104-The future - Buddhism in daily life

The future


In a small town in ancient China there was a very famous temple.
One of the monks was very old, but the story went that he had
"psychic" powers and could "tell fortunes".


Since he was also frail, he usually stayed in his room, from
where he watched the world through a small window. His days of
interpreting the future had long since passed, and he only wanted
to spend his old age in the monastery.


One fine day, a businessman from the capital came and very
generously filled the donation box. He asked about the "fortune
teller", but got the answer that he no longer took part in the
temple business. The visitor therefore asked for the abbot.


When the abbot came the man said: "I come from far away to ask
this monk about my future, gladly I donate a large sum, only let
me to the old master". Just like all undertakings, a temple needs
the means to bear the expenses incurred, so the abbot replied
that he would try to make an exception possible. The abbot went
to the old monk, who also agreed to help.


The businessman was led to the old monk's hermitage, where he
asked the visitor to put his hands forward.


The monk looked at the palms, making the strangest noises.
"Hmmmm", "Ohhhhh", he grunted to himself as he looked at the
lines of the hands, the man became quite agitated.


"Master, what do you see", he finally asked, "will my future be
good"?


"The future," the old man spoke, "is still unclear, but it is in
your hands! You have great possibilities, however, I see that you
will have to decide several times. Depending on your decisions
your future will be. But note: if you have to make a decision and
you do not make it, that is also a decision".


"But the great future of your life lies in the fact that you can
change your life by changing your attitude"!


Then the old monk turned back to his window, and the visitor went
out.





There are no signposts at the crossroads of life


- Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin - British actor - 1889 to
1977





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