope from this grim picture. He says in the epilogue that "while snapping and snarling at each other may be automatic, holding, caring and collaborating is built in us too . . . To the human species, evolution has given us something new - IMAGINATION - Our task is to fashion a world where violence ceases to be." |
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Yes, imagination can be our key to overcome our difficulties. But to make it work, we need to develop our full potential. And this is what the seed in the parable of heaven's grocery store is all about.
How do we nurture this seed? Can it really end suffering? |
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Let me tell you a story. During the sixth century B.C., a young man - born into an aristocratic family in India - had a rude awakening. He found out that human life entails illness, old age and death when one of his servants became seriously ill and died.
This nagging question moved him to leave the comfort of his home in search of the meaning of life. He looked far and wide until one day, while seated under a tree in deep meditation, he experienced enlightenment. From then on, he was known as the Buddha, the awakened one. His teaching on liberation from human suffering and despair is universal, and has remained relevant to this day. |
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The Buddha says that there are four truths of existence that must be learned in order to be freed from personal suffering. The first is the recognition of our pain, and the acceptance that it is borne out of our own confusion, We need not hide it from others from fear of embarrassment or from avoiding being the object of pity. |
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This leads to the second truth - that this dissatisfaction arises within us. We have to own our suffering. We have to be accountable for our life. We have to take responsibility over the fact that we have contributed as well to the circumstances that led us to suffer our fate. Putting the blame on others should end at this stage.
Once we realize this, we are ready to end the source of our pain. This problem-solving stage needs our affirmation that we are equipped to handle any situation because we have the pontential - THE SEED - to overcome our weaknesses. |
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Finally, the fourth truth comes about when you gain insight - when you have freed yourself from that poisonous notion that has held you back and made you undergo pain and suffering.
But how? You undergo change when you no longer feed the source of the problem. When you begin to understand, you attain enlightenment. Thus says the Buddha. |
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Enlightenment, says Osho, is becoming aware of who you are. It has nothing to do with what others say about you. It happens when you focus inwards.
And what do the Christians say? Enlightenment is "conversion" in the truest sense of the word. Conversion means turning inwards. It means changing your ways. or turning a new leaf. It happens when you change your outlook towards life. |
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You undergo change when you no longer feed the source of the problem. |
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It is about your goal. It could be happiness for some, acceptance for others, or leading a full life for most. Some describe it as heavenly bliss. Whatever it is, your goal is not ahead of you. It is within you, because heaven is in you.
In short, change is all a mind's work. But change does not come easy if your notions have been shaped by beliefs and expectations that have remained unchalleged by you. You will therefore |
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need to muster all your energy to drop your old ideas. You don't put new wines into old wineskins (Matthew:9,17). What St. Matthew means is that in order to become receptive to new ideas, you need a new mindset. You must change the memories of your brain cells.
But don't look for the formula that will give you instant wisdom and instant inner strength. Transformation of character is only possible by an uninterrupted round of daily work. This is why heaven's grocery store only offers seeds, because life is about nurturing your beliefs, your talents and capabilities. |
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And what better seed to nurture than the grapeseed. Master Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov suggests in his book "New Light on the Gospels" that the grapeseed is a good example of nurturing a character because it is similar to "planting a vine in your soul, cultivating it, and transforming its fruits into wine." Wine, as we know, is "spirit". It is the wisdom that comes from a long period of "fermenting" ideas. It is the guiding force that keeps you on the straight path, however narrow it is. And this spirit is what you pour into a new wineskin or bottle, which represents your new mindset. Together, they become a powerful combination that leads a person to attain a broader and more tolerant attitude towards life, with all its trials and challenges. |
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May the force be with you. Cheers.
Tsinoy |
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My Info: |
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Tsinoy in Seoul |
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Name: |
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Email: |
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tsinoy999@hotmail.com |
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Wahoo graphics design by Carlo Marco C. Cruz.
Background Music "Across the Universe" by the Beatles. |
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