Weekly Moral Story The monk and The Cricket

One day while out and about doing his thing, a tiny cricket came across a monk meditating

He sat there for some time watching as the motionless monk meditated, he was struck at how calm and peaceful the monk seemed but didn’t understand what it was the monk was actually doing.

After a while the cricket become brave enough to approach the monk and ask, but just as the cricket hopped a little closer the monk open his eyes.

“Hello little cricket” the monk said in a warm and friendly manner. “How May I help you”

Surprised that the monk knew he was there the little cricket asked his question

“I have been watching you for some time and would like to know what it is you are doing?”

“Meditation little cricket” said the monk “we meditate to calm our wandering minds”

“How do you mean” the cricket inquired

“Our minds can be like that of a little cricket that hops from place to place, always moving never still and calm”

“Oh I like that” said the little cricket, “that makes sense to me. Do you think I could learn?”

“Of course little cricket, we start by getting comfortable, then sitting with crossed legs and our backs straight we close our eyes”

Immediately the little cricket, makes himself comfortable, crosses all his little legs and closes his eyes

“But what now” asked the little cricket

The monk chuckles “steady little cricket not so fast. when we close our eyes we watch our breath, Breathing In we are truly aware we are Breathing In, Breathing Out we are truly aware we are Breathing Out”

The little cricket does as the monk says making himself comfortable and crosses all his little legs, he slowly closes his eyes and takes a deep in breath

“Wait!” Shouts the cricket “I think it would be better to meditate over there on that lovely grass stalk” and off he hops

“Ok I’m ready now”

The monk and the cricket get themselves comfortable again, the monk crosses his legs and the little cricket does the same, they both slowly close their eyes and take a deep in breath

“Wait!” Shouts the cricket “I think it would be better to meditate over there on that lovely rock” and off he hops

“Ok I’m ready now”

The monk and the cricket once again make themselves comfortable the monk crosses his legs and the little cricket does the same, they both slowly close their eyes and take a deep in breath

“Wait!” Shouts the cricket

Author Dhamma Tapasa

Moral of Story

Our minds can be like that of the little cricket, always hopping off to hear and there following the next big distraction. We meditate to calm our minds, stilling and quietening ourselves to live more in the present moment. When we become present in the moment we start to learn and experience the fundamental truths to that which causes us to suffer.