Guest guest Posted October 4, 1999 Report Share Posted October 4, 1999 Brenda wrote: > "Brenda" <buddha > > Hello all. > I do not usually do this but today seemed appropriate for it. > Brenda > > Love And The Cabbie > I was in New York the other day and rode with a friend in a > taxi. When we got out, my friend said to the driver, "Thank > you for the ride. You did a superb job of driving." > > The taxi driver was stunned for a second. Then he said, "Are > you a wise guy or something?" > > "No, my dear man, and I'm not putting you on. I admire the > way you keep cool in heavy traffic." > > "Yeah," the driver said and drove off. > > "What was that all about?" I asked. > > I am trying to bring love back to New York," he said. "I > believe it's the only thing that can save the city." > > "How can one man save New York?" > > "It's not one man. I believe I have made that taxi driver's day. > Suppose he has 20 fares. He's going to be nice to those 20 > fares because someone was nice to him. Those fares in turn > will be kinder to their employees or shopkeepers or waiters or > even their own families. Eventually the goodwill could spread > to at least 1,000 people. Now that isn't bad, is it?" > > "But you're depending on that taxi driver to pass your > goodwill to others." > > "I'm not depending on it," my friend said. "I'm aware that the > system isn't foolproof so I might deal with ten different people > today. If out of ten I can make three happy, then eventually I > can indirectly influence the attitudes of 3,000 more." > > "It sounds good on paper," I admitted, "but I'm not sure it > words in practice." > > "Nothing is lost if it doesn't. It didn't take any of my time to > tell that man he was doing a good job. He neither received a > larger tip nor a smaller tip. If it fell on deaf ears, so what? > Tomorrow there will be another taxi driver I can try to make > happy." > > "You're some kind of a nut," I said. > > "That shows how cynical you have become. I have made a > study of this. The thing that seems to be lacking, besides > money of course, for our postal employees, is that no one tells > people who work for the post office what a good job they're > doing." > > "But they're not doing a good job." > > "They're not doing a good job because they feel no one cares > if they do or not. Why shouldn't someone say a kind word to > them?" > > We were walking past a structure in the process of being built > and passed five workmen eating their lunch. My friend > stopped. "That's a magnificent job you men have done. It > must be difficult and dangerous work." > > The workmen eyed my friend suspiciously. > > "When will it be finished?" > > "June, a man grunted. > > "Ah. That really is impressive. You must all be very proud." > > We walked away. I said to him, "I haven't seen anyone like > you since The Man From LaMancha." > > "When those men digest my words, they will feel better for it. > Somehow the city will benefit from their happiness." > > "But you can't do this all alone!" I protested. "You're just one > man." > > "The most important thing is not to get discouraged. Making > people in the city become kind again is not an easy job, but if > I can enlist other people in my campaign. . ." > > You just winked at a very plain-looking woman," I said. > > "Yes, I know," he replied. "And if she's a schoolteacher, her > class will be in for a fantastic day." > > By Art Buchwald > from Chicken Soup for the Soul > > - > <buddhanow > > <buddhanow > > Friday, October 01, 1999 8:06 AM > [buddhanow] Digest Number 49 > > > > > > > > There are 4 messages in this issue. > > > > Topics in today's digest: > > > > 1. Re: Tibetan Buddist > > Darren & Sharmila Grossman <qapla > > 2. > > jkg1110 > > 3. Re: > > VelvitGirl > > 4. Re: > > "Steve Thomas" <stephen> > > > > > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > > Message: 1 > > Thu, 30 Sep 1999 13:12:40 -0700 > > Darren & Sharmila Grossman <qapla > > Re: Tibetan Buddist > > > > Dear Lee, > > Howdy, Howdy Howdy, > > . > > I spent Many years reading books on buddhism, > > when I should have been pouring over his Suttas, and Sutras. > > I eventually found a GREAT web site with over 100 free translations of > > Lord Buddha's Pali texts. > > Here is the address: > > . > > http://world.std.com/~metta/canon/khuddaka/dhp/index.html > > . > > If you have any questions, i'd be delighted to help out. > > with palms folded, > > Darren :-) > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > > Message: 2 > > 1 Oct 1999 00:18:12 -0000 > > jkg1110 > > Subject: > > > > Hello everyone! I am a new member as of last night....I am > > still trying to figure how everything works! I have had the > > chance to read a few "replies" (I hope that is what they are) and I > > am just so thrilled to now be a part of this wonderful, wonderful energy! > > I have always felt like I couldn't really use words like "energy, karma, > or soul" because until recently I surrounded myself with many toxic > relationships. I have always felt like it was my secret life...reading about > Buddhism, spirituality, god....This past year has been an awakening for > me...I have had some really hard lessons which have made me realize who I am > and just how important MY role is with ALL of the relationships that I have > had and have...speaking of have I really don't have too many > friends/boyfriend anymore because they just don't "fit". I feel sad and > lonely. I feel I can't really relate to anyone right now that is around > me(like co-workers,family,and some friends that I still keep in contact > with). I feel I have so much wonderfulness inside and have no one to share > that with....I also feel stronger and more in touch with who I am and what I > want. So as I write this I realize that I am still holding on to my past and > I don't know how to completely let it go...any suggestions??? Thank you for > reading. > > > > > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > > Message: 3 > > Thu, 30 Sep 1999 21:16:33 EDT > > VelvitGirl > > Re: > > > > No suggestions jkg1110.... just that I empathize with you.... I know how > you > > feel... my family isn't too keen on Buddhism (or Catholics... basically > > anyone who is not protestant for that matter). I am very new to this > subject > > at least in this life time as I feel that I have had many before this one. > I > > know that everyone has their story to tell... even the deaf and the > > ignorant.... and we must listen to these stories as each one of them might > > hold some wisdom for us to take through this life time and into our next. > I > > hope that you can count us as friends. > > > > My best wishes to you, > > > > Heather > > > > > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > > Message: 4 > > Fri, 1 Oct 1999 10:36:19 +0100 > > "Steve Thomas" <stephen> > > Re: > > > > Hello, > > > > Those hard lessons are a blessing arent they ! We sometimes need the cold > > hard facts to wake us up to something that was invisible or untouchable to > > us beforehand. > > > > As with relationships, I really know how you feel. But dont be too hard or > > critical of yourself. Its only when we set these expectations or special > > standards of life, then it gets tough, because we have to battle against > > other rogue elements to keep those false expectations or standards alive. > I > > think at that point we are only battling our true nature. > > > > I feel we are very similar people, with similar problems so I really > > understand what you are saying :-) > > > > But why do you feel you cant relate with your friends and co-workers ? > > Myself, sometimes I set up walls of discrimination. I mean that during the > > day I will feel lonely and probably everyone I come into contact with sees > > my little glum face and thinks "oh, better not intrude". Then that > relfects > > back onto me, like a mirror. I feel even more shut-out. > > > > Maybe, you should let out all that wonderfulness ! Smile ! That one act of > > smiling can help tremendously. Even if you dont feel like it, its worth it > > because you feel better and everyone else feels better for seeing your > > smiling face ! You say you already feel a change in yourself, more in > touch > > etc., The next step is to use that positive energy. Its no good bottling > it > > up :-) be like Avalokiteshwara ! > > > > I hope this helps. Thank you for posting. > > > > > > Steve > > > > stephen > > sthomas48 (back-up email) > > http://profiles./sthomas48 > > http://members.netscapeonline.co.uk/stephenthomas/home/ > > > > ......."Since the universe is curved, there > > cannot be any truly straight answers"....... > > > > > > - > > <jkg1110 > > > > > Hello everyone! I am a new member as of last night....I am > > > still trying to figure how everything works! I have had the > > > chance to read a few "replies" (I hope that is what they are) and I > > > am just so thrilled to now be a part of this wonderful, wonderful > energy! > > > I have always felt like I couldn't really use words like "energy, karma, > > or soul" because until recently I surrounded myself with many toxic > > relationships. I have always felt like it was my secret life...reading > about > > Buddhism, spirituality, god....This past year has been an awakening for > > me...I have had some really hard lessons which have made me realize who I > am > > and just how important MY role is with ALL of the relationships that I > have > > had and have...speaking of have I really don't have too many > > friends/boyfriend anymore because they just don't "fit". I feel sad and > > lonely. I feel I can't really relate to anyone right now that is around > > me(like co-workers,family,and some friends that I still keep in contact > > with). I feel I have so much wonderfulness inside and have no one to > share > > that with....I also feel stronger and more in touch with who I am and what > I > > want. So as I write this I realize that I am still holding on to my past > and > > I don't know how to completely let it go...any suggestions??? Thank you > for > > reading. > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > __________________________ > ___ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.