Town and the Two Streets

Spiritual Story by Sheikh Qalandar Shah I see, in this story, the pitfalls of attachment to a point-of-view rather than commitment to re-creation and really "getting" communication. What do you see in this story? I am continually developing my skills as a communicator, to minimize the risks of "assuming," especially when I have the opportunity to obtain clarity. The model of communication I enjoy and use is based on Integrity, Responsibility and Generosity. The conversations are extraordinary and the rewards are immeasurable.

In eastern Armenia there was a little village with two parallel streets, called North Way and South Way, respectively. A traveler from afar walked down South Way, and soon resolved to visit the other street; however, as soon as he entered it, the merchants noticed that his eyes were filled with tears. "Someone must have died on South Way," said the butcher to the textile salesman. "That poor stranger, who just came from there, look how he cries!" A child heard the comment, and as he knew what a sad thing someone dying is, he began to cry hysterically. Before long, all the children in that street were crying. Startled, the traveler decided to leave immediately. He threw away the onions he was peeling in order to eat them - that being the reason his eyes were filled with tears - and went off. However, the mothers, worried by their children’s weeping, soon went to find out what had happened, and discovered that the butcher, the textile salesman and - by this time - several other merchants, were all deeply concerned about the tragedy which had occurred on South Way. More rumors began to spread; and since the town hadn’t many inhabitants, everyone on both streets knew that a terrible thing had happened. The adults began to fear the worst; but, since they were worried about the gravity of the tragedy, they decided not to ask anything, so as not to make matters worse. A blind man who lived on South Way and didn’t understand what was going on, decided to speak up: "Why such sadness in this town, which as always been such a happy place?" "Something terrible happened on North Way," answered one of the inhabitants. "The children are crying, the men frown, mothers send their sons home, and the only traveler to pass through town for many years, left with his eyes filled with tears. Perhaps the plague has hit the other street." Before long, rumors of an unknown deadly disease spread through the town. And since all the weeping had begun when the traveler visited South Way, the inhabitants of North Way were sure that that was where it had begun. Before nightfall, people from both streets abandoned their houses and left for the mountains of the East. Centuries later, that ancient village where a traveler passed peeling onions continues abandoned to this day. Not far away, two settlements emerged, called East Way and West Way. Their inhabitants, the descendants of the former inhabitants of the village, still do not speak to each other, for time and legends placed a great barrier of fear between them. Can you yourself in this story? Can you see communities, nations? What do you think? MSS

I am a stand

I am a stand that the world financial crisis will end one day sooner because of me than it would have without my action.

I had an amazing breakfast meeting on Monday morning with two extraordinary men. What was planned for an hour became 4 1/2 hours and resulted in the creation of a Prosperity Mastermind Group.

We will meet every week and discuss our personal development homework, we will share experiences of abundance and scarcity since our last gathering, and we will discuss how network marketing is one practical access to prosperity.

I am inspired by this quote from the Tao Te Ching:

Those who admit that they don't know
Become wise.
Those who conceal their ignorance
Never learn.
Those who admit mistakes
Develop strength of character.
Those who pretend to be strong
Become weak.

Tao Te Ching, chapter 71

We are access per aspera ad astra (through adversity to the stars).

Who will you be? How big of a game will you play?

Join this conversation.

MSS