The Emperor’s Quest Once upon a time, the Emperor of China had no children so there was no one to become the next ruler when he was gone. The Emperor loved plants more than anything, everyone knew this and so they were not surprised when he issued a very special challenge: “I will hold a contest to choose my heir,” he said. “Anyone who wishes… Read More »Spiritual Stories for Children
The Whistling Bird Stories of Prabhat’s unusual ways spread through his school. Many of children were very curious about him. Odd stories about young Prabhat were whispered. Whispered tales circulated—some said Prabhat could understand the songs of birds. Others swore they had seen him talking with animals. One afternoon, Prabhat was sitting under a large tree with his friends when a heated argument broke out… Read More »Stories from the Life of of P. R. Sarkar/Anandamurti
By Jalaluddin Rumi This being human is a guest house.Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness, Some momentary awareness comesAs an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all!Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,Who violently sweep your houseEmpty of its furniture.Still treat each guest honorablyThey may be clearing you outFor some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice,Meet them… Read More »The Guest House
Once upon a time in the 1950’s a group of monks from a monastery had to relocate a Buddha statue made of clay from their temple to a new location.
In Anandamurti’s home in Calcutta, before going for his morning walk, every day he would look at all the plants. The woman who was taking care of the plants told me that one day he went on to the roof and was looking at one plant which had a small flower.
A grandfather was talking with his grandson, and he told him of the two wolves that live inside each one of us. They are always at war with each other. One is a good wolf who is kind brave, and loving. The other is a bad wolf who is greedy, mean, and fearful. The grandson thinks of what his grandfather has spoken and then he… Read More »The Tale of the Two Wolves
Long ago there lived a farmer and his son. The boy worked hard on his father’s farm and one day he happened to capture a strong, beautiful wild horse. All the neighbors told the farmer how fortunate he was. The farmer replied, “Ya never know.” He looked at the distant mountain and he smiled. The boy spent his days tending to the farm and the… Read More »Ya Never Know
One day a woman was walking along a beach. The entire beach was littered with hundreds of starfish who had been washed up by the tides because of a fearsome storm that had happened the night before. Every time she came to a starfish, she picked it up, and threw it back into the ocean. After a while, her friend who had been watching and… Read More »The Starfish
The Hummingbird & the Elephant Once upon a time, an elephant was walking down a road in a great jungle in south-eastern China when, suddenly, he saw a tiny hummingbird in the middle of the road. The bright little bird was motionless, belly up, with her tiny legs stretched toward the sky. She was so little that the elephant had almost stepped on her. ‘Is… Read More »Spiritual stories for adults