Showing posts with label Ajahn Brahm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ajahn Brahm. Show all posts

Sunday, January 10, 2021

gratitude

 
 
 

 
 
After a wedding ceremony in Singapore a few years
ago, the father of the bride took his new son-in-law aside to give
him some advice on how to keep the marriage long and happy.
 
"You probably love my daughter a lot," he said to the young man.
 
"Oh yes!" the young man sighed.
 
"And you probably think that she is the most wonderful person
in the world," the old man continued.
 
"She's soooo perfect in each and every way," the young man 
cooed.
 
"That's how it is when you get married," said the old man, "But
after a few years, you will begin to see the flaws in my daughter.
When you do begin to notice her faults, I want you to remember 
this. If she didn't have those faults to begin with, Son-in-law, she
would have married someone much better than you!"
 
So we should always be grateful for the faults in our partner
 because if they didn't have those faults from the start, they would
have been able to marry someone much better than us.
 
 
 
~ Ajahn Brahm
from Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? 
art by Klimt

 
 
 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

what's done is finished

 
 

 
 
The monsoon in Thailand is from July to October.
During this period, the monks stop traveling, put aside all work
projects, and devote themselves to study and meditation. The
period is called Vassa, the Rains Retreat. 
 
In the south of Thailand some years ago, a famous abbot was
building a new hall in his forest monastery. When the Rains Retreat
came, he stopped all work and sent the builders home. This was the
time for quiet in his monastery.
 
A few days later a visitor came, saw the half-constructed building
and asked the abbot when his hall would be finished. Without
hesitation, the old monk said, "The hall is finished."
 
"What do you mean, 'The hall is finished'?" the visitor replied,
taken aback. "It hasn't got a roof. There are no doors or windows.
There are pieces of wood and cement bags all over the place. Are
you going to leave it like that? Are you mad? What do you mean,
'The hall is finished'?"
 
The old abbot smiled and gently replied, "What's done is finished,"
and then he went away to meditate.
 
That is the only way to have a retreat or to take a break. 
Otherwise our work is never finished.
 
 
 
 
 ~ Ajahn Brahm
from Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung?