One day not so long ago there lived a very angry little boy. Everything in life and everything about life made him angry. The more angry he became the more frustrated he became and the more frustrated he became well that just made him more angry.
He began to hurt the people around him who loved him the most. With each new insult and angry outburst he was hurting those that cared. He wasn’t seeing the consequences of his anger. He couldn’t understand that his actions were causing others pain and hurt, he was too consumed by his own rage to even notice.
After a particularly bad outburst his mother had sent him to walk in the woods and think about things until he had calmed down. It was on this day, walking in the woods, that he met a witch that was about to change his life for the better.
The witch was out collecting her herbs and spices for potions and magical spells when she heard the little boy. He was cursing and kicking stones, making an awful racket as he went.
The little boy cursing and kicking sticks as he went, was so engrossed with his emotion of anger he didn’t see the witch until he was standing right in front of her.
“Who are you!” He angrily muttered “your in my way!”
“I’m a witch capable of turning you into a frog or making your tongue talk like a parrot, maybe I turn you into a mouse or something worse. so I would drop the attitude” replied the wise witch
“Well your in my way!” Barked the angry boy “and you smell”
“Your an angry little man” replied the witch “I think you might need to be taught a lesson”
“Oh shut up and get out my way” angrily demanded the little boy
“I did warn you”
And with a great flash of light and a kinda whooshing sound the witch threw one of her most powerful spells she had for years, it seemed this angrily little boy was about to be taught a lesson.
“There, it is done! You have been cursed, now every time you find yourself angry and about to hurl insults and abuse you will blow fire like a dragon”
And with this the Wise witch walked away leaving the little boy feeling a little dazed and slightly confused.
When the boy finally arrived back home his mood of anger had passed and he was feeling a lot more calmer. He’d forgotten about the witch and the curse and was feeling happier.
It was around the evening dinner table that he started to loose his temper. Just as his father had poised on his fork a particularly nice looking potato ready to pop in his mouth the little boy burst into anger. As the little boy opened his mouth ready to curse, suddenly, just as the witch had said, a burst of flames as impressive as any dragon came raging out of his mouth instantly turning the potato on his father’s fork to crumbly dust.
Shocked and surprised the boy quickly put his hands over his mouth to spare anymore carnage. His anger had now been replaced by horror and surprise as to the damage he had just caused.
That evening as the little boy was told it was bed time, anger reared it’s ugly head once more. Once again the instant the little boy opened his mouth to vent his rage a massive burst of flames came shooting out. The walls were scorched black and the television taking a direct hit was left melted and deformed.
Our little boy went to bed that evening thinking for the first time in his life, how his anger was having a direct effect on those around him.
Over the course of the next few weeks, little by little our boy started to see first hand how ever time he was angry or had an angry outburst the flames raged from his mouth burning everything to a crisp as it went, hurting and harming those around him.
The other town folk were now becoming afraid of the little boy who was now famous for blowing flames every time he was angry and as so would try to avoid any direct contact with him.
Our poor little boy was becoming very sad and lonely indeed.
However this curse the wise witch had bestowed upon our little angry boy was turning out to be a very clever curse indeed.
As more time passed the little boy was slowly beginning to control his angry outbursts.
Gradually over time his anger became less and less. At first he managed to control his anger for a day, then he could managed two days in a row, then three, and four then an entire week went by without the little boy becoming angry in the slightest way.
And as our little boy began to control his anger a fantastic transformation was also unfolding. He was also beginning to become calmer and happier person. The other town folk could also see the wonderful new change in our little boy and so they had started to include him once again. This was just the encouragement the little boy need to finally rid himself of the old wise witches curse.
With a massive concerted effort and intense control our little boy expelled the last remaining flakes of anger left in his body, he had truly conquered his curse of blowing fire and in doing so had also mastered his anger.
His curse was lifted!
Our little boy decided to leave some of the destruction and scorch marks his anger had created. A reminder as how a quick small outburst of anger can cause far longer lasting damage.
Words we say in anger can cause deep emotional scars that may take many years to heal or be covered over. Be carful what you say!
*Dhamma Tāpasā is a trained former Buddhist Monk and the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas. An inspirational positive life purpose & Motivational coach who Teaches Meditation & mindfulness techniques through the art of his original moral stories. Dhamma Tāpasā is able to capture our imaginations whilst teaching us valuable moral principles and deepening our understanding of the human consciousness, motivating and inspiring us to face our everyday problems with a renewed energy and vigour.
Once upon a time there lived two very unusual Eagles whom both had three heads.
The two Eagles both had the same affliction, one head was always good, one head was always bad and the poor third head couldn’t decide between the two.
Both the two Eagles and their three heads were often found talking amongst themselves, the good heads that represented love, kindness and compassion often fought with the bad heads, that represented Anger, hatred and loathing. The good and bad heads always argued as to the best solution to any given problem, and the poor third head always felt stuck in the middle and unable to make a decision as what to do.
The first head, the one that was good, always wanted to see the honesty and trust in everything exploring the problem with an open heart. The second head, the one that was bad, always found the negative side of the argument usually wanting to be cautious waiting to see what unfolded.
The third head listened to the other two but could never decide between them, both raised valuable points that couldn’t be ignored, and as such a decision could never be found and our two poor Eagles would spend many hours in confusion, never making their minds up as to what was the best choice.
One day this all changed
Once again both our three headed Eagles found themselves in a moral dilemma and became stuck in their thinking. The good heads were adamant they were correct and the bad heads were positive they were right and so the arguments pursued.
It was at this exact moment that one of our Three Headed Eagles had an idea. It decided that the only way to live a normal life, like all the other Eagles, was to cut off the other two heads. Only doing this, thought the Eagle, would it sever their constant arguing and bickering between what was always right and wrong, good or bad.
The other Three Headed Eagle didn’t agree, they thought this idea wasn’t such a good plan, but agreed that something should be done.
Our first three headed Eagle makes their plan to separate themselves from the other two heads. With careful timing and precision our three headed Eagle takes a sharp knife and quickly cuts the other two heads off in one fell swoop.
For just a moment all is content in our Eagles world. There is no more fighting and arguing between the other two heads and our Eagle feels at peace.
However as our Eagle leaps from the tree tops, stretching his wings ready for a celebratory flight, he suddenly finds himself completely off balance and totally out of control. Try as he might our Eagle cannot gain composure without his other two heads. With the ground rushing ever closer there is only going to be one inevitable outcome and our Eagle hits the ground with a nasty thud.
The second of our three headed Eagles has a different kind of plan. His plan is to use kindness and compassion toward his situation and so begins to meditate. He focused his attention on his breathing, breathing in, breathing out, becoming truly present in the moment. Slowly he witnesses a calming with the chatter of his other two heads.
With this calming came a quietness slowly the other two heads began to shrink every so slightly. Seeing the other two heads become smaller and smaller was all our Three headed Eagle needed to know that his plan was working.
With a determined effort, closely following every breath and the silence that comes with it, the two heads shrink ever more slightly and became increasingly quieter, until finally they disappeared altogether, our three headed Eagle had found his true freedom.
Our inner speech is just like that of our three headed Eagles, always chattering away and seemingly never ending. The fundamental reason for all of our life’s problems is this inner speech, our inner speech creates all of our fears, anger, hatred, boredom, guilt, anxiety and depression. And the exceedingly high regard we place onto this inner speech, onto our own thoughts, is, and has become, the main obstacle in our lives.
Our inner speech is just like from our story The Monk and The Grasshopper, always jumping from one thing to the next. And just like our poor Three Headed Eagles, this inner speech that jumps around from one thing to the next can cause us extreme amounts of personal torment and suffering.
When the mind is full of thoughts and wanders around jumping from this to that, sooner or later it finds itself in negativity. It is like having a lengthy conversation with a dear friend, you may start the conversation with praise and positivity but gradually, sooner or later it turns to negativity, criticising the world around us or our own lives at that of others. The exact same thing happens with our inner thinking and inner speech.
To help us still and calm this inner speech we practise meditation and mindfulness. We focus our attention on our breathing, either at the tip of our nose or on the rise and fall of the abdomen. In doing so we gradually witness the silence that lies between this inner speech. To begin with this silence is ever so subtly and needs pure focus on our breath. Gradually as you see one thought subside and another just begin, there, right there in between those two thoughts is a silence a stillness and calm. A silence so sweet your mind will begin to want more.
Meditation and mindfulness take practice but just like anything you practice at you get better and better. And the better we get at meditation and mindfulness your inner speech becomes quieter. And the quieter you become the more happiness you will have.
2 Ebooks for the price of 1. Inspirational Bedtime Reading teaching valuable life lessons.
*Dhamma Tāpasā is a trained former Buddhist Monk and the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas. An inspirational positive life purpose & Motivational coach who Teaches Meditation & mindfulness techniques through the art of his original moral stories. Dhamma Tāpasā is able to capture our imaginations whilst teaching us valuable moral principles and deepening our understanding of the human consciousness, motivating and inspiring us to face our everyday problems with a renewed energy and vigour.
With just 3 questions I can Unlock limiting beliefs that maybe causing You Stress, Anxiety or even underlying Depression!
One fine day, whilst out and about, hopping here and there, a little grasshopper happened across a monk who was meditating.
He hopped his way around the motionless monk for some time. He was struck by how calm, still and peaceful the monk appeared but he wasn’t really sure what he was doing.
The Monk & The Grasshopper
The grasshopper hopped here and there, back and forth, keeping his eye on the monk and slowly gaining courage to get closer and closer until finally he was almost at the monk’s side. Just at the moment when he was about to hop on his knee and clear his tiny grasshopper throat, the monk opened his eyes and looked down at the grasshopper.
“Hello little grasshopper” the monk said in a warm and friendly manner. “How may I help you? ”
Surprised that the monk knew he was there, the little grasshopper, hopped back a little, and, plucking up all of his little grasshopper courage, he asked his question.
“I have been watching you for some time and would like to know what it is you are doing?”
“Meditation little grasshopper” said the monk “we meditate to calm our wandering minds”.
“Wandering minds, the grasshopper repeated, What do you mean?.
“Our minds can be like that of a little grasshopper that hops from place to place, always moving, never still and calm”
“Oh, said the little grasshopper, trying hard to be still for a moment. “I like that. I would like to try to calm my wandering mind, and my wandering legs, for that matter. Do you think I could learn?”
“Of course, little grasshopper. Its quite simple. We start by getting comfortable, then sitting with crossed legs and our backs straight, we close our eyes”.
The little grasshopper immediately sits down and after spending a little time working out how to cross its little legs, it closes its little eyes.
A few moments pass before the grasshopper opens one eye and looks up at the still and calm monk. “But what now? ” he asks a little impatiently.
The monk chuckles “steady little grasshopper, 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”
“OK, that sounds pretty simple”, says the little grasshopper and does as the monk says, making himself comfortable again and crossing his little legs, he slowly closes his eyes and takes a deep in breath.
A few moments pass. “Wait!” shouts the grasshopper “I think it would be better to meditate over there on that lovely grass stalk” and off he hops. He jumps onto the blade of grass and looks around in satisfaction.
“Ok I’m ready now”
The monk and the grasshopper get themselves comfortable again, the monk crosses his legs and the little grasshopper does the same, they both slowly close their eyes and take a deep in breath.
A few more moments pass. “Wait!” Shouts the grasshopper “I think it would be better to meditate over there on that lovely rock” and off he hops. He jumps onto the rock and looks around in satisfaction.
“Ok I’m ready now”
The monk and the grasshopper once again make themselves comfortable the monk crosses his legs and the little grasshopper does the same, they both slowly close their eyes and take a deep in breath.
A few more moments pass. “Wait!” shouts the grasshopper
Our minds can be like that of the little grasshopper, always hopping off to here 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
*Dhamma Tāpasā is a trained former Buddhist Monk and the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas. An inspirational positive life purpose & Motivational coach who Teaches Meditation & mindfulness techniques through the art of his original moral stories. Dhamma Tāpasā is able to capture our imaginations whilst teaching us valuable moral principles and deepening our understanding of the human consciousness, motivating and inspiring us to face our everyday problems with a renewed energy and vigour.
Two tigers start to get into an argument while out for a walk
The first tiger is adamant that he is right, and the second tiger is certain that he is correct, both won’t give in, and the argument starts to escalate.
Just then, as they round a corner in the road, they meet a friendly meditating monk.
“Ahhh now for sure we will see I am right.” says one tiger.
“I don’t think so.” says the other tiger. “we shall see I am right.”
They pay their respects to the monk, before asking their pressing question.
“Monk we have a question for you.” states one tiger. “we would like you to clarify who is right and who is wrong. where does Heaven and Hell reside? My friend believes that Heaven is above, and Hell is below but I disagree, and am sure that Hell is above and Heaven is below. Monk please tell us”
The Monk smiles and considers the problem for a moment before replying.
“I’m afraid neither of you are correct. Heaven and Hell don’t reside outside of us, either above the clouds or deep within the earth. Heaven and hell reside in each one of our minds. Let me explain. Both of you are angry with each other in this moment and so your minds are filled with a destructive force, this is like a Hell. Only peace and compassion can bring about a Heaven in our minds”
Both the two tigers instantly understand what the monk has explained and drop their stupid argument, apologise to each other and become friends once more.
“And right now, in your mind tigers, is Heaven.” said the monk “when we have peace and compassion in our minds we are experiencing Heaven.”
There are said to be 108 defilements or destructive forces of our minds. Anger and hatred are amongst those 108, we must calmly and clearly see for ourselves how each of these 108 destructive forces, harm us and cause only ourselves to suffer. To truly feel this within our own minds and bodies we begin to let go.
Our mind is the one thing that comes with us wherever we go. Most of us seek outside of ourselves for that elusive happiness, I challenge you to look within to find that happiness, peace and compassion that you so richly deserve.
Observe, how you body feels when anger is present, truly see for yourself how tense your body becomes how the stress courses through you. To truly experience anger this way the truth will shine, gradually or instantly you will let go.
2 Ebooks for the price of 1 & Inspirational & Educational Bedtime Reading!
*Dhamma Tāpasā is a trained former Buddhist Monk and the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas. An inspirational positive life purpose & Empowerment coach who Teaches Meditation & mindfulness techniques through the art of his original moral stories. Dhamma Tāpasā is able to capture our imaginations whilst teaching us valuable moral principles and deepening our understanding of the human consciousness, motivating and inspiring us to face our everyday problems with a renewed energy and vigour.
Almost 6,000 years ago to this very day a challenge was set by a wise and noble king.
“Whoever can catch me a Baby Dragon will inherit my kingdom”
There were many takers to this quest, all would eagerly set out in pursuit but none ever returned.
The king was a wise man and knew it would take someone of exceptional skill to capture a Baby Dragon and only that someone would be worthy of ruling fairly and justly his kingdom.
It has been almost 500 years since the last Dragon was seen on earth, so allow me to enlighten you a little and separate some fact from fiction.
Dragons as we all know are formidable opponents, a mighty flying beast capable of fire breathing and with claws that are sharper than any steal sword we can make.
What, dear reader, you may not realise is a Baby Dragon posses none of the above skill set, and can at first appear vulnerable. However what the Baby Dragon lacks in shear power and destruction they make up for in cunning and deceptive ways.
The Baby Dragon posses an infinite variety of evil tricks to lure their victims in, then they gobble them up, bones and all.
Our story starts, like all good fairy tales do, with our hero and five others who except the kings challenge.
Standing at the palace gates each bid their fairwells and boldly stride onwards to where the dragons reside.
It’s a long and strenuous march over mountains and valleys, through streams and woods until finally they reach there destination. Each of the six are very tired and exhausted, but now must be more aware than ever before.
As they enter the Dragon woods an eeriness descends and each fall silent taking careful steps not to be spotted. As they reach a clearing deep in the forest they spot the Baby Dragons.
The quickest to react spots the most beautiful Baby Dragon and leaps into action, but as they approach they start to notice how wonderful this Baby Dragon really is, more beautiful than any sunrise or sunset they have ever seen, with colours that seem to shimmer and sparkle with ever step. Our wanna be hero becomes so engrossed and mesmerised by this sight, that the Baby Dragon seeing their opportunity gobbles him all up, bones and all.
Our next hero to act is drawn to a Baby Dragon who is gently singing, as they approach the music becomes so soothing and peaceful, a melody so perfect in pitch and tone our hero completely forgets the mission and stands engrossed. Seeing this opportunity the Baby Dragon gobbles them up, bones and all.
The third to act is a little more cautious. Seeing the other two got caught by the sight and sound of the Baby Dragons our hero decides to carefully step pass the singing Dragons and doesn’t even glance upon the most beautiful. Instead they are drawn to one little Baby Dragon who seems harmless enough.
Our hero walks right up to this seemingly harmless Baby Dragon, they pick it up to place it in their rucksack but as they do they are instantly drawn to the feeling of the Baby Dragon’s surprisingly soft and soothing skin, as fluffy as a kitten but at the same time silky and smooth to the touch. Our hero starts to stroke the Baby Dragon as if a pet completely abandoning the idea of the quest. seeing this as an opportunity the Baby Dragon gobbles them up, bones and all.
Our next and fourth hero to approach the Baby Dragons is also cautious and manages to control their desire for the most beautiful and quell their passions for those soothing sounds, they pass unaffected those first devilish Baby Dragons but find themselves suddenly transfixed with a smell so heavenly and intoxicating that it stops them in their tracks. A smell so full of spices from old l, with a fragrance full of depth and character that our hero’s mind is captivated. Seeing the opportunity, the Baby Dragon quickly gobbles them up, bones and all.
Our fifth hero watches as one by one each of the others have succumbed to these Baby Dragons devious ways. They still think they will be safe and so boldly stride through the most beautiful and even the sweetly singing Baby Dragons. The wonderful smells don’t distract them from the quest nor are they caught by the silky soft touch as they brush up against a Baby Dragon. Our fifth hero is starting to see victory when something strange starts to happen, without warning our hero’s mouth waters with a taste so succulent and delicious they are transfixed. Their mind wanders and is caught up in this taste just for a moment but a moment is all that a Baby Dragon needs and seeing the chance they gobble them up, bones and all.
The last one left is our true hero, for they have seen the others fall victim to their overwhelmed senses and understands that one must guard against those passions of sight, those desires for taste, the pursuit of feelings, the want of sound and the intoxicating lust for smell.
Our true hero, guarding those senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and feeling with the six and most important sense, our sense of consciousness, find they are not controlled or manipulated by their desires or passions but see them clearly for what they are Impermanent, forever changing and as we cling and attach bring us suffering. As so they are unaffected by these devilish tricks and simply walk calmly up to one Baby Dragon place it in their rucksack and start making the long way back to the palace.
As humans we experience the world around us through our five senses of sight, sound, taste, feeling and smell. No matter what comes our way and fixes itself within our six sense, our consciousness, always starts from one of these five senses.
Each of us has our favourite sense, mine has always been Feeling, I love the feeling of the sun and wind on my skin, the feeling of a hug and the feeling of surfing as examples. I can get so caught up and carried away with a feeling I sometimes too will get eaten by my Baby Dragons, which represents the Anger, loathing, envy and a 108 defilements of mind or any other negative and destructive thoughts associated with attachment to an impermanent, forever changing entity. Suffering will always ensue.
As Monk’s and meditators we practice guarding our senses and staying present in the moment, sometimes a seemingly difficult task. This is why we learn meditation, focusing on our breath, the more we practice the more we learn to stay focused on this present moment, never attaching to our thoughts, feelings, sounds, tastes, sights and smells. We begin to see them for what they truly are impermanent, that which is always forever changing, to attach to these forever changing thoughts and sensations will always bring suffering, something we are all trying to ovoid.
*Dhamma Tāpasā is a trained former Buddhist Monk and the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas. An inspirational positive life purpose & Motivational coach who Teaches Meditation & mindfulness techniques through the art of his original moral stories. Dhamma Tāpasā is able to capture our imaginations whilst teaching us valuable moral principles and deepening our understanding of the human consciousness, motivating and inspiring us to face our everyday problems with a renewed energy and vigour.
Once upon a time there was a rich man living in India who was addicted to gambling. He played dice day and night and in the process met with another gambling addict, a man whose mind worked in tricky ways.
While the rich gambler was very honest and above board, the tricky gambler was one of dishonesty. When the tricky gambler won he kept on playing. But when he began to lose he would secretly put one of the dice in his mouth and swallow it, claiming the dice lost and stopped the game.
The rich gambler began to notice this little trick and decided one day to teach his friend a lesson. His plan was simple, he smeared poison on the dice and let it dry so it was invisible then took these to his next game of Dice with his friend.
The day came and the two friends set up the gambling board and started to play. As usual the tricky gambler was happy to win. And win he did with every throw of the dice, as soon as he luck began to change and he started to lose he immediately snuck one of the dice into his mouth, unaware they were coated in poison.
After swallowing the poison dice the trickster instantly fell down sick. The rich gambler, who was basically good at heart and only wanted to teach his friend a lesson, thought, “Enough is enough. Now I must save his life.”
He made a concoction of herbs and spices to cause vomiting. He made his friend swallow it, and he threw up the poison dice. His friend was saved and learnt a valuable lesson.
Moral of story:
Deceiving a friend may be hazardous to your health.
Lying, or deception causes real pain in this world, and a liar is always found out. To create a lie requires vast amounts of effort in keeping it believable, real and who you actually told, this takes valuable energy away from your true purpose of living contently, calmly and at peace.
