Listening to this, I can't help thinking tonight of the Afghan people ...

[WheelWalker]

[Bobstandard]

1. Onward to a new dark age! N/t

[cilla4progress]

2. My Afghan exchange daughter in Canada received a call from her sister in Jalalabad.

She said they are there - Taliban. She said she is a woman without a country - without an identity. Her children did not go to school today.

Education is everything to them.

We talked about how life is unfair.

[WheelWalker]

3. Some suffer too much, others too little.

A student approached a master to learn how to overcome suffering. The master took the student to a nearby mountain where the student was instructed to push a round boulder up the mountain. The master told the student that he would be waiting on top of the mountain with the rest of the lesson. All morning the student worked and pushed the boulder. Using all the strength he made his way up the mountain, a trip that brought the student to the edge of dehydration and exhaustion. Eventually though, the student made it to the top. Gasping for air, he collapsed right next to the boulder. The master sat there as the student lay on the ground breathing heavily. He then began clapping to show appreciation for the accomplishment of his student. The master then grabbed a nearby stick and pushed the boulder every so slightly. The boulder tumbled back down the mountain. The master looked at his student and with smile simply said “now go do it again”.

[cilla4progress]

4. ???

...

[multigraincracker]

5. My favorite Taosit story.

There was once an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years.
One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit.
“Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.
“Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it two other wild horses.
“Such good luck!” the neighbors exclaimed.
“Maybe,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg.
Again, the neighbors came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.
“Such bad luck,” they said.
“Maybe,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by.
“Such good luck!” cried the neighbors.
“Maybe,” said the farmer.