The Mantra Man and His Horses

[Nils]

In a small stone hut among the mountains of the Himalayas once lived an old man. His wife had died many years ago and so he was all alone. Only his son was still with him. He was very grateful for this. No matter how things came in his life, he was always grateful. He owed this to his deep spirituality. He did not take anything external as important. For a spiritual person, everything external ultimately serves only to develop inwardly and to attain enlightenment.

The old man had a small prayer wheel, which he constantly turned. He repeated the Tibetan mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum". The word Mani means wish-fulfilling jewel. The wish-fulfilling jewel in life is inner happiness. He who has inner happiness has everything. Whoever does not have inner happiness ultimately has nothing. The Mani mantra fulfills our wish for inner peace, happiness and enlightenment. Whenever a negative thought bothered the old man, he would think his mantra and the thought would disappear after some time. In this way, the old man could always maintain his inner peace and happiness.

The old man lived by breeding horses. He owned a small herd of horses and a beautiful stallion. One day the herd of horses disappeared. The stallion had taken them away into the wilderness of the mountains. Then all the neighbors felt sorry for the old man. But the man turned his prayer wheel and said only, "Who knows what it's all for." After a few weeks, the stallion came back with an even bigger herd. Then the old man was very grateful, because without his horses he could not earn money.

Some time later, while riding the wild horses, the son fell to the ground and broke his leg. He could never walk properly again, much less ride a horse. The neighbors felt sorry for the old man. The old man just said dryly, "Who knows what it's all for."

A few months later, war came to the country. The king forcibly recruited all the young men into military service. The sons of all the neighbors were drafted. Many died in the war. Only the old man's son was allowed to stay at home because he was too disabled to fight. All the neighbors were jealous. The old man turned his prayer wheel, said his mantra and was grateful. His spiritual path had brought him lasting happiness. And when he died one day, he was also grateful. He was grateful for his long happy life. He thought his mantra and passed on to the afterlife in inner peace. There he keeps on turning his prayer wheel, thinking his mantra, and now helps his son on the path of happiness.

[master of puppets]

Had read this in zen stories 25 years ago. thanks for sharing