The Ten Thousand Creatures of the Universe Taoism Mr. T’ien, of the Ch’i State, was holding an ancestral banquet in his hall, to which a thousand guests were bidden. As he sat in their midst, many came up to him with presents of fish and game. Eyeing them approvingly, he exclaimed with unction: …
The Young Man Who Refused to Kill Tibet In the towering mountains of Tibet, there was once a young man named Tashi, the son of a humble couple who were entering old age. The couple often complained to their three oldest daughters, who were married to rich men, of the youngster’s sensitivity. He would…
The Banyan Seed Hinduism The banyan is an immense, majestic tree that, from its branches, throws innumerable new roots towards the ground. These roots become supplementary trunks that give support to the giant branches, allowing the tree to continue growing, expanding its crown, in some cases reaching more than one hundred yards in diameter.…
The Naba Zid-Wendé Mossi People – Burkina Faso In the beginning it was emptiness. There was only the Kingdom of Everlasting Truth, which was ruled by the Naba Zid-Wendé. Weary of emptiness, the Naba Zid-Wendé created the Earth and, later, the day, the night and time. They created the sun for lighting up…
The Legend of the Lost Salmon Yakima People – USA The Creator gave The People good words. He instructed The People in how to care for his creation. The People could live in harmony with Creation by remembering and following these good words. The Creator told The People that Salmon had been created…
The Secret of Dreaming Australian Aboriginal Peoples Once there was nothing. Nothing… but the Spirit-of-all-Life. For a long time, the Spirit-of-all-Life dwelt in the nothing. Then, in the mind of the Spirit-of-Life … a Dreaming began. In the empty darkness there was a Dreaming of Fire, and the colors of Fire illuminated the darkness…
Indra’s Net Indian Buddhism One night, at the end of one of the vassa retreats, in the Jetavana Park, in Śrāvastī, one of the followers of Buddha asked him: ‘Master, what is the ultimate foundation of life and the world?’ Siddharta Gautama raised his eyes to the sky and contemplated the stars,…