Daily Meditation: Monday, May 17, 2010

Grain of wheat - a tale by Tolstoy

05/17/2010

Do you know this tale of Tolstoy's? A king was walking across his land one day, when he picked up a grain the size of a hazelnut. This surprised him, and he called on the knowledge of all the sages at his court, but not one of them was able to tell him its name or its origin. He heard, however, that in his kingdom there lived a very old man who could perhaps enlighten him, so he sent for him. The man, who was nearly blind, came leaning on two crutches. After examining the grain for a long time, he had to admit he didn't know what it was. 'But I shall call my father,' he said. 'He may remember having seen others like it.' His father arrived, leaning on just one crutch. He couldn't identify the grain either but, in turn, suggested calling his own father. The latter soon arrived; he looked like a young man, robust and cheerful. He took hold of the grain and exclaimed, 'But it's a grain from the wheat that grew when I was a child! In those days grains of wheat were very big, but as human beings became dishonest and wicked so the grains kept decreasing in size. And if I look so robust and younger than my son and grandson, it is because I am still living according to the rules of honesty and kindness that prevailed in the days of my childhood.'