Wisdom2be 5/9/21 Wisdom2be 5/9/21

“The Banquet” - A Sufi Story

A poor man dressed in rags came to the palace to attend the banquet. Out of courtesy he was admitted but, because of his tattered clothing, he was seated at the very end of the banquet table. By the time the platters arrived at his seat, there was no food left on them.

So he left the banquet, returning several hours later dressed in robes and jewels he had borrowed from a wealthy friend. This time he was brought immediately to the head of the table and, with great ceremony, food was brought to his seat first.

DRAWING: “Old Man 2” by Harkale-Linai

Wisdom2be 5/2/21 Wisdom2be 5/2/21

“Blue Mountain” by Li Bai (also known as Li Po or Li Bo) (701-762)

Why dwell in the Blue Mountain

I laugh without answering

The silence of water and blossoming flowers

A world beyond the red dust of living

Wisdom2be 4/25/21 Wisdom2be 4/25/21

Lu Dongbin's Yellow Millet Dream

At the moment when his mother gave him birth an unearthly perfume pervaded the house, and strains of celestial music were wafted from the sky, and a white crane from heaven flew down between the curtains of her bed and was seen no more. Even when a newly-born infant his frame was strong as metal, and his muscles hard as wood. The crown of his head formed a high dome resembling a crane's; his back was arched like that of a tortoise; his eyes were as brilliant as those of a phœnix; and his eyebrows extended on either side to meet the hair round the temples.

Wisdom2be 4/18/21 Wisdom2be 4/18/21

“The Turtle” by Chuang Tzu

Chuang Tzu with his bamboo pole was fishing in the Pu river. The prince of Chu sent two vice-chancellors with a formal document: “We hereby appoint you prime minister.” …

YOU’VE GOT TO LOVE CHUANG TZU

Wisdom2be 4/11/21 Wisdom2be 4/11/21

“Richard Seltzer tells this story of love”

Yale University surgeon named Richard Seltzer. Richard Seltzer tells this story of love.

“I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face post operative, her mouth twisted and palsy clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The surgeon had followed, with religious fervor, the curve of her flesh. I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor from her cheek I had to cut the little nerve

Wisdom2be 4/4/21 Wisdom2be 4/4/21

“The Lord’s Prayer” — a contemporary translation from Aramaic by Neil Douglas-Klotz

Abwoon d’bwashmaya

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos/ you create all that moves in light.

Nethqadash shmakh

Focus your light within us–make it useful: as the rays of a beacon show the way.

Teytey malkuthakh

Create your reign of unity now–through our firey hearts and willing hands.

SUPPORT NEIL DOUGLAS-KLOTZ’S FINE EFFORTS

Wisdom2be 3/28/21 Wisdom2be 3/28/21

“The Pencil's Tale” — Author Unknown

An old pencil maker took his newest pencil aside, just before he was about to pack him into a box. Imagining the little fellow as a person he recalled a few things about the pencil.

“There are five things you need to know,” he said…

Wisdom2be 3/21/21 Wisdom2be 3/21/21

The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge” by Carlos Castaneda

Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary.