Happiness
by: Anthony de Mello, SJ, One Minute Wisdom
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"I am in desperate need of help -- or I'll go crazy. We're living in a single room -- my wife, my children and my in-laws. So our nerves are on edge, we yell and scream at one another. The room is a hell."
"Do you promise to do whatever I tell you?" said the Master gravely.
"I swear I shall do anything."
"Very well. How many animals do you have?"
"A cow, a goat and six chickens."
"Take them all into the room with you. Then come back after a week."
The disciple was appalled. But he had promised to obey! So he took the animals in. A week later he came back, a pitiable figure, moaning, "I'm a nervous wreck. The dirt! The stench! The noise! We're all on the verge of madness!"
"Go back," said the Master, "and put the animals out."
The man ran all the way home. And came back the following day, his eyes sparkling with joy. "How sweet life is! The animals are out. The home is a Paradise, so quiet and clean and roomy!"
"快帮帮我吧，否则我要发疯了！我们一家人住在一间房间里--我妻子、我的孩子们和我妻子家里的人。我们整日神经紧张，互相大喊大叫。家里就像是地狱一样。"
"你能发誓按我说的去做吗？"大师严肃地说。
"我发誓我什么都愿意做。"
"很好。你有多少头牲口？"
"一头奶牛、一头山羊和六只鸡。"
"把它们全部赶进你家里。一个星期之后再回来。"
弟子吓了一跳，但他已经发誓照办。于是，他把牲口赶进家中。一周以后他回来了，模样惨不忍睹，他呻吟道：“我实在受不了了。家里到处是尘土！恶臭！叫声！我们全都快发疯了！"
"回去，"大师说，"把牲口赶出去。"
那人一路跑回家。第二天他又回来了，他的眼睛闪烁着快乐的光芒。"生活是多么美好啊！终于把牲口赶出去了。现在家里就像天堂一样，安静、整洁而又宽敞！" |
