WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 42

The Preacher and the Farmer

An old hill farmer trudged several miles through the freezing snow to his local and very remote chapel for Sunday service. No-one else was there, apart from the priest.
"I'm not sure it's worth proceeding with the service - might we do better to go back to our warm homes and a hot drink?.." asks the clergyman, inviting a mutually helpful reaction from his audience of one.

"Well, I'm just a simple farmer," says the old farmer, "But when I go to feed my herd, and if only one beast turns up, I don't leave it hungry."

So the priest, feeling somewhat ashamed, delivers his service - all the bells and whistles, hymns and readings. The service lasted a good couple of hours – and the priest finished proudly with the fresh observation that no matter how small the need, our duty remains. And he thanked the old farmer for the lesson he had learned.

As the two men set off for home through the snow, the priest looks at the farmer. "Was that okay?" he asks him.

"Well I'm just a simple farmer," says the old crofter, "But when I go to feed my herd, and if only one beast turns up, I sure don't force it to eat what I brought for the whole herd..."

From which we see the extra lesson, that while our duty remains regardless of the level of need, we have the additional responsibility to ensure that we adapt our delivery (of whatever is our stock in trade) according to the requirements of our audience

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 30

A farmer and his three sons were working hard in the fields, when he realised he needed a message from the town. He sent his eldest son into the village, where the Buddha happened to be talking to the local people. The eldest son got caught up with the message of the Buddha and stayed to listen. The farmer got fed up when the boy didn’t return, so he sent another son to see what was happening. He too became interested in the Buddha’s message and didn’t return home. The farmer was getting most irritated as there was so much work to be done. “Go and see what is keeping your brothers and get them home straight away, he ordered the lad. Off went the youngest son, but coming across the Buddha, he too couldn’t tear himself away from the teachings.

By this time, the farmer was really angry. He stormed into the village and saw what was happening. He strode up to the Buddha and angrily, began to confront him. “What kind of teacher are you, that keeps honest boys away from their work. I have crops in the fields and they won’t bring themselves in.” The farmer ranted angrily for about ten minutes, while the Buddha just sat peacefully. At last, the farmer ran out of steam. “What do you have to say for yourself?” he challenged the Buddha.

“Well,” replied the Buddha. “If you gave somebody a present and they didn’t want it, who would the gift belong too?”

The farmer was nonplussed by the question. “What? It would still be mine” began the farmer, “but I don’t know what you are talking about”

The Buddha smiled at the man, with compassion. “I don’t accept the gift of your anger,” he replied.

Traditional Buddhist

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 16

A Contemporary Folktale

A businessman needing to attend a conference in a faraway city decided to travel on country roads rather than the motorways so he could enjoy a relaxing journey. After some hours of travelling he realised he was hopelessly lost. Seeing a farmer tending his field on the side of the road, he stopped to ask for directions. “Can you tell me how far it is to Chicago?” he asked the farmer. “Well, I don’t rightly know,” the farmer replied.

“Well, can you tell me how far I am from New York?” the businessman questioned again. “Well, I don’t rightly know,” the farmer again replied. “Can you at least tell me the quickest way to the main road?” the exasperated businessman asked. “No, I don’t rightly know,” the farmer again answered.

“You really don’t know very much at all, do you?” blurted the impatient businessman. “Nope, but I ain’t lost.” The farmer calmly answered.