What is useless and useful?

THE USELESS EYEBROWS

Once, a person’s eyes, nose and mouth had a meeting. First the eyes said, “We, the eyes, are of utmost importance to the body. Everything must be seen by us to know whether it is beautiful or not, big or small, tall or short. Without eyes, walking around will be very difficult. So we, the eyes, are very important. But, we have been improperly placed under the eyebrows which are of no use. It is just not fair!”

Next, the nose said, “I the nose am very important. Only I can distinguish the good smell from foul odour. The act of breathing is also dependent on me. If I do not let the breath pass through, everybody will die. So, I am the most important.  As important as I am, I have been unfairly placed beneath the eyebrows. I am the unhappy.”

Then, the mouth said, “I am the most important part of the body. I can speak; if not for me, there would not be any communication among the people. I take in the food; if not for me, everybody would die of hunger. But, I have been placed in the lower part of the face. The useless eyebrows have been placed on the highest part of the face. I cannot accept this.”

After the others had spoken, the eyebrows spoke slowly, “please do not fight any further. We the eyebrows are useless. We are ready to be placed below all of you.” So the eyebrows settled below the eyes. Unfortunately, the person no longer looked like a human being. Then, the eyebrows settled down below the nose and mouth which looked even worse.

Finally, the eyes, nose and mouth discussed again to place the eyebrows to their original spot above the eyes. Thus, what appears to be the most useless can be very useful sometimes.

Source: Bhutan Observer, 25^th Jan-1^st Feb,  2013

 

conditional kindness

GODDESS OF WEALTH AND GODDESS OF POVERTY

Once a beautiful and welldressed woman visited a house. The master of the house asked who she was; and she replied that she was the goddess of wealth. The master of the house was delighted and so greeted her with open arms.

Soon after another woman appeared who was ugly looking and poorly dressed. The master of the house asked who she was; and she replied that she was the goddess of poverty. The master was frightened and tried to drive her out of the house. The woman refused to depart saying, “the goddess of wealth is my sister. There is an agreement between us that we are never to live apart; if you chase me out, she is to go with me.”

Sure enough, as soon as the ugly woman went out, the other woman disappeared.

Birth goes with the death. Fortune goes with misfortune. Bad things follow good things. Everyone should realize this. Foolish people dread misfortune and strive after good fortune, but those who seek enlightenment must transcend both of them and be free of worldly attachment.

Source: Bhutan Observer, January 11, 2013

Reflection:

The master of the house practices “samsara”; not “dharma”.

His hospitality for the woman is “conditional”;not “kindness”.

The phenomenon of impermanence is forgotten by the master.