We took mom out to her favorite restaurant recently to celebrate getting over her cold. The server poured us some water and it reminded Art and me of something that happened several years ago.
We were at a wedding reception sitting at the table with the bride's mother, Shirley and many of their family and friends. We didn't know anyone else, but like everywhere you go in Hawaii you end up talking to everyone quite easily.
Towards the end of the evening, Shirley, who is a very devout Buddhist doing lots of charity work around the world told us a story.
Once upon a time there was a man who tried to do a lot of good work so that he could go to heaven. It was a terrible surprise to find he'd been sent to hell after he died. He thought surely there'd been a mistake.
One day, the Buddha came by as he was walking by a large lake. The man asked him why he was in hell if he'd been good all his life. The Buddha pointed to the lake and told him, "This lake is full of the water you wasted throughout your life."
When the story ended we were all quietly musing the environmental message of the story. An efficient waiter moved to our table and asked if anybody wanted water to refill their glasses. Everyone shouted, "NO!" in unison and then burst into laughter. We then all finished every last drop of the water in our glasses before going home.
And now to this day, we do our best not to waste any of our water.
A warning to all those politicians who allow the pollution of our waters, I hope you realize that heaven might not be where you end up.
We were at a wedding reception sitting at the table with the bride's mother, Shirley and many of their family and friends. We didn't know anyone else, but like everywhere you go in Hawaii you end up talking to everyone quite easily.
Towards the end of the evening, Shirley, who is a very devout Buddhist doing lots of charity work around the world told us a story.
Once upon a time there was a man who tried to do a lot of good work so that he could go to heaven. It was a terrible surprise to find he'd been sent to hell after he died. He thought surely there'd been a mistake.
One day, the Buddha came by as he was walking by a large lake. The man asked him why he was in hell if he'd been good all his life. The Buddha pointed to the lake and told him, "This lake is full of the water you wasted throughout your life."
And now to this day, we do our best not to waste any of our water.
A warning to all those politicians who allow the pollution of our waters, I hope you realize that heaven might not be where you end up.
So glad your Mom is over her cold. What a great story and one I won't forget.
ReplyDeleteuh oh...i might be in big trouble!
ReplyDeleteI like the warning at the end. :)
ReplyDeleteinteresting story on many levels. how we take for grannted so much in our everyday lives like ac...
ReplyDeleteThat was quite a message! Thanks for reminding me to pay attention to my use of resources such as water. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! I drink a lot of water, and always finish my glass. Now I'll always make sure to remember.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great tale! Our granddaughter doesn't like our well water. They bring their own for her when they visit!
ReplyDeleteA good story and so living in the moment as Buddhism encourages.
ReplyDeleteJust perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteALL my grandchildren are trained not to run the water while brushing teeth, and to finish their restaurant water. I was raised to conserve water by my depression era parents. The attitude has changed.
ReplyDeleteA) Thrilled Mom is better!
ReplyDeleteB) Love the story!
C) " but like everywhere you go in Hawaii you end up talking to everyone quite easily." Yes; folks on the mainland are lovely but have SO much space around them. I miss the people of Hawaii very much <3
It does always amaze me how often we talk to anybody in Hawaii, even people we don't know. Often times, you'll eventually find out you're somehow related to somebody they know.
DeleteInteresting story.
ReplyDeleteSo great that your Mom is feeling well again. What a great story and one we should all heed. We are such a wasteful nation.
ReplyDeleteA strong message nonetheless. Best wishes to you and yours. Greetings!
ReplyDeleteGreat story. Lovely looking food on that table. What all did you have? Is that lobster?
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe that was a lobster. The reception was family style so we all got to have a variety of Chinese dishes.
DeleteGood story!
ReplyDeleteI believe we create our own "hells" or "heavens" on earth. Some of them are environmental and some are just the result of our actions..or someones elses....good or bad. I did enjoy your story though.
ReplyDeleteI think that is a good story for those who don't seem to care about everyone having access to clean water...Flint, MI, too ma.ny others
ReplyDeleteyou make me smile - daily :) love your stories
ReplyDeleteGood one Kay!
ReplyDeleteAlways good to have a reminder about wastefulness. And with a bit of humor.
ReplyDeleteIry not to waste any water but it seems that many people do not realize how fragile our system is. Good on you for looking after the water.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful I was brought up by my parents without the slightest belief in Hell. This belief has ruined many lives of people who have done nothing wrong. However, it is okay in my eyes to make light of the idea in the wasting water anecdote you cite.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Hank. I remember being in the dorm and many of my dorm mates hearing another friend crying in her room. When we asked her what was wrong, she tearfully told us that she'd come to love us all and hated to think of us in Hell because we didn't go to the same church as her.
DeleteYikes! You have a better example than I had. I was thinking of my gay sister who wasted a lot of anguished time when young "praying away the gay" so she wouldn't go to hell. In my unprofessional opinion, her guilt even led to a severe case of youthful acne which added to her anguish. The good news is that she has been happily married for twenty years or more to a wonderful woman we in the family all love.
DeleteA further, yet related thought, since you mention college dorm discussions: when I was in college at Colgate, I was a dedicated and enthusiastic participant in midnight bull sessions. I loved discussing things large and small, cosmic and quotidian, both "what is the purpose of life" and, dating myself, "do you prefer Eisenhower or Stevenson." My late wife, Helen, (5 years gone this month) defined a good marriage as an ongoing conversation. I heartily agreed and still do. That's one reason why I had such a good marriage. Conversation was the name of our game.
DeleteA regular blog such as you have is a wonderful variation on that theme of conversation.
Thank you, Hank. Conversation, constant communication, caring, compromise, cuddles are all part of a happy marriage.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe Six C's of a happy marriage!
DeleteMy comment removal wasn't as dramatic as it looks. I just wanted to capitalize Six C's.
I was thinking the other day of how Republicans can live with themselves when they intentionally do things that kill people like letting anyone have a gun and taking away healthcare.
ReplyDeleteThen I remembered that in Christianity, you can do anything (except deny the existence of the Holy Spirit, yeah I know WTF kind of exception is that) and be forgiven for the sheer belief.
They better hope their sky god is right, because nobody else is going to pardon them.