Notes on Aesop's Fables

Philosophy of Life (04) Pastor and Driver

After a priest died, he went to heaven, and the gatekeeper of heaven quietly took him to heaven. Soon after, a taxi driver who had just passed away came, but the doorman warmly entertained him; The priest was puzzled and asked the gatekeeper, "On earth, I am a priest who teaches people how to pray, and he is just a taxi driver.". Why are you so different to us? " ! 」

The gatekeeper said, "That's right! On earth, you are a priest who teaches people how to pray. You teach people to pray seriously, but most believers who listen to your prayers are dozing off. And this taxi driver, who likes to drive fast at present, doesn't obey the traffic rules and is often given a ticket by the police. However, as long as he gets in the taxi, he will definitely pray! 」

Note: The way of life lies in honesty, not in form.

Philosophy of life (05) "touch the stone and turn it into gold"

There was a child whose family was poor, but he was very filial to his mother. Lv Dongbin felt sorry for him, so he picked up a stone and gave it to the child. The child shook his head and said, "I don't want gold." 」

Lv Dongbin asked in surprise, "What do you want? 」

The child said, "I want your finger, because if you give me gold, I will use it up, but with your finger, I can turn stones into gold when I have no money." 」

Note: Sometimes, there is a thin line between demand and greed.

Philosophy of Life (06) Heart Gate

There is a man who has a dream every night. He dreamed that he was walking in a long corridor. When he reached the end, a door appeared. When he saw the door, he trembled all over and was too scared to open the door in a cold sweat. In this way, he has had the same dream every night for twenty years and has been treated by a psychologist for twenty years.

Later, he changed to a psychiatrist and explained the dream to the doctor. The doctor felt very strange and said to him, "Why don't you open the door and have a look?" ! At most, it's just death! It makes sense for this person to think about it, so he summoned up courage in his dream that night and pushed the door open.

The next day, he went to see a psychiatrist, who asked him, "Is the door open?" He nodded and replied, "Yes! The doctor asked, "What happened behind the door? 」

He said: "When I opened the door, I saw a soft green lawn with bright sunshine and dazzling butterflies. 」

Note: We are always afraid to open the door of life, because we are afraid, so we dare not face it outside the door of happiness.

Philosophy of Life (08) Change Water

A man went to visit a monk and wanted to worship him as a teacher and explore the way of life. When he met a monk, he said, "I have studied Zen with many monks and learned a lot of philosophy of life. I wonder if you would like to accept me as an apprentice? 」

He saw the monk holding a teapot and pouring water into a cup with tea. He saw the water in the cup overflow, but the monk kept pouring water down.

He stopped, "master! Your water keeps flowing out. 」

The monk said, "Oh! I thought I could change the old water in the cup by pouring new water! 」

Note: Only by getting rid of the subjective fog in your mind can the sunshine of wisdom penetrate in.

Philosophy of Life (09) Porcupine Philosophy

On a cold winter night, two porcupines naturally approached for heating because they were too cold, but they were separated because of the sharp thorns stinging each other, so they were on and off under the instinctive heating. Finally, they finally found the most suitable distance, instead of stinging and warming each other.

Note: For people, this kind of behavior is called "politeness".

Broken barrel

A water bearer has two buckets, one is cracked and the other is intact. After each long-distance transportation, the intact bucket can always send a full bucket of water from the stream to the owner's home, while the cracked bucket reaches the owner's home, leaving only half a bucket.

In the past two years, the water bearer has to carry a bucket and a half of water to his master's house every day. Of course, a good bucket is proud of being able to fill the whole bucket with water. Where's the broken bucket? He is ashamed of his shortcomings and sad that he can only take half the responsibility.

After two years of failure, the broken bucket finally couldn't help but say to the water bearer by the stream, "I am ashamed and must apologize to you." "Why?" The bearer asked, "Why are you ashamed?" "In the past two years, because my side is leaking, I can only send half a bucket of water to your host family. My defect made you do all the work, but only received half the effect. " Broken barrel said. The bearer felt sorry for the broken bucket. He said affectionately, "On our way back to our host's house, I want you to pay attention to the blooming flowers on the roadside."

Sure enough, when they walked on the hillside, the broken bucket lit up at the moment, and they saw colorful flowers, paved the road and bathed in the warm sunshine. This scene made him happy a lot! However, at the end of the path, it felt uncomfortable again, because it missed half of the water on the road! The broken bucket apologized to the bearer again. The water bearer said softly, "Have you noticed that there are only flowers on your path, but there are no flowers on the good bucket?" I know you have defects, so I make good use of them and plant flowers on your roadside. Every time I come from the stream, you water my flowers all the way! These beautiful flowers decorated the host's dining table for two years. If you weren't like this, there wouldn't be such beautiful flowers on the master's desk! "

window

There is a wife who has been complaining about her laziness for years. "That woman's clothes can never be washed clean. Look, the clothes she hangs outside in the yard are always dirty. I really don't know how she can wash clothes like this. "

It was not until one day that a discerning friend came to her house that she discovered that it was not the wife across the street who couldn't wash her clothes properly. A careful friend took a rag and wiped the gray stain on the lady's window and said, "Look, isn't this clean?"

It turns out that my window is dirty.

Philosophy of selling sugar

When children go to the store to buy candy, they always like to find the same salesman. Because other salespeople grab a handful first, weigh it, and then take away the extra sugar one by one. However, cute shop assistants always catch a small amount and then add them one by one.

Although there is no difference in the amount of sugar finally obtained, children just like the latter. This "philosophy of selling sugar" tells people that in life, the same efforts are only due to different methods and different effects.

a jar of jam

Editor: Edgar bledsoe Rong Suli

As long as a person has the strength to help others, he is rich.

I remember that I lost my job one year. Before that, my father's factory closed down. Our family only lives on the income from my mother making clothes for others.

Once my mother was ill for several weeks and couldn't work. Because there was no money to pay the electricity bill, the electricity at home was cut off by the power company, and then the gas company stopped. Finally, if the health department didn't stop the water supply company for public health reasons, there would be no water in my house. The pantry at home is empty. Fortunately, my family has a small vegetable garden, so I have to cook with firewood in the backyard to satisfy my hunger.

One day, my sister came home from school and said excitedly, "Tomorrow we will take something to school and donate it to the poor to help them tide over the difficulties." Mother was about to blurt out, "I didn't know there were people poorer than us!" " "Grandma lived with us at that time. She quickly grabbed her mother's arm and frowned, signaling her not to say so.

"Eve," grandma said, "if you let your child think that he is a poor man from an early age, then she will be a poor man all her life. She will always wait for help from others. How can such a person cheer up and become a' rich man'? Don't we have a jar of homemade jam? Let her have it. A person is rich as long as he has the strength to help others. " Grandma found a piece of soft paper and a pink ribbon from nowhere and carefully wrapped the last jar of jam in my house. The next day, my sister happily and proudly took the gift to help the "poor".

To this day, my sister, who owns three hotels, still remembers the jar of jam. No matter in the company or in the community, whenever someone needs help, my sister always thinks she should be the "jam delivery person". ▲

Global Times (22nd edition, February 07, 2005)

Red glass ball

Guo Yan compiled

During the difficult years of the Great Depression from 65438 to 0930, I lived in a small community in southeastern Kansas. Because food is scarce and money is scarce, people often barter things, barter things. At that time, I often went to Mr. Miller's booth to buy some fresh vegetables.

One day, when Mr. Miller helped me put potatoes into a bag, I noticed a little boy staring greedily at a basket of newly picked peas. The boy is thin and wears patched but clean clothes. I paid for potatoes, but I was also attracted by fresh peas, because I like the taste of creamy peas and potatoes very much. When I was considering whether to buy beans, I heard Mr. Miller talking with the boy.

"Hello, Barry, how was your day?"

"Very well, Mr Miller, thank you. These peas look great. "

"It's really good, Barry. How is your mother? "

"Fortunately, I am much more energetic than before."

"Don't you want to bring some beans back?"

"No, sir, I have no money."

"Well, do you have anything to exchange?"

"Only one glass ball won."

"Really? Let me see. "

"Here you are. It's beautiful. "

"Well, it's just that I want a red glass ball, not blue. Do you have a red one? "

"I don't think so ... but I may win one next time."

"Well, take this bag of peas home and bring me a red glass ball next time you come."

"Yes, thank you, sir."

Mrs. Miller came to help me pack peas. She smiled and said to me: "There are two such children in this community, and the family is very poor. Jimmy (Miller's nickname) is willing to give them fruits and vegetables such as peas, apples and tomatoes. The next time a child brings red glass balls, he will say that he doesn't like red ones, and then give them a pack of vegetables with green or orange balls next time. "

"Miller is really a good man!" This makes me very moved. After a while, I moved to Colorado, but I will never forget Mr. Miller exchanging glass balls with boys. Time flies. It was many years before I had a chance to visit my old friends in that small community. It was also at this time that Mr. Miller passed away.

They held a farewell ceremony for him in the evening, because all my friends went and I went with them. When we arrived at the morgue, we met many relatives of the deceased and just wanted to say something comforting. Walking in front of us are three young people, one in military uniform and the other two in suits and ties. Mrs. Miller tried to suppress her grief and stood quietly beside her husband's coffin. Three young men came to her. Everyone hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, said a few words briefly, and then went to Mr. Miller's coffin. Mrs. Miller watched them come to the coffin one by one with tears, shook the cold hand of the deceased with their warm hands, and then they slowly walked out of the morgue with tears in their eyes.

When it was our turn to find Mrs. Miller, I told her who I was and told her about the glass ball. Mrs. Miller took me by the hand and went to the coffin and said, "Those three young men are the three boys I told you about. They just told me how much they appreciated Jimmy's communication with them. Now, because Jimmy can't change his mind, he doesn't want the glass balls he doesn't like-they are here to' pay off debts'. "

"We never made a fortune," she continued, "but now Jimmy can proudly say that he is the richest man in this community." Then she gently raised her husband's right hand. I was surprised to find that I had three delicate and shiny red glass balls in my hand! ▲

Is it worth it

Zheng Jie compiled

In a battle, when soldier Jim saw his good partner fall on the battlefield, fear occupied his heart. He was trapped in the trench, with gunfire and bullets whizzing overhead. He asked the lieutenant if he could go to the "no man's land" between the trenches to save his partner.

"You can go," the lieutenant said, "but I don't think it's worth it. Your friend may be dead, and you may be dead yourself. " The lieutenant's words didn't affect Jim, but he went anyway.

Jim miraculously reached his friend safely and took him back to the trench. In the trench, the officer examined the injured Jim, looked at his dead friend and said, "I told you, it's not worth it." Your friend died and you were fatally injured. "

"Still, sir, it's worth it." Jim said.

"What is worth it?" The lieutenant said, "Your friend is dead!" "

"Yes, sir," Jim replied, "it's worth it, because he was still alive when I found him. He said, "Jim, I knew you would come." I am satisfied to hear him say so. Don't you think it's worth it, sir? "▲

Wisdom from Africa

Compiled by Reginald mcknight Shengsen.

Love, friendship and affection

Tell me what kind of person you love, and I will know what kind of person you are.

Termites don't love the straw they carry-people who seem close may not love you.

Make friends when you don't need them.

Eggs teach hens how to hatch eggs-children teach parents how to be parents.

Clever begging

Compiled by maurer Nunn and Zhang Xiaofeng.

I will never forget the shock when I heard that my husband was about to be laid off.

At that time, our marriage had passed 10 years, and John showed me his worries about this nightmare. He assured me that he would make every effort to find a new job to make a living. We have three children under the age of five, one of whom will be born soon. John is the sole breadwinner of the whole family.

"Life goes on," John said. It seems that he is much more optimistic than me. "At least we still have health, and all we have lost is a job. In addition, the company will continue to pay wages for three months, during which I will definitely find a new job, so don't worry. "

John graduated from a famous university and has an excellent working background. I believe his confidence is reasonable. John lost his father in his early years and shouldered the responsibility of taking care of his mother, brother and sister very early. He used to be an Olympic athlete, knowing how to face challenges, know how to work hard, and know the skills. But after several months, he still couldn't find a job. I became more and more afraid and began to waver in his "superstition". What if he can't find a job? If I'm not pregnant, I can go back to school to teach. The problem is that our fourth child was born less than three months ago.

We don't have much savings left, the installment loan has been in arrears for two months, and there is no other source of income. I have to scrimp and save. In the end, even the money for eating is almost gone.

One day, when I was taking my children to the supermarket, I noticed a boy filling a carton with ripe fruit and expired food. I hesitated to ask him where the food was going, and he said, "Deal with it at a reduced price. If you can't handle it, throw it away." I looked at those old carrots, celery and tomatoes, which were enough for my family to eat for several weeks. I think, in what way should I beg for something to eat for the children with dignity?

"We have a rare Mongolian rabbit!" I blurted out and glanced at three hungry children. "I want to buy it something to eat."

He simply replied, "since it's for rabbits, I won't charge." That day, he put five boxes of food in my car and was busy chatting with me. I told him that our family was about to add a mouth, and he also told himself. His name is Jeff and he comes from a poor family of five. He works here to pay for college tuition.

A few weeks later, Jeff began to pack expired and damaged boxed food into boxes. These peanut butter, soup and cheese are still edible, but they should be thrown away. "Rabbits must like these things," he explained why he gave them to us. A few months later, we found that there were more and more kinds of washing powder, milk, juice and butter hidden under food. Later, every time Jeff received a box of "rabbit food", he would call me from time to time and deliver it to my home. But he never asked about the rabbit. Every time he put down his things, he left.

When my fourth daughter was born, I had mixed feelings and worried about future family expenses. "God, please," I prayed, "you promised that our pain would never be beyond our capacity. What should we do? " Then the husband quietly walked into the delivery room and said, "I have good news and bad news." The good news is that I found a good job this morning. " I closed my eyes and thanked God for the gift. "The bad news," he continued, "is that the little Mongolian rabbit is missing."

Later, I went to the supermarket where Jeff no longer worked. According to the supermarket manager, when I was busy with the birth of my child, he moved and left no new address.

I swear silently that I must repay those kind people who helped us when we were in trouble. In the next 10 year, I fulfilled my promise. But my wish was not fully realized until one day after 10, I met Jeff standing in front of the supermarket office, wearing the "manager" work card on his chest.

How to express your gratitude to a person who has helped you and defended your self-esteem, a person who has lent you a helping hand without belittling your ability, and a person who believes that there is a rare Mongolian rabbit hidden in your life? I'm not surprised by Jeff's promotion. He has a special gift and knows how to listen to my special prayers.

"Mrs Nunn!" He shouted excitedly, "I often think of you and your family." How is the rabbit? " He asked softly.

Holding Jeff's hand, I blinked and whispered, "Thank you for your concern. That rabbit left us a long time ago and we had a wonderful time. " ▲