C.R.I. – E.V.H. n°1 April 2005

Part 1

If someone want to translate the French texts he or she will be welcome.

Suggestion :

Afin d’en retirer la quintessence, après la lecture de chaque petite histoire nous vous suggérons de pratiquer pendant 2 à 3 minutes, ce que l’on peut appeler « l’assise silencieuse » :
Vous fermez les yeux,Centrez vous sur votre respiration, l’inspiration, l’expiration…
Prenez contact avec votre « Moi Profond, » Laissez venir à vous les informations.
Peu à peu vous réaliserez que la compréhension des Valeurs Humaines se fait de mieux en mieux et vous ressentirez de plus en plus la présence de votre « SOI » qui est toujours là pour vous conseiller et vous guider ; il faut simplement apprendre à l’entendre dans notre Silence Intérieur.

 Règles pour être humain

1) Un corps t’a été donné. Tu peux l’aimer ou le détester, mais ce sera le tiens pour la durée de cette vie.

2) Tu vas apprendre des leçons. Tu es inscrit dans une école à plein temps appelée « Vie ». Chaque jour tu auras l’occasion d’apprendre. Tu pourras aimer tes leçons, ou les détester, cela dépend de toi .

3) Il n’y a pas de fautes seulement, seulement de leçons. La croissance est un processus d’essai et d’erreur, d’expérimentation. Les expériences « ratées » font autant partie du processus que celles qui réussissent.

4) Une leçon sera répétée sous diverses formes jusqu’à ce qu’elle soit apprise. Quand tu l’auras apprise, tu pourras passer à la leçon suivante.

5) Apprendre des leçons ne finit jamais. Si tu es en vie, c’est que tu as des leçons à apprendre.

6) Ce que tu détestes ou aimes chez les autres est le reflet de ce que tu détestes ou aimes chez TOI.Les autres sont essentiellement des miroirs de toi-même.

7) Ce que tu fais de ta« Vie » dépend de toi. Tu as tous les outils, toutes les ressources dont tu as besoin. Le choix t’appartient.

8) Tes réponses sont en toi. Les réponses aux questions de la « Vie » sont en toi. Tout ce qu’il te faut, c’est regarder, écouter et faireconfiance.

9) A mesure que tu t’ouvre à cette confiance, tu te souviendras de plus en plus de tout ceci.

Auteur inconnu

Triple Filter Test

One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher Socrates and said: “Do you know what I just heart about your friend ?”

"Hold on a minute” Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I would like you to pass a little test. It is called the Triple Filter test.”
"Triple Filter?"
"That is right.” Socrates continued: “Before you talk to me about myfriend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you are going to say.

That is why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is `Truth'.
Have you made absolutely certain that what you are about to tell me is true?”
"No." the man said: "actually I just heard about it."
"All right.” Said Socrates: “ So you don’t really know if it is true or not.

Now let us try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So!" Socrates continued: "You want to tell me something bad about him but you are not certain it is true.
Youmay still pass the test because there is one left, the filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, no I really".
“Well!'' concluded Socrates: "If what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Let us use the triple filter test each time we hear loose talk aboutany of our near and dear ones.

Sounds of silence :

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out.
The first monk said: “Oh, no the candle is out.”
The second monk said: “Aren’t we not suppose to talk?”
The third monk said: “ Why must you two break the silence?”
The fourth monk laughed and said: “Ha! I’m the only one who didn’t speak.”

The parable about a frog

A frog lived in a well. It was born and brought up there. It had not gone anywhere outside the well. One day, another frog that lived in the pond, happened to fall into the well.
The frog of the well asked the new comer: “Where are you come from?”
The frog of the pond replied: “I am from the pond.”
The frog of the well questioned: “The pond! How is the pond?”
The other frog replied: “It is very big. »
The frog of the well stretched its legs and asked: “Is your pond so big?”
“It is much bigger” Said the other
The frog of the well then took a leap from one side and asked: “ Is it as big as this, my well?”
The frog of the pond replied: ”My friend, the pond can never be compared with your well. It is extremely big.
The frog of well got angry, it said: “How are you speak so aboutmy well.”
Do you like this story?

 Take care that you don’t become a frog of the well, when you grow up. Keep an open mind.

  Good and bad, happiness and sorrow, which appear to be different and opposite, are in reality two faces of the same coin. 

The baker and the farmer

A Baker in a little country town bought the butter he used from a nearby farmer.
One day he suspected that the bricks of butter were not full pounds, and for several days he weighed them.
He was right. They were short weight, and he had the farmer arrested. At the trial the judge said to the farmer: "I presume you have scales?"
"No, your honour."
"Then how do you manage to weigh the butter you sell?" inquired the judge.
The farmer replied, "That's easily explained, your honour. I have balances and for a weight l use a one pound loaf I buy from the baker."

Action, résonance, réaction.
Tôt ou tard on récolte toujours ce que l’on sème.

Chaque jour bien vécu, fait d’hier un rêve de joie et de chaque lendemain une vision d’espoir.
Réalisez ceci, seul aujourd’hui est la vie.

Sagesse indienne

Un vieil Indien Cherokee racontait la vie à ses petits-enfants...
Il leur dit : " Je ressens un grand tourment.
Dans mon âme se joue présentement une grande bataille.
Deux loups se confrontent.
Un des loups est méchant: il "est" la peur, la colère, l'envie, la peine, les regrets, l'avidité, l'arrogance, l'apitoiement, la culpabilité, les ressentiments, l'infériorité, le mensonge, la compétition, l'orgueil.
L'autre est bon: il "est" la joie, la paix, l'amour, l'espoir, le partage, la générosité, la vérité, la compassion, la confiance.
La même bataille se joue présentement en vous, en chacun de nous, en fait.
Silencieux, les enfants réfléchissaient...
Puis l'un d'eux dit :
" Grand-papa, lequel des loups va gagner " ?
Le vieux Cherokee répondit simplement :
" Celui que tu nourris".

Empty your cup

A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master.
While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself.
“It’s overfull! No more will go in!” The professor blurted.
“You are like this cup”. The professor replied: “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup!”

Money… Money…

**It can by a house…
but not a home.

**It can by a bed…
but not sleep.

**It can by a clock…
but not time.

**It can by a book…
but not knowledge.

**It can by a position…
but not respect.

**It can by a medicine…
but not health.

**It can by blood…
but not life.

  If there are no two periods of pain, there will be no experience of pleasure, for pleasure is only an interval between two pains. 

A SPECIAL FRIEND

Janice was one of the best students in her class. She went to school everyday and received high marks in her work. She played the flute in the school band and never missed a practice. Janice was very popular and had many friends.
At the weekend, the girls took turns having sleep-over parties at their houses. Sometimes their mothers took the group of friends out for pizzas, and occasionally to the movies. They had many fun times together.

School had just begun for the New Year. Janice and her friends were just beginning in the 5th form. On the first day back at school, Janice was aware that there was a new girl in her class. "This girl must have just moved to our town. I wonder where she lives?" Janice thought.
As she watched her, Janice noticed that the girl walked with a very noticeable limp. She was very quiet and kept herself to herself. Everyone seemed awkward about approaching her; no-one was willing to speak to her.
At lunch time, when Janice was with her friends, they began whispering about this person they didn't know. Their voices got louder and louder until at last Megan said, "Look at that new girl. She must be retarded."
Some of the group giggled and then Cindy responded, "Yeah, she looks really weird, kind of creepy."
Ashley grimaced. "Maybe there is something wrong with her whole family. I don't want to hang around with her, and I don't want her to be part of our group."
"Right, yeah!" the girls all agreed that the new girl could not be accepted as part of their group.

Janice felt uncomfortable with the decision. She thought that perhaps they were all being too harsh. The next day at school, the children all came into the classroom. Janice's friend Megan sat at her desk and stuck her foot out into the aisle just as the new girl, Sarah, came limping past. Sarah tripped on Megan's foot and came crashing to the ground between the desks.
Janice watched from the other side of the room as no one got up to assist Sarah. Sarah slowly pulled herself up to her feet and stumbled to her desk with tears in her eyes. She sat down without saying a word.
Sarah's teacher walked rapidly over to Sarah's desk, and asked "Sarah, are you all right? Are you injured at all?"
Sarah, biting her lip and without looking up said very quietly, "No I'm okay, thank you, miss." And the teacher continued to explain what she had been teaching.

At lunch time in the cafeteria, Janice's friends once again made rude and critical comments about Sarah, this time using slightly louder voices. Janice was becoming more and more uncomfortable about the situation. Sarah was sitting all alone at a table which was close enough for her to hear. As the negative comments from the girls continued, Sarah slowly got up from where she was sitting and walked out of the cafeteria looking very unhappy.
The unkind behaviour of the group continued for the next couple of days. At the end of the week the girls were planning a sleep over party for Friday night at Megan's house. Janice had been looking forward to it. They usually stayed up playing all kinds of games and eating crisps. Sometimes they watched a video. There was always a lot of fun and laughter. But now she wasn't sure if she wanted to go. She was feeling sad about the way the group were treating this new girl who they hadn't taken the time to get to know at all.
All of a sudden Janice knew what she should do. The next morning she arrived at school earlier than usual. She waited in front of the school until she saw Sarah walking towards the school. She appeared to be walking slower than usual. Her head and shoulders were slumped in a dejected manner.
As Sarah got closer, Janice walked over to meet her. Janice stepped up to Sarah who momentarily looked startled, and said, "Hi, I'm Janice. I'm in your class."
"Yes, I've seen you. I'm Sarah," came the reply in a slurred voice.
"Can I walk into class with you?" asked Janice.
"Well yes, if you want to," said Sarah with hesitation in her voice.
As they began to walk together Janice said gently, "I know some of the girls have been hurtful in what they've said and done. I feel really sorry that you've been treated that way. I saw you sitting by yourself at lunch. Can I sit with you at lunch today?" As she spoke, Janice noticed that Sarah had beautiful blue eyes.
Sarah stopped and looked into Janice's face. "Yes," she replied smiling. "That would be nice. I'll save you a seat."
Janice had never seen Sarah smile before and she felt a glow of satisfaction inside.

At lunch time Megan came over and ignoring Sarah said to Janice, "Janice what are you doing sitting over here? I thought you were going to eat with us. We're your friends."
"I'm eating with my new friend," Janice replied. "But we'd be happy for you to join us, wouldn't we, Sarah?" Without replying, Megan just turned around and walked away.
After school, Janice and Sarah walked home together. Shortly after Janice arrived home the phone began to ring. Each of her other friends called wondering what she was doing with the new girl who was so strange.
"Sarah's not strange. She has cerebral palsy. Her brain didn't get enough oxygen when she was born. She can't change the way she looks or talks, but she is a very nice person. She likes the same things that we do. She listens to a wide range of music. She's really  fun to talk to. She likes sleep over parties and pizzas and games. And she needed to have a friend. I can introduce her to you if you want." Janice told them.
On Friday morning on her way to school Janice met up with Sarah again. They walked to school together and agreed to meet in the cafeteria for lunch.

As Janice and Sarah were eating together one by one the other girls joined them. Janice introduced each one to Sarah. They all had a great lunch together, talking and laughing. After school, Megan saw Sarah leaving and ran up to her. "I'm having a sleep over party at my house tonight. Would you like to come? It starts at 6.30. If you would, ask your mum if you can and I'll get my mum to ring to let her know what we'll be doing."
Sarah looked at Megan with a smile. "That would be great. Thanks for inviting me."

Questions:
1. What name shall we give this story?
2. What did Janice and her friends like to do for fun?
3. What good values and qualities did Janice have?
4. Why did Janice's friends make fun of Sarah?
5. Why didn't Janice like the way her friends were treating Sarah?
6. What did Janice decide to do?
7. What did Janice's friends decide about Sarah?
8. How did you feel when you heard this story?
9. What does this story mean to you?

Group Activity
Divide children into groups of four. Each child is to speak to everyone in the group, one at a time, and tell them something positive about that person.
Examples:- "You have very pretty eyes."
"You are kind to others".

Les gros cailloux

Un jour, un vieux professeur de l'École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP) fut engagé pour donner une formation sur la planification efficace de son temps à un groupe d'une dizaine de dirigeants de grosses compagnies nord-américaines. Ce cours constituait l'un des cinq ateliers de leur journée de formation. Le vieux professeur n'avait donc qu'une heure pour "passer sa matière".

Debout, devant ce groupe d'élite (qui était prêt à noter tout ce que l'expert allait enseigner), le vieux professeur les regarda un par un lentement, puis leur dit: "Nous allons réaliser une expérience".
De dessous la table qui le séparait de ses élèves, le vieux prof sortit un immense pot Masson d'un gallon (pot de verre de plus de 4 litres) qu'il posa délicatement en face de lui. Ensuite, il sortit environ une douzaine de cailloux à peu près gros comme des balles de tennis et les plaça délicatement, un par un, dans le grand pot. Lorsque le pot fut rempli jusqu'au bord et qu'il fut impossible d'y ajouter un caillou de plus, il leva lentement les yeux vers ses élèves et leur demanda: "Est-ce que ce pot est plein?".

Tous répondirent: "Oui". Il attendit quelques secondes et ajouta: "Vraiment?".
Alors, il se pencha de nouveau et sortit de sous la table un récipient rempli de gravier. Avec minutie, il versa ce gravier sur les gros cailloux puis brassa légèrement le pot. Les morceaux de gravier s'infiltrèrent entre les cailloux... jusqu'au fond du pot. Le vieux professeur leva à nouveau les yeux vers son auditoire et redemanda: "Est-ce que ce pot est plein?".

Cette fois, ses brillants élèves commençaient à comprendre son manège. L'un d'eux répondit: "Probablement pas!". "Bien!" répondit le vieux professeur.
Il se pencha de nouveau et cette fois, sortit de sous la table un seau de sable. Avec attention, il versa le sable dans le pot. Le sable alla remplir les espaces entre les gros cailloux et le gravier. Encore une fois, il demanda: "Est-ce que ce pot est plein?".

Cette fois, sans hésiter et en chœur, les brillants élèves répondirent: "Non!". "Bien!" répondit le vieux professeur.
Et comme s'y attendaient ses prestigieux élèves, il prit le pichet d'eau qui était sur la table et remplit le pot jusqu'à ras bord.
Le vieux professeur leva alors les yeux vers son groupe et demanda: "Quelle grande vérité nous démontre cette expérience?"
Pas fou, le plus audacieux des élèves, songeant au sujet de ce cours, répondit: "Cela démontre que même lorsque l'on croit que notre agenda est complètement rempli, si on le veut vraiment, on peut y ajouter plus de rendez-vous, plus de choses à faire".

"Non" répondit le vieux professeur. "Ce n'est pas cela. La grande vérité que nous démontre cette expérience est la suivante: si on ne met pas les gros cailloux en premier dans le pot, on ne pourra jamais les faire entrer tous, ensuite". Il y eu un profond silence, chacun prenant conscience de l'évidence de ces propos.
Le vieux professeur leur dit alors: "Quels sont les gros cailloux dans votre vie?"
"Votre santé?" "Votre famille?" "Vos ami(e)s?" "Réaliser vos rêves?" "Faire ce que vous aimez?" "Apprendre?" "Défendre une cause?" "Relaxer?" "Prendre le temps....?" "Ou... toute autre chose?"

"Ce qu'il faut retenir, c'est l'importance de mettre ses GROS CAILLOUX en premier dans sa vie, sinon on risque de ne pas réussir... sa vie. Si on donne la priorité aux peccadilles (le gravier, le sable), on remplira sa vie de peccadilles et on n'aura plus suffisamment  de temps précieux à consacrer aux éléments importants de sa vie.

Alors n'oubliez pas de vous poser à vous-même la question: "Quels sont les GROS CAILLOUX dans ma vie?"
Ensuite, mettez-les en premier dans votre pot (vie)"
D'un geste amical de la main, le vieux professeur salua son auditoire et lentement quitta la salle

How the Elephant Got His Trunk

An African Fairy Tale

Long, long ago there lived a little elephant named Tembo. He looked just like all the other elephants. He was grey with big ears, four thick legs, a short tail and a stumpy nose. At that time elephants didn't have a long trunk. They just had a short stumpy nose!

But Tembo was different in one way - he was an extremely curious elephant. He always wanted to know everything. The whole day he was asking questions.
One day Tembo went to see his Uncle Pavian, the monkey who was sitting on a palm tree eating coconuts. "Hello, Uncle Pavian," Tembo shouted. "What does the crocodile eat for dinner?"
"Oh, you do annoy me so with all of your questions." Uncle Pavian said in a tired voice.
"I just want to know what the crocodile eats for dinner," Tembo persisted.
Pavian didn't answer, but suddenly threw a coconut at Tembo's head.
"Ouch!" Tembo cried, rubbing his head sadly. "No one wants to tell me what the crocodile eats for dinner." Suddenly he had an idea. "I'll go to visit the crocodile myself and then I can ask him personally."
Tembo ran into the jungle to find the Great Rriver. He plodded along for hours until he realised he was lost. There was no one about, except the birds singing high up in the trees. Tembo felt very lonely and was getting quite frightened. But he kept going because he wanted to find out the answer to his question. At last he met a snake. Thankful to find someone to ask the way, Tembo said politely, "Excuse me, Miss Snake, could you tell me where I can find the Great River?"
Miss Snake hissed back, "Sssss … Can't you see that I am sleeping. The river is just there - right ahead."

Tembo ran through the bushes and there in front of him he saw the Great River. He ran joyfully and stood on the bank gazing into its deep water. Then he saw something which really did frighten him - a long green head with a jaw full of sharp white teeth.
Tembo's knees knocked together at the sight of it. Pulling himself as upright as he could, he took a step forward and asked very politely, "Excuse me, Sir, do you know where I can find the crocodile?"
"Yes," the green mouth replied, opening very wide. "It is straight in front of you. I am the crocodile."
Tembo was even more frightened, but he wanted to know the answer to his question, so he asked bravely. "I just wanted to ask what you eat for dinner, Sir."
The crocodile laughed wickedly and swam closer to Tembo. "Well, I can tell you, but you have to come a bit closer. I don't want anyone else to hear. Come, a bit closer … a little bit more … closer still … Not everybody needs to know … that I'll eat a little elephant for dinner today!"
What do you think happened? The crocodile caught Tembo's stumpy nose and held on to it with his sharp teeth. Tembo tried to pull himself away, but the crocodile pulled back. Tembo pulled and the crocodile pulled. The big crocodile was stronger than little Tembo.
Luckily Miss Snake heard Tembo's painful whimpering and came in time to help the little elephant. Miss Snake wound herself around Tembo's tummy and held onto a tree. The crocodile pulled. Tembo and the snake pulled … harder and harder …

Suddenly the crocodile let go and swam away with an angry face. Tembo was free. He jumped for joy … until he saw his reflection in the water. Tembo's stumpy nose had grown into a long, long nose, like a tree trunk.
Tembo burst into tears. "I can never go home like this. Everyone will laugh at me!"
The snake looked at his nose closely. "You will be able to do so many things with this trunk of a nose," she said kindly. "You will be able to pick leaves high up in the tree. You will be able to shower water over your back. You will be able to lift heavy things and you will be able to trumpet with your trunk. This trunk is much more practical than a little stumpy nose."
Tembo went home with a smile on his face. The other elephants laughed when they saw him, but as Tembo showed them what he could do with his trunk, they all wanted to have one too.

The next day all the elephants went into the jungle to the Great River. One after the other they called to the crocodile which caught them by their short stumpy noses. By the evening each of the elephants had a long trunk. They were all happy as they tried out their trunks

"Why has this awful thing happened?" moaned the bewildered king. "Your Highness, it will turn out for the best," replied his minister.
The king, enraged by the pain of his hand, felt he could not put up with the minister any longer and ordered his servants to arrest him.

He told them to take the minister and throw him down a nearby pit with nothing but bread and water to live on. The king would decide what to do with him in a couple of days when he was in less pain.
"That will teach him what is for the best and what isn't," thought the king as he rode off alone towards the palace.
The accident had delayed them and it was nearly nightfall. A minute later the king found himself set upon by some strangers who lived in the next kingdom. These people used their prisoners as slave labour, and this time they were looking for a perfect slave to be a gift for their queen's birthday. The king looked a promising specimen, they thought.
The king was so afraid, he forgot the pain in his hand. He was made to dismount and was stripped of his fine clothes and carefully examined.
When it was seen that he had a finger missing, the strangers were disappointed. He would not be a perfect present for the queen's birthday, so they decided to leave him tied to a tree while they went off to find someone else.
Half-an-hour later the poor king was relieved to see his two servants riding along the track on their way back to the palace, having dealt with the minister.

The servants quickly untied the king and gave him a cloak as he was shivering with cold, then they quickly made their way back to the palace.
The next day, the king feeling better after a night's sleep, was recalling his lucky escape of the day before and realised that by losing his finger, he had retained his freedom. How strange that things had turned out for the best in that way. He suddenly remembered his minister left in the pit and sent a servant to release him.