Songs of Compassion

There was a touching story that truly happened in the island of love Bali few times ago. One day a well-devoted son who loves his mother very much felt that the mother would die. In the midst of chaotic feelings, he asked his mother what to do when she die. With a touching smile the mother whisper: “take good care of your younger brother”.

And after the passing away of the mother, this beautiful heart takes good care of his younger brother. As the others deep spiritual journey which are signed by many obstacles and problems, this journey of taking good care of the little brother is also full of shocks. From the difficulty to find job, dealing with debt collectors until coming to the police office.

The Sacred Bell

Once upon a time, a young man asked this touching question: “some saints have suffered tremendously. Mahatma Gandhi was shot, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned more than a quarter of century, Mother Teresa lived amid the suffering city of Calcutta, does it mean that to be holy means to live in deep suffering?”.

The author of the book “History of God” Karen Armstrong writes clearly. In the first golden age, saints had conversation with God as human talking to human. The Prophet Abraham in the Jewish tradition, Arjune in the Hindu tradition are some examples of saints who converse with God.

The Smiling Lantern

In Thailand there was a meditation teacher with amazing light named Ajahn Chah. One of the important characteristics of the last Guru is his amazing discipline. He was not only very discipline to the others, he was also very discipline to himself.

Whenever there were students who were afraid of being alone, they will immediately be sent to the silent forest to meditate alone. Whenever there were students who were shy, do not like to stay in the crowd, they will be sent to the crowded places such as traditional markets.

For the ordinary people, this approach of learning sounds very scary. Some people even choose to run away. But for the deep spiritual seekers who have grown mature, this approach  of learning is very challenging. Especially for mature souls who need to enter the unvisited inner darkness.