Thankfulness Is Meditation
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A Zen Master lived alone in a forest. While he meditated one day, a thief entered his house. With a knife in his hand, and in a loud voice, he threatened the Master and demanded all his valuables or be prepared to die.
The Master said, "There is nothing in my house. Let us both search."
They searched but couldn't find anything. The thief was very upset and disappointed.
The Master said, "There are a few coins in a pot which I have saved for my next meal. You can have them."
The thief took the coins and was about to leave when the Master also handed him a sweater. "It is very cold outside," said the Master. The thief accepted it with joy. Then just as he left the house, the Master reminded him, "Thank me for everything I have given."
The thief was surprised. First this man cooperated with him in searching for something to steal. Then he gave him a sweater too. On top of that he was asking the thief to thank him for all that. Wondering what he would do next, the thief thanked him and quickly left.
A few weeks later, the thief was arrested for another theft.
The police brought him to the Master's house since the thief had confessed to robbing the Master. The police told the Master, "Sir, we have locked this thief up in jail. He tells us that he also stole from you. Is he the same one who stole from you?"
The Master smiled and calmly told the police, "Yes. This stranger visited my house. I gave him some coins and a sweater. This person is really kind and well behaved. He even thanked me for the gifts."
Hearing this, the thief was shocked. He felt deeply touched by the compassion the Master showed him.
After serving the prison sentence for his other crime, the thief came back to the Master, fell at His feet and became His disciple.
The thief's nature was transformed by the example of the Master.
This is not a story but a real incident.
ACTIVITY CORNER
Can you decode the message?
1. ✔ 🕥 is ✔ now
2. 🚪 for 🗣 is a 'Y' problem
3. Re 🔔 with a cause
4. 👂 to your ❤ and let it ✈
5. 🗝 to 🔓 your ❤ is to remove 🏷 given by others
Solutions on page 104
This is your SPACE... Try a sketch or two
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