Wisdom Tales

Wisdom is all around us. But what makes us listen to the wisdom? A good story. It comes from many places - some most unexpected. In these tales enlightenment comes from grandmothers, children, neighbors, birds, little boys, rascally rabbits and even demons. Learning to listen is sometimes the greatest lesson, and it is taught best by story.

BUSHIDO

Bushido is the Warrior’s Way, the code of honor for the samurai of traditional Japan. It stands for loyalty, honesty and justice. And in the 16th century, Suhohara Bokuden was the most famous and respected samurai sword man in all of Japan. One lovely day he was on a crowded barge crossing Lake Biwa. It was festival time and the barge was filled with peasants and craftsmen and one other two-sword man - a young, arrogant looking samurai. Because of the crowd and the sway of the barge, halfway across the lake, a humble craftsman’s straw sandal accidentally touched the young samurai’s long sword. This was forbidden.