Browse Free Spiritual Event Listings For: Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield

Abbot Anastasius – A Spiritual Story

lmvnp2 — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:47:32 +0000

Abbot Anastasius had a book written on very fine parchment which was worth eighteen pence, and had in it both the Old and New Testaments in full. Once a certain brother came to visit him, and seeing the book made off with it. So that day Abbot Anastasius went to read his book, and found that it was gone, he realized that the brother had taken it. But he did not send after him to inquire about it for fear that the brother might add perjury to theft.

Well, the brother went down into the nearby city in order to sell the book. And the price he asked was sixteen pence. The buyer said: Give me the book that I may find out whether it is worth that much. With that, the buyer took the book to the holy Anastasius and said: Father, take a look at this book, please, and tell me whether you think I ought to buy it for sixteen pence. Is it worth that much? Abbot Anastasius said: Yes, it is a fine book, it is worth that much.

So the buyer went back to the brother and said: Here is your money. I showed the book to Abbot Anastasius and he said it is a fine book and it is worth at least sixteen pence. The brother then asked: Was that all he said? Did he make any other remarks? No, said the buyer, he did not say another word. Well, said the brother, I have changed my mind and I don't want to sell this book after all.

Then he hastened to Abbot Anastasius and begged him with tears to take back his book, but the Abbot would not accept it, saying: Go in peace, brother, I make you a present of it. But the brother said: If you do not take it back I shall never have any peace.

After that the brother dwelt with Abbot Anastasius for the rest of his life.

This story is from Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart by Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield.

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Strength to Change

lmvnp2 — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:47:28 +0000

Nasrudin was now an old man looking back on his life. He sat with his friends in the tea shop telling his story. When I was young I was fiery – I wanted to awaken everyone. I prayed to Allah to give me the strength to change the world.

In mid-life I awoke one day and realized my life was half over and I had changed no one SO I prayed to Allah to give me the strength to change those close around me who so much needed it.

Alas, now I am old and my prayer is simpler. Allah, I ask, please give me the strength to at least change myself.

This story is from Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart by Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield.

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Two Rabbis

lmvnp2 — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:47:07 +0000

In the course of their long wanderings, the two brothers, Rabbi Zusya and Rabbi Elimelekh, often came to the city of Ludmir. There they always slept in the house of a poor, devout man. Years later, when their reputation had spread all over the country they came to Ludmir agai, not on foot as before, but in a carriage.

The wealthiest man in that little town, who had never wanted to have anything to do with them, came to meet them, the moment he heard they had arrived, and begged them to lodge in his house. But they said:

Nothing has changed in us to make you respect us more than before. What is new is just the horses and the carriage. Take them for your guests, but let us stop with our old host, as usual.

This story is from Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart by Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield.

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Word of Jesus

lmvnp2 — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:47:07 +0000

One day, Jesus was walking in the desert with a group of self-seeking people. They begged him to tell them the Secret Name by which he restored the dead to living. Jesus said, If I tell you, you will abuse its power. The people promised they would use the knowledge wisely and begged him again.

You do not know what you ask, he said, but he told them the Word.

Soon after, the group was walking in a deserted place when they saw a heap of whitened bones. Let us try out the Word, they said to each other, and they did.

The moment the Word was pronounced, the bones became clothed with flesh and transformed into a wild beast, which tore them to shreds.

– Rumi

This story is from Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart by Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield.

The post Word of Jesus appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.