Ancient Tales of Wisdom epitomizes harmony in audio, with narrated stories of courage and nobility, honour, spirituality and benevolence. SOH brings you the best stories from our beautiful world cultures

As a Gold Pass subscriber you will receive a story every alternate day, that’s like a new piece of gold every second day ! Support SOH in reaching all global communities and subscribe today !

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Healthy Mind, Healthy Body. (Yin-Yang symbol courtesy of photobucket.com)

Stories worth gold! With narrated stories of courage, nobility, honour, spirituality and benevolence, Ancient Tales of Wisdom is the epitome of harmony in audio form. Living inside each story is an insight into the timeless understandings of what is truly right and what is truly wrong. Ancient Tales of Wisdom brings the world’s cultures into the stream of the imagination; it is food for the soul and invigorates the heart toward goodness and purity of being.

Given the choice between being a good person and making more money, which would you choose?  Can you imagine lifting oneself out from under the weight of one’s wants, to reveal a pure heart and a singleness of purpose? In today’s ancient tale of wisdom hear what a student of Confucius decides when faced with this choice and whether he overcame his opposing mind battle. Please enjoy yet another treat from the SOH Network, the home of Ancient Tales of Wisdom.

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Nuwa Created Humans and Mended Heaven

Stories worth gold ! Ancient Tales of Wisdom epitomizes harmony in audio, with narrated stories of courage and nobility, honour, spirituality and benevolence. Ancient Tales of Wisdom brings our world cultures into the stream of extending our minds and imaginations. Living inside each story is an insight into the timeless understandings of what is truly right and what is truly wrong, and an invigoration in our hearts toward goodness and purity of being.

Have you ever wondered how life came to be on earth? Today’ story takes us straight to heart of ancient Chinese core principals.  It reminds you and I of the depth of these people’s original esteem and their reverence for the Divine, and their belief that God’s descended to the earth creating civilization to mercifully save people from misfortune and tragedy.   Please enjoy yet another ‘pearl of worth from the SOH Network.

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There was also many small children gathered around Alicia joyfully playing, and they were all shining like the moon with the brightest of white light. (Courtesy a4gpa.Flickr)

Stories worth gold ! Ancient tales of wisdom epitomizes harmony in audio, with narrated stories of courage and nobility, honour, spirituality and benevolence. Ancient Tales of Wisdom brings our world cultures into the stream of our imaginations. Living inside each story is an insight into the timeless understandings of what is truly right and what is truly wrong, and an invigoration in our hearts toward goodness and purity of being.

Today’s story embodies how the relationship between a parent and child can be accomplished within all opportune situations. It speaks about the interaction of love, kindness, respect and dignity between a parent and child.  This storyline also tells of a wise parent, who is kind and caring, gentle and respectful.  When interacting with her child, in open and honest communication, she empowers her to face life’s situations with a confident and steadfast heart and mind. So too, our narrative reveals that by encouraging children to share their fears and misgivings, can further consolidate their wellbeing and character.    Please enjoy yet another treasure from the SOH Network. We will soon have our Ancient Tales of Wisdom Gold Pass ready. This will be a subscription website in which subscribers will receive three new narrated pieces of Gold per week. We will keep you updated as it gets closer and closer.

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The Chu people were very confused as to why their melons would grow so well - despite their lack of work. (Courtesy kumon/fkr)

Early culture from all lands embodies a wealth of rich folk-lores.  Again, today’s  simple but reflective idiom on Ancient Tales of Wisdom tells of a classic example  as to how simple acts of kindness, and  good deeds  given from a noble and righteous  heart will in way and time, always reward the selfless giver.

Greetings to you all, and welcome to today’s Ancient Tales of Wisdom. Hi, this is Grace Mann back with you to share more great words from the wise. Today story is about the happening that gave rise to the Ancient Chinese idiom entitled: “Irrigating the Neighbouring States Melon Fields.”

Song Jiu was a magistrate of Bian County near the border of the Liang State before he became a high-ranking official. On the other side of the border was the Chu State. Both states grew melons, and the border patrols would check out each other’s melon harvests. The Liang State’s people were very diligent in farming and irrigated the melon fields frequently; therefore, their melons grew well. The Chu State’s people often dodged work and neglected tending and irrigating their melon fields. Consequently, their melons grew poorly.

The magistrate of the border county in the Chu State became jealous and irritated when he saw the disparity between the two states’ melons. Influenced by the magistrate, people in his county became jealous and angry with the people of the Liang State. One night a group from  the Chu State sneaked into the Liang State’s melon fields and destroyed some of their melons. The next day when the Liang people saw the state of their melon field, they reported it to the Master of Arms and expressed their wish to retaliate. The Master of Arms reported to magistrate Song Jiu and asked for his approval to reciprocate. Song Jiu replied, “Evil will only beget evil. If you should retaliate against their crimes, you would only make things worse. If my son had a melon field, I’d ask him to irrigate the Chu people’s melon fields at night – and keep his good deed in secret.”

From then on the Liang people followed Song Jui’s words and irrigated the Chu people’s melon fields secretly at night. Sometimes the Chu people would irrigate their melon fields in the day as well, not knowing -they had also been irrigated the night before.  As a result, the melons in the Chu fields grew bigger and better.. The Chu people were very confused as to why their melons would grow so well –  despite their lack of work, so they  began to secretly investigate the issue and discovered it was because the Liang people had been secretly irrigating their melon fields for them nightly. When the magistrate of the Chu State heard this, he was very happy about what their people had discovered and reported it to the King of the Chu State. The King of Chu felt extremely ashamed of his peoples’ actions and told the magistrate, “How could you allow your people to destroy the Liang State’s melon fields? It is obvious that the Liang people are more kind and have a bigger heart than the Chu people.”

Because of the Liang State peoples’ noble deed, The King of Chu sent a lot of money to the Liang State to thank them for their gracious help.  He also expressed his wish to establish friendship between the two states. The two states thus formed a friendly alliance because of Song Jiu’s wisdom.

It is said that it was this Ancient Chinese story that initiated the idiom, “irrigating the neighbouring state’s melon fields,” which in today’s terms means ‘it is not worth fighting over trivial matters.’

It’s been great to be with you again on Ancient Tales of Wisdom.  Stay tuned to the SOH Radio Network to savour the wisdom of old.

Till next time, laugh lots, be happy and may we all remember that ‘it is not worth fighting over trivial matters.’

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To Love Children, Educate Them from Early Childhood. (Courtesy jimmiehomeschoolmom/Flickr)

SOH’s Ancient Tales of Wisdom brings stories that enrich the essence of our being.  Today’s narrative is based on the value, worth and necessity of consistent guidance and nurturing of children from a tender young age.   So too, it speaks about the interaction of love, kindness, respect and dignity between parents and their offspring. This story also expounds on results that can unfold when guidelines and the understanding of consequences is lacking in our loved ones education.   Ancient cultures from all lands have always placed great emphasis on educating their young from the cradle – in their varied and told ways.

Welcome again to Ancient Tales of Wisdom, this is Grace Mann.  Without any further ado let’s now go to our story: TO LOVE CHILDREN, EDUCATE THEM FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD.

From Ancient Chinese records – Yan’s Family Rules state, that emperors and saints in ancient times made sure their young children learned piety and kindness, etiquette and righteousness from expert teachers. Although the common people were not of the same stature as the imperial family, when their families were old enough to know happiness and anger, they too started to teach and guide their children in correct behaviours.

Within these consistent guide-lines, the children, when asked to do or not do something, would follow parental instructions. After a few years, the parents didn’t need to threaten punishment, because they had educated, guided and nurtured their children- with consistency, dignity and love from a young age. Therefore, the children readily obeyed, having learned that respect and disobedience brought different consequences.

Many people in our world only know how to love their children, but not how to educate them. Thus, children’s behaviours are all at their own will. When they do wrong, parents should warn and reprimand them. Children need to be disciplined through reason and consequence. Also it can be clearly explained to them that if they do kind and good things, good and kind things will also come their way.

There are times when parents make excuses for their children’s wrong-doings, blame others, and often ignore the situation at hand.  To the other extreme, there are parents who demand filial respect through their own untoward behaviours.

None of these situations reveals good outcomes.  As these children grow up, their conduct shows unhealthy attitudes and behaviours.  By this time, if parents want to begin educating their children, they usually find it a fruitless task, because these behavioural patterns are already in-ground in them, with the children wilfully and defiantly ignoring their parents;  which then creates more havoc.  The children’s anger will gradually rise until they come to loathe their parents. It is these children – that have the potential to become dysfunctional and displaced adults.

Confucius always said, “Habits formed in childhood are like instincts. Habits will become a person’s nature.” Confucius also expresses the same truth, as the proverb that says, “A child’s learning should start in his early childhood.” These are steadfast statements.

Shi Que always advised King Zhuang in Wei Country, ” …. if a father really loves his children he should teach them the right way to be good people and should not let them step onto an evil path. Pompous, insolent, dissolute and indulgent   behaviour will cause them to step onto an evil path. If the children have these four kinds of habits, it is because their parents have doted on them excessively.”

Since ancient times, many fathers have known how to dote on their children, but for whatever reason did not always educate and guide them.  Consequently, with this lack of parental guidance, these children grow up without a steadfast grounding. It is this foundation that is the key which enables them to build and live a good, responsible and clean life.  Also, without this solid base, it can lead children into living untoward lives, often times hurting themselves and others or even destroying themselves and others.

Many examples of unhealthy parenting can be seen in today’s world.  Is it not a parent’s responsibility to guide, educate and give their children a solid foundation -  which in turn, steers them to be the kind and respectful adults of tomorrow.  If parents love their off- spring, though condone an improper path, can this be considered love?

There are parents who indulge their children that can be heard saying, “The children are too young to understand, they don’t know, their just children. Let us wait until they are older to educate them.” This notion, as with all aspects of little parental guidance from a child’s early years, is said to be like planting a seedling crooked. If one waits until the seedling grows to prune and nurture it, what will the quality of the fruits it bears be like? It is also like opening a birdcage and releasing the bird, without first thinking of the repercussions – then trying to catch it!

Thank you for the privilege of bringing this ‘food for thought’ story to you all.  I’ll be with you again real soon to share more great Ancient Tales of Wisdom.

Until then, be happy, laugh lots- and let’s all put mindful effort into guiding, educating and nurturing our young.

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The grandfather looked around and found himself sitting among several tombs. (Image courtesy laura padgett/Flickr)

Welcome back to the SOH Radio Network the home of Ancient Tales of Wisdom. Hello everyone, I’m Grace Mann, and it is my privilege to bring you the following factual story as told by a grandson of his grandfather’s experience.  This story is titled: For a Debt of Seven Pennies.

The author’s grandfather was a famous doctor in his hometown. One night, after receiving an urgent call from a villager, he took a ferry to see the patient. Because he arrived very early in the morning and did not want to bother the patient’s family, he decided to wait until a more reasonable hour before knocking at the door. In the darkness, he settled himself on the bank beside the river to take a nap. While resting, he overheard a conversation between two children.

“Come on, forget about the debt. She’s your mother anyway.”

“No way, debt between blood kin is also debt. She owes me, and she has to pay back every penny.”

“How much does she owe you?”
“Seven pennies!”
“How are you going to get it back?”
“I have my way. Just watch!”

The grandfather suddenly woke up and realized he had been napping, yet the conversation between the two children had seemed so real. He looked around and saw that there were no villages or inns nearby. Where had the two children’s voices come from? He was confused. He looked around and found himself sitting among several  tombs. There was one nearby which was very new. The dirt was wet and still fresh.

At that moment he was scared.  At dawn, he saw a young woman approaching. She wore a pretty scarf on her head and a beautiful apron printed with blue flowers, and she carried a basket. When she walked closer, he saw she had a small white flower in her hair and she looked deeply grieved. She went to the new tomb, lit some candles and incense, and took out some rice and some small dishes. While crying, she said, “My son, you died so young. Do you know how much I miss you when I see other children? My son, I am so miserable. Please answer if you can hear me….”

Hearing her weeping, the doctor was deeply touched by the sorrow of this young mother who had lost her young son.

All of a sudden, the young woman’s apron caught fire from the candle. By the time she had extinguished the fire her beautiful apron was burned on one corner. She cried, “I just bought this apron yesterday for seven pennies.”

The doctor’s eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open in shock. He then realized his experience and that her son had gotten back the seven pennies that she owed him.

Now, for an update on our ATW Premium Gold Pass podcast release.  We are on track with this initiative and with things flowing as they are now, we trust that our launch date will be around mid March, just some four weeks away.

SOH is proud to bring this proposal to you all.  By becoming a valued ATW Gold Pass subscriber, not only will you regularly receive our fabulous stories, but also, your very affordable membership fee will 100% support SOH’s continued growth in becoming a stable major contributor to our world societies.

Please also tell your family, friends and work colleagues about the ATW Premium Gold Pass. And, stay turned to Ancient Tales Wisdom for the how and when to sign up for this great opportunity.

Before signing off for today, let’s listen to the Quote of the Day from an inspired audience member at the final Los Angeles Shen Yun Performing Arts show.   [audio]

Until next we meet, laugh lots, be happy, while always remembering we all must pay for what we owe.

Thank you for being with us again on the SOH Radio Network for Ancient Tales Wisdom.  I look forward to being with you all again real soon.

Story Source: PureInsight.org
(with slight modification)

Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2003/2/3/20309.html

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A tiny advantage has far reaching consequences. (NCBrian/Flickr)

Our Ancient Tale of Wisdom today tells of how “A Tiny Advantage has Far-reaching Consequences .”  Hello again , my name is Grace Mann, welcome to Ancient Tales of Wisdom.

Before our tiny tale today, let’s listen to our Shen Yun Performing Arts – Quote of the Day from an audience member attending the final Sacramento Show on Tuesday 13^th January.  [audio]

As Shen Yun with its live orchestra moves into the fifth week of its 2010 Global Tour, it continues to ‘transcend all classes, all ages, and all ethnic backgrounds.’

And now, sit back, take five and listen to how A Tiny Advantage has Far-reaching Consequences.

During the Qing Dynasty, under the reign of emperor Kang Xi Xinhai, a couple were occupied watering their fields at the bottom of Mount Xielu in the Kunshan Mountain range. A sudden storm arose and a lightening strike killed the husband. The villagers thought the husband had been an honest man and could not understand his fate. His wife burst out: “It happened because of 18 lbs. of meat.”

Astonished, the people wanted to hear more.

“Last winter my husband rowed the boat to town, to pay the taxes and the lease on the land. As he tied up the boat he noticed a chunk of meat sitting in an empty boat nearby. No one was around, so he took the meat, brought it home and weighed it, it was 18lbs.Eventually it was discovered that the meat belonged to a rich family who lived along the river. The maid who was washing the meat in the river had become distracted, and she deserted her task.

“When she returned, the meat was nowhere to be found. Her enraged mistress scolded the servant severely when she returned empty-handed and beat her, accidentally killing her. The master of the house became extremely upset when he discovered what his wife had done. The wife became so distraught that she committed suicide by hanging herself. And now my husband is dead from a lightning strike.

The wife said “When gaining at the expense of others, if the gains are not meant to be ours, one might get the impression to have won something, but in reality it bodes badly for others, brings only misery to oneself and one loses virtue.

She concluded: “see, a small advantage can lead to far-reaching consequences!”

Thanks again for joining us for Ancient Tales of Wisdom on the SOH Radio Network.  Stay tuned for more wise words from ancient times.

Also, stay posted for up-date details throughout the next few weeks as we fine- tune the launch of our ATW Premium Gold Pass.

Until next time, laugh lots, be happy and choose not, any tiny advantage.

Story Source:  The Epoch Times
(with slight modifications)

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Renowned ancient Chinese herbalist Li ShiZhen 1518-1593, who lived in the Qichun County, Hubei Province during the Ming dynasty. (Courtesy Wikipedia Commons)

Welcome to Ancient Tales of Wisdom. Happy New Year to all our avid ATW listeners, it’s great to be back with you.  May 2010 grant each of you, wonderful experiences, health, peace and contentment., My name is Grace Mann. Today our tale is one of the many, about famous physician and herbalist, Li Shizhen, titled Fill Your Heart with Compassion.

But before I begin, let’s listen to our Quote of the Day, shared by an audience member from the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2010 global tour performance in Philadelphia.     [audio]

And now for our tale; Fill Your Heart with Compassion.

According to Historical Records, Li Shizhen was a famous physician from the Ming Dynasty of ancient China. Li Shizhen loved medical books and was a brilliant physician. He was considered a sage among physicians. In his home town, there was another ignorant and mediocre physician who pretended to know everything. This foolish physician bought lots of medical books to show that he had a supposed wealth of knowledge.

One year, after the rainy season, this physician told his servants to put his collection of medical books in the courtyard to dry. He paced back and forth like a peacock displaying himself. When Li Shizhen happened to see it, he got an impulse to loosen his clothing and lay next to the book racks. The physician saw that Li had his chest and belly exposed to the sun and asked, “Hey, what are you doing here?”

Li said, “I also want to get some sunshine for my books.”

The physician asked, “Where are your books then?”

Li patted his belly and said, “All my books are in here.”

Li Shizhen was being sarcastic, of course, but his remark told us that a person’s knowledge depends not on how many books one owns but on how many books one has digested. Reading is an activity for the mind. Books, good or bad, can affect a person’s temperament or even change it. Actually, one’s temperament and spirit are connected. Good books can enrich one’s mind and also help to refine a person with elegance and grace.

As for cultivators, when they have compassion in their heart, they will be kind and peaceful. No matter where they go, they bring with them a field of kindness and peace. Someone once asked the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, why people who had noble characters and liked to cultivate their hearts seemed to be so peaceful and joyful? Sakyamuni said, “They are not saddened by the past or anxious about the future. They are content with the present and, therefore, they are happy and joyful.”

Before, signing off for today I have some great news to share with you all.  The ATW team is buzzing with excitement, because we will soon be offering each and every one of you the opportunity to hear our premium podcast range 5 days a week. Just imagine being able to enjoy the harmony and inspiration of an Ancient Tale of Wisdom, every day;on your way to or from work, or at any other time of the day or night you choose.  SOH is proud to bring you this service, that will not only bring you our fabulous narrations, but also, through paying the very low, yearly Gold Pass membership, you will be supporting SOH’s continued growth in becoming a stable, major contributor to our world societies.

We are looking to start our Premium Ancient Tales of Wisdom Podcast around late February, so start saving those pennies today and by then you will easily be able to be one of the first to enjoy the ATW Premium Gold Pass.

As our loyal and long standing listeners, please share our good news with your families and friends, or even surprise them with a gifted subscription.

Stay posted for further details of our upcoming launch of the ATW Premium Gold Pass.

Thank you for joining us here at SOH Radio Network for Ancient Tales of Wisdom.  It has again been my privilege to share today’s wise words from ancient times.

Until we next meet laugh lots, be happy and ‘fill your heart with compassion.’

Story Source: ClearHarmony.net

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The beggar (van Avont). State 2 / Wikimedia Commons

Wisdom is not a given, it is learned, be it in the time of the ancients or that of our present day time-space, as the following tale beautifully reveals.  Hello and welcome to another great Ancient Tale of Wisdom, my name is Grace Mann, and today’s tale is entitled: Holes in the Heart.

Once upon a time in days gone by, in order to find the true meaning of life, a young man seeking the Tao travelled far from home.  Without stopping, he climbed high mountains, crossed dangerous rivers, and visited numerous places looking for a true master to answer his questions. Day after day, he met and asked many people; however, he did not feel he had gained any enlightenment.  Disappointed, he pondered and wondered, but he was still not able to figure out why.

Later, he learned from a teacher that there was a high-level monk who had obtained the Tao, living in a mountain not far from his hometown. He could answer all kinds of difficult questions about life. Therefore, he immediately started out in the dark of night and asked around where he could find the monk.

One day, he arrived at the foot of a mountain and saw a woodcutter walking down with two buckets of firewood on his shoulders. The young man asked him, “Brother, do you know exactly where the monk who has obtained the Tao lives in this mountain and what he looks like?” The woodcutter thought for a moment and answered, “It is true that there is such a monk on this mountain. However, people do not know exactly where he lives because he often travels around to offer salvation to predestined people. As to his appearance, some say he looks elegant and unusual and divine halos shine on his body; some say he looks dirty and messy and his clothes are sloppy and shabby. Nobody can really describe him clearly.”

After thanking the woodcutter, the young man was determined to find the monk. He travelled way up the mountain without any rest. On the mountain, he met peasants, hunters, children herding animals, and people digging herbs, etc. However, he did not find the high-level monk who could tell him the meaning of life.

In despair, the young man turned around and went back down from the mountain. On his way, he met a beggar with a broken bowl in his hands who begged for water from him. The young man poured some water into the bowl from his water bag. However, the water completely leaked out before the beggar could put his lips to the bowl and drink. Unwillingly, the young man poured more water into the bowl and urged the beggar to drink faster, but just as the bowl reached the beggar’s lips, the water all leaked out again.

“How can you possibly drink water using a broken bowl?” The young man said impatiently.

“Poor young man, you have been seeking the meaning of life everywhere and you look unassuming on the surface. However, in your heart, you judge whether others’ words meet your expectations. You cannot accept any views that do not satisfy your expectations, and those notions of yours result in big holes in your heart and keep you from finding the answers you seek.”

Hearing the beggar’s words, the young man suddenly enlightened to the point. He immediately bowed to the monk and said, “Master, are you the high-level monk that I have been trying to find?” When there was no reply even though he repeated his question several times, he raised his head and found that beggar had long disappeared.

A bowl with holes cannot hold water; and a heart with holes cannot hear the meaning of life.

What are the manifestations of those holes in the heart? Selfishness,  jealousy, stubbornness and being opinionated are some; while suspicion, impetuousness, hatefulness, fearfulness, arrogance, and being cowardly are more examples. These mentalities are like holes in the heart; and people have different kinds of holes in their hearts.

Humans are not saints and sages, who cannot live without making a single mistake.  Since we are lost in the delusion of our world, who can claim to be without loopholes?  Having loopholes is not an unspeakable issue.  It is the inflexibility of our heart and mind nature that keeps us bound in the wallowing of these shortcomings.  If we do not mend the loopholes, they will become bigger and bigger, harming one’s life and ultimately destroying oneself. A heart is not precious unless you are willing to mend the holes.

Thank you for joining us on Ancient Tales of Wisdom.  It has again been my privilege to share today’s wise words from ancient times.

Until we next meet laugh lots, be happy and let your heart be free.

Story Source:  clearwisdom.net
(with slight modifications)

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/11/19/212915.html

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