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

 

 

 

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?