THE DHAMMAPADA: THE WAY OF THE BUDDHA, VOL. 9-12 The ...

THE DHAMMAPADA: THE WAY OF THE BUDDHA, VOL. 9-12 119
The drunk answered, ”I was not smoking in bed it was on fire when I lay down.”
So shake yourself. Don’t say tomorrow. Whenever you remember, whenever you remember me, whenever you
remember Buddha, whenever you remember Jesus, just shake yourself. Wake up! See all around the people, the
trees, the birds. Be silent, available to existence, in a deep, deep let-go... and awareness, slowly, slowly will go on
penetrating deeper and deeper into you.
Mulla Nasruddin was saying to me:
”I am the sensitive type a poet. When I see a beautiful woman I want to cry... or write a poem... or jump on
her!
”I was at a party in my hotel and I met this really great girl, and we drank champagne. I managed to get her
up to my room. I locked the door and took off my glasses showed her no mercy! And I winked... and she winked.
And I took off my shirt... and she took off her shirt. I took off my pants... and she took off her pants and I
lunged at her. Then I realized I had been looking into a mirror. I was taking glass out of my legs for weeks. I
must say I was the best I ever had!”
The last question:
Question 6
BELOVED MASTER, ARE YOU AN ANTI-SEMITE?
Levin, me? An anti-Semite? You must be crazy!
Louie Feldman a traveling salesman caught the last train out of Grand Central Station, but in his haste he
forgot to pack his toiletry set.
The following morning he arose bright and early and made his way to the lavatory at the end of the car. Inside
he walked up to a washbasin that was not in use.
”Excuse me,” said Louie to a man who was bent over the basin next to his, ”I forgot to pack all my stuff last
night. Mind if I use your soap?”
The stranger gave him a searching look, hesitated momentarily, and then shrugged. ”Okay, help yourself.”
Louie murmured his thanks, washed, and again turned to the man. ”Mind if I borrow your towel?”
”No, I guess not.”
Louie dried himself, dropped the wet towel to the floor and inspected his face in the mirror. ”I could use a
shave,” he commented. ”Would it be all right with you if I use your razor?”
”Certainly,” agreed the man in a courteous voice.
”How you fixed for shaving cream?”
Wordlessly, the man handed Louie his tube of shaving cream.
”You got a fresh blade? I hate to use one that somebody else already used. Can’t be too careful, you know.”
Louie was given a fresh blade. His shave completed, he turned to the stranger once more. ”You wouldn’t
happen to have a comb handy, would you?”
The man’s patience had stretched dangerously near the breaking point, but he managed a wan smile and gave
Louie his comb.
Louie inspected it closely. ”You should really keep this comb a little cleaner,” he admonished as he proceeded
to wash it. He then combed his hair and again addressed his benefactor whose mouth was now drawn in a thin,
tight line.
”Now, if you don’t mind, I will have a little talcum powder, some after-shave lotion, some toothpaste and a
toothbrush.”
”By God, I never heard of such damn nerve in my life!” snarled the outraged stranger. ”Hell, no! Nobody in
the whole world can use my toothbrush.”
He slammed his belongings into their leather case and stalked to the door, muttering, ”I gotta draw the line
some place!”
”Anti-Semite!” yelled Louie.
Enough for today.
The Dhammapada: The Way of the Buddha, Vol. 10
Chapter 5 The Buddha is your birthright
Audio:Yes Video:No Length:0 mins
QUIETEN YOUR MIND. REFLECT. WATCH.
NOTHING BINDS YOU. YOU ARE FREE.
YOU ARE STRONG. YOU HAVE COME TO THE END. FREE FROM PASSION AND DESIRE, YOU
HAVE STRIPPED THE THORNS FROM THE STEM. THIS IS YOUR LAST BODY.