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Folktales for a Better World
English writer Joan Aiken could have been describing Folktales for a Better World when she wrote that "from the beginning of the human race stories have been used ... as magic instruments of healing, of teaching, as a means of helping people come to terms with the fact that they continually have to face insoluble problems and unbearable realities." In these seven stories from Ethiopia, Sudan, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and China, readers come face-to-face with greed, cruelty, and seeds of violence, but only to show that generosity, kindness, peacemaking are altogether stronger forces.
When two dogs tussle over a bone, leading their owners to fight, soon drawing in their families and then clans to battle, what can be done to reverse the spiral of violence? How can a sultan determine which of his three sons has the right character qualities to succeed him? When a girl's rich father casts her out, how can she find her way in the world? These and other dilemmas, each in their own way, lead to reflections on the value of peace and kindness and how to cultivate them within ourselves and our communities.
Drawn from a variety of narrated and published sources, the folktales have been adapted for readers ages five to eight by award-winning writer Elizabeth Laird. Laird has spent her life exploring many different cultures and has lived and worked in Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine. She chose these stories intentionally as an antidote to the sadness in the world, "where too many have had to flee from cruel wars."
Iranian-born illustrator Mehrdokht Amini has been nominated twice for Kate Greenaway Medals and been invited to participate in the prestigious Bratislava Biennial of Illustrations. She tailors her work to the mood of each project and age group, and in this book brings vibrant fabric designs, expressive glances, adorable creatures, and culture-specific visual cues to the heartwarming storylines.
Into the "insoluble problems and unbearable realities" that we also face, these tales bring levity, hope, and the belief that peace and kindness can prevail. That's good medicine for what ails us.
Wise encouragement in timeless tales from seven countries.
Arriving at Effortless Generosity
Using your chosen spiritual practice, take about fifteen minutes to empty and find a peaceful place within yourself. Now imagine the four qualities of mature compassion – a quiet mind and open heart, presence and radical simplicity – as a quartet of qualities within you. Each quality has a beautiful tone and resonance.
First, hear the voice of your quiet mind reminding you that stillness allows you to go deeper than the surface mind of the ego, and helps you loosen the ego’s tight boundaries of control and separation.
Now hear the gentle voice of your heart whisper: all suffering is the same, yours, mine, society’s, and the earth’s; there is no use trying to separate yourself.
And now the voice of your presence says there’s no need to worry about performance or "doing the right thing": just be yourself, listen deeply, and remember caring is a mutual relationship.
Finally, you hear the voice of radical simplicity saying, just do whatever is needed in the moment with a loving heart. Take a few moments to really listen to each voice in the quartet.
Imagine these four voices – a quiet mind, an open heart, presence, and radical simplicity – blending and singing as one. What do you hear? Now bring to mind a human or nonhuman who is suffering. Visualize yourself caring for them with all of these qualities working in unison. What do you experience? Can you feel your natural desire to care, so spontaneous and so joyful it simply overflows from you? Bring Tagore’s beautiful words into your heart, "I slept and dreamt that life was joy, I woke and found that life was service, I acted and behold service was joy." Take time to reflect, draw, and journal.
When you have finished this exercise make a commitment to spend time with the member of the human or earth family you have just focused on. Try to care for them with the four qualities of mature compassion working in unison. And remember compassion is a practice, it deepens with time and dedication.
Wisdom about embodying the four qualities of mature compassion.
Angeles Arrien, The Four-Fold Way
Some shamanic traditions in parts of Africa and the Oceanic societies attend to health and well-being through what is called cradling work, a four-part practice in staying connected to the good, true, and beautiful aspects of one's nature. In cradling work we lie on our back and place both hands over our heart (in many cultures hands symbolize healing). Silently, we acknowledge the character qualities that we appreciate about ourselves, we acknowledge our strengths, we acknowledge the contributions that have been made and continue to be made, and we acknowledge the love given and the love received.
In these societies mentioned above, this practice is generally done three times a day: once in the soft time of the day, morning; once in the strong time of the day, afternoon; and once in the subtle time of the day, night. Cradling work and the different times of the day remind us that we are soft, strong, and subtle creatures.
Cradling work
Rami Shapiro, Open Secrets
I don't know what is truth, if by truth you mean the ultimate secrets of God and the universe. I do know a few simple truths if you want to talk about everyday living. Here is what I know for sure:
It is better for you and others if you are kind, considerate, honest and just.
It is better for you and others if you judge yourself by your actions rather than your intentions.
It is better for you and others if you learn from your feelings without always acting on them.
It is better for you and others if you are happy — happy people are more generous, forgiving, and helpful,
It is better for you and others if you remember that nothing is permanent.
It is better for you and others if you seek to control yourself rather than them.
It is better for you and others if you say what you mean and do what you say.
It is better for you and others if you value wise silence over learned exposition.
It is better for you and others if you recognize sorrow and joy as natural to life.
It is better for you and others if you see all beings as manifestations of God.
Ten things, that is all I know. They are not mere speculation. Test each one by living it and see if your life is not richer.
I don't know what is truth
Leo Learns to Meditate
This meditation primer draws in elementary–school children through an appealing graphic-novel format sprinkled with humor, yet is surprisingly broad in scope. Leo lives in a family where everyone — his mother, father, older sister, the cat, and even, apparently, his teddy bear — meditates. He realizes that he doesn't even know what meditation is, so he asks his mom.
She explains that it's like looking through the magnifying glass at the discovery museum: "Meditating means putting your whole mind on one thing." Leo has no trouble coming up with possibilities to think about, from school to candy to his best friends. Instantly, he has a list of six (!), and his mom sympathetically says, "It's not as easy as it sounds, is it?"
She teaches him how to practice, a little at a time. She starts with posture and relaxation, then proceeds to instruction on counting breaths, mindfulness, and how to keep just the right level of concentration, like guitar strings that are neither too loose nor too tight.
But Leo's learning process is abruptly interrupted when a bully at school punches him in the nose. The book then shows its truly impressive colors, covering the vital ties between mindfulness meditation, ethics, empathy, generosity, and humility. As science writer David Robson suggests in a March 2022 BBC article, this is not standard fare even in much meditation training for adults, in which often not enough attention is given to keeping "calm" from becoming "callous".
Our hats are off to Francesca Hampton and illustrator John Ledda for creating a children's book that even goes into topics like making a dedication: "a strong wish that [having meditated] will make you a better person who helps other people feel happier." They understand that when inner peace is paired with conscience and kindness, real transformation can take place.
A graphic novel that explores elements of mediation ranging from relaxation to concentration to empathy.
Thubten Chodron, How to Free Your Mind
Sometimes only the pain of the jealousy itself stimulates us to seek out its antidote.
Rejoicing in the happiness, talents, fortune, and good qualities of others is that antidote. When others are happy, we might as well join in! When others act wisely and kindly, why not rejoice in their virtue? There is so much suffering in our world that to wish others to be deprived of the happiness they have is foolish.
Rejoicing is regarded as the lazy person's way to create great positive potential, When we rejoice at others' virtues — their kindness, generosity, ethical discipline, patience, joyous effort, concentration, wisdom and so forth — we accumulate positive potential as if we had that admirable attitude or had done that beneficial action ourselves. Since we need to accumulate great positive potential to progress along the path, rejoicing at others' goodness and happiness is definitely worthwhile. It spurs us along the path to enlightenment and also makes us happy right now.
Rejoicing in the fortunes of others
The Meddler
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."
— Joseph Campbell
Many of us find it hard to accept and embrace our own unique spark in the miracle of life. That certainly is the case of Marnie Minerini (Susan Sarandon) who after the death of her husband leaves New Jersey and moves out to Los Angeles to be closer to her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne) who writes for television, has two dogs, and desperately misses her former boyfriend (Jason Ritter). But instead of being grateful for Marnie's maternal instincts (calling repeatedly, texting, and stopping in unannounced), Lori finds it extremely irritating and lets her know that she needs to respect the boundaries between them.
"You can trust the promise of this opening: Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning that is one with your life's desire."
— John O'Donohue
Marnie decides to unfurl her kindness and generosity in some new directions. She befriends Jillian (Cecily Strong), a friend of Lori's who is married but never had the wedding ceremony she had dreamed about all of her life. Marnie becomes her fairy godmother by paying all the expenses, from wedding dress to a ship venue, to bring Jillian's desire to fruition.
Freddy (Jerrod Carmichael) is a gregarious Apple Store employee who also reaps the benefits of Marnie's thoughtfulness. She suggests a new career path for him and even drives him regularly to night school. As a volunteer at the hospital, this do-gooder brings joy to a lonely elderly woman who wants to make an important connection but is unable to voice her need.
"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you."
— Brian Tracy
When her therapist (Amy Landecker) hears about the changes in Marnie's life, she suggests that she might be overcompensating for having inherited so much money from her husband. Is she having lingering issues of not being able to let go of him and closing herself off from other relationships?
There are several scenes in this unusual film written and directed by Lorene Scafaria where this confused and lonely senior's positive attitude manifests itself: we feel the pleasure in a ride she takes in her husband's convertible; we rejoice with her when she walks on the set of a movie and winds up as an extra; we relish the pleasure she derives from devouring a fresh egg for breakfast; and, best of all, we shiver with anticipation as she tries to decide to begin a serious love relationship with a retired cop (J. K. Simmons) who rides a Harley and raises free-range chickens who adore the singing of Dolly Parton.
"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage by considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them: every day begin the task anew."
— St. Francis de Sales
The Meddler presents Marnie's very real character flaws and in so doing does not sugarcoat the kindnesses that she lavishes on strangers. Some might say that she does the right things for the wrong reasons but by the end of her journey of self-transformation she is more awake, alive, and clear than she has ever been. In saying "yes!" to life, she lifts our spirits and we leave the theater on a genuine high.
The story of a widow's self-transformation through generosity, kindness, and letting go.
Still Mine
Craig (James Cromwell) and Irene (Genevieve Bujold) have been married 61 years and have seven grown-up children. They live in a run-down farmhouse on a stretch of the Canadian coastline in New Brunswick where they make a modest living. But they have hit a patch of bad luck and things seem to be going from bad to worse. After their cows break through the fencing, Craig decides to sell them. Then he learns that he can no longer sell his strawberries unless he gets a refrigerated truck. Even though they have a bumper crop, he and Irene have to give away all the berries.
But their biggest challenge is Irene's short-term memory loss. She can vividly recall scenes from their courtship and the sting of his adultery years ago but in the present she loses track of where she is and occasionally zones out completely. Whereas their son and daughter think it would be best to put her in a nursing home, Craig and Irene are both against it. Even though he is 88 years old, this stubborn old man resolves to build a new house for them with views of the bay. It will be smaller and easier for Irene since she can no longer negotiate stairs.
Always an independent and optimistic person, Craig is energized by this ambitious new project. But he runs into problems with a by-the-book local building inspector, Rick (Jonathan Potts), who orders him to purchase a building permit and then to submit plans for the house. Craig has been building all his life, having been taught by his father, and he finds all these rules and regulations irritating. But he complies as best he can and plunges ahead, only to be served with a stop-work order. The lumber he has used is not stamped with the appropriate seal and some of his building techniques are not considered up to code. He argues that the little house is sound, but the inspector threatens to bulldoze it down to the ground.
Still Mine is another splendid drama about the challenges and rewards of conscious aging. This Canadian film written and directed by Michael McGowan is a love story that touches the heart with its uplifting portrait of a couple enduring a storm of troubles with fearlessness, courage, and mutual support. We recall how much we were moved by this director's film Saint Ralph (2005) about a boy who takes on a big challenge in hopes of receiving in exchange a miracle cure for his mother who is in a coma.
James Cromwell gives a tour de force performance as Craig, an incredibly energetic and loving man who is willing to do whatever it takes to ease his wife's pain and suffering. We learn of his generosity to one of his sons, John (Rick Roberts), to a crusty old friend Chester (George R. Robertson), and to the lawyer Gary (Campbell Scott) who takes his case when he must appear in court for building violations. Cromwell conveys the character's special brand of pride and whimsy in a speech to the judge about dignity; he reveals his tenderness to Irene in several scenes of romantic intimacy with her; and in one of the most telling sequences in the film he pays tribute to the table he crafted as a young man and marvels at its wabi sabi blend of beauty and imperfection.
Cromwell is given ample support by Genevieve Bujold's wonderful performance as his wife Irene who struggles bravely with her dementia and her physical decline. One can see this character's youthful charm in her eyes and the yearning she has to keep things the same as they have always been.
Still Mine offers us proof that long-lived individuals can find within themselves the strength, optimism, and determination to triumph over whatever life throws their way.
Proof positive that long-lived individuals possess the resilience to handle anything and everything that life throws at them.
Little Red Wagon
Six-year old Zach Bonner (Chandler Canterbury) lives in a comfortable suburb of Tampa, Florida, with his single-parent mother Laurie (Anna Gunn) and his teenage sister Kelley (Daveigh Chase). It is 2004 and Hurricane Charlie barely misses them but brings devastation to nearby towns. While watching the TV news Zach is quite moved by how much those hardest hit by the storm have lost. He decides to gather spare hurricane supplies — water, food, and clothing — from his neighbors. He and his sister cart the supplies to their garage in a little red wagon and are very gratified by the community's response. In his very first effort, he collects 27 truckloads of supplies for victims of the hurricane.
Laurie is extremely proud of Zach's sensitivity to the suffering of others, his good heart. and his generosity. After visiting a shelter for homeless families, he comes up with a new project to bring a little joy into the lives of these displaced kids. This involves working with a store and several companies to fill Zach Packs, backpacks replete with essential supplies, such as soap and toothpaste, some candy treats, and, best of all, a toy.
Next, Zach, with the help of his mother and a sympathetic bureaucrat, sets up an official charity that can take tax-deductible contributions. They call it the Little Red Wagon Foundation. He then takes on their most ambitious project yet: a walk from Tampa to the state capitol of Tallahassee to raise money for and promote awareness of homeless children.
In their evergreen book How Can I Help?, Ram Dass and Paul Gorman observe: "Helping out is not some special skill. It is not the domain of rare individuals. It is not confined to a single part or time of our lives. We simply heed the call of that natural caring impulse within, and follow where it leads us." That's a perfect description of Zach and what he has done, a boy whose compassion and kindness comes from his heart not his head. His commitment to helping homeless children is all consuming, and this troubles both his mother and sister. Laurie worries about his health, and Kelley grows increasingly angry about her mother's adoration of Zach and jealous of all the attention he gets. This subplot in the story, is a bit overdrawn, but it does make the point that having a zealous do-gooder in the family can strain relationships.
Screenplay writer Patrick Sheane Duncan (Mr. Holland's Opus) and director David Anspaugh (Hoosiers, Rudy, Moonlight and Valentino) have reinforced the moral clout of the drama by including another plot about the sad fall of Margaret Craig (Frances O'Connor), a recently widowed woman and her son Jim (Dylan Matzke) who are plunged into poverty when she loses her job and is unable to pay her rent or bills. After sleeping in their car, they move into a shelter where her money and essential documents are stolen from her purse. They hit an all-time low when he is injured and they are forced to wait for hours in the emergency room.
As many as 3.5 million people in America experience homelessness in a given year. Little Red Wagon is based on the true story about how one little boy set out to help. He continues to do so with walks and other ways of raising money for his charity. Let's hope that those who see this film will come away with a sense of how easy it is for ordinary people to experience a bad patch and plunge into poverty. And let's hope people also see that every one can find some way to help. Here's a radical option for religious and spiritual people of all types suggested by writer and preacher Will D. Campbell in Soul Among Lions:
"Let every congregation adopt one person who lives on the streets. Ask no questions as to their worthiness. Who among us is worthy? Just find them a lodging, a job, friends — give them hope. That would solve the problem of people living on the streets."
Special features on the DVD include featurettes: "The Making of 'Little Red Wagon' ," "The Real Zach Bonner," and "America's Foundations: America's Best Kept Secret."
A double whammy about the crusade of a big-hearted boy who helps homeless children and a depiction of the plunge of a mother and her son into poverty.
Living as One Human Family
A friend once described herself as a "knitter," but she wasn't talking about yarn. She likes to bring people together and help create beautiful things from their unity. What a wonderful mission that is!
Let's face it. The walls dividing people today have gotten taller and thicker, whether between men and women, young and old, gays and straights, developed and developing worlds, haves and have-nots. Yet the spiritual dream of unity persists. We believe that God is a Weaver of Oneness who wants us to live in harmony — neighbor with neighbor, communities with communities, religions with religions, and nations with nations.
We are inherently similar. One of our favorite children's books captures this beautifully. To Every Thing There Is a Season (Blue Sky Press) weds the sacred verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible with the breathtaking art work of illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon. Each spread depicts a different culture — Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Greece, India, Europe, North America, and others — to create a global family album that reminds us that we share in the universal rhythms of life. We can practice this unity by building hospitable and generous communities.
Yet in these tense times, just the opposite seems to be happening. Competitive individualism has given many people the ammunition they need to feel smug about separating themselves from others. The media and politicians drone on and on about enemies in our midst or crossing our borders.
Religious and spiritual people can help reverse this trend by being willing to reach out to people outside our clans and affirm unity consciousness. As devotional writer Henri J. M. Nouwen writes in Bread for the Journey, "Only when we have the courage to cross the road and look into one another's eyes can we see there that we are children of the same God and members of the same human family."
Whereas people of different traditions don't have to agree on everything, we can work together to advance what Christian theologian Hans Kung has called a global ethic: "a commitment to the culture of nonviolence and respect for life, to a just social and economic order, and to the ideal of equal rights and partnerships between men and women." To adhere to these commonalities is to agree with Protestant minister William Sloane Coffin who said: "The religious community has the saving vision. It is the ancient saving vision of human unity, now become an urgent pragmatic necessity."
Here are a few simple spiritual practices to help you deepen your unity consciousness:
• Reach out across a border or boundary to a person of a different race, age, or culture.
• The term "butterfly effect" relates to the idea that a small action here, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, could have a large impact elsewhere, such as a tornado in China. Without taking the meaning that far, it is good to think about the long-range impact of your actions on people elsewhere in the world. Write in your journal about the potential reach of something you have done recently.
• Extend your circle of intercessory prayer to those not usually included in your concerns.
• When you have a free moment at work or in a community meeting, jot down a few of the things you have in common with the others there. How can you express your appreciation to others for what you share?
• When you are watching the news about people in another country, note things you have in common with them. Find a way to act upon your feeling of unity with them.
Some simple spiritual practices to do to affirm unity consciousness.