Just for fun!

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.

Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to ‘clean up’ the bird’s vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked, kicked the door and screamed. The suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arm and said:

“I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”

John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude.

As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke up, very softly,

“May I ask what the turkey did?”

a mini Zen story…

An old Zen master always told this parable to “unserious” students: Late one night a blind man was about to go home after visiting a friend. “Please,” he said to his friend, “may I take your lantern with me?” “Why carry a lantern?” asked his friend. “You won’t see any better with it.” “No,” said […]

Where does the darkness go?

We celebrate this coming Friday as the Winter Solstice, the turning point in our calendar as the daylight begins to increase each day. The solstice has the shortest period of daylight and also the longest night of the year. Yet, the light begins, ever so slowly, to return. The light and the dark move to […]

Your Golden Buddha

I’ve always thought it was a beautiful parable about the fact that we’re all already perfect and that all we have to do is chip away at the plaster that’s gotten in the way. But get this: The Golden Buddha is actually REAL! (Don’t you love it when you can combine historical reality with metaphorical […]

In a fog?

When we feel muddied and unfocused, unsure of which way to turn, we say we are in a fog. Like being in a fog in nature, we may feel like we can’t see where we’re going or where we’ve come from. And we’re afraid if we move too quickly we might run into something hidden […]

Kids said what?

Teacher: How old is your father? Kid: He is 6 years old. Teacher: What? How is this possible? Kid: He became a father only when I was born. (Logical? Of course!)   Teacher: Maria, go to the map and find North America. Marie: Here it is. Teacher: Correct. Now, class, who discovered America? Class: Maria […]

Wisdom from Winnie the Pooh

Meaningful truths abound in childen’s books! And Winnie the Pooh and his friends are thought-provoking and inspiring! Here’s some of my favorites!                                             On friendship~ On self-esteem~ “You are braver than you believe. Stronger […]

So should we ask why? Part 2

Last week I wrote about weakening questions like “Why does this always happen to me?” On the other end of the spectrum, there are the what and how questions that are strengthening questions. These are the questions that bring forth a perspective that will help us overcome any obstacle or challenge. Some examples of what questions are: […]

Don’t ask why! Part 1

There are basically two types of questions that we can ask ourselves on a daily basis. And today’s post will focus on the first type. This first category of questions weakens our ability to think effectively and, at the same time, makes us feel inadequate and incapable as we lose ourselves within our excuses and […]

Another Zen parable

A traveler finds himself lost, wandering in the forest for many days. Finally he comes upon a grass hut, the home of a lonely hermit. Exhausted and starving, the traveler remembers hearing stories of the ornery and aggressive hermit he must not confront-or die. If the traveler threatens the hermit with his machete and demands […]