50 Soul Stirring Stories is a collection of delightful stories designed to develop the mind, free it from distortions and connect with the inner spirit. The protagonists here are ordinary people confronted with their own delusions, weaknesses and unaccountable desires. The stories evoke the dilemmas, pain and strange joys of childhood and adulthood.
Most of the stories are supported with meaningful illustrations in abstract art that will help the readers to connect better with the story. So plunge into this ocean of truth and wisdom and then bask in the sun as a truly enlightened being!
Prof. Shrikant Prasoon is a reader, teacher, thinker, poet and above all, a humanist. The more he reads and thinks, the more he writes on varied topics, but with one aim ‘to show man the need of Nature and natural life'. He believes that all religions are integral and inseparable, living and developing parts of one basic religion called Humanism; and all the systems are an outcome of the greatest celestial system, which is devised and regulated by the Unseen and Unknown Creator.
A retired Professor of English, Prof. Prasoon writes in Hindi with equal ease and also in Sanskrit. His recent books are Knowing Buddha; Knowing Guru Nãnak; Indian Scriptures; Panch Mahābhuta Tatwa and Sharira; Chãnakya; Netāji Subhāsh Chandra Bose; Absorbing Buddha; Knowing Kabir and Hinduism Clarified and Simplified.
Prayers ......... 11
1. Proper Lesson ......... 12
2. Teaching Right and Wrong ......... 14
3. Cycle of Evil ......... 16
4. No Escape: Taste Nectar Honey ......... 18
5. Headstrong Companion ......... 20
6. Adjustment ......... 20
7. Born, Ruled and Died ......... 22
8. Be a part of Delicious Cake ......... 26
9. Giving Life Back ......... 28
10. Pride for What! ......... 30
11. Theft of Wisdom ......... 32
12. Honour ......... 35
13. Worldly Dharma ......... 36
14. Ungovernable Temper ......... 38
15. Crooked Howler ......... 40
16. The Little Elephant ......... 42
17. May be ......... 43
18. Carrying Load in Mind ......... 45
19. Drum Beating ......... 46
20. Blind Man with a Lantern ......... 48
21. Winners or Losers ......... 50
22. Skill and Control ......... 53
23. Three Dolls ......... 54
24. Friendly with or against Time and Tide ......... 56
25. Who are you? ......... 59
26. Employment ......... 60
27. Wealthy, Warrior King ......... 63
28. Overstuffed and Overflowing ......... 64
29. Filling Sieve with Water ......... 66
30. Sinner vs Virtuous ......... 68
31. Medicine after Death ......... 70
32. Prospect ......... 72
33. Anger ......... 75
34. Biting is Prohibited not Hissing ......... 76
35. On the Roof ......... 79
36. The Palace: An Inn ......... 80
37. Extreme Patience and Tolerance ......... 82
38. Deeds and Misdeeds ......... 84
39. Final Lesson ......... 87
40. Inspired Performance ......... 88
41. Gratification through others’ Satisfaction ......... 90
42. Search for an Honest Man ......... 92
43. Association with the Wicked ......... 94
44. Time: A Leveller and Settler ......... 96
45. The Safest Place ......... 98
46. Different and Unique ......... 100
47. Imaginary Wealth and Fear ......... 102
48. Rice vs Gold ......... 104
49. Inner Nature ......... 106
50. Detached Couple ......... 107
Spiritual Quadruplets ......... 109
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CYCLE OF EVIL
There was once a king who was so cruel and unjust that his subjects yearned for his death or dethronement.
However, one day he surprised them all by announcing that he had decided to turn over a new leaf.
“No more cruelty, no more injustice,” he promised, and he was as good as his word. He came to be known as the ‘Gentle Monarch’.
Months after his transformation, one of his ministers gathered enough courage to ask him what had brought about his change of heart. The king answered, “As I was galloping through my forests, I caught sight of a fox being chased by a dog. The fox escaped into its hole but not before the dog had bitten into its leg and lamed it for life. Later I rode into a village and saw the same dog there. It was barking at a man. Even as I watched, the man picked up a huge stone and flung it at the dog, breaking its leg. The man had not gone far when he was kicked by a horse. His knee was shattered and he fell to the ground, disabled for life. The horse began to run but it fell into a hole and broke its leg.
Reflecting on all that had happened, I thought: ‘Evil begets evil. If I continue in my evil ways, I will surely be overtaken by evil.’ So I decided to change.”
The minister went away convinced that the time was ripe to overthrow the gentle king and seize his throne. Immersed in thought, he did not see the steps in front of him and fell, breaking his neck.
Soul Searching
Whether the cause is hidden or known, it will have its effect sooner or later. Righteous deeds are praised by all while unwholesome deeds are not liked, not even by the doer.
He did not see the steps in front of him and fell, breaking his neck.
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