The mind is a place of its own: from problems to paradise

The mind is a place of its own: from problems to paradise

There is middle eastern story about a man who is very unhappy because his family are oppressing him. His wife constantly torments him. His children annoy and hassle him. He feels hard done by and thinks it is time he went away in search of heaven. After searching for...
The danger of denial

The danger of denial

‘One evening, as Mulla Nasruddin was setting out to call on some of his friends, an old friend happened to come along. It was twenty years since they had seen each other. Both were beside themselves with joy. “It is ages since we met.” said Nasruddin. “I am so...
Learning how to live

Learning how to live

A Sufi story called ‘The scholar’ recounts the following: “Nasrudin, ferrying a pedant across a piece of rough water, said something ungrammatical to him. “Have you never studied grammar?” asked the scholar. “No.” “Then...
Creating a culture of care

Creating a culture of care

An old myth tells the story of a time when ‘care’ was crossing a river and she saw some clay. She picked it up, and slowly began to shape it. While contemplating the beauty of what she had made, Jupiter came by and ‘care’ asked him to give it spirit, which he gladly...