In a september #lifelessons101 – We have all we need inside to create a beautiful life for ourselves and make the world a better place I mention how my A-level English teacher had introduced me to a Buddah story about how not to accept negativity in your life. (He also introduced me to Chaucher and Freud, I prefered the former.) This story has guided me through my life so far, so much that I have written my own version which will be published as a children’s book.
However as I am in a sharing mood here is the story, I hope you enjoy and value the teaching as much as I do. When faced with negativity just remember the fat happy man!
The gift
Along time ago on opposite sides of a hill there were two villages.
The villages were almost the same. Each had farms a well , cows, ducks sheep and chickens.
On the village on the right side of the hill under a tree lived the world’s happiest man.
He was round and fat and jolly.
People from the far corners of the earth would visit him just to learn the secret of his happiness.
On the village on the left side of the hill on a farm lived the world’s grumpiest farmer.
He was skinny, lean and mean.
No-one came to visit him.
The grumpy farmer heard stories about the happy man but he didn’t believe them.
“No-one can be happy all the time” he told the villagers “ I bet I could make him unhappy in no longer than 3 days!”
So the grumpy farmer travelled over the hill to visit the happiest man just because he wanted to prove that no-one can be happy all the time.
The farmer found the happiest man sitting under his tree smiling to himself.
For one day and one night the grumpy farmer shouted at the happiest man.
“You’re stupid!” “You’re dumb!” “You’re ugly!” “You’re stupid!” “You’re smelly!” “Nobody likes you!” “Everybody hates you!”
But the world’s happiest man just kept smiling and smiling.
This made the grumpy farmer angry.
For the second day and the second night the grumpy farmer shouted at the happiest man.
“Your family is stupid!” “Your children are dumb!” “Your wife is ugly!” “Your parents are stupid!” “Your baby is smelly!” “Nobody likes your children!” “Everybody hates your family!”
But the world’s happiest man just kept smiling and smiling
This made the grumpy farmer furious.
For the third day and the third night the grumpy farmer shouted at the happiest man.
“Your village is stupid!” “Your gods are dumb!” “Your neighbours are ugly!” “Your religion is stupid!” “Your animals are smelly!” “Nobody likes this village!” “Everybody hates your gods!”
But the world’s happiest man just kept smiling and smiling. He began humming a tune.
The farmer was mad
“ For three nights and 3 days I have insulted you, I have insulted your family I have insulted your home and your gods.” He shouted at the happiest man “How have you remained happy?”
“Well” said the happiest man “ If you gave me a present and I didn’t want it who would the present belong to? “
“I guess it would belong to me” Said the farmer.
“Exactly” nodded the happiest man “ You have been trying to give me the presents of anger, sadness and hate. I do not want these presents, so I refuse to accept them from you. So now you are the one who is angry, sad and full of hate and I remain happy.”
The grumpy farmer went home to his village but he was no longer grumpy. When life got him down he chose to be happy and eventually the villages on both sides of the hill became exactly the same. Each had farms a well , cows, ducks sheep and chickens. And in each village under a tree lived the world’s happiest men.
So the next time someone or something is trying to make you angry you have a choice. You can choose to be like the farmer or you can be like the happy man.
Which gift do your choose happy or angry?
A lovely story. I have to practice this. Thank you for sharing this.
Every day in every possible way <3